MU-MIMO pre-packet arrival channel contention

1. An apparatus for wireless communication in a network, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a wireless communication circuit configured as a station for wirelessly communicating with at least one other wireless local area network (WLAN) station in its reception area, and operating as either an access point (AP) or a non-AP;

(b) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit within a station configured for operating on the WLAN;

(c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; and

(d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:

(i) operating said wireless communication circuit as a WLAN station configured to support communicating real-time application (RTA) packets that are sensitive to communication delays as well as non-real time packets;

(ii) distinguishing real-time application (RTA) packets from non-real-time application (non-RTA) packets by prior negotiation, or packet header information, or a combination of prior negotiation and packet header information;

(iii) obtaining information on RTA packet arrival time and periodicity when operating as an AP performing DL MU-MIMO transmission, or when operating as a non-AP station performing UL MU MIMO transmission;

(iv) wherein said station operating as an access point (AP) scheduling multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets performs allocating resources to packet transmission before RTA packet arrival;

(v) contending for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction when operating as an AP station, and (A) immediately scheduling RTA packet transmission on the allocated resources (RU) when the AP gains access to the channel after or at the time of arrival of the RTA packet; or (B) scheduling cascaded transmission on the same allocated resources (RU) of another station and an RTA station for an UL or DL transmission when the AP gains access to the channel before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet; and

(vi) scheduling is performed when said station is operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, wherein a future DL RTA packet is scheduled on a resource allocation (RU) and scheduling another DL transmission to time-share the resource allocation (RU) until the arrival of the DL RTA packet, and modifying a preamble of a user field sent to a non-AP station to indicate that the allocated resources (RU) are time-shared with other stations, in response to either: (A) setting a bit in the user field to indicate that the allocated resources (RU) are shared and sending another user field to indicate the information of another station or for padding of the transmission, or (B) defining a new user field and sending a time value relative to the start of the DL MIMO transmission at which the delayed DL MIMO transmission is to start, while both transmission time sharing resources share PHY parameters.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, perform steps comprising scheduling a future DL RTA packet and sending a dummy packet that operates as padding until arrival of the DL RTA packet, when the AP gains access to the channel before the arrival of the RTA packet.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, further performs steps comprising informing a non-AP station that transmission in the allocated resources (RU) is delayed by modifying a preamble of a DL MU-MIMO frame to allow the non-AP STA to parse the resources so that it expect the DL RTA packet after the padding or dummy packet has been transmitted.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 2 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, further performs steps comprising informing a non-AP station that transmission in the allocated resources (RU) is delayed by modifying a preamble of a DL MU-MIMO frame to allow the non-AP STA to parse the resources so that it expect the DL RTA packet after the other station transmission is completed.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising sending an RTA stream session request to the AP to inform it about the RTA session and parameters for the RTA session, for which an AP responds with acknowledgement and acceptance, or rejection, of the RTA stream session request, to eliminate delay involved with sending a Buffer Status Report (BSR) every time a packet is available for transmission in the uplink (UL) direction.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising allocating resources (RU) for an UL RTA packet transmission and sending a trigger frame to a non-AP STA.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising allocating resource (RU) prior to arrival of the RTA packet.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 6 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising scheduling a non-AP STA to delay its UL transmission after receiving the RTA packet by sending two user fields to the non-AP station in a trigger frame, a first one indicate the PHY parameters and the second one indicating a delayed start of the UL transmission.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 8 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising requesting that the non-AP STA send padding data, or dummy packet, when it is not transmitting packets in the allocated resources (RU).

10. The apparatus recited in claim 6 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising scheduling other stations to transmit in a time where a station transmission of its UL data has been delayed.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 6 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating performing scheduling of other stations by steps comprising informing another station that it is time sharing the allocated resources (RU) and sending two user fields to the other station in the trigger frame, a first user field indicating PHY parameters and a second user field indicating termination of the uplink (UL) transmission.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising sending queuing buffer status for RTA packets to the AP to update its estimate for RTA packet scheduling time.

