Enhanced channel access for multi-link devices

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

• aligning backoff counters of two or more Stations (STAs) within a Multi-Link Device (MLD) for enhanced channel access;
• initiating transmission based on a status of backoff counters associated with Enhanced Distributed Channel Access Functions (EDCAFs) for each link;
• managing backoff counters by increasing a backoff count to match or be smaller than a non-zero value of a second backoff count used by another STA of the same MLD;
• generating a new backoff count for an EDCAF when a backoff count of a STA of the MLD reaches zero and another communication link used by a second STA of the MLD becomes busy;
• and
• determining whether to transmit using a communication link or generate a new backoff counter based on the state of the communication link and the backoff counters of other STAs in the MLD.

A method comprising:

• aligning backoff counters of two or more Stations (STAs) within a Multi-Link Device (MLD) for enhanced channel access;
• initiating transmission based on a status of backoff counters associated with Enhanced Distributed Channel Access Functions (EDCAFs) for each link;
• managing backoff counters by increasing a backoff count to match or be smaller than a non-zero value of a second backoff count used by another STA of the same MLD;
• generating a new backoff count for an EDCAF when a backoff count of a STA of the MLD reaches zero and another communication link used by a second STA of the MLD becomes busy;
• and
• determining whether to transmit using a communication link or generate a new backoff counter based on the state of the communication link and the backoff counters of other STAs in the MLD.