Spatial contention in dense wireless network

In some embodiments, a first wireless device initializes a first threshold and sends a first frame transmission to a second wireless device. When the first wireless device determines that the first frame transmission was successful, it adjusts the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally, when the first wireless device determines that the first frame transmission was not successful, the first wireless device adjusts the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any measure, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection.

FIELD

The present application relates to wireless communications, including techniques to maximize network capacity for wireless communications in a wireless networking system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Wireless communication systems are rapidly growing in usage. Further, wireless communication technology has evolved from voice-only communications to also include the transmission of data, such as Internet and multimedia content. A popular short/intermediate range wireless communication standard is wireless local area network (WLAN). Most modern WLANs are based on the IEEE 802.11 standard (or 802.11, for short) and are marketed under the Wi-Fi brand name. WLAN networks link one or more devices to a wireless access point, which in turn provides connectivity to the wider area Internet.

In 802.11 systems, devices that wirelessly connect to each other are referred to as “stations”, “mobile stations”, “user devices” or STA or UE for short. Wireless stations can be either wireless access points or wireless clients (or mobile stations). Access points (APs), which are also referred to as wireless routers, act as base stations for the wireless network. APs transmit and receive radio frequency signals for communication with wireless client devices. APs can also typically couple to the Internet in a wired fashion. Wireless clients operating on an 802.11 network can be any of various devices such as laptops, tablet devices, smart phones, or fixed devices such as desktop computers. Wireless client devices are referred to herein as user equipment (or UE for short). Some wireless client devices are also collectively referred to herein as mobile devices or mobile stations (although, as noted above, wireless client devices overall may be stationary devices as well).

In some prior art systems, Wi-Fi mobile stations are able to co-locate with other Wi-Fi mobile stations and Wi-Fi access points. However, overcrowding of networks has led to decrease performance and higher packet error rates and improvements are desired.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for increasing performance of co-located wireless devices.

Embodiments relate to a wireless station that includes one or more antennas, one or more radios, and one or more processors coupled to the radios. At least one radio is configured to perform Wi-Fi communications. The wireless station may perform voice and/or data communications, as well as the methods described herein.

In some embodiments, a first wireless device initializes a first threshold and sends a first frame transmission to a second wireless device. The first wireless device determines whether the first frame transmission was successful and in response to determining that the first frame transmission was successful, adjusts the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the first frame transmission was not successful, the first wireless device adjusts the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any value or values, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Acronyms

Various acronyms are used throughout the present application. Definitions of the most prominently used acronyms that may appear throughout the present application are provided below:AP: Access PointBSS: Basic Service SetBSSID: Basic Service Set IdentifierCCA: Clear Channel AssessmentDIFS: Distributed Interframe SpaceDL: Downlink (from BS to UE)EDCA: Enhanced Distributed Channel AccessLAN: Local Area NetworkOBSS: Overlapping Basic Service SetPCF: Point Coordination FunctionPIFS: PCF Interframe SpacePLCP: PHY Layer Convergence ProcedurePPDU: PLCP Protocol Data UnitRAT: Radio Access TechnologyRX: Reception/ReceiveTX: Transmission/TransmitTXOP: Transmit OpportunityUE: User EquipmentUL: Uplink (from UE to BS)WLAN: Wireless LAN

Terminology

Mobile Device (or Mobile Station)—any of various types of computer systems devices which are mobile or portable and which performs wireless communications using WLAN communication. Examples of mobile devices include mobile telephones or smart phones (e.g., iPhone™, Android™-based phones), and tablet computers such as iPad™ Samsung Galaxy™, etc. Various other types of devices would fall into this category if they include Wi-Fi or both cellular and Wi-Fi communication capabilities, such as laptop computers (e.g., MacBook™), portable gaming devices (e.g., Nintendo DS™ Play Station Portable™, Gameboy Advance™, iPhone™), portable Internet devices, and other handheld devices, as well as wearable devices such as smart watches, smart glasses, headphones, pendants, earpieces, etc. In general, the term “mobile device” can be broadly defined to encompass any electronic, computing, and/or telecommunications device (or combination of devices) which is easily transported by a user and capable of wireless communication using WLAN or Wi-Fi.

