Systems and methods for improved communication efficiency in high efficiency wireless networks

A device for wireless communication, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• select one or more legacy stations (STAs) of a plurality of wireless devices to set their network allocation vectors (NAVs), wherein the plurality of wireless devices further includes one or more high efficiency wireless (HEW) STAs, and wherein the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more (HEW STAs are not overlapping;
• and
• generate a message including a first field that includes a first indication for the one or more legacy STAs to set their NAVs and a second field that includes a second indication for the one or more HEW STAs to not set their NAVs;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the message, thereby reserving access to a wireless communication medium for the one or more HEW STAs, wherein:
• the second indication is decodable by the one or more HEW STAs and not decodable by the one or more legacy STAs;
• the first indication is decodable by both the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more HEW STAs;
• and
• the one or more legacy STAs set their NAVs based on decoding the first indication without decoding the second indication.

A device for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for selecting one or more legacy stations (STAs) of a plurality of wireless devices to set their network allocation vectors (NAVs), wherein the plurality of wireless devices further includes one or more high efficiency wireless (HEW) STAs, and wherein the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more HEW STAs are not overlapping;
• means for generating a message including a first field that includes a first indication for the one or more legacy STAs to set their NAVs and a second field that includes a second indication for the one or more HEW STAs to not set their NAVs;
• and
• means for transmitting the message, thereby reserving access to a wireless communication medium for the one or more HEW STAs, wherein:
• the second indication is decodable by the one or more HEW STAs and not decodable by the one or more legacy STAs;
• the first indication in the first field is decodable by both the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more HEW STAs of the plurality of wireless devices;
• and
• the one or more legacy STAs set their NAVs based on decoding the first indication without decoding the second indication.

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

• select one or more legacy stations (STAs) of a plurality of wireless devices to set their network allocation vectors (NAVs), wherein the plurality of wireless devices includes one or more high efficiency wireless (HEW) STAs, and wherein the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more HEW STAs are not overlapping;
• and
• transmit a message including a first field that includes a first indication for the one or more legacy stations (STAs) to set their NAVs and a second field that includes a second indication for the one or more HEW STAs to not set their NAVs, thereby reserving access to a wireless communication medium for the one or more HEW STAs, wherein:
• the second indication is decodable by the one or more HEW STAs and not decodable by the one or more legacy STAs;
• the first indication is decodable by both the one or more legacy STAs and the one or more HEW STAs;
• and
• the one or more legacy STAs set their NAVs based on decoding the first indication without decoding the second indication.