TDLS discovery and setup for multi-link operation
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating the discovery and setup of multiple peer-to-peer (P2P) direct links for P2P communications between peer multi-link devices (MLDs). A first non-access point (AP) MLD comprises first stations (STAs), each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a first message that includes information indicating that one or more of the links are target links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a P2P direct link with second STAs of a second non-AP MLD, wherein the second STAs are associated with the corresponding AP of the AP MLD on the target links. The transceiver of a first of the first STAs is further configured to transmit the first message to the corresponding AP of the AP MLD over the link.
1 . A first non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:
first stations (STAs) each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD; and
a processor operably coupled to the first STAs, the processor configured to generate a first message that includes information indicating that multiple of the links are target links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a peer-to-peer (P2P) direct link with second STAs of a second non-AP MLD, wherein the second STAs are associated with the corresponding AP of the AP MLD on the target links, wherein the information includes a Link ID indicating different APs corresponding to different links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) direct link,
wherein the transceiver of a first of the first STAs is further configured to transmit the first message to the corresponding AP of the AP MLD over the link.
2 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes link-specific information related to each of the target links.
3 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein:
the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes a link identifier (ID) of one target link that indicates that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a single P2P direct link on the one target link, and
the one target link is different than the link on which the first message is transmitted.
4 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes per-STA profiles that correspond, respectively, to each of the target links.
5 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 4 , wherein each per-STA profile includes a link ID of the corresponding target link that indicates that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a P2P direct link on the corresponding target link.
6 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 4 , wherein each per-STA profile includes a medium access control (MAC) address of a second STA of the second STAs that operates on the corresponding target link.
7 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the information in the first message indicates to the second non-AP MLD that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish the P2P direct link with the second STAs of the second non-AP MLD on the target links.
8 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein:
the transceiver is further configured to receive, from one of the second STAs of the second non-AP MLD over one of the target links, a response message that corresponds to the first message, and
the response message includes the information on the target links.
9 . The first non-AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the first message is one of a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) discovery request frame, a TDLS discovery response frame, a TDLS setup request frame, a TDLS setup response frame, or a TDLS setup confirm frame.
10 . A method of wireless communication performed by a first non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) that comprises first stations (STAs) that each comprise a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding AP of an AP MLD, the method comprising:
generating a first message that includes information indicating that multiple of the links are target links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a peer-to-peer (P2P) direct link with second STAs of a second non-AP MLD, wherein the second STAs are associated with the corresponding AP of the AP MLD on the target links, wherein the information includes a Link ID indicating different APs corresponding to different links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) direct link; and
transmitting the first message to the corresponding AP of the AP MLD over the link.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes link-specific information related to each of the target links.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes a link identifier (ID) of one target link that indicates that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a single P2P direct link on the one target link, and
the one target link is different than the link on which the first message is transmitted.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes per-STA profiles that correspond, respectively, to each of the target links.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each per-STA profile includes a link ID of the corresponding target link that indicates that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a P2P direct link on the corresponding target link.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each per-STA profile includes a medium access control (MAC) address of a second STA of the second STAs that operates on the corresponding target link.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information in the first message indicates to the second non-AP MLD that the first non-AP MLD intends to establish the P2P direct link with the second STAs of the second non-AP MLD on the target links.
17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving, from one of the second STAs of the second non-AP MLD over one of the target links, a response message that corresponds to the first message,
wherein the response message includes the information on the target links.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first message is one of a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) discovery request frame, a TDLS discovery response frame, a TDLS setup request frame, a TDLS setup response frame, or a TDLS setup confirm frame.
19 . An access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:
APs each comprising a transceiver configured to form a link with a corresponding first station (STA) of a first non-AP MLD and with a corresponding second STA of a second non-AP MLD; and
a processor operably coupled to the APs,
wherein the transceiver of a first of the APs is further configured to receive, from the corresponding first STA of the first non-AP MLD over the link, a first message that includes information indicating that multiple of the links are target links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a peer-to-peer (P2P) direct link with second STAs of the second non-AP MLD that are associated with corresponding AP of the AP MLD on the target links, wherein the information includes a Link ID indicating different APs corresponding to different links on which the first non-AP MLD intends to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) direct link,
wherein the processor is configured to determine that the first message is intended for the second non-AP MLD, and
wherein the transceiver of the first of the APs is further configured to transmit the first message to the corresponding second STA of the second non-AP MLD over the link.
20 . The AP MLD of claim 19 , wherein the information in the first message is a multi-link element that includes link-specific information related to each of the target links.