Wireless Device (or Wireless Station)—any of various types of computer systems devices which performs wireless communications using WLAN communications. As used herein, the term “wireless device” may refer to a mobile device, as defined above, or to a stationary device, such as a stationary wireless client or a wireless base station. For example a wireless device may be any type of wireless station of an 802.11 system, such as an access point (AP) or a client station (STA or UE). Further examples include televisions, media players (e.g., AppleTV™, Roku™, Amazon FireTV™, Google Chromecast™, etc.), refrigerators, laundry machines, thermostats, and so forth.

WLAN—The term “WLAN” has the full breadth of its ordinary meaning, and at least includes a wireless communication network or RAT that is serviced by WLAN access points and which provides connectivity through these access points to the Internet. Most modern WLANs are based on IEEE 802.11 standards and are marketed under the name “Wi-Fi”. A WLAN network is different from a cellular network.

Processing Element—refers to various implementations of digital circuitry that perform a function in a computer system. Additionally, processing element may refer to various implementations of analog or mixed-signal (combination of analog and digital) circuitry that perform a function (or functions) in a computer or computer system. Processing elements include, for example, circuits such as an integrated circuit (IC), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), portions or circuits of individual processor cores, entire processor cores, individual processors, programmable hardware devices such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or larger portions of systems that include multiple processors.

NAN data link (NDL)—refers to a communication link between peer wireless stations (i.e., peer NAN devices). Note that the peer devices may be in a common (i.e., same) NAN cluster. In addition, a NAN data link may support one or more NAN datapaths between peer wireless stations. Note further that a NAN data link may only belong to a single NAN data cluster.

NAN datapath (NDP)—refers to a communication link between peer wireless stations that supports a service. Note that one or more NAN datapaths may be supported by a NAN data link. Additionally, note that a NAN datapath supports a service between wireless stations. Typically, one of the peer wireless stations will be a publisher of the service and the other peer wireless station will be a subscriber to the service.

NAN cluster—refers to multiple peer wireless stations linked (i.e., in communication) via one or more NAN data links. Note that a peer wireless station may be a member of more than one NAN cluster.

NAN data cluster (NDC)—refers to a set of peer wireless stations in a common (i.e., same) NAN cluster that share a common base schedule (e.g., a NAN data cluster base schedule). In addition, peer wireless stations in a NAN data cluster may share at least one NAN data link with another member wireless station within the NAN data cluster.

Note that a peer wireless station may be a member of more than one NAN cluster; however, as noted previously, a NAN data link belongs to exactly one NAN data cluster. Note further, that in a NAN data cluster, all member peer wireless stations may maintain tight synchronization (e.g., via a NAN data cluster base schedule) amongst each other and may be present at a common (i.e., same) further availability slot(s) (or window(s)) as indicated by a NAN data cluster base schedule. In addition, each NAN data link may have its own NAN data link schedule and the NAN data link schedule may be a superset of a NAN data cluster base schedule.

FIG. 1illustrates an example WLAN system according to some embodiments. As shown, the exemplary WLAN system includes a plurality of wireless client stations or devices, or user equipment (UEs),106that are configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel142with an Access Point (AP)112. The AP112may be a Wi-Fi access point. The AP112may communicate via a wired and/or a wireless communication channel150with one or more other electronic devices (not shown) and/or another network152, such as the Internet. Additional electronic devices, such as the remote device154, may communicate with components of the WLAN system via the network152. For example, the remote device154may be another wireless client station. The WLAN system may be configured to operate according to any of various communications standards, such as the various IEEE 802.11 standards. In some embodiments, at least one wireless device106is configured to communicate directly with one or more neighboring mobile devices, without use of the access point112.

