# US 12,114,302 B2 · Method and apparatus for supporting sectorization coordination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,302 B2 - Document ID: US12114302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/208,776 - Filed: 2023-06-12 - Published: 2023-10-12 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-11 - Assignees: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Pengfei Xia; Oghenekome Oteri; Hanqing Lou; Nirav B Shah; Monisha Ghosh; Robert Olesen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114302B2 ## CPC - H04W 72/046: {the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams} - A63F 13/792: for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions - G06N 5/04: Inference or reasoning models - G06N 20/00: Machine learning - G06Q 30/0209: {Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game} - G06Q 30/0211: Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives - H04B 7/0417: Feedback systems - H04B 7/0491: using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity - H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming} - H04B 7/063: {Parameters other than those covered in groups H04B7/0623 - H04B7/0634, e.g. channel matrix rank or transmit mode selection} - H04L 1/00: Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received {(correcting synchronisation H04L7/00)} - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method and apparatus may be used to support coordinated and cooperative sectorized transmissions. Power control and clear channel assessment for sectorized transmissions may be used, along with sectorized beacon and associated procedures. Transmissions in a network may be protected by a first access point (AP) sending an omni-directional transmission and a beamformed or sectorized transmission to a station (STA), an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) confirming a spatially orthogonal (SO) condition based on the omni-directional transmission, and a second AP monitoring the omni-directional transmission and confirming the SO condition. The STA may be configured to receive a request-to-send (RTS) frame indicating data is available for transmission, and transmit a cooperative sectorized (CS) clear-to-send (CTS) frame indicating an ability for multiple AP reception. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for use in a station (STA), the method comprising: receiving, from an access point (AP), an omni-beam transmission indicating subsequent sectorized operation anticipated by one or more STAs that receives the omni-beam transmission, wherein the one or more STAs are located in a sector of a plurality of sectors; and transmitting, to the AP, in response to the omni-beam transmission, a response frame indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation, wherein the response frame enables the AP to set up a network allocation vector (NAV) for the subsequent sectorized operation with the one or more STAs in the sector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more STAs are capable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the AP, a clear-to-send (CTS) frame indicating to the AP a signal reception quality of the STA at the sector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the CTS frame is a short CTS null data packet (CTS NDP). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the response frame includes an indication of type 3 sectorization indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the STA is located outside of the sector but within a reception range of the omni-beam transmission from the AP. ### Claim 7 A station (STA) comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from an access point (AP), an omni-beam transmission indicating subsequent sectorized operation anticipated by one or more STAs that receives the omni-beam transmission, wherein the one or more STAs are located in a sector of a plurality of sectors; and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the AP, in response to the omni-beam transmission, a response frame indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation, wherein the response frame enables the AP to set up a network allocation vector (NAV) for the subsequent sectorized operation with the one or more STAs in the sector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The STA of claim 7, wherein the one or more STAs are capable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The STA of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, to the AP, a clear-to-send (CTS) frame indicating to the AP a signal reception quality of the STA at the sector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The STA of claim 9, wherein the CTS frame is a short CTS null data packet (CTS NDP). ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The STA of claim 7, wherein the response frame includes an indication of type 3 sectorization indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The STA of claim 7, wherein the STA is located outside of the sector but within a reception range of the omni-beam transmission from the AP. ### Claim 13 An access point (AP) comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit, to a station (STA), an omni-beam transmission indicating subsequent sectorized operation anticipated by one or more STAs that receives the omni-beam transmission, wherein the one or more STAs are located in a sector of a plurality of sectors; and a receiver configured to receive, from the STA, a response frame indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation, wherein the response frame enables the AP to set up a network allocation vector (NAV) for the subsequent sectorized operation with the one or more STAs in the sector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the one or more STAs are capable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, from the STA, a clear-to-send (CTS) frame indicating to the AP a signal reception quality of the STA at the sector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The AP of claim 15, wherein the CTS frame is a short CTS null data packet (CTS NDP). ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the response frame includes an indication of type 3 sectorization indicating that the STA is incapable of supporting the subsequent sectorized operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the STA is located outside of the sector but within a reception range of the omni-beam transmission from the AP.