13. An apparatus for wireless communication in a network, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a wireless communication circuit configured as a station for wirelessly communicating with at least one other wireless local area network (WLAN) station in its reception area, and operating as either an access point (AP) or a non-AP;

(b) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit within a station configured for operating on the WLAN;

(c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; and

(d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:

(i) operating said wireless communication circuit as a WLAN station configured to support communicating real-time application (RTA) packets that are sensitive to communication delays as well as non-real time packets;

(ii) distinguishing real-time application (RTA) packets from non-real-time application (non-RTA) packets by prior negotiation, or packet header information, or a combination of prior negotiation and packet header information;

(iii) obtaining information on RTA packet arrival time and periodicity when operating as an AP performing DL MU-MIMO transmission, or when operating as a non-AP station performing UL MU MIMO transmission;

(iv) wherein said station operating as an access point (AP) scheduling multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets performs allocating resources to packet transmission before RTA packet arrival, and when operating as an AP for a DL MIMO schedules a future DL RTA packet and sends a dummy packet that operates as padding until arrival of the DL RTA packet, when the AP gains access to the channel before the arrival of the RTA packet;

(v) contending for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction when operating as an AP station, and (A) immediately scheduling RTA packet transmission on the allocated resources (RU) when the AP gains access to the channel after or at the time of arrival of the RTA packet; or (B) scheduling cascaded transmission on the same allocated resources (RU) of another station and an RTA station for an UL or DL transmission when the AP gains access to the channel before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet; and

(vi) wherein said station operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising sending queuing buffer status for RTA packets to the AP to update its estimate for RTA packet scheduling time.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, perform steps comprising scheduling a future DL RTA packet on a resource allocation (RU) and scheduling another DL transmission to time-share the resource allocation (RU) until the arrival of the DL RTA packet.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 13 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising sending an RTA stream session request to the AP to inform it about the RTA session and parameters for the RTA session, for which an AP responds with acknowledgement and acceptance, or rejection, of the RTA stream session request, to eliminate delay involved with sending a Buffer Status Report (BSR) every time a packet is available for transmission in the uplink (UL) direction.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 13 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising allocating resources (RU) for an UL RTA packet transmission and sending a trigger frame to a non-AP STA.

17. A method of performing wireless communication in a network, comprising:

(a) operating a wireless communication circuit as a WLAN station configured as a station for wirelessly communicating with at least one other wireless local area network (WLAN) station in its reception area, and operating as either an access point (AP) or a non-AP to support communicating real-time application (RTA) packets that are sensitive to communication delays as well as non-real time packets;

(b) distinguishing real-time application (RTA) packets from non-real-time application (non-RTA) packets by prior negotiation, or packet header information, or a combination of prior negotiation and packet header information;

(c) obtaining information on RTA packet arrival time and periodicity when operating as an AP performing DL MU-MIMO transmission, or when operating as a non-AP station performing UL MU MIMO transmission;

(d) wherein said station operating as an access point (AP) scheduling multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets performs allocating resources to packet transmission before RTA packet arrival;

(e) contending for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction when operating as an AP station, and (A) immediately scheduling RTA packet transmission on the allocated resources (RU) when the AP gains access to the channel after or at the time of arrival of the RTA packet; or (B) scheduling cascaded transmission on the same allocated resources (RU) of another station and an RTA station for an UL or DL transmission when the AP gains access to the channel before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet; and

(f) sending queuing buffer status for RTA packets to the AP, when operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission, to update its estimate for RTA packet scheduling time.

