Systems and methods for improved communication efficiency in high efficiency wireless networks

An apparatus configured to communicate in a wireless communication system including a first device communicating via a first protocol, and a second device communicating via a second protocol, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a first communication announcing a second communication;
• a processor configured to determine a first time interval for communication according to the first protocol;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit, according to the second protocol, the second communication for at least partially protecting reception of communications during the first time interval,
• wherein the second communication comprises a clear to send message comprising a specific medium access control (MAC) address identifiable by the first device as instructing not to update an associated network allocation vector according to a duration field in the clear to send message, the address not being identifiable by the second device such that the second device is instructed to update an associated network allocation vector according to the duration field.

An apparatus for wireless communication in a wireless communication system including a first device communicating via a first protocol, and a second device communicating via a second protocol, comprising:

• means for receiving a first communication announcing a second communication;
• means for determining a first time interval for communication according to the first protocol;
• and
• means for transmitting, according to the second protocol, the second communication for at least partially protecting reception of communications during the first time interval,
• wherein the second communication comprises a clear to send message comprising a specific medium access control (MAC) address identifiable by the first device as instructing not to update an associated network allocation vector according to a duration field in the clear to send message, the address not being identifiable by the second device such that the second device is instructed to update an associated network allocation vector according to the duration field.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

• receive a first communication announcing a second communication in a wireless communication system including a first device communicating via a first protocol, and a second device communicating via a second protocol;
• determine a first time interval for communication according to the first protocol;
• and
• transmit, according to a legacy protocol, the second communication for at least partially protecting reception of communications during the first time interval,
• wherein the second communication comprises a clear to send message comprising a specific medium access control (MAC) address identifiable by the first device as instructing not to update an associated network allocation vector according to a duration field in the clear to send message, the address not being identifiable by the second device such that the second device is instructed to update an associated network allocation vector according to the duration field.