SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DOWNLINK FREQUENCY DOMAIN MULTIPLEXING TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20140328265A1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampath, Hemanth, Tian, Bin, Tandra, Rahul, Barriac, Gwendolyn Denise, Zhou, Yan, Vermani, Sameer, Merlin, Simone
• Granted Patent: US 9,516,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for transmitting data are described herein. In some aspects, a method comprises generating a first message. The first message may comprise an allocation of a first station to a first frequency channel and a second station to a second frequency channel. The method further comprises transmitting the first message over the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel. The method further comprises transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a second message to the first station using the first frequency channel. The method further comprises transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a third message to the second station using the second frequency channel.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data, comprising:

generating a first message, the first message comprising an allocation of a first station to a first frequency channel and a second station to a second frequency channel;

transmitting the first message over at least one of the first frequency channel or the second frequency channel;

transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a second message to the first station using the first frequency channel; and

transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a third message to the second station using the second frequency channel.

2. The method of claim 1, the first message comprising a physical layer preamble that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel

3. The method of claim 2, the first message further comprising first data for the first station and second data for the second station.

4. The method of claim 2, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the first station, a second MCS associated with the second station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the first station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the first station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the first frequency channel and used for transmissions to the first station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the second frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a duration of time that stations not configured to communicate over the second frequency channel should defer transmissions over the first frequency channel, a transmit power used on the second frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

5. The method of claim 4, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the first station and an indication of a transmission mode for the second station, the transmission mode for the first station and the transmission mode for the second station comprising at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

6. The method of claim 2, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

7. The method of claim 1, the first message comprising a physical layer and a media access control (MAC) layer, the MAC layer allocating the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a channel bandwidth of the first frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the second frequency channel.

9. The method of claim 1, transmitting a second message and transmitting a third message comprising concurrently transmitting the second message to the first station and the third message to the second station.

10. The method of claim 1, transmitting a second message comprising transmitting the second message at a first time, and transmitting a third message comprising transmitting the third message at a second time after the first time.

11. The method of claim 1, the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 1, the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

13. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

means for generating a first message, the first message comprising an allocation of a first station to a first frequency channel and a second station to a second frequency channel;

means for transmitting the first message over the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel;

means for transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a second message to the first station using the first frequency channel; and

means for transmitting, after transmission of the first message, a third message to the second station using the second frequency channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the first message comprising a physical layer preamble that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the first message further comprising first data for the first station and second data for the second station.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the first station, a second MCS associated with the second station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the first station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the first station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the first frequency channel and used for transmissions to the first station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the second frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a duration of time that stations not configured to communicate over the second frequency channel should defer transmissions over the first frequency channel, a transmit power used on the second frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the first station and an indication of a transmission mode for the second station, the transmission mode for the first station and the transmission mode for the second station comprising at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, the first message comprising a physical layer and a media access control (MAC) layer, the MAC layer allocating the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, the means for generating the first message comprising a processor, and the means for transmitting the first message, the means for transmitting the second message, and the means for transmitting the third message comprising a transmitter.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

generate a first message, the first message comprising an allocation of a first station to a first frequency channel and a second station to a second frequency channel;

transmit the first message over the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel;

transmit, after transmission of the first message, a second message to the first station using the first frequency channel; and

transmit, after transmission of the first message, a third message to the second station using the second frequency channel.

22. The medium of claim 21, the first message comprising a physical layer preamble that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

23. The medium of claim 22, the first message further comprising first data for the first station and second data for the second station.

24. The medium of claim 22, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the first station, a second MCS associated with the second station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the first station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the first station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the first frequency channel and used for transmissions to the first station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the second frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a duration of time that stations not configured to communicate over the second frequency channel should defer transmissions over the first frequency channel, a transmit power used on the second frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

25. The medium of claim 24, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the first station and an indication of a transmission mode for the second station, wherein the transmission mode for the first station and the transmission mode for the second station comprise at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

26. The medium of claim 22, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

27. The medium of claim 21, the first message comprising a physical layer and a media access control (MAC) layer, the MAC layer allocating the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

28. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

a processor configured to generate a first message, the first message comprising an allocation of a first station to a first frequency channel and a second station to a second frequency channel; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the first message over the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel, the transmitter further configured to transmit, after transmission of the first message, a second message to the first station using the first frequency channel, and the transmitter further configured to transmit, after transmission of the first message, a third message to the second station using the second frequency channel.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, the first message comprising a physical layer preamble that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, the first message further comprising first data for the first station and second data for the second station.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the first station, a second MCS associated with the second station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the first station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the first station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the first frequency channel and used for transmissions to the first station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the second frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a duration of time that stations not configured to communicate over the second frequency channel should defer transmissions over the first frequency channel, a transmit power used on the second frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the first station and an indication of a transmission mode for the second station, the transmission mode for the first station and the transmission mode for the second station comprising at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, the first message comprising a physical layer and a media access control (MAC) layer, the MAC layer allocating the first station to the first frequency channel and the second station to the second frequency channel.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a transmit control unit configured to set a channel bandwidth of the first frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the second frequency channel.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, the transmitter further configured to concurrently transmit the second message to the first station and the third message to the second station.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, the transmitter further configured to:

transmit the second message at a first time; and

transmit the third message at a second time after the first time.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

39. The apparatus of claim 28, the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

40. A method for transmitting data, comprising:

generating a first packet for transmission to a first station over a primary frequency channel;

generating a second packet, the second packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of a second station to a secondary frequency channel and a third station to a ternary frequency channel;

transmitting the first packet over the primary frequency channel to the first station, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel;

transmitting the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel;

transmitting, after transmission of the second packet, a third packet to the second station using the secondary frequency channel; and

transmitting, after transmission of the second packet, a fourth packet to the third station using the ternary frequency channel.

41. The method of claim 40, the second packet further comprising first data for the second station and second data for the third station.

42. The method of claim 40, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the second station, a second MCS associated with the third station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the third station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the third station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the secondary frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the ternary frequency channel and used for transmissions to the third station, a transmit power used on the secondary frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

43. The method of claim 42, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the second station and an indication of a transmission mode for the third station, the transmission mode for the second station and the transmission mode for the third station comprising at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising setting a channel bandwidth of the primary frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the secondary frequency channel.

45. The method of claim 40, transmitting the first packet and transmitting the second packet comprising concurrently transmitting the first packet to the first station and the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel.

46. The method of claim 40, transmitting the first packet comprising transmitting the first packet at a first time, and transmitting the second packet comprising transmitting the second packet at a second time after the first time.

47. The method of claim 40, transmitting a third packet and transmitting a fourth packet comprising concurrently transmitting the third packet to the second station and the fourth packet to the third station.

48. The method of claim 40, transmitting a third packet comprising transmitting the third packet at a first time, and transmitting a fourth packet comprising transmitting the fourth packet at a second time after the first time.

49. The method of claim 40, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

50. The method of claim 40, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

51. The method of claim 40, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the second station to the secondary frequency channel and the third station to the ternary frequency channel.

52. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

means for generating a first packet for transmission to a first station over a primary frequency channel;

means for generating a second packet, the second packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of a second station to a secondary frequency channel and a third station to a ternary frequency channel;

means for transmitting the first packet over the primary frequency channel to the first station, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel;

means for transmitting the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel;

means for transmitting, after transmission of the second packet, a third packet to the second station using the secondary frequency channel; and

means for transmitting, after transmission of the second packet, a fourth packet to the third station using the ternary frequency channel.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, the second packet further comprising first data for the second station and second data for the third station.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising means for setting a channel bandwidth of the primary frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the secondary frequency channel.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

57. The apparatus of claim 52, the means for generating the first packet and the means for generating the second packet comprising a processor, and the means for transmitting the first packet, the means for transmitting the second packet, the means for transmitting the third packet, and the means for transmitting the fourth packet comprising a transmitter.

58. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

generate a first packet for transmission to a first station over a primary frequency channel;

generate a second packet, the second packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of a second station to a secondary frequency channel and a third station to a ternary frequency channel;

transmit the first packet over the primary frequency channel to the first station, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel;

transmit the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel;

transmit, after transmission of the second packet, a third packet to the second station using the secondary frequency channel; and

transmit, after transmission of the second packet, a fourth packet to the third station using the ternary frequency channel.

