Patent Description:
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of wireless communications. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for managing the operation of wireless devices for multi-link communication over a wireless network.

Modern electronic devices typically send and receive data with other electronic devices wirelessly using Wi-Fi, and many of these devices are "dual band" devices that include at least two wireless transceivers capable of operating in different frequency bands e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>. In most cases, a wireless device will communicate over only a single band at a time. For example, older and low-power devices e.g., battery powered devices, often operate on the <NUM> band. Newer devices and devices that require greater bandwidth often operate on the <NUM> band.

However, in some cases, the use of a single band may not satisfy the bandwidth needs of certain devices. Therefore, some developing approaches to wireless communication increase communication bandwidth by operating on multiple bands concurrently, and can control which wireless device or devices can use the multiple bands, for example, based on current network traffic. This approach may be referred to as Multi-link Operation (MLO). What is needed is an approach to MLO for wireless networks that can selectively enable and disable links, for example, to reduce power consumption when there is no urgent data to exchange or the amount of traffic in the network is little, or to improve peak throughput and connection stability between wireless devices. <CIT> discloses a method for wireless communication in which aggregation capability information is transmitted between wireless communication devices. <CIT> discloses a method for performing power safe negotiations using various information elements. <CIT> discloses a multi-link setup process that may establish a link between each AP of the plurality of APs and a corresponding STA of the plurality of STAs.

A method according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for simultaneous transmission and reception of data wirelessly using different wireless bands. The multi-link operations described herein can provide higher network throughput and improved network flexibility compared to traditional techniques to wireless communication. Link management operations such as enabling and disabling of a link may be performed by an AP or STA by sending a frame over a link that is currently active. Moreover, an AP may request a switch to a different link available on the AP side for MLO, for example, when a link is occupied by interference and is not available when AP needs to use the link, and the operating parameters of a target link can be updated.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalents thereof. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects and features of the subject matter.

Portions of the detailed description that follows are presented and discussed in terms of a method. Although steps and sequencing thereof are disclosed in a figure herein (e.g., <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) describing the operations of this method, such steps and sequencing are exemplary. Embodiments are well suited to performing various other steps or variations of the steps recited in the flowchart of the figure herein, and in a sequence other than that depicted and described herein.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer-executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout, discussions utilizing terms such as "accessing," "writing," "including," "storing," "transmitting," "associating," "identifying," "encoding," or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

As used herein, the term "EHT" may refer to a recent generation of wireless communication (Wi-Fi) known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT) and is defined according to the IEEE <NUM>. 11be standards. The term station (STA) may refer to an electronic device capable of sending and receiving data over Wi-Fi that is not operating as an access point (AP).

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for simultaneous transmission and reception of data wirelessly using different wireless bands. The multi-link operations described herein can provide higher network throughput and improved network flexibility compared to traditional techniques to wireless communication. Link management operations such as enabling and disabling of a link may be performed by an AP or STA by sending a frame over a link that is currently active. Moreover, an AP may request a switch to a different link available on the AP side for MLO, for example, when a link is occupied by interference and is not available when AP needs to use the link, and the operating parameters of a target link can be updated.

According to the present invention, when a link is enabled, both the AP and STA may be aware of the link's enabled status. The link can be active, in a power-save mode, or following target wake time (TWT) operations for a doze/service period. An enabled link can be disabled through a frame exchange initiated by the AP or STA over an enabled link. When a link is disabled, the AP and STA both are aware of the link's disabled status. In this case, the AP shall not send frames to the STA in the link and the STA shall not send frames to AP in the link. A disabled link can be enabled through a frame exchange initiated by the AP or STA over an enabled link.

In general, according to the present invention, N links may operate over different RF bands. Links can be selectively enabled or disabled via a frame exchange over an active link. The frame exchange for enabling a link can include operation parameters for configuring the link. An STA's power save operations, such as TWT, for a specific link can be negotiated through a frame exchange over an enabled link. Moreover, a link can be switched to a different RF band via the frame exchange over the enabled link.

The specific capabilities and operational parameters of each link are negotiated during association, and the parameters can be updated through a frame exchange when the link is enabled. For example, when an STA associates with an AP, the capabilities and operational parameters of each link are negotiated and are configured accordingly after successful association. The capabilities may include, for example, RF bands (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), Number of Spatial Streams (NSS), bandwidth (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.), and a station type (EHT, HE, VHT, or HT STA). The operational parameters can include, for example, Link ID, primary band and operation BW of the link, a required delay from disabled status to enabled status, and a required delay for switching channels.

