QUALCOMM Incorporated
SPATIAL REUSE FOR WLAN NETWORKS

Abstract:

Techniques for improved spatial reuse for wireless local area network (WLAN) networks are described. An access point (AP) may win a contention to a wireless medium and obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The AP may perform a procedure to identify a group of un-managed APs for participation in spatial reuse opportunities for synchronous transmission over the TXOP. The AP may perform the procedure using over-the-air signaling. The AP may transmit a spatial reuse (SR) poll frame to one or more un-managed APs of the network, either sequentially or as part of a multiple-AP procedure. The AP may receive an SR response frame, or directly measure potential interference of a station (STA) serviced by one or more un-managed APs, and select a group of APs for coordinated reuse over the TXOP. The AP may select the group of APs based on one or more criteria for coordinated reuse.