Trigger-based random access in a multiple BSSID network

1. A method of allocating wireless resources to a multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID) set including a transmitted BSSID and one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs, the method performed by an access point (AP) associated with the transmitted BSSID, the method comprising:

allocating random access resource units (RUs) for uplink (UL) transmissions from wireless stations (STAs) of the multiple BSSID set using association identifier (AID) values based on a group AID mapping contained in a partial virtual bitmap of a traffic indication map (TIM) element; and

transmitting one or more trigger frames including a number of the AID values based on the group AID mapping contained in the partial virtual bitmap of the TIM element, the number of AID values including one or more of an AID value set to zero, an AID value set to 2045, or an AID value set to 2047.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to zero are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to 2045 are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to unassociated STAs of the multiple BSSID set.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to 2047 are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to all STAs of the multiple BSSID set.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes an AID value set to the BSSID index of the respective non-transmitted BSSID, the AID value set to the BSSID index configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to STAs associated with the respective non-transmitted BSSID.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames comprises a broadcast frame configured to allow any STA of the multiple BSSID set to contend for channel access to random access RUs identified by the at least one trigger frame.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames comprises a multicast frame configured to allow a selected group of STAs of the multiple BSSID set to contend for channel access to random access RUs identified by the at least one trigger frame.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes a transmitter address set to the BSSID index of the transmitted BSSID.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one trigger frame allocates one or more random access RUs for UL transmissions to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes an AID12 subfield set to zero.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a management frame including the partial virtual bitmap containing the group AID mapping.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the partial virtual bitmap indicates one or more of a presence of group address traffic for the transmitted BSSID, a presence of group address traffic for one or more of the non-transmitted BSSIDs, or a presence of queued downlink (DL) data for unassociated stations.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a beacon frame indicating a presence or absence of traffic to be delivered to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID or to STAs associated with the one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the beacon frame includes the partial virtual bitmap containing the group AID mapping, the partial virtual bitmap including, for each BSSID of the transmitted BSSID and the one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs, a corresponding bit indicating a presence or absence of downlink (DL) data for the respective BSSID.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the partial virtual bitmap includes a plurality of additional bits, each of the additional bits indicating a presence or absence of DL data for a respective STA of the multiple BSSID set.

16. An access point (AP) associated with a transmitted BSSID belonging to a multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID) set including one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs, comprising:

one or more processors configured to allocate random access resource units (RUs) for uplink (UL) transmissions from wireless stations (STAs) of the multiple BSSID set using association identifier (AID) values based on a group AID mapping contained in a partial virtual bitmap of a traffic indication map (TIM) element; and

one or more transceivers configured to transmit one or more trigger frames including a number of the AID values based on the group AID mapping contained in the partial virtual bitmap of the TIM element, the number of AID values including one or more of an AID value set to zero, an AID value set to 2045, or an AID value set to 2047.

17. The AP of claim 16 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to zero are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID.

18. The AP of claim 16 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to 2045 are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to unassociated STAs of the multiple BSSID set.

19. The AP of claim 16 , wherein trigger frames including the AID value set to 2047 are configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to all STAs of the multiple BSSID set.

20. The AP of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes an AID value set to the BSSID index of the respective non-transmitted BSSID, the AID value set to the BSSID index configured to allocate one or more of the random access RUs to STAs associated with the respective non-transmitted BSSID.

21. The AP of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames comprises a broadcast frame configured to allow any STA of the multiple BSSID set to contend for channel access to random access RUs identified by the at least one trigger frame.

22. The AP of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames comprises a multicast frame configured to allow a selected group of STAs of the multiple BSSID set to contend for channel access to random access RUs identified by the at least one trigger frame.

23. The AP of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes a transmitter address set to the BSSID index of the transmitted BSSID.

24. The AP of claim 23 , wherein the at least one trigger frame allocates one or more random access RUs for UL transmissions to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID.

25. The AP of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trigger frames includes an AID12 subfield set to zero.

26. The AP of claim 16 , wherein the one or more transceivers are further configured to transmit a management frame including the partial virtual bitmap containing the group AID mapping.

27. The AP of claim 26 , wherein the partial virtual bitmap indicates one or more of a presence of group address traffic for the transmitted BSSID, a presence of group address traffic for one or more of the non-transmitted BSSIDs, or a presence of queued downlink (DL) data for unassociated stations.

28. The AP of claim 16 , wherein the one or more transceivers are further configured to transmit a beacon frame indicating a presence or absence of traffic to be delivered to STAs associated with the transmitted BSSID or to STAs associated with the one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs.

29. The AP of claim 28 , wherein the beacon frame includes the partial virtual bitmap containing the group AID mapping, the partial virtual bitmap including, for each BSSID of the transmitted BSSID and the one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs, a corresponding bit indicating a presence or absence of downlink (DL) data for the respective BSSID.

30. The AP of claim 29 , wherein the partial virtual bitmap includes a plurality of additional bits, each of the additional bits indicating a presence or absence of DL data for a respective STA of the multiple BSSID set.