With regard to <FIG>, an exemplary wireless communication system <NUM> including a multi-band cooperative AP <NUM> and a multi-band cooperative STA <NUM> is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention. The multi-band cooperative AP <NUM> includes a <NUM> transceiver <NUM> and a <NUM> transceiver <NUM>. Other types of transceivers that operate on different bands, such as <NUM> and above, can also be used by the multi-band cooperative AP <NUM> according to embodiments of the present invention. The transceivers <NUM> and <NUM> of AP <NUM> exchange data and information with cooperative management unit <NUM> that coordinates information sent and/or received by transceivers <NUM> and <NUM>.

The multi-band cooperative ST <NUM> includes a <NUM> transceiver <NUM> and a <NUM> transceiver <NUM>. Other types of transceivers that operate on different bands, such as <NUM> and above, can also be used by the multi-band cooperative STA <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present invention. The transceivers <NUM> and <NUM> of STA <NUM> exchange data and information with cooperative management unit <NUM> that coordinates information sent and received by transceivers <NUM> and <NUM> using <NUM> band wireless communication and <NUM> band wireless communication, respectively.

The multi-band cooperative AP <NUM> and the multi-band cooperative STA <NUM> have simultaneous transmission and reception capability for communicating using different wireless bands. The transmitters operating on the different bands can perform independent clear channel assessments (CCAs) using joint or intendent transmissions. Moreover, full duplex communication can be enabled by independent multi-band operation using FDD mode.

The STA <NUM> can access channels in multiple bands independently. For example, after receiving an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) transmission opportunity (TXOP) frame, the STA <NUM> can begin transmitting frames over the respective band during the window of time provided in the EDCA TXOP frame. When the STA <NUM> receives EDCA TXOP frames in multiple bands simultaneously, the STA <NUM> can transmit frames using multiple bands simultaneously during the provided window of time.

The STA <NUM> transmitting frames using multiple bands simultaneously can mitigate delay and improve peak throughput of the STA <NUM>. However, in some cases, transmitting frames using multiple bands simultaneously can degrade the performance of the basic service set (BSS) comprising the STA <NUM>. For example, the performance of the BSS can be degraded when the STA <NUM> operating on multiple bands simultaneously uses a substantial amount of the bandwidth available to the BSS due to the increased traffic. Therefore, the AP <NUM> can control which STAs are granted multi-band channel access, and the access can be terminated by the AP at any time, for example, based on changing network conditions or requirements, or to conserve power when the amount of traffic to be transmitted is relatively low. In other words, depending on certain conditions, such as traffic load, a non-AP STA may use fewer than all supported/available links in order to reduce energy consumption.

According to the present invention, an AP and an associated STA may both be aware of the availability of every link. The AP can send a request to the STA to enable links that are currently disabled. The STA can agree to enable the link or links, partially agree, or disagree with the request. The AP can send a request to STA to disable links if the AP will no longer use the links for downstream traffic. The STA can agree to disable the link or links, partially agree, or disagree with the request. The STA can enable disabled links and sends a notice to the AP indicating that the links have been enabled. The STA can also disable enabled links send a notice to the AP indicating that the links have been disabled. The frame exchange <NUM> for enabling or disabling a link or links is transmitted over a currently enabled link associated with the AP and the STA.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary frame exchange timing diagram <NUM> initiated by an AP for enabling a disabled link <NUM> according to embodiments of the present invention. The frame exchange <NUM> includes a request <NUM> to enable the disabled link <NUM> carried over an enabled link <NUM>. The enabled link <NUM> and the disabled link <NUM> transmit over different bands (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) Specifically, the AP sends request frame <NUM> carrying link IDs and an ENABLE flags to the STA to enable one or more disabled links. The frame can also carry operational parameter update information for the links. In response to the request frame <NUM>, the STA can follow AP's request to enable some or all of the identified links. In this case, the STA determines operational parameter updates for the link or links to be enabled (if any). The STA sends a response frame <NUM> to the AP to indicate which link or links will be enabled (if any), and for each link, the frame can include a new delay defining the required delay <NUM> for enabling a respective link.

