# US 12,114,259 B2 · Access point and station multi-link device operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,259 B2 - Document ID: US12114259B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/337,043 - Filed: 2021-06-02 - Published: 2021-12-02 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-02 - Assignees: NXP USA, Inc. - Applicants: NXP USA, Inc. - Inventors: Liwen Chu; Hongyuan Zhang; Young Hoon Kwon; Huiling Lou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114259B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Various embodiments relate to a method performed by a multi-link device (MLD) access point to establish a target wake time (TWT) with a MLD station, wherein a plurality of links are established between the MLD access point and the MLD station, including: transmitting, by the MLD access point, a TWT set up frame to the MLD station configured to indicate whether the TWT set up frame is applied to multiple links of the plurality of links; and negotiating, by the MLD access point, a TWT agreement with the MLD station via one of the multiple links with the MLD station, wherein the TWT agreement applies to all of the indicated multiple links. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by a multi-link device (MLD) access point to establish a target wake time (TWT) with a MLD station, wherein a plurality of links are established between the MLD access point and the MLD station, comprising: transmitting, by the MLD access point, a TWT set up frame to the MLD station configured to indicate whether the TWT set up frame is applied to multiple links within the plurality of links; and negotiating, by the MLD access point, a single TWT agreement with the MLD station via one of the multiple links with the MLD station, wherein the single TWT agreement applies to all of the indicated multiple links, and wherein TWT service periods in the indicated multiple links start at same time and end at same time, and have same trigger enabled/non-trigger enable and announced/unannounced parameters; wherein the TWT set up frame includes a link bitmap having a set of bits; wherein each of the bits corresponds to one specific link in the plurality of links and indicates whether the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to the specific link; and tearing down, by the MLD access point, the negotiated TWT agreement, wherein tearing down, by the MLD access point, the negotiated TWT agreement comprises tearing down the TWT service periods of a TWT flow identifier of all of the indicated multiple links through a TWT teardown frame in one link. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising suspending or resuming, by the MLD access point, the negotiated TWT agreement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising negotiating, by the MLD access point, a separate TWT agreement with the MLD station for one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links via the one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links with the MLD station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are indicated based upon the MLD station type. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein MLD station type includes one of enhanced multi-link single radio (eMLSR) station, multi-link single radio (MLSR) station, enhanced multi-link multi-radio (eMLMR) station, and multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are associated with eMLSR stations and EMLMR stations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the TWT service period (SP) for the multiple links start at the same time and end at the same time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a power save operation transmitted in one of the multiple links is applies to all of the multiple links. ### Claim 9 A method performed by a multi-link device (MLD) station to establish a target wake time (TWT) with a MLD access point, wherein a plurality of links are established between the MLD access point and the MLD station, comprising: receiving, by the MLD station, a TWT set up frame from the MLD access point configured to indicate whether the TWT set up frame is applied to multiple links of the plurality of links; and negotiating, by the MLD station, a TWT agreement with the MLD access point via one of the multiple links with the MLD access point, wherein the TWT agreement applies to all of the indicated multiple links, and wherein TWT service periods in the indicated multiple links start at same time and end at same time, and have same trigger enabled/non-trigger enable and announced/unannounced parameters; wherein the TWT set up frame includes a link bitmap having a set of bits; wherein each of the bits corresponds to one specific link in the plurality of links and indicates whether the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to the specific link; and tearing down, by the MLD station, the negotiated TWT agreement, wherein tearing down, by the MLD station, the negotiated TWT agreement comprises tearing down the TWT service periods of a TWT flow identifier of all of the indicated multiple links through a TWT teardown frame in one link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising suspending or resuming, by the MLD station, the negotiated TWT agreement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising negotiating, by the MLD station, a separate TWT agreement with the MLD access point for one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links via the one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links with the MLD access point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are indicated based upon the MLD station type. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein MLD station type includes one of enhanced multi-link single radio (eMLSR) station, multi-link single radio (MLSR) station, enhanced multi-link multi-radio (eMLMR) station, and multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are associated with eMLSR stations and EMLMR stations. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the TWT service period (SP) for the multiple links start at the same time and end at the same time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein a power save operation transmitted in one of the multiple links is applies to all of the multiple links. ### Claim 17 A multi-link device (MLD) access point configured to establish a target wake time (TWT) with a MLD station, wherein a plurality of links are established between the MLD access point and the MLD station, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a TWT set up frame to the MLD station configured to indicate whether the TWT set up frame is applied to multiple links of the plurality of links; and a processor configured to negotiate a TWT agreement with the MLD station via one of the multiple links with the MLD station, wherein the TWT agreement applies to all of the indicated multiple links, and wherein TWT service periods in the indicated multiple links start at same time and end at same time, and have same trigger enabled/non-trigger enable and announced/unannounced parameters; wherein the TWT set up frame includes a link bitmap having a set of bits; wherein each of the bits corresponds to one specific link in the plurality of links and indicates whether the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to the specific link, and wherein the processor is further configured to tear down the negotiated TWT agreement by tearing down the TWT service periods of a TWT flow identifier of all of the indicated multiple links through a TWT teardown frame in one link. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to suspend or resume the negotiated TWT agreement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate a separate TWT agreement with the MLD station for one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links via the one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links with the MLD station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are indicated based upon the MLD station type. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The MLD access point of claim 20, wherein MLD station type includes one of enhanced multi-link single radio (eMLSR) station, multi-link single radio (MLSR) station, enhanced multi-link multi-radio (eMLMR) station, and multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) station. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The MLD access point of claim 21, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are associated with eMLSR stations and EMLMR stations. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17, wherein the TWT service period (SP) for the multiple links start at the same time and end at the same time. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17, wherein a power save operation transmitted in one of the multiple links is applies to all of the multiple links. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The MLD access point of claim 17: wherein if the link bitmap does not indicate that the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to a particular link, then a separate TWT agreement will be negotiated separately for the particular link. ### Claim 26 A multi-link device (MLD) station configured to establish a target wake time (TWT) with a MLD access point, wherein a plurality of links are established between the MLD access point and the MLD station, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a TWT set up frame to the MLD access point configured to indicate whether the TWT set up frame is applied to multiple links of the plurality of links; and a processor configured to negotiate a TWT agreement with the MLD access point via one of the multiple links with the MLD access point, wherein the TWT agreement applies to all of the indicated multiple links, and wherein TWT service periods in the indicated multiple links start at same time and end at same time, and have same trigger enabled/non-trigger enable and announced/unannounced parameters; wherein the TWT set up frame includes a link bitmap having a set of bits; wherein each of the bits corresponds to one specific link in the plurality of links and indicates whether the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to the specific link, and wherein the processor is further configured to tear down the negotiated TWT agreement by tearing down the TWT service periods of a TWT flow identifier of all of the indicated multiple links through a TWT teardown frame in one link. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to suspend or resume the negotiated TWT agreement. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to negotiate a separate TWT agreement with the MLD access point for one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links via the one of the plurality of links that is not one of the multiple links with the MLD station. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are indicated based upon the MLD station type. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The MLD station of claim 29, wherein MLD station type includes one of enhanced multi-link single radio (eMLSR) station, multi-link single radio (MLSR) station, enhanced multi-link multi-radio (eMLMR) station, and multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) station. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The MLD station of claim 30, wherein the multiple links of the plurality of links are associated with eMLSR stations and EMLMR stations. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26, wherein the TWT service period (SP) for the multiple links start at the same time and end at the same time. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26, wherein a power save operation transmitted in one of the multiple links is applies to all of the multiple links. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The MLD station of claim 26: wherein if the link bitmap does not indicate that the negotiated single TWT agreement is applied to a particular link, then a separate TWT agreement will be negotiated separately for the particular link.