CN110063072B - Apparatus, system, and method for power management for wireless communications - Google Patents

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of power management for wireless communication. For example, an apparatus may include logic and circuitry configured to cause a wireless communication station to generate a beacon frame including an Awake Window (AW) element, the AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP in a BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; and transmitting the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of the BI.

Description

Apparatus, system, and method for power management for wireless communications

Cross-referencing

The present application claims the benefit AND priority OF U.S. provisional patent application No.62/444,914 entitled "APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF POWER management in wireless NETWORKs", filed on 11/1/2017, the entire disclosure OF which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Embodiments described herein relate generally to power management for wireless communications.

Background

A wireless communication Station (STA) in a wireless communication network may utilize a power management mechanism.

STAs may utilize power management mechanisms, for example, in accordance with the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification ("IEEE 802.11-2016," IEEE information technology standards-inter-system telecommunications and information exchange local and metropolitan area networks-requiring in particular part 11: wireless local area network Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications ", 2016, 12/7/2016).

Drawings

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. These figures are listed below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a scenario of communication between stations to illustrate a technical problem that may be addressed, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of communication between stations in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a structure of a wake window (AW) element, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Fig. 5 is a schematic, flow-chart illustration of a method of transmitting a beacon frame including a wake-up window element, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart illustration of a method of power management, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an article of manufacture according to some demonstrative embodiments.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units and/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "establishing," "analyzing," "checking," or the like, may refer to the operation and/or processes of a computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within a computer register and/or memory into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer register and/or memory or other information storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes.

As used herein, the term "plurality" includes, for example, "several" or "two or more". For example, "a plurality of items" includes two or more items.

References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "illustrative embodiment," "various embodiments," etc., indicate that the embodiment so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase "in one embodiment" does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices and systems, for example, User Equipment (UE), Mobile Devices (MD), wireless Stations (STA), Personal Computers (PC), desktop computers, mobile computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, server computers, handheld devices, wearable devices, sensor devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices, handheld PDA devices, onboard devices, off-board devices, hybrid devices, onboard devices, offboard devices, mobile or portable devices, consumer devices, non-mobile or non-portable devices, wireless communication stations, wireless communication devices, wireless Access Points (AP), wired or wireless routers, wired or wireless modems, video devices, audio-video (a/V) devices, A wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a wireless LAN (wlan), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a wireless PAN (wpan), etc.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with the following devices and/or networks: devices and/or networks operating according to existing IEEE 802.11 standards (including IEEE 802.11-2016(IEEE 802.11-2016, IEEE information technology standard-intersystem telecommunications and information exchange local and metropolitan area networks-specifically requiring part 11: wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications, 2016 12 months and 7 days), and/or IEEE 802.11ay (p802.11ay standard of information technology-intersystem telecommunications and information exchange local and metropolitan area networks-specifically requiring part 11: wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications-revision: enhanced throughput for operation in unlicensed bands greater than 45 GHz) and/or future and/or derivative versions thereof, according to existing wireless fidelity (WiFi) alliance (WFA) peer-to-peer (P2P) specifications (including WiFi P2P specifications, version 1.5, year 2015, 8/4) and/or future and/or derivative versions thereof, in accordance with existing Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WGA) specifications (including: wireless gigabit alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHY specifications, release 1.1, year 2011 4, final release specifications) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existing cellular specifications and/or protocols (e.g., third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices that are part of the above networks, and so forth.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with the following systems or devices: one-way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radiotelephone communication systems, mobile telephones, cellular telephones, radiotelephones, Personal Communication Systems (PCS) devices, PDA devices that include wireless communication devices, mobile or portable Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, devices that include GPS receivers or transceivers or chips, devices that include RFID elements or chips, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transceivers or devices, single-input multiple-output (SIMO) transceivers or devices, multiple-input single-output (MISO) transceivers or devices, devices having one or more internal and/or external antennas, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devices or systems, wired or wireless handheld devices (e.g., smart phones), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) devices, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types of wireless communication signals and/or systems, such as Radio Frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), FDM Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA), extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single carrier CDMA, multi-carrier modulation (MDM), discrete multi-tone (DMT), and/or the like,

Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee^TMUltra Wideband (UWB), global system for mobile communications (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, fifth generation (5G) or sixth generation (6G) mobile networks, 3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), and the like. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systems, and/or networks.

The term "wireless device" as used herein includes, for example, devices capable of wireless communication, communication stations capable of wireless communication, portable or non-portable devices capable of wireless communication, and the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, the wireless device may be or may include a peripheral device integrated with the computer, or a peripheral device attached to the computer. In some demonstrative embodiments, the term "wireless device" may optionally include a wireless service.

The term "communicating" as used herein with respect to communication signals includes sending communication signals and/or receiving communication signals. For example, a communication unit capable of transmitting communication signals may comprise a transmitter to transmit communication signals to at least one other communication unit and/or a communication receiver to receive communication signals from at least one other communication unit. The verb "transmit" may be used to refer to either a sent action or a received action. In one example, the phrase "transmitting a signal" may refer to the act of sending a signal by a first device, and may not necessarily include the act of receiving a signal by a second device. In another example, the phrase "transmitting a signal" may refer to the act of receiving a signal by a first device and may not necessarily include the act of sending a signal by a second device. Communication signals may be transmitted and/or received, for example, in the form of Radio Frequency (RF) communication signals and/or any other type of signals.

