# US 12,225,414 B2 · Coordinated medium access

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- Number: US 12,225,414 B2
- Document ID: US12225414B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/731,102
- Filed: 2022-04-27
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-08
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Alfred Asterjadhi; George Cherian; Abhishek Pramod Patil; Venkata Ramanan Venkatachalam Jayaraman; Yan Zhou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225414B2

## CPC

- H04W 28/26: Resource reservation
- H04W 72/044: based on the type of the allocated resource
- H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
- H04W 74/02: Hybrid access
- H04W 74/04: Scheduled access (hybrid access H04W74/02)
- H04W 74/0866: {using a dedicated channel for access}
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04W 88/08: Access point devices
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for one or more wireless devices to gain access to a wireless channel of a radio frequency spectrum band. In some aspects, a recurring coordinated medium interval is defined in the time domain and associated with the wireless channel. The coordinated medium interval includes a first time period, which may be referred to as a common reservation window, and a second time period, which may be referred to as a scheduled medium access window. During the first time period, access points (APs) attempting to gain access to the wireless channel may transmit reservation signals to reserve one or more scheduled service periods within the second time period of the same coordinated medium interval. The scheduled service periods reserved by an individual AP may be used for UL/DL communications between that AP and its associated stations (STAs).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for wireless communications at a first access point (AP), comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more memories coupled with the one or more processors; and
instructions stored in the one or more memories and executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, in accordance with an access order for APs to transmit reservation signals and in accordance with an access scheme for the first AP to reserve a wireless channel of a radio frequency spectrum band during at least a portion of time resources that are associated with the wireless channel and that are available to a plurality of APs including the first AP, a reservation signal over the wireless channel to reserve multiple service periods associated with the wireless channel,
wherein each service period of the multiple service periods is configured for communications between a respective AP of the plurality of APs and respective one or more stations associated with the respective AP, between the respective AP and respective one or more APs of the plurality of APs, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the reservation signal indicates the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP; and
communicate with at least one or more stations associated with the first AP during the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP based at least in part on the reservation signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive one or more access scheme parameters associated with the access scheme, the one or more access scheme parameters comprising the access order for each respective AP of the plurality of APs to transmit respective reservation signals; and
transmit the reservation signal in accordance with the access order for the access scheme.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more access scheme parameters further comprise a start time of a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, a duration of the coordinated reservation period, a duration of a plurality of service periods that includes the multiple service periods, one or more reservation policies, a reservation signal type, a clear signal enablement indication, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive, during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, an initial signal indicating another multiple service periods reserved by another AP, the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP being based at least in part on receiving the initial signal, wherein communications of the another AP during the another multiple service periods are prioritized over communications for remaining APs of the plurality of APs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive the one or more access scheme parameters from a central controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive one or more access scheme parameters associated with a service set and comprising an indication to perform a channel availability sensing operation, the service set being associated with the plurality of APs;
perform the channel availability sensing operation to determine availability of the wireless channel; and
transmit the reservation signal based at least in part on a determination of availability of the wireless channel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
transmit a request-to-send transmission before transmitting the reservation signal and during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel; and
transmit a clear-to-send transmission after transmitting the reservation signal and during the coordinated reservation period.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive the one or more access scheme parameters from another AP.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more access scheme parameters further comprise a start time of a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, a duration of the coordinated reservation period, a duration of a plurality of service periods that includes the multiple service periods, one or more reservation policies, a reservation signal type, a clear signal enablement indication, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to at least a subset of the one or more stations associated with the first AP, an indication to transmit a clear signal in response to receiving the reservation signal; and
receive one or more clear signals in response to transmitting the reservation signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the clear signal comprises an indication of the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP for communicating with the one or more stations associated with the first AP.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
transmit control signaling allocating one or more resources for communications between the first AP and the one or more stations associated with the first AP, the control signaling selected based at least in part on the multiple service periods indicated in the reservation signal; and
communicate with the one or more stations over the one or more resources.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
transmit the reservation signal during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, wherein the time interval includes the plurality of service periods that include the multiple service periods.

