CN113595679B

CN113595679B - Apparatus and method for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation

Info

Publication number: CN113595679B
Application number: CN202110475070.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·L·克内科特; 江津菁; L·维尔马; 王�琦; S·K·勇; 伍天宇; 刘勇
Original assignee: Apple Inc
Current assignee: Apple Inc
Priority date: 2020-04-30
Filing date: 2021-04-29
Publication date: 2024-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-29
Also published as: GB202106134D0; GB2595366B; CN113595679A; GB2595366A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation. Some embodiments include apparatus, methods, and computer program products for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation. Some embodiments include a first station configured to: an EHT Request To Send (RTS) and/or EHT Clear To Send (CTS) capability is exchanged with a second station, and a CTS response mode (e.g., rule) of the first station is determined based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first station and the second station. Some embodiments include: the RTS frame is transmitted and the CTS frame is received in the presence of a punctured channel, a flexible channel reservation scheme is implemented, the punctured bandwidth is reserved, and the CTS frame is received even when the primary channel is busy. Some embodiments include an RTS frame or a CTS frame that includes an EHT bandwidth puncturing (BnP) signaling address and/or a modified scrambler seed to enable channel reservation for an EHT bandwidth.

Description

Apparatus and method for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/018348 entitled "Apparatus and Method for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Medium Reservation," filed on even 30/4/2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background

Technical Field

The described embodiments relate generally to wireless communications, including reserving a wireless medium for transmission.

RELATED ART

Wireless stations and Access Points (APs) reserve a medium for transmitting data using a Request To Send (RTS) frame and a Clear To Send (CTS) frame. The RTS frame and CTS frame must be transmitted on the primary channel of a Basic Service Set (BSS). For example, the preamble corresponding to the RTS frame transmitted on the primary channel identifies the bandwidth in which the RTS frame is to be transmitted, and preamble puncturing is not allowed. Further, the CTS frame is transmitted only if all channels from which RTS signals are received are available. Also, the CTS frame is transmitted only if the primary channel is available.

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments include a Request To Send (RTS) and Clear To Send (CTS) mechanism that enables stations and/or Access Points (APs) to reserve a medium for transmitting data using an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) protocol. Some embodiments enable transmission and reception of RTS and CTS frames punctured for a preamble, flexible EHT Bandwidth (BW) channel reservation, reservation punctured BW and CTS transmissions even when the primary channel is busy. Some embodiments include an RTS frame and a CTS frame for communication that enable EHT BW channel reservation.

Some embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for EHT medium reservation. Some embodiments include an RTS station comprising a processor and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The processor may transmit RTS and CTS capabilities of a first electronic device (e.g., a station or AP). The processor may receive RTS and CTS capabilities of a second electronic device (e.g., an Access Point (AP) or another station) and configure a CTS response mode of the first electronic device based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first and second electronic devices. The processor may obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on a primary channel and perform a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) on the primary channel. CCA is measured within a Point Coordination Function (PCF) inter-frame space (PIFS) using a 20MHz CCA threshold and/or is performed for an entire EHT BW within the PIFS using an EHT BW CCA threshold, wherein the EHT BW comprises a channel that is a multiple of 80MHz, and wherein the EHT BW CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold. The processor may determine that the primary channel is idle and/or the EHT BW is idle based at least on the execution.

Based on this determination, the processor may select an idle 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmission of a corresponding RTS frame (e.g., select a secondary channel for transmission of a first RTS frame and/or select a primary channel for transmission of a second RTS frame). The processor may transmit a first RTS frame to the second electronic device on the secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates an EHT BW channel reservation including the punctured channel according to the CTS response mode. The punctured channel is a channel within the EHT transmission BW but does not carry any transmissions, i.e. the punctured channel is not in use. For example, a channel may already be used or unavailable by a different service, and the channel may be punctured (e.g., the transmission does not include any power, does not have padding, or is unused) to avoid interfering with the different service. The EHT BW may include one or more punctured channels. The processor may receive a first CTS frame from a second electronic device on an auxiliary channel included in an EHT BW channel reservation. In response to receiving the first CTS frame, the processor may transmit first data to the second electronic device on the secondary channel and transmit a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on the primary channel, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical.

The processor may transmit second data to a third electronic device (e.g., different from the second electronic device) on the primary channel even when the CTS frame is not received in response to the second RTS frame on the primary channel. The processor may maintain a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) based on the first RTS frame or the second RTS frame transmitted on the primary channel and receive a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the second data for a duration of the NAV.

In some embodiments, an RTS station may employ dual RTS frame transmissions to different stations and, in response to various CTS frames, transmit signals received by different stations corresponding to the respective CTS frames received. In some embodiments, the processor may transmit the first set of RTS frames to the third electronic device on an idle channel reserved for EHT BW channels. After transmitting the first set of RTS frames, the processor may receive a first set of CTS frames from the third electronic device corresponding to a first subset of channels reserved for EHT BW channels. The processor may transmit a second set of RTS frames to the second electronic device on an idle channel reserved for EHT BW channels and/or transmit a second RTS frame (e.g., the second set of RTS frames may include the second RTS frame) to the second electronic device on the primary channel. After transmitting the second set of RTS frames and/or the second RTS frame, the processor may receive a second set of CTS frames from the second electronic device corresponding to a second subset of channels reserved for BW channels, and transmit a combined EHT BW including the first data on a portion of the first subset of channels and the second data on a portion of the second subset of channels. The processor may maintain NAV of the channel corresponding to the first data and the second data based at least on the transmitted first set of RTS frames.

Some embodiments include a CTS station including a processor and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The processor may receive RTS and CTS capabilities of a second electronic device (e.g., a station) and transmit RTS and CTS capabilities of a first electronic device (e.g., another station or Access Point (AP)). The processor may configure a CTS response mode of the first electronic device based at least on RTS and CTS capabilities of the first electronic device and the second electronic device and receive a first RTS frame from the second electronic device on the auxiliary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates an EHT BW channel reservation including the punctured channel. The processor may receive a second RTS frame from the second electronic device on the primary channel, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical, and/or receive a plurality of RTS frames from the second electronic device that span an EHT BW that includes channels that are multiples of 80 MHz. The processor may perform Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) for the primary channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold for a short inter-frame space (SIFS) and/or perform CCA for the entire EHT BW using an EHT BW CCA threshold for the SIFS, wherein the EHT BW CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold. The processor may determine, based at least on the executing: i) The primary channel is busy (and thus the CTS frame is not transmitted on the primary channel), and/or ii) the EHT BW is idle. Based on these determinations, the processor may select a corresponding idle 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmission of a corresponding CTS frame in accordance with the CTS response mode.

The processor may transmit a first CTS frame to the second electronic device on an auxiliary channel, wherein the auxiliary channel is based at least on the EHT BW channel reservation and the CTS response mode. In response to transmitting the first CTS frame, the processor may receive first data from the second electronic device on the secondary channel, maintain a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) based on the first RTS frame received on the secondary channel, and transmit a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the first data for a duration of the NAV. In some implementations, the first CTS frame includes: a Receiver Address (RA) comprising a first bitmap reserved for EHT BW channels through which the first RTS frame and other RTS frames are received, a second bitmap or CTS information for channels through which the first CTS frame and other CTS frames are transmitted. The CTS information may include: network Allocation Vector (NAV) reporting of reserved channels of the first bitmap, estimation of signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR) of reserved channels of the first bitmap, link adaptation guidance, or recommendation of reserved channels of the first bitmap that are available for transmission.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the disclosure.

Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary system implementing Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1B illustrates an example of a Request To Send (RTS) timeout for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless system configured for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system having a transceiver for EHT medium reservation, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of auxiliary channel allocation for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) threshold for EHT bandwidth of an EHT medium reservation in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6A illustrates an example of static puncturing signaling for EHT medium reservation with a disabled channel, according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 6B illustrates an example of CTS signaling when a primary channel is busy with an EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6C illustrates an example of Resource Unit (RU) reception in multiple channels for EHT medium reservation in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a dual RTS and Clear To Send (CTS) reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 illustrates another example of a dual RTS and CTS reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 illustrates an example of an RTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 illustrates an example of an RTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11A illustrates an example of a scrambler seed format corresponding to RTS and CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11B illustrates an example of a puncture bitmap for RTS and CTS frames corresponding to an EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11C illustrates an example of a signaling combination corresponding to RTS and CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11D illustrates an example of a puncturing configuration corresponding to RTS and CTS frames, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11E illustrates an example of bit values corresponding to RTS and CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12 illustrates a method of an RTS station for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 illustrates a method of RTS stations for a dual RTS and CTS reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 illustrates a method for a CTS station for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary computer system for implementing some embodiments or one or more portions of embodiments.

Fig. 16 illustrates an exemplary system for medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 17 illustrates an example of service field bit allocation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, generally, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. In addition, generally, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears.