59. The medium of claim 58, the second packet further comprising first data for the second station and second data for the third station.

60. The medium of claim 58, further comprising code that, when executed causes an apparatus to set a channel bandwidth of the primary frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the secondary frequency channel.

61. The medium of claim 58, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

62. The medium of claim 58, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

63. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

a processor configured to generate a first packet for transmission to a first station over a primary frequency channel, the processor further configured to generate a second packet, the second packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of a second station to a secondary frequency channel and a third station to a ternary frequency channel; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the first packet over the primary frequency channel to the first station, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel, the transmitter further configured to transmit the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel, the transmitter further configured to transmit, after transmission of the second packet, a third packet to the second station using the secondary frequency channel, and the transmitter further configured to transmit, after transmission of the second packet, a fourth packet to the third station using the ternary frequency channel.

64. The medium of claim 63, the second packet further comprising first data for the second station and second data for the third station.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, the physical layer preamble further comprising at least one of a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the second station, a second MCS associated with the third station, a duration of time that an access point will transmit to the second station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the second station, a duration of time that the access point will transmit to the third station, a number of bytes that the access point will transmit to the third station, a first channel bandwidth associated with the secondary frequency channel and used for transmissions to the second station, a second channel bandwidth associated with the ternary frequency channel and used for transmissions to the third station, a transmit power used on the secondary frequency channel, or a transmit power used on the ternary frequency channel.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, the physical layer preamble further comprising an indication of a transmission mode for the second station and an indication of a transmission mode for the third station, the transmission mode for the second station and the transmission mode for the third station comprising at least one of a coding mode or a pilot location mode.

67. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising a transmit control unit configured to set a channel bandwidth of the primary frequency channel to a value that is larger than a value of a channel bandwidth of the secondary frequency channel.

68. The apparatus of claim 63, the transmitter further configured to concurrently transmit the first packet to the first station and the second packet over the secondary frequency channel and the ternary frequency channel.

69. The apparatus of claim 63, the transmitter further configured to:

transmit the first packet at a first time; and

transmit the second packet at a second time after the first time.

70. The apparatus of claim 63, the transmitter further configured to concurrently transmit the third packet to the second station and the fourth packet to the third station.

71. The apparatus of claim 63, the transmitter further configured to:

transmit the third packet at a first time; and

transmit the fourth packet at a second time after the first time.

72. The apparatus of claim 63, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

73. The apparatus of claim 63, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

74. The apparatus of claim 63, the physical layer preamble further comprising a group identification that allocates the second station to the secondary frequency channel and the third station to the ternary frequency channel.

75. A method for transmitting data, comprising:

operating a random backoff counter associated with a primary frequency channel;

transmitting a first data packet over the primary frequency channel to a first station after the random backoff counter expires;

determining, after the random backoff counter expires, whether a secondary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on a time interval before a time that the random backoff counter expired; and

transmitting a second data packet over the secondary frequency channel to a second station if the secondary frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the time interval before the time that the random backoff counter expired.

76. The method of claim 75, the time interval comprising a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS).

77. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

operating a second random backoff counter associated with the secondary frequency channel;

transmitting the second data packet over the primary frequency channel if the first random backoff counter expires before the second random backoff counter;

transmitting the third data packet over the secondary frequency channel if the second random backoff counter expires before the first random backoff counter;

determining, after the first of the first random backoff counter or the second random backoff counter expires, whether a frequency channel associated with a random backoff counter that has not expired has been idle for a duration of time based on a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS) before a time that the respective random backoff counter expired; and

transmitting a data packet corresponding to a random backoff counter that has not expired if the respective frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the PIFS before the time that the respective random backoff counter expired.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising transmitting a fourth data packet over a ternary frequency channel if the ternary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on an arbitration inter frame spacing (AIFS) before a time that the second random backoff counter expired.

79. The method of claim 75, further comprising transmitting the second data packet over the secondary frequency channel and a ternary frequency channel, the second data packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of the second station to the secondary frequency channel and a third station to the ternary frequency channel.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

transmitting, after transmission of the second data packet, a third data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel; and

transmitting, after transmission of the second data packet, a fourth data packet to the third station of the ternary frequency channel.

81. The method of claim 79, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

82. The method of claim 79, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

83. The method of claim 79, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel.

84. The method of claim 75, operating a random backoff counter comprising operating the random backoff counter at a time based on a restricted access window (RAW) timing, the RAW timing being an interval of time during which access to a medium is restricted to a group of stations.

85. The method of claim 75, operating a random backoff counter comprising operating the random backoff counter at a time based on a target wakeup time (TWT), the TWT being a time during which the first station is awake.

86. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

receiving a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete;

transmitting a block acknowledgment request to the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to reception of the first block acknowledgment; and

receiving a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request.

87. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

receiving a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete; and

receiving a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet is complete, the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment received at a same time.

88. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

transmitting a block acknowledgment request to the first station over the primary frequency channel and the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet and the second data packet is complete;

receiving a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request; and

receiving a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

89. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

transmitting a block acknowledgment request to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet and the second data packet is complete;

receiving a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request; and

receiving a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

90. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

receiving a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete; and

receiving a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet is complete, the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

91. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

means for operating a random backoff counter associated with a primary frequency channel;

means for transmitting a first data packet over the primary frequency channel to a first station after the random backoff counter expires;

means for determining, after the random backoff counter expires, whether a secondary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on a time interval before a time that the random backoff counter expired; and

means for transmitting a second data packet over the secondary frequency channel to a second station if the secondary frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the time interval before the time that the random backoff counter expired.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, the time interval comprising a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS).

93. The apparatus of claim 91, further comprising:

means for operating a second random backoff counter associated with the secondary frequency channel;

means for transmitting the second data packet over the primary frequency channel if the first random backoff counter expires before the second random backoff counter;

means for transmitting the third data packet over the secondary frequency channel if the second random backoff counter expires before the first random backoff counter;

means for determining, after the first of the first random backoff counter or the second random backoff counter expires, whether a frequency channel associated with a random backoff counter that has not expired has been idle for a duration of time based on a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS) before a time that the respective random backoff counter expired; and

means for transmitting a data packet corresponding to a random backoff counter that has not expired if the respective frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the PIFS before the time that the respective random backoff counter expired.

94. The apparatus of claim 93, further comprising means for transmitting a fourth data packet over a ternary frequency channel if the ternary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on an arbitration inter frame spacing (AIFS) before a time that the second random backoff counter expired.

95. The apparatus of claim 91, means for operating a random backoff counter comprising means for operating the random backoff counter at a time based on a restricted access window (RAW) timing, the RAW timing being an interval of time during which access to a medium is restricted to a group of stations.

96. The apparatus of claim 91, means for operating a random backoff counter comprising means for operating the random backoff counter at a time based on a target wakeup time (TWT), the TWT being a time during which the first station is awake.

97. The apparatus of claim 91, the means for operating comprising a processor, the means for transmitting the first data packet and the means for transmitting the second data packet comprising a transmitter, and the means for determining comprising a signal detector.

98. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

operate a random backoff counter associated with a primary frequency channel;

transmit a first data packet over the primary frequency channel to a first station after the random backoff counter expires;

determine, after the random backoff counter expires, whether a secondary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on a time interval before a time that the random backoff counter expired; and

transmit a second data packet over the secondary frequency channel to a second station if the secondary frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the time interval before the time that the random backoff counter expired.

99. The medium of claim 98, the time interval comprising a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS).

100. The medium of claim 98, comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

operate a second random backoff counter associated with the secondary frequency channel;

transmit the second data packet over the primary frequency channel if the first random backoff counter expires before the second random backoff counter;

transmit the third data packet over the secondary frequency channel if the second random backoff counter expires before the first random backoff counter;

determine, after the first of the first random backoff counter or the second random backoff counter expires, whether a frequency channel associated with a random backoff counter that has not expired has been idle for a duration of time based on a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS) before a time that the respective random backoff counter expired; and

transmit a data packet corresponding to a random backoff counter that has not expired if the respective frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the PIFS before the time that the respective random backoff counter expired.

