Deferral mechanism for improved medium reuse in wireless networks with transmit power imbalances

A method for wireless communication with a wireless apparatus, comprising:

• sensing, at a receiver associated with the wireless apparatus, a data unit transmitted on a medium associated with a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) network, wherein the sensed data unit comprises information that indicates a transmit power associated with the sensed data unit;
• determining, on a processor associated with the wireless apparatus, a received power and an intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit;
• determining, on the processor associated with the wireless apparatus, the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit from the information in the sensed data unit that indicates the transmit power;
• and
• initiating, via the processor associated with the wireless apparatus, one or more transmissions on the medium associated with the CSMA network if the wireless apparatus is not the intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit, the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit exceeds a first threshold, and the received power associated with the sensed data unit does not equal or exceed a second threshold.

An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

• means for sensing a data unit transmitted on a medium associated with a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) network, wherein the sensed data unit comprises information that indicates a transmit power associated with the sensed data unit;
• means for determining a received power and an intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit;
• means for determining the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit from the information in the sensed data unit that indicates the transmit power;
• and
• means for initiating one or more transmissions on the medium associated with the CSMA network if the apparatus is not the intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit, the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit exceeds a first threshold, and the received power associated with the sensed data unit does not equal or exceed a second threshold.

A tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein executing the instructions on an apparatus cause the apparatus to:

• sense a data unit transmitted on a medium associated with a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) network, wherein the sensed data unit comprises information that indicates a transmit power associated with the sensed data unit;
• determine a received power and an intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit;
• determine the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit from the information in the sensed data unit that indicates the transmit power;
• and
• initiate one or more transmissions on the medium associated with the CSMA network if the apparatus is not the intended receiver associated with the sensed data unit, the transmit power associated with the sensed data unit exceeds a first threshold, and the received power associated with the sensed data unit does not equal or exceed a second threshold.