U.S. patent application number 15/872744 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for management procedure in multi-link aggregation.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Alfred Asterjadhi, George Cherian, Simone Merlin, Abhishek Pramod Patil, Venkata Ramanan Venkatachalam Jayaraman, Yan Zhou.
Application Number | 20180206143 15/872744 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62838314 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180206143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patil; Abhishek Pramod ; et
al. |
July 19, 2018 |
MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE IN MULTI-LINK AGGREGATION
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are
described. The described techniques may increase throughput of a
wireless network, improve utilization of available channels, or
provide other benefits. For example, the ability for a single
traffic flow to span across different channels may increase the
capacity of the network, may reduce communication latency, etc. In
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a wireless
device supporting multi-link communication may identify an anchor
link and one or more supplementary links. For example, the anchor
link may provide reliable communications while the supplementary
links may provide increased throughput relative to the anchor link
As an example, the anchor link may be dedicated for use to
communicate management or control information, as well as data,
while the supplementary links in the multi-link session may be used
to communicate data according to the control and management
information transmitted on the anchor link.
Inventors: |
Patil; Abhishek Pramod; (San
Diego, CA) ; Cherian; George; (San Diego, CA)
; Zhou; Yan; (San Diego, CA) ; Asterjadhi;
Alfred; (San Diego, CA) ; Venkatachalam Jayaraman;
Venkata Ramanan; (San Diego, CA) ; Merlin;
Simone; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62838314 |
Appl. No.: |
15/872744 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62448326 |
Jan 19, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 1/1628 20130101;
H04L 1/1621 20130101; H04W 52/0216 20130101; H04B 1/0483 20130101;
H04L 47/34 20130101; H04L 5/00 20130101; H04L 67/14 20130101; H04W
72/085 20130101; H04B 1/1615 20130101; H04W 28/0215 20130101; H04L
5/0055 20130101; H04L 61/6022 20130101; H04L 65/607 20130101; H04W
48/16 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04W 28/0221 20130101; H04W
76/15 20180201; H04W 84/12 20130101; H04W 28/06 20130101; H04W 8/22
20130101; H04L 47/41 20130101; H04W 40/02 20130101; H04W 88/10
20130101; H04W 76/14 20180201; H04L 45/245 20130101; H04L 5/0053
20130101; H04W 52/0229 20130101; H04L 1/1887 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 28/02 20060101
H04W028/02; H04W 76/15 20060101 H04W076/15; H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08; H04W 72/08 20060101 H04W072/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a
processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor;
and instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed
by the processor, to cause the apparatus to: identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session; receive a control or management
frame from a wireless device over the identified anchor link; and
communicate in parallel between the apparatus and the wireless
device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive,
from the wireless device, an indication of the anchor link over the
anchor link, or over a second link of the plurality of wireless
links different than the anchor link, or a combination thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive,
from the wireless device, an indication of the anchor link in a
beacon, or a discovery transmission, or a measurement transmission,
or a combination thereof.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit, on
the identified anchor link, a request to associate with the
wireless device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions to
communicate in parallel between the apparatus and the wireless
device over the plurality of wireless links are executable by the
processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit, over the anchor
link, data frames and the control and management frames, the anchor
link comprising one of the plurality of wireless links; and
transmit data frames over non-anchor links of the plurality of
wireless links.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit
data frames over one or more of the plurality of wireless links;
and receive, over the anchor link, one or more acknowledgements in
response to the transmitted data frames.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: measure a
signal strength for a transmission received on the anchor link, or
on a second link, or a combination thereof; and select a wireless
link of the plurality of wireless links for communications during
the multi-link session based at least in part on the measured
signal strength.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit one
or more frames on a second link during the multi-link session; and
determine whether the second link is suitable for communications in
parallel between the apparatus and the wireless device during the
multi-link session based at least in part on the one or more frames
transmitted on the second link.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive an
indication of a plurality of links supported by the wireless
device, including an initial anchor link; identify that the
apparatus does not support the initial anchor link; transmit, on
the anchor link, an indication that the apparatus does not support
the initial anchor link; and establish the multi-link session
between the apparatus and the wireless device based at least in
part on transmitting the indication that the apparatus does not
support the initial anchor link.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions to identify
the anchor link are executable by the processor to cause the
apparatus to: transmit, to the wireless device, an indication of a
preferred anchor link of the apparatus; and receive, from the
wireless device, an indication of the anchor link to be used by the
apparatus.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive
the control or management frame from the wireless device are
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive, on
the anchor link, aggregation capability information for the
wireless device, the aggregation capability information indicating
a capability of the wireless device to communicate in parallel over
the plurality of wireless links.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the aggregation capability
information comprises a capability of the wireless device to
communicate in parallel over the plurality of wireless links, or
current operating parameters of the wireless device, or a
combination thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions to receive
the aggregation capability information are executable by the
processor to cause the apparatus to: receive a beacon, or a probe
response, or an association response, or a reassociation response,
or a combination thereof, that includes the aggregation capability
information.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit
aggregation capability information for the apparatus, the
aggregation capability information indicating a capability of the
apparatus to communicate in parallel over the plurality of wireless
links.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions to transmit
the aggregation capability information are executable by the
processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit a probe request, or
an association request, or a reassociation request, or a
combination thereof, that includes the aggregation capability
information.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive,
from the wireless device, a first operational mode indicator
indicating a change in a link aggregation preference for the
multi-link session; or transmit, to the wireless device, a second
operational mode indicator indicating the change in the link
aggregation preference for the multi-link session.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions to establish
the multi-link session between the apparatus and the wireless
device are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
establish a first wireless link of the plurality of wireless links
between a first lower media access control (MAC) layer of the
apparatus and a first lower MAC layer of the wireless device; and
establish a second wireless link between a second lower MAC layer
of the apparatus and a second lower MAC layer of the wireless
device, wherein the first lower MAC layer and the second lower MAC
layer of the apparatus are in communication with a common upper MAC
layer of the apparatus.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor link comprises a
frequency resource, or a time resource, or a spatial stream, or a
portion of a packet, or a combination thereof.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor link uses a first
bandwidth and a second link of the plurality of wireless links uses
a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth greater than the first
bandwidth.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive,
over the anchor link, one or more control or management frames to
maintain a second wireless link of the plurality of wireless links,
the second wireless link limited such that the second wireless link
is unable to be maintained between the apparatus and the wireless
device absent the one or more control or management frames received
over the anchor link.
21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a
processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor;
and instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed
by the processor, to cause the apparatus to: identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session; transmit a control or management
frame over the identified anchor link; and communicate in parallel
between the apparatus and a wireless device over a plurality of
wireless links of the multi-link session based at least in part on
the control or management frame.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit an
indication of the anchor link on the anchor link, or on a second
link different than the anchor link, or a combination thereof.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit an
indication of the anchor link in a beacon, or a discovery
transmission, or a measurement transmission, or a combination
thereof.
24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit an
indication of a plurality of links supported by the apparatus,
including an initial anchor link; receive an indication that the
wireless device does not support the initial anchor link; and
establish the multi-link session between the apparatus and the
wireless device based at least in part on receiving the indication
that the wireless device does not support the initial anchor
link.
25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further
executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive,
from the wireless device, an indication of a preferred anchor link
of the wireless device; and transmit, to the wireless device, an
indication of the anchor link to be used by the wireless device for
the association procedure.
26. A method for wireless communication at a first wireless device,
comprising: identifying an anchor link dedicated to the
communication of control and management frames for a multi-link
session; receiving a control or management frame from a second
wireless device over the identified anchor link; and communicating
in parallel between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link
session based at least in part on the control or management
frame.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: receiving, from the
second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link over the
anchor link, or over a second link of the plurality of wireless
links different than the anchor link, or a combination thereof.
28. The method of claim 26, further comprising: receiving, from the
second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link in a
beacon, or a discovery transmission, or a measurement transmission,
or a combination thereof.
29. The method of claim 26, further comprising: transmitting, on
the identified anchor link, a request to associate with the second
wireless device.
30. A method for wireless communication at a first wireless device,
comprising: identifying an anchor link dedicated to the
communication of control and management frames for a multi-link
session; transmitting a control or management frame over the
identified anchor link; and communicating in parallel between the
first wireless device and a second wireless device over a plurality
of wireless links of the multi-link session based at least in part
on the control or management frame.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES
[0001] The present application for patent claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/448,326 to Zhou et. al.,
titled "WI-FI MULTICHANNEL AGGREGATION," filed Jan. 19, 2017,
assigned to the assignee hereof, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The following relates generally to wireless communication,
and more specifically to management procedures in multi-channel
aggregation.
[0003] Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to
provide various types of communication content such as voice,
video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems
may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication
with multiple users by sharing the available system resources
(e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless network, for example
a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a Wi-Fi (i.e.,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11)
network may include an access point (AP) that may communicate with
one or more stations (STAs) or mobile devices. The AP may be
coupled to a network, such as the Internet, and may enable a mobile
device to communicate via the network (or communicate with other
devices coupled to the access point). A wireless device may
communicate with a network device bi-directionally. For example, in
a WLAN, a STA may communicate with an associated AP via downlink
and uplink. The downlink (or forward link) may refer to the
communication link from the AP to the STA, and the uplink (or
reverse link) may refer to the communication link from the STA to
the AP.
[0004] Devices in a WLAN may communicate over unlicensed spectrum,
which may be a portion of spectrum that includes frequency bands
traditionally used by Wi-Fi technology, such as the 5 GHz band, the
2.4 GHz band, the 60 GHz band, the 3.6 GHz band, and/or the 900 MHz
band. The unlicensed spectrum may also include other frequency
bands. The wireless connection between an AP and STA may be
referred to as a channel or link. Users may access these radio
frequency spectrum bands using various contention-based protocols
(e.g., as specified by one or more versions of IEEE 802.11). Each
band (e.g., the 5 GHz band) may contain multiple channels (e.g.,
each spanning 20 MHz in frequency), each of which may be usable by
an AP or STA. A channel may support multiple connections (e.g.,
between multiple STAs and the AP) in a multiple access
configuration (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA)). In some
cases, the load or demand on one channel may be low at any
particular instant, while the load or demand may be high on other
channels. Improved methods for allocating data flows between
available channels may thus be desired. Multi-link operations may
result in increased power consumption, for example because the AP
and/or STA are monitoring multiple and numerous links for control
or management signaling.
SUMMARY
[0005] The described techniques relate to improved methods,
systems, devices, or apparatuses that support management procedures
in multi-channel aggregation (which may alternatively be referred
to as multi-link aggregation). The described techniques may
increase throughput of a wireless network, improve utilization of
available channels, or provide other benefits. For example, the
ability for a single traffic flow (e.g., an internet protocol (IP)
flow) to span across different channels may increase the capacity
of the network, may reduce communication latency, etc. In
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a wireless
device (e.g., an AP) supporting multi-link communication may
identify an anchor link and one or more supplementary links. For
example, the anchor link may provide reliable communications (e.g.,
by operating at a lower radio frequency (RF) spectrum band) while
the supplementary links may provide increased throughput relative
to the anchor link (e.g., by operating in a higher RF spectrum band
with greater available bandwidth). As an example, the anchor link
may be used to communicate management or control information (e.g.,
beacons, management frames, scheduling information, etc.), while
the supplementary links in the multi-link session may be used to
communicate data. For example, the anchor link may be dedicated for
the transmission of control or management frames, while the
supplementary links may transmit data frames, but not data or
management frames. In some cases, the anchor link may also be one
of the wireless links used to transmit data frames in the
multi-link session. In other cases, the anchor link may be a
different wireless link. In some examples, the anchor link may
additionally or alternatively support association procedures, or
allow a wireless device to transmit, broadcast, or otherwise
advertise aggregation capability information.
[0006] A method of wireless communication is described. The method
may include identifying an anchor link dedicated to the
communication of control and management frames for a multi-link
session, receiving a control or management frame from second
wireless device over the identified anchor link, and communicating
in parallel between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link
session based at least in part on the control or management
frame.
[0007] An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The
apparatus may include means for identifying an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session, means for receiving a control or management
frame from second wireless device over the identified anchor link,
and means for communicating in parallel between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device over plurality of wireless
links of the multi-link session based at least in part on the
control or management frame.
[0008] Another apparatus for wireless communication is described.
The apparatus may include a processor, memory in electronic
communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the
memory. The instructions may be operable to cause the processor to
identify an anchor link dedicated to the communication of control
and management frames for a multi-link session, receive a control
or management frame from second wireless device over the identified
anchor link, and communicate in parallel between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device over plurality of wireless
links of the multi-link session based at least in part on the
control or management frame.
[0009] A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless
communication is described. The non-transitory computer-readable
medium may include instructions operable to cause a processor to
identify an anchor link dedicated to the communication of control
and management frames for a multi-link session, receive a control
or management frame from second wireless device over the identified
anchor link, and communicate in parallel between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device over plurality of wireless
links of the multi-link session based at least in part on the
control or management frame.
[0010] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the
second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link over the
anchor link, or over a second link of the plurality of wireless
links different than the anchor link, or a combination thereof.
[0011] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the
second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link in a
beacon, or a discovery transmission, or a measurement transmission,
or a combination thereof.
[0012] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting, on
the identified anchor link, a request to associate with the second
wireless device.
[0013] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving a
response to the request to associate with the second wireless
device, wherein the control or management frame received from the
second wireless device comprises the response. Some examples of the
method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
described above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for establishing the multi-link session between the
first wireless device and the second wireless device based at least
in part on the response.
[0014] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above,
communicating in parallel between the first wireless device and the
second wireless device over the plurality of wireless links
comprises transmitting, over the anchor wireless link, data frames
and the control and management frames, the anchor link comprising
one of the plurality of wireless links. Some examples of the
method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
described above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for transmitting data frames over non-anchor links of
the plurality of wireless links.
[0015] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting data
frames over one or more of the plurality of wireless links. Some
examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, over the
anchor link, one or more acknowledgements in response to the
transmitted data frames.
[0016] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for measuring a signal
strength for a transmission received on the anchor link, or on a
second link, or a combination thereof. Some examples of the method,
apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described
above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for selecting a wireless link of the plurality of
wireless links for communications during the multi-link session
based at least in part on the measured signal strength.
[0017] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting one or
more frames on a second link during the multi-link session. Some
examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for determining whether
the second link may be suitable for communications in parallel
between the first wireless device and the second wireless device
during the multi-link session based at least in part on the one or
more frames transmitted on the second link.
[0018] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving an
indication of a plurality of links supported by the second wireless
device, including an initial anchor link. Some examples of the
method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
described above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for identifying that the first wireless device does
not support the initial anchor link. Some examples of the method,
apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described
above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for transmitting, on the anchor link, an indication
that the first wireless device does not support the initial anchor
link. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for establishing the
multi-link session between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device based at least in part on transmitting the
indication that the first wireless device does not support the
initial anchor link.
[0019] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above,
identifying the anchor link comprises transmitting, to the second
wireless device, an indication of a preferred anchor link of the
first wireless device. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above may further
include processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving,
from the second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link
to be used by the first wireless device.
[0020] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above, receiving
the control or management frame from the second wireless device
comprises receiving, on the anchor link, aggregation capability
information for the second wireless device, the aggregation
capability information indicating a capability of the second
wireless device to communicate in parallel over the plurality of
wireless links.
[0021] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above, the
aggregation capability information comprises a capability of the
second wireless device to communicate in parallel over the
plurality of wireless links, or current operating parameters of the
second wireless device, or a combination thereof.
[0022] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above, receiving
the aggregation capability information further comprises receiving
a beacon, or a probe response, or an association response, or a
reassociation response, or a combination thereof, that includes the
aggregation capability information.
[0023] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting
aggregation capability information for the first wireless device,
the aggregation capability information indicating a capability of
the first wireless device to communicate in parallel over the
plurality of wireless links.
[0024] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above,
transmitting the aggregation capability information comprises
transmitting a probe request, or an association request, or a
reassociation request, or a combination thereof, that includes the
aggregation capability information.
[0025] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the
second wireless device, a first operational mode indicator
indicating a change in a link aggregation preference for the
multi-link session. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above may further
include processes, features, means, or instructions for
ortransmitting, to the second wireless device, a second operational
mode indicator indicating the change in the link aggregation
preference for the multi-link session.
[0026] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above,
establishing the multi-link session between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device comprises establishing a
first wireless link of the plurality of wireless links between a
first lower media access control (MAC) layer of the first wireless
device and a first lower MAC layer of the second wireless device.
Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for establishing a
second wireless link between a second lower MAC layer of the first
wireless device and a second lower MAC layer of the second wireless
device, wherein the first lower MAC layer and the second lower MAC
layer of the first wireless device may be in communication with a
common upper MAC layer of the first wireless device.
[0027] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above, the anchor
link comprises a frequency resource, or a time resource, or a
spatial stream, or a portion of a packet, or a combination
thereof.
[0028] In some examples of the method, apparatus, and
non-transitory computer-readable medium described above, the anchor
link uses a first bandwidth and a second link of the plurality of
wireless links uses a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth
greater than the first bandwidth.
[0029] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, over the
anchor link, one or more control or management frames to maintain a
second wireless link of the plurality of wireless links, the second
wireless link limited such that the second wireless link may be
unable to be maintained between the apparatus and the wireless
device absent the one or more control or management frames received
over the anchor link.
[0030] A method of wireless communication is described. The method
may include identifying an anchor link dedicated to the
communication of control and management frames for a multi-link
session, transmitting a control or management frame over the
identified anchor link, and communicating in parallel between the
first wireless device and a second wireless device over a plurality
of wireless links of the multi-link session based at least in part
on the control or management frame.
[0031] An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The
apparatus may include means for identifying an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session, means for transmitting a control or
management frame over the identified anchor link, and means for
communicating in parallel between the first wireless device and a
second wireless device over a plurality of wireless links of the
multi-link session based at least in part on the control or
management frame.
[0032] Another apparatus for wireless communication is described.
The apparatus may include a processor, memory in electronic
communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the
memory. The instructions may be operable to cause the processor to
identify an anchor link dedicated to the communication of control
and management frames for a multi-link session, transmit a control
or management frame over the identified anchor link, and
communicate in parallel between the first wireless device and a
second wireless device over a plurality of wireless links of the
multi-link session based at least in part on the control or
management frame.
[0033] A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless
communication is described. The non-transitory computer-readable
medium may include instructions operable to cause a processor to
identify an anchor link dedicated to the communication of control
and management frames for a multi-link session, transmit a control
or management frame over the identified anchor link, and
communicate in parallel between the first wireless device and a
second wireless device over a plurality of wireless links of the
multi-link session based at least in part on the control or
management frame.
[0034] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting an
indication of the anchor link on the anchor link, or on a second
link different than the anchor link, or a combination thereof.
[0035] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting an
indication of the anchor link in a beacon, or a discovery
transmission, or a measurement transmission, or a combination
thereof.
[0036] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for transmitting an
indication of a plurality of links supported by the first wireless
device, including an initial anchor link. Some examples of the
method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
described above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for receiving an indication that the second wireless
device does not support the initial anchor link. Some examples of
the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
described above may further include processes, features, means, or
instructions for establishing the multi-link session between the
first wireless device and the second wireless device based at least
in part on receiving the indication that the second wireless device
does not support the initial anchor link.
[0037] Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory
computer-readable medium described above may further include
processes, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the
second wireless device, an indication of a preferred anchor link of
the second wireless device. Some examples of the method, apparatus,
and non-transitory computer-readable medium described above may
further include processes, features, means, or instructions for
transmitting, to the second wireless device, an indication of the
anchor link to be used by the second wireless device for the
association procedure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system for wireless
communication that supports management procedures in multi-channel
aggregation in accordance with aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a WLAN that supports
management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates an example layer configuration that
supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates an example communication scheme that
supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate example process flows that supports
management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIGS. 7 through 9 show block diagrams of a device that
supports management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a system including a
wireless device that supports management procedure in multi-channel
aggregation in accordance with aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0045] FIGS. 11 through 16 illustrate methods for management
procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance with aspects
of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] Some wireless communications systems may support multiple
parallel links between communicating devices (e.g., to increase
throughput, to improve link efficiency, to reduce latency, etc.). A
wireless link may refer to a communication path between devices and
each link may support one or more channels (e.g., logical entities)
that support multiplexing of data, such that during at least some
duration of time, transmissions or portions of transmissions may
occur over both links at the same time, either synchronously or
asynchronously. The wireless links may be in the same or different
radio frequency (RF) spectrum bands. Each link of a multi-link
session may be associated with respective physical components
(e.g., antennas, amplifiers, including power amplifiers and low
noise amplifiers, etc.) and/or logical processing components (e.g.,
physical (PHY) layers, MAC layers, etc.) of a given wireless
device, and these components may be configured to support
multi-link communications. The multiple links may connect wireless
devices at the MAC layer (e.g., each link may connect respective
lower MAC components of communicating devices). The MAC layer may
aggregate data packets from the multiple wireless links to provide
to upper layers (if the wireless device is receiving) or receive
from upper layers (if the wireless devices is transmitting) of the
device (e.g., using multiple connections from the MAC layer to the
PHY layer). Such parallel communications, while benefiting the
system in terms of throughput and spectral utilization, may
increase the complexity of the system. For example, these
communications may require or benefit from improved management
procedures to facilitate discovery, establishment, maintenance, and
control of a multi-link session.