18. An apparatus for wireless communication in a network, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a wireless communication circuit configured as a station for wirelessly communicating with at least one other wireless local area network (WLAN) station in its reception area, and operating as either an access point (AP) or a non-AP;

(b) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit within a station configured for operating on the WLAN;

(c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor; and

(d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:

(i) operating said wireless communication circuit as a WLAN station configured to support communicating real-time application (RTA) packets that are sensitive to communication delays as well as non-real time packets;

(ii) distinguishing real-time application (RTA) packets from non-real-time application (non-RTA) packets by prior negotiation, or packet header information, or a combination of prior negotiation and packet header information;

(iii) obtaining information on RTA packet arrival time and periodicity when operating as an AP performing DL MU-MIMO transmission, or when operating as a non-AP station performing UL MU MIMO transmission;

(iv) wherein said station operating as an access point (AP) scheduling multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets performs allocating resources to packet transmission before RTA packet arrival;

(v) contending for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction when operating as an AP station, and (A) immediately scheduling RTA packet transmission on the allocated resources (RU) when the AP gains access to the channel after or at the time of arrival of the RTA packet; or (B) scheduling cascaded transmission on the same allocated resources (RU) of another station and an RTA station for an UL or DL transmission when the AP gains access to the channel before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet; and

(vi) sending queuing buffer status for RTA packets to the AP, when operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission, to update its estimate for RTA packet scheduling time.

19. The apparatus recited in claim 18 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, perform steps comprising scheduling a future DL RTA packet and sending a dummy packet that operates as padding until arrival of the DL RTA packet, when the AP gains access to the channel before the arrival of the RTA packet.

20. The apparatus recited in claim 18 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, further performs steps comprising informing a non-AP station that transmission in the allocated resources (RU) is delayed by modifying a preamble of a DL MU-MIMO frame to allow the non-AP STA to parse the resources so that it expect the DL RTA packet after the padding or dummy packet has been transmitted.

21. The apparatus recited in claim 19 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, further performs steps comprising informing a non-AP station that transmission in the allocated resources (RU) is delayed by modifying a preamble of a DL MU-MIMO frame to allow the non-AP STA to parse the resources so that it expect the DL RTA packet after the other station transmission is completed.

22. The apparatus recited in claim 18 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, perform steps comprising scheduling a future DL RTA packet on a resource allocation (RU) and scheduling another DL transmission to time-share the resource allocation (RU) until the arrival of the DL RTA packet.

23. The apparatus recited in claim 22 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP for a DL MIMO, perform steps further comprising modifying a preamble of a user field sent to a non-AP station to indicate that the allocated resources (RU) is time-shared with other stations, in response to either (i) setting a bit in the user field to indicate that the allocated resources (RU) are shared and sending another user field to indicate the information of another station or for padding of the transmission, or (ii) defining a new user field and sending a time value relative to the start of the DL MIMO transmission at which the delayed DL MIMO transmission is to start, while both transmission time sharing resources share PHY parameters.

24. The apparatus recited in claim 18 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as a non-AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising sending an RTA stream session request to the AP to inform it about the RTA session and parameters for the RTA session, for which an AP responds with acknowledgement and acceptance, or rejection, of the RTA stream session request, to eliminate delay involved with sending a Buffer Status Report (BSR) every time a packet is available for transmission in the uplink (UL) direction.

25. The apparatus recited in claim 18 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising allocating resources (RU) for an UL RTA packet transmission and sending a trigger frame to a non-AP STA.

26. The apparatus recited in claim 25 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising allocating resource (RU) prior to arrival of the RTA packet.

27. The apparatus recited in claim 25 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising scheduling a non-AP STA to delay its UL transmission after receiving the RTA packet by sending two user fields to the non-AP station in a trigger frame, a first one indicate the PHY parameters and the second one indicating a delayed start of the UL transmission.

28. The apparatus recited in claim 27 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising requesting that the non-AP STA send padding data, or dummy packet, when it is not transmitting packets in the allocated resources (RU).

29. The apparatus recited in claim 25 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating as an AP station with an uplink (UL) transmission performs steps comprising scheduling other stations to transmit in a time where a station transmission of its UL data has been delayed.

30. The apparatus recited in claim 25 , wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor operating performing scheduling of other stations by steps comprising informing another station that it is time sharing the allocated resources (RU) and sending two user fields to the other station in the trigger frame, a first user field indicating PHY parameters and a second user field indicating termination of the uplink (UL) transmission.