As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to or include a portion of: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an integrated circuit, an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, or combined, dedicated, or combined) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or combined) that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with, one or more software or firmware modules. In some embodiments, the circuitry may comprise logic that operates, at least in part, in hardware.

The term "logic" may refer to computational logic, for example, embedded in circuitry of a computing device and/or stored in memory of the computing device. For example, logic may be accessed by a processor of a computing device to execute computing logic to perform computing functions and/or operations. In one example, logic may be embedded in various types of memory and/or firmware (e.g., silicon blocks of various chips and/or processors). Logic may be included in and/or implemented as part of the following various circuits: such as radio circuitry, receiver circuitry, control circuitry, transmitter circuitry, transceiver circuitry, processor circuitry, and so forth. In one example, logic may be embedded in volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory, including random access memory, read only memory, programmable memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, persistent memory, and the like. Using memory (e.g., registers, latches, buffers, and/or the like coupled to one or more processors), logic may be executed by one or more processors, e.g., as needed.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN (e.g., a WiFi network). Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any other suitable wireless communication network (e.g., wireless area network, "piconet" (piconet) ", WPAN, WVAN, etc.).

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a wireless communication network communicating on a frequency band above 45GHz (e.g., 60 GHz). However, other embodiments may be implemented using any other suitable wireless communication band, such as: an Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band (millimeter wave (mmWave) band), for example, a band within a band between 20Ghz and 300Ghz, a band above 45Ghz, a band below 20Ghz (for example, Sub 1Ghz (S1G) band, 2.4Ghz band, 5Ghz band), a WLAN band, a WPAN band, a band according to WGA specification, and the like.

The term "antenna," as used herein, may include any suitable configuration, structure, and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements, components, units, assemblies, and/or arrays. In some embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receive functions using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receive functions using common and/or integrated transmit/receive elements. The antennas may include, for example, phased array antennas, single element antennas, switched beam antenna sets, and the like.

The phrases "directional multi-gigabit (DMG)" and "directional frequency band (DBand)" as used herein may relate to a frequency band in which the channel start frequency is higher than 45 GHz. In one example, DMG communications may involve one or more directional links for communicating at multi-gigabit per second rates (e.g., at least 1 gigabit per second, at least 7 gigabit per second, at least 30 gigabit per second), or any other rate.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented by a DMG STA (also referred to as a "mmWave STA (mSTA)"), which may include, for example, an STA having a radio transmitter capable of operating on a channel within the DMG band. The DMG STA may perform other additional functions or alternative functions. Other embodiments may be implemented by any other apparatus, device, and/or station.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 is schematically illustrated, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in fig. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include one or more wireless communication devices. For example, system 100 may include wireless communication device 102, wireless communication device 140, and/or one or more other devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may include mobile devices or non-mobile devices, e.g., stationary devices.

For example, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 may include, for example, a UE, MD, STA, AP, PC, desktop computer, mobile computer, laptop, Ultrabook^TMA computer, a laptop, a tablet, a server computer, a handheld computer, an internet of things (IoT) device, a sensor device, a handheld device, a wearable device, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an onboard device, an off-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phone functionality with PDA device functionality), a consumer device, an onboard device, an offboard device, a mobile or portable device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a PCS device, a PDA device including a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relatively Small computing device, a non-desktop computer, a "life free space" (CSLL) device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD), an ultra mobile pc (umpc), a Mobile Internet Device (MID), "Origami" device or computing device, a Dynamic Combinable Computing (DCC) enabled device, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal computer, a personal digital communication device, a personal computer, a mobile phone, a computing device, a, Context aware device, video device, audio device, A/V device, set-top box (STB), Blu-ray disc (BD) player, BD recorder, Digital Video Disc (DVD) player, High Definition (HD) DVD playbackA device, a DVD recorder, an HD DVD recorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a broadcast HD receiver, a video source, an audio source, a video receiver (sink), an audio receiver, a stereo tuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a flat panel display, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a Digital Video Camera (DVC), a digital audio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier, a gaming device, a data source, a data receiver, a Digital Still Camera (DSC), a media player, a smart phone, a television, a music player, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include, for example, one or more of a processor 191, an input unit 192, an output unit 193, a memory unit 194, and/or a storage unit 195; and/or device 140 may include, for example, one or more of a processor 181, an input unit 182, an output unit 183, a memory unit 184, and/or a storage unit 185. Devices 102 and/or 140 may optionally include other suitable hardware components and/or software components. In some demonstrative embodiments, some or all of the components of one or more of devices 102 and/or 140 may be enclosed in a common housing or package and may be interconnected or operably associated using one or more wired or wireless links. In other embodiments, components of one or more of devices 102 and/or 140 may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, processor 191 and/or processor 181 may include, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multi-core processor, a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality of processors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits, a circuit, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), an application-specific IC (asic), or any other suitable multi-purpose or specific processor or controller. Processor 191 may execute instructions of, for example, an Operating System (OS) of device 102 and/or one or more suitable applications. Processor 181 may execute instructions of, for example, an Operating System (OS) of device 140 and/or one or more suitable applications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input unit 192 and/or input unit 182 may include, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch screen, a touch pad, a trackball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitable pointing device or input device. Output unit 193 and/or output unit 183 may include, for example, a monitor, a screen, a touch screen, a flat panel display, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, a plasma display unit, one or more audio speakers or headphones, or other suitable output devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, memory unit 194 and/or memory unit 184 may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, cache memory, buffers, short-term memory units, long-term memory units, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit 195 and/or storage unit 185 may include, for example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable or non-removable storage units. Memory unit 194 and/or storage unit 195, for example, may store data processed by device 102. Memory unit 184 and/or storage unit 185, for example, may store data processed by device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 may be capable of transmitting content, data, information and/or signals via Wireless Medium (WM) 103. In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless medium 103 may include, for example, a radio channel, a cellular channel, an RF channel, a WiFi channel, an IR channel, a Bluetooth (BT) channel, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) channel, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM 103 may include one or more directional frequency bands and/or channels. For example, WM 103 may include one or more millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless communication bands and/or channels.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM 103 may include one or more DMG channels. In other embodiments, WM 103 may include any other directional channel.