[0047] In some cases, a wireless device (e.g., a STA or AP) may use
different links for a multi-link session to communicate different
types of information. For example a first link, which may be
referred to as an anchor link, may be used to transmit control or
management information to support link discovery, establishment,
and/or maintenance. In examples described below, the control or
management information may include discovery information,
aggregation control information, information for link set-up (e.g.,
association frames), link management information (e.g., management
frames), link teardown information, or any combination thereof. One
or more other links of the multi-link session may support data
communication based at least in part on the control or management
information exchanged via the anchor link. In some cases, the
anchor link may be one of the wireless links of the multi-link
session used to transmit data frames, in addition to control and
management frames, while the remaining wireless links may be used
to transmit data frames. Although described in terms of frequency,
it is to be understood that the anchor concept may be generalized
to other dimensions. For example, anchor information may be
associated with a given time slot, may be associated with a given
spatial stream, may be contained in a message preamble, etc. Thus,
the described techniques generally improve reliability for control
information (e.g., based on transmitting the control information
over a specific link, at a given time, etc.) and increased
throughput for data (e.g., based on transmitting the data over a
link that supports higher throughput communications).
[0048] Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the
context of a wireless communications system. Aspects of the
disclosure are then described with reference to process flow
diagrams and packet allocation schemes. Aspects of the disclosure
are further illustrated by and described with reference to
apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to
management procedures in multi-channel aggregation
[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN 100 (also known as a Wi-Fi
network) configured in accordance with various aspects of the
present disclosure. The WLAN 100 may include an AP 105 and multiple
associated STAs 115, which may represent devices such as wireless
communication terminals, including mobile stations, phones,
personal digital assistant (PDAs), other handheld devices,
netbooks, notebook computers, tablet computers, laptops, display
devices (e.g., TVs, computer monitors, etc.), printers, etc. The AP
105 and the associated STAs 115 may represent a basic service set
(BSS) or an extended service set (ESS). The various STAs 115 in the
network are able to communicate with one another through the AP
105. Also shown is a coverage area 110 of the AP 105, which may
represent a basic service area (BSA) of the WLAN 100. An extended
network station associated with the WLAN 100 may be connected to a
wired or wireless distribution system that may allow multiple APs
105 to be connected in an ESS.
[0050] A STA 115 may be located in the intersection of more than
one coverage area 110 and may associate with more than one AP 105.
A single AP 105 and an associated set of STAs 115 may be referred
to as a BSS. An ESS is a set of connected BSSs. A distribution
system may be used to connect APs 105 in an ESS. In some cases, the
coverage area 110 of an AP 105 may be divided into sectors. The
WLAN 100 may include APs 105 of different types (e.g., metropolitan
area, home network, etc.), with varying and overlapping coverage
areas 110. Two STAs 115 may also communicate directly via a direct
wireless link 125 regardless of whether both STAs 115 are in the
same coverage area 110. Examples of direct wireless links 125 may
include Wi-Fi Direct connections, Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup
(TDLS) links, and other group connections. STAs 115 and APs 105 may
communicate according to the WLAN radio and baseband protocol for
physical and MAC layers from IEEE 802.11 and versions including,
but not limited to, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac,
802.11ad, 802.11ah, 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.11ba, etc. In other
implementations, peer-to-peer connections or ad hoc networks may be
implemented within WLAN 100. Devices in WLAN 100 may communicate
over unlicensed spectrum, which may be a portion of spectrum that
includes frequency bands traditionally used by Wi-Fi technology,
such as the 5 GHz band, the 2.4 GHz band, the 60 GHz band, the 3.6
GHz band, and/or the 900 MHz band. The unlicensed spectrum may also
include other frequency bands.
[0051] In some cases, a STA 115 (or an AP 105) may be detectable by
a central AP 105, but not by other STAs 115 in the coverage area
110 of the central AP 105. For example, one STA 115 may be at one
end of the coverage area 110 of the central AP 105 while another
STA 115 may be at the other end. Thus, both STAs 115 may
communicate with the AP 105, but may not receive the transmissions
of the other. This may result in colliding transmissions for the
two STAs 115 in a contention based environment (e.g., carrier-sense
multiple access (CSMA)/collision avoidance (CA)) because the STAs
115 may not refrain from transmitting on top of each other. A STA
115 whose transmissions are not identifiable, but that is within
the same coverage area 110 may be known as a hidden node. CSMA/CA
may be supplemented by the exchange of a request-to-send (RTS)
packet transmitted by a sending STA 115 (or AP 105) and a
clear-to-send (CTS) packet transmitted by the receiving STA 115 (or
AP 105). This exchange may alert other devices within range of the
sender and receiver not to transmit for the duration of the primary
transmission. Thus, RTS/CTS handshake may help mitigate a hidden
node problem.
[0052] In a system supporting multi-link aggregation (which may
also be referred to as multi-channel aggregation), some of the
traffic associated with a single STA 115 may be transmitted across
multiple parallel communication links 120 (which may also be
referred to as "links" or "wireless links" herein). Multi-link
aggregation may thus provide a means to increase network capacity
and maximize the utilization of available resources. In some cases,
each communication link 120 for a given wireless device may be
associated with a respective radio of the wireless device (e.g.,
where a radio comprises transmit/receive chains, physical antennas,
signal processing components, etc.). Multi-link aggregation may be
implemented in a number of ways. As a first example, the multi-link
aggregation may be packet-based. In packet-based aggregation,
frames of a single traffic flow (e.g., all traffic associated with
a given traffic identifier (TID)) may be sent in parallel across
multiple communication links 120 (e.g., on multiple channels). In
some cases, the multiple communication links 120 may operate in the
same RF spectrum band (e.g., each link may be in the 5 GHz band,
and use channels in the 5 GHz band). In other cases, the multiple
communication links 120 may be in different RF spectrum bands
(e.g., one may be in the 2.4 GHz band while another is in the 5 GHz
band). Each link may be associated with a different PHY layer and
lower MAC layer as described with reference to FIG. 4. In such an
implementation, management of the aggregation of the separate
communication links 120 may be performed at a higher MAC layer. The
multilink aggregation implemented at the lower MAC layers and PHY
layers may be transparent to the upper layers of the wireless
device.
[0053] As another example, the multi-link aggregation may be
flow-based. In flow-based aggregation, each traffic flow (e.g., all
traffic associated with a given TID) may be sent using one of
multiple available communication links 120. As an example, a single
STA 115 may access a web browser while streaming a video in
parallel. The traffic associated with the web browser access may be
communicated over a first channel of a first communication link 120
while the traffic associated with the video stream may be
communicated over a second channel of a second communication link
120 in parallel (e.g., at least some of the data may be transmitted
on the first channel concurrent with data transmitted on the second
channel). In some examples, the transmissions on the first
communication link 120 and the second communication link 120 may be
synchronized. In other examples, the transmissions may be
asynchronous. As described above, the channels may belong to the
same RF band or to different RF bands. In the case of three
communication links 120 (e.g., or other numbers of communication
links greater than two), all three communication links 120 may
support operation over the same RF band (e.g., all three in the 5
GHz RF band). In other cases, two communication links 120, but not
the third, may support operation over the same RF band (e.g., two
links in the 5 GHz RF band, and one link in the 2.4 GHz RF band).
Or, in still other cases each of the three communication links 120
may support operation for a separate RF band. In some cases,
flow-based aggregation may not use cross-link packet scheduling and
reordering (e.g., which may be used to support packet-based
aggregation). Alternatively, in the case of a single flow (e.g., in
the case that the STA 115 simply attempts to access a web browser),
aggregation gain may not be available.
[0054] In other embodiments, a hybrid of flow-based and
packet-based aggregation may be employed. As an example, a device
may employ flow-based aggregation in situations in which multiple
traffic flows are created and may employ packet-based aggregation
in other situations. The decision to switch between multi-link
aggregation techniques (e.g., modes) may additionally or
alternatively be based on other metrics (e.g., a time of day,
traffic load within the network, available battery power for a
wireless device, etc.). It is to be understood that while aspects
of the preceding are described in the context of a multi-link
session involving two (or more) communication links 120, the
described concepts may be extended to a multi-link session
involving multiple direct wireless links 125.
[0055] To support the described multi-link aggregation techniques,
APs 105 and STAs 115 may exchange supported aggregation capability
information (e.g. supported aggregation type, supported frequency
bands, etc.). In some cases, the exchange of information may occur
via a beacon signal, a probe association request or a probe
association response, dedicated action frames, an operating mode
indicator (OMI), etc. In some cases, an AP 105 may designate a
given channel in a given band as an anchor link (e.g., the wireless
link on which it transmits beacons, management frames, control
information, association information, etc., to support the
discovery, establishment, and/or maintenance of wireless links used
to multi-link aggregation, such as during a multi-link session
between wireless devices). In this case, the AP 105 may transmit
beacons (e.g., which may contain less information) on other
channels or links for discovery purposes.
[0056] Although described as being frequency-based, the anchor link
could additionally or alternatively be time-based (e.g., an AP 105
may transmit its beacon during a certain time interval on one or
more links). For example, the AP 105 may designate a time period
for transmission of control information over one or more links and
may employ various techniques to provide improved reliability to
the control information in the time interval (e.g., may use a more
robust modulation and coding scheme (MCS), may increase a
transmission power, etc.). Outside of the time interval, the AP 105
may employ techniques that prioritize data throughput over the one
or more links.
[0057] In some examples, the anchor link may operate in a lower RF
frequency band than the other links used in the multi-link session.
For example, the anchor link may operate in a 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz
band to increase the range, power, or signal quality associated
with transmissions on the anchor link, relative to other wireless
links that may operate at a 5 GHz or 60 GHz band associated with
higher data throughputs, but relatively shorter ranges. For
example, links in a higher RF band (e.g., the 60 GHz band) may be
susceptible to the directionality of the antennas at the
communicating devices on both sides of the links. The performance
of such links may degrade if either device moves (even slightly).
Responsive to such degradations, the devices may perform beam
training to realign the link between the devices. During such beam
training, the link may be unavailable. Thus, in systems in which a
60 GHz link (e.g., or 5 GHz link, etc.) serves as an auxiliary link
to an anchor link in a lower RF band (e.g., which may provide more
reliable communications), the 60 GHz link may provide higher
throughput (e.g., under certain communication conditions) while the
anchor link provides a stable link for discovery, link setup,
exchange of control and management information, exchange of data
traffic (e.g., at a lower data rate than provided by the auxiliary
link), etc.
