EHT multi-link maximum channel switching in wireless communications
Various techniques and schemes pertaining to extremely-high throughput (EHT) multi-link maximum channel switching in wireless communications are described. A station (STA) multi-link device (MLD) receives an indication from a reporting access point (AP) affiliated with an AP MLD on one link of multiple links. The STA MLD determines a channel switching time when a reported AP switches from operating in a current channel of the reported AP to operating in a new channel on one other link of the multiple links based on the indication.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a station (STA) multi-link device (MLD), an indication from a reporting access point (AP) affiliated with an AP MLD on one link of multiple links; and
determining, by the processor, a channel switching time when a reported AP switches from operating in a current channel of the reported AP to operating in a new channel on one other link of the multiple links based on the indication,
wherein the receiving comprises receiving the indication after a last beacon frame is transmitted on the current channel of the reported AP
wherein the indication indicates an estimated time delta between a time a frame carrying a Basic Multi-Link element containing a Max Channel Switch Time element is transmitted by the reporting AP and an expected time of a first beacon frame being transmitted by the reported AP in the new channel, and
wherein the receiving further comprises receiving the indication in an association response frame or a re-association response frame transmitted by the reporting AP.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining the channel switching time by subtracting the estimated time delta from a maximum time delta between a time the last beacon frame is transmitted by the reported AP in the current channel and the expected time of the first beacon frame being transmitted by the reported AP in the new channel.
3 . An apparatus, comprising:
a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly; and
a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to perform, as a station (STA) affiliated with a STA multi-link device (MLD), operations comprising:
receiving, via the transceiver, an indication from a reporting access point (AP) affiliated with an AP MLD on one link of multiple links; and
determining a channel switching time when a reported AP switches from operating in a current channel of the reported AP to operating in a new channel on one other link of the multiple links based on the indication,
wherein the receiving comprises receiving the indication after a last beacon frame is transmitted on the current channel of the reported AP
wherein the indication indicates an estimated time delta between a time a frame carrying a Basic Multi-Link element containing a Max Channel Switch Time element is transmitted by the reporting AP and an expected time of a first beacon frame being transmitted by the reported AP in the new channel, and
wherein the receiving further comprises receiving the indication in an association response frame or a re-association response frame transmitted by the reporting AP.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the determining comprises determining the channel switching time by subtracting the estimated time delta from a maximum time delta between a time the last beacon frame is transmitted by the reported AP in the current channel and the expected time of the first beacon frame being transmitted by the reported AP in the new channel.