阅读说明：本技术 用于极高吞吐量（eht）介质预留的装置和方法 (Apparatus and method for very high throughput (EHT) medium reservation ) 是由 J·L·克内科特 江津菁 L·维尔马 王�琦 S·K·勇 伍天宇 刘勇 于 2021-04-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及用于极高吞吐量(EHT)介质预留的装置和方法。一些实施方案包括用于极高吞吐量(EHT)介质预留的装置、方法和计算机程序产品。一些实施方案包括第一站点,该第一站点被配置为：与第二站点交换EHT请求发送(RTS)和/或EHT清除发送(CTS)能力,并且至少基于该第一站点和该第二站点的这些RTS和CTS能力来确定该第一站点的CTS响应模式(例如,规则)。一些实施方案包括：在存在被打孔信道的情况下传输RTS帧并接收CTS帧,实现灵活的信道预留方案,预留被打孔带宽,以及即使当主信道是繁忙的时也接收CTS帧。一些实施方案包括RTS帧或CTS帧,该RTS帧或CTS帧包括实现针对EHT带宽的信道预留的EHT带宽打孔(BnP)信令地址和/或经修改的加扰器种子。(The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for very high throughput (EHT) medium reservation. Some embodiments include apparatus, methods, and computer program products for very high throughput (EHT) medium reservation. Some embodiments include a first site 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., a 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: transmitting an RTS frame and receiving a CTS frame in the presence of a punctured channel, implementing a flexible channel reservation scheme, reserving a punctured bandwidth, and receiving a CTS frame even when a primary channel is busy. Some embodiments include an RTS or CTS frame including an EHT bandwidth puncturing (BnP) signaling address and/or a modified scrambler seed that enables channel reservation for the EHT bandwidth.)

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, Request To Send (RTS) and Clear To Send (CTS) capabilities of the first electronic device;

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

configuring a CTS response mode for 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 a punctured channel in accordance with the CTS response mode; and

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

transmitting, via the transceiver, 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

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

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

performing a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) for the primary channel for a first time within a Point Coordination Function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) using a 20MHz CCA threshold;

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

selecting the primary channel 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

receiving a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the second data within a duration of the NAV.

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

performing a CCA a second time within the PIFS on a channel corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation using an EHT BW CCA threshold, wherein the EHT BW channel reservation comprises channels that are 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 performing, that one or more channels corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation are idle; and

selecting the idle channel for transmission of a corresponding RTS frame.

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

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

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 of the BW channel reservation;

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

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

maintaining a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) of a channel corresponding to the first data and the second data 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 a free channel reserved for the EHT BW channel, wherein the second set of RTS frames comprises 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;

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

receive, 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 a punctured channel; and

transmitting, via the transceiver, a first CTS frame 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

receiving, via the transceiver, first data from the second electronic device on the secondary channel 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 a first time within a short interframe space (SIFS) on the primary channel including a 20MHz channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold; and

determining, based at least on the first execution, that the primary channel is busy, 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:

receive, via the transceiver, a plurality of RTS frames from the second electronic device across channels corresponding to an EHT BW channel reservation, wherein the EHT BW channel reservation includes channels that are multiples of 80 MHz;

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

determining, based at least on the second performing, that the channel corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation is idle; and

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

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

transmitting a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the first data within a duration of the NAV.

14. The first electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first CTS frame includes: a Receiver Address (RA) comprising a first bitmap of the EHT BW channel reservation, a second bitmap indicating the secondary 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 the 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 a first electronic device;

receiving RTS and CTS capabilities of a second electronic device;

configuring a CTS response mode for the first electronic device based at least on the RTS and CTS capabilities of the first electronic device and 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 in accordance with the CTS response mode; and

receiving a first CTS frame from the second electronic device on the secondary channel, wherein the secondary 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

transmitting second data to a third electronic device on the primary channel based at least on not receiving a CTS frame in response to the 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 a first time within a Point Coordination Function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) on the primary channel including a 20MHz channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold;

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

selecting the primary channel for transmission of the second RTS frame.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) based on the transmission of the second RTS frame on the primary channel; and

receiving a Block Acknowledgement (BA) corresponding to the second data within a duration of the NAV.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

performing a CCA a second time within the PIFS on a channel corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation using an EHT BW CCA threshold, wherein the EHT BW channel reservation comprises channels that are 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 performing, that one or more channels corresponding to the EHT BW channel reservation are idle; and

selecting the idle channel for transmission of a corresponding RTS frame.

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) use request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) frames to reserve the medium for transmitting data. The RTS frame and the CTS frame must be transmitted on the primary channel of a Basic Service Set (BSS). For example, a preamble corresponding to an RTS frame transmitted on a primary channel identifies a 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 the RTS signal is received are available. Also, the CTS frame is transmitted only if the primary channel is available.

