# US 12,225,584 B2 · Restricted target wait time (R-TWT) operations and parameters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,584 B2 - Document ID: US12225584B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/679,798 - Filed: 2022-02-24 - Published: 2022-12-01 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-25 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation; Sony Corporation of America - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation; Sony Corporation of America - Inventors: Liangxiao Xin; Mohamed Abouelseoud; Li-Hsiang Sun; Qing Xia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225584B2 ## CPC - H04L 27/0006: {Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio (for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14)} - H04W 74/0816: with collision avoidance - H04L 5/0073: {Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences} - H04L 5/0098: {Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands} - H04W 48/10: using broadcasted information - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 52/0209: {in terminal devices} - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - H04W 72/53: based on regulatory allocation policies - H04W 74/002: {Transmission of channel access control information} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A wireless protocol performing Restricted Target Wait Time (R-TWT) signaling and its parameters to reduce latency, such as for real-time application traffic. Further control of traffic flow is provided during the R-TWT Service Period (SP), including whether: R-TWT SP can be extended, multiple overlapped R-TWT SPs on different links can be started, spatial reuse is required during R-TWT SP, allowance of transmission outside R-TWT SP, or use of Quiet element to protect R-TWT SP, whereby R-TWT operation (mode) is described with enhanced operations. Protocol is applicable to Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), and is especially well suited for 802.11be 802.11ax, Real-Time Application (RTA) traffic such as on time sensitive networks, Wi-Fi and on Multi-Link Devices (MLDs). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for wireless communication in a network, the apparatus comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuit, as a wireless station (STA) operating as either a regular STA or an Access Point (AP) STA, for wirelessly communicating with other wireless stations (STAs) using a carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism on a wireless local area network (WLAN); (b) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit for operating on the WLAN; (c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor for communicating with other STAs; and (d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps of a wireless communications protocol for said wireless communication circuit, comprising: (i) reusing broadcast target wake time (B-TWT) signaling as defined in IEEE 802.11ax for establishing a restricted TWT (R-TWT); (ii) indicating within said B-TWT, using a bit of a broadcast TWT parameter set field which is reserved in IEEE 802.11ax, for indicating use of R-TWT; and (iii) indicating additional settings to specify traffic flow for R-TWT in response to utilizing other bits in a broadcast TWT recommendation field which are reserved in IEEE 802.11ax. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses bit 9 (B9) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the broadcast TWT signaling is for restricted TWT (R-TWT). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate additional settings for restricted TWT. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1: wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether a quiet element is used to protect R-TWT; and wherein said quiet element is utilized to schedule quiet intervals to prevent channel contention from the STAs, which are not members of the R-TWT service period (SP), enter a quiet mode during the R-TWT SP after receiving a quiet element command from a scheduling AP. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the restricted TWT can be extended to beyond its scheduled end time if corresponding traffic has not been transmitted at the end of R-TWT service period (SP). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA use one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the AP is forced to use PSR-based spatial reuse during restricted TWT service period (SP). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said PSR-based spatial reuse comprises parameterized spatial reuse transmission (PSRT) or parameterized spatial reuse reception (PSRR) physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) as defined in IEEE 802.11ax for spatial reuse. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the AP and R-TWT members can access multiple overlapped R-TWT service period (SPs) on different links over the same periods of time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an option for multiple overlapped R-TWT SPs is selected from a group of options consisting of (a) allowing only one scheduled overlapped R-TWT SP to be started and the others cancelled; and (b) allowing multiple scheduled overlapped R-TWT service period (SPs) to be started. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether traffic from all stream classification service (SCS) is allowed to transmit during R-TWT service period (SP). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether a member of R-TWT needs to wake-up and sleep as indicated in the broadcast TWT. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate the amount of traffic information included in the broadcast TWT parameter set field. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said traffic information is selected from a group of traffic information consisting of traffic specification (TSPEC), stream classification service identification (SCSID) and traffic identifier (TID). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether a R-TWT member is allowed to perform channel contention outside of the R-TWT service period (SPs). ### Claim 15 An apparatus for wireless communication in a network, the apparatus comprising: (a) a wireless communication circuit, as a wireless station (STA) operating as either a regular STA or an Access Point (AP) STA for wirelessly communicating with other wireless stations (STAs) using a carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism on a wireless local area network (WLAN); (b) a processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit for operating on the WLAN; (c) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor for communicating with other STAs; and (d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform steps of a wireless communications protocol for said wireless communication circuit, comprising: (i) reusing broadcast target wake time (B-TWT) signaling as defined in IEEE 802.11ax for establishing a restricted TWT (R-TWT); (ii) indicating within said B-TWT, using a bit of a broadcast TWT parameter set field which is reserved in IEEE 802.11ax, for indicating use of R-TWT; (iii) indicating additional settings to specify traffic flow for R-TWT in response to utilizing other bits in a broadcast TWT recommendation field which are reserved in IEEE 802.11ax; and (iv) wherein one or more traffic flow settings are selected from a group of traffic flow settings consisting of: (A) indicating whether a quiet element is used to protect R-TWT, (B) indicating whether the restricted TWT can be extended to beyond its scheduled end time if corresponding traffic has not been transmitted at the end of R-TWT service period (SP), (C) indicating whether the AP is forced to use PSR-based spatial reuse during restricted TWT SP, (D) indicating whether the AP and R-TWT members can access multiple overlapped R-TWT SPs on different links over the same periods of time, (E) indicating whether traffic from all stream classification service (SCS) is allowed to transmit during R-TWT SP, (F) indicating whether a member of R-TWT needs to wake-up/sleep in response to the broadcast TWT, (G) indicating an amount of traffic information included in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the STA uses bit 9 (B9) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the broadcast TWT signaling is for restricted TWT (R-TWT). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the STA uses one bit between bit 7 (B7) and bit 8 (B8) or bit 15 (B15) of the request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate additional settings for restricted TWT. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said traffic information is selected from a group of traffic information consisting of traffic specification (TSPEC), stream classification service identification (SCSID) and traffic identifier (TID). ### Claim 19 A method of wireless communication in a network, comprising: (a) communicating between a wireless station (STA) executing a wireless communications protocol and operating as either a regular STA or an Access Point (AP) STA for wirelessly communicating with other wireless stations (STAs) using a carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism on a wireless local area network (WLAN); (b) reusing broadcast target wake time (B-TWT) signaling as defined in IEEE 802.11ax for establishing a restricted TWT (R-TWT); (c) indicating within said B-TWT, using a bit of a broadcast TWT parameter set field which is reserved in IEEE 802.11ax, for indicating use of R-TWT; and (d) indicating additional settings to specify traffic flow for R-TWT in response to utilizing other bits in a broadcast TWT recommendation field which are reserved in IEEE 802.11ax. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the STA uses bit 9 (B9) of a request type field in the broadcast TWT parameter set field to indicate whether the broadcast TWT signaling is for restricted TWT (R-TWT).