# US 2021/0243628 A1 · Methods and devices for sub-channelized transmission schemes in wlans > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243628 A1 - Document ID: US20210243628A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/235,599 - Filed: 2021-04-20 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-29 - Assignees: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Oghenekome Oteri; Hanqing Lou; Nirav B. Shah; Xiaofei Wang; Rui Yang; Guodong Zhang; Frank La Sita; Robert L. Olesen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243628A1 ## CPC - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04J 11/00: Orthogonal multiplex systems, {e.g. using WALSH codes}(H04J13/00 takes precedence) - H04W 52/34: TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading - H04W 74/006: {in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal} - H04W 74/0808: using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA] - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) ## Abstract Device, systems, and/or techniques for using sub-channel signaling information between an access point and a first station are disclosed. An uplink trigger sent from the access point to the first station may be received. A map may be transmitted from the first station indicating at least one sub-channel that is available for spatial sharing by a second station. The first station may receive an acknowledgement from the access point that data was transmitted from the second station on the at least one sub-channel and/or received by the at least one access point. An OFDMA transmission having a sub-channel/sub-band available for transmitting data may be determined. An energy in the sub-channel/sub-band may be measured and/or compared to a dynamic and/or static threshold. Whether a sub-channel/sub-band is free or busy may be determined for example based on if the measured energy is, or is not, greater than the threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for use in a first station (STA) associated with a basic service set (BSS), the method comprising: receiving, from an access point (AP) associated with the BSS, a trigger frame indicating whether each of a plurality of sub-bands is allowed for spatial reuse by a second STA associated with an overlapping basic service set (OBSS); and transmitting a physical (PHY) layer preamble that includes a signal field indicating whether each of the plurality of sub-bands is allowed for the spatial reuse by the second STA. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger frame solicits an Uplink Orthogonal Frequency-Divisional Multiple Access (UL OFDMA) transmission from the first STA. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the PHY layer preamble is included in a PHY layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal field is a HE-SIGA1 field. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-bands comprise 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal filed indicates a plurality of power thresholds associated with the plurality of sub-bands allowed for the spatial reuse. ### Claim 7 A first station (STA) associated with a basic service set (BSS), the first STA comprising: a processor; and a transceiver, the processor and the transceiver are configured to: receive, from an access point (AP) associated with the BSS, a trigger frame indicating whether each of a plurality of sub-bands is allowed for spatial reuse by a second STA associated with an overlapping basic service set (OBSS); and transmit a physical (PHY) layer preamble that includes a signal field indicating whether each of the plurality of sub-bands is allowed for the spatial reuse by the second STA. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The first STA of claim 7, wherein the trigger frame solicits an Uplink Orthogonal Frequency-Divisional Multiple Access (UL OFDMA) transmission from the first STA. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The first STA of claim 7, wherein the PHY layer preamble is included in a PHY layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU). ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The first STA of claim 7, wherein the signal field is a HE-SIGA1 field. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The first STA of claim 7, wherein the plurality of sub-bands comprise 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The first STA of claim 7, wherein the signal filed indicates a plurality of power thresholds associated with the plurality of sub-bands allowed for the spatial reuse. ### Claim 13 An access point (AP) associated with a basic service set (BSS), the AP comprising: a processor; and a transceiver, the processor and the transceiver are configured to: transmit a trigger frame indicating whether each of a plurality of sub-bands is allowed for spatial reuse by a second STA associated with an overlapping basic service set (OBSS); and receiving, from a first STA associated with the BSS, a physical (PHY) layer preamble that includes a signal field indicating whether each of the plurality of sub-bands is allowed for the spatial reuse by the second STA. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the trigger frame solicits an Uplink Orthogonal Frequency-Divisional Multiple Access (UL OFDMA) transmission from the first STA. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the PHY layer preamble is included in a PHY layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU). ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the signal field is a HE-SIGA1 field. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sub-bands comprise 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The AP of claim 13, wherein the signal filed indicates a plurality of power thresholds associated with the plurality of sub-bands allowed for the spatial reuse.