101. The medium of claim 100, comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit a fourth data packet over a ternary frequency channel if the ternary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on an arbitration inter frame spacing (AIFS) before a time that the second random backoff counter expired.

102. The medium of claim 98, comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to operate the random backoff counter at a time based on a restricted access window (RAW) timing, the RAW timing being an interval of time during which access to a medium is restricted to a group of stations.

103. The medium of claim 98, comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to operate the random backoff counter at a time based on a target wakeup time (TWT), the TWT being a time during which the first station is awake.

104. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

a processor configured to operate a random backoff counter associated with a primary frequency channel;

a transmitter configured to transmit a first data packet over the primary frequency channel to a first station after the random backoff counter expires; and

a signal detector configured to determine, after the random backoff counter expires, whether a secondary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on a time interval before a time that the random backoff counter expired, the transmitter further configured to transmit a second data packet over the secondary frequency channel to a second station if the secondary frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the time interval before the time that the random backoff counter expired.

105. The apparatus of claim 104, the time interval comprising a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS).

106. The apparatus of claim 104, the processor further configured to operate a second random backoff counter associated with the secondary frequency channel, the transmitter further configured to transmit the second data packet over the primary frequency channel if the first random backoff counter expires before the second random backoff counter and transmit the third data packet over the secondary frequency channel if the second random backoff counter expires before the first random backoff counter, the signal detector further configured to determine, after the first of the first random backoff counter or the second random backoff counter expires, whether a frequency channel associated with a random backoff counter that has not expired has been idle for a duration of time based on a point coordination function inter frame space (PIFS) before a time that the respective random backoff counter expired, and the transmitter further configured to transmit a data packet corresponding to a random backoff counter that has not expired if the respective frequency channel has been idle for the duration of time based on the PIFS before the time that the respective random backoff counter expired.

107. The apparatus of claim 106, the transmitter further configured to transmit a fourth data packet over a ternary frequency channel if the ternary frequency channel has been idle for a duration of time based on an arbitration inter frame spacing (AIFS) before a time that the second random backoff counter expired.

108. The apparatus of claim 104, the transmitter further configured to transmit the second data packet over the secondary frequency channel and a ternary frequency channel, the second data packet comprising a physical layer preamble, and the physical layer preamble comprising an allocation of the second station to the secondary frequency channel and a third station to the ternary frequency channel.

109. The apparatus of claim 108, the transmitter further configured to:

transmit, after transmission of the second data packet, a third data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel; and

transmit, after transmission of the second data packet, a fourth data packet to the third station of the ternary frequency channel.

110. The apparatus of claim 108, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

111. The apparatus of claim 108, the primary frequency channel, the secondary frequency channel, and the ternary frequency channel not being contiguous in an operating bandwidth.

112. The apparatus of claim 108, the first station not configured to communicate over the secondary frequency channel or the ternary frequency channel.

113. The apparatus of claim 104, the processor further configured to operate the random backoff counter at a time based on a restricted access window (RAW) timing, the RAW timing being an interval of time during which access to a medium is restricted to a group of stations.

114. The apparatus of claim 104, the processor further configured to operate the random backoff counter at a time based on a target wakeup time (TWT), the TWT being a time during which the first station is awake.

115. The apparatus of claim 104, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete, the transmitter further configured to transmit a block acknowledgment request to the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to reception of the first block acknowledgment, and the receiver further configured to receive a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request.

116. The apparatus of claim 104, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete, the receiver further configured to receive a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet is complete, and the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

117. The apparatus of claim 104, the transmitter further configured to transmit a block acknowledgment request to the first station over the primary frequency channel and the second station over the secondary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet and the second data packet is complete.

118. The apparatus of claim 117, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, the receiver further configured to receive a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, and the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

119. The apparatus of claim 104, the transmitter further configured to transmit a block acknowledgment request to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet and the second data packet is complete.

120. The apparatus of claim 119, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the secondary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, the receiver further configured to receive a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel in response to the block acknowledgment request, and the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

121. The apparatus of claim 104, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a first block acknowledgment from the second station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the second data packet is complete, the receiver further configured to receive a second block acknowledgment from the first station over the primary frequency channel after transmission of the first data packet is complete, and the first block acknowledgment and the second block acknowledgment being received at a same time.