In other embodiments WM 103 may comprise any other type of channel on any other frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may include one or more radio components including circuitry and/or logic to perform wireless communication between devices 102, 140 and/or one or more other wireless communication devices. For example, device 102 may include at least one radio 114, and/or device 140 may include at least one radio 144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144 may include one or more wireless receivers (Rx) including circuitry and/or logic to receive wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio 114 may include at least one receiver 116, and/or radio 144 may include at least one receiver 146.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144 may include one or more wireless transmitters (Tx), which include circuitry and/or logic to transmit wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, radio 114 may include at least one transmitter 118, and/or radio 144 may include at least one transmitter 148.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144, transmitters 118 and/or 148, and/or receivers 116 and/or 146 may include circuitry; logic; radio Frequency (RF) elements, circuits and/or logic; baseband elements, circuitry and/or logic; modulation elements, circuitry and/or logic; demodulation elements, circuitry and/or logic; an amplifier; an analog-to-digital and/or digital-to-analog converter; a filter; and/or the like. For example, radio component 114 and/or radio component 144 may include or may be implemented as part of a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC) and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio components 114 and/or 144 may be configured to transmit on a directional frequency band (e.g., the mmWave frequency band) and/or any other frequency band (e.g., the 2.4GHz frequency band, the 5GHz frequency band, the S1G frequency band, and/or any other frequency band).

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may include or may be associated with one or more (e.g., multiple) directional antennas.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include one or more (e.g., multiple) directional antennas 107 and/or device 140 may include one or more (e.g., multiple) directional antennas 147.

Antenna 107 and/or antenna 147 may include any type of antenna suitable for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks, frames, transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data. For example, antenna 107 and/or antenna 147 may include any suitable configuration, structure, and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements, components, units, assemblies, and/or arrays. Antenna 107 and/or antenna 147 may include, for example: an antenna suitable for directional communication, for example using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas 107 and/or 147 may include phased array antennas, multi-element antennas, switched beam antenna groups, and/or the like. In some embodiments, antenna 107 and/or antenna 147 may implement transmit and receive functions using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may implement transmit and receive functions using common and/or integrated transmit/receive elements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may include directional antennas, which may be steered (steered to) one or more beam directions. For example, the antenna 107 may be steered to one or more beam directions 135, and/or the antenna 147 may be steered to one or more beam directions 145.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may include and/or may be implemented as part of a single Phased Antenna Array (PAA).

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may be implemented as part of a plurality of PAAs, e.g., as a plurality of physically independent PAAs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a PAA may include, for example, a rectangular geometry (e.g., including an integer number (denoted as M) of rows and an integer number (denoted as N) of columns). In other embodiments, any other type of antenna and/or antenna array may be used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may be connected to and/or associated with one or more Radio Frequency (RF) chains.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include controller 124 and/or device 140 may include controller 154. Controller 124 may be configured to perform and/or trigger, cause, instruct, and/or control device 102 to perform one or more communications, to generate and/or transmit one or more messages and/or transmissions, and/or to perform one or more functions, operations, and/or processes between devices 102, 140 and/or one or more other devices; and/or controller 154 may be configured to perform and/or trigger, cause, instruct, and/or control device 140 to perform one or more communications, to generate and/or transmit one or more messages and/or transmissions, and/or to perform one or more functions, operations, and/or processes between devices 102, 140 and/or one or more other devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 may include or may be partially or fully implemented by circuitry and/or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, memory circuitry and/or logic, Media Access Control (MAC) circuitry and/or logic, physical layer (PHY) circuitry and/or logic, baseband (BB) circuitry and/or logic, BB processor, BB memory, Application Processor (AP) circuitry and/or logic, AP processor, AP memory, and/or any other circuitry and/or logic configured to perform the functions of controllers 124 and/or 154, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, one or more functions of controllers 124 and/or 154 may be implemented by logic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g., as described below.

In one example, the controller 124 may comprise circuitry and/or logic, e.g., one or more processors comprising circuitry and/or logic, to cause, trigger and/or control a wireless device, e.g., device 102, and/or a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device 102, to perform one or more operations, communications and/or functions, e.g., as described herein.

In one example, controller 154 may comprise circuitry and/or logic, e.g., one or more processors comprising circuitry and/or logic, to cause, trigger and/or control a wireless device, e.g., device 140, and/or a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device 140, to perform one or more operations, communications and/or functions, e.g., as described herein.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include a message processor 128 configured to generate, process and/or access one or more messages transmitted by device 102.

In one example, message processor 128 may be configured to generate one or more messages to be transmitted by device 102, and/or message processor 128 may be configured to access and/or process one or more messages received by device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may include a message processor 158 configured to generate, process and/or access one or more messages transmitted by device 140.

