Enhanced carrier sensing for multi-channel operation

摘要

In various embodiments, a multi-channel request-to-send and a multi-channel clear-to-send may be used in a wireless communications network to assure that a subsequent multi-channel communications exchange between two devices takes place only over channels that are sensed by both devices as being free.

主权项

1. A method of operating in a wireless communication network comprising:
transmitting from a transmitting device to a receiver a request-to-send (RTS) that requests a reservation for multiple channels sensed as free by the transmitting device, wherein: the RTS is formatted as a control frame that includes:
a Frame Control Field indicating the RTS;a Duration field indicating a time period during which devices other than the receiver should refrain from transmitting;a RA field indicating an address of the receiver;a TA field indicating an address of the transmitting device;a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field; the RTS further indicating the channels sensed as free by the transmitting device; receiving from the receiver a clear-to-send (CTS) indicating one or more channels sensed as free by the receiver that are a subset of the channels sensed as free by the transmitting device; transmitting to the receiver only on the one or more channels.