Protection for multi-user transmissions
Aspects of the present disclosure provide various mechanisms for protection of MU transmissions, such as UL MU MIMO and UL OFDMA. The mechanisms may allow for various NAV setting options for UL MU MIMO or UL OFDMA. Aspects of the present invention relate to a processing system configured to generate a first frame configured to trigger multiple transmissions from multiple devices, wherein the first frame has a duration field set to a value corresponding to a duration that covers at least the multiple transmissions, and an interface configured to output the frame for transmission.
1. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a processing system configured to:
generate a first frame configured to trigger a first wireless device to transmit a second frame configured to trigger transmission of third frames from at least second wireless devices, wherein the first frame has a first duration field set to a first value corresponding to a first duration that covers at least the transmission of the second frame,
generate one of the third frames, in response to the second frame, wherein the generated third frame has a second duration field set to a second value corresponding to a second duration that covers transmission of data frames from at least the second wireless devices, and
generate one of the data frames; and
an interface configured to:
output the first frame for transmission,
output the generated third frame for concurrent transmission with the other third frames from the second wireless devices, and
output the generated data frame for concurrent transmission with the other data frames from the second wireless devices according to the second duration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first duration also covers at least a portion of the transmission of the data frames from the second wireless devices.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first duration also covers transmission of block acknowledgements (BAs) corresponding to the data frames.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second frame has a third duration field set to a third value that is equal to or longer than the first value corresponding to the first duration.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the processing system is further configured to generate a fourth frame configured to signal an end of a network allocation vector (NAV) period; and
the interface is further configured to output the fourth frame for transmission after the apparatus receives a block acknowledgement (BA) of the generated data frame from the first wireless device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame is a request-to-multiplex frame and wherein the generated third frame is a clear-to-send frame.
7. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
generating a first frame configured to trigger a first wireless device to transmit a second frame configured to trigger transmission of third frames from at least second wireless devices, wherein the first frame has a duration field set to a value corresponding to a duration that covers at least the transmission of the second frame;
outputting the first frame for transmission;
generating one of the third frames, in response to the second frame, wherein the generated third frame has a second duration field set to a second value corresponding to a second duration that covers transmission of data frames from at least the second wireless devices;
outputting the generated third frame for concurrent transmission with the other third frames from the second wireless devices;
generating one of the data frames; and
outputting the generated data frame for concurrent transmission with the other data frames from the second wireless devices according to the second duration.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first duration also covers at least a portion of the transmission of the data frames from the second wireless devices.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first duration also covers transmission of block acknowledgements (BAs) corresponding to the data frames.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second frame has a third duration field set to a third value that is equal to or longer than the first value corresponding to the first duration.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
generating a fourth frame configured to signal an end of a network allocation vector (NAV) period;
receiving a block acknowledgement (BA) of the generated data frame from the first wireless device; and
after receiving the BA of the generated data frame, outputting the fourth frame for transmission.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first frame is a request-to-multiplex frame and wherein the generated third frame is a clear-to-send frame.
13. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
means for generating a first frame configured to trigger a first wireless device to transmit a second frame configured to trigger transmission of third frames from at least second wireless devices, wherein the first frame has a first duration field set to a first value corresponding to a first duration that covers at least the transmission of the second frame; and
means for outputting the first frame for transmission; wherein:
the means for generating is further configured to generate one of the third frames, in response to the second frame, wherein the generated third frame has a second duration field set to a second value corresponding to a second duration that covers transmission of data frames from at least the second wireless devices;
the means for outputting is further configured to output the generated third frame for concurrent transmission with the other third frames from the second wireless devices;
the means for generating is further configured to generate one of the data frames; and
the means for outputting is further configured to output the generated data frame for concurrent transmission with the other data frames from the second wireless devices according to the second duration.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first duration also covers at least a portion of the transmission of the data frames from the second wireless devices.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first duration also covers transmission of block acknowledgements (BAs) corresponding to the data frames.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second frame has a third duration field set to a third value that is equal to or longer than the first value corresponding to the first duration.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the means for generating is further configured to generate a fourth frame configured to signal an end of a network allocation vector (NAV) period; and
the means for outputting is further configured to output the fourth frame for transmission after the apparatus receives a block acknowledgement (BA) of the generated data frame from the first wireless device.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first frame is a request-to-multiplex frame and wherein the generated third frame is a clear-to-send frame.
19. A wireless station, comprising:
a processing system configured to:
generate a first frame configured to trigger a first wireless device to transmit a second frame configured to trigger transmission of third frames from second wireless devices including the wireless station, wherein the first frame has a first duration field set to a first value corresponding to a first duration that covers at least the transmission of the second frame,
generate one of the third frames, in response to the second frame, wherein the generated third frame has a second duration field set to a second value corresponding to a second duration that covers transmission of data frames from the second wireless devices, and
generate one of the data frames; and
a transmitter configured to:
transmit the first frame,
transmit the generated third frame concurrently with transmission of the other third frames from the second wireless devices, and
transmit the generated data frame concurrently with transmission of the other data frames from the second wireless devices according to the second duration.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having wireless communication instructions stored thereon for:
generating a first frame configured to trigger a first wireless device to transmit a second frame configured to trigger transmission of third frames from at least second wireless devices, wherein the first frame has a first duration field set to a first value corresponding to a first duration that covers at least the transmission of the second frame;
outputting the first frame for transmission;
generating one of the third frames, in response to the second frame, wherein the generated third frame has a second duration field set to a second value corresponding to a second duration that covers transmission of data frames from at least the second wireless devices;
outputting the generated third frame for concurrent transmission with the other third frames from the second wireless devices;
generating at least one of the data frames; and
outputting the generated data frame for concurrent transmission with the other data frames from the second wireless devices according to the second duration.