In one example, the message processor 158 may be configured to generate one or more messages to be transmitted by the device 140, and/or the message processor 158 may be configured to access and/or process one or more messages received by the device 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, message processors 128 and/or 158 may include, or may be partially or fully implemented by, circuitry and/or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, memory circuitry and/or logic, Media Access Control (MAC) circuitry and/or logic, physical layer (PHY) circuitry and/or logic, BB processor, BB memory, AP circuitry and/or logic, AP processor, AP memory, and/or any other circuitry and/or logic configured to perform the functions of message processors 128 and/or 158, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, one or more functions of message processors 128 and/or 158 may be implemented by logic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of message processor 128 may be implemented as part of radio 114 and/or at least a portion of the functionality of message processor 158 may be implemented as part of radio 144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of message processor 128 may be implemented as part of controller 124 and/or at least a portion of the functionality of message processor 158 may be implemented as part of controller 154.

In other embodiments, the functionality of message processor 128 may be implemented as part of any other element of device 102, and/or the functionality of message processor 158 may be implemented as part of any other element of device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of controller 124 and/or message processor 128 may be implemented by an integrated circuit, e.g., a chip, e.g., a system-on-a-chip (SoC). In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or more functions of the radio component 114. For example, the chip or SoC may include one or more elements of the controller 124, one or more elements of the message processor 128, and/or one or more elements of the radio component 114. In one example, the controller 124, message processor 128, and radio component 114 may be implemented as part of a chip or SoC.

In other embodiments, controller 124, message processor 128, and/or radio 114 may be implemented by one or more additional or alternative elements of device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of controller 154 and/or message processor 158 may be implemented by an integrated circuit, e.g., a chip, e.g., a system-on-a-chip (SoC). In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or more functions of radio component 144. For example, the chip or SoC may include one or more elements of the controller 154, one or more elements of the message processor 158, and/or one or more elements of the radio component 144. In one example, the controller 154, the message processor 158, and the radio component 144 may be implemented as part of a chip or SoC.

In other embodiments, controller 154, message processor 158, and/or radio 144 may be implemented by one or more additional or alternative elements of device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may include one or more STAs, operate as one or more STAs, perform the role of one or more STAs, and/or perform one or more functions of one or more STAs. For example, device 102 may include at least one STA, and/or device 140 may include at least one STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may include, function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of one or more DMG STAs. For example, the device 102 may include at least one DMG STA, function as, perform a role of, and/or perform one or more functions of at least one DMG STA, and/or the device 140 may include at least one DMG STA, function as, perform a role of, and/or perform one or more functions of at least one DMG STA.

In other embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may include, function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of other wireless devices and/or stations (e.g., WLAN STAs, WiFi STAs, etc.).

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may be configured to function as, perform its role, and/or perform one or more functions of an Access Point (AP), e.g., a DMG AP, and/or a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP), e.g., a DMG PCP, e.g., an AP/PCP STA, such as a DMG AP/PCP STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to function as, perform a role of, and/or perform one or more functions of, a non-AP STA (e.g., a DMG non-AP STA) and/or a non-PCP STA (e.g., a DMG non-PCP STA) (e.g., a non-AP/PCP STA) (e.g., a DMG non-AP/PCP STA).

In other embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may serve as any other additional or alternative device and/or station, perform its role, and/or perform one or more of its functions.

In one example, a Station (STA) may include any logical entity that is an individually addressable instance of the Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interfaces to the Wireless Medium (WM). The STA may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In one example, an AP may include an entity that includes a Station (STA) (e.g., one STA) and provides access to distribution services through a Wireless Medium (WM) for associated STAs. The AP may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In one example, a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) may include an entity that contains a STA (e.g., a Station (STA)) and coordinates access to the Wireless Medium (WM) by STAs that are members of the PBSS. The PCP may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In one example, the PBSS may include a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) Basic Service Set (BSS) that includes, for example, one PBSS Control Point (PCP). For example, there may not be access to the Distribution System (DS), but there may optionally be a forwarding service within the PBSS, for example.

In one example, the PCP/AP STA may include a Station (STA) that is at least one of a PCP or an AP. The PCP/AP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In one example, the non-AP STAs may include STAs that are not included within the AP. The non-ap stas may perform any other additional functions or alternative functions.

In one example, non-PCP STAs may include STAs that are not PCPs. The non-PCP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In one example, non-PCP/AP STAs may include STAs that are not PCPs and not APs. The non-PCP/AP STA may perform any other additional or alternative functions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate over a next-generation 60GHz (NG60) network, an enhanced dmg (edmg) network, and/or any other network. For example, device 102 and/or device 140 may perform multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, e.g., for communicating over NG60 and/or an EDMG network (e.g., over NG60 or EDMG frequency bands).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured according to one or more specifications, including, for example, one or more IEEE 802.11 specifications (e.g., the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification), the IEEE 802.11ay specification, and/or any other specification and/or protocol.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented, for example, in the millimeter-wave band (e.g., the 60GHz band or any other directional band) as part of a new standard, e.g., as an evolution of the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification and/or the IEEE 802.11ad specification.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured according to one or more standards, e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11ay standard, which may, for example, be configured to improve the efficiency and/or performance of the IEEE 802.1l ad specification (which may be configured to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in the 60GHz band).