122. A method for transmitting data, comprising:

transmitting a request to send message to a first station and a second station;

receiving at least one clear to send message from at least one of the first station or the second station;

transmitting, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the first station over a primary frequency channel, a first data packet to the first station over the primary frequency channel; and

transmitting, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the second station over a secondary frequency channel, a second data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

123. The method of claim 122, transmitting a request to send message comprising transmitting the request to send message to the first station over the primary frequency channel and to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

124. The method of claim 122, transmitting a request to send message comprising transmitting the request to send message to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel.

125. The method of claim 124, transmitting a request to send message comprising transmitting a first instruction specifying the first station to transmit a clear to send message over the primary frequency channel and a second instruction specifying the second station to transmit a clear to send message over the secondary frequency channel.

126. The method of claim 122, the first station and the second station may each transmit a clear to send message at a same time.

127. The method of claim 122, transmitting a request to send message comprising transmitting a first time allocated for a response by the first station and a second time allocated for a response by the second station.

128. The method of claim 127, a clear to send message from the first station being received according to the first time and a clear to send message from the second station is received according to the second time.

129. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

means for transmitting a request to send message to a first station and a second station;

means for receiving at least one clear to send message from at least one of the first station or the second station;

means for transmitting, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the first station over a primary frequency channel, a first data packet to the first station over the primary frequency channel; and

means for transmitting, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the second station over a secondary frequency channel, a second data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

130. The apparatus of claim 129, means for transmitting a request to send message comprising means for transmitting the request to send message to the first station over the primary frequency channel and to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

131. The apparatus of claim 129, means for transmitting a request to send message comprising means for transmitting the request to send message to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel.

132. The apparatus of claim 131, means for transmitting a request to send message comprising means for transmitting a first instruction specifying the first station to transmit a clear to send message over the primary frequency channel and a second instruction specifying the second station to transmit a clear to send message over the secondary frequency channel.

133. The apparatus of claim 129, the means for transmitting the request to send message, the means for transmitting the first data packet, and the means for transmitting the second data packet comprising a transmitter, and the means for receiving comprising a receiver.

134. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

transmit a request to send message to a first station and a second station;

receive at least one clear to send message from at least one of the first station or the second station;

transmit, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the first station over a primary frequency channel, a first data packet to the first station over the primary frequency channel; and

transmit, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the second station over a secondary frequency channel, a second data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

135. The medium of claim 134, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit the request to send message to the first station over the primary frequency channel and to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

136. The medium of claim 134, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit the request to send message to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel.

137. The medium of claim 136, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit a first instruction specifying the first station to transmit a clear to send message over the primary frequency channel and a second instruction specifying the second station to transmit a clear to send message over the secondary frequency channel.

138. An apparatus for transmitting data, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a request to send message to a first station and a second station; and

a receiver configured to receive at least one clear to send message from at least one of the first station or the second station, the transmitter further configured to transmit, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the first station over a primary frequency channel, a first data packet to the first station over the primary frequency channel, and the transmitter further configured to transmit, in response to reception of a clear to send message from the second station over a secondary frequency channel, a second data packet to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

139. The apparatus of claim 138, the transmitter further configured to transmit the request to send message to the first station over the primary frequency channel and to the second station over the secondary frequency channel.

140. The apparatus of claim 138, the transmitter further configured to transmit the request to send message to the first station and the second station over the primary frequency channel.

141. The apparatus of claim 140, the transmitter further configured to transmit a first instruction specifying the first station to transmit a clear to send message over the primary frequency channel and a second instruction specifying the second station to transmit a clear to send message over the secondary frequency channel.

142. The apparatus of claim 138, the first station and the second station may each transmit a clear to send message at a same time.

143. The apparatus of claim 138, the transmitter further configured to transmit a first time allocated for a response by the first station and a second time allocated for a response by the second station.

144. The apparatus of claim 143, a clear to send message from the first station being received according to the first time and a clear to send message from the second station is received according to the second time.