Method for sensing channel dynamically in wireless LAN system and apparatus therefor

1. A method for performing a backoff process by a station (STA) in a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system supporting a plurality of primary channels, the method comprising:

performing a backoff process on a primary 1 MHz channel or a primary 2 MHz channel, selectively, according to a width of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU); and

transmitting the PPDU when a transmission opportunity (TXOP) is allowed as a result of the backoff process,

wherein when the width of the PPDU is 1 MHz, the backoff process is performed on the primary 1 MHz channel using a first clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold from a first CCA condition,

wherein when the width of the PPDU is 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz or 16 MHz, the backoff process is performed on the primary 2 MHz channel using a second CCA threshold from a second CCA condition, wherein the second CCA threshold used for the primary 2 MHz channel is higher than the first CCA threshold used for the primary 1 MHz channel,

wherein the primary 2 MHz channel is comprised of the primary 1 MHz channel and a secondary 1 MHz channel,

wherein a back-off timer corresponding to the primary 2 MHz channel is stopped while the primary 1 MHz channel is busy, and

wherein a 1 MHz PPDU transmission is allowed only on the primary 1 MHz channel even when the secondary 1 MHz channel is idle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second CCA threshold is 3 dBm higher than the first CCA threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein, when the STA detects a first signal with a first power value which is greater than or equal to the first CCA threshold on the primary 1 MHz channel, the STA determines that the primary 1 MHz channel is busy, and

wherein, when the STA detects a second signal with a second power value which is greater than or equal to the second CCA threshold on the primary 2 MHz channel, the STA determines that the primary 2 MHz channel is busy.

4. The method according to claim 3 ,

wherein, when the primary 1 MHz channel is idle, a backoff timer corresponding to the primary 1 MHz channel decreases in each backoff slot, and

wherein, when the primary 2 MHz channel is idle, the backoff timer corresponding to the primary 2 MHz channel decreases in each backoff slot.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the TXOP is allowed when the backoff timer expires.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, when the TXOP is allowed as a result of the backoff process, and the width of the PPDU is 4 MHz, 8 MHz or 16 MHz, transmission of the PPDU is performed according to a state of one or more secondary channels.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein, when the one or more secondary channels are busy, a new backoff process is performed.

8. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

checking whether a secondary 2 MHz channel, a secondary 4 MHz channel and a secondary 8 MHz channel are idle during a predetermined inter-frame space (IFS) immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 16 MHz;

checking whether the secondary 2 MHz channel and the secondary 4 MHz channel are idle during the IFS immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 8 MHz; or

checking whether the secondary 2 MHz channel is idle during the IFS immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 4 MHz.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a frame including a channel width field, wherein the channel width field includes first information indicating an operating channel width for a basic service set (BSS) and second information indicating whether the primary 1 MHz channel is located at a lower side of the primary 2 MHz channel or at an upper side of the primary 2 MHz channel.

10. A station (STA) for performing a backoff process in a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system supporting a plurality of primary channels, the station comprising:

a processor that performs a backoff process on a primary 1 MHz channel or a primary 2 MHz channel, selectively, according to a width of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU); and

a transceiver that transmits a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) under control of the processor, when a transmission opportunity (TXOP) is allowed as a result of the backoff process,

wherein when the width of the PPDU is 1 MHz, the backoff process is performed on the primary 1 MHz channel using a first clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold from a first CCA condition,

wherein when the width of the PPDU is 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz or 16 MHz, the backoff process is performed on the primary 2 MHz channel using a second CCA threshold from a second CCA condition, wherein the second CCA threshold used for the primary 2 MHz channel is higher than the first CCA threshold used for the primary 1 MHz channel,

wherein the primary 2 MHz channel is comprised of the primary 1 MHz channel and a secondary 1 MHz channel,

wherein a back-off timer corresponding to the primary 2 MHz channel is stopped while the primary 1 MHz channel is busy, and

wherein a 1 MHz PPDU transmission is allowed only on the primary 1 MHz channel even when the secondary 1 MHz channel is idle.

11. The station according to claim 10 , wherein the second CCA threshold from the second CCA condition is 3 dBm higher than the first CCA threshold from the first CCA condition.

12. The station according to claim 10 , wherein the processor:

checks whether a secondary 2 MHz channel, a secondary 4 MHz channel and a secondary 8 MHz channel are idle during a predetermined inter-frame space (IFS) immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 16 MHz;

checks whether the secondary 2 MHz channel and the secondary 4 MHz channel are idle during the IFS immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 8 MHz; or

checks whether the secondary 2 MHz channel is idle during the IFS immediately before starting the TXOP, when the width of the PPDU is 4 MHz.

13. The station according to claim 10 , wherein the processor controls the transceiver to receive a frame including a channel width field, wherein the channel width field includes first information indicating an operating channel width of a basic service set (BSS) and second information indicating whether the primary 1 MHz channel is located at a lower side of the primary 2 MHz channel or at an upper side of the primary 2 MHz channel.

14. The station according to claim 10 , wherein the station is either a non-access point station or an access point station.