Resource unit notching for incumbent protection in the 6GHZ band for next-generation Wi-Fi

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of an access point (AP) configurable for unlicensed operation in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) band, the processing circuitry configured to:

• generate a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) to include a signalling field encoded to indicate a notching pattern, the notching pattern comprising four bits, each bit corresponding to one of a plurality of 20 MHz channels in an 80 MHz portion of the PPDU, the PPDU being one of an 80 MHz PPDU, a 160 MHz PPDU and a 320 MHz PPDU;
• wherein the notching pattern indicates which one or more of the 20 MHz channels in the 80 MHz portion are notched, and
• encode the PPDU for transmission in the 6 GHz band, wherein transmitted signal levels within the one or more of the 20 MHz channels to be notched are lowered to reduce interference.