Reconfigured trigger-frame response

Inventors: Jarkko L. Kneckt (Los Gatos, CA); Yong Liu (Campbell, CA); Su Khiong Yong (Palo Alto, CA); Leonid Epstein (Netanya, IL); Zhou Lan (San Jose, CA); Anuj Batra (Redwood City, CA); Mohamed Abouelseoud (Burlingame, CA); Qi Wang (Mountain View, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

H04W8/24 H04W24/02 H04W84/12

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12671982
App. No.: 18/447,478
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An electronic device (such as an access point) that receives a modified response frame is described. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device may provide a trigger frame addressed to a second electronic device, where the trigger frame includes a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard (such as IEEE 802.11ax or a subsequent IEEE 802.11 standard). Then, the interface circuit may receive a modified response frame associated with the second electronic device, where the modified response frame is different from a response frame associated with the trigger frame specified by the IEEE 802.11 standard. When the second electronic device indicates support for the modified response frame during association with the electronic device, the interface circuit may define parameters associated with the modified response frame in an association response.

Claims (38)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

an antenna node communicatively coupled to an antenna; and

an interface circuit, communicatively coupled to the antenna node, configured to communicate with a second electronic device, wherein the interface circuit is configured to:

receive an association request associated with the second electronic device, wherein the association request comprises an indication of support by the second electronic device for a modified response frame and a request for a parameter associated with the modified response frame;

provide an association response addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the association response comprises an indication of support by the electronic device for the modified response frame and the parameter associated with the modified response frame, wherein the parameter indicates: a minimum response time and a maximum response time for the modified response frame;

provide a trigger frame addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the trigger frame comprises a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with a standard, and wherein the standard comprises Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax; and

receive the modified response frame associated with the second electronic device, wherein at least one modification to the modified response frame that is different from a response frame specified by the standard.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the interface circuit is configured to provide an additional frame after the trigger frame is provided and before the modified response frame is received;

wherein the additional frame is different from both a management frame and the trigger frame, and the additional frame is addressed to the second electronic device or a third electronic device.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger frame comprises a trigger type subfield value of 15 or a value between 0 and 7.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises an access point.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the interface circuit is configured to provide a beacon advertising support for the modified response frame.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the modified response frame comprises a modified payload that is different from a payload specified by the standard for the trigger frame.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the modified response frame selectively comprises a variable amount of padding.

8 . A method for receiving a modified response frame, comprising:

an electronic device:

receiving an association request associated with the second electronic device, wherein the association request comprises an indication of support by the second electronic device for a modified response frame and a request for a parameter associated with the modified response frame;

providing an association response addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the association response comprises an indication of support by the electronic device for the modified response frame and the parameter associated with the modified response frame, wherein the parameter indicates: a minimum response time and a maximum response time for the modified response frame;

providing a trigger frame addressed to a second electronic device, wherein the trigger frame comprises a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with a standard, and wherein the standard comprises Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax; and

receiving the modified response frame associated with the second electronic device, wherein the modified response frame comprises a modification that is different from a response frame specified by the standard.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the method comprises providing an additional frame after the trigger frame is provided and before the modified response frame is received;

wherein the additional frame is different from both a management frame and the trigger frame, and the additional frame is addressed to the second electronic device or a third electronic device.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified response frame comprises a modified payload that is different from a payload specified by the standard for the trigger frame.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified response frame selectively comprises a variable amount of padding.

12 . An electronic device, comprising:

an antenna node communicatively coupled to an antenna; and

an interface circuit, communicatively coupled to the antenna node, configured to communicate with a second electronic device, wherein the interface circuit is configured to:

receive a trigger frame associated with the second electronic device, wherein the trigger frame comprises a trigger-frame variant that is compatible with a standard, and wherein the standard comprises Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE 802.11ax; and

provide a modified response frame addressed to the second electronic device, wherein the modified response frame comprises a modification that is different from a response frame specified by the standard.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the interface circuit is configured to receive an additional frame associated with the second electronic device after the trigger frame is received and before the modified response frame is provided;

wherein the additional frame is different from the trigger frame.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the trigger frame comprises a trigger type subfield value of 15 or a value between 0 and 7.

15 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a station associated with the second electronic device and the second electronic device comprises an access point.

16 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the interface circuit is configured to receive a beacon associated with the second electronic device advertising support for the modified response frame.

17 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the modified response frame comprises a modified payload that is different from a payload specified by the standard for the trigger frame.

18 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the modified response frame selectively comprises a variable amount of padding.