Multi-link operation for peer-to-peer WiFi communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12593328-B2
Application number	US-202318301400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Nov 11, 2022
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Techniques for wireless multi-link operation (MLO) are disclosed. These techniques include determining that a first wireless station (STA), in a wireless network comprising a wireless access point (AP) and a plurality of peer-to-peer (P2P) STAs, comprises a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) constraint. The techniques further include allocating one or more wireless links relating to MLO for the AP and the plurality of P2P STAs, based on the NSTR constraint, and initiating transmission between the AP and one or more of the P2P STAs using MLO and the allocated one or more wireless links.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method, comprising:
determining that a first wireless station (STA), in a wireless network comprising a wireless access point (AP) and a peer-to-peer (P2P) STA, is subject to a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) constraint; allocating a wireless link relating to multi-link operation (MLO) for the AP and the P2P STA based on the NSTR constraint; allocating the wireless link for communication between the first wireless STA and the P2P STA based on the NSTR constraint; initiating transmission between the AP and the P2P STA using MLO and the allocated the wireless link; and initiating communication between the STA and the P2P STA using the wireless link when the wireless link is not used for communication between the AP and the P2P STA.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first wireless STA and the transmission using MLO.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
enforcing transmission of traffic associated with a plurality of traffic identifiers (TIDs) across available links in the wireless network, based on the reported unavailable wireless link.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
allocating a target wake time (TWT) to avoid simultaneous operation for the first wireless STA, the AP, and another of a plurality of P2P STAs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first STA and the transmission using MLO; and allocating a target wake time (TWT) to avoid simultaneous operation for the first wireless STA, the AP, and another of a plurality of P2P STAs.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first wireless STA is in communication with the AP and with a second P2P STA; and coordinating a simultaneous end to transmission of physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) from the AP to the first wireless STA and from the second P2P STA to the first wireless STA.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein coordinating a simultaneous end to transmission of PPDUs from the AP to the first wireless STA and from the second P2P STA to the first wireless STA, comprises:
transmitting an end time signal to the AP and the second P2P STA.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the end time signal comprises an information element (IE) in an acknowledgment message.

9 . A system, comprising:
a processor; and a memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed on the processor, performs operations comprising:
determining that a first wireless station (STA), in a wireless network comprising a wireless access point (AP) and a peer-to-peer (P2P) STA, is subject to a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) constraint;
allocating a wireless link relating to multi-link operation (MLO) for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint;
allocating the wireless link for communication between the first wireless STA and the P2P STA based on the NSTR constraint;
initiating transmission between the AP and the P2P STA using MLO and the allocated wireless link; and
initiating communication between the STA and the P2P STA using the wireless link when the wireless link is not used for communication between the AP and the P2P STA.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first wireless STA and the transmission using MLO.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
enforcing transmission of traffic associated with a plurality of traffic identifiers (TIDs) across available links in the wireless network, based on the reported unavailable wireless link.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
allocating a target wake time (TWT) to avoid simultaneous operation for the first wireless STA, the AP, and another of a plurality of P2P STAs.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first wireless STA and the transmission using MLO; and allocating a target wake time (TWT) to avoid simultaneous operation for the first wireless STA, the AP, and another of a plurality of P2P STAs.

14 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining that the first wireless STA is in communication with the AP and with a second P2P STA; and coordinating a simultaneous end to transmission of physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs) from the AP to the first wireless STA and from the second P2P STA to the first wireless STA.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, performs operations comprising:
determining that a first wireless station (STA), in a wireless network comprising a wireless access point (AP) and a peer-to-peer (P2P) STA, is subject to a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) constraint; allocating a wireless link relating to multi-link operation (MLO) for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint; allocating the wireless link for communication between the first wireless STA and the P2P STA based on the NSTR constraint; initiating transmission between the AP and the P2P STA using MLO and the allocated wireless link; and initiating communication between the STA and the P2P STA using the wireless link when the wireless link is not used for communication between the AP and the P2P STA.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first wireless STA and the transmission using MLO.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
enforcing transmission of traffic associated with a plurality of traffic identifiers (TIDs) across available links in the wireless network, based on the reported unavailable wireless link.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
allocating a target wake time (TWT) to avoid simultaneous operation for the first wireless STA, the AP, and another of a plurality of P2P STAs.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein allocating the wireless link relating to MLO for the AP and the P2P STA, based on the NSTR constraint, comprises:
reporting an unavailable wireless link relating to the first wireless STA and the transmission using MLO; and allocat

Assignees

• Cisco Tech Inc

Inventors

• Swartz John M
• Smith Malcolm M
• Monajemi Pooya

Classifications

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title

• H04W72/121 Primary

  for groups of terminals or users · CPC title

• H04W76/14

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title