Further, in some embodiments, as further described below, a wireless device106may initialize a first threshold and transmit a frame transmission to another wireless device106. If wireless device106determines that the frame transmission was successful, it may adjust the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally or alternatively, if wireless device106determines that the frame transmission was not successful, the wireless device may adjust the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any value or values, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection. Thus, the thresholds may be associated with the environment (carrier medium) surrounding wireless device106, e.g., based on transmissions occurring between the plurality of wireless client stations106and/or between the plurality of wireless client stations106and AP112and/or any other form of wireless transmissions.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an access point (AP)112. It is noted that the block diagram of the AP ofFIG. 2is only one example of a possible system. As shown, the AP112may include processor(s)204which may execute program instructions for the AP112. The processor(s)204may also be coupled (directly or indirectly) to memory management unit (MMU)240, which may be configured to receive addresses from the processor(s)204and translate those addresses to locations in memory (e.g., memory260and read only memory (ROM)250) or to other circuits or devices.

The AP112may include at least one network port270. The network port270may be configured to couple to a wired network and provide a plurality of devices, such as mobile devices106, access to the Internet. For example, the network port270(or an additional network port) may be configured to couple to a local network, such as a home network or an enterprise network. For example, port270may be an Ethernet port. The local network may provide connectivity to additional networks, such as the Internet.

The AP112may include at least one antenna234, which may be configured to operate as a wireless transceiver and may be further configured to communicate with mobile device106via wireless communication circuitry230. The antenna234communicates with the wireless communication circuitry230via communication chain232. Communication chain232may include one or more receive chains, one or more transmit chains or both. The wireless communication circuitry230may be configured to communicate via Wi-Fi or WLAN, e.g., 802.11. The wireless communication circuitry230may also, or alternatively, be configured to communicate via various other wireless communication technologies, including, but not limited to, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), Global System for Mobile (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), CDMA2000, etc., for example when the AP is co-located with a base station in case of a small cell, or in other instances when it may be desirable for the AP112to communicate via various different wireless communication technologies.

Further, in some embodiments, as further described below, a AP112may initialize a first threshold and transmit a frame transmission to a wireless device, such as one of the plurality of wireless devices106described above in reference toFIG. 1. If AP112determines that the frame transmission was successful, it may adjust the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally or alternatively, if AP112determines that the frame transmission was not successful, AP112may adjust the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any value or values, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection. Thus, the thresholds may be associated with the environment (carrier medium) surrounding AP112, e.g., based on transmissions occurring between the plurality of wireless client stations106neighboring AP112and/or between the plurality of wireless client stations106and AP112, and/or any other form of wireless transmissions.

FIG. 3illustrates an example simplified block diagram of a client station106. According to embodiments, client station106may be a user equipment (UE) device, a mobile device or mobile station, and/or a wireless device or wireless station. As shown, the client station106may include a system on chip (SOC)300, which may include portions for various purposes. The SOC300may be coupled to various other circuits of the client station106. For example, the client station106may include various types of memory (e.g., including NAND flash310), a connector interface (UF) (or dock)320(e.g., for coupling to a computer system, dock, charging station, etc.), the display360, cellular communication circuitry330such as for LTE, GSM, etc., and short to medium range wireless communication circuitry329(e.g., Bluetooth™ and WLAN circuitry). The client station106may further include one or more smart cards310that incorporate SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) functionality, such as one or more UICC(s) (Universal Integrated Circuit Card(s)) cards345. The cellular communication circuitry330may couple to one or more antennas, such as antennas335and336as shown. The short to medium range wireless communication circuitry329may also couple to one or more antennas, such as antennas337and338as shown. Alternatively, the short to medium range wireless communication circuitry329may couple to the antennas335and336in addition to, or instead of, coupling to the antennas337and338. The short to medium range wireless communication circuitry329may include multiple receive chains and/or multiple transmit chains for receiving and/or transmitting multiple spatial streams, such as in a multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) configuration.

As noted above, the client station106may be configured to communicate wirelessly directly with one or more neighboring client stations. The client station106may be configured to communicate according to a WLAN RAT for communication in a WLAN network, such as that shown inFIG. 1. Further, in some embodiments, as further described below, client station106may initialize a first threshold and transmit a frame transmission to a wireless device, such as one of the plurality of wireless devices106described above in reference toFIG. 1. If client station106determines that the frame transmission was successful, it may adjust the first threshold to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Additionally or alternatively, if client station106determines that the frame transmission was not successful, client station106may adjust the first threshold to a third threshold that is less than the first threshold. The thresholds can be associated with any value or values, including carrier sensitivity and/or energy detection. Thus, the thresholds may be associated with the environment (carrier medium) surrounding client station106.

