TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of communication systems, and more particularly to wireless local area networks (WLANs).

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

An access point (AP) of a wireless local area network (WLAN) can enable wireless network access for a client device (also referred to as a station, or STA). The AP may provide a wireless coverage area used by one or more STAs to access the WLAN. A Basic Services Set (BSS) may be defined as one AP, the wireless channel configuration, and the set of STAs that are wirelessly associated with the AP. The wireless channel configuration may utilize a portion of a frequency band (such as a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band, etc.). Within each frequency band, there may be different channels which an AP may utilize as part of the wireless channel configuration. Furthermore, the AP may utilize more than one antenna. For example, multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication may use multiple antennas that are operated by the AP to communicate using the wireless channel configuration.

Multiple APs may be used within the same geographical area to support larger quantities of STAs or to separate traffic among groups of STAs. In the past, a single WLAN apparatus may have operated only one AP. Recently, a single WLAN apparatus may be configured to operate multiple virtual APs (for multiple BSSs) from the same WLAN apparatus. Each virtual AP may be associated with a different BSS identifier (BSSID).

SUMMARY

The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented by an apparatus that may be configurable to provide functions of at least a first access point (AP) corresponding to a first basic service set (BSS) for multi-link aggregation. The apparatus may establish a first communication link with a first STA of the first BSS using a first frequency band. The apparatus may determine a first link profile for a second communication link available for the first STA by customizing one or more management elements of management information associated with the first communication link. The first link profile may include the one or more customized management elements for use by the second communication link. The second communication link may be associated with a second frequency band. The apparatus may configure a first non-inheritance element of the first link profile associated with the second communication link to indicate usage of at least one management element of the management information by the second communication link is disabled. The apparatus may generate a management frame that comprises the first link profile, and may output the management frame for transmission to the first STA.

In some implementations, the first communication link may be an anchor communication link for establishing a wireless association with the first STA, and the second communication link may be a candidate communication link for the first STA for implementing the multi-link aggregation.

In some implementations, the apparatus may determine to establish the second communication link in response to receiving a communication from the first STA indicating the first STA supports establishing the second communication link based, at least in part, on the first link profile.

In some implementations, the second communication link may be dynamically enabled or disabled by the apparatus or the first STA based, at least in part, on an amount of active traffic between the apparatus and the first STA.

In some implementations, the second communication link may be established without performing a separate wireless association process between the apparatus and the first STA for the second communication link.

In some implementations, the apparatus may determine a second link profile for a third communication link available for the first STA by customizing one or more management elements of the management information associated with the first communication link. The second link profile may include the one or more customized management elements for use by the third communication link. The third communication link may be associated with a third frequency band, and the management frame may further include the second link profile.

In some implementations, the apparatus may configure a second non-inheritance element of a second link profile associated with a third communication link to indicate usage of at least one management element of the management information by the third communication link is disabled. The management frame may further include the second link profile.

In some implementations, the management elements of the management information associated with the first communication link that are not customized for the second communication link in the first link profile and are not included in the first non-inheritance element are inherited by the second communication link for use by the second communication link.

In some implementations, the management frame may be a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, or a re-association response frame, and the management information may include at least one member of the group consisting of management elements, fields, features, and capabilities.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented by a first apparatus. The first apparatus may receive, via a first communication link, a management frame from a second apparatus configurable to provide functions of at least a first AP associated with a first BSS. The first apparatus may determine a link profile associated with a second communication link available to the first apparatus for multi-link aggregation. The link profile may be included in the management frame and may have one or more customized management elements of the management information associated with the first communication link. The one or more customized management elements may be for use by the second communication link. The first apparatus may determine a non-inheritance element of the link profile indicates usage of at least one management element of the management information by the second communication link is disabled. The first apparatus may determine whether to establish the second communication link between the first apparatus and the second apparatus for multi-link aggregation based, at least in part, on the link profile associated with the second communication link.

In some implementations, the first apparatus may determine support for the one or more customized management elements and the non-inheritance element included in the link profile associated with the second communication link. The first apparatus may establish the second communication link in response to determining the first apparatus supports the one or more customized management elements and the non-inheritance element.

In some implementations, the first apparatus may communicate with the second apparatus to indicate the first apparatus supports establishing the second communication link in response to determining the first apparatus supports the one or more customized management elements and the non-inheritance element.

In some implementations, the first apparatus may determine the first apparatus does not support the one or more customized management elements and the non-inheritance element included in the link profile associated with the second communication link. The first apparatus may determine not to establish the second communication link in response to determining the first apparatus does not supports the one or more customized management elements and the non-inheritance element.

In some implementations, the first apparatus may dynamically enable or disable the second communication link based, at least in part, on an amount of active traffic between the first apparatus and the second apparatus.

In some implementations, the second communication link may be established without performing a separate wireless association process between the first apparatus and the second apparatus for the second communication link.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented by an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may be configurable to provide functions of a first AP corresponding to a first BSS for multi-link aggregation. The apparatus may comprise a processor and memory coupled with the processor and having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to establish a first communication link with a first STA of the first BSS using a first frequency band, and determine a first link profile for a second communication link available for the first STA by customizing one or more management elements of management information associated with the first communication link. The first link profile may include the one or more customized management elements for use by the second communication link. The second communication link may be associated with a second frequency band. The instructions, when executed by the processor, may further cause the apparatus to configure a first non-inheritance element of the first link profile associated with the second communication link to indicate usage of at least one management element of the management information by the second communication link is disabled, generate a management frame that comprises the first link profile, and output the management frame for transmission to the first STA.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented by an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may be configurable to provide functions of a first AP corresponding to a first BSS for multi-link aggregation. The apparatus may include means for establishing a first communication link with a first STA of the first BSS using a first frequency band, and means for determining a first link profile for a second communication link available for the first STA by customizing one or more management elements of management information associated with the first communication link. The first link profile may include the one or more customized management elements for use by the second communication link. The second communication link may be associated with a second frequency band. The apparatus may further include means for configuring a first non-inheritance element of the first link profile associated with the second communication link to indicate usage of at least one management element of the management information by the second communication link is disabled, means for generating a management frame that comprises the first link profile, and means for outputting the management frame for transmission to the first STA.

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn to scale.

