Fast basic service set transition for multi-link operation

A non-access point (non-AP) multi-link device (MLD) comprising:

• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one modem, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to:
• transmit, by a first station of a plurality of stations of the non-AP MLD to a first AP MLD, an initial association request to initiate an association between the non-AP MLD and the first AP MLD;
• receive, from the first AP MLD, a first response to the initial association request indicating establishment of a secret key shared by the non-AP MLD and the first AP MLD;
• generate a first pairwise master key (PMK) based on the secret key;
• transmit, by a second station of the plurality of stations of the non-AP MLD to a first target AP, a first reassociation request based on the first response to the initial association request;
• generate a second PMK based on the first PMK, a medium access control service access point (MAC-SAP) address that uniquely identifies the non-AP MLD in a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a medium access control (MAC) address of the first target AP;
• receive, from the first target AP, a second response to the first reassociation request the second response to the first reassociation request being based on the second PMK;
• and
• associate with the first target AP based on the second PMK responsive to the second response.

A method for wireless communication by an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), the method comprising:

• receiving an initial association request to initiate an association between a non-AP MLD and the AP MLD from a first station of a plurality of stations of the non-AP MLD;
• establishing a secret key shared with the non-AP MLD based on the initial association request;
• transmitting, by the AP MLD to the first station, a response to the initial association request indicating the establishment of the secret key;
• generating a first pairwise master key (PMK) based on the secret key;
• receiving, from a second station of the plurality of stations of the non-AP MLD through a first target access point (AP) in the AP MLD, a first reassociation request after the response to the initial association request is transmitted;
• generating a second PMK based on the first PMK, a medium access control service access point (MAC-SAP) address that uniquely identifies the non-AP MLD in a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a medium access control (MAC) address of the first target AP;
• transmitting, by the AP MLD to the second station, a response to the first reassociation request, the response being based on the second PMK;
• and
• associating with the second station based on the second PMK.

An access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) comprising:

• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one modem, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to:
• receive, from a first station of a plurality of stations of a non-AP MLD, an initial association request to initiate an association between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD;
• establish a secret key shared with the non-AP MLD based on the initial association request;
• transmit, by the AP MLD to the first station, a response to the initial association request indicating establishment of the secret key;
• generate a first pairwise master key (PMK) based on the secret key;
• receive, from a second station of the plurality of stations of the non-AP MLD through a first target AP in the AP MLD, a first reassociation request after the response to the initial association request is transmitted;
• generate a second PMK based on the first PMK, a medium access control service access point (MAC-SAP) address that uniquely identifies the non-AP MLD in a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a medium access control (MAC) address of the first target AP;
• transmit, by the AP MLD to the second station, a response to the first reassociation request that is based on the second PMK;
• and
• associate with the second station based on the second PMK.

A method for communication by a wireless network controller, the method comprising:

• receiving, from an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), an address of a non-AP MLD and a first pairwise master key (PMK) that is generated during an initial association of the AP MLD with a first station of the non-AP MLD;
• receiving a message indicating a medium access control service access point (MAC-SAP) address that uniquely identifies the non-AP MLD in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a medium access control (MAC) address of a first target AP in the AP MLD, the message being received in relation to a first reassociation request received at the first target AP;
• generating a second PMK based on the first PMK, the MAC-SAP address and the MAC address of the first target AP;
• and
• transmitting, to the AP MLD, the second PMK for use in associating the AP MLD with a second station of the non-AP MLD.

A network controller comprising:

• at least one modem;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one modem;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one modem, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to:
• receive, from an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), a first pairwise master key (PMK) and an address of a non-AP MLD, the first PMK being generated during an initial association of the AP MLD with a first station of the non-AP MLD;
• receive a message indicating a medium access control service access point (MAC-SAP) address that uniquely identifies the non-AP MLD in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a medium access control (MAC) address of a first target AP in the AP MLD, the message being received in relation to a first reassociation request received at the first target AP;
• generate a second PMK based on the first PMK, the MAC-SAP address and the MAC address of the first target AP;
• and
• transmit the second PMK to the AP MLD for use in associating the AP MLD with a second station of the non-AP MLD.