US-12621766-B2 - Multi-access point target wake time information request

Abstract

A first access point (AP) transmits to a second AP a first frame requesting first restricted target wake time (R-TWT) information of the second AP based on not receiving a beacon frame of the second AP within a first period from a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the second AP. The first AP receives from the second AP a second frame comprising the first R-TWT information of the second AP in response to the first frame.

Inventors

• Jeongki Kim
• Leonardo Alisasis Lanante
• Esmael Hejazi Dinan

Assignees

• OFINNO, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20251117

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method comprising: receiving, by an access point (AP) from a station, a first individually addressed frame comprising a request to negotiate a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) agreement, wherein the first individually addressed frame indicates a first R-TWT schedule and a request to establish the R-TWT agreement; transmitting, by the AP to the station, a second individually addressed frame indicating acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement; and based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, transmitting, by the AP, a beacon frame indicating the first R-TWT schedule based on having an associated station (STA) with a capability of supporting R-TWT operation; receiving, by the AP from the station, a third individually addressed frame indicating an update of the first R-TWT schedule; and deferring, by the AP, transmission of a first frame to the associated STA based on a required transmission time of the first frame and a start time of a first R-TWT service period (SP) indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the station comprises an AP STA or a non-AP STA.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the station comprises the AP STA, further comprising: transmitting, by the AP to the station, a second frame requesting first R-TWT information of the station based on not receiving a beacon frame of the station within a first period from a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the station; and receiving, by the AP from the station, a third frame comprising the first R-TWT information of the station in response to the second frame.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: receiving, by the AP from the station, a fourth frame comprising second R-TWT information of the station and a first R-TWT change count; and storing, by the AP, the second R-TWT information and the first R-TWT change count.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second frame further comprises the first R-TWT change count.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the AP to the associated STA, a second frame comprising a second R-TWT SP of the AP.
7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the second R-TWT SP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the AP, a second frame indicating a transmit opportunity (TXOP), wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the TXOP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
9. 9 . An access point (AP) comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the AP: receive from a station a first individually addressed frame comprising a request to negotiate a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) agreement, wherein the first individually addressed frame indicates a first R-TWT schedule and a request to establish the R-TWT agreement; transmit to the station a second individually addressed frame indicating acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement; and based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, transmit a beacon frame indicating the first R-TWT schedule based on having an associated station (STA) with a capability of supporting R-TWT operation; receive from the station a third individually addressed frame indicating an update of the first R-TWT schedule; and defer transmission of a first frame to the associated STA based on a required transmission time of the first frame and a start time of a first R-TWT service period (SP) indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
10. 10 . The AP of claim 9 , wherein the station comprises an AP STA or a non-AP STA.
11. 11 . The AP of claim 10 , wherein the station comprises the AP STA, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP to: transmit a second frame requesting first R-TWT information of the station based on not receiving a beacon frame of the station within a first period from a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the station; and receive from the station a third frame comprising the first R-TWT information of the station in response to the second frame.
12. 12 . The AP of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP to: receive from the station a fourth frame comprising second R-TWT information of the station and a first R-TWT change count; and store the second R-TWT information and the first R-TWT change count.
13. 13 . The AP of claim 12 , wherein the second frame further comprises the first R-TWT change count.
14. 14 . The AP of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP to transmit to the associated STA a second frame comprising a second R-TWT SP of the AP.
15. 15 . The AP of claim 14 , wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the second R-TWT SP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
16. 16 . The AP of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP transmit a second frame indicating a transmit opportunity (TXOP), wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the TXOP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
17. 17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an access point (AP), cause the AP to: receive from a station a first individually addressed frame comprising a request to negotiate a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) agreement, wherein the first individually addressed frame indicates a first R-TWT schedule and a request to establish the R-TWT agreement; transmit to the station a second individually addressed frame indicating acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement; and based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, transmit a beacon frame indicating the first R-TWT schedule based on having an associated station (STA) with a capability of supporting R-TWT operation; receive from the station a third individually addressed frame indicating an update of the first R-TWT schedule; and defer transmission of a first frame to the associated STA based on a required transmission time of the first frame and a start time of a first R-TWT service period (SP) indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
18. 18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the station comprises an AP STA or a non-AP STA.
19. 19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP to transmit to the associated STA a second frame comprising a second R-TWT SP of the AP, and wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the second R-TWT SP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.
20. 20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the AP to transmit a second frame indicating a transmit opportunity (TXOP), wherein, based on the acceptance of the request to establish the R-TWT agreement, the TXOP does not overlap with the first R-TWT SP indicated in the updated first R-TWT schedule.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2024/030319, filed May 21, 2024, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/468,829, filed May 25, 2023, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Examples of several of the various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates example wireless communication networks in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating example implementations of a station (STA) and an access point (AP). FIG. 3 illustrates an example of target wake time (TWT) operation. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of TWT operation in an environment including an AP multi-link device (AP MLD) and a station multi-link device (STA MLD). FIG. 5 illustrates an example TWT element which may be used to support individual TWT operation. FIG. 6 illustrates an example TWT element which may be used to support restricted TWT (R-TWT) operation. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of individual TWT operation. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of broadcast TWT operation. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of TWT protection in individual TWT operation. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of R-TWT operation. FIG. 11 is an example that illustrates inter-basic service set (BSS) interference due to overlap between a transmission opportunity (TXOP) of a BSS with R-TWT service periods (SPs) of overlapping BSSs. FIG. 12 is an example that illustrates the use of coordinated medium access (CMA) to reduce the inter-BSS interference illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is an example that illustrates a multi-AP coordination procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is an example that illustrates another multi-AP coordination procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is an example that illustrates another multi-AP coordination procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is an example that illustrates another multi-AP coordination procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is an example that illustrates another multi-AP coordination procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 illustrates an example process according to an embodiment. FIG. 19 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment. FIG. 20 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment. FIG. 21 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment. FIG. 22 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment. FIG. 23 illustrates another example process according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the present disclosure, various embodiments are presented as examples of how the disclosed techniques may be implemented and/or how the disclosed techniques may be practiced in environments and scenarios. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement alternative embodiments. The present embodiments may not be limited by any of the described exemplary embodiments. The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Limitations, features, and/or elements from the disclosed example embodiments may be combined to create further embodiments within the scope of the disclosure. Any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than those shown. For example, the actions listed in any flowchart may be re-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments. Embodiments may be configured to operate as needed. The disclosed mechanism may be performed when certain criteria are met, for example, in a station, an access point, a radio environment, a network, a combination of the above, and/or the like. Example criteria may be based, at least in part, on for example, wireless device or network node configurations, traffic load, initial system set up, packet sizes, traffic characteristics, a combination of the above, and/or the like. When the one or more criteria are met, various example embodiments may be applied. Therefore, it may be possible to implement example embodiments that selectively implement disclosed protocols. In this disclosure, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” Similarly, any term that ends with the suffix “(s)” is to be interpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” In this disclosure, the term “may” is to be interpreted as “may, for example.” In other words,