Resource unit (RU) downsizing

A wireless communication device comprising:

• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to:
• receive a trigger frame soliciting a trigger-based (TB) physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) from the wireless communication device, the trigger frame including a user information field carrying resource unit (RU) allocation information indicating a plurality of tones allocated for the TB PPDU and carrying downsizing information indicating whether downsizing of the plurality of tones is permitted, the plurality of tones representing a first RU or a first multiple resource unit (MRU) associated with a wireless medium;
• receive RU guarantee information comprising a set of bits that indicates one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU;
• determine that one or more tones of the plurality of tones are unavailable, the one or more unavailable tones being associated with a portion of the wireless medium in which there is interference;
• and
• selectively transmit the TB PPDU on a subset of tones of the plurality of tones based on the downsizing information, the subset of tones representing a second RU or a second MRU that is smaller than the first RU or the first MRU, and the subset of tones including at least the one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU.

A method for wireless communication performed by a wireless communication device, comprising:

• transmitting a trigger frame soliciting a trigger-based (TB) physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), the trigger frame including a user information field carrying resource unit (RU) allocation information indicating a plurality of tones allocated for the TB PPDU and carrying downsizing information indicating that downsizing of the plurality of tones is permitted, the plurality of tones representing a first RU or a first multiple resource unit (MRU);
• transmitting RU guarantee information comprising a set of bits that indicates one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU;
• and
• receiving the TB PPDU on a subset of tones of the plurality of tones responsive to the trigger frame, the subset of tones representing a second RU or a second MRU that is smaller than the first RU or the first MRU, and the subset of tones including at least the one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU.

A wireless communication device comprising:

• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to:
• transmit a trigger frame soliciting a trigger-based (TB) physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), the trigger frame including a user information field carrying resource unit (RU) allocation information indicating a plurality of tones allocated for the TB PPDU and downsizing information indicating that downsizing of the plurality of tones is permitted, the plurality of tones representing a first RU or a first multiple resource unit (MRU);
• transmit RU guarantee information comprising a set of bits that indicates one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU;
• and
• receive the TB PPDU on a subset of tones of the plurality of tones responsive to the trigger frame, the subset of tones representing a second RU or a second MRU that is smaller than the first RU or the first MRU, and the subset of tones including at least the one or more tones of the plurality of tones guaranteed to be associated with the TB PPDU.