Short packet optimization in WLAN systems

A method performed for multi-user (MU) communications performed by a station (STA), the method comprising:

• receiving a downlink (DL) MU transmission;
• receiving a control frame, wherein the control frame includes uplink (UL) MU response scheduling information for transmission of a block acknowledgement (BA) by the STA and BAs by a group of STAs;
• and
• transmitting the BA, wherein the transmission of the BA occurs a SIFS interval after the received control frame as part of an MU transmission, wherein the BA acknowledges the received DL MU transmission.

An access point (AP) configured for multi-user (MU) communications, the AP comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a downlink (DL) MU transmission;
• the transmitter configured to transmit a control frame, wherein the control frame includes uplink (UL) MU response scheduling information for transmission of block acknowledgments (BAs) by a group of STAs;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive the BAs, wherein the BAs are received at least a short interframe spacing (SIFS) interval after the received control frame as part of an MU transmission, and wherein the BAs acknowledge the received DL MU transmission.