Some demonstrative embodiments may enable, for example, a significant increase in data transmission rates defined in the IEEE 802.11ad specification, e.g., from 7 gigabits per second (Gbps) to, for example, 30Gbps, or to any other data rate that may, for example, meet the ever-increasing demands of network capacity for emerging applications.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented, for example, to allow for an increase in transmission data rate, e.g., by applying MIMO and/or channel bonding techniques.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate MIMO communications over a millimeter-wave wireless communication band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to support one or more mechanisms and/or features, e.g., in accordance with the IEEE 802.11ay standard and/or any other standard and/or protocol, e.g., channel bonding, single-user (SU) MIMO, and/or multi-user (MU) MIMO.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may include, function as, perform the role of, and/or perform the functions of one or more EDMG STAs. For example, device 102 may include at least one EDMG STA, function as, perform a role of, and/or perform a function of at least one EDMG STA, and/or device 140 may include at least one EDMG STA, function as, perform a role of, and/or perform a function of at least one EDMG STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may implement a communication scheme, which may include, for example, a physical layer (PHY) and/or Medium Access Control (MAC) layer scheme to support one or more applications, and/or increased transmission data rates (e.g., data rates up to 30Gbps, or any other data rate).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the PHY and/or MAC layer schemes may be configured to support frequency channel bonding over the millimeter-wave frequency band (e.g., over the 60GHz frequency band), SU MIMO techniques, and/or MU MIMO techniques.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more mechanisms, which may be configured to implement SU and/or MU communication of Downlink (DL) and/or uplink frames (UL) using a MIMO scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more MU communication mechanisms. For example, device 102 and/or device 140 may be configured to implement one or more MU mechanisms that may be configured to implement MU communication of DL frames, e.g., between a device (e.g., device 102) and a plurality of devices (e.g., including device 140 and/or one or more other devices) using a MIMO scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate over a NG60 network, an EDMG network, and/or any other network and/or any other frequency band. For example, device 102 and/or device 140 may be configured to communicate DL MIMO transmissions and/or UL MIMO transmissions, e.g., for communication over NG60 and/or an EDMG network.

Some wireless communication specifications (e.g., the IEEE 802.11ad-2012 specification) may be configured to support SU systems (where a STA may transmit frames to a single STA at a time). For example, such a specification may not be able to support having an STA transmit to multiple STAs simultaneously using, for example, an MU-MIMO scheme (e.g., DL MU-MIMO, or any other MU scheme).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate in frequency bands above 45GHz over a channel bandwidth of, for example, at least 2.16 GHz.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more mechanisms, which may, for example, be capable of extending a single-channel BW scheme (e.g., a scheme in accordance with the IEEE 802.11ad specification, or any other scheme) for higher data rates and/or improved capabilities, e.g., as described below.

In one example, a single channel BW scheme may include communication over a 2.16GHz channel (also referred to as a "single channel" or "DMG channel").

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, which may, for example, support communication over a channel BW (also referred to as a "wide channel," "EDMG channel," or "bonded channel") including two or more channels (e.g., two or more 2.16GHz channels), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the channel bonding mechanism may include, for example, mechanisms and/or operations that may combine two or more channels (e.g., 2.16GHz channels), e.g., for higher bandwidth packet transmissions, e.g., to achieve a higher data rate, e.g., as compared to transmissions on a single channel. Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein for communication over a channel BW including two or more 2.16GHz channels, however, other embodiments may be implemented for communication over a channel bandwidth (e.g., a "wide" channel) including or formed of any other number of two or more channels (e.g., an aggregated channel including an aggregation of two or more channels).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, which may, for example, support increased channel bandwidths (e.g., a channel bandwidth of 4.32GHz, a channel bandwidth of 6.48GHz, a channel bandwidth of 8.64GHz, and/or any other additional or alternative channel bandwidth BW), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 may form or may communicate as part of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 may form or may communicate as part of a WiFi network.

In one example, device 102 may be configured to function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of an AP STA, and/or device 140 may be configured to function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of a non-AP STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication device 102 and/or wireless communication device 140 may form an EDMG network, or may communicate as part of an EDMG network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication device 102 and/or wireless communication device 140 may include an EDMG STA.

In one example, device 102 may be configured to function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of an EDMG PC/AP STA, and/or device 140 may be configured to function as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functions of an EDMG STA.

In other embodiments, wireless communication device 102 and/or wireless communication device 140 may form and/or communicate as part of any other additional or alternative network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more operations of a power-saving mechanism, which may be defined, for example, for a DMG station, e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11-2016 specification and/or any other specification and/or protocol.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more operations of a power-save mechanism, wherein a station (e.g., a non-PCP/AP STA) may notify the AP/PCP STA when deciding to enter a power-save mode. For example, the device 140 may be configured to notify the device 102 when the device 140 enters a power saving mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station may be required to wake up during a periodic wake-up window (AW), for example.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the PCP/AP STA may send an Announce Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) frame, e.g., during an awake window, e.g., if the AP/PCP STA has pending traffic for the station. For example, where the device 102 has pending data for the device 140, the device 102 may send ATIM frames to the device 140 during the AW.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station may be required to exit the power-save mode, e.g., based on receiving an ATIM frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, no other frames other than the ATIM and/or an acknowledgement of the ATIM may be allowed to be transmitted during the awake window in some implementations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate during one or more time periods, e.g., during a Beacon Interval (BI).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the channel accessed by the STAs may be related to beacon interval timing and may be coordinated using a schedule, which may be generated, for example, by the STAs acting as APs or PCPs and transmitted in one or more frames (e.g., beacon and/or announcement frames). For example, a non-PCP/AP STA receiving the scheduling information may access the medium during the scheduling period using an access rule specific to the scheduling period.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the one or more time periods may include one or more contention-based access periods (CBAPs).

In one example, the CBAP may include, for example, a time period in a Data Transfer Interval (DTI) of a DMG BSS (e.g., during which Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) may be used). In one example, the DTI may include, for example, an access period during which frame exchange is performed between STAs. For example, the DTI may include one or more CBAPs and/or one or more Service Periods (SPs). In other embodiments, CBAP and/or DTI may be defined to include any other type of time period and/or any other contention mechanism.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiple CBAP periods may be defined for each Beacon Interval (BI), e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11 specification. For example, implementing multiple CBAPs during a BI may provide technical benefits of at least reducing medium access delay (e.g., by defining interleaved CBAP allocations between Service Period (SP) allocations).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a technical problem may exist in some cases and/or implementations (e.g., when a single wake-up window is defined for each BI (e.g., only at the first CBAP allocation in a BI), e.g., as described below.

In one example, according to this definition, the only way for the AP/PCP STA to schedule traffic in different CBAPs for a station in power save mode is for the AP/PCP STA to send an ATIM frame to the station in the AW of the first CBAP. As a result, the station may be required to stay awake until the end of the BI. Such a situation may have one or more technical drawbacks, for example, such a situation may be very inefficient from a station power perspective, as the station may be required to remain awake for the entire BI for each BI having scheduled traffic.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more operations, communications and/or rules configured to allow a station (e.g., an AP/PCP station) to define a wake-up window during one or more (e.g., some or all) CBAPs in a BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more operations, communications and/or rules configured to allow a station (e.g., an AP/PCP station) to define a wake-up window even for each CBAP interval, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one or more operations configured to extend one or more benefits of multiple CBAP allocations to stations using a power-save mode, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to generate, transmit, receive and/or process a message, which may include, for example, a wake window element and/or any other element or field, which may set, indicate, announce, and/or signal an allocation of one or more wake windows during one or more CBAPs in a BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station (e.g., a station implemented by device 102, e.g., a PCP/AP STA) may be configured to generate and transmit a message, which may include, for example, a wake-up window element and/or any other element or field, which may set, indicate, advertise, and/or signal a plurality of AW allocations during a plurality of CBAPs of a BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station (e.g., a station implemented by device 140) may be configured to receive and process a message, which may include, for example, a wakeup window element and/or any other element or field, which may set, advertise, and/or signal a plurality of AW allocations during a plurality of CBAPs in a BI, and determine one or more AWs (where the station is to be awake), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to generate, transmit, receive and/or process a message, which may include, for example, a wake-up window element, which may include one or more fields (e.g., one or more additional fields) to support multiple wake-up windows per BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station (e.g., a station implemented by device 102) may be configured to generate an AW element, e.g., to indicate allocation of a plurality of AWs to a plurality of CBAPs, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station (e.g., a station implemented by device 140) may be configured to receive and process the AW elements, e.g., to determine one or more allocations of AW during which the station will be awake to receive an ATIM frame, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station in a power-save mode may listen for ATIM frames during an allocation of AW defined in one or more CBAP allocations (e.g., all CBAP allocations) during which the station is allowed to transmit and/or receive data, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or message processor 128 to generate a beacon frame including an AW element.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element may be configured to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element may be configured to allocate AWs for only some CBAPs in the BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element may include a first AW field and a second AW field, e.g., as described below. In other embodiments, the AW element may include more than two AW fields.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first AW field may indicate a first AW during a first CBAP in the BI, and the second AW field may indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first CBAP may precede any other CBAP in the BI.

For example, the first CBAP may be the first CBAP of the BI, which immediately follows an Announcement Transmission Interval (ATI) in the BI, and all other CBAPs may follow this, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the second AW field may indicate a plurality of AWs during a plurality of CBAPs (e.g., some or all CBAPs) following the first CBAP in the BI.

In one example, the second AW field may indicate an AW for each CBAP following the first CBAP in the BI.

In another example, after a first CBAP in a BI, the second AW field may indicate an AW during some of the plurality of CBAPs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 to transmit the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of the BI. In other embodiments, the controller 124 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger the device 102 and/or transmitter 118 to transmit beacon frames during any other portion of the BI.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive a beacon frame from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 148 to process a beacon frame received from device 102, e.g., including an AW element (e.g., including the first and second AW fields), during a BTI in the BI.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger device 140 to wake up during the first AW and the second AW, e.g., to allow device 140 to receive at least one ATIM, e.g., from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to allow device 140 to be in a power-saving mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP, e.g., as described below.

For example, the device 140 may wake up during a first time period in a first CBAP, the device 140 may switch to a power saving mode during a time period between the first CBAP and a second CBAP, and the device 140 may switch to an awake mode to be in an awake state during a second AW in the second CBAP.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may send an ATIM message to device 140, e.g., during at least one AW (e.g., at least one of a first AW or a second AW indicated by the AW element).

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 to transmit the at least one ATIM during at least one AW (e.g., at least one of the first AW or the second AW indicated by the AW element).

In one example, the controller 124 can be configured to control, cause, and/or trigger the device 102 and/or transmitter 118 to transmit at least one first ATIM during a first AW and/or to transmit at least one second ATIM during at least one second AW.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element including the first and second AWs may enable device 140 to be in a power-saving mode during a time period between the first and second AWs, e.g., as described below with reference to fig. 3.