As indicated above, for each link that is to be enabled, the STA shall enable the link after a certain delay. An initial delay for the link may be negotiated between the AP and the STA and defined in the operating parameters of the link. If the response frame <NUM> does not carry delay information for the link, the AP and the STA can use the link after the negotiated delay of the operational parameters. If the response frame <NUM> indicates a new delay for the link, the AP and the STA can use the link after the new delay indicated in the response frame <NUM>.

Otherwise, if the STA does not agree to enable the identified link or links, the STA sends response frame <NUM> to the AP indicating that the AP's request has been denied. In either case, the frame exchange described above is implemented via an enabled link, and the AP and the STA update the status (enabled/disabled) of the links accordingly.

Still with regard to <FIG>, the exemplary frame exchange <NUM> can be initiated by an AP to disable one or more enabled links according to embodiments of the present invention. In this case, the request frame <NUM> transmitted by the AP includes link IDs and DISABLE flags for requesting disablement of an enabled link or links. The STA can agree to disable all or some of the identified links, and the STA sends a response frame <NUM> carrying link IDs of the links to be disabled to the AP. Accordingly, the AP stops transmitting to the STA over the links indicated in the response frame <NUM>, and the STA stops transmitting to the AP over the links indicated in the response frame <NUM> after sending the response frame <NUM> to AP. If the STA disagrees to disable the links identified in the request frame <NUM>, the STA sends a response frame <NUM> to the AP denying the request. In this case, the STA and the AP can continue transmitting over the identified links.

The information of the frame exchange timing diagram <NUM> described above for disabling a link or links is transmitted over an enabled link. The AP and the STA update the status (enabled/disabled) of each link accordingly. Link enablement and disablement initiated by an AP can be implemented in the same request frame (e.g., request frame <NUM>) and the response frame (e.g., response frame <NUM>) can also agree/disagree with both the enablement request and the disablement request at the same time.

Link enablement and/or disablement frame exchange can also be initiated by an STA associated with an AP. <FIG> depicts an exemplary frame exchange timing diagram timing diagram <NUM> initiated by an STA for enabling a disabled link <NUM> according to embodiments of the present invention. For instance, the STA sends a request frame <NUM> carrying link IDs and ENABLE flags to the AP to request enablement of a disabled link or links (e.g., disabled link <NUM>). The request frame <NUM> may also carry operational parameter update information of each link. The AP sends a response frame <NUM> to the STA to confirm which requested links will be enabled. After receiving the response frame <NUM>, for each link to be enabled, the STA enables the link using the updated operational parameters carried in the request frame <NUM>, if any. The AP updates the operational parameters of the link and after a delay <NUM>, AP and STA can transmit over the enabled link. The delay <NUM> can be the delay initially negotiated between the AP and the STA, or a new delay identified in the updated operational parameters carried in the request frame <NUM>. The frame exchange <NUM> described above is transmitted over an enabled link <NUM> associated with the AP and the STA.

Still with regard to <FIG>, the exemplary frame exchange <NUM> can also be used by the STA to initiate disablement of an enabled link or links according to embodiments of the present invention. The STA sends a request frame <NUM> carrying link IDs and DISABLE flags to the AP to request disablement of an enabled link or links. The AP sends a response frame to the STA to confirm which links will be disabled (if any), and for each link to be disabled, the AP stops transmitting to the STA over the respective link after sending the response frame <NUM> to the STA. The STA stops transmitting to the AP over the disabled link or links after receiving the response frame <NUM> from the AP. The above frame exchange <NUM> is transmitted over the enabled link <NUM>. Link enablement and disablement initiated by an STA can be implemented using a single request frame (e.g., request frame <NUM>), and the response frame (e.g., response frame <NUM>) can confirm both the enablement request and the disablement request at the same time.

<FIG> is a block diagram that depicts an exemplary link switch operation between an AP <NUM> and an STA <NUM> for MLO according to embodiments of the present invention. As depicted in <FIG>, the AP <NUM> can communicate wirelessly over <NUM> wireless links (Link <NUM> (<NUM>), Link <NUM> (<NUM>), and Link <NUM> (<NUM>)), and the STA <NUM> can communicate wirelessly over <NUM> wireless links (Link <NUM> (<NUM>) and Link <NUM> (<NUM>)). When a link, e.g., between the AP's Link <NUM> (<NUM>) and the STA's Link <NUM> (<NUM>), is occupied by interference or is otherwise unavailable when an AP needs to use the link, the AP can request to switch to another link that is available on the AP side and then begin MLO. For example, as depicted in <FIG>, the AP can request to switch to a link between the AP's Link <NUM> (<NUM>) and the STA's Link <NUM> (<NUM>).