Detailed Description

Some embodiments include apparatus, methods, and computer program products that enable stations and/or Access Points (APs) to reserve a medium using an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) protocol. For example, some embodiments enable an EHT transceiver to: simultaneously receiving two or more Resource Units (RUs) on two or more channels; a non-High Throughput (HT) repetition Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) supporting preamble puncturing such that not all 20MHz channels within a PPDU Bandwidth (BW) are utilized. The PPDU BW including a frequency band which is a multiple of 80MHz may be referred to as an EHT BW. Some embodiments enable Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) sensing per 20MHz BW to determine whether each channel is busy or clear. Some embodiments enable: implementing a flexible BW reservation scheme that maximizes reserved bandwidth even if some channels are busy; a Clear To Send (CTS) transmission is allowed even when the CTS station determines that the primary channel is busy; allowing a Request To Send (RTS) transmitter to control when a CTS frame is transmitted as a response to an RTS frame; enabling the CTS frame to transmit additional information for the RTS station; and enables RTS and CTS signaling to support 320MHz BW and new IEEE 802.11 is a transport BW combination.

Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary system 100 implementing Extremely High Throughput (EHT) medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 100 includes five stations: 110. 120, 130, 140, and 150.RTS and CTS signaling are used to reserve the medium for transmission. A station (e.g., station 120) may be an Access Point (AP). Station 110 senses the idle channel before transmitting one or more RTS frames to station 120. Station 120 senses the channel in which the RTS is transmitted and transmits one or more CTS frames to station 110 on an idle channel. In the following example, an RTS station refers to a station that transmits an RTS frame and receives a CTS frame. Also, a CTS station refers to a station or AP that transmits a CTS frame and receives an RTS frame.

Fig. 16 illustrates an example system 1600 for medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, system 1600 may be described using the elements of fig. 1A. System 1600 shows four 20MHz channels: primary channel 1630, secondary 20 channel 1640, lower secondary 40 channel 1650, and upper secondary 40 channel 1660. These channels may be combined for transmission BW from station 110 (RTS station) to station 120 (CTS station), e.g., at 20MHz, 40MHz, or 80 MHz. Other combinations up to 160MHz are also possible.

There are limitations to system 1600 that some embodiments of the present disclosure overcome. For example, RTS and CTS stations rely on CCA Energy Detection (ED) within the same Point Coordination Function (PCF) inter-frame space (PIFS) to determine whether to transmit an RTS frame or a CTS frame. CCA ED measurements are based on total transmission BW. The primary channel 1640 must be available for RTS and corresponding CTS frame transmission and preamble puncturing is not allowed (e.g., the punctured channel is a 20MHz channel (e.g., EHT BW, PPDU BW) unused within the transmission BW). Therefore, all channels in the transmission BW need to be idle, otherwise no CTS frame is transmitted. )

At 1610, an RTS station (e.g., station 110) senses the channel within the PIFS to determine whether the channel is idle before transmitting an RTS signal to a CTS station (e.g., station 120). Further, CCA ED is sensed for the entire transmission BW using a single transmission BW threshold. For example, if the transmission BW is 80MHz (e.g., four 20MHz channels), the CCA ED is based on a total 80MHz bandwidth, which total 80MHz bandwidth is based on a single threshold. In this example, the RTS station has determined a transmission BW of 80MHz, the primary channel 1630 is available, there are no punctured channels (e.g., no unused 20MHz channels; in other words, all channels need to be available), and the CCA ED for the entire transmission BW of 80MHz meets a single transmission BW threshold. Thus, an RTS frame is transmitted on each of the idle 20MHz channels.

At 1620, a CTS station (e.g., station 120) senses during the same PIFS using the CCA ED of the entire transmission BW to determine whether the CTS frame was later transmitted on all channels making up the transmission BW or only on the primary channel. Further, the CTS frame is transmitted only if the primary channel 1630 is available. Furthermore, the punctured channel is not allowed. Station 110 may use only primary channel 1630 if secondary 20 channel 1640 is busy. The CTS frame is transmitted only in the case where all channels transmitting the RTS frame are available and reserved. In this example, CCA ED indication within the same PIFS: a single transmission BW threshold for the entire 80MHz transmission bandwidth is met, the primary channel 1630 is available, and there is no punctured channel. Thus, the CTS station transmits a CTS frame on the channel over which it received the RTS frame. After receiving the CTS frame, station 110 then transmits data to station 120 in the corresponding channel. Station 120 then transmits a Block Acknowledgement (BA) to station 110.

Fig. 1B illustrates an example 180 of RTS timeout for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, the example 180 may be described using the elements of fig. 1A. For example, any device in system 100 of fig. 1A that receives an RTS frame (e.g., station 150) may reset a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) reservation if the device does not receive a preamble within an RTS timeout value. Example 180 shows an RTS timeout equal to 2 x sifs+cts frame+2 x slot+preamble duration. RTS timeout allows RTS station 110 to start data transmission before other stations can obtain TXOPs. The ability to reset the NAV enables the station 150 to acquire a TXOP on the channel without being blocked by failed CTS frame reception. For example, station 150 may consider the channel idle and initiate TXOP acquisition after a NAV reset.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless system 200 configured for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, system 200 may be described using the elements of FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, system 200 solves the limitation problem of system 1600. For example, system 200 includes station 110 and station 120, which may be APs. A station (e.g., station 110, which may be an AP) may propose a CTS response mode that determines how a CTS station (e.g., station 120, which may be an AP) receiving the RTS frame responds with a CTS frame. In response, the CTS station may accept, reject, and/or propose alternative parameters for the proposed CTS response mode, as described below. In the following example, for convenience, but not limitation, an RTS station is identified as an RTS station 110 and a CTS station is identified as a CTS station 120. Similarly, the device may agree to an RTS transmission mode (e.g., separate configuration values may exist for RTS transmission and CTS transmission).

A High Efficiency (HE) WLAN may include a trigger frame type called a multi-user (MU) -RTS frame. The MU-RTS frame may be used to request CTS frames from one or more STAs and allocate the STAs to transmit the CTS frames on different BW. For example, RTS station 110 may transmit MU-RTS frames that are received by CTS stations 120 and 150 (e.g., specified by RTS station 110). CTS stations 120 and 150 may respond accordingly. This is different from EHT RTS frames that are transmitted only to a separate CTS station 120 or 150 at a time.

Conventionally, the AP transmits a trigger frame, and the STA responds to the trigger frame. In some embodiments, a STA (e.g., RTS station 110) may send a MU-RTS type trigger frame and request a CTS frame from an AP (e.g., CTS station 120) and optionally from other STAs (e.g., CTS station 150) to which the STA (e.g., RTS station 110) may send data. In some embodiments, in an infrastructure BSS, an AP may send a trigger frame, or there may be some optional capability for STAs to send MU-RTS frames, and some optional capability for APs to be able to receive MU-RTS frames. In the event that the AP cannot receive the MU-RTS frame, the STA may reserve the UL TXOP using RTS CTS signaling.

At 210, RTS station 110 transmits a signal to CTS station 120, which includes RTS and CTS capabilities of station 110. The transmission may be present in the association request message or in a separate management frame. Some examples of RTS and CTS capabilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

channels in which stations can send and receive data. For example, a station may indicate a channel in which the station is able to transmit and/or receive an RTS frame or a CTS frame. A non-High Throughput (HT) duplicate PPDU CTS frame may be transmitted to at least one of these channels (e.g., when the channel is idle).

The RTS and/or CTS stations may include multiple radios (e.g., a radio in the 2.4GHz band and another radio in the 5GHz band), and each radio may be capable of receiving a different number of channels or Resource Units (RUs). The station may indicate the number of channels or RUs that each radio is able to receive.

An RTS station may configure the channel as an idle/low interference channel as a channel in which a station (e.g., RTS station 110) may receive CTS frames. This ensures that the channel is mainly available for CTS transmission. The interference level assessment may be based on measurements made during CCA. An RTS station may use a channel if it is able to evaluate the interference level of the channel. In another embodiment, a station may configure the primary channel of other BSSs (overlapping BSSs operating on the same area) as the channel in which the station may receive CTS frames. Using the primary channel of the other BSS as the channel in which the STA can receive the CTS frame ensures that the NAV information is received by the STAs of the overlapping BSSs so that the STA will set the NAV for the duration of the RTS CTS protected transmission.

A minimum set of reserved channels: the minimum number of channels reserved for RTS stations for receiving CTS frames. This may include a primary channel.

Multiple punctured (e.g., there are 20MHz channels that are punctured (e.g., unused) within the EHT BW reservation channel because these channels may have been used by other services: for example, the STA may operate with one, two, or three punctured within the reserved channel. The maximum and minimum dimensions of the perforations may be constructed.

The content of the additional information in the CTS frame. For example, the RTS station may request a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) report for the reserved channel, an estimate of the signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR) of the reserved channel, link adaptation guidance, and/or a recommendation of the reserved channel that is available for transmission (e.g., based on a measurement determined by the CTS station).

The TXOP reservation signaling may be configured to allow MU-RTS or RTS frame transmission or only RTS frame transmission. For example, a STA (e.g., RTS station 110) may request an AP (e.g., CTS station 120) using MU-RTS signaling. In some embodiments, if a STA (e.g., RTS station 110) wishes to transmit to other P2P STAs in the vicinity and allocates a TXOP to transmit to multiple STAs (e.g., CTS stations 120 and 150) via MU-RTS signaling.

The TXOP reservation signaling configuration may be direction dependent, e.g., the initiation may be configured as either UL or DL direction, or as both directions. In some embodiments, an STA (e.g., station 110) may configure an AP (e.g., station 120) to initiate DL TXOPs transmitted to the STA with reservation signaling (e.g., transmission of MU-RTS or RTS signals). This approach may be used if STAs are always difficult to be available due to multi-link operation or transmission in the peer-to-peer connection. In some embodiments, if an AP is difficult to be available during STA transmissions, or if the link to the STA is poor (e.g., poor quality), the AP (e.g., station 120) may configure the STA (e.g., station 110) to use TXOP reservation signaling for UL TXOPs.

In some embodiments, TXOP reservation signaling (e.g., RTS, CTS signaling) is required if the reservation BW is greater than a threshold BW, or if the transmission BW includes a particular channel. This configuration ensures hidden terminal protection for a particular channel.

At 220, CTS station 120 transmits an ACK.

At 230, CTS station 120 transmits RTS and CTS capabilities of CTS station 120 to RTS station 110. Examples of RTS and CTS capabilities are described above at 210.

At 240, RTS station 110 and CTS station 120 configure their respective CTS response modes according to the RTS and CTS capabilities described at 210. For example, RTS station 110 may indicate a minimum EHT BW to reserve to CTS station 120 and indicate on which channels CTS frames may be received. The CTS station 120 checks whether it can meet the minimum EHT BW requested and transmits a CTS frame on the channel indicated by the RST station 110.

At 250, RTS station 110 transmits one or more RTS frames to CTS station 120. The CTS mode response and the reserved channel may be transmitted via one or more of the following: i) A preamble (e.g., scrambling seed) corresponding to the RTS frame; ii) a frame control field of an RTS frame; and/or iii) an address field in an RTS frame. These contents are described below in fig. 9 to 11.

At 260, the CTS station 120 determines how to transmit one or more CTS frames and whether to request any additional information based on the configured CTS response mode.

At 270, CTS station 120 transmits the one or more CTS frames to RTS station 110 along with corresponding content of the additional information in the one or more CTS frames.

At 280, RTS station 110 receives the CTS frame of the corresponding content including the additional information and transmits the data to CTS station 120 in the corresponding channel.

At 290, CTS station 120 transmits an ACK (e.g., block Acknowledgement (BA) to RTS station 110.

Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system 300 having a transceiver for EHT medium reservation, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 3 may be described using the elements of fig. 1A, 1B, and 2. System 300 may be any electronic device of system 100 (e.g., sites 110, 120, 130, 140, and/or site 150). The system 300 may include a processor 310, transceiver 320, communication infrastructure 330, memory 335, and antenna 325 that together perform operations to enable wireless communications, including secure channel estimation. The transceiver 320 transmits and receives communication signals including an RTS frame and/or a CTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments, and may be coupled to the antenna 325. The communication infrastructure 330 may be a bus. Memory 335 may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or cache memory, and may include control logic (e.g., computer software) and/or data. The antenna 325 coupled to the transceiver 320 may include one or more antennas, which may be of the same or different types. Thus, transceiver 320 may include one or more radios of the same or different types. According to some embodiments, processor 310 implements RTS/CTS frames and transmission rules for EHT medium reservation, alone or in combination with memory 335 and/or transceiver 320. For example, processor 310 may transmit an RTS frame and/or a CTS frame based on transmission rules discussed with respect to fig. 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, and 7-14, alone or in combination with transceiver 320 and/or memory 335.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example 400 of auxiliary channel allocation for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 4 may be described using the elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3. In example 400, station 110 may be an RTS station and station 120 may be a CTS station. Example 400 illustrates RTS station 110 (e.g., using Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)) receiving a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on primary channel 470 a. The RTS station 110 may puncture one, two, or three holes in the EHT transmission BW, and each punctured may have a different size (e.g., 20MHz, 40 MHz). The RTS station 110 determines an EHT BW (as described in fig. 2) based on the determined CTS response mode. For example, the RTS station 110 may indicate to the CTS station 120 the combination of reserved channels constituting an EHT BW through which the RTS station 110 transmits an RTS frame and through which it expects to receive a CTS frame.

In some embodiments, RTS station 110 may perform CCA ED for secondary channels utilizing a 20MHz CCA threshold to determine whether the respective secondary channel is clear or busy. This is in contrast to the system 1600 of fig. 16, where in the system 1600, the RTS station performs CCA ED for the entire transmission BW with a single transmission BW threshold. And system 1600 does not allow for puncturing. Just prior to transmitting RTS frame 420, RTS station 110 performs Signal Detection (SD) at the physical layer on the primary channel to synchronize with any Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) preamble detected. RTS station 110 performs CCA ED for each secondary 20MHz channel to determine whether they are clear or busy.

RTS station 110 performs CCA ED for secondary channels 470b through 470h within PIFS 450. Each secondary channel 470 b-470 h may be idle or busy. In example 400, CCA ED measurements 410b, 410e, 410f, and 410g indicate that their corresponding secondary channels 470b, 470e, 470f, and 470g are clear, and CCA measurements 405c, 405d, and 405h indicate that their corresponding secondary channels 470c, 470d, and 470h are busy, as compared to their respective channel thresholds. Thus, RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 420a, 420b, 420e, 420f, and 420g to CTS station 120. The RTS frame 420 includes an indication of the combination of reserved channels that make up the EHT BW. The reserved channel indicates a channel in which the CTS frame is to be transmitted.

The CTS station 120 may receive one or more RTS frames 420 and, if the address of the CTS station 120 is the same as the Receiver Address (RA) included in the RTS frame 420, the CTS station 120 may respond with a CTS frame. If the CTS station 120 determines, via CCA ED, that the corresponding channel is clear, a CTS frame may be transmitted to the channel that received the RTS frame 420. CTS station 120 uses the Transmitter Address (TA) included in RTS frame 420 as the RA in the corresponding CTS frame.

In example 400, CTS station 120 determines that the RA in RTS frame 420 is the address of CTS station 120, and CTS station 120 performs CCA ED for the corresponding secondary channel. For example, CTS station 120 may perform CCA ED for secondary channels 470 b-470 h using a CCA threshold corresponding to a 20MHz channel within a short inter-frame space (SIFS) 460. This is different from the CTS station of system 1600 that utilizes the same PIFS as the RTS station. Moreover, the CCA threshold in example 400 corresponds to a 20MHz channel, rather than the entire transmission BW threshold of system 1600. In some embodiments, CTS station 120 may perform CCA ED for secondary channels 470 b-470 h within the same PIFS as RTS station 110 but using a CCA threshold corresponding to each 20MHz channel instead of the entire EHT BW.

In example 400, CTS station 120 determines that CCA ED measurements 430c, 430d, 430e, and 430f indicate that corresponding secondary channels 470c, 470d, 470e, and 470f are clear as compared to their respective channel thresholds. CTS station 120 determines that the received RTS frame does not include secondary channel 470c or 470d as a reserved channel. Further, even if RTS frame 420g is received, CCA ED measurements 425b, 425g, and 425h of cts station 120 indicate that the corresponding secondary channels 470b, 470g, and 470h are busy. Thus, CTS station 120 transmits CTS frames 440e, 440f along with CTS 440a to RTS station 110 via their respective channels. This differs from system 1600 in that CTS station 120 may transmit a CTS frame on a subset of reserved channels that are idle and thus available to CTS station 120.

RTS station 110 receives CTS frames 440a, 440e, and 440f and then transmits data to CTS station 120 on the corresponding channel.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary 500 Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) threshold for an EHT BW for EHT medium reservation in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 5 may be described using the elements of fig. 1A, 1B, and 2-4. Example 500 identifies a CCA ED threshold for EHT BW. During SD, the receiver discovers, locks, and begins decoding IEEE 802.11 compliant signals. SD may be the minimum sensitivity level. RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may perform CCA ED for each 20MHz channel to sense whether the channel is clear or busy.

In some embodiments, RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may sense CCA ED for larger BW and based on CCA thresholds listed in the BW usage table. For example, EHT protocol (e.g., IEEE 802. Be) transmissions use the 80MHz band as the basis for 160MHz, 240MHz, and 320MHz transmissions. In one example, RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may use CCA threshold 510 for a larger EHT BW and a CCA threshold for each 20 MHz. RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may determine different clear channels based on corresponding CCA ED measurements. The station may perform CCA measurements for each 20MHz and larger BW substantially simultaneously and combine the clear indications of the two CCA estimates. The station may calculate a number of alternatives for the clear channel configuration by using CCA and select a mode that meets the configured RTS/CTS response criteria. In general, in idle transmission bandwidth selection, larger transmission bandwidths, fewer punctured are preferred.

Fig. 6A illustrates an example 600 of static puncturing signaling for EHT medium reservation with a disabled channel, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 6A may be described using the elements of fig. 1A, 1B, and 2-5. Example 600 illustrates how the RTS frame and CTS frame may send static puncturing that signals that the channel is disabled. Examples of CTS response modes including transmission of static puncturing using preambles corresponding to RTS frames and/or CTS frames are shown below in fig. 9-11. For example, the AP may signal which channels are forbidden channels within the Basic Service Set (BSS). RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may transmit the disable channel via a CTS response mode with a PHY preamble coupled to the RTS frame and/or CTS frame.

In example 600, RTS station 110 transmits an RTS frame to CTS station 120 (e.g., station 120, which may be an AP). Example 600 includes a primary channel 610a, a secondary 20 channel 610b, a disable channel 615, and an upper secondary 40 channel 610d.

At 605, CCA ED is performed for the unpunched secondary channel within the PIFS and SD is performed for the primary channel 610 a. In example 600, RTS frames 620a, 620b, and 620d are transmitted to CTS station 120 on corresponding channels (primary channel 610a, secondary 20 channel 610b, and upper secondary 40 channel 610 d).

