System and method for carrier aggregation for wireless local area networks
Embodiments are provided herein for improving carrier aggregation for wireless networks. A plurality of bandwidth channels are assigned to a basic service set (BSS) for transmissions. Specifically, the bandwidth channels are divided into multiple channel segments corresponding to multiple primary or alternate primary channels. A channel segment possibly further includes one or more additional secondary channels. The locations of the primary or alternate primary channels that correspond to the channel segments of the BSS are then broadcasted in the network. When a station or AP receives this BSS information, it searches for an available primary or alternate primary channel of the BSS to begin transmission. Upon detecting an available primary channel or alternate primary channel that is not used for another transmission, the station or AP transmits data on the channel segment corresponding to the detected primary or alternate primary channel.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a station, a frame comprising a physical layer (PHY) header, the PHY header of the frame including an indication of a primary channel and an alternate primary channel used by an access point; and
communicating, by the station with the access point, at least one frame over a selected primary channel or over an aggregated channel of the selected primary channel and at least one secondary channel, the selected primary channel selected from the primary channel or the alternate primary channel based on availability of the primary channel and the alternate primary channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating, by the station, with the access point.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising competing, by the station, with other associated stations on the primary channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary channel is associated with a basic service set (BSS).
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS have the same bandwidth.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are located in different channel segments.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are associated with different subsets of secondary channels.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the station is a mobile station.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PHY header of the frame includes a second indication of another alternate primary channel used by the access point.
10. A method comprising:
transmitting, by an access point to a station, a frame comprising a physical layer (PHY) header, the PHY header of the frame including an indication of a primary channel and an alternate primary channel used by the access point; and
communicating, by the access point with the station, at least one frame over a selected primary channel or over an aggregated channel of the selected primary channel and at least one secondary channel, the selected primary channel selected from the primary channel or the alternate primary channel based on availability of the primary channel and the alternate primary channel.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising associating, by the access point, with the station.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising directing, by the access point, the station to compete with other associated stations on the primary channel.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the primary channel is associated with a basic service set (BSS).
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS have the same bandwidth.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are located in different channel segments.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are associated with different subsets of secondary channels.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the station is a mobile station.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the PHY header of the frame includes a second indication of another alternate primary channel used by the access point.
19. A station comprising:
a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and
one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
receive a frame comprising a physical layer (PHY) header, the PHY header of the frame including an indication of a primary channel and an alternate primary channel used by an access point; and
communicate, with the access point, at least one frame over a selected primary channel or over an aggregated channel of the selected primary channel and at least one secondary channel, the selected primary channel selected from the primary channel or the alternate primary channel based on availability of the primary channel and the alternate primary channel.
20. The station of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to associate with the access point.
21. The station of claim 20 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to compete with other associated stations on the primary channel.
22. The station of claim 19 , wherein the primary channel is associated with a basic service set (BSS).
23. The station of claim 22 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS have the same bandwidth.
24. The station of claim 22 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are located in different channel segments.
25. The station of claim 22 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are associated with different subsets of secondary channels.
26. The station of claim 19 , wherein the station is a mobile station.
27. The station of claim 19 , wherein the PHY header of the frame includes a second indication of another alternate primary channel used by the access point.
28. An access point comprising:
a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions; and
one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory storage, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
transmit, to a station, a frame comprising a physical layer (PHY) header, the PHY header of the frame including an indication of a primary channel and an alternate primary channel used by the access point; and
communicate, with the station, at least one frame over a selected primary channel or over an aggregated channel of the selected primary channel and at least one secondary channel, the selected primary channel selected from the primary channel or the alternate primary channel based on availability of the primary channel and the alternate primary channel.
29. The access point of claim 28 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to associate with the station.
30. The access point of claim 29 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to direct the station to compete with other associated stations on the primary channel.
31. The access point of claim 28 , wherein the primary channel is associated with a basic service set (BSS).
32. The access point of claim 31 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS have the same bandwidth.
33. The access point of claim 31 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are located in different channel segments.
34. The access point of claim 31 , wherein the primary channel and the alternate primary channel associated with the BSS are associated with different subsets of secondary channels.
35. The access point of claim 28 , wherein the station is a mobile station.
36. The access point of claim 28 , wherein the PHY header of the frame includes a second indication of another alternate primary channel used by the access point.