As depicted in the timing diagram of <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the AP transmits a request frame <NUM> that carries the link ID and an enable FLAG as well as information regarding the target link <NUM> to switch to, such as the link ID and Operation BW of the target link to perform link switching frame exchange <NUM>. The STA can agree or disagree with the request. If the STA agrees it sends a response frame <NUM> to the AP carrying a required delay <NUM> of the link switch and switches from the specified link <NUM> to the target link <NUM> identified in the request frame <NUM>. Enabled link <NUM> is disabled and the identified link <NUM> is enabled after a delay <NUM>. If the STA disagrees, it sends a response frame denying the AP's request, and the STA waits for another request from the AP. In this case, the identified link remains disabled. The frame exchange <NUM> is transmitted over an enabled link (e.g., link <NUM>).

With regard to the timing diagram of <FIG>, an exemplary link TWT element frame exchange <NUM> for configuring the TWT operation of a target link <NUM> using an enabled link <NUM> is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention. TWT negotiation is performed between the AP and the STA. Specifically, a TWT Element <NUM> including the target link ID is transmitted from the AP to the STA, and the STA transmits a TWT Element <NUM> confirming or denying the AP's request. If the negotiation is successful, the TWT element for the target link is updated to include the link ID of target link <NUM>. The target link then operates using the updated TWT. For example, as depicted in <FIG>, the TWT Wake time interval <NUM> for the target link <NUM> defines active and inactive period for the target link <NUM>. Specifically, the target link <NUM> is active during TWT Service Periods <NUM> and <NUM>, and the target link <NUM> is inactive outside of the TWT Service Periods <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the TWT element may carry operation parameters for multiple links, including the link that carries the frame exchange including the TWT element.

According to embodiments of the present invention, an STA in non-AP Multi-Link Logical Entity (MLLE) capable of multi-link operation negotiates TWT parameters with the AP in AP MLLE for the current link and for other link at the same time. An STA in non-AP MLLE can negotiate TWT parameters for other links at the same time via a single TWT negotiation. It is assumed that the APs can maintain timing synchronization across the links.

According to the present invention, all enable, disable, link switch, and power save mode setup frame exchanges may be transmitted over a dedicated control link that always remains enabled. Other available links are used as assistant links that can be dynamically enabled and disabled. The control link traffic is not limited to frames of link enable, disable, link switch, and power save mode setup. In other words, regular data traffic can also be transmitted over the control link.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary data format element <NUM> for providing response or request information for selectively enabling and disabling links according to embodiments of the present invention. Serial ID field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the ID of the request as assigned by the requester. The response frame transmitted in response to the request includes the same ID in Serial ID field <NUM>. Control field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates if the element <NUM> is:.

Sub-elements field <NUM> has a variable length and provides detailed request/response information such as link ID, etc. Examples of sub-elements field <NUM> are depicted in <FIG> according to embodiments of the present invention. Padding field <NUM> includes a variable number of bits set to zero for aligning the element length of element <NUM> with an integer of octets.

With regard to Sub-elements fields <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG>, each include a sub-element ID field <NUM> having a length of <NUM> bits that indicates the type/function of the sub-element. For example, data format sub-element field <NUM> enables/disables a target link, sub-element field <NUM> enables/disables a target link and updates operating parameters of the target link, and sub-element field <NUM> switches a target link to a target channel and updates operating parameters of the target link.

The link ID field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> and indicates the target link for enabling, disabling, and/or configuring the operating parameters of the target link. The target channel field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the target channel for performing a channel switch for the target link. Required delay field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the delay required before enabling the target link. Operational BW field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the operating bandwidths of the target link. Primary band field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the primary operating band of the target link. Supported NSS field <NUM> has a length of <NUM> bits and indicates the number of spatial streams supported by the target link.

With regard to <FIG>, a flow chart of an exemplary sequence of computer implemented steps of a process <NUM> for selectively enabling a wireless link is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention.

At step <NUM>, a request frame is transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device with a link ID and enable flag indicating a request to enable the target wireless link.