Background

Disclosure of Invention

Some embodiments include Request To Send (RTS) and Clear To Send (CTS) mechanisms that enable 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 preamble punctured RTS and CTS frames, flexible EHT Bandwidth (BW) channel reservation, reserved punctured BW and CTS transmissions even when the primary channel is busy. Some embodiments include RTS and CTS frames to enable communication of EHT BW channel reservations.

Some embodiments include apparatus, methods, and computer program products for EHT medium reservation. Some embodiments include an RTS station that includes 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 electronic device and the second electronic device. The processor may obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on the primary channel and perform a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) on the primary channel. The CCA is measured using a 20MHz CCA threshold within a Point Coordination Function (PCF) inter-frame space (PIFS) and/or the CCA is performed on 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 processor may determine that the primary channel is idle and/or the EHT BW is idle based at least on the performing.

Based on the determination, the processor may select an idle 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmitting the corresponding RTS frame (e.g., select a secondary channel for transmitting the first RTS frame and/or select a primary channel for transmitting the 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 a punctured channel in accordance with the CTS response mode. The punctured channels are channels within the EHT transmission BW but do not carry any transmissions, i.e., the punctured channels are 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., transmission does not include any power, has no 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 the second electronic device on a secondary channel, wherein the secondary channel is included in the 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 the second data to a third electronic device (e.g., that is 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, RTS stations may employ dual RTS frame transmissions to different stations and, in response to various CTS frames, transmit signals received by different stations corresponding to respective CTS frames received. In some embodiments, the processor may transmit the first set of RTS frames to the third electronic device on a free channel reserved for the EHT BW channel. 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 the first subset of channels reserved for the EHT BW channels. The processor may transmit a second set of RTS frames to the second electronic device on a free channel reserved for the EHT BW channel 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 the second subset of channels reserved for the BW channels, and transmit a combined EHT BW comprising 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 a NAV of a 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 an 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 a secondary channel, wherein the first RTS frame indicates an EHT BW channel reservation including a 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 the same, and/or receive a plurality of RTS frames from the second electronic device spanning an EHT BW comprising channels that are multiples of 80 MHz. The processor may perform a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) for a primary channel using a 20MHz CCA threshold for a short interframe space (SIFS) and/or perform a CCA for the entire EHT BW using an EHT BW CCA threshold for the SIFS, where the EHT BW CCA threshold is different from the 20MHz CCA threshold. The processor may determine, based at least on the execution: i) the primary channel is busy (so a 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 free 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmitting a corresponding CTS frame according to the CTS response mode.

The processor may transmit the first CTS frame to the second electronic device on a secondary channel, wherein the secondary 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) that includes a first bitmap of EHT BW channel reservations over which the first RTS frame and other RTS frames are received, a second bitmap of channels over which the first CTS frame and other CTS frames are transmitted, or CTS information. The CTS information may include: a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) report for the reserved channel of the first bitmap, an estimate of a signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SINR) for the reserved channel of the first bitmap, a link adaptation guide, or a recommendation for the reserved channel of the first bitmap available for transmission.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the disclosed 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 example system implementing very 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 example wireless system configured for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless system with a transceiver for EHT medium reservation, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of secondary 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 for EHT medium reservation, according to 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 present disclosure.

Fig. 6B illustrates an example of CTS signaling when the primary channel is busy with 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, according to 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, in accordance with 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 scrambler seed formats 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 puncturing bitmap for RTS and CTS frames corresponding to EHT medium reservations, in accordance with 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, in accordance with 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 an RTS station 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 of 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. Additionally, in general, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing 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: receiving two or more Resource Units (RUs) simultaneously on two or more channels; a non-High Throughput (HT) duplicate Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) that supports preamble puncturing such that not all 20MHz channels within a PPDU Bandwidth (BW) are utilized. A PPDU BW that includes bands that are multiples 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; allowing clear-to-send (CTS) transmissions 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 the RTS frame; enabling the CTS frame to transmit additional information for the RTS station; and enables RTS and CTS signaling to support a 320MHz BW and the new IEEE 802.11 is a transport BW combination.