### Claim 14

An apparatus for wireless communications at a station, comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more memories coupled with the one or more processors; and
instructions stored in the one or more memories and executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive, in accordance with an access order for access points (APs) to transmit reservation signals and in accordance with an access scheme for a first AP to reserve a wireless channel of a radio frequency spectrum band during at least a portion of time resources that are associated with the wireless channel and that are available to a plurality of APs including the first AP, a reservation signal over the wireless channel to reserve multiple service periods associated with the wireless channel,
wherein each service period of the multiple service periods is configured for communications between a respective AP of the plurality of APs and respective one or more stations associated with the respective AP, between the respective AP and respective one or more APs of the plurality of APs, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the reservation signal indicates the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP associated with the station; and
communicate with the first AP during the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP based at least in part on the reservation signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive the reservation signal in accordance with the access order for each respective AP of the plurality of APs to transmit respective reservation signals, the access order comprised in one or more access scheme parameters received by the first AP.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more access scheme parameters further comprise a start time of a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, a duration of the coordinated reservation period, a duration of a plurality of service periods that includes the multiple service periods, one or more reservation policies, a reservation signal type, a clear signal enablement indication, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive, during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, an initial signal indicating another multiple service periods reserved by another AP, the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP being based at least in part on receiving the initial signal, wherein communications of the another AP during the another multiple service periods are prioritized over communications for remaining APs of the plurality of APs.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive one or more access scheme parameters associated with a service set and comprising an indication that the first AP is to perform a channel availability sensing operation, the service set being associated with the plurality of APs; and
receive the reservation signal based at least in part on a determination of availability of the wireless channel obtained by the first AP.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the first AP, a request-to-send transmission before receiving the reservation signal and during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel; and
receive, from the first AP, a clear-to-send transmission after receiving the reservation signal and during the coordinated reservation period.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more access scheme parameters further comprise a start time of a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, a duration of the coordinated reservation period, a duration of a plurality of service periods that includes the multiple service periods, one or more reservation policies, a reservation signal type, a clear signal enablement indication, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the first AP, an indication to transmit a clear signal in response to receiving the reservation signal; and
transmit the clear signal in response to transmitting the reservation signal.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the clear signal comprises an indication of the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP for communicating with one or more stations associated with the first AP.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive control signaling allocating one or more resources for communications between the first AP and the station, the one or more resources selected based at least in part on the multiple service periods indicated in the reservation signal; and
communicate with the first AP over the one or more resources.

### Claim 24 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
receive the reservation signal during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, wherein the time interval includes the plurality of service periods that include the multiple service periods.

### Claim 25

A method for wireless communications at a first access point (AP), comprising:
transmitting, in accordance with an access order for APs to transmit reservation signals and in accordance with an access scheme for the first AP to reserve a wireless channel of a radio frequency spectrum band during at least a portion of time resources that are associated with the wireless channel and that are available to a plurality of APs including the first AP, a reservation signal over the wireless channel to reserve multiple service periods associated with the wireless channel,
wherein each service period of the multiple service periods configured for communications between a respective AP of the plurality of APs and respective one or more stations associated with the respective AP, between the respective AP and respective one or more APs of the plurality of APs, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the reservation signal indicates the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP; and
communicating with at least one or more stations associated with the first AP during the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP based at least in part on the reservation signal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising:
receiving one or more access scheme parameters associated with the access scheme, the one or more access scheme parameters comprising the access order for each respective AP of the plurality of APs to transmit respective reservation signals; and
transmitting the reservation signal in accordance with the access order for the access scheme.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising:
receiving one or more access scheme parameters associated with a service set and comprising an indication to perform a channel availability sensing operation, the service set being associated with the plurality of APs;
performing the channel availability sensing operation to determine availability of the wireless channel; and
transmitting the reservation signal based at least in part on a determination of availability of the wireless channel.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising:
transmitting control signaling allocating one or more resources for communications between the first AP and the one or more stations associated with the first AP, the control signaling selected based at least in part on the multiple service periods indicated in the reservation signal; and
communicating with the one or more stations over the one or more resources.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising:
transmitting the reservation signal during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, wherein the time interval includes the plurality of service periods that include the multiple service periods.

### Claim 30

A method for wireless communications at a station, comprising:
receiving, in accordance with an access order for access points (APs) to transmit reservation signals and in accordance with an access scheme for a first AP to reserve a wireless channel of a radio frequency spectrum band during at least a portion of time resources that are associated with the wireless channel and that are available to a plurality of APs including the first AP, a reservation signal over the wireless channel to reserve multiple service periods associated with the wireless channel,
wherein each service period of the multiple service periods is configured for communications between a respective AP of the plurality of APs and respective one or more stations associated with the respective AP, between the respective AP and respective one or more APs of the plurality of APs, or any combination thereof, and
wherein the reservation signal indicates the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP associated with the station; and
communicating with the first AP during the multiple service periods reserved by the first AP based at least in part on the reservation signal.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising:
receiving the reservation signal in accordance with the access order for each respective AP of the plurality of APs to transmit respective reservation signals, the access order comprised in one or more access scheme parameters received by the first AP.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising:
receiving one or more access scheme parameters associated with a service set and comprising an indication that the first AP is to perform a channel availability sensing operation, the service set being associated with the plurality of APs; and
receiving the reservation signal based at least in part on a determination of availability of the wireless channel obtained by the first AP.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more access scheme parameters further comprise a start time of a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, a duration of the coordinated reservation period, a duration of a plurality of service periods that includes the multiple service periods, one or more reservation policies, a reservation signal type, a clear signal enablement indication, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising:
receiving the reservation signal during a coordinated reservation period included in a time interval associated with the wireless channel, wherein the time interval includes the plurality of service periods that include the multiple service periods.