At 607, CTS station 120 performs CCA ED for the secondary channel that is not punctured and SD for primary channel 610a within SIFS. Subsequently, CTS station 120 transmits CTS frames 630a, 630b, and 630d to RTS station 110. After another SIFS, RTS station 110 transmits data 650a, 650b, and 650d in a channel corresponding to the received CTS frame. After another SIFS, CTS station 120 transmits Block Acknowledgements (BAs) 670a, 670b, and 670d to RTS station 110.

Fig. 6B illustrates an example 680 of CTS signaling when a primary channel is busy with an EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 6B may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, and 6A. Example 680 is similar to example 600 of fig. 6A, but disabling channel 615 is replaced with lower auxiliary 40 channel 610c. In example 680, RTS station 110 determines that lower secondary 40 channel 610c is idle within the PIFS and transmits RTS frame 620c to CTS station 120. The CTS station 120 determines that the lower secondary 40 channel 610c is idle within SIFS and transmits a CTS frame 630c to the RTS station 110. The data 650c, SIFS 660c, and BA 670c follow in time as shown by the duration of NAV 680 from the start of the RTS frame 620 transmission.

In example 680, CTS station 120 performs SD on primary channel 610a and determines that primary channel 610a is busy. Thus, the CTS station 120 does not transmit CTS frames on the primary channel 610 a. However, CTS stations 120 determine that secondary channels 610b, 610c, and 610d are idle and transmit CTS frames 630b, 630c, and 630d to RTS stations 110 in the corresponding secondary channels even when primary channel 610a is busy. Thus, example 680 differs from system 1600 of fig. 16 in that in system 1600, the CTS frame is always transmitted in the primary channel.

Similar to example 600, example 680 includes RTS station 110 transmitting data 650c and 650d to CTS station 120. Unlike example 600, example 680 shows that RTS station 110 can transmit data 655a and 655b to different stations (e.g., station 150 of fig. 1) on primary channel 610a and secondary 20 channel 610 b. Note that all of the transmissions including BAs 670a through 670d follow in time for the duration of NAV 680 from the start of the RTS 620 transmission. In some embodiments, the CTS station 120 determines that the lower secondary 40 channel 610c is busy and does not transmit a CTS frame 630c. Thus, RTS station 110 may choose to transmit data to other stations (e.g., station 130 of fig. 1) that will replace data 650c (not shown).

Fig. 6C illustrates an example 690 of RU reception in multiple channels for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, and not limitation, fig. 6C may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, and 6B.

RTS station 110 receives RUs (e.g., transmissions) on primary channel 610 a. As previously described, a station may include multiple radios (e.g., a radio in the 2.4GHz band and another radio in the 5GHz band), and each radio may be capable of receiving a different number of RUs (e.g., transmissions). RTS station 110 may indicate the number of RUs that each radio can receive in the preamble and/or RTS frame, as well as the channel in which RTS station 110 may receive the CTS frame. These indications are described below in fig. 9-11. For example, RTS frame 620 (and/or a preamble corresponding to RTS frame 620) may include RX 613a of an RU and RX 613d of an RU, both of which indicate a number of RUs that RTS station 110 may receive on different radios (e.g., on different frequency bands), and the number may be the same or different on different radios. As shown in fig. 6C, CTS frame 630d transmitted in response to RX 613d of the RU enables RTS station 110 to reserve the RU on upper secondary 40 channel 610 d.

Rules for selecting a channel in which RTS station 110 may receive an RU (e.g., upper secondary 40 channel 610 d) may include, but are not limited to, the following: i) A maximum supplemental channel for a maximum or minimum number of channels; ii) the channel closest or farthest to the primary channel 610a among the largest secondary channels; or iii) channels that are X channels higher or lower than the main channel 610 a. If another channel is not suitable for the PPDU, the maximum available channel may be used as another channel in which the RTS station 110 receives the RU.

Example 690 also illustrates dynamic puncturing 637 of alternate CTS frame 630 b. In this puncturing mode, CTS frame transmission may be configured to be transmitted in a mode in which other channels are considered primary channels. For example, another channel (e.g., upper supplemental 40 channel 610 d) is considered a temporary primary channel that defines the frequencies of a temporary supplemental 20 channel, supplemental 40 channel, supplemental 80 channel, third 80 channel, fourth 80MHz channel. Therefore, in the case of the temporary main channel, the same channel usage rule as that for the main channel may also be applied. Similarly, puncturing rules may be applied to these temporary channels.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example 700 of a dual RTS and CTS reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 7 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, or 6C. In example 700, RTS station 110 may transmit an RTS frame to two or more different stations (e.g., stations 120 and 150, which may be APs) on an idle channel to obtain enough channels to transmit data. Based on the CTS frame received by RTS station 110, RTS station 110 may transmit data in corresponding channels that may be via two or more different stations.

Example 700 includes a primary channel and a secondary channel as described in example 400 of fig. 4, where primary channel 470a may use EDCA to acquire a TXOP. In this example, RTS station 110 (TXOP holder) determines an EHT BW of 120MHz to reserve. RTS station 110 performs CCA within the PIFS and determines that channels 470a through 470h are idle and transmits RTS frames 710a through 710h indicating reserved channels constituting EHT BW to CTS station 120 on the corresponding channels. CTS station 120 determines that channels 470a, 470e, and 470f are idle within SIFS and transmits CTS frames 720a, 720e, and 720f to RTS station 110, indicating that 60MHz BW is available. RTS station 110 determines that 60MHz is still needed and RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 730 a-730 h to another CTS station 150 (which may be an AP) on an idle channel. CTS station 150 determines that channels 470a, 470b, 470g, and 470h are idle and transmits CTS frames 740a, 740b, 740g, and 740h to RTS station 110, indicating that 80MHz BW is available. RTS station 110 determines which of the available 20MHz channels are preferred. For example, RTS station 110 selects between CTS station 120 or CTS station 150 on primary channel 470 a. In this example, RTS station 110 selects CTS station 120. Thus, RTS station 110 transmits data 725a, 725e, and 725f to CTS station 120 in a single combined transmission, and data 745b, 745g, and 745h to CTS station 150 on corresponding channels for a total of 120MHz BW.

In example 700, a long NAV 760 extends from a first RTS frame 710 until an acknowledgement (not shown) of data 725 and data 745 is received by RTS station 110. The second RTS frame 730 prevents other stations, such as station 130 of fig. 1 receiving RTS frame 710, from canceling the long NAV 760. If the CTS station 150 does not hear any transmission after the RTS frame 730 within the RTS timeout (see fig. 1B above), the CTS station 150 may perform a NAV reset 750 on the secondary channels 470c and 470d to attempt to obtain the TXOP. In other words, only the channel used by RTS station 110 is reserved. In summary, the NAV reset rule is the same after two RTS frames, and the second RTS frame prevents NAV reset from the first RTS frame.

Fig. 8 illustrates another example 800 of a dual RTS and CTS reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 8 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7. Similar to example 700, in RTS station 110 of example 800, a TXOP holder wants to transmit data utilizing an EHT BW of 120 MHz. However, in example 800, RTS station 110 transmits RTS frame 710a to CTS station 120 only on the primary channel. CTS station 120 receives RTS frame 710a and determines that channels 470a, 470e, and 470f are idle within SIFS and transmits CTS frames 720a, 720e, and 720f to RTS station 110, indicating that 60MHz BW is available. RTS station 110 determines that 60MHz is still needed and RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 730 a-730 h to another CTS station 150 (which may be an AP) on an idle channel. CTS station 150 determines that channels 470a, 470b, 470g, and 470h are idle and transmits CTS frames 740a, 740b, 740g, and 740h to RTS station 110, indicating that 80MHz BW is available. RTS station 110 determines which of the available 20MHz channels are preferred. For example, RTS station 110 selects between CTS station 120 or CTS station 150 on primary channel 470 a. Thus, RTS station 110 transmits data 725a, 725e, and 725f to CTS station 120 in a single combined transmission, and data 745b, 745g, and 745h to CTS station 150 on corresponding channels for a total of 120MHz BW.

In example 800, RTS STA 110 may send only RTS frame 710a, receive CTS frames 720a, 720e, 720f, and transmit data (e.g., 725a, 725e, 725 f) on the channel on which CTS is received.

In example 800, CTS station 150 does not have to reset the NAV for channels within 810 to which RTS is not transmitted. Similar to example 700, the NAV is reset on the channel, after which the CTS frames 740c and 740d or the received data 745c and 745d are not transmitted.

To support EHT medium reservation, some embodiments include modifying address fields or scrambler seed bits of at least the RTS frame and CTS frame, as shown in table 1 below.

TABLE 1 RTS and CTS formats for EHT Medium reservation

As described above in fig. 1B, if the RTS frame channel reservation is unsuccessful, the RTS timeout allows the station detecting the RTS frame to reset its NAV. Some embodiments include an RTS frame with a modified address field including EHT medium reservation information, and a CTS frame including a new field. Some embodiments include using the scrambler seed bit to include EHT information in both the RTS frame and the CTS frame. These embodiments are described below in figures 9 through 11.