Fig. 1A illustrates an example system 100 implementing very high throughput (EHT) medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. System 100 includes five sites: 110. 120, 130, 140 and 150. RTS and CTS signaling is used to reserve the medium for transmission. A station (e.g., station 120) may be an Access Point (AP). Station 110 senses a clear 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 the idle channel. In the following examples, an RTS station refers to a station that transmits an RTS frame and receives a CTS frame. Also, the CTS station refers to a station or AP which 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, but not limitation, the 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 the system 1600 that some embodiments in the present disclosure overcome. For example, RTS and CTS stations rely on CCA Energy Detection (ED) within the same Point Coordination Function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) to determine whether to transmit an RTS or CTS frame. The CCA ED measurements are based on the total transmission BW. The primary channel 1640 must be available for RTS and corresponding CTS frame transmissions, and preamble puncturing is not allowed (e.g., punctured channel is an unused 20MHz channel (e.g., EHT BW, PPDU BW) 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 a channel within a PIFS to determine whether the channel is idle before transmitting an RTS signal to a CTS station (e.g., station 120). Furthermore, 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 is based on a single threshold. In this example, the RTS station has determined an 80MHz transmission BW, 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 satisfies a single transmission BW threshold. Therefore, 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 for the entire transmission BW to determine whether the CTS frame is 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, punctured channels are not allowed. If secondary 20 channel 1640 is busy, station 110 may use only primary channel 1630. The CTS frame is transmitted only if all channels in which the RTS frame is transmitted are available and reserved. In this example, CCA ED within the same PIFS indicates: the primary channel 1630 is available and there are no punctured channels that satisfy a single transmission BW threshold for the entire 80MHz transmission bandwidth. Thus, the CTS station transmits a CTS frame on the channel through which the RTS frame was received. After receiving the CTS frame, station 110 then transmits the 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, but not limitation, example 180 may be described using elements of FIG. 1A. For example, any device (e.g., station 150) in system 100 of fig. 1A that receives an RTS frame may reset a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) reservation if the device does not receive a preamble within the RTS timeout value. Example 180 shows an RTS timeout equal to 2 x SIFS + CTS frame +2 x slot + preamble duration. The RTS timeout allows RTS station 110 to begin data transmission before other stations can obtain a TXOP. The ability to reset the NAV enables station 150 to obtain 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 example wireless system 200 configured for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, the 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 an 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 subsequent example, for convenience and without limitation, RTS stations are identified as RTS stations 110 and CTS stations are identified as CTS stations 120. Similarly, the device may agree on the RTS transmission mode (e.g., there may be separate configuration values for RTS and CTS transmissions).

A High Efficiency (HE) WLAN may include a trigger frame type known as a multi-user (MU) -RTS frame. The MU-RTS frame may be used to request a CTS frame from one or more STAs and allocate the STAs to transmit the CTS frame on a different BW. For example, RTS station 110 may transmit a MU-RTS frame that is received by CTS stations 120 and 150 (e.g., as designated by RTS station 110). The CTS stations 120 and 150 may respond accordingly. This is different from an EHT RTS frame transmitted only to an individual 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, the AP may send a trigger frame, or there may be some optional capabilities for STAs to send MU-RTS frames, and some optional capabilities that the AP may be able to receive MU-RTS frames. In the case where 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 that 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:

the channel in which the station can send and receive data. For example, a station may indicate a channel in which the station is capable of transmitting and/or receiving an RTS frame or a CTS frame. A non-High Throughput (HT) duplicate PPDU CTS frame may be transmitted to at least one of the 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). A station may indicate the number of channels or RUs that each radio is capable of receiving.

The RTS station can configure the channel as an idle/low interference channel as a channel in which stations (e.g., RTS station 110) can receive CTS frames. This ensures that the channel is primarily available for CTS transmissions. The interference level assessment may be based on measurements done during CCA. A channel may be used by an RTS station if the RTS station is able to assess 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 a channel in which the station may receive a CTS frame. Using the primary channel of the other BSS as the channel in which the STA can receive the CTS frame ensures that NAV information is received by STAs of overlapping BSSs so that the STA will set the NAV for the duration of the RTS CTS protected transmission.

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

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

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

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 in either the UL or DL direction, or in both directions. In some embodiments, a STA (e.g., station 110) may configure an AP (e.g., station 120) to initiate a DL TXOP transmitted to the STA with reservation signaling (e.g., transmitting a MU-RTS or RTS signal). This approach may be used if STAs are difficult to be available at all times due to multilink operation or transmission in a peer-to-peer connection. In some embodiments, if the AP is difficult to be available during STA transmissions, or if the link to the STA is poor (e.g., of poor quality), the AP (e.g., station 120) may configure the STA (e.g., station 110) to use TXOP reservation signaling for the UL TXOP.

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

At 220, the CTS station 120 transmits an ACK.

