Enhanced channel contention schemes for high-efficiency WLAN
A unified channel contention scheme is proposed such that spatial reuse can be enabled by a wireless station (STA) when a basic service set (BSS) color of a received signal cannot be resolved. If the detected frame is an intra-BSS frame, then the STA should not contend the channel for the PPDU duration. If the detected frame is an inter-BSS frame, then the STA uses OBSS Packet Detection (OBSS-PD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. Furthermore, when BSS color cannot be resolved, channel contention schemes for WiFi signal and non-WiFi signal are differentiated. If the received signal is detected as WiFi signal, then the STA uses WiFi-SIG Detection (WD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. If the received signal is detected as non-WiFi signal, then the STA uses Non-WiFi-SIG Detection (NWD) level as the CCA level for channel contention.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a radio signal over a wireless channel by a wireless station in a wireless local area network, wherein the radio signal carries a data packet;
determining whether the data packet has an intra-basic service set (BSS) packet type or an inter-BSS packet type by resolving a BSS color of the data packet;
detecting whether the radio signal has a WiFi radio signal type or a non-WiFi radio signal type if the BSS color cannot be resolved; and
performing a channel contention scheme to gain access to the wireless channel, wherein the channel contention scheme applies a clear channel assessment (CCA) level that is determined based on the decoded packet type and the detected radio signal type.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station does not contend for channel access if the data packet type is intra-BSS.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station applies a first CCA level if the data packet type is inter-BSS.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station applies a second CCA level if the radio signal is a WiFi signal but the BSS color cannot be resolved.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station applies a third CCA level if the radio signal is a non-WiFi signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the BSS color is indicative of a BSS identifier (ID), and wherein the BSS color is a subfield contained in a signal field of the data packet.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station detects the radio signal type based on WiFi signal features.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the wireless station performs auto-correlation of the radio signal with an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulated WiFi signal having a predefined OFDM symbol length and a predefined cyclic prefix (CP) length.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless station detects the radio signal type based on LTE signal features.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wireless station performs auto-correlation of the radio signal with a predefined primary synchronization signal (PSS).
11. A wireless station, comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) receiver that receives a radio signal over a wireless channel in a wireless local area network, wherein the radio signal carries a data packet;
a decoder that decodes the data packet and determines whether the data packet has an intra-basic service set (BSS) packet type or an inter-BSS packet type by resolving a BSS color of the data packet;
a radio signal detecting circuit that detects whether the radio signal has a WiFi radio signal type or a non-WiFi radio signal type if the BSS color cannot be resolved; and
a channel access handling circuit that performs a channel contention scheme to gain access to the wireless channel, wherein the channel contention scheme applies a clear channel assessment (CCA) level that is determined based on the decoded packet type and the detected radio signal type.
12. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station does not contend for channel access if the data packet type is intra-BSS.
13. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station applies a first CCA level if the data packet type is inter-BSS.
14. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station applies a second CCA level if the radio signal is a WiFi signal but the BSS color cannot be resolved.
15. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station applies a third CCA level if the radio signal is a non-WiFi signal.
16. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the BSS color is indicative of a BSS identifier (ID), and wherein the BSS color is a subfield contained in a signal field of the data packet.
17. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station detects the radio signal type based on WiFi signal features.
18. The wireless station of claim 17 , wherein the wireless station performs auto-correlation of the radio signal with an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulated WiFi signal having a predefined OFDM symbol length and a predefined cyclic prefix (CP) length.
19. The wireless station of claim 11 , wherein the wireless station detects the radio signal type based on LTE signal features.
20. The wireless station of claim 19 , wherein the wireless station performs auto-correlation of the radio signal with a predefined primary synchronization signal (PSS).