As described herein, the client station106may include hardware and software components for implementing the features described herein. For example, the processor302of the client station106may be configured to implement part or all of the features described herein, e.g., by executing program instructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable memory medium). Alternatively (or in addition), processor302may be configured as a programmable hardware element, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Alternatively (or in addition) the processor302of the UE106, in conjunction with one or more of the other components300,304,306,310,320,330,335,340,345,350,360may be configured to implement part or all of the features described herein.

Further, as described herein, cellular communication circuitry330and short range wireless communication circuitry329may each include one or more processing elements. In other words, one or more processing elements may be included in cellular communication circuitry330and also in short range wireless communication circuitry329. Thus, each of cellular communication circuitry330and short range wireless communication circuitry329may include one or more integrated circuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functions of cellular communication circuitry330and short range wireless communication circuitry329, respectively. In addition, each integrated circuit may include circuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured to perform the functions of cellular communication circuitry330and short range wireless communication circuitry329.

Wi-Fi Spatial Reuse and Network Capacity

Amendments to IEEE 802.11 have previously focused on improvement of spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) and development of protocols for efficient use of the spectrum in both frequency and time. However, the popularity and resulting increase in use of Wi-Fi based systems has led to more overlapping basic service sets (OBSS), where a basic service set (BSS) includes an access point (AP) and all stations (STAs) associated with the AP.

Overcrowding may occur in dense deployment environments, such as apartment buildings, shopping malls, restaurants, convention centers, and stadiums. For example, in an apartment building, there may be many set top boxes, each with built-in AP functionality, which can lead to overcrowding channels in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. In addition, there may be unmanaged APs within close proximity of one another, as well as peer-to-peer applications within apartments (e.g., AirPlay, U-verse Wireless Receiver (HDTV), etc.). Thus, there may be a higher rate of collisions, and therefore, packet errors in such an environment.

As another example, in shopping malls, many storefronts may deploy private WLANs for business purposes (internal to the storefront) and public WLANs (for customer use). Additionally, the shopping mall may also provide a public WLAN for customer use. Thus, there may be a proliferation of OBSSs creating an environment of overcrowding resulting in higher rates of collisions, and therefore, higher packet errors.

Techniques have been presented for spatial reuse, including adjusting clear channel assessment (CCA) thresholds as defined in the IEEE 802.11 specification, dynamic sensitivity control (DSC), transmit power control (TPC), and BSS coloring.

Spatial reuse may be affected by multiple factors including, but not limited to, sensing range, interference range, and received signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) or transmit (TX) power. For example,FIG. 4illustrates a scenario in which multiple wireless stations compete for medium access. As shown inFIG. 4, a first wireless station (TX) may have a data packet (frame transmission) to send to a second wireless station (RX). TX may have a sensing range that includes RX and wireless station B. In addition, wireless station A may be in contention, along with wireless station B, for the medium within the sensing range of TX. Note that the sensing range may be based on the dynamic sensitivity control (DSC) of TX. Similarly, RX may have an interference range that includes TX and wireless station C. In addition, wireless station D, along with wireless station C, may be interference sources of RX. In other words, wireless stations C and D may interfere with signals destined for RX. Thus, in order for TX to transmit the data packet to RX, the transmission must contend for the medium with wireless stations A and B as well as overcome the interference caused by wireless stations C and D.

As this example illustrates, determining an effective combination of values of received SINR, sensing range (e.g., CCA thresholds), and interference range (e.g., TX power) is a non-trivial task. The optimal solution may depend on traffic models and node topology, as well as other parameters such as bandwidth, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and a number of spatial streams (NSS), among other parameters. Additionally, node topology and applications may change over time, thus there may be no convergence to an optimal solution. In addition, performance may be impacted if parameter values are incorrectly specified.

Further, determining a solution to increase concurrent transmissions based on common channel bandwidth is non-trivial. Issues are present in 802.11ac with primary channels because the STA maintains only one EDCA back off counter on a primary channel.