At 230, CTS station 120 transmits the 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 in accordance with the RTS and CTS capabilities described at 210. For example, RTS station 110 may indicate a minimum EHT BW to reserve for CTS station 120 and indicate on which channels CTS frames may be received. The CTS station 120 checks whether it can meet the requested minimum EHT BW 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: i) a preamble (e.g., scrambling seed bits) corresponding to the RTS frame; ii) a frame control field of the RTS frame; and/or iii) an address field in the RTS frame. These are described below in fig. 9 to 11.

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

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

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

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

Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless system 300 with a transceiver for EHT medium reservation, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 3 may be described using 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). System 300 may include a processor 310, a transceiver 320, a communication interface 325, a communication infrastructure 330, a memory 335, and an antenna 325 that together perform operations to enable wireless communication, including secure channel estimation. The transceiver 320 transmits and receives communication signals including RTS frames and/or CTS frames for EHT medium reservation according to some embodiments, and may be coupled to an antenna 325. The communication infrastructure 330 may be a bus. The memory 335 may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or cache 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, the processor 310, alone or in combination with the transceiver 320 and/or the memory 335, may transmit the RTS frame and/or the CTS frame based on the transmission rules discussed with respect to fig. 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, and 7-14.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example 400 of a secondary channel allocation for EHT medium reservation, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 4 may be described using 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 receiving a transmission opportunity (TXOP) on primary channel 470a (e.g., using Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)). The RTS station 110 can puncture one, two, or three holes in the EHT transmission BW and each punctured can have a different size (e.g., 20MHz, 40 MHz). RTS station 110 determines an EHT BW based on the determined CTS response pattern (as described in fig. 2). For example, the RTS station 110 may indicate to the CTS station 120 the combination of reserved channels that constitute the EHT BW through which the RTS station 110 transmits an RTS frame and over which the CTS frame is expected to be received.

In some embodiments, the RTS station 110 may perform CCA ED on secondary channels that utilize 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 an RTS station performs CCA ED for an entire transmission BW with a single transmission BW threshold. And system 1600 does not allow for puncturing. Just prior to transmitting the RTS frame 420, the 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. The RTS station 110 performs CCA ED on 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 supplemental channel 470b through 470h may be free 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, the RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 420a, 420b, 420e, 420f, and 420g to the 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 the 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. The CTS frame may be transmitted to the channel on which the RTS frame 420 was received if the CTS station 120 determines via the CCA ED that the corresponding channel is clear. The CTS station 120 uses the Transmitter Address (TA) included in the RTS frame 420 as the RA in the corresponding CTS frame.

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

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

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

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

In some embodiments, the RTS station 110 and/or the CTS station 120 may sense the CCA ED for a larger BW and according to the 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, the RTS station 110 and/or the CTS station 120 may use a CCA threshold 510 for a larger EHT BW and use a CCA threshold for each 20 MHz. The RTS station 110 and/or the 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 for the two CCA estimates. A station may compute multiple alternatives to the clear channel configuration by using CCA and select a mode that satisfies the configured RTS/CTS response criteria. In general, in idle transmission bandwidth selection, larger transmission bandwidth, less punctured is 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 present disclosure. For convenience, but not limitation, fig. 6A may be described using fig. 1A, 1B, and 2-5 elements. Example 600 illustrates how RTS and CTS frames may signal static puncturing that the channel is disabled. Examples of CTS response modes including transmitting static puncturing using preambles corresponding to RTS and/or CTS frames are shown below in fig. 9-11. For example, the AP may signal which channels are forbidden channels within a Basic Service Set (BSS). RTS stations 110 and/or CTS stations 120 can transmit a disable channel via a CTS response mode with a PHY preamble coupled to RTS and/or CTS frames.

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 610 d.

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

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

Fig. 6B illustrates an example 680 of CTS signaling when the primary channel is busy with EHT medium reservation, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience, but 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 the disable channel 615 is replaced with a lower auxiliary 40 channel 610 c. In example 680, the RTS station 110 determines that the lower secondary 40 channel 610c is idle within the PIFS and transmits an RTS frame 620c to the CTS station 120. The CTS station 120 determines within SIFS that the lower secondary 40 channel 610c is idle and transmits a CTS frame 630c to the RTS station 110. The data 650c, SIFS 660c, and BA 670c follow in time, as shown for the duration of NAV 680 from the start of the RTS frame 620 transmission.

In example 680, the 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 a CTS frame on the primary channel 610 a. However, the CTS station 120 determines that the secondary channels 610b, 610c, and 610d are idle, and transmits CTS frames 630b, 630c, and 630d to the RTS station 110 in the corresponding secondary channels even when the primary channel 610a is busy. Thus, example 680 differs from system 1600 of fig. 16 in that a CTS frame is always transmitted in the primary channel in system 1600.

