Multi-user parallel channel access in WLAN systems
Methods and apparatuses are related to multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA). For example, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is provided that is one of the plurality of WTRUs operable to simultaneously communicate via a plurality of channels managed by an access point (AP). The WTRU includes a receiver configured to receive, from the AP, over at least one channel of the plurality of channels, a group poll (G-Poll) message that includes a resource allocation that indicates at least one allocated channel of the plurality of channels for the WTRU; and a transmitter configured to transmit an uplink request message, to the AP in response to the G-Poll message, over the at least one allocated channel of the plurality of channels, the uplink request message corresponding to uplink data the WTRU has for transmission to the AP.
1 . A wireless station (STA) comprising:
a transceiver; and
a processor,
wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to:
receive, from an access point (AP), a control frame configured to trigger uplink data transmissions, wherein the control frame comprises a broadcast address and is configured to be received using the broadcast address, the control frame comprising a type field for indicating a frame type as the control frame, wherein the control frame includes respective assigned channel resource allocations and association identifiers (AIDs) for a plurality of STAs, wherein the received control frame is configured to solicit simultaneous transmission of UL data from at least one other STA of the plurality of STAs during a period of time;
identify, in the control frame, an AID of the STA from the AIDs and a resource allocation from the assigned channel resource allocations corresponding to the AID, wherein the resource allocation indicates at least one channel;
transmit, to the AP, an uplink (UL) data transmission over the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation, the UL data transmission being transmitted at an end of a Short Interframe Space (SIFS) following receipt of the control frame; and
receive, from the AP, an acknowledgement (ACK) in response to the UL data transmission,
wherein the control frame comprises a duration field that defines a period to reserve the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation to allow the UL data transmission to be transmitted and the ACK to be received.
2 . The wireless STA of claim 1 , wherein the UL data transmission comprises a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU).
3 . The wireless STA of claim 1 , wherein the control frame comprises a group request-to-send (G-RTS) control frame.
4 . The wireless STA of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a block acknowledgement in response to the UL data transmission.
5 . The wireless STA of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation comprises a 20 MHz channel.
6 . A method performed by a wireless station (STA), the method comprising:
receiving, from an access point (AP), a control frame configured to trigger uplink data transmissions, wherein the control frame comprises a broadcast address and is configured to be received using the broadcast address, the control frame comprising a type field for indicating a frame type as the control frame, wherein the control frame includes respective assigned channel resource allocations and association identifiers (AIDs) for a plurality of STAs, wherein the received control frame is configured to solicit simultaneous transmission of UL data from at least one STA of the plurality of STAs during a period of time;
identifying, in the control frame, an AID of the STA from the AIDs and a resource allocation from the assigned channel resource allocations corresponding to the AID, wherein the resource allocation indicates at least one channel;
transmitting, to the AP, an uplink (UL) data transmission over the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation, the UL data transmission being transmitted at an end of a Short Interframe Space (SIFS) following receipt of the control frame; and
receiving, from the AP, an acknowledgement (ACK) in response to the UL data transmission,
wherein the control frame comprises a duration field that defines a period to reserve the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation to allow the UL data transmission to be transmitted and the ACK to be received.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the UL data transmission comprises a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU).
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the control frame comprises a group request-to-send (G-RTS) control frame.
9 . The method of claim 6 , comprising receiving a block acknowledgement in response to the UL data transmission.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation comprises a 20 MHz channel.
11 . An access point (AP) comprising:
a transceiver; and
a processor,
wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to:
transmit, to a station (STA), a control frame configured to trigger uplink data transmissions, wherein the control frame comprises a broadcast address and is configured to be received using the broadcast address, the control frame comprising a type field for indicating a frame type as the control frame, wherein the control frame includes respective assigned channel resource allocations and association identifiers (AIDs) for a plurality of STAs, wherein the transmitted control frame is configured to solicit simultaneous transmission of UL data from at least one STA of the plurality of STAs during a period of time;
receive, from the STA, an uplink (UL) data transmission over at least one channel indicated in a resource allocation, the UL data transmission being transmitted at an end of a Short Interframe Space (SIFS) following receipt of the control frame; and
transmit, to the STA, an acknowledgement (ACK) in response to the UL data transmission,
wherein the control frame comprises a duration field that defines a period to reserve the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation to allow the UL data transmission to be received and the ACK to be transmitted.
12 . The AP of claim 11 , wherein the UL data transmission comprises a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU).
13 . The AP of claim 11 , wherein the control frame comprises a group request-to-send (G-RTS) control frame.
14 . The AP of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a block acknowledgement in response to the UL data transmission.
15 . The AP of claim 11 , wherein the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation comprises a 20 MHz channel.
16 . A method performed by an access point (AP), the method comprising:
transmitting, to a station (STA), a control frame configured to trigger uplink data transmissions, wherein the control frame comprises a broadcast address and is configured to be received using the broadcast address, the control frame comprising a type field for indicating a frame type as the control frame, wherein the control frame includes respective assigned channel resource allocations and association identifiers (AIDs) for a plurality of STAs, wherein the transmitted control frame is configured to solicit simultaneous transmission of UL data from at least one other STA of the plurality of STAs during a period of time;
receiving, from the STA, an uplink (UL) data transmission over at least one channel indicated in a resource allocation, the UL data transmission being transmitted at an end of a Short Interframe Space (SIFS) following receipt of the control frame; and
transmitting, to the STA, an acknowledgement (ACK) in response to the UL data transmission,
wherein the control frame comprises a duration field that defines a period to reserve the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation to allow the UL data transmission to be received and the ACK to be transmitted.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the UL data transmission comprises a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU).
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the control frame comprises a group request-to-send (G-RTS) control frame.
19 . The method of claim 16 , comprising transmitting a block acknowledgement in response to the UL data transmission.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one channel indicated in the resource allocation comprises a 20 MHz channel.