Note that CCA may be determined either via energy detection (ED) or carrier sensing (CS, or preamble detection). CS refers to listening to a physical medium to detect ongoing transmission. ED refers to detection of noise in the transmission channel.

In some embodiments, as described herein, improved spatial reuse may allow for more concurrent reliable transmissions via management of interference in both enterprise and residential deployments while maintaining support for legacy devices (e.g., devices supporting IEEE 802.11g/n in the 2.4 GHz band and/or 802.11n/ac in the 5 GHz band). Thus, APs and STAs may both be located in a dense geographical area to maximize network capacity via each AP and/or STA adjusting its CCA (via ED or CS) thresholds to increase a number of concurrent transmissions.

Thus, in some embodiments, a device (either AP or STA), may adjust CCA-CS or CCA-ED to allow for additional concurrent transmissions. The adjustment may be based (or at least partially based) on implicit or explicit feedback from recipients. For example, implicit feedback may include determining packet error rate (PER) by counting acknowledgments (ACKs) or block acknowledgements (BA), or via received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a reverse link. As another example, explicitly indicated feedback may include received SINR and/or recommended MCS at receiver sent back to the transmitter.

FIG. 5Aillustrates a method for a wireless device to improve spatial reuse, according to some embodiments. The method shown inFIG. 5Amay be used in conjunction with any of the systems or devices shown in the above Figures, among other devices, as well as any of the methods described herein. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired. As shown, this method may operate as follows.

At502, a wireless device (either an AP, such as access point112, or STA, such as wireless station106) may initialize a first threshold. The first threshold may be based, at least partially, on a first specified parameter. In some embodiments the first threshold may be a CCA threshold, such as an ED or CS threshold. Additionally, the first specified parameter may be a low or minimum CS or ED threshold, such that an upper or maximum delay to access the medium may be preserved.

At504, a first frame transmission may be sent to a wireless device, such as access point or wireless station. In some embodiments, the first frame transmission may be a data packet.

At506, the first threshold may be adjusted to a second threshold in response to determining that the first frame transmission was successful. In other words, the first threshold may be adjusted (e.g., increased) to a second threshold. In some embodiments the second threshold may be the lower of (i) a sum of a weighted first threshold and a first offset, and (ii) a first specified parameter. The first specified parameter may be an upper or maximum CS or ED threshold, such that both devices involved in a transmission may ‘hear’ each other's transmission and a received SINR threshold can be satisfied for the lowest MCS supported for a link. A first weighting parameter may be used to weight the first threshold and may be at least partially based on node topology among other factors.

In some embodiments, if the frame transmission was not successful, the first threshold may be adjusted (e.g., decreased) to a third threshold. In some embodiments the third threshold may be the higher of (i) a difference of a weighted first threshold and a second offset, and (ii) a second specified parameter. The second specified parameter may be a lower or minimum CS or ED threshold. A second weighting parameter may be used to weight the first threshold and may be at least partially based on node topology among other factors.

In some embodiments, the adjustment of the first threshold may be a linear-increase/linear-decrease adjustment. Thus, the first and second weighting parameters may be set to 1, and the first and second offsets may each be greater than zero.

In some embodiments, the adjustment of the first threshold may be a linear-increase/multiplicative-decrease adjustment. Thus, the first weighting parameter may be set to 1, whereas the second weighting parameter may be a number less than 1. Additionally, the first offset may be greater than zero and the second offset may be set to zero.

In some embodiments, the adjustment of the first threshold may be a multiplicative-increase/multiplicative-decrease adjustment. Thus, the first weighting parameter may be a number greater than 1 and the second weighting parameter may be a number less than 1. Additionally, the first and second offsets may each be set to zero.

In some embodiments, the adjustment of the first threshold may be a multiplicative-increase/linear-decrease. Thus, the first weighting parameter may be a number greater than 1 and the second weighting parameter may be set to 1. Additionally, the first offset may be set to zero and the second offset may be a number greater than zero.

In further embodiments, each device (AP or STA) may adjust its own first threshold. In other words, each device in a BSS adjusts thresholds independent of other devices in the BSS. This may eliminate need for a central management entity and may allow for improved adaptation to varying node topologies and traffic loads near the device.