Fig. 9 illustrates an RTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 9 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, or 8. Example 900 illustrates an RTS frame format for EHT medium reservation that includes a preamble 905, a duration, a frame control 910, a Receiver Address (RA) 920, a Transmitter Address (TA) 930, and a Frame Check Sequence (FCS). Although the format of example 900 is consistent with a conventional RTS format, the information therein is different. For example, bit B11 within frame control 910 is used for EHT RTS indication 915 and TA 930 supports EHT medium reservation, as described below.

The EHT RTS indication 915 may be a bit within the frame control 910 shown below. The single bit field within the frame control 910 field may be set to "1" to indicate that the RTS frame supports EHT medium reservation. For example, an RTS station may transmit an RTS frame, where bit 11 (retry bit) may be set to '1' to indicate to a CTS station that the RTS frame includes EHT medium reservation information. Other bits may be used.

Fig. 9 also includes a TA 930, wherein the TA 930 may be referred to as an EHT BW and puncture (BnP) signaling address. Two examples of TA 930 are described below: TA 930A and TA 930B. TA 930A includes color value 945, 802.11be signaling information 960 (e.g., EHT medium reservation signaling information), and MAC address 965.MAC address 965 includes MAC address bits. A locally managed/global address 950 and a single/set of bits 955 are reserved. Color value 945 includes 6 bits with a unique value for BSS. Color value 945 may be used to reduce the risk of collision with the MAC address.

The reserved channel to which the RTS frame is transmitted (and which constitutes the EHT BW) is identified as a bitmap carried within the 2 octet long 802.11be signaling information 960. The lowest bit may indicate the lowest channel in which RTS station 110 operates. A value of "1" in a bit of the bitmap indicates that the RTS frame is transmitted to the channel, and a value of "0" indicates that the RTS frame is not transmitted to the channel. The bitmap also indicates RU puncturing information for stations supporting EHT medium reservation.

TA 930B includes a hashed sum of 802.11be signaling information 970 and MAC address 975. In TA 930B, 802.11be signaling information 970 includes 3 octets: color value 945, locally managed/global address 950, and single/set bits 955, as described above. Both TAs 930A and 930B may be used in conjunction with a 3-bit scrambler seed bit for IEEE 802.ac, as shown in table 1 above. The scrambler seed bits are found in the preamble 905 and the 3 bits used corresponding to the RTS channel reservation request are shown in table 2 below.

TABLE 2 scrambler seed bits for RTS channel reservation request

The TA 930 may be referred to as an EHT BW and puncture (BnP) signaling address and the following table 3 indicates how the AP and station utilize an EHT BnP signaling address with an EHT RTS indication 915. When an AP is a station, the MAC address of the AP is always present. For example, when the AP is an RTS station and transmits an RTS frame to reserve EHT medium, the Transmission Address (TA) field of the RTS frame includes the MAC address of the AP and the Receiver Address (RA) field of the RTS frame includes an EHT BnP signaling address (e.g., TA 930A or TA 930B) with an EHT RTS indication (915). When the AP is a CTS station that receives an RTS frame requesting EHT medium reservation, the AP MAC address is present in the RA field of the RTS frame and the TA field of the RTS frame includes an EHT BnP signaling address (e.g., TA 930A or TA 930B) with an EHT RTS indication 915. When station 1 (e.g., RTS station 110) transmits to station 2 (e.g., CTS station 120) when it will request an RTS frame for EHT medium reservation, the TA field includes TA 930A or TA 930B with an EHT RTS indication 915.

TABLE 3 EHTBW and puncture (BnP) Signaling Address

Fig. 10 illustrates a CTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 10 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, 8, or 9. Example 1000 illustrates a CTS frame of system 1600 of fig. 16, including preamble 1005, frame control, duration, RA 1020, and FCS. CTS frames 1030 and 1050 illustrate CTS frames for EHT medium reservation including information and additional fields of example 1000. The CTS frame 1050 includes the frame control, duration, and FCS of example 1000. PPDU preamble 1005 includes service 1035 field and scrambler seed 1100 of fig. 11 below example 1000. Preamble 905 is equal to preamble 1005. Reserved channel 1040 is a bitmap indicating channels on which CTS frame 1050 was repeated and transmitted. RA 1038 is shown as expanding at the bottom of fig. 10 and is substantially the same as TA 930A or TA 930B of fig. 9. When CTS station 120 receives the RTS frame including TA 930, CTS station 120 inserts TA 930 into RA 1038.

The CTS frame 1030 includes a CTS frame 1050 and additional CTS information 1045.CTS information 1045 may include, but is not limited to, the following: link adaptation recommendation, buffer status report/real-time packet information, NAV information for busy channels, an indication to RTS station 110 to reduce the transmission rate, and/or feedback to RTS station 110.

Table 3 above indicates how the AP and station utilize an EHT BnP signaling address (e.g., TA 930) with an EHT RTS indication 915 for RA 1020. For example, RTS station 110 may identify the EHT BnP signaling address of RTS station 110 in received CTS frame 1030 or 1050 by checking a hash of MAC address 975. The duration of CTS frame 1030 or 1050 is included within the RTS timeout, as described above in fig. 1B.

As described above in table 1, some embodiments described above in fig. 9 and 10 describe an EHT RTS indication 915, an RTS TA 930 equal to CTS RA 1038, a CTS reserved channel 1040, and CTS information 1045.

Fig. 11A illustrates a scrambler seed format corresponding to RTS and CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, fig. 11A presents a scrambler seed format that may be used in conjunction with EHT RTS indication 915 (e.g., using TA from IEEE 802.11ac and/or TA 930A or 930B.) for convenience and not limitation, fig. 11A and 11B may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The TA from IEEE 802.11ac signals using single/grouped bits 955 whether to use the scrambling seed signal bandwidth information as shown in scrambler seed format 1120.

The scrambler seed 1100 may be included in the preamble 905 of fig. 9 and the preamble 1005 of fig. 10. The station uses the EHT RTS indication 915 to detect an RTS frame and a CTS frame that can support EHT medium reservation. When the CTS station 120 can indicate reserved bandwidth with an IEEE 802.11CTS frame, then the CTS frame should use a scrambler seed format 1120, as shown in the first row of table 1.

The scrambler seed format 1140 may be used to carry additional information about RTS frames or CTS frames. For the RTS frame, if the CTS station can transmit the CTS frame without reserving the primary channel, the RTS station 110 may set the desired primary channel 1142 to "0". For the CTS frame, if the CTS frame is not transmitted on the primary channel, the CTS station 120 may set the desired primary channel 1142 to "0". The two bits, #1144 at 80MHz80/160/240/320 indicate to the EHT BW whether the PPDU preamble is transmitted on channels in the range of primary 80MHz, primary 160MHz, primary 240MHz, or primary 320MHz that are multiples of 80 MHz. For example, for main 240mhz,80mhz80/160/240/320 #1144 value=2, as shown in fig. 11B. Each RTS and CTS frame is identical for each 80MHz band. The transmitted 80MHz puncture bitmap 1148 indicates which channels to puncture for each 80MHz band (e.g., RTS and CTS frames transmitted in the primary 80MHz indicate that these channels are punctured). Fig. 11B illustrates a puncture bitmap 1150 for RTS and CTS frames corresponding to reservation of EHT media according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, different 80MHz bands are identified as 1152, 1154, 1156 and 1158.

CTS stations 120 that receive the RTS frame may receive one RTS frame per 80MHz channel. RTS stations 110 receiving CTS frames may receive one CTS frame per 80MHz channel. For an EHT BW of 240MHz, CTS station 120 may receive three different RTS frames, where each RTS frame uses bits B3 through B6 to identify the puncturing bitmap of the corresponding 80MHz channel: i) The first RTS frame includes a first scrambler seed format 1140 corresponding to 80mhz 1152; ii) the second RTS frame includes a second scrambler seed format 1140 corresponding to 80mhz 1154; and iii) the third RTS frame includes a third scrambler seed format 1140 corresponding to 80mhz 1156. Similar transmission occurs for CTS frames.

The scrambler seed format 1160 may be used to carry additional information about the RTS frame or CTS frame. Perforations 1162 indicate the size of the perforations: "0" -unpunched; punching at 1-20 MHz; punching at 2-40 MHz; and "3" -80 MHz perforation. The PPDU preamble (e.g., preamble 905 of example 900 or preamble 1005 of example 1000) may have different values per 80MHz bandwidth, e.g., each 80MHz of transmission bandwidth may carry different values per scrambler seed format 1160 of preamble 905 or 1005. RTS station 110 uses CCA to consider which channels to puncture for each 80MHz BW separately. When either RTS station 110 or CTS station 120 receives scrambler seed format 1160, either RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120, respectively, uses the CCA to determine the energy in each 20MHz channel. The receiver uses this energy to determine the 20MHz channel in which the preamble can be received. The receiver should receive at least one PPDU preamble (e.g., preamble 905 or preamble 1005) in each 80MHz of the EHT transmission BW. CTS station 120 uses received scrambler seed format 1160 of the RTS frame for each 80MHz of RTS EHT transmission BW to determine which channels the RTS frame is transmitted to. CTS station 120 may respond to the RTS frame and transmit a CTS frame containing a different scrambler seed format 1160 for each 80MHz BW. When RTS station 110 receives such CTS frames, RTS station 110 compares the detected energy to the value of puncturing 1162 to verify the channel in which the preamble of the CTS frame was transmitted, and uses the scrambler seed format 1160 of the CTS frame to determine the corresponding reserved and punctured channel in each of the 80MHz channels.

