Patent ID: 10194468

Abstract:
Determining wireless local area network (WLAN) channel medium usage information by WLAN access points (APs) and WLAN stations (STAs) is disclosed. A new medium access control (MAC) duration field in a request to send (RTS) message provides a duration value to be conveyed in a subsequent clear to send (CTS) message. A channel or bandwidth can then be quickly used if an addressed STA does not respond to the RTS message. Also, a STA recognizes an unexpected silence and accesses the medium when a trigger frame is followed by a CTS timeout interval. In a third embodiment, an AP requests that STAs monitor particular channels to obtain network allocation vector (NAV) information. The STAs then respond (or informatively, do not respond) to RTS messages; thus, allowing the AP and other listening devices to determine channel medium information. The AP can then schedule data exchanges based on the determined information.