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 on primary channel 610a and secondary 20 channel 610b to different stations (e.g., station 150 of fig. 1). Note that all of the transmissions, including BAs 670a to 670d, follow at times within the duration of NAV 680 from 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 630 c. As such, RTS station 110 can 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, but not limitation, fig. 6C may be described using elements of fig. 1A, 1B, 2-5, 6A, and 6B.

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

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

The example 690 also shows dynamic puncturing 637 replacing the CTS frame 630 b. In the puncturing mode, CTS frame transmissions may be configured to be transmitted in a mode where other channels are considered primary channels. For example, another channel (e.g., upper auxiliary 40 channel 610d) is considered a temporary primary channel that defines the frequencies of the temporary auxiliary 20 channel, auxiliary 40 channel, auxiliary 80 channel, third 80 channel, and fourth 80MHz channel. Therefore, in the case of the temporary primary channel, the same channel use rule as that for the primary channel can 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, in accordance with 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 can transmit an RTS frame to two or more different stations (e.g., stations 120 and 150, which can 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 can send data in a corresponding channel that can 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 obtain a TXOP. In this example, the RTS station 110(TXOP holder) determines the 120MHz EHT BW to be reserved. The RTS station 110 performs CCA within the PIFS and determines that the channels 470a to 470h are free, and transmits RTS frames 710a to 710h indicating reserved channels constituting the EHT BW on the corresponding channels to the CTS station 120. The CTS station 120 determines within SIFS that the channels 470a, 470e, and 470f are free and transmits CTS frames 720a, 720e, and 720f to the RTS station 110, indicating that a 60MHz BW is available. The RTS station 110 determines that 60MHz is still needed and the RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 730a through 730h on the idle channel to another CTS station 150 (which may be an AP). The CTS station 150 determines that the channels 470a, 470b, 470g, and 470h are idle and transmits CTS frames 740a, 740b, 740g, and 740h to the RTS station 110 indicating that an 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, the RTS station 110 transmits data 725a, 725e, and 725f to the CTS station 120 in a single combined transmission, and transmits data 745b, 745g, and 745h to the CTS station 150 on corresponding channels totaling 120MHz BW.

In the example 700, the long NAV 760 extends from the first RTS frame 710 until an acknowledgement (not shown) is received by the RTS station 110 for data 725 and data 745. 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 listen to any transmissions 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 in an attempt to obtain a TXOP. In other words, only the channels used by RTS stations 110 are reserved. In summary, the NAV reset rule is the same after two RTS frames, and the second RTS frame prevents the 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 the RTS station 110 of example 800, the 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 on the primary channel only. The CTS station 120 receives the RTS frame 710a and determines within SIFS that the channels 470a, 470e, and 470f are free and transmits CTS frames 720a, 720e, and 720f to the RTS station 110, indicating that a 60MHz BW is available. The RTS station 110 determines that 60MHz is still needed and the RTS station 110 transmits RTS frames 730a through 730h on the idle channel to another CTS station 150 (which may be an AP). The CTS station 150 determines that the channels 470a, 470b, 470g, and 470h are idle and transmits CTS frames 740a, 740b, 740g, and 740h to the RTS station 110 indicating that an 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, the RTS station 110 transmits data 725a, 725e, and 725f to the CTS station 120 in a single combined transmission, and transmits data 745b, 745g, and 745h to the CTS station 150 on corresponding channels totaling 120MHz BW.

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

In the example 800, the CTS station 150 does not have to reset the NAV for channels within 810 to which no RTS was transmitted. Similarly to example 700, the NAV is reset on the channel, followed by no transmission of CTS frames 740c and 740d or reception of data 745c and 745 d.

To support EHT medium reservation, some embodiments include modifying at least the address field or scrambler seed bits of the RTS and CTS frames, 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 that detects 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 scrambler seed bits to include EHT information in both RTS and CTS frames. These embodiments are described below in fig. 9-11.

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 including 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. A 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, the RTS station may transmit an RTS frame, in which bit 11 (retry bit) may be set to '1' to indicate to the CTS station that the RTS frame includes EHT medium reservation information. Other bits may be used.

Fig. 9 also includes a TA 930, where TA 930 may be referred to as EHT BW and punctured (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. Locally managed/global address 950 and single/group bits 955 are reserved. Color value 945 includes 6 bits with a unique value for BSS. The color value 945 may be used to reduce the risk of collision with MAC addresses.

