Method and apparatus for performing dynamic clear channel assessent (CCA), and distinguishing wireless communications among different basic service sets

An access point comprising:

• a receiver of the access point configured to receive a first information from a first device communicating with the access point via a medium, the first information received from the first device indicating whether the first device supports a dynamic clear channel assessment capability, wherein the dynamic clear channel assessment capability includes an ability to dynamically change a clear channel assessment threshold in a frequency channel to detect whether the medium is idle or busy;
• a controller of the access point configured to generate a second information in response to receiving the first information from the first device indicating whether the first device supports the dynamic clear channel assessment capability, wherein the second information is based on the first information received from the first device, and wherein the second information indicates a method for clear channel assessment being used by the access point in response to receiving the first information from the first device;
• a transmitter of the access point configured to transmit the second information to one or more devices associated with the access point in a basic service set of the access point in response to receiving the first information from the first device indicating whether the first device supports the dynamic clear channel assessment capability, wherein the second information is usable by the one or more devices associated with the access point in the basic service set of the access point to select a procedure for clear channel assessment to detect whether the medium is idle or busy;
• wherein the second information indicates the method for clear channel assessment being used by the access point comprising:
• a first period in a beacon interval of the access point in which the one or more devices in the basic service set of the access point having the dynamic clear channel assessment capability contend for access to the medium using dynamic clear channel assessment;
• and
• a second period in the beacon interval in which the one or more devices in the basic service set of the access point not having the dynamic clear channel assessment capability contend for access to the medium;
• and
• wherein the second information indicates the procedure for clear channel assessment that the one or more devices in the basic service set of the access point having the dynamic clear channel assessment capability also contend for access to the medium during a time other than the first period (i) at a lower priority than the one or more devices not having the dynamic clear channel assessment capability and (ii) by using a clear channel assessment threshold of the one or more devices not having the dynamic clear channel assessment capability to determine whether the medium is idle or busy;
• and
• a channel selector configured to select a frequency channel to operate the basic service set of the access point,
• wherein the frequency channel is a same channel in which a neighboring basic service set operates using the dynamic clear channel assessment capability;
• and
• wherein the channel selector is configured to select a different frequency channel in response to the first information indicating that the first device does not support the dynamic clear channel assessment capability.