Techniques for protecting communications in wireless local area networks

A method of wireless communication comprising:

• receiving, by a first wireless device from a second wireless device, a first message addressed to one or more wireless devices, the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device, the first message including an indication to the one or more wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• transmitting a second message during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• transmitting uplink data to the second wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting a first message, the first message being addressed to a plurality of wireless devices, the first message including an indication to the plurality of wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• a channel monitor for receiving a second message from at least one wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• a receiver for receiving uplink data from the at least one wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

• a receiver for receiving, from a second wireless device, a first message addressed to one or more wireless devices, the one or more wireless devices including the apparatus, the first message including an indication to the one or more wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• a multi-user (MU) control unit for transmitting a second message during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting uplink data to the second wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:
• transmit a first message, the first message being addressed to a plurality of wireless devices, the first message including an indication to the plurality of wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• receive a second message from at least one wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• receive uplink data from the at least one wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:
• receive, from a second wireless device, a first message addressed to one or more wireless devices, the one or more wireless devices including the apparatus, the first message including an indication to the one or more wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• transmit a second message during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• transmit uplink data to the second wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable to:

• transmit a first message, the first message being addressed to a plurality of wireless devices, the first message including an indication to the plurality of wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• receive a second message from at least one wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• receive uplink data from the at least one wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable to:

• receive, by a first wireless device from a second wireless device, a first message addressed to one or more wireless devices, the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device, the first message including an indication to the one or more wireless devices to respond within a first duration of time, the first message indicating to unaddressed wireless devices not addressed by the first message to refrain from contending for access to a subband of a shared frequency spectrum band during the first duration of time;
• transmit a second message during the first duration of time in response to the first message, the second message indicating to the unaddressed wireless devices or to other wireless devices to refrain from contending for access to the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band during a second duration of time;
• and
• transmit uplink data to the second wireless device on the subband of the shared frequency spectrum band within the first duration of time or the second duration of time.