Multi-user-RTS and CTS frames for a sub-channel selective transmission station

A method for providing a multi-user (MU)-request-to-send (RTS) frame, comprising:

• by an electronic device:
• providing the MU-RTS frame, communicating an RTS in a channel associated with a second electronic device and communicating a second RTS in a second channel associated with a third electronic device, wherein the third electronic device comprises a sub-channel selective transmission (SST) station and the second electronic device comprises a non-SST station;
• and wherein the MU-RTS comprises one or more user-information fields specific to the third electronic device and excludes the one or more user-information fields for the second electronic device;
• and
• receiving an MU-clear-to-send (CTS) frame comprising a CTS in a third channel associated with the third electronic device, wherein the MU-RTS frame specifies a format type of the CTS frame and the format type comprises a reserved field with station-specific information, and the MU-CTS frame indicates one or more channels used to communicate the MU-CTS frame.

An electronic device, comprising:

• an interface circuit, communicatively coupled to an antenna node, configured to allow the electronic device to communicate with a second electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to:
• receive, at the interface circuit in a channel associated with the electronic device, a request-to-send (RTS) in a multi-user (MU)-request-to-send (RTS) frame, wherein the MU-RTS frame is associated with the second electronic device and communicates a second RTS in a second channel associated with a third electronic device, and wherein the electronic device comprises a sub-channel selective transmission (SST) station and the third electronic device comprises a non-SST station;
• and wherein the MU-RTS comprises one or more user-information fields specific to the third electronic device and excludes the one or more user-information fields for the second electronic device;
• and
• provide, from the interface circuit, a clear-to-send (CTS) in an MU-CTS frame in a third channel associated with the electronic device, wherein the MU-RTS frame specifies a format type of the CTS frame and the format type comprises a reserved field with station-specific information, and the MU-CTS frame indicates one or more channels used to communicate the MU-CTS frame.