At step <NUM>, a response frame is received from the second wireless device at the first wireless device.

At step <NUM>, the target wireless link is enabled when the response frame confirms the request to enable the target wireless link.

At step <NUM>, the operating parameters of the target link are updated using updated operating parameters carried in the request frame.

With regard to <FIG>, a flow chart depicting an exemplary sequence of computer implemented steps of a process <NUM> for selectively disabling a wireless link is depicted according to embodiments of the present invention.

At step <NUM>, a request frame is transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device with a link ID and disable flag indicating a request to disable the target wireless link.

At step <NUM>, the target wireless link is disabled when the response frame confirms the request to disable the target wireless link.

With regard to <FIG>, a flow chart of an exemplary sequence of computer implemented steps of a process <NUM> for switching from a first wireless link to a second wireless link for performing MLO between a first wireless device and a second wireless device are shown according to embodiments of the present invention.

At step <NUM>, a request frame is transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device with a first link ID, a second link ID, and an enable flag indicating a request to enable the second wireless link.

At step <NUM>, the second wireless link is enabled when the response frame confirms the request to enable the second wireless link.

Optionally, at step <NUM>, the operating parameters of the second wireless link are updated using updated operating parameters carried in the request frame.

At step <NUM>, data is transmitted between the first wireless device and the second wireless device using the second wireless link for MLO after a required delay.

The present invention may be drawn to electronic systems for performing power management for cooperative multi-band operations in a wireless network. The following discussion describes one such exemplary electronic system or computer system can be used as a platform for implementing embodiments of the present invention.

In the example of <FIG>, the exemplary computer system <NUM> (e.g., a multi-band cooperative wireless access point AP or a multi-band cooperative wireless station STA) includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> for running software applications and optionally an operating system. Random access memory <NUM> and read-only memory <NUM> store applications and data for use by the CPU <NUM>. Data storage device <NUM> provides non-volatile storage for applications and data and may include fixed disk drives, removable disk drives, flash memory devices, and CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical storage devices. The optional user inputs <NUM> and <NUM> comprise devices that communicate inputs from one or more users to the computer system <NUM> (e.g., mice, joysticks, cameras, touch screens, and/or microphones).

A communication or network interface <NUM> includes a plurality of transceivers and allows the computer system <NUM> to communicate with other computer systems, networks, or devices via an electronic communications network, including wired and/or wireless communication and including an Intranet or the Internet (e.g., <NUM> wireless standard). The communication or network interface <NUM> can operate multiple transceivers simultaneously e.g., Transceiver <NUM> and Transceiver <NUM>. The communication or network interface <NUM> can further include a cooperative management unit for coordinating the data sent and/or received by the transceivers. The communication or network interface <NUM> and can include a dual band interface that can operate in multiple bands simultaneously, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. Link management operations are performed by an AP or non-AP STA to control the status (e.g., active or doze) of specific links/bands, for example, to conserve power or increase peak throughput between devices.

The optional display device <NUM> may be any device capable of displaying visual information in response to a signal from the computer system <NUM> and may include a flat panel touch sensitive display, for example. The components of the computer system <NUM>, including the CPU <NUM>, memory <NUM>/<NUM>, data storage <NUM>, user input devices <NUM>, and graphics subsystem <NUM> may be coupled via one or more data buses <NUM>.

Some embodiments may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices.

Claim 1:
A method of selectively enabling a target wireless link operable to provide communication between a first wireless device and a second wireless device during multi-link operation, MLO, the method comprising:
transmitting (<NUM>) a request frame from the first wireless device to the second wireless device, the request frame comprising a link ID of the target wireless link and one of an enable flag indicating a request to enable the target wireless link and a disable flag indicating a request to disable the target wireless link, wherein, when the enable flag indicating a request to enable the target wireless link was transmitted, the request frame comprises updated operating parameters for the target link;
receiving (<NUM>) a response frame from the second wireless device at the first wireless device;
enabling (<NUM>) the target wireless link by using the first wireless device when the enable flag indicating a request to enable the target wireless link was transmitted and the response frame confirms the request to enable the target wireless link, wherein the operating parameters of the target link are updated using the updated operating parameters; and
disabling (<NUM>) the target wireless link by using the first wireless device when the disable flag indicating a request to disable the target wireless link was transmitted and the response frame confirms the request to disable the target wireless link.