For the RTS frame, the RTS station 110 may set the required primary channel 1162 to "0" if the CTS station may transmit the CTS frame without reserving the primary channel, and the RTS station 110 may set the required primary channel 1162 to "1" if the primary channel needs to be reserved and used to transmit the CTS frame. For the CTS frame, if the CTS frame is not transmitted on a primary channel, the CTS station 120 may set the desired primary channel 1162 to "0" or set the desired primary channel to "1" to indicate that the CTS frame is transmitted on a primary channel. The dynamic BW 1166 indicates whether a CTS frame may be transmitted to any subset of the BW in which an RTS frame is transmitted. BW 20/40/80/160/240/320 1168 indicates the EHT transport BW of a frame carrying the information shown in Table 4 below.

Table 4.Bw field encoding

BW 80MHz 80/160/240/320 1184 indicates to the EHT BW whether the PPDU preamble is transmitted on channels in the primary 80MHz, primary 160MHz, primary 240MHz or primary 320MHz range that are multiples of 80 MHz. For example, for main 240mhz,80mhz 80/160/240/320 #1144 value=2, as shown in fig. 11B.

The scrambler seed format 1180 may be used to carry additional information regarding RTS frames or CTS frames. Reservation configuration #1182 indicates a configuration for a particular BW. For simple reservations, a scrambler seed format 1120 (e.g., IEEE 802.11ac scrambler seed format) may be used (see table 2 above). Each reservation configuration #1182 value signals at least the following: i) EHT BW and a channel in which RTS is transmitted; ii) an allowable response and/or an allowable reserved preference order for channels in which CTS frames may be transmitted in response; and iii) a listening auxiliary channel in which RTS station 110 may receive CTS. RTS and/or CTS frame configuration settings may be specified in 802.11be or RTS station 110 and/or CTS station 120 may configure these settings. For example, reservation #1182 may be of the type CTS response mode as described in figure 2. For example, reservation configuration # values 0 to 16 may be specified for each BW. In some embodiments, RTS station 110 specifies the station's configuration for its link during association and/or in RTS or CTS reservation configuration # 1182.

In some embodiments, bit B3 of scrambler seed 1100 may be used to signal BW reservation. In this case, the reservation may use 3 or 4 bits to signal BW or punctured BW. If 3 bits are used, bit B4 may signal whether the feature BW allocation is static or dynamic. For static BW reservations, CTS station 120 may send CTS only if CTS station 120 can reserve all resources in which to transmit RTS. If a static/dynamic bit (e.g., bit b4=0) does not exist, the reservation is considered dynamic (e.g., CTS station 120 attempts to maximize the reserved BW, but CTS station 120 may reserve a smaller BW than requested by RTS station 110). For example, 3-bit BW usage may be applied, as shown in table 4.

In some embodiments, the scrambler bits of the RTS and/or CTS frames in the primary channel 20MHz (P20) channel and the secondary channel 20MHz (S20) channel may have different values. The 40MHz wide RTS pattern is repeated throughout the BW of the frame. The scrambler bits B3-B6 are used in both P20 RTS and S20 RTS and/or the CTS frame may signal all 8-bit information.

Fig. 17 illustrates an example 1700 of service field bit allocation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The example 1700 may be the service 1035 of fig. 10. The example 1700 may include a scrambler initialization 1710 that includes 7 bits. Examples of these 7 bits include the scrambler seed example shown in fig. 11A. The example 1700 also includes reserved service bits 1720. Any of the bits in the two octets of example 1700 may be used to convey similar BW information. For example, reservation service bits 1720 (9 bits available) may be used to signal BW reservation. The example 1700 bit may be set to 0 in the RTS frame, but some earlier proprietary solutions use these bits to signal. In some implementations (e.g., 802.11be cases), the RTS frame may be used after association and RTS signaling establishment. Thus, these bits can be used without risk of interoperability problems. In some embodiments, scrambler initialization 1710 bits may be used with reserved service bits 1720 to signal BW configuration.

In some embodiments, the signaled BW allocation may not be able to reserve all possible BW and puncture combinations. However, BW signaling should be able to signal at least the following reservations:

a) Unpunched basic BW (e.g., 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz,

240MHz, 320MHz reservation

b) The punctured BW should cover the small BW configuration, but some of the puncturing configurations for the large BW may be skipped. Large BW is unlikely to be available and operations in large BW may be complex. The reservation STA may use a smaller BW configuration if a smaller BW is available.

c) Some embodiments include reserving a BW with one punctured BW. Some embodiments include reserving a BW including two or more perforations.

Fig. 11C illustrates an example 1185 of a signaling combination corresponding to an RTS and CTS frame for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. BW signaling may be implemented using a number of principles. In some examples, BW may be listed and each BW entry numbered by a value signaled with scrambler initialization 1710 bit or reserved service bit 1720 of example 1700. In some implementations, the configuration table of bit values may indicate a combination of bandwidth and corresponding puncturing patterns. The receiver and transmitter may exchange configuration tables or be provided with configuration tables before exchanging BW reservations. Example 1185 shows exemplary bit values of BW and puncturing patterns up to 320MHz BW. In example 1185, a 14-bit value is used to signal the reservation BW and the corresponding puncturing pattern. For example, bit value=2 indicates a bandwidth request of 80MHz, where S20 is punctured. Bit value = 3 indicates a bandwidth request of 80MHz, where the S40-1 (e.g., lower) band is punctured. The reservation model may be generalized to more combinations of reservation BW and corresponding puncturing patterns, particularly according to the bit combinations available for example 1700.

Fig. 11D illustrates an example 1190 of a puncturing configuration corresponding to RTS and CTS frames, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, fig. 11D shows the number of puncturing configurations required to reserve most configurations for 320MHz BW. Fig. 11D lists a total of 48 cases (e.g., sum the last column). For example, for a bandwidth reservation of 80MHz, there may be 4 cases: not punching; or 20MHz puncturing in the S20, S40-1 or S40-2 bands. When reserving 160MHz BW, puncturing is possible for the 20MHz or 40MHz bands, as shown in example 1190, resulting in a total of 11 possible configurations. For 240MHz and 320MHz BW reservations, there is a 40MHz puncture BW option and an additional puncture 20MHz BW. To achieve these reservations, there should be a total of 6 bits (64 values) for the BW reservation (e.g., to accommodate 48 cases).

In other embodiments of BW signaling, some bits may define the BW size, and other bits may be related bits configuring the punctured bands within the BW. In some embodiments, the reservation BW is identified by a number of bits, as shown in fig. 11E. In addition, BW punctured signaling may utilize different bits (not shown).

Fig. 11E illustrates an example 1195 of bit values corresponding to RTS and CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, there may be bits B3, B5, and B6 of scrambler seed 1100 transmitting reserved BW, as shown in example 1195, and bits in reserved service bit 1720 of example 1700 may be configured for puncturing of BW (not shown). BW puncturing may be an optional capability if RTS and CTS transmitters support. For example, BW puncturing may be signaled using 4 bits. Some of the larger BW may have two BW indications to allow the bandwidth to have 32 puncture options. As shown in fig. 11D, 160MHz may use 11 puncturing patterns, 240MHz may use 14 puncturing options (e.g., 8 cases and 6 alternatives from the second row to the last row), and 320MHz may use 17 puncturing options (e.g., 11 cases and 6 alternatives from the last row). The puncture option is shown as the letter P in a particular channel. In each perforation option, one hole (e.g., one channel with P) is perforated. The number of such options is shown in the rightmost column. The primary channel is not punctured in any BW.

Fig. 11D may illustrate exemplary signaling of bandwidth. Different bits may be used for puncturing in the signaled specific BW. In this case, the puncturing configuration depends on the BW indication (e.g., different bandwidths may have different sized punctured channels and different numbers of puncturing options as shown in fig. 11E.) for example, there may be two sets of configuration signaling for 320MHz and 240MHz bandwidths to reduce the number of bits needed to signal the puncturing configuration. Puncturing may be signaled such that a puncture bit value of 0 indicates that no puncturing occurs in BW. The value 1 may read the first P of the sequence signaling BW and increment the punch bit value until all configurations are signaled. Thus, to signal all 17 alternatives of 320MHz, puncturing will be done with 5 bits, or 4 bits are used for puncturing if 320MHz BW can be signaled with 2 values.

Fig. 12 illustrates a method 1200 for an RTS station for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 12 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7-11. For example, an RTS station may be RTS station 110 or system 300.

At 1205, RTS station 110 transmits RTS and CTS capabilities to the second electronic device. For example, RTS station 110 may transmit RTS and/or CTS capabilities of RTS station 110 to CTS station 120.

At 1210, RTS station 110 receives RTS and CTS capabilities of a second electronic device (e.g., an Access Point (AP) or another station). For example, the second electronic device may be a CTS station, such as CTS station 120.

At 1215, RTS station 110 configures a CTS response mode for RTS station 110 based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first and second electronic devices (e.g., based on the RTS and CTS capabilities of RTS station 110 and CTS station 120). The CTS response mode may include various RTS and CTS rules including, but not limited to, use and interpretation of fields and corresponding values, including, but not limited to, the examples shown in fig. 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, and 7-11.

At 1220, RTS station 110 obtains one or more transmission opportunities (TXOPs) on the primary channel.

