Apparatus and method for multi-link communications
Embodiments of an apparatus and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of multi-link communications involves at a first multi-link device, generating a management frame having reduced neighbor report (RNR) information related to the first multi-link device, and at the first multi-link device, transmitting the management frame having one of the RNR information and a multi-link element (ML IE) or both the RNR information and the ML IE to a second multi-link device.
1. A method of multi-link communications, the method comprising:
at a first multi-link device, generating a management frame; and
at the first multi-link device, transmitting the management frame to a second multi-link device:
wherein the management frame comprises a probe request frame that includes information that indicates whether full information or partial information of an access point (AP) is requested;
wherein the first multi-link device comprises a non-access point (AP) multi-link device, wherein the second multi-link device comprises an AP multi-link device, and wherein the probe request frame further includes a multi-link element that includes a link identifier of a reported link when the non-AP multi-link device requests full information of an AP of the AP multi-link device in the reported link.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the management frame comprises a probe request frame or an association request frame.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second multi-link device transmits a management frame having reduced neighbor report (RNR) information which includes a link identifier and a multi-link device identifier to identify an AP of the AP multi-link device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a link identifier of each AP in the AP multi-link device is uniquely coded in the RNR information announced by different APs of the AP multi-link device.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein a multi-link information element (ML IQ carried in the management frame transmitted by the second multi-link device includes ML common information and a respective per link information profile of a reported link between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the ML common information includes a type of a multi-link device operation and information common for multiple communications links.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the ML common information includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the first multi-link device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe request frame further includes an indication of soliciting of a critical update.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested full information of the AP is carried in a beacon frame.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein an indication for critical update and flail the link identifier are carried in a per link profile to request a critical update of the AP identified by the link identifier.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second multi-link devices are compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol.
12. A multi-link communications system comprising:
a first multi-link device configured to:
generate a management frame; and
transmit the management frame to a second multi-link device; and
the second multi-link device;
wherein the management frame comprises a probe request frame that includes information that indicates whether full information or partial information of an access point (AP) is requested;
wherein the first multi-link device comprises a non-access point (AP) multi-link device, wherein the second multi-link device comprises a AP multi-link device, and wherein the probe request frame further includes a multi-link element that includes a link identifier of a reported link when the non-AP multi-link device requests full information of an AP of the AP multi-link device in the reported link.
13. The multi-link communications system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second multi-link devices are compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol.
14. A method of multi-link communications, the method comprising:
at an access point (AP) multi-link device, generating a management frame having reduced neighbor report (RNR) information regarding the AP multi-link device; and
at the AP multi-link device, transmitting the management frame having the RNR information to a plurality of non-AP multi-link devices;
wherein the management frame is transmitted in response to a probe request frame that includes information that indicates whether full information or partial information of an access point (AP) is requested; and
wherein the probe request frame further includes a multi-link element that includes a link identifier of a reported link when the non-AP multi-link device requests full information of an AP of the AP multi-link device in the reported link.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the management frame comprises a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or an association response frame.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the RNR information includes a link identifier and a multi-link device identifier to identify an AP of the AP multi-link device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a link identifier of each AP in the AP multi-link device is uniquely coded in RNR information announced by different APs of the AP multi-link device.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein a multi-link (ML) element carried in the management frame includes ML common information and a plurality of respective per link information profile of a reported link between the AP multi-link device and the non-AP multi-link devices.