The reserved channel to which the RTS frame is transmitted (and which constitutes the EHT BW) is identified as a bitmap carried within 802.11be signaling information 960 that is 2 octets long. The least significant bits may indicate the lowest channel in which RTS station 110 operates. A value of "1" in the bits of the bitmap indicates that an RTS frame is transmitted to the channel, and a value of "0" indicates that an 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 message 970 includes 3 octets: color value 945, locally managed/global address 950, and single/group 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 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

TA 930 may be referred to as EHT BW and punctured (BnP) signaling address, and table 3 below 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 the EHT medium, a Transmission Address (TA) field of the RTS frame includes a MAC address of the AP, and a 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 an RTS frame requesting EHT medium reservation to station 2 (e.g., CTS station 120), the TA field includes TA 930A or TA 930B with EHT RTS indication 915.

TABLE 3 EHT BW and puncture (BnP) signaling addresses

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, the CTS frame including a preamble 1005, a frame control, a duration, a RA 1020, and a FCS. CTS frames 1030 and 1050 illustrate a CTS frame for EHT medium reservation that includes the information and additional fields of example 1000. The CTS frame 1050 includes the frame control, duration, and FCS of example 1000. The PPDU preamble 1005 includes a service 1035 field and the scrambler seed 1100 of fig. 11 below the example 1000. The preamble 905 is equal to the preamble 1005. The reserved channel 1040 is a bitmap indicating a channel on which the CTS frame 1050 is 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 the CTS station 120 receives an RTS frame including TA 930, the CTS station 120 inserts the 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 recommendations, buffer status reports/real-time packet information, NAV information for busy channels, indications to RTS stations 110 to reduce transmission rates, and/or feedback to RTS stations 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, the RTS station 110 can identify the EHT BnP signaling address of the RTS station 110 in the received CTS frame 1030 or 1050 by checking the hash of the MAC address 975. The duration of the 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 reservation channel 1040, and CTS information 1045.

Fig. 11A illustrates scrambler seed formats 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, but 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 scrambled 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 utilizes the EHT RTS indication 915 to detect RTS and CTS frames that may support EHT medium reservation. When the CTS station 120 may indicate a reserved bandwidth using an IEEE 802.11CTS frame, the CTS frame should use a scrambler seed format 1120, as shown in the first row of table 1.

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

A CTS station 120 receiving an 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 a 240MHz EHT BW, the CTS station 120 may receive three different RTS frames, where each RTS frame uses bits B3 through B6 to identify a puncturing bitmap for 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 of CTS frames occurs.

Scrambler seed format 1160 may be used to carry additional information about the RTS or CTS frames. Punch 1162 indicates the size of the punch: "0" -not perforated; -20 MHz puncture "1"; "2" -40 MHz puncture; and "3" -80 MHz puncturing. The PPDU preamble (e.g., preamble 905 of example 900 or preamble 1005 of example 1000) may have a different value per 80MHz bandwidth, e.g., each 80MHz of the transmission bandwidth may carry a different value in the scrambler seed format 1160 of the preamble 905 or 1005. The CCA is used by the RTS station 110 to consider which channels are punctured for each 80MHz BW separately. When the scrambler seed format 1160 is received by either the RTS station 110 or the CTS station 120, the CCA is used by the RTS station 110 and/or the CTS station 120, respectively, to determine the energy in each 20MHz channel. The receiver uses the energy to determine the 20MHz channel in which the preamble may 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. The CTS station 120 uses the received scrambler seed format 1160 of the RTS frame for each 80MHz of the 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 a CTS frame, 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 is transmitted and uses the scrambler seed format 1160 of the CTS frame to determine the respective reserved and punctured channels in each of the 80MHz channels.

For an RTS frame, the RTS station 110 may set the required primary channel 1162 to "0" if the CTS station can transmit a 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 a CTS frame. For CTS frames, if a CTS frame is not transmitted on the 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 the primary channel. Dynamic BW 1166 indicates whether a CTS frame may be transmitted to any subset of the BW in which the RTS frame is transmitted. BW 20/40/80/160/240/3201168 indicates the EHT transmission BW for frames carrying the information shown in table 4 below.

Table 4 BW field coding

BW 80MHz 80/160/240/3201184 indicates to the EHT BW whether the PPDU preamble is transmitted on a channel in the range of primary 80MHz, primary 160MHz, primary 240MHz, or primary 320MHz that is a multiple of 80 MHz. For example, for a primary 240MHz, #1144 value of 80MHz80/160/240/320 is 2, as shown in fig. 11B.

A scrambler seed format 1180 may be used to carry additional information about the RTS or CTS frame. Reserved configuration #1182 indicates the 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 channel in which RTS is transmitted; ii) a preferred order of allowed responses and/or allowed reservations for the channel in which the CTS frame may be transmitted in response; and iii) a listening secondary channel in which RTS station 110 can receive a 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 of CTS response mode as described in fig. 2. For example, reserved 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 reservation, the CTS station 120 may send a CTS only if the CTS station 120 can reserve all resources in which to transmit an RTS. If a static/dynamic bit (e.g., bit B4 ═ 0) is not present, then the reservation is considered dynamic (e.g., the CTS station 120 attempts to maximize the reserved BW, but the CTS station 120 may reserve a smaller BW than the BW requested by the RTS station 110). For example, a 3-bit BW usage may be applied, as shown in table 4.