At 1225, RTS station 110 performs CCA for the primary channel using a corresponding 20MHz CCA threshold within the PIFS and/or performs CCA for the entire EHT BW using an EHT BW CCA threshold within the PIFS, wherein the EHT BW includes channels that are multiples of 80MHz, and wherein the EHT BW CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold. The RTS station 110 determines that the primary channel is idle and/or one or more channels corresponding to the EHT BW are idle based at least on the performing.

Based on these determinations, RTS station 110 selects a corresponding idle 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmission of a corresponding RTS frame (e.g., selects a secondary channel for transmission of a first RTS frame and/or selects a primary channel for transmission of a second RTS frame).

At 1235, the RTS station 110 transmits a first RTS frame to the second electronic device on the secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame may include EHT BW channel reservations of one or more punctured channels according to the CTS response mode indication. For example, the EHT BW channel reservation may: i) The identification is made in TA 930A or TA 930B of fig. 9, alone or in combination with table 2. Scrambler seed bits for RTS channel reservation request; or ii) in a scrambler seed format (such as 1140, 1160, or 1180 of fig. 11). The first RTS frame may include an EHT RTS indication 915 of fig. 9 to indicate that the first RTS frame is capable of EHT medium reservation.

At 1240, RTS station 110 receives a first CTS frame from the second electronic device on the supplemental channel, wherein the supplemental channel is included in the BW channel reservation. For example, the first CTS frame may be a CTS frame 1030 that may include a reserved channel 1040 field to signal to the channel to which the CTS frame is transmitted or a CTS frame 1050 of fig. 10.

At 1245, in response to receiving the first CTS frame, RTS station 110 transmits the first data to the second electronic device over the secondary channel.

At 1250, RTS station 110 transmits a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on the primary channel, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical. In some embodiments, the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are transmitted substantially simultaneously.

At 1255, when a CTS frame is not received in response to a second RTS frame on the primary channel, RTS station 110 transmits second data to a third electronic device (e.g., different from the second electronic device) on the primary channel. Even if CTS station 120 finds the primary channel busy and cannot send a CTS frame in response to a secondary RTS frame, RTS station 110 can utilize the primary channel to transmit data to a different station, such as station 150.

At 1260, RTS station 110 maintains a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) based on the second RTS frame transmitted on the primary channel.

At 1265, RTS station 110 receives a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the second data for the duration of the NAV.

Fig. 13 illustrates a method of RTS stations for a dual RTS and CTS reservation scheme for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 13 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7-12. For example, an RTS station may be RTS station 110 or system 300. In this example, RTS station 110 may want to reserve 120MHz EHT BW (e.g., six 20MHz channels). If the RTS station 110 transmits an RTS frame to the first CTS station but does not receive enough CTS frames from the first CTS station, the RTS station 110 may transmit an RTS frame to the second CTS station in an attempt to obtain enough CTS frames to send a signal satisfying a 120MHz EHT BW including data transmitted to the first CTS station and the second CTS station.

At 1305, the RTS station 110 transmits a first set of RTS frames to a third electronic device (e.g., CTS station 150) on an idle channel reserved for EHT BW channels.

At 1310, after transmitting the first set of RTS frames, the RTS station 110 receives a first set of CTS frames from the third electronic device corresponding to a first subset of channels reserved for EHT BW channels. For example, RTS station 110 may receive three CTS frames from CTS station 150.

At 1315, RTS station 110 transmits a second set of RTS frames to the second electronic device (e.g., CTS station 120) on the idle channel reserved for the EHT BW channel and/or transmits a second RTS frame (e.g., the second set of RTS frames may include the second RTS frame) on the primary channel to the second electronic device.

At 1320, after transmitting the second set of RTS frames and/or the second RTS frame, the RTS station 110 receives a second set of CTS frames from the second electronic device corresponding to a second subset of channels reserved for EHT BW channels. For example, the second set of CTS frames may include 4 CTS frames.

At 1325, the RTS station 110 transmits a combined EHT BW that includes first data on a portion of a first subset of channels and second data on a portion of a second subset of channels. For example, RTS station 110 may transmit data in 3 channels corresponding to CTS frames of CTS station 150 and transmit data in 3 channels corresponding to some of CTS frames of CTS station 120. Other combinations may also constitute a 120MHz EHT BW.

At 1330, RTS station 110 maintains a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) for channels corresponding to the first data and the second data based at least on the transmitted first set of RTS frames.

Fig. 14 illustrates a method for a CTS station for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 14 may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, 6B, 6C, or 7-13. For example, the CTS station may be CTS station 120 or system 300.

At 1405, the CTS station 120 receives the RTS and CTS capabilities of the second electronic device (e.g., station).

At 1410, the CTS station 120 transmits RTS and CTS capabilities of a first electronic device (e.g., another station or Access Point (AP)).

At 1415, the CTS station 120 configures a CTS response mode of the first electronic device based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first and second electronic devices.

At 1420, the CTS station 120 receives one or more RTS frames from the second electronic device on the primary channel and one or more secondary channels, wherein the RTS frame indicates an EHT BW channel reservation that may include punctured channels.

At 1430, the CTS station 120 performs Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) for the primary and secondary channels using a CCA threshold corresponding to the 20MHz channel for a short interframe space (SIFS). In some embodiments, the CTS station 120 performs CCA for the entire EHT BW within the SIFS using a single EHT CCA threshold, where the EHT CCA threshold is different from the CCA threshold corresponding to the 20MHz channel. The CTS station 120 determines, based at least on the execution: i) The primary channel is busy (and thus the CTS frame is not transmitted on the primary channel), and/or ii) portions of the EHT BW are idle.

Based on these determinations, the CTS station 120 selects the corresponding 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmission of the corresponding CTS frame according to the CTS response mode at 1440.

At 1445, the CTS station 120 transmits a first CTS frame to the second electronic device on an auxiliary channel, wherein the auxiliary channel is based at least on the EHT BW channel reservation and the CTS response mode. Thus, even when CTS station 120 determines that the primary channel is not available, CTS station 120 may transmit a CTS frame to RTS station 110 in the available idle channel.

At 1450, in response to transmitting the first CTS frame, the CTS station 120 receives the first data from the second electronic device on the secondary channel.

At 1455, the CTS station 120 maintains a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) based on the primary RTS frame received on the secondary channel.

At 1460, the CTS station 120 transmits a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the first data for the duration of the NAV.

Various embodiments may be implemented, for example, using one or more computer systems, such as computer system 1500 shown in fig. 15. Computer system 1500 can be any well known computer capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, and without limitation, computing system 1500 may be any electronic device such as a tablet, laptop, desktop computer, and/or other apparatus and/or component shown in the figures as described with reference to the site or AP in fig. 1A. Laptop and desktop computers or other wireless devices may include functionality as shown in some or all of the system 300 of fig. 3 and/or the method 1200 of fig. 12, the method 1300 of fig. 13, and the method 1400 of fig. 14. For example, computer system 1500 may be used in a wireless device to exchange communications to effect EHT medium reservation.

Computer system 1500 includes one or more processors (also referred to as central processing units or CPUs), such as processor 1504. The processor 1504 is connected to a communication infrastructure 1506, which may be a bus. Computer system 1500 also includes a user input/output device 1503, such as a monitor, keyboard, pointing device, etc., that communicates with a communication infrastructure 1506 via a user input/output interface 1502. Computer system 1500 also includes a main or internal memory 1508, such as Random Access Memory (RAM). Main memory 1508 may include one or more levels of cache. The main memory 1508 stores therein control logic (e.g., computer software) and/or data.

The computer system 1500 may also include one or more secondary storage devices or memories 1510. Secondary memory 1510 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 1512 and/or a removable storage device or drive 1514. Removable storage drive 1514 may be a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, an optical storage device, a magnetic tape backup device, and/or any other storage device/drive.

Removable storage drive 1514 may interact with removable storage unit 1518. Removable storage unit 1518 includes a computer usable or readable storage device having stored thereon computer software (control logic means) and/or data. Removable storage unit 1518 may be a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, DVD, optical storage disk, and/or any other computer data storage device. Removable storage drive 1514 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 1518 in a well known manner.

According to some embodiments, secondary memory 1510 may include other means, instrumentalities, or other methods for allowing computer system 1500 to access computer programs and/or other instructions and/or data. Such means, tools, or other methods can include, for example, a removable storage unit 1522 and an interface 1520. Examples of removable storage units 1522 and interfaces 1520 can include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as those found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket, a memory stick and USB port, a memory card and associated memory card slot, and/or any other removable storage unit and associated interface.

The computer system 1500 may also include a communication or network interface 1524. Communication interface 1524 enables computer system 1500 to communicate and interact (referenced individually and collectively by reference numeral 1528) with any combination of remote devices, remote networks, remote entities, and the like. For example, communication interface 1524 may allow computer system 1500 to communicate with remote device 1528 over a communication path 1526, which may be wired and/or wireless and may include any combination of LANs, WANs, the internet, and the like. Control logic and/or data can be transferred to and from computer system 1500 via communication path 1526.

The operations in the foregoing embodiments may be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Thus, some or all of the operations in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in hardware, software, or in both hardware and software. In some embodiments, a tangible, non-transitory apparatus or article of manufacture comprises a tangible, non-transitory computer-usable or readable medium having stored thereon control logic means (software), also referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to, computer system 1500, main memory 1508, secondary memory 1510, and removable storage units 1518 and 1522, as well as tangible articles of manufacture embodying any combination of the foregoing. Such control logic, when executed by one or more data processing devices (such as computer system 1500), causes such data processing devices to operate as described herein.

