Method and apparatus for facilitating simultaneous transmission from multiple stations
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- determining, using a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) device, that each client device in a plurality of client devices has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device;
receiving from each of at least some of the client devices an indication of an amount of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device;
in response to determining that each client device has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device, transmitting, from the WLAN AP device to the plurality of client devices, a request for the plurality of client devices to simultaneously transmit data to the WLAN AP device, wherein the request is transmitted from the WLAN AP device to the plurality of client devices during a transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device;
determining, using the WLAN AP device, a maximum duration of a transmission period in which the data is to be transmitted simultaneously by the plurality of client devices to the WLAN AP device based on the indications of the amounts of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device by the at least some of the client devices;
transmitting from the WLAN AP device an indication of the maximum duration of the transmission period to the plurality of client devices; and
receiving, at the WLAN AP device, the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices, wherein the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices is received by the WLAN AP device;
during the transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device; and
prior to the WLAN AP device transmitting any media access control (MAC) data to one or more of the client devices in the plurality of client devices subsequent to the WLAN AP device transmitting the request.
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Abstract
A first communication device determines that each second communication device in a plurality of second communication devices has respective data to be transmitted to the first communication device. The first communication device transmits a request to the plurality of second communication devices to transmit data to the first communication device simultaneously during a transmit opportunity period of the first communication device. The first communication device receives data transmitted simultaneously by the plurality of second communication devices during the transmit opportunity period of the first communication device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining, using a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) device, that each client device in a plurality of client devices has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device; receiving from each of at least some of the client devices an indication of an amount of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device; in response to determining that each client device has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device, transmitting, from the WLAN AP device to the plurality of client devices, a request for the plurality of client devices to simultaneously transmit data to the WLAN AP device, wherein the request is transmitted from the WLAN AP device to the plurality of client devices during a transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device; determining, using the WLAN AP device, a maximum duration of a transmission period in which the data is to be transmitted simultaneously by the plurality of client devices to the WLAN AP device based on the indications of the amounts of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device by the at least some of the client devices; transmitting from the WLAN AP device an indication of the maximum duration of the transmission period to the plurality of client devices; and receiving, at the WLAN AP device, the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices, wherein the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices is received by the WLAN AP device; during the transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device; and prior to the WLAN AP device transmitting any media access control (MAC) data to one or more of the client devices in the plurality of client devices subsequent to the WLAN AP device transmitting the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) device, comprising:
a network interface configured to determine that each client device in a plurality of client devices has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device, receive from each of at least some of the client devices an indication of an amount of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device; in response to determining that each client device has respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device, transmit, during a transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device, a request to the plurality of client devices to simultaneously transmit data to the WLAN AP device, determine a maximum duration of a transmission period in which the data is to be transmitted simultaneously by the plurality of client devices to the WLAN AP device based on the indications of the amounts of respective data to be transmitted to the WLAN AP device by the at least some of the client devices, transmit an indication of the maximum duration of the transmission period to the plurality of client devices; and receive the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices to the WLAN AP device, wherein the data simultaneously transmitted by the plurality of client devices is received during the transmit opportunity period of the WLAN AP device, and prior to the WLAN AP device transmitting any media access control (MAC) data to one or more of the client devices in the plurality of client devices subsequent to the WLAN AP device transmitting the request. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification