SPATIAL REUSE FOR WLAN NETWORKS
Techniques for improved spatial reuse for wireless local area network (WLAN) networks are described. An access point (AP) may win a contention to a wireless medium and obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The AP may perform a procedure to identify a group of un-managed APs for participation in spatial reuse opportunities for synchronous transmission over the TXOP. The AP may perform the procedure using over-the-air signaling. The AP may transmit a spatial reuse (SR) poll frame to one or more un-managed APs of the network, either sequentially or as part of a multiple-AP procedure. The AP may receive an SR response frame, or directly measure potential interference of a station (STA) serviced by one or more un-managed APs, and select a group of APs for coordinated reuse over the TXOP. The AP may select the group of APs based on one or more criteria for coordinated reuse.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A first access point, comprising:
at least one transceiver;
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code executable by the processing circuitry to cause the first access point to:
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a first poll requesting a signal strength associated with a second access point;
receive, via the at least one transceiver and after transmitting the first poll, a response comprising an indication of the signal strength; and
select the second access point for spatial reuse based at least in part on the signal strength.
3 . The first access point of claim 2 , wherein selecting the second access point for spatial reuse is further based at least in part on satisfaction of at least one signal strength criterion associated with the spatial reuse with the second access point via a transmission opportunity (TXOP).
4 . The first access point of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first access point to:
compare the signal strength associated with the second access point with a signal strength threshold, wherein the at least one signal strength criterion comprises the signal strength satisfying the signal strength threshold.
5 . The first access point of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first access point to:
receive, via the at least one transceiver, an indication of a second signal strength associated with a third access point after transmitting the first poll; and
communicate, via the at least one transceiver using spatial reuse, wherein the spatial reuse is independent of the third access point based at least in part on the second signal strength failing to satisfy the at least one signal strength criterion.
6 . The first access point of claim 5 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first access point to:
compare the second signal strength associated with the third access point to a signal strength threshold, wherein the failure to satisfy the at least one signal strength criterion is based at least in part on the second signal strength failing to satisfy the signal strength threshold.
7 . The first access point of claim 2 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first access point to:
perform, via the at least one transceiver, synchronous signaling via a transmission opportunity (TXOP) and after selecting the second access point, wherein performing the synchronous signaling comprises transmitting an indication for the second access point to perform the synchronous signaling.
8 . The first access point of claim 2 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first access point to:
perform, via the at least one transceiver, a contention procedure associated with a wireless medium, wherein transmitting the first poll is part of the contention procedure.
9 . A first wireless device, comprising:
at least one transceiver;
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code executable by the processing circuitry to cause the first wireless device to:
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a first poll to a second wireless device;
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a message requesting signal strength information associated with communications between the second wireless device and a third wireless device; and
receive, via the at least one transceiver, a response comprising the signal strength information, the response being received after transmitting the second message.
10 . The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless device to:
perform, via the at least one transceiver, one or more coordination operations with the third wireless device based at least in part on the signal strength information satisfying at least one signal strength criterion.
11 . The first wireless device of claim 10 , wherein at least one signal strength criterion comprises a signal strength associated with the first communication satisfying a signal strength threshold.
12 . The first wireless device of claim 10 , wherein, to perform the one or more coordination operations, the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless device to:
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, an indication for the third wireless device to transmit downlink signaling during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) based at least in part on the measured signal strength indication satisfying the at least one signal strength criterion.
13 . The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the second wireless device comprises a station and the third wireless device comprises an access point.
14 . The first wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the first wireless device to:
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a request for transmission of a null packet after receiving the response.
15 . A method for wireless communications by a wireless node, comprising:
transmitting a first poll comprising requesting a signal strength associated with a second access point;
receiving, after transmitting the first poll, a response comprising an indication of the signal strength; and
selecting the second access point for spatial reuse based at least in part on the signal strength.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein selecting the second access point for spatial reuse is further based at least in part on satisfaction of at least one signal strength criterion associated with the spatial reuse with the second access point via a transmission opportunity (TXOP).
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
comparing the signal strength associated with the second access point with a signal strength threshold, wherein the one or more signal strength criteria comprise the signal strength associated with the second access point satisfying the signal strength threshold.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of a second signal strength associated with a third access point after transmitting the first poll, and
communicating using spatial reuse, wherein the spatial reuse is independent of the third access point based at least in part on the second signal strength associated with the third access point failing to satisfy at least one signal strength criterion.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
comparing the second signal strength associated with the third access point to a signal strength threshold, wherein the failure to satisfy the at least one signal strength criterion is based at least in part on the second signal strength failing to satisfy the signal strength threshold.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
performing synchronous signaling via a transmission opportunity (TXOP) and after selecting the second access point, wherein performing the synchronous signaling comprises transmitting an indication for the second access point to perform the synchronous signaling.
21 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
performing a contention procedure associated with a wireless medium, wherein transmitting the first poll is part of the contention procedure.