In one example, the AW element including the first and second AWs may enable the device 140 to be in a power saving mode during a time period between the first and second AWs, e.g., as described below with reference to fig. 2, as compared to a case where a single awake window is defined for the BI (e.g., only at the first CBAP allocation in the BI).

Referring to fig. 2, a diagram schematically illustrates a scenario 200 of communication between stations to illustrate a technical problem that may be addressed, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scenario 200 may include operations and/or communications during the BI 220.

As shown in FIG. 2, the BI 220 may include a first CBAP 222 and a second CBAP 224.

As shown in fig. 2, only CBAP 222 includes awake window 223, and CBAP 223 does not include AW.

As shown in fig. 2, during CBAP 222, a station denoted STA1 may be required to wake up to receive ATIM 221, which ATIM 221 may indicate STA1 allocation, e.g., during CBAP 222 and CBAP 224.

As shown in fig. 2, since only the first CBAP 222 includes the AW 223, the STA1 may need to remain awake during the time period 230 between the CBAP 222 and the CBAP 224 (e.g., even during a time period in which the STA1 may not need to perform and/or be available to perform any communications).

Referring to FIG. 3, a diagram schematically illustrates communication between stations during a BI 320, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3, BI 330 may include a plurality of CBAPs including, for example, a first CBAP 322 and a second CBAP 324.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a wake-up window may be defined for more than one CBAP in a BI (e.g., even for each CBAP), as shown in fig. 3. For example, the STA1 may receive AW elements to allocate a first AW 323 to a first CBAP and a second AW 325 to a second CBAP, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station (STA1) may receive ATIM 321 during CBAP 322, as shown in fig. 3, and the ATIM 321 may indicate the allocation of STA1, e.g., during CBAP 322 and CBAP 324.

In some demonstrative embodiments, STA1 may be allowed to switch to a power-saving mode upon completion of communication, e.g., during first CBAP 322, as shown in fig. 3.

In some demonstrative embodiments, e.g., as shown in fig. 3, the STA1 is allowed to remain in the power saving mode, e.g., even until the start of the second AW 324 in the second CBAP 324.

In some demonstrative embodiments, STA1 may be allowed to be in a power save mode during time period 330, e.g., as shown in fig. 3.

In some demonstrative embodiments, defining a wake-up window 325 for second CBAP 324 may provide technical benefits of power saving gain, improved network performance, and/or station power consumption, as shown in fig. 3.

Referring back to fig. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may be allowed to switch to a power-saving mode, e.g., even before the CBAP ends. For example, the device 140 may be configured to switch to a power saving mode, e.g., even before the CBAP 322 (fig. 3) ends, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to allow device 140 to switch to a power-saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to allow device 140 to switch to the power-saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends, e.g., based on the received frame (including an indication that device 140 is allowed to switch to the power-saving mode), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured to allow device 140 to switch to the power-saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends, e.g., based on the received frame, including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1".

In other embodiments, the controller 154 may be configured to allow the device 140 to switch to the power saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends, e.g., based on any other frame or indication.

In one example, the device 140 may be allowed to switch to the power saving mode, e.g., even before the CBAP 322 (fig. 3) ends, e.g., if the device 140 receives a frame including an EOSP field containing a value of "1" before the CBAP 322 (fig. 1) ends.

In one example, once a station receives a frame with an EOSP indication (e.g., EOSP 1, indicating the end of an allocation in a current CBAP), the station may be allowed to return to a power saving mode, e.g., until the next awake window in the relevant CBAP allocation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW field in the beacon frame may include an indication of a duration of the AW, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first AW field may include an indication of a duration of the first AW, e.g., as described below. For example, the first AW field may include an indication of a duration of the AW 323 (fig. 3).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the second AW field may include an indication of a duration of the second AW, e.g., as described below. For example, the second AW field may include an indication of a duration of AW 325 (fig. 3).

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element may include a length field to indicate a length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element, e.g., as described below.

Referring to fig. 4, a diagram schematically illustrates the structure of a wake window (AW) element 420, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AW element 420 may include, as shown in fig. 4: a length field 406 to indicate the length of AW element 420, and an element ID field 404 to identify AW element 420.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AW element 420 may include, as shown in fig. 4: at least a first AW field 402 to indicate a first AW, and a second AW field 404 to indicate at least a second AW.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AW field 402 may correspond to a first CBAP of the BI.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW field corresponding to the AW may include an indication of a duration of the AW, as shown in fig. 4. For example, the AW field 402 may include an indication 410 of a duration of a first AW of a first CBAP of a BI.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW element may include a plurality of AW allocation fields corresponding to a plurality of CBAPs (e.g., some or all of the CBAPs) in the BI, as shown in fig. 4. For example, the AW allocation field may correspond to a respective CBAP.

In other embodiments, the AW allocation field (e.g., AW allocation field 408) may include information corresponding to a plurality of CBAPs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW allocation field corresponding to the CBAP may include, for example, an indication of one or more parameters of the AW allocation during the CBAP, e.g., an indication of a duration of the AW and/or any other parameters.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AW element 420 may include some or all of the fields shown in fig. 4, and/or may include one or more additional or alternative fields.

In one example, as shown in fig. 4, the AW allocation field may include an allocation key field 412, which may be configured to indicate, for example, a CBAP in which the allocation of AW is to be made.

In another example, the AW assignment field may not include the assignment key field 412.

