FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to selecting communication channels to use in a wireless communication network.

BACKGROUND

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved rapidly over the past two decades, and development of WLAN standards such as the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Standard family has improved single-user peak data rates. For example, the IEEE 802.11b Standard specifies a single-user peak rate of 11 megabits per second (Mbps), the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g Standards specify a single-user peak rate of 54 Mbps, the IEEE 802.11n Standard specifies a single-user peak rate of 600 Mbps, and the IEEE 802.11ac Standard specifies a single-user peak rate in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range. The IEEE 802.11ax Standard now in the final stage of development significantly improves throughput over the IEEE 802.11ac Standard.

In 2018, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposed rules for unlicensed use of spectrum in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency (RF) band (5.925-7.125 GHz). Because the 6 GHz RF band includes incumbent licensed users (typically fixed, point-to-point communication links), the proposed rules would define different device categories for unlicensed users in the 6 GHz RF band, and would require use of an automated frequency control (AFC) system for certain sub-bands in the 6 GHz RF band. The proposed AFC system would include a database of licensed users in the 6 GHz RF band, including geographic and bandwidth locations of licensed users. An unlicensed user seeking to use spectrum in certain sub-bands in the 6 GHz RF band would be required to consult the AFC system and avoid using spectrum already in use by local licensed users.

The IEEE has proposed using the 6 GHz RF band for WLANs.FIG. 1is a diagram of a proposed WLAN channelization scheme10for the 6 GHz RF band. The FCC proposed partitioning the 6 GHz RF band into a plurality of sub-bands, including an unlicensed national information infrastructure (U-NII) sub-band 12 (U-NII-5) (5925-6425 MHz), a U-NII sub-band 14 (U-NII-6) (6425-6525 MHz), a U-NII sub-band 16 (U-NII-7) (6525-6875 MHz), and a U-NII sub-band 18 (U-NII-7) (6875-7125 MHz). According to the FCC's proposal, U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 will require use of the AFC system, whereas U-NII-6 and U-NII-8 will not require use of the AFC system. Additionally, a WLAN access point (AP) operating in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 may follow standard power limits regarding AP transmit power, whereas U-NII-6 and U-NII-8 is restricted to indoor use with reduced AP transmit power limits.

The proposed WLAN channelization scheme10includes a plurality of 20 MHz component communication channels22. The proposed WLAN channelization scheme10also proposes use of wider aggregate communication channels formed by aggregating multiple 20 MHz component communication channels22. For example, the proposed WLAN channelization scheme10includes a plurality of 40 MHz aggregate communication channels24. Similarly, 80 MHz aggregate communication channels can be formed by aggregating multiple 40 MHz communication channels24; thus, the proposed WLAN channelization scheme10includes a plurality of 80 MHz aggregate communication channels26. Similarly, 160 MHz aggregate communication channels can be formed by aggregating multiple 80 MHz communication channels26; thus, the proposed WLAN channelization scheme10includes a plurality of 160 MHz aggregate communication channels28. Similarly, 320 MHz aggregate communication channels can be formed by aggregating multiple 160 MHz communication channels28; thus, the proposed WLAN channelization scheme10includes a plurality of 320 MHz aggregate communication channels30.

Details of the AFC system (e.g., who will operate and maintain the databases, how the databases will accessed, etc.) are not yet finalized. As a result, WLAN device manufacturers initially will likely seek to produce 6 GHz capable WLAN devices that operate only in the U-NII-6 and/or U-NII-8 sub-bands, which do not require use of the AFC system. Additionally, in order to provide a range of 6 GHz capable WLAN devices at different prices, WLAN device manufacturers will likely produce lower cost WLAN devices that are not capable of using the AFC system, and thus will be permitted to operate in only the U-NII-6 and/or U-NII-8 sub-bands.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method for communicating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes: selecting, at a first communication device, an aggregate communication channel from a first set of one or more allowed non-overlapping aggregate communication channels that is wholly within a first radio frequency (RF) sub-band that is adjacent in frequency to a second RF sub-band. The second RF sub-band includes a second set of one or more allowed non-overlapping aggregate communication channels that is wholly within the second RF sub-band and that is separated in frequency from the first set of allowed aggregate communication channels by a gap in frequency. The gap in frequency is smaller than a cumulative bandwidth of two component communication channels in the first RF sub-band. The method also includes: using, at the first communication device, the selected aggregate communication channel to transmit a packet to one or more second communication devices in the WLAN.

In another embodiment, a wireless communication device for communicating in a WLAN comprises a wireless network interface device having one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices. The one or more IC devices are configured to: select an aggregate communication channel from a first set of one or more allowed non-overlapping aggregate communication channels that is wholly within a first RF sub-band that is adjacent in frequency to a second RF sub-band. The second RF sub-band includes a second set of one or more allowed non-overlapping aggregate communication channels that is wholly within the second RF sub-band and that is separated in frequency from the first set of allowed aggregate communication channels by a gap in frequency. The gap in frequency is smaller than a cumulative bandwidth of two component communication channels in the first RF sub-band. The one or more IC devices are further configured to: use the selected aggregate communication channel to transmit a packet to one or more second communication devices in the WLAN.

