Generalized distributed multi-user (MU) transmissions

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processing system configured to generate a first frame including an indication of unused resources in a first basic service set (BSS) available to be shared with one or more wireless nodes in one or more second BSSs;

a first interface configured to output the first frame for transmission to the one or more wireless nodes; and

a second interface configured to obtain, in response to the first frame, a second frame from each of at least one of the one or more wireless nodes indicating an intent to use one or more of the unused resources indicated in the first frame, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a group of the one or more wireless nodes to participate in distributed communications with the apparatus based in part on the indication, in each second frame, of the intent to use one or more of the unused resources; and

participate in distributed communications with the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the processing system is further configured to generate one or more synchronization frames for synchronizing with the group of the one or more wireless nodes for the distributed communications; and

the first interface is configured to output the synchronization frames for transmission to the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each second frame further comprises an indication of at least one of a number of spatial dimensions available at the wireless node or a number of devices served by the wireless node.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unused resources comprise at least one of unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus or unused portions of spectrum in the first BSS.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus comprise:

a first number of the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus in a first portion of spectrum in the first BSS; and

a second different number of the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus in a second portion of spectrum in the first BSS.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the processing system is further configured to generate, after the second frames have been obtained, a third frame allocating at least one of the unused resources to the at least one of the one or more wireless nodes; and

the first interface is further configured to output the third frame for transmission to the wireless nodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the allocation is based on at least one of a number of obtained second frames, interference conditions, or a reciprocal agreement of priority between the apparatus and the one or more wireless nodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the third frame comprises a null data packet announcement.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the processing system is further configured to generate a third frame allocating a first portion of spectrum to a first device served by the apparatus and a second device served by the one or more wireless nodes and a second portion of spectrum to the first device and a third device served by the one or more wireless nodes; and

the first interface is further configured to output the third frame for transmission.

10. A wireless node, comprising:

a processing system configured to generate a first frame including an indication of unused resources in a first basic service set (BSS) available to be shared with one or more wireless nodes in one or more second BSSs;

a transmitter configured to transmit the first frame to the one or more wireless nodes; and

a receiver configured to obtain, in response to the first frame, a second frame from each of at least one of the one or more wireless nodes indicating an intent to use one or more of the unused resources indicated in the first frame, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a group of the one or more wireless nodes to participate in distributed communications with the wireless node based in part on the indication, in each second frame, of the intent to use one or more of the unused resources; and

participate in distributed communications with the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

11. The wireless node of claim 10 , wherein:

the processing system is further configured to generate one or more synchronization frames for synchronizing with the group of the one or more wireless nodes for the distributed communications; and

the transmitter is configured to transmit the synchronization frames to the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

12. The wireless node of claim 10 , wherein each second frame further comprises an indication of at least one of a number of spatial dimensions available at the wireless node or a number of devices served by the wireless node.

13. A method for wireless communications by an apparatus, comprising:

generating a first frame including an indication of unused resources in a first basic service set (BSS) available to be shared with one or more wireless nodes in one or more second BSSs;

outputting the first frame for transmission to the one or more wireless nodes;

obtaining, in response to the first frame, a second frame from each of at least one of the one or more wireless nodes indicating an intent to use one or more of the unused resources indicated in the first frame;

determining a group of the one or more wireless nodes to participate in distributed communications with the apparatus based in part on the indication, in each second frame, of the intent to use one or more of the unused resources; and

participating in distributed communications with the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating one or more synchronization frames for synchronizing with the group of the one or more wireless nodes for the distributed communications; and

outputting the synchronization frames for transmission to the group of the one or more wireless nodes.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein each second frame further comprises an indication of at least one of a number of spatial dimensions available at the wireless node or a number of devices served by the wireless node.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the unused resources comprise at least one of unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus or unused portions of spectrum in the first BSS.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus comprise:

a first number of the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus in a first portion of spectrum in the first BSS; and

a second different number of the unused spatial dimensions available at the apparatus in a second portion of spectrum in the first BSS.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating, after the second frames have been obtained, a third frame allocating at least one of the unused resources to the at least one of the one or more wireless nodes; and

outputting the third frame for transmission to the wireless nodes.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the allocation is based on at least one of a number of obtained second frames, interference conditions, or a reciprocal agreement of priority between the apparatus and the one or more wireless nodes.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating a third frame allocating a first portion of spectrum to a first device served by the apparatus and a second device served by the one or more wireless nodes and a second portion of spectrum to the first device and a third device served by the one or more wireless nodes; and

outputting the third frame for transmission.