Methods of Operating a Wireless Device, and Apparatus and Computer Programs Therefor

Apparatus for a wireless communication device, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the wireless communication device to:
• receive a request to reserve a shared medium in an overlapping service area, wherein the reservation request comprises information identifying at least one address related to the wireless communication device and a first parameter characterising the requested reservation;
• determine an acknowledgement type identifier based on at least the first parameter;
• schedule data communication via the shared medium based on the information identifying at least one address related to the wireless communication device;
• and
• send an acknowledgement of the reservation request comprising the acknowledgement type identifier and a second parameter characterising the requested reservation.

A method for determining the existence of an interference condition in an overlapping service area of a plurality of wireless networks, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more signals transmitted by access points in a shared medium of the overlapping service area;
• determining a first set of identifiers of wireless networks in the overlapping service area based on information comprising the one or more signals transmitted by the access points;
• receiving one or more signals transmitted by stations in the shared medium;
• determining a second set of identifiers of wireless networks in the overlapping service area based on information comprising the one or more signals transmitted by the stations;
• and
• determining the existence of the interference condition by comparing the first and second sets of identifiers.