In some demonstrative embodiments, allocation key field 412 may include information configured to identify (e.g., uniquely identify) the CBAP allocation to which the AW allocation field including the allocation key corresponds.

In some demonstrative embodiments, allocation key field 412 may include, for example, three fields as a "tuple," e.g., including an allocation Identifier (ID), a source Association Identifier (AID), and/or a destination AID, and/or any additional or alternative information uniquely identifying a CBAP allocation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, for a "legacy" station, e.g., to allow backward compatibility, the three fields may be set to zero, e.g., to allocate a wake-up window in the first CBAP allocation of a BI.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AW allocation field may include some or all of the fields shown in fig. 4, and/or may include one or more additional or alternative fields.

For example, the AW assignment field may include only an indication of the duration of the AW and/or may not include the assignment key field 412.

Referring to fig. 5, a diagram schematically illustrates a method of transmitting a beacon frame including a wakeup window element, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more operations of the method of FIG. 5 may be performed by one or more elements of a system (e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1)), such as one or more wireless devices (e.g., device 102 (FIG. 1), and/or device 140 (FIG. 1)), a controller, such as controller 124 (FIG. 1), and/or controller 154 (FIG. 1), a radio component, such as radio component 114 (FIG. 1), and/or radio component 144 (FIG. 1), a transmitter, such as transmitter 118 (FIG. 1) and/or transmitter 148 (FIG. 1), a receiver, such as receiver 116 (FIG. 1), and/or receiver 146 (FIG. 1), and/or a message processor, such as message processor 128 (FIG. 1), and/or message processor 158 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 502, the method may include generating a beacon frame including an AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first AW during a first CBAP in a BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP that is subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI. For example, the controller 102 (fig. 1) may control, cause, and/or trigger the device 102 (fig. 1) to generate a beacon frame including an AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first AW during a first CBAP in a BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP that is subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 504, the method may include transmitting a beacon frame during a BTI of a BI. For example, the controller 124 (fig. 1) may control, cause, and/or trigger the device 102 (fig. 1) to transmit beacon frames during a BTI in a BI, e.g., as described above.

Referring to fig. 6, a diagram schematically illustrates a power management method, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more operations of the method of FIG. 6 may be performed by one or more elements of a system (e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1)), such as one or more wireless devices (e.g., device 102 (FIG. 1), and/or device 140 (FIG. 1)), a controller, such as controller 124 (FIG. 1), and/or controller 154 (FIG. 1), a radio component, such as radio component 114 (FIG. 1), and/or radio component 144 (FIG. 1), a transmitter, such as transmitter 118 (FIG. 1) and/or transmitter 148 (FIG. 1), a receiver, such as receiver 116 (FIG. 1), and/or receiver 146 (FIG. 1), and/or a message processor, such as message processor 128 (FIG. 1), and/or message processor 158 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 602, the method may include processing, at a wireless communication station, a received beacon frame during a BTI of a BI, the beacon frame including an AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first AW during a first CBAP in the BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP that is subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI. For example, the controller 154 (fig. 1) may control, cause, and/or trigger the apparatus 140 (fig. 1) to process a beacon frame including an AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first AW during a first CBAP in a BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP that is subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 604, the method can include causing the wireless communication station to wake up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one ATIM. For example, the controller 154 (fig. 1) may control, cause, and/or trigger the device 140 (fig. 1) to wake up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the device 140 (fig. 1) to receive at least one ATIM, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 606, the method may include allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP. For example, the controller 154 (fig. 1) may allow the device 140 (fig. 1) to be in a power saving mode during the time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP, e.g., as described above.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 schematically illustrates an article of manufacture 700, according to some demonstrative embodiments. The product 700 may include one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media 702, which may include computer-executable instructions, e.g., implemented by logic 704, that when executed by at least one processor (e.g., a computer processor) are operable to enable the at least one processor to implement one or more operations at: device 102 (fig. 1), device 140 (fig. 1), radio component 114 (fig. 1), radio component 144 (fig. 1), transmitter 118 (fig. 1), transmitter 148 (fig. 1), receiver 116 (fig. 1), receiver 146 (fig. 1), controller 124 (fig. 1), controller 154 (fig. 1), message processor 128 (fig. 1), and/or message processor 158 (fig. 1) such that device 102 (fig. 1), device 140 (fig. 1), radio component 114 (fig. 1), radio component 144 (fig. 1), transmitter 118 (fig. 1), transmitter 148 (fig. 1), receiver 116 (fig. 1), receiver 146 (fig. 1), controller 124 (fig. 1), controller 154 (fig. 1), message processor 128 (fig. 1), and/or message processor 158 (fig. 1) perform one or more operations and/or perform one or more operations or perform one or more of operations or perform one or more operations on or more of apparatus or a receiver 116 (fig. 1) and/or performs one or a message processor, Trigger and/or implement one or more operations, communications, and/or functions in accordance with fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and/or 6, and/or one or more operations described herein. The phrase "non-transitory machine readable medium" is intended to include all computer readable media, with the exception of transitory propagating signals.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 700 and/or storage medium 702 may include one or more types of computer-readable storage media capable of storing data, including: volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and so forth. For example, storage medium 702 may include RAM, DRAM, double data rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (sram), ROM, programmable ROM (prom), erasable programmable ROM (eprom), electrically erasable programmable ROM (eeprom), compact disc ROM (CD-ROM), compact disc recordable (CD-R), compact disc rewritable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), Content Addressable Memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, disks, floppy disks, hard drives, optical disks, magnetic disks, cards