Apparatus and method for enabling and disabling links in multi-link communication systems

1. A method of enabling and disabling of links in a multi-link communications system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first multi-link device in the multi-link communications system, a status change information of a link in the multi-link communications system for the first multi-link device from an enabled status to a disabled status;

in response to the status change information, at least partially resetting, by the first multi-link device, parameters related to per-link operations for the link;

announcing, by a second multi-link device in the multi-link communications system, an upcoming disablement of the link using a frame with an information element that includes a temporal field indicating remaining time before the link will be disabled; and

disabling the link, by the second multi-link device, after the remaining time indicated by the temporal field of the information element in the frame has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein at least partially resetting, by the first multi-link device, the parameters related to per-link operations for the link includes resetting all the parameters related to the per-link operations for the link.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the parameters include operating modes on the link, enhanced distributed channel access function (EDCAF) values and states, parameters related to target wake time (TWT), or parameters related to association identifier (AID).

4. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein at least partially resetting, by the first multi-link device, the parameters related to per-link operations for the link includes tearing down a target wake time (TWT) session that has been set up for the link or suspending the TWT session.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first multi-link device, another status change information of the link in the multi-link communications system for the first multi-link device from the disabled status to the enabled status;

receiving, by the first multi-link device, a particular frame from the second multi-link device in the multi-link communications system that includes critical information to allow the first multi-link device to access the link in the enabled status; and

after reception of the particular frame, accessing the link by the first multi-link device after receiving the particular frame from the second multi-link device.

6. The method of claim 5 ,

wherein the particular frame is a beacon frame or a probe response frame that includes capabilities or operating parameters of the second multi-link device on the link.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising

receiving, by the first multi-link device, a frame from the second multi-link device that indicates a critical update has occurred on the link while the link was disabled.

8. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the temporal field of the information element in the frame includes a countdown value or a time value that indicates the remaining time before the link will be disabled.

9. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the frame with the information element is transmitted on the link or on another link associated with the second multi-link device.

10. A multi-link communications system comprising:

a first multi-link device;

a second multi-link device; and

at least one link associated with the first and second multi-link devices;

wherein the first multi-link device comprises:

a processor configured to:

receive a status change information of a link in the multi-link communications system for the first multi-link device from an enabled status to a disabled status; and

in response to the status change information, at least partially reset parameters related to per-link operations for the link;

wherein the second multi-link device includes a second processor configured to,

announce an upcoming disablement of the link using a frame with an information element that includes a temporal field indicating remaining time before the link will be disabled; and

disable the link after the remaining time indicated by the temporal field of the information element in the frame has elapsed.

11. The multi-link communications system of claim 10 :

wherein the processor of the first multi-link device is configured to:

receive another status change information of the link in the multi-link communications system for the first multi-link device from the disabled status to the enabled status;

receive a particular frame from the second multi-link device in the multi-link communications system that includes critical information to allow the first multi-link device to access the link in the enabled status; and

access the link after receiving the particular frame from the second multi-link device.

12. The multi-link communications system of claim 10 :

wherein the temporal field of the information element in the frame includes a countdown value or a time value that indicates the remaining time before the link will be disabled.

13. The multi-link communications system of claim 10 :

wherein the frame with the information element is transmitted on the link or on another link associated with the second multi-link device.

14. A multi-link device of a multi-link communications system, the multi-link device comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a status change information of a link in the multi-link communications system for the multi-link device from an enabled status to a disabled status;

in response to the status change information, at least partially reset parameters related to per-link operations for the link;

receive an announcement, by a second multi-link device in the multi-link communications system, of an upcoming disablement of the link using a frame with an information element that includes a temporal field indicating remaining time before the link will be disabled, and that the link will be disabled, by the second multi-link device, after the remaining time indicated by the temporal field of the information element in the frame has elapsed.

15. The multi-link device of claim 14 :

wherein the parameters include operating modes on the link, enhanced distributed channel access function (EDCAF) values and states, parameters related to target wake time (TWT), or parameters related to association identifier (AID).

16. The multi-link device of claim 14 :

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive another status change information of the link in the multi-link communications system for the multi-link device from the disabled status to the enabled status;

receive a particular frame from the second multi-link device in the multi-link communications system that includes critical information to allow the multi-link device to access the link in the enabled status; and

access the link after receiving the particular frame from the second multi-link device.

17. The multi-link device of claim 16 :

wherein the particular frame is a beacon frame or a probe response frame that includes capabilities or operating parameters of the second multi-link device on the link.

18. The multi-link device of claim 16 :

wherein the processor is configured to receive a frame from the second multi-link device that indicates a critical update has occurred on the link while the link was disabled.