Methods and apparatus for multiple user uplink

1. A method for selective multi-user uplink (UL) communications, the method performed by a first wireless device and comprising:

receiving, from a second wireless device, permission to initiate an UL transmission according to a multi-user (MU) UL protocol;

determining an expected duration for the UL transmission, and indicating the expected duration to the second wireless device;

receiving, from the second wireless device, an indication of a maximum duration for transmitting UL data;

determining that the expected duration for transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device is less than the maximum duration;

transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device in accordance with the MU UL protocol and the expected duration; and

after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device, receiving a termination message from the second wireless device that indicates all UL transmissions have been completed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expected duration is indicated in the UL data within one data field from the group consisting of a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, a high efficiency signal (HE-SIG) A field, an HE-SIG B field, an HE-SIG C field, a media access control (MAC) header, a MAC payload, and a physical layer (PHY) delimiter.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein indicating the expected duration comprises transmitting an end of frame (EOF) delimiter following the UL data to indicate that all of the UL data has been transmitted.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) from the second wireless device after receiving the termination message and before the maximum duration has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the expected duration for the UL transmission comprises calculating, based on an estimated throughput or data rate, a time required to transmit the UL data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device, sending a message to retain control of a channel used for transmitting the UL data.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising entering a low power state after transmitting the message to retain control of the channel used for transmitting the UL data.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising entering a low power state after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device.

9. A first wireless device, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more transceivers; and

a memory storing one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first wireless device to transmit uplink (UL) data to a second wireless device in a selective multi-user UL communication by performing operations comprising:

receiving, from the second wireless device, permission to initiate a UL transmission according to a multi-user (MU) UL protocol;

determining an expected duration for the UL transmission and indicating the expected duration to the second wireless device;

receiving, from the second wireless device, an indication of a maximum duration for transmitting the UL data;

determining that the expected duration for transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device is less than the maximum duration;

transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device in accordance with the MU UL protocol and the maximum duration; and

after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device, receiving a termination message from the second wireless device that indicates all UL transmissions have been complete.

10. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the expected duration is indicated within one data field from the group consisting of a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, a high efficiency signal (HE-SIG) A field, an HE-SIG B field, an HE-SIG C field, a media access control (MAC) header, a MAC payload, and a physical layer (PHY) delimiter.

11. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions for indicating the expected duration causes the first wireless device to perform operations further comprising transmitting an end of frame (EOF) delimiter following the UL data to indicate that all of the UL data has been transmitted.

12. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the first wireless device to perform operations further comprising receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) from the second wireless device after receiving the termination message and before the maximum duration has elapsed.

13. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the first wireless device to perform operations further comprising receiving, from the second wireless device, an indication of one or more durations for receiving an ACK from the second wireless device.

14. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions to determine the expected duration for the UL transmission further causes the first wireless device to calculate, based on an estimated throughput or data rate, a time required to transmit the UL data.

15. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the first wireless device to send a message to retain control of a channel used for transmitting the UL data.

16. The first wireless device of claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the first wireless device to enter a low power state after transmitting the message to retain control of the channel used for transmitting the UL data.

17. The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the first wireless device to enter a low power state after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first wireless device, cause the first wireless device to transmit uplink (UL) data to a second wireless device in a selective multi-user UL by performing operations comprising:

receiving, from the second wireless device, permission to initiate a UL transmission according to a multi-user (MU) UL protocol;

determining an expected duration for the UL transmission and indicating the expected duration to the second wireless device;

receiving, from the second wireless device, an indication of a maximum duration for transmitting the UL data;

determining that the expected duration for transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device is less than the maximum duration;

transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device in accordance with the MU UL protocol and the expected duration; and

after transmitting the UL data to the second wireless device, receiving a termination message from the second wireless device that indicates all UL transmissions have been completed.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein execution of the instructions to determine the expected duration for the UL transmission further causes the first wireless device to calculate, based on an estimated throughput or data rate, a time required to transmit the UL data.