It should be noted that BSS coloring may be used with any of the above described embodiments. Further, hidden nodes within the same BSS may be protected since each device in the BSS adjusts thresholds independently.

FIG. 5Billustrates a processing element including modules for registering and publishing services on behalf of a wireless device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, antenna535may be coupled to processing element564. The processing element may be configured to perform the method described above in reference toFIG. 5A. In some embodiments, processing element564may include one or more modules, such as modules (or circuitry)522-526, and the modules (or circuitry) may be configured to perform various steps of the method described above in reference toFIG. 5A. In some embodiments, the processing element may be included in a wireless device, such as wireless station106. In other embodiments, the processing element may be included in a radio module of a wireless device, such as wireless station106. In other words, the processing element may be a baseband processor and may be coupled to one or more antennas of a wireless device or one or more receive and/or transmit chains of a wireless device. As shown, the modules may be configured as follows.

In some embodiments, processing element564may include an initialize module522configured to initialize a first threshold. The first threshold may be based, at least partially, on a first specified parameter. In some embodiments the first threshold may be a CCA threshold, such as an ED or CS threshold. Additionally, the first specified parameter may be a low or minimum CS or ED threshold, such that an upper or maximum delay to access the medium may be preserved.

In some embodiments, processing element564may include a send module524configured to send a first frame transmission to a wireless device, such as access point or wireless station. In some embodiments, the first frame transmission may be a data packet.

In some embodiments, processing element564may include a publish module526configured to adjust the first threshold to a second threshold in response to determining that the first frame transmission was successful. In other words, the first threshold may be adjusted (e.g., increased) to a second threshold. In some embodiments the second threshold may be the lower of (i) a sum of a weighted first threshold and a first offset, and (ii) a second specified parameter. The second specified parameter may be an upper or maximum CS or ED threshold, such that both devices involved in a transmission may ‘hear’ each other's transmission and a received SINR threshold can be satisfied for the lowest MCS supported for a link. A first weighting parameter may be used to weight the first threshold and may be based on node topology among other factors.

In some embodiments, if the frame transmission was not successful, the first threshold may be adjusted (e.g., decreased) to a third threshold. In some embodiments the third threshold may be the higher of (i) a difference of a weighted first threshold and a second offset, and (ii) the second specified parameter. A second weighting parameter may be used to weight the first threshold and may be at least partially based on node topology among other factors.

It is apparent for those skilled in the art that, for the particular processes of the modules (or circuitry) described above (such as modules522,524, and526), reference may be made to the corresponding steps (such as steps502,504, and506, respectively) in the related process embodiment sharing the same concept and the reference is regarded as the disclosure of the related modules (or circuitry) as well. Furthermore, processing element564may be implemented in software, hardware or combination thereof. More specifically, processing element564may be implemented as circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), portions or circuits of individual processor cores, entire processor cores, individual processors, programmable hardware devices such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or larger portions of systems that include multiple processors. Additionally, processing element564may be implemented as a general-purpose processor such as a CPU, and therefore each module can be implemented with the CPU executing instructions stored in a memory which perform a respective step.

FIGS. 6A-6Billustrate examples of the above described embodiments. For example,FIG. 6Aillustrates an example of a first wireless device attempting transmission to a second wireless device where the first wireless device has a first channel sensing threshold, according to embodiments. As shown, the first wireless device (AP1) attempts to send a frame transmission (data packet) to a second wireless device (STA1). AP1may have a channel sensing (CS) threshold of CS1and the frame transmission may have an SINR based on MCS1. According to embodiments, if the frame transmission fails, CS1may be decreased (e.g., to Y(dB)) which results in an increase in CS sensitivity (e.g., an increase in coverage).

FIG. 6Billustrates another example a first wireless device attempting transmission to a second wireless device where the first wireless device has a first channel sensing threshold, according to embodiments. As shown, the first wireless device (STA2) attempts to send a frame transmission to the second wireless device (AP2). STA2may have a CS threshold of CS2and the frame transmission may have an SINR based on MCS2. If the frame transmission succeeds, CS2may be increased (e.g., to X(dB)) which results in a decreased CS sensitivity (e.g., a decrease in coverage).