In some implementations, 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. This 40MHz wide RTS pattern is repeated throughout the BW of the frame. Scrambler bits B3 through B6 are used in both P20 RTS and S20 RTS, and/or a CTS frame may signal all 8 bits of information.

Fig. 17 illustrates an example 1700 of service field bit allocation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Example 1700 may be service 1035 of fig. 10. Example 1700 may include scrambler initialization 1710, which includes 7 bits. Examples of these 7 bits include the scrambler seed example shown in FIG. 11A. Example 1700 also includes reserved service bits 1720. Any of the bits in the two octets of the example 1700 may be used to convey similar BW information. For example, reserved service bit 1720(9 bits available) may be used to signal a BW reservation. The example 1700 bits may be set to 0 in an RTS frame, but some earlier proprietary solutions use these bits for signaling. In some implementations (e.g., the 802.11be case), the RTS frame may be used after association and RTS signaling establishment. Thus, these bits may be used without risking interoperability problems. In some embodiments, scrambler initialization 1710 bits may be used with reserved services 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) unpunctured base BW (e.g., 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 240MHz, 320MHz reservation)

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

c) Some embodiments include reserving BW with one punctured BW. Some embodiments include reserving a BW that includes two or more punctured.

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

Fig. 11D illustrates an example 1190 of puncturing configurations corresponding to RTS and CTS frames, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, fig. 11D shows the number of puncturing configurations required to reserve most of the configurations for a 320MHz BW. Fig. 11D lists a total of 48 cases (e.g., summing the last column). For example, for a bandwidth reservation of 80MHz, there may be 4 cases: no hole is punched; or 20MHz puncturing in S20, S40-1, or S40-2 bands. When reserving 160MHz BW, puncturing is possible for either 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 BW reservations (e.g., to accommodate 48 cases).

In other embodiments of BW signaling, some bits may define the BW size and other bits may be the relevant bits that configure the punctured band within the BW. In some embodiments, the reserved BW is identified by several bits, as shown in fig. 11E. Further, signaling of BW puncturing 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, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, there may be bits B3, B5, and B6 of scrambler seed 1100 that convey reserved BW, as shown in example 1195, and bits in reserved service bits 1720 of example 1700 may be configured for puncturing of BW (not shown). BW puncturing may be an optional capability if supported by RTS and CTS transmitters. For example, BW puncturing may be signaled using 4 bits. Some of the larger BWs may have two BW indications to allow the bandwidth to have 32 puncturing 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 puncturing option is shown as the letter P in a particular channel. In each puncturing option, one hole (e.g., one channel with P) is punctured. 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 sizes of punctured channels and different numbers of puncturing options as shown in fig. 11E.) for example, there may be two sets of configuration signaling for the 320MHz and 240MHz bandwidths to reduce the number of bits required to signal the puncturing configuration. Puncturing may be signaled such that a puncturing bit value of 0 indicates that no puncturing occurs in the BW. A value of 1 may read the first P of the sequential signaling BW and increase the punctured bit value until all configurations are signaled. Thus, to signal all 17 alternatives for 320MHz, puncturing would be done with 5 bits, or if 320MHz BW could be signaled with 2 values, using 4 bits for puncturing.

Fig. 12 illustrates a method 1200 of 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 can be RTS station 110 or system 300.

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

At 1210, the 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 site, such as CTS site 120.

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

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

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

Based on these determinations, at 1230, the RTS station 110 selects a corresponding idle 20MHz channel within the EHT BW for transmitting a corresponding RTS frame (e.g., selects a secondary channel for transmitting the first RTS frame and/or selects a primary channel for transmitting the second RTS frame).

At 1235, the RTS station 110 transmits a first RTS frame to the second electronic device on the secondary channel, where the first RTS frame indicates an EHT BW channel reservation, which may include one or more punctured channels, in accordance with the CTS response mode. For example, EHT BW channel reservation may: i) identified 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) identified in a scrambler seed format (such as 1140, 1160, or 1180 of FIG. 11). The first RTS frame may include the EHT RTS indication 915 of fig. 9 to indicate that the first RTS frame enables EHT medium reservation.

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

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

At 1250, the RTS station 110 transmits a second RTS frame to the second electronic device on the primary channel, where 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 the CTS frame is not received in response to the second RTS frame on the primary channel, the RTS station 110 transmits second data to a third electronic device (e.g., that is different from the second electronic device) on the primary channel. RTS station 110 may transmit data to a different station, such as station 150, using the primary channel even though CTS station 120 finds the primary channel busy and cannot send a CTS frame in response to the second RTS frame.

