Negotiating multi-link high reliability connection

1 . A multi-link device (MLD), comprising:

a processor; and

machine-readable storage media comprising instructions, that when executed, cause the processor to:

receive, from a peer MLD, one or more management frames identifying and characterizing a duplication mode of operation of the peer MLD, wherein the one or more management frames specify a condition-specific information element comprising a set of conditions according to which a use of the duplication mode of operation is premised that comprises at least two of a threshold amount of failed transmission attempts, a threshold modulation coding scheme, a threshold quality of service, a threshold signal strength indication, or a threshold roundtrip latency;

based on an indication that multiple conditions of the set of conditions have occurred relative to a communication link, negotiate with the peer MLD implementation of the duplication mode of operation between the MLD and the peer MLD; and

manage transmission and reception of data between the MLD and the peer MLD in accordance with the negotiated implementation of the duplication mode of operation.

2 . The MLD of claim 1 , wherein the MLD comprises one of an access point (AP) and a non-AP MLD, and wherein the peer MLD comprises an AP.

3 . The MLD of claim 1 , wherein the one or more management frames comprises at least one of a (re) association request transmitted from the peer MLD, or an action frame requesting a traffic identifier (TID)-to-link mapping.

4 . The MLD of claim 3 , wherein the negotiation comprises transmitting an indication of success, rejection, or alternative TID-to-link mapping in at least one of a (re) association response, an action frame response, to the peer MLD.

5 . The MLD of claim 3 , wherein the (re) association request includes a TID-to-link Mapping Control Field information element (IE).

6 . The MLD of claim 5 , wherein the TID-to-link Mapping Control Field IE comprises a first bit whose set value indicates use or non-use of the duplication mode of operation.

7 . The MLD of claim 6 , wherein the TID-to-link Mapping Control Field IE comprises a second bit whose set value, in conjunction with the first bit's set value indicating use of the duplication mode of operation, further indicates that the use of the duplication mode of operation is conditional pursuant to the conditions according to which the use of the duplication mode of operation is premised.

8 . The MLD of claim 7 , wherein the TID-to-link Mapping Control Field IE comprises:

a first set of one or more bits specifying one or more TIDs for which the duplication mode of operation is to be applied; and a second set of one or more bits, different from the first set of the one or more bits, specifying a direction of communication for which the duplication mode of operation is to be applied.

9 . The MLD of claim 1 , wherein the one or more management frames identifying and characterizing a duplication mode of operation of the peer MLD includes an information element (IE) specifying conditions according to which the duplication mode of operation is implemented.

10 . A multi-link device (MLD), comprising:

a processor; and

machine-readable storage media comprising instructions, that when executed, cause the processor to:

attempt to associate to a peer MLD;

as part of the attempt to associate to the peer MLD, negotiate with the peer MLD, implementation of a duplication mode of operation between the MLD and the peer MLD, wherein a set conditions according to which a use of the duplication mode of operation is premised comprises at least two of a threshold amount of failed transmission attempts, a threshold modulation coding scheme, a threshold quality of service, a threshold signal strength indication, or a threshold roundtrip latency, the set of conditions being specified in a condition-specific information element of one or more management frames identifying and characterizing the duplication mode of operation received from the peer MLD,

wherein implementation of the duplication mode of operation is based on an indication that multiple conditions of the set of conditions have occurred relative to a communication link to the peer MLD; and

manage receipt or transmission of data at or from the MLD relative to the peer MLD in accordance with the negotiated implementation of the duplication mode of operation.

11 . The MLD of claim 10 , wherein the MLD comprises a client device and the peer MLD comprises an access point (AP).

12 . The MLD of claim 11 , wherein the MLD comprises a first mesh AP, and wherein the peer MLD comprises a second mesh AP.

13 . The MLD of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that when executed, cause the processor to negotiate with the peer MLD, comprise further instructions causing the processor to transmit a (re) association request to the peer MLD specifying whether or not the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled, and how the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled.

14 . The MLD of claim 13 , wherein the instructions that when executed, cause the processor to negotiate with the peer MLD, comprise further instructions causing the processor tor receive a (re) association response from the peer MLD specifying a rejection of the association response or an indication of successful association.

15 . The MLD of claim 14 , wherein the (re) association response from the peer MLD specifying a rejection of the association response further specifies an alternative manner regarding how the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled.

16 . The MLD of claim 15 , wherein the specification of whether or not the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled, and how the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled is set forth by one of more bit values of a TID-to-link Mapping Control Field information element (IE).

17 . The MLD of claim 10 , wherein a management frame sent to the peer MLD comprises the multiple conditions of the set of conditions.

18 . A multi-link device (MLD), comprising:

a processor; and

machine-readable storage media comprising instructions, that when executed, cause the processor to:

transmit an action frame request to a peer MLD specifying a manner of implementing a duplication mode of operation between the MLD and the peer MLD;

negotiate with the peer MLD, the manner of implementing the duplication mode of operation between the MLD and the peer MLD, wherein a set of conditions according to which a use of the duplication mode of operation is premised comprises at least two of a threshold amount of failed transmission attempts, a threshold modulation coding scheme, a threshold quality of service, a threshold signal strength indication, or a threshold roundtrip latency, wherein negotiating with the peer MLD is based on an indication that multiple conditions of the set of conditions have occurred relative to a communication link to the peer MLD, and wherein the set of conditions is specified in a condition-specific information element of the action frame; and

in response to receipt of an action frame success response, manage receipt or transmission of data at or from the MLD relative to the peer MLD in accordance with the negotiated implementation of the duplication mode of operation.

19 . The MLD of claim 18 , wherein the action frame request comprises a TID-to-link Mapping Control Field information element (IE), the action frame request comprising a TID-to-link mapping request.

20 . The MLD of claim 19 , wherein the manner of implementing a duplication mode of operation between the MLD and the peer MLD includes the conditions under which the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled, and types of traffic for which the duplication mode of operation is to be enabled under the conditions.