[0058] Similar techniques may be employed for technologies other
than RF communications, such as light communications, which may
work over short distances and/or concentrate energy in a small
focused beam and/or may support a wireless link that may
communicate between wireless devices in only one direction (e.g.,
only uplink, or only downlink, or only one direction between peer
devices). Light communications (e.g., visible light communication
(VLC) and other similar technologies) may benefit from auxiliary
communications over a secondary link that rely on a reliable anchor
link. For example, light communication (or similar communications)
may be transmitted from an overhead light to a wireless device
(e.g., downlink communication using a light emitting diode (LED)
lamp, etc., to a mobile device) but may not support uplink
communication from the wireless device to the overhead light (e.g.
the LED lamp may be able to receive RF transmissions, but not VLC
transmissions). Such communications may benefit from an anchor link
(e.g., a 2.4 GHz link or 5 GHz link), which serves as the uplink
(reverse link) to the downlink light communications. For example,
the anchor link may carry acknowledgements on the uplink in
response to the data transmitted by the overhead light on the
downlink. In other examples, the anchor link may carry scheduling
information, etc., for the transmissions using light communication
from the overhead light.
[0059] In some examples, in multi-link aggregation, each link may
use its own transmit queue. In other examples, a common transmit
queue may be used across the links. In some examples, each link may
have a unique transmitter address (TA) and receiver address (RA).
In other examples, the TA and RA may be common across the multiple
links used for multi-link aggregation. In other examples, one or
more of a sequence number (SN), frame number (FN), and/or packet
number (PN) may be common across the communication links. Other
items that may be common (or different) across two or more of the
links include encryption keys, MAC packet data unit (MPDU)
generation, aggregated MAC service data unit (AMSDU) constraints,
fragment size, reordering, replay check, and/or de-fragmentation
techniques. In other examples, encryption keys may be per-link.
[0060] In various examples, block acknowledgements (BAs) may be
sent in response to multi-link transmissions. A BA may refer to an
acknowledgment (ACK) for multiple MPDUs sent together (e.g., an ACK
for a block of MPDUs). The transmitting device (e.g., the device
requesting the BA) and the receiving device (e.g., the device
transmitting the BA) may establish a BA session (also known as a BA
agreement) for during a setup phase, negotiating an agreement
regarding the terms and capabilities for the BA session (e.g.,
using an add BA (ADDBA) request and response procedure). The
transmitting device and receiving device may exchange capability
information such as BA size, buffer size, window size (e.g., a
sliding window), and/or policy, and then agree on the common
parameters for each of the receiving device and the transmitter
device to use. The BA agreement may be later torn down (e.g., using
a delete BA (DELBA) request).
[0061] Both the transmitting device and the receiving device may
maintain a sliding window (e.g., a BA window), and may have
previously negotiated the size of the BA. For example, a BA session
may have a BA size of 64 MPDUs (e.g., other BA size examples may
include 256 MPDUs, 1024 MPDUs, etc.). In such cases, a transmitting
device may transmit 64 MPDUs followed by a block acknowledgment
request (BAR). In response to the BAR, the receiving device may,
upon reception of the 64 MPDUs and the BAR, transmit a BA to the
transmitting device. The BA may indicate whether all 64 MPDUs were
received correctly, which MPDUs are missing, etc. In some cases, a
BA may be used to indicate the longer BA window, or a capability
exchange or agreement defining the larger BA window may also be
sent. In other examples, a single SN may be used, but with multiple
scoreboards (e.g., one scoreboard per channel or link), or with a
common, global scoreboard as well as per-link scoreboards.
Multi-link aggregation (e.g., flow-based and/or packet-based) may
increase network capacity by efficiently allocating utilization of
multiple links.
[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a WLAN 200 that supports
management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, WLAN 200
may implement aspects of WLAN 100. A wireless connection between AP
105-a and STA 115-a may be referred to as a link 205 or a
communication link, and each link 205 may include one or more
channels. As an example, WLAN 200 may support multi-link
aggregation such that AP 105-a and STA 115-a may communicate in
parallel over two or more links (e.g., link 205-a and link 205-b).
STA 115-a may thus receive packets (e.g., MPDUs) over both link
205-a and link 205-b from AP 105-a. Such parallel communications
210-a and 210-b over the two or more links may be synchronized or
asynchronous, and may be uplink, or downlink, or a combination of
uplink and downlink during a particular duration of time. As
described above, the parallel communications 210-a and 210-b over
the two or more links 205-a and 205-b may occur between two STAs
115 (e.g., which may be referred to as sidelink communication)
without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0063] Such multi-link aggregation may provide multiple benefits to
WLAN 200. For example, multi-link aggregation may improve UPT
(e.g., by quickly flushing per-user transmit queues). Similarly,
multi-link aggregation may improve throughput for WLAN 200 by
improving utilization of available channels (e.g., by increasing
trunking gains). That is, multi-link aggregation may increase
spectral utilization and may increase the bandwidth-time product.
Networks that do not support multi-link aggregation may experience
under-utilization of spectrum in non-uniform (e.g., bursty) traffic
conditions. For example the communication load over a given link
205 (e.g., link 205-a) may be low at any particular instant,
whereas the demand may be high for another link 205 (e.g., link
205-b). By allowing a single traffic flow (e.g., a single internet
protocol (IP) flow) to span across different links 205, the overall
network capacity may be increased.
[0064] Further, multi-link aggregation may enable smooth
transitions between multi-band radios (e.g., where each radio may
be associated with a given RF band) and/or enable a framework to
setup separation of control channels and data channels. Other
benefits of multi-link aggregation include reducing the ON time of
a modem, which may benefit a wireless device in terms of power
consumption though the final power-saving gains may in some cases
depend on other factors including processing requirements, RF
bandwidth, etc. Multi-link aggregation additionally increases
multiplexing opportunities in the case of a single BSS. That is,
multi-link aggregation may increase the number of users per
multiplexed transmission served by the multi-link AP 105-a.
[0065] In some cases, multi-link aggregation may be supported
(including initiated) through signaling between STA 115-a and AP
105-a (or a peer STA 115). As an example, STA 115-a may indicate to
AP 105-a (or the peer STA 115) whether it supports multi-link
aggregation. For example, STA 115-a may indicate that it supports
multi-link aggregation in general, for a particular RF spectrum
band, for a link 205 of a given RF spectrum band, etc. Such
signaling could be static (e.g., in the form of beacons, probes,
association or re-association frames, etc.), semi-static, or
dynamic (e.g., via OMI or other similar operational parameters). In
some cases, AP 105-a (e.g., or the peer STA 115) may decide whether
to aggregate communications with STA 115-a based at least in part
on the capabilities advertised by STA 115-a. In some cases, such
aggregation capability information may be communicated via an
anchor link, as described further below.
[0066] In some example aggregation architectures, all TIDs (e.g.,
or flow IDs or frame types) may be aggregated over link 205-a and
link 205-b (e.g., which may be an example of packet-based
aggregation). That is, parallel communications 210-a and 210-b may
each have at least one packet having a common TID. Packet-based
aggregation may provide improvements in UPT, latency, and total
throughput (e.g., even for the case of a single traffic flow). In
some cases, links 205-a and 205-b may have independent PHY and
lower MAC operations (e.g., CSMA) while aggregation is performed at
an upper MAC layer, as described further below.
[0067] In some aspects, link 205-a may be designated as an anchor
link (e.g., designated by AP 105-a). For example, AP 105-a may
transmit beacons (e.g., or management frames, beacon frames, or
other control information) via link 205-a. In some examples, STA
115-a may detect the presence of AP 105-a (and in some cases
establish association with AP 105-a) on link 205-a. AP 105-a may
additionally transmit beacons on other channels (e.g., supported by
link 205-b) that it operates on. For example, such beacons may be
for discovery or measurement purposes. In aspects, beacons on other
links (e.g., link 205-b) may be mini-beacons, such as a fast
initial link setup (FILS) discovery frame or a measurement pilot
frame. Such mini-beacons may indicate the presence of the anchor
link.
[0068] AP 105-a may indicate its capabilities (and, in some cases,
current operating parameters) via beacons, probe responses,
association frames, re-association frames, and the like on its
anchor link (e.g., link 205-a). Similarly, STA 115-a may advertise
its capabilities via association requests or via probe request
frames on link 205-a. In some cases, STA 115-a may not support
communications on the RF band associated with link 205-a but may
support communications via link 205-b (e.g., at least one other RF
band advertised by AP 105-a). STA 115-a may indicate its
aggregation capability via a probe request message sent to AP 105-a
via link 205-b. In such cases, AP 105-a may support association
procedures for STA 115-a via link 205-b, and may configure link
205-b as the anchor link for STA 115-a. That is, AP 105-a may
transmit management and/or control frames for STA 115-a via link
205-b (e.g., in addition to or instead of supporting anchor link
communications for other STAs 115 via link 205-a).
[0069] In some cases, the anchor link may not be fixed (i.e.,
determined by AP 105-a) but may instead be negotiated per
association (e.g., based on a capability or preference of STA
115-a). That is, STA 115-a may indicate (e.g., during association)
a preferred anchor link, which (if located in an RF band supported
by AP 105-a) may be designated as the anchor link for that
association procedure. In such cases, management frames, control
frames, etc., may be exchanged on the anchor link that AP 105-a has
assigned to a particular association.
[0070] In some examples, the anchoring concept may be generalized
to other dimensions. For example, AP 105-a may indicate a time slot
to be used for anchor link operations, may use synchronization
signals for anchor link operations, may use portions of transmitted
packets for anchor link operations, or the like. For example, AP
105-a may append control information or management information for
one or more STAs 115 to frames sent to STA 115-a. In some examples,
the control information may be included in a modified preamble
(e.g., or some other field) of the packets. Additionally or
alternatively, the anchor link operations may be tied to a given
spatial stream (e.g., may be associated with transmissions over a
given antenna port).
[0071] Different RF bands may be associated with different ranges
of communication in addition to other radio characteristics. For
example, higher RF bands may be associated with shorter range
communications (e.g., the communication range of links 205 in the 5
GHz band may be shorter than the communication range of links 205
in the 2.4 GHz band). For example, links 205 in the 5 GHz band or
the 60 GHz band (e.g., or other relatively high RF bands) may be
based on beam training to align the links 205 between communicating
devices. Communications over such links 205 may degrade if either
device moves, such that these communications may benefit from the
availability of a reliable anchor link (e.g., to carry control
information, link setup information, etc.). If links 205 that are
available for aggregation belong to different RF bands, one or more
schemes outlined below may be used for selecting an appropriate
anchor link 205. In some cases, STA 115-a may determine (e.g.,
based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a beacon
received on an anchor link) whether it can establish a link 205 on
another RF band. For example, a strong RSSI may indicate that AP
105-a (e.g., or another STA in the case of sidelink communications)
is in close range and may permit aggregation on higher RF bands. As
an example, such determinations may be based on empirical curves
(e.g., based on prior experience) or otherwise dynamically
determined by STA 115-a.
[0072] Additionally or alternatively, in cases in which AP 105-a
transmits beacons (or mini-beacons) on other RF bands that it
supports, STA 115-a may use these beacons for measurement to
determine if it can establish a link 205 on that RF band. As an
example, a suitable link 205 may be established in a given RF band
only if the beacon on that RF band satisfies an RSSI constraint
(e.g., exceeds a given RSSI threshold). In some examples, AP 105-a
and STA 115-a may exchange frames on other RF bands supported by
both to determine whether a link (e.g., link 205-b) may be
established on those RF bands. By way of example, AP 105-a or STA
115-a may transmit frames on the other RF band to determine if the
other device is reachable and if the RF band is suitable for
aggregation. Such frames may include quality of service (QoS) null
frames, null data packets (NDPs), directional multi-gigabit (DMG)
beam training frames, etc. If the other device receives these
frames, it may respond (e.g., with an ACK), and the devices may
proceed to establish a link (e.g., link 205-b) on that RF band. In
some cases, beacons on the anchor link may indicate a preferred
duration of time when AP 105-a is available for channel measurement
(e.g., aggregation capability exchange) on one or more supported RF
bands.
[0073] In some cases, AP 105-a and STA 115-a may additionally or
alternatively signal a change in aggregation support. For example,
AP 105-a or STA 115-a may use an operating mode indicator (OMI) to
indicate a change in channel aggregation preference. As an example,
such changes in aggregation preferences may result from STA 115-a
moving away (or towards) AP 105-a. In some examples, the channel
conditions on one of the aggregated links 205 may deteriorate
(e.g., due to overlapping basic service set (OBSS) interference or
the like) such that one or both of AP 105-a and STA 115-a may
prefer not to continue using the link 205 for aggregated
communications. Additionally or alternatively, traffic conditions
at STA 115-a may change (e.g., a communication load may decrease)
such that aggregation may not provide significant benefits over
non-aggregated communications. In such cases, STA 115-a may choose
to reduce the number of aggregated links 205 (e.g., or terminate
the multi-link session entirely).
[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates an example layer configuration 300 that
supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Layer
configuration 300 may apply to a STA 115 or an AP 105, and be for a
transmitting wireless device or a receiving wireless device. It is
to be understood that aspects of layer configuration 300 may
represent logical constructs (e.g., such that components of layer
configuration 300 may share hardware components). A wireless device
may support layer configuration 300 through the use of various
hardware configurations described herein.
[0075] Layer configuration 300 may include upper layers 305, a MAC
layer 310, and one or more PHY layers 335 (e.g., where each PHY
layer 335 may in some cases be associated with a respective link or
channel). MAC layer 310 may be further divided into upper MAC layer
315 and lower MAC layer 325-a, lower MAC layer 325-b, and lower MAC
layer 325-c. While three lower MAC layers 325 are illustrated, it
is to be understood that upper MAC layer 315 may control (e.g., via
multi-link aggregation controller 320) any suitable number of lower
MAC layers 325. Signaling between a given lower MAC (e.g., lower
MAC layer 325-a) and upper MAC layer 315 may be carried by
connection 345. Similarly, signaling between lower MAC layer 325-a
and PHY layer 335-a may be carried by connection 350 and signaling
between lower MAC layer 325-a and lower MAC layer 325-b may be
carried by connection 340. In some cases, the signaling for lower
MAC 325-a, lower MAC layer 325-b, and lower MAC layer 325-c may be
based on logic associated with respective controller 330-a,
controller 330-b, and controller 330-c.
[0076] With reference to FIG. 2, lower MAC layer 325-a may be
associated with link 205-a (e.g., via PHY layer 335-a) and lower
MAC layer 325-b may be associated with link 205-b (e.g., via PHY
layer 335-b). That is, each link 205 may have an associated lower
MAC layer 325 that performs link-specific features (e.g., channel
access, uplink triggered transmission procedures, multiple-input,
multiple-output (MIMO) signaling, etc.) For example, lower MAC
layer 325-a and lower MAC layer 325-b may independently perform
enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) countdowns on respective
links 205-a and 205-b. Additionally or alternatively, lower MAC
layers 325 may perform RTS/CTS procedures, perform clear channel
assessment (CCA) procedures, apply a modulation and coding scheme
(MCS), control a physical packet data unit (PPDU) duration,
transmit sounding reference signals, etc.
[0077] Upper MAC layer 315 may provide a single-link interface to
upper layers 305. For example, upper MAC layer 315 may perform
management and security-related operations. Such a design may allow
a single beacon from an AP 105 on a primary band to control
multi-band STAs 115. Additionally or alternatively, the single
upper MAC layer 315 may allow for a single association procedure to
initiate the multi-link session. For example, an association
procedure may be performed using a single link, but provide for
capability information for multiple links, which may include the
link that is being used for the association procedure. In some
cases, the upper MAC layer 315 may provide signaling (e.g., OMI
signaling) that allows for dynamic bandwidth control (e.g.,
expansion). The upper MAC layer 315 may additionally or
alternatively provide a single BA space (e.g., a single BA
scoreboard and sequence space) such that MPDUs may be scheduled
dynamically on a per-PPDU basis for each link (e.g., such that a
given MPDU may be retransmitted on a different link from that on
which it was originally transmitted). In some cases, upper MAC
layer 315 may handle operations related to security. For example, a
pseudo-random number sequence may be assigned by upper MAC layer
315 to allow packets to be retransmitted on any link without
compromising transmission security.
[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a communication scheme 400
that supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some
examples, communication scheme 400 may implement aspects of WLAN
100. For example, communication scheme 400 may be implemented
between a transmitting wireless device 455-a (e.g., a STA 115 or AP
105) and a receiving wireless device 455-b (e.g., a STA 115 or AP
105). Although described in the context of a single transmitting
device and a single receiving device, it is to be understood that
aspects of the following may be extended to communications with
non-co-located APs 105 (APs 105 that are not co-located).
[0079] Communication scheme 400 includes link 435-a and link 435-b
for carrying information between transmitting wireless device 455-a
and receiving wireless device 455-b. In some examples, link 435-a
may represent an anchor link while link 435-b represents a
supplementary link (e.g., a non-anchor link of the wireless links
of a multi-link aggregation session). As such, link 435-a may carry
control information in addition to data, while link 435-b may carry
primarily data. For example, the control information conveyed
across link 435-a may be in the form of management frames or
control frames handled independently from the operations of
communication scheme 400 or in control fields which may be appended
to packets transmitted across link 435-a. Alternatively, another
link 435 may be an anchor link (e.g., for carrying control
information) while link 435-a and link 435-b may each carry
primarily data.
[0080] In the example illustrated by communication scheme 400,
upper MAC 410 (e.g., which may be an example of upper MAC 315
described with reference to FIG. 3) may receive application data
405 as an input (e.g., in the form of MAC service data units
(MSDUs)). Upper MAC 410 may in some cases attach a common SN to the
MSDUs at 415 and may allocate these MSDUs to a common transmit
queue 420. In some cases, these MSDUs may be encrypted at 425
before being allocated from common transmit queue 420 to one of
lower Tx MAC 430-a or lower Tx MAC 430-b (e.g., which may each be
examples of or implement aspects of a lower MAC 325 as described
with reference to FIG. 3). In some examples, a transmitting
wireless device 455-a may contain multiple common transmit queues
420, each of which is associated with a given access category.
Alternatively, all access categories may share a single common
transmit queue 420.
[0081] In aspects of communication scheme 400, packets of each TID
of the multi-link session may be assigned to common transmit queue
420 (i.e., a transmit queue that is common across all links 435)
after being assigned a common SN at 415. Such an architecture may
support on-demand MSDU allocation in which MSDUs are allocated to a
given link 435 when the link is ready to transmit. As an example,
when link 435-a is clear for transmission (e.g., as determined by a
CCA procedure performed by lower Tx MAC 430-a), lower Tx MAC 430-a
may receive enough MSDUs from common transmit queue 420 to form an
aggregated MPDU (AMPDU).
[0082] In some cases, lower Tx MAC 430-a and lower Tx MAC 430-b may
communicate control signaling. For example, such control signaling
may enable coordination of transmissions across link 435-a and link
435-b (e.g., which may serve to reduce adjacent channel
interference or otherwise benefit the communications). Each lower
Tx MAC 430 may form AMPDUs from the allocated MSDUs and send them
over a respective link 435 (e.g., using CSMA).
[0083] A receiving wireless device 455-b may comprise lower Rx MAC
440-a and lower Rx MAC 440-b, each of which may also be an example
of a lower MAC 325 described with reference to FIG. 3. Each of
lower Rx MAC 440-a and lower Rx MAC 440-b may forward decoded MPDUs
to a common receive queue 450. In some cases, the MPDUs may be
decrypted at 445, may be reordered upon arrival at the common
receive queue 450, etc. A BA may be sent per link 435 after each
received PPDU based on results in common receive queue 450.
Additionally or alternatively, a single BA may be sent back for
both links 435 via a dedicated link (e.g., via an anchor link).
After receiving the BA, common transmit queue 420 may remove the
acknowledged MSDUs from the transmission buffer. Any failed
(A)MSDUs may be retransmitted (e.g., on a same link 435 or another
link 435), where such retransmission may be immediate in some
cases.
[0084] Multi-link aggregation may additionally improve transmission
reliability in some cases. Various schemes (e.g., or combinations
thereof) may be employed to this end. For example, since broadcast
communications are not acknowledged, they may in some cases be
duplicated across multiple links 435. Additionally or
alternatively, unicast traffic may be duplicated on multiple links
435. For example, the same MPDUs may be sent on link 435-a (e.g.,
which may be a 2.4 GHz link) and link 435-b (e.g., which may be a 5
GHz link, or another channel in the 2.4 GHz band, etc.). Because
the BA is handled at upper MAC 410 at the transmitting device, an
MPDU may be considered successfully transmitted if it is delivered
via either of the links 435. Such a transmission scheme may be
leverage the fact that each RF band is associated with a different
band and radio characteristics. For example, higher RF bands
generally have a shorter range of transmission (e.g., experience
greater degrees of frequency-dependent fading).
[0085] By way of example, in some cases the encryption at 425 may
include application of codes to a stream that is to be transmitted
over the links by transmitting wireless device 455-a, which may
help to improve reliability by enabling a receiving wireless device
455-b to decode the communication even if only a subset of the
stream is successfully received by receiving wireless device 455-b.
For example, the transmitting wireless device 455-a may duplicate
some or all of the packets to the transmitted over the links. In
some examples, the original and duplicated packets may be sent over
the same wireless link 435 (e.g., both sets of packets over
wireless link 435-a). In other examples, the original and
duplicated packets may be sent over different wireless links 435
(e.g., the original set of packets over wireless link 435-a and the
duplicated set of packets over wireless link 435-b). In some
examples, a combination of these approaches may be used, including
transmission of original and duplicated packets over three or more
different links. The wireless links 435 used may also dynamically
change, for example to account for varying link conditions.
[0086] Additionally or alternatively, transmission reliability may
be improved through the application of encoding algorithms which
increase the entropy of the data stream such that a transmission
may be decoded even if only a subset of the transmitted data
packets are received. By way of example, a data stream comprising
Nbits of information may be encoded into a data stream containing
N+k bits, and the N+k bits may be formatted into a set of packets
such that, even if only a subset of the packets are successfully
received, the N bits of information may be decoded. For example, a
code engine (e.g., implementing a Raptor code, or other fountain
code) may increase the entropy of the data stream, which may be
formatted and transmitted across multiple links 435. Such a
communication scheme may allow a receiver to reconstruct the
original message even if only portions of the stream of packets are
received. For example, if one link 435 suffers a temporary decline
in communication quality such that packets transmitted during this
time are unable to be successfully received, a receiving device may
still successfully decode the transmitted information based on
packets received over another link 435.
[0087] Some wireless systems may support a form of link-hopping
where the transmission on a particular link 435 is based on a
pseudo-random sequence with which both transmitter and receiver are
familiar. For example, the pseudo-random sequence may be known for
a particular system (e.g., may be preconfigured), may be negotiated
during association, etc. Band-hopping (e.g., in addition to
fountain codes) may help make the system more robust to packet
loss. Additionally or alternatively, band-hopping may spread the
usage across several channels, thus allowing several
transmit/receive pairs to simultaneously use the same RF bands
without excessive interference (e.g., may increase multiplexing
opportunities). Band hopping may be within a particular link, or
may occur across two or more links.
[0088] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow 500 that
supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some
examples, process flow 500 may implement aspects of WLAN 100. For
example, process flow 500 includes wireless device 505-a and
wireless device 505-b, each of which may be an example of an AP 105
or a STA 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1.
[0089] At 510, wireless device 505-a may identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. For example, wireless device 505-a may
receive an indication of the anchor link from wireless device 505-b
over the anchor link (e.g., or another link). In some cases, the
indication of the anchor link may be contained in a beacon, a
discovery transmission, a measurement transmission, or some
combination thereof. In some cases, the wireless device 505-a may
be preconfigured, or configured by a network management node or
device, with identification information for the anchor link. The
indication may be an identifier of the anchor link, for example a
transmitter address, or a receiver address, or a traffic
identifier, or a combination of these, that identifies the anchor
link to wireless device 505-a. In some cases, the anchor link
includes a frequency resource, a time resource, a spatial stream, a
portion of a packet, or any combination thereof.
[0090] At 515, wireless device 505-a may receive a control or
management frame from wireless device 505-b over the identified
anchor link. For example, receiving the control or management frame
may include receiving, on the anchor link, aggregation capability
information for wireless device 505-b, where the aggregation
capability information indicates a capability of wireless device
505-b to communicate in parallel over a plurality of wireless
links. In some cases, the aggregation capability information may
include a capability of wireless device 505-b to communicate in
parallel over the plurality of wireless links, or current operating
parameters of wireless device 505-b, or some combination thereof.
In some cases, receiving the aggregation capability information
includes receiving a beacon, a probe response, an association
response, a reassociation response, or a combination thereof that
includes the aggregation capability information.
[0091] At 520, wireless device 505-a and wireless device 505-b may
establish a multi-link session. For example, wireless device 505-a
and wireless device 505-b may establish a first wireless link of
the plurality of wireless links between a respective first lower
MAC layer of each device and establish a second wireless link of
the plurality of wireless links between a respective second lower
MAC layer of each device, where the first lower MAC layer and the
second lower MAC layer of the first wireless device are in
communication with a common upper MAC layer of the first wireless
device.
[0092] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow 600 that
supports management procedures in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some
examples, process flow 600 may implement aspects of WLAN 100. For
example, process flow 600 includes wireless device 605-a and
wireless device 605-b, each of which may be an example of an AP 105
or a STA 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1.
[0093] At 610, wireless device 605-a may identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. For example, wireless device 605-a may
receive an indication of the anchor link from wireless device 605-b
over the anchor link (e.g., or another link). In some cases, the
indication of the anchor link may be contained in a beacon, a
discovery transmission, a measurement transmission, or some
combination thereof. In some cases, the anchor link includes a
frequency resource, a time resource, a spatial stream, a portion of
a packet, or any combination thereof.
[0094] At 615, wireless device 605-a and wireless device 605-b may
exchange association information. For example, wireless device
605-a may transmit, on the identified anchor link, a request to
associate with wireless device 605-b and may receive a response to
the request (e.g., in the form of a control or management frame).
In some cases, wireless device 605-a may receive an indication of a
set of links supported by wireless device 605-b, including an
initial anchor link. Wireless device 605-a may identify that it
does not support the initial anchor link, and may transmit (e.g.,
on the anchor link identified at 610) an indication that it does
not support the initial anchor link. Additionally or alternatively,
wireless device 605-a may transmit an indication of a preferred
anchor link and receive an indication of an anchor link to be used
for communications from wireless device 605-b.
[0095] At 620, wireless device 605-a and wireless device 605-b may
establish a multi-link session. For example, wireless device 605-a
and wireless device 605-b may establish a first wireless link of
the plurality of wireless links between a respective first lower
MAC layer of each device and establish a second wireless link of
the plurality of wireless links between a respective second lower
MAC layer of each device, where the first lower MAC layer and the
second lower MAC layer of the first wireless device are in
communication with a common upper MAC layer of the first wireless
device. In some cases, the multi-link session may be established
based at least in part on the association information exchanged at
615.
[0096] At 625, wireless device 605-a and/or wireless device 605-b
may monitor one or more of the links of the multi-link session. For
example, wireless device 605-a may transmit (e.g., and wireless
device 605-b may monitor for) data frames, control frames,
management frames, etc., over the anchor link and may transmit data
frames over non-anchor links of the multi-link session. In some
cases, one or both of the wireless devices may monitor for
acknowledgements over the anchor link in response to the
transmitted data frames. In some cases, one or both of wireless
device 605-a and wireless device 605-b may measure a signal
strength for a transmission received on the anchor link or may
otherwise determine (e.g., based on a frame transmitted via a
non-anchor link) whether one or more links of the multi-link
session are suitable for supporting aggregated communications. For
example, the determination may in some cases be based at least in
part on the exchange of an operational mode indicator indicating a
change in a link aggregation preference for the multi-link
session.
[0097] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of a wireless device 705
that supports management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device
705 may be an example of aspects of a STA 115 of an AP 105 as
described herein. Wireless device 705 may include receiver 710,
communications manager 715, and transmitter 720. Wireless device
705 may also include a processor. Each of these components may be
in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more
buses).
[0098] Receiver 710 may receive information such as packets, user
data, or control information associated with various information
channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information
related to management procedure in multi-channel aggregation,
etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the
device. The receiver 710 may be an example of aspects of the
transceiver 1035 described with reference to FIG. 10. The receiver
710 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.
[0099] Communications manager 715 may be an example of aspects of
the communications manager 1015 described with reference to FIG.
10. Communications manager 715 and/or at least some of its various
sub-components may be implemented in hardware, software executed by
a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented
in software executed by a processor, the functions of the
communications manager 715 and/or at least some of its various
sub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, a
digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), an field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other
programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,
discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed
to perform the functions described in the present disclosure.
[0100] The communications manager 715 and/or at least some of its
various sub-components may be physically located at various
positions, including being distributed such that portions of
functions are implemented at different physical locations by one or
more physical devices. In some examples, communications manager 715
and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be a
separate and distinct component in accordance with various aspects
of the present disclosure. In other examples, communications
manager 715 and/or at least some of its various sub-components may
be combined with one or more other hardware components, including
but not limited to an I/O component, a transceiver, a network
server, another computing device, one or more other components
described in the present disclosure, or a combination thereof in
accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.
[0101] Communications manager 715 may identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. Communications manager 715 may receive a
control or management frame from a second wireless device over the
identified anchor link. Communications manager 715 may communicate
in parallel between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device over set of wireless links of the multi-link
session based on the control or management frame. The
communications manager 715 may also identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. Communications manager 715 may transmit a
control or management frame over the identified anchor link.
Communications manager 715 may communicate in parallel between the
first wireless device and a second wireless device over a set of
wireless links of the multi-link session based on the control or
management frame.
[0102] Transmitter 720 may transmit signals generated by other
components of the device. In some examples, the transmitter 720 may
be collocated with a receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For
example, the transmitter 720 may be an example of aspects of the
transceiver 1035 described with reference to FIG. 10. The
transmitter 720 may utilize a single antenna or a set of
antennas.
[0103] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a wireless device 805
that supports management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in
accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device
805 may be an example of aspects of a wireless device 605, a STA
115, or an AP 105 as described with reference to FIG. 7. Wireless
device 805 may include receiver 810, communications manager 815,
and transmitter 820. Wireless device 805 may also include a
processor. Each of these components may be in communication with
one another (e.g., via one or more buses).
[0104] Receiver 810 may receive information such as packets, user
data, or control information associated with various information
channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information
related to management procedure in multi-channel aggregation,
etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the
device. The receiver 810 may be an example of aspects of the
transceiver 1035 described with reference to FIG. 10. The receiver
810 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.
[0105] Communications manager 815 may be an example of aspects of
the communications manager 1015 described with reference to FIG.
10. Communications manager 815 may also include anchor link
component 825, link setup controller 830, and multi-link manager
835.
[0106] Anchor link component 825 may identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. Anchor link component 825 may transmit, to
the second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link to be
used by the second wireless device for the association procedure.
Anchor link component 825 may receive, from the second wireless
device, an indication of the anchor link in a beacon, or a
discovery transmission, or a measurement transmission, or a
combination thereof. Anchor link component 825 may transmit, on the
anchor link, an indication that the first wireless device does not
support the initial anchor link. Anchor link component 825 may
receive, from the second wireless device, an indication of the
anchor link to be used by the first wireless device. Anchor link
component 825 may receive, from the second wireless device, an
indication of the anchor link over the anchor link, or over a
second link of the set of wireless links different than the anchor
link, or a combination thereof. Anchor link component 825 may
transmit an indication of the anchor link on the anchor link, or on
a second link different than the anchor link, or a combination
thereof. Anchor link component 825 may transmit an indication of
the anchor link in a beacon, or a discovery transmission, or a
measurement transmission, or a combination thereof. Anchor link
component 825 may receive, from the second wireless device, an
indication of a preferred anchor link of the second wireless
device. Anchor link component 825 may receive, over the anchor
link, one or more control or management frames to maintain a second
wireless link of the plurality of wireless links, the second
wireless link limited such that the second wireless link is unable
to be maintained between the apparatus and the wireless device
absent the one or more control or management frames received over
the anchor link. In some cases, identifying the anchor link
includes transmitting, to the second wireless device, an indication
of a preferred anchor link of the first wireless device. In some
cases, the anchor link includes a frequency resource, or a time
resource, or a spatial stream, or a portion of a packet, or a
combination thereof. In some cases, the anchor link may occupy a
first bandwidth, while one or more auxiliary links of the
multi-link session occupy a second bandwidth greater than the first
bandwidth.
[0107] Link setup controller 830 may receive an indication of a set
of links supported by the second wireless device, including an
initial anchor link. Link setup controller 830 may identify that
the first wireless device does not support the initial anchor link.
Link setup controller 830 may receive a control or management frame
from a second wireless device over the identified anchor link,
transmit an indication of a set of links supported by the first
wireless device, including an initial anchor link. Link setup
controller 830 may receive a response to the request to associate
with the second wireless device, where the control or management
frame received from the second wireless device includes the
response. Link setup controller 830 may transmit, on the identified
anchor link, a request to associate with the second wireless
device. Link setup controller 830 may transmit aggregation
capability information for the first wireless device, the
aggregation capability information indicating a capability of the
first wireless device to communicate in parallel over the set of
wireless links. Link setup controller 830 may receive an indication
that the second wireless device does not support the initial anchor
link. Link setup controller 830 may transmit a control or
management frame over the identified anchor link.
[0108] In some cases, receiving the control or management frame
from the second wireless device includes receiving, on the anchor
link, aggregation capability information for the second wireless
device, the aggregation capability information indicating a
capability of the second wireless device to communicate in parallel
over the set of wireless links. In some cases, receiving the
aggregation capability information further includes receiving a
beacon, or a probe response, or an association response, or a
reassociation response, or a combination thereof, that includes the
aggregation capability information. In some cases, transmitting the
aggregation capability information includes transmitting a probe
request, or an association request, or a reassociation request, or
a combination thereof, that includes the aggregation capability
information. In some cases, the aggregation capability information
includes a capability of the second wireless device to communicate
in parallel over the set of wireless links, or current operating
parameters of the second wireless device, or a combination
thereof.
[0109] Multi-link manager 835 may establish the multi-link session
between the first wireless device and the second wireless device
based on transmitting the indication that the first wireless device
does not support the initial anchor link. Multi-link manager 835
may communicate in parallel between the first wireless device and
the second wireless device over set of wireless links of the
multi-link session based on the control or management frame.
Multi-link manager 835 may measure a signal strength for a
transmission received on the anchor link, or on a second link, or a
combination thereof. Multi-link manager 835 may select a wireless
link of the set of wireless links for communications during the
multi-link session based on the measured signal strength.
Multi-link manager 835 may transmit data frames over one or more of
the set of wireless links. Multi-link manager 835 may receive, over
the anchor link, one or more acknowledgements in response to the
transmitted data frames. Multi-link manager 835 may transmit one or
more frames on a second link during the multi-link session.
[0110] Multi-link manager 835 may establish the multi-link session
between the first wireless device and the second wireless device
based on the response. Multi-link manager 835 may establish a
second wireless link between a second lower MAC layer of the first
wireless device and a second lower MAC layer of the second wireless
device, where the first lower MAC layer and the second lower MAC
layer of the first wireless device are in communication with a
common upper MAC layer of the first wireless device. Multi-link
manager 835 may transmit data frames over non-anchor links of the
set of wireless links. Multi-link manager 835 may determine whether
the second link is suitable for communications in parallel between
the first wireless device and the second wireless device during the
multi-link session based on the one or more frames transmitted on
the second link.
[0111] Multi-link manager 835 may receive, from the second wireless
device, a first operational mode indicator indicating a change in a
link aggregation preference for the multi-link session, or may
transmit, to the second wireless device, a second operational mode
indicator indicating the change in the link aggregation preference
for the multi-link session. Multi-link manager 835 may establish
the multi-link session between the first wireless device and the
second wireless device based on receiving the indication that the
second wireless device does not support the initial anchor link.
Multi-link manager 835 may communicate in parallel between the
first wireless device and a second wireless device over a set of
wireless links of the multi-link session based on the control or
management frame. In some cases, communicating in parallel between
the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the
set of wireless links includes transmitting, over the anchor link,
data frames and the control and management frames, the anchor link
including one of the set of wireless links. In some cases,
establishing the multi-link session between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device includes establishing a first
wireless link of the set of wireless links between a first lower
MAC layer of the first wireless device and a first lower MAC layer
of the second wireless device.
[0112] Transmitter 820 may transmit signals generated by other
components of the device. In some examples, the transmitter 820 may
be collocated with a receiver 810 in a transceiver module. For
example, the transmitter 820 may be an example of aspects of the
transceiver 1035 described with reference to FIG. 10. The
transmitter 820 may utilize a single antenna or a set of
antennas.
[0113] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram 900 of a communications manager
915 that supports management procedure in multi-channel aggregation
in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The
communications manager 915 may be an example of aspects of a
communications manager 715, a communications manager 815, or a
communications manager 1015 described with reference to FIGs. 7, 8,
and 10. The communications manager 915 may include anchor link
component 920, link setup controller 925, and multi-link manager
930. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly,
with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).
[0114] Anchor link component 920 may identify an anchor link
dedicated to the communication of control and management frames for
a multi-link session. Anchor link component 920 may transmit, to
the second wireless device, an indication of the anchor link to be
used by the second wireless device for the association procedure.
Anchor link component 920 may receive, from the second wireless
device, an indication of the anchor link in a beacon, or a
discovery transmission, or a measurement transmission, or a
combination thereof. Anchor link component 920 may transmit, on the
anchor link, an indication that the first wireless device does not
support the initial anchor link. Anchor link component 920 may
receive, from the second wireless device, an indication of the
anchor link to be used by the first wireless device. Anchor link
component 920 may receive, from the second wireless device, an
indication of the anchor link over the anchor link, or over a
second link of the set of wireless links different than the anchor
link, or a combination thereof. Anchor link component 920 may
transmit an indication of the anchor link on the anchor link, or on
a second link different than the anchor link, or a combination
thereof. Anchor link component 920 may transmit an indication of
the anchor link in a beacon, or a discovery transmission, or a
measurement transmission, or a combination thereof. Anchor link
component 920 may receive, from the second wireless device, an
indication of a preferred anchor link of the second wireless
device. Anchor link component 920 may receive, over the anchor
link, one or more control or management frames to maintain a second
wireless link of the plurality of wireless links, the second
wireless link limited such that the second wireless link is unable
to be maintained between the apparatus and the wireless device
absent the one or more control or management frames received over
the anchor link. In some cases, identifying the anchor link
includes transmitting, to the second wireless device, an indication
of a preferred anchor link of the first wireless device. In some
cases, the anchor link includes a frequency resource, or a time
resource, or a spatial stream, or a portion of a packet, or a
combination thereof. In some cases, the anchor link may occupy a
first bandwidth, while one or more auxiliary links of the
multi-link session occupy a second bandwidth greater than the first
bandwidth.
[0115] Link setup controller 925 may receive an indication of a set
of links supported by the second wireless device, including an
initial anchor link. Link setup controller 925 may identify that
the first wireless device does not support the initial anchor link.
Link setup controller 925 may receive a control or management frame
from a second wireless device over the identified anchor link. Link
setup controller 925 may transmit an indication of a set of links
supported by the first wireless device, including an initial anchor
link. Link setup controller 925 may receive a response to the
request to associate with the second wireless device, where the
control or management frame received from the second wireless
device includes the response. Link setup controller 925 may
transmit, on the identified anchor link, a request to associate
with the second wireless device. Link setup controller 925 may
transmit aggregation capability information for the first wireless
device, the aggregation capability information indicating a
capability of the first wireless device to communicate in parallel
over the set of wireless links. Link setup controller 925 may
receive an indication that the second wireless device does not
support the initial anchor link. Link setup controller 925 may
transmit a control or management frame over the identified anchor
link.
[0116] In some cases, receiving the control or management frame
from the second wireless device includes receiving, on the anchor
link, aggregation capability information for the second wireless
device, the aggregation capability information indicating a
capability of the second wireless device to communicate in parallel
over the set of wireless links. In some cases, receiving the
aggregation capability information further includes receiving a
beacon, or a probe response, or an association response, or a
reassociation response, or a combination thereof, that includes the
aggregation capability information. In some cases, transmitting the
aggregation capability information includes transmitting a probe
request, or an association request, or a reassociation request, or
a combination thereof, that includes the aggregation capability
information. In some cases, the aggregation capability information
includes a capability of the second wireless device to communicate
in parallel over the set of wireless links, or current operating
parameters of the second wireless device, or a combination
thereof.
[0117] Multi-link manager 930 may establish the multi-link session
between the first wireless device and the second wireless device
based on transmitting the indication that the first wireless device
does not support the initial anchor link. Multi-link manager 930
may communicate in parallel between the first wireless device and
the second wireless device over set of wireless links of the
multi-link session based on the control or management frame.
Multi-link manager 930 may measure a signal strength for a
transmission received on the anchor link, or on a second link, or a
combination thereof. Multi-link manager 930 may select a wireless
link of the set of wireless links for communications during the
multi-link session based on the measured signal strength.
Multi-link manager 930 may transmit data frames over one or more of
the set of wireless links. Multi-link manager 930 may receive, over
the anchor link, one or more acknowledgements in response to the
transmitted data frames.
[0118] Multi-link manager 930 may transmit one or more frames on a
second link during the multi-link session. Multi-link manager 930
may establish the multi-link session between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device based on the response.
Multi-link manager 930 may establish a second wireless link between
a second lower MAC layer of the first wireless device and a second
lower MAC layer of the second wireless device, where the first
lower MAC layer and the second lower MAC layer of the first
wireless device are in communication with a common upper MAC layer
of the first wireless device. Multi-link manager 930 may transmit
data frames over non-anchor links of the set of wireless links.
Multi-link manager 930 may determine whether the second link is
suitable for communications in parallel between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device during the multi-link session
based on the one or more frames transmitted on the second link.
[0119] Multi-link manager 930 may receive, from the second wireless
device, a first operational mode indicator indicating a change in a
link aggregation preference for the multi-link session, or may
transmit, to the second wireless device, a second operational mode
indicator indicating the change in the link aggregation preference
for the multi-link session. Multi-link manager 930 may establish
the multi-link session between the first wireless device and the
second wireless device based on receiving the indication that the
second wireless device does not support the initial anchor link.
Multi-link manager 930 may communicate in parallel between the
first wireless device and a second wireless device over a set of
wireless links of the multi-link session based on the control or
management frame. In some cases, communicating in parallel between
the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the
set of wireless links includes transmitting, over the anchor link,
data frames and the control and management frames, the anchor link
including one of the set of wireless links. In some cases,
establishing the multi-link session between the first wireless
device and the second wireless device includes establishing a first
wireless link of the set of wireless links between a first lower
MAC layer of the first wireless device and a first lower MAC layer
of the second wireless device.
[0120] FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a system 1000 including a device
1005 that supports management procedure in multi-channel
aggregation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.
Device 1005 may be an example of or include the components of
wireless device 705, wireless device 805, a STA 115, or an AP 105
as described above, e.g., with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Device
1005 may include components for bi-directional voice and data
communications including components for transmitting and receiving
communications, including communications manager 1015, processor
1020, memory 1025, software 1030, transceiver 1035, antenna 1040,
and I/O controller 1045. These components may be in electronic
communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1010).
[0121] Processor 1020 may include an intelligent hardware device,
(e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing
unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable
logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a
discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some
cases, processor 1020 may be configured to operate a memory array
using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may
be integrated into processor 1020. Processor 1020 may be configured
to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to
perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation).
[0122] Memory 1025 may include random access memory (RAM) and read
only memory (ROM). The memory 1025 may store computer-readable,
computer-executable software 1030 including instructions that, when
executed, cause the processor to perform various functions
described herein. In some cases, the memory 1025 may contain, among
other things, a basic input/output system (BIOS) which may control
basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with
peripheral components or devices.
[0123] Software 1030 may include code to implement aspects of the
present disclosure, including code to support management procedure
in multi-channel aggregation. Software 1030 may be stored in a
non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or
other memory. In some cases, the software 1030 may not be directly
executable by the processor but may cause a computer (e.g., when
compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein.
[0124] Transceiver 1035 may communicate bi-directionally, via one
or more antennas, wired, or wireless links as described above. For
example, the transceiver 1035 may represent a wireless transceiver
and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless
transceiver. The transceiver 1035 may also include a modem to
modulate the packets and provide the modulated packets to the
antennas for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from
the antennas. In some cases, the wireless device may include a
single antenna 1040. However, in some cases the device may have
more than one antenna 1040, which may be capable of concurrently
transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions.
[0125] I/O controller 1045 may manage input and output signals for
device 1005. I/O controller 1045 may also manage peripherals not
integrated into device 1005. In some cases, I/O controller 1045 may
represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral.
In some cases, I/O controller 1045 may utilize an operating system
such as iOS.RTM., ANDROID.RTM., MS-DOS.RTM., MS-WINDOWS.RTM.,
OS/2.RTM., UNIX.RTM., LINUX.RTM., or another known operating
system. In other cases, I/O controller 1045 may represent or
interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a
similar device. In some cases, I/O controller 1045 may be
implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user may
interact with device 1005 via I/O controller 1045 or via hardware
components controlled by I/O controller 1045.
[0126] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1100 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1100 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1100 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0127] At 1105 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1105 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1105 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0128] At 1110 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive a control or
management frame from a second wireless device over the identified
anchor link. The operations of 1110 may be performed according to
the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1110 may be performed by a link setup controller as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0129] At 1115 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and the second wireless
device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1115 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1115 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0130] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1200 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1200 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0131] At 1205 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1205 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1205 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0132] At 1210 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive a control or
management frame from a second wireless device over the identified
anchor link. The operations of 1210 may be performed according to
the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1210 may be performed by a link setup controller as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0133] At 1215 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and the second wireless
device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1215 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1215 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0134] At 1220 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may measure a signal
strength for a transmission received on the anchor link, or on a
second link, or a combination thereof. The operations of 1220 may
be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1220 may be performed by a
multi-link manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through
10.
[0135] At 1225 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may select a wireless link
of the plurality of wireless links for communications during the
multi-link session based at least in part on the measured signal
strength. The operations of 1225 may be performed according to the
methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1225 may be performed by a multi-link manager as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0136] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1300 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1300 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1300 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0137] At 1305 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1305 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1305 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0138] At 1310 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive a control or
management frame from a second wireless device over the identified
anchor link. The operations of 1310 may be performed according to
the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1310 may be performed by a link setup controller as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0139] At 1315 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and the second wireless
device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1315 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1315 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0140] At 1320 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may transmit one or more
frames on a second link during the multi-link session. In some
cases, the second link may have a greater bandwidth than the anchor
link. The operations of 1320 may be performed according to the
methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1320 may be performed by a multi-link manager as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0141] At 1325 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may determine whether the
second link is suitable for communications in parallel between the
first wireless device and the second wireless device during the
multi-link session based at least in part on the one or more frames
transmitted on the second link. The operations of 1325 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1325 may be performed by a
multi-link manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through
10.
[0142] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1400 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1400 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1400 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0143] At 1405 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive an indication
of a plurality of links supported by the second wireless device,
including an initial anchor link. The operations of 1405 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1405 may be performed by a
link setup controller as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0144] At 1410 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify that the
first wireless device does not support the initial anchor link. The
operations of 1410 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1410 may be performed by a link setup controller as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0145] At 1415 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1415 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1415 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0146] At 1420 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may transmit, on the
anchor link, an indication that the first wireless device does not
support the initial anchor link. The operations of 1420 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1420 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0147] At 1425 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive a control or
management frame from a second wireless device over the identified
anchor link. The operations of 1425 may be performed according to
the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1425 may be performed by a link setup controller as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0148] At 1430 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may establish the
multi-link session between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device based at least in part on transmitting the
indication that the first wireless device does not support the
initial anchor link. The operations of 1430 may be performed
according to the methods described herein. In certain examples,
aspects of the operations of 1430 may be performed by a multi-link
manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0149] At 1435 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and the second wireless
device over plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1435 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1435 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0150] FIG. 15 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1500 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1500 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1500 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0151] At 1505 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1505 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0152] At 1510 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may transmit a control or
management frame over the identified anchor link. The operations of
1510 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In
certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1510 may be
performed by a link setup controller as described with reference to
FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0153] At 1515 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and a second wireless
device over a plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1515 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1515 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0154] FIG. 16 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1600 for
management procedure in multi-channel aggregation in accordance
with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method
1600 may be implemented by a STA 115 or an AP 105 or its components
as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1600 may
be performed by a communications manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10. In some examples, a STA 115 or an
AP 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functional
elements of the device to perform the functions described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the STA 115 or the AP 105 may
perform aspects of the functions described below using
special-purpose hardware.
[0155] At 1605 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may transmit an indication
of a plurality of links supported by the first wireless device,
including an initial anchor link. The operations of 1605 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1605 may be performed by a
link setup controller as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0156] At 1610 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may receive an indication
that the second wireless device does not support the initial anchor
link. The operations of 1610 may be performed according to the
methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1610 may be performed by a link setup controller as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0157] At 1615 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may identify an anchor
link dedicated to the communication of control and management
frames for a multi-link session. The operations of 1615 may be
performed according to the methods described herein. In certain
examples, aspects of the operations of 1615 may be performed by an
anchor link component as described with reference to FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0158] At 1620 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may transmit a control or
management frame over the identified anchor link. The operations of
1620 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In
certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1620 may be
performed by a link setup controller as described with reference to
FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0159] At 1625 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may establish the
multi-link session between the first wireless device and the second
wireless device based at least in part on receiving the indication
that the second wireless device does not support the initial anchor
link. The operations of 1625 may be performed according to the
methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the
operations of 1625 may be performed by a multi-link manager as
described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0160] At 1630 the STA 115 or the AP 105 may communicate in
parallel between the first wireless device and a second wireless
device over a plurality of wireless links of the multi-link session
based at least in part on the control or management frame. The
operations of 1630 may be performed according to the methods
described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of
1630 may be performed by a multi-link manager as described with
reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.
[0161] It should be noted that the methods described above describe
possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may
be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations
are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more of the methods
may be combined.
[0162] Techniques described herein may be used for various wireless
communications systems such as code division multiple access
(CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division
multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple
access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access
(SC-FDMA), and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are
often used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio
technology such as CDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
(UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards.
IS-2000 Releases may be commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1.times.,
1.times., etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to as CDMA2000
1.times.EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes
Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA system may
implement a radio technology such as Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM). An OFDMA system may implement a radio
technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA
(E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20,
Flash-OFDM, etc.
[0163] The wireless communications system or systems described
herein may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For
synchronous operation, the stations may have similar frame timing,
and transmissions from different stations may be approximately
aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the stations may have
different frame timing, and transmissions from different stations
may not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein may be
used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.
[0164] The downlink transmissions described herein may also be
called forward link transmissions while the uplink transmissions
may also be called reverse link transmissions. Each communication
link described herein--including, for example, WLANs 100 and 200 of
FIGS. 1 and 2--may include one or more carriers, where each carrier
may be a signal made up of multiple sub-carriers (e.g., waveform
signals of different frequencies).
[0165] The description set forth herein, in connection with the
appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not
represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are
within the scope of the claims. The term "exemplary" used herein
means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and not
"preferred" or "advantageous over other examples." The detailed
description includes specific details for the purpose of providing
an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques,
however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some
instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block
diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the
described examples.
[0166] In the appended figures, similar components or features may
have the same reference label. Further, various components of the
same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by
a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar
components. If just the first reference label is used in the
specification, the description is applicable to any one of the
similar components having the same first reference label
irrespective of the second reference label.
[0167] Information and signals described herein may be represented
using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques.
For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals,
bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the
above description may be represented by voltages, currents,
electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields
or particles, or any combination thereof.
[0168] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in
connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or
performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA
or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor
logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof
designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the
alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration).
[0169] The functions described herein may be implemented in
hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any
combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a
processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as
one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.
Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the
disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of
software, functions described above may be implemented using
software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring,
or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions
may also be physically located at various positions, including
being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented
at different physical locations. Also, as used herein, including in
the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (for example, a list of
items prefaced by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or
more of") indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a
list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or
BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase
"based on" shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of
conditions. For example, an exemplary step that is described as
"based on condition A" may be based on both a condition A and a
condition B without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on"
shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase "based at least
in part on."
[0170] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory
computer storage media and communication media including any medium
that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to
another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available
medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose
computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory
computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, electrically
erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), compact disk (CD)
ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other
magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that
can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the
form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by
a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose
or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly
termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is
transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a
coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber
line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,
DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc,
as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital
versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks
usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data
optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included
within the scope of computer-readable media.
[0171] The description herein is provided to enable a person
skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various
modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may
be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of
the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples
and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the broadest
scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed
herein.
* * * * *