Scrambling sequences for request-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) frames

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 in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to cause the wireless communication device to:
• generate a second scrambler seed value being associated with at least 11 bits, the generation being based on 7 least significant bits (LSBs) associated with a first scrambler seed value, wherein each of the 7 LSBs has a value of zero;
• generate a scrambling sequence based on the second scrambler seed value and a polynomial, wherein at least one bit of a portion of the at least 11 bits has a non-zero value, the portion comprising 7 LSBs of the second scrambler seed value;
• construct a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) that includes a multi-user (MU) request-to-send (RTS) frame and the second scrambler seed value;
• scramble one or more portions of the PPDU based on the scrambling sequence;
• transmit the one or more scrambled portions of the PPDU;
• and
• receive, after transmitting the one or more scrambled portions of the PPDU, clear-to-send (CTS) frames, via PPDU duplicates, wherein each of the PPDU duplicates carries the CTS frame and is received over a corresponding 20 MHz frequency subband.

A method for wireless communication performed at a receiving device, the method comprising:

• receiving a first physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) that includes a multi-user (MU) request-to-send (RTS) frame and a scrambler seed value, the scrambler seed value being associated with at least 11 bits, wherein at least one bit of a portion of the at least 11 bits has a non-zero value, the portion comprising 7 least significant bits (LSBs) of the scrambler seed value;
• extracting a plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value;
• in response to each of the extracted plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value having a zero value, modifying the extracted plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value by replacing at least one of the extracted plurality of LSBs with a non-zero value;
• generating a scrambling sequence based on the modified extracted plurality of LSBs and a polynomial;
• constructing a second PPDU that includes a clear-to-send (CTS) frame;
• scrambling one or more portions of the second PPDU based on the scrambling sequence;
• and
• transmitting a plurality of PPDU duplicates associated with the scrambled one or more portions of the second PPDU, each PPDU duplicate of the plurality of PPDU duplicates carrying the CTS frame.

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 in conjunction with the at least one modem, is configured to cause the wireless communication device to:
• receive a first physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) that includes a multi-user (MU) request-to-send (RTS) frame and a scrambler seed value, the scrambler seed value being associated with at least 11 bits, wherein at least one bit of a portion of the at least 11 bits has a non-zero value, the portion comprising 7 least significant bits (LSBs) of the scrambler seed value;
• extract a plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value;
• in response to each of the extracted plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value having a zero value, modify the extracted plurality of LSBs of the scrambler seed value by replacing at least one of the extracted plurality of LSBs with a non-zero value;
• generate a scrambling sequence based on the modified extracted plurality of LSBs and a polynomial;
• construct a second PPDU that includes a clear-to-send (CTS) frame;
• scramble one or more portions of the second PPDU based on the scrambling sequence;
• and
• transmit a plurality of PPDU duplicates associated with the scrambled one or more portions of the second PPDU, each PPDU duplicate of the plurality of PPDU duplicates carrying the CTS frame.