Based on the teachings contained in this disclosure, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to make and use embodiments of this disclosure using data processing devices, computer systems, and/or computer architectures other than those shown in FIG. 15. In particular, embodiments may operate with software, hardware, and/or operating system implementations other than those described herein.

It is to be understood that the detailed description section, and not the summary and abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The summary and abstract sections may set forth one or more, but not all exemplary embodiments of the disclosure as contemplated by the inventors, and thus are not intended to limit the disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

Although the present disclosure has been described herein with reference to exemplary embodiments in the exemplary field and application, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Other embodiments and modifications are possible and are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph, embodiments are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/or entities shown in the figures and/or described herein. Furthermore, embodiments (whether explicitly described herein or not) have significant utility for fields and applications beyond the examples described herein.

Embodiments have been described herein with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specific functions and relationships thereof. For ease of description, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) are appropriately performed. Additionally, alternative embodiments may use orders that differ from the orders described herein for performing the functional blocks, steps, operations, methods, and the like.

References herein to "one embodiment," "an example embodiment," or similar phrases indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Also, such phraseology and terminology does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described herein.

The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

As described above, aspects of the present technology may include collecting and using data available from various sources, for example, to improve or enhance functionality. The present disclosure contemplates that in some examples, such collected data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or may be used to contact or locate a particular person. Such personal information data may include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records related to the user's health or fitness level (e.g., vital sign measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying information or personal information. The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data in the present technology may be used to benefit users.

The present disclosure contemplates that entities responsible for collecting, analyzing, disclosing, transmitting, storing, or otherwise using such personal information data will adhere to established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should exercise and adhere to privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining the privacy and security of personal information data. Such policies should be readily accessible to the user and should be updated as the collection and/or use of the data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legal and reasonable use by entities and not shared or sold outside of these legal uses. Furthermore, such collection/sharing should only be after receiving user informed consent. Moreover, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to defend and secure access to such personal information data and to ensure that others having access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. In addition, such entities may subject themselves to third party evaluations to prove compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adjusted to collect and/or access specific types of personal information data and to suit applicable laws and standards including specific considerations of jurisdiction. For example, in the united states, the collection or acquisition of certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state law, such as the health insurance transfer and liability act (HIPAA); while health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be processed accordingly. Thus, different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.

In spite of the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which a user selectively prevents use or access to personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware elements and/or software elements may be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the present technology may be configured to allow a user to selectively participate in "opt-in" or "opt-out" of collecting personal information data during, for example, registration with a service or at any time thereafter. In addition to providing the "opt-in" and "opt-out" options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications related to accessing or using personal information. For example, the user may be notified that his personal information data will be accessed when the application is downloaded, and then be reminded again just before the personal information data is accessed by the application.

Further, it is an object of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of inadvertent or unauthorized access or use. Once the data is no longer needed, risk can be minimized by limiting the data collection and deleting the data. In addition, and when applicable, included in certain health-related applications, the data de-identification may be used to protect the privacy of the user. De-identification may be facilitated by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of stored data (e.g., collecting location data at a city level instead of at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data among users), and/or other methods, as appropriate.

Thus, while the present disclosure may broadly cover the use of personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments may be implemented without accessing such personal information data. That is, various embodiments of the present technology do not fail to function properly due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data.

Claims

1. A first electronic device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless transmissions;

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to:

transmitting, via the transceiver, a request-to-send RTS and clear-to-send CTS capability of the first electronic device;

receiving, via the transceiver, RTS and CTS capabilities of a second electronic device;

configuring a CTS response mode of the first electronic device based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

transmitting, via the transceiver, a first RTS frame to the second electronic device on a secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates a very high throughput EHT bandwidth BW channel reservation including punctured channels according to the CTS response mode; and

A first CTS frame is received from the second electronic device via the transceiver on the secondary channel, wherein the secondary channel is included in the EHT BW channel reservation.

2. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmitting, via the transceiver, first data to the second electronic device on the secondary channel in response to receiving the first CTS frame;

transmitting a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on a primary channel via the transceiver, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical; and

based on not receiving a CTS frame in response to the transmission of the second RTS frame on the primary channel, second data is transmitted to a third electronic device on the primary channel via the transceiver.

3. The first electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to:

performing clear channel assessment CCA for the primary channel for the first time using a 20MHz CCA threshold within a point coordination function PCF inter-frame space PIFS;

determining that the primary channel is idle based at least on the first execution; and

The primary channel is selected for transmission of the second RTS frame.

4. The first electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

maintaining a network allocation vector, NAV, based on the transmission of the second RTS frame on the primary channel; and

a block acknowledgement BA corresponding to the second data is received within a duration of the NAV.

5. The first electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

performing a CCA for a channel corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation a second time within the PIFS using an EHT BW CCA threshold, wherein the EHT BW channel reservation comprises a channel that is a multiple of 80MHz, and wherein the EHT BW CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold;

determining, based at least on the second execution, that one or more channels corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation are idle; and

the one or more channels that are idle are selected for transmission of a corresponding RTS frame.

6. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmitting a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on a primary channel via the transceiver;

After transmitting the second RTS frame, receiving, via the transceiver, a first set of CTS frames from the second electronic device corresponding to a first subset of channels reserved for the EHT BW channels;

transmitting, via the transceiver, a first set of RTS frames to a third electronic device on an idle channel reserved for the EHT BW channel;

after transmitting the first set of RTS frames, receiving, via the transceiver, a second set of CTS frames from the third electronic device corresponding to a second subset of channels reserved for the EHT BW channels; and

transmitting, via the transceiver, a combined BW comprising first data on a portion of the first subset of channels and second data on a portion of the second subset of channels.

7. The first electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

a network allocation vector, NAV, corresponding to a channel of the first data and the second data is maintained based at least on the transmission of the first set of RTS frames.

8. The first electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmitting, via the transceiver, a second set of RTS frames to the second electronic device on idle channels reserved for the EHT BW channels, wherein the second set of RTS frames includes the second RTS frame.

9. A first electronic device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless transmissions;

a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to:

receiving, via the transceiver, request-to-send RTS and clear-to-send CTS capabilities of a second electronic device;

transmitting RTS and CTS capabilities of the first electronic device via the transceiver;

receiving, via the transceiver, a first RTS frame from the second electronic device on a secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates a very high throughput EHT bandwidth BW channel reservation including punctured channels; and

a first CTS frame is transmitted via the transceiver to the second electronic device on the secondary channel, wherein the secondary channel is based at least on the EHT BW channel reservation and the CTS response mode.

10. The first electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receiving, via the transceiver, a second RTS frame from the second electronic device on a primary channel, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical;

Determining that the primary channel is busy; and

first data is received from the second electronic device on the secondary channel via the transceiver in response to transmitting the first CTS frame.

11. The first electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

performing a clear channel assessment CCA for the first time for the primary channel including a 20MHz channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold within a short inter-frame space SIFS; and

the primary channel is determined to be busy based at least on the first execution, wherein a CTS frame is not transmitted on the primary channel.

12. The first electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receiving, via the transceiver, a plurality of RTS frames from the second electronic device across channels corresponding to EHT BW channel reservations, wherein the EHT BW channel reservations include channels that are multiples of 80 MHz;

performing CCA for the EHT BW channel reservation a second time within the SIFS using an EHT BW CCA threshold, wherein the EHT BW EHT CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold;

determining that the channel corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation is free based at least on the second execution; and

And selecting a corresponding idle 20MHz channel in the EHT BW channel reservation according to the CTS response mode for transmitting a corresponding CTS frame.

13. The first electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

maintaining a network allocation vector, NAV, based on the first RTS frame received on the secondary channel; and

a block acknowledgement BA corresponding to the first data is transmitted for the duration of the NAV.

14. The first electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first CTS frame comprises: a receiver address RA comprising a first bitmap of the EHT BW channel reservation, a second bitmap of the auxiliary channel over which the first CTS frame is transmitted, or CTS information.

15. The first electronic device of claim 14, wherein the CTS information includes:

a network allocation vector NAV report for a channel corresponding to the first bitmap, or an estimate of a signal-to-noise plus interference ratio SINR for the channel corresponding to the first bitmap.

16. A method, comprising:

transmitting request-to-send RTS and clear-to-send CTS capabilities of the first electronic device;

receiving RTS and CTS capabilities of the second electronic device;

transmitting a first RTS frame to the second electronic device on a secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates a very high throughput EHT bandwidth BW channel reservation according to the CTS response mode; and

a first CTS frame is received from the second electronic device on the supplemental channel, wherein the supplemental channel is included in the EHT BW channel reservation.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting first data to the second electronic device on the secondary channel in response to receiving the first CTS frame;

transmitting a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on a primary channel, wherein the first RTS frame and the second RTS frame are substantially identical; and

the second data is transmitted to a third electronic device on the primary channel based at least on not receiving a CTS frame in response to a transmission of the second RTS frame on the primary channel.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

performing a clear channel assessment CCA for the primary channel including a 20MHz channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold for a point coordination function PCF inter-frame space PIFS;

the primary channel is selected for transmission of the second RTS frame.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: