Mechanisms for single user (SU) and multiple user (MU) transmission and association via polling within wireless communications

A wireless communication device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• generate a resource and association poll frame (ra-poll frame) that specifies a plurality of parameters to be used by a plurality of other wireless communication devices to determine eligibility of the plurality of other wireless communication devices to transmit to the wireless communication device, and wherein the ra-poll frame also specifies a plurality of subsets of sub-carriers of a plurality of sub-carriers for use by the plurality of other wireless communication devices to transmit to the wireless communication device to be used by the plurality of other wireless communication devices to transmit to the wireless communication device;
• transmit, via the plurality of sub-carriers, the ra-poll frame to the plurality of other wireless communication devices;
• and
• when only a first other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices determines eligibility to transmit to the wireless communication device:
• receive at least one of a first association request or a first resource request from the first other wireless communication device based on the plurality of parameters;
• generate a first response frame that indicates successful receipt of the at least one of the first association request or the first resource request;
• and
• transmit, via the plurality of sub-carriers, the first response frame to the first other wireless communication device;
• and
• when the first other wireless communication device and a second other wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices determine eligibility to transmit to the wireless communication device based on the plurality of parameters:
• receive an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication that includes at least one of the first association request or the first resource request via a first subset of sub-carriers and from the first other wireless communication device and that also includes at least one of a second association request or a second resource request via a second subset of sub-carriers and from the second wireless communication device.

A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• generating a resource and association poll frame (ra-poll frame) that specifies a plurality of parameters to be used by a plurality of other wireless communication devices to determine eligibility of the plurality of other wireless communication devices to transmit to the wireless communication device, and wherein the ra-poll frame also specifies at least one of a plurality of subsets of sub-carriers of a plurality of sub-carriers, a plurality timeslots, or at least one authorized frame format to be used by the plurality of other wireless communication devices to transmit to the wireless communication device;
• transmitting, via a communication interface of the wireless communication device and via the plurality of sub-carriers, the ra-poll frame to the plurality of other wireless communication devices;
• and
• when at least one wireless communication device of the plurality of other wireless communication devices determines eligibility to transmit to the wireless communication device based on the plurality of parameters:
• receiving, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, at least one of an association request or a resource request that complies with the at least one authorized frame format from the at least one wireless communication device;
• generate a response frame that indicates successful receipt of the at least one of the association request or the resource request;
• and
• transmitting, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device and via the plurality of sub-carriers, via the plurality of sub-carriers, the response frame to the at least one wireless communication device.