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

At 1265, the 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 an RTS station 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 can be RTS station 110 or system 300. In this example, the RTS station 110 may want to reserve a 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 to attempt to obtain enough CTS frames to send signals that satisfy a 120MHz EHT BW that includes 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., the CTS station 150) on a free channel reserved by the EHT BW channel.

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 the first subset of channels reserved for the EHT BW channels. For example, RTS station 110 may receive three CTS frames from CTS station 150.

At 1315, the RTS station 110 transmits a second set of RTS frames to the second electronic device (e.g., the CTS station 120) on the free 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) to the second electronic device on the primary channel.

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 the second subset of channels reserved for the 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 the first subset of channels and second data on a portion of the 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 the 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 the channel 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 of 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 the CTS station 120 or the system 300.

At 1405, the CTS station 120 receives RTS and CTS capabilities of a 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 an Access Point (AP)).

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

At 1420, the CTS station 120 receives one or more RTS frames from the second electronic device on the primary channel and the one or more secondary channels, wherein the RTS frames indicate EHT BW channel reservations 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 a 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 performing: i) the primary channel is busy (so a CTS frame is not transmitted on the primary channel), and/or ii) a portion of the EHT BW is idle.

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

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

At 1450, in response to transmitting the first CTS frame, the CTS station 120 receives 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 first 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 may 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 components shown in the figures, as described with reference to the station or AP in fig. 1A. The laptop and desktop computers or other wireless devices may include functionality as illustrated by 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 enable EHT medium reservation.

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

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

Removable storage drive 1514 may interact with a removable storage unit 1518. Removable storage unit 1518 includes a computer usable or readable storage device having stored thereon computer software (control logic) 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. The 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, devices, 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 may include, for example, a removable storage unit 1522 and an interface 1520. Examples of a removable storage unit 1522 and interface 1520 may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that 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.

Computer system 1500 can also include a communications or network interface 1524. Communication interface 1524 enables computer system 1500 to communicate and interact with any combination of remote devices, remote networks, remote entities, and the like (individually and collectively referenced by reference numeral 1528). For example, communication interface 1524 may allow computer system 1500 to communicate with remote devices 1528 via a communication path 1526, which may be wired and/or wireless and may include any combination of a LAN, WAN, the Internet, or 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 implementations may be performed in hardware, software, or both. In some embodiments, a tangible, non-transitory apparatus or article of manufacture includes a tangible, non-transitory computer-usable or readable medium having control logic components (software) stored thereon, 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 that shown in FIG. 15. In particular, embodiments may operate with software, hardware, and/or operating system implementations other than those described herein.

It should 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 present disclosure as contemplated by the inventors, and are therefore not intended to limit the present disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

Although the present disclosure has been described herein with reference to exemplary fields and exemplary embodiments of application, it is to be understood that the 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 illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Furthermore, the embodiments (whether explicitly described herein or not) have significant utility for fields and applications outside of 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. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) are appropriately performed. In addition, alternative embodiments may perform the functional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. in a different order than described herein.

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. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art to combine such feature, structure, or characteristic with other embodiments whether or not explicitly mentioned or 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 appended hereto and their equivalents.

As described above, various 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 instances, 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, phone 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 or personal information. The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data in the present technology may be useful to benefit the user.

The present disclosure contemplates that entities responsible for collecting, analyzing, disclosing, transmitting, storing, or otherwise using such personal information data will comply with established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should enforce and adhere to the use of privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining privacy and security of personal information data. Such policies should be easily accessible to users and should be updated as data is collected and/or used. Personal information from the user should be collected for legitimate and legitimate uses by the entity and not shared or sold outside of these legitimate uses. Furthermore, such acquisition/sharing should only be done after receiving users informed consent. Furthermore, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to defend and secure access to such personal information data, and to ensure that others who have access to the personal information data comply with 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 the particular type of personal information data collected and/or accessed, and to 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 laws, such as the health insurance transfer and accountability act (HIPAA); while other countries may have health data subject to other regulations and policies and should be treated accordingly. Therefore, different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.

Regardless 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 engage in "opt-in" or "opt-out" of collecting personal information data at any time, e.g., during or after a registration service. In addition to providing "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 their personal information data is to 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, the risk can be minimized by limiting data collection and deleting data. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health-related applications, data de-identification may be used to protect the privacy of the user. De-identification may be facilitated by removing particular identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of stored data (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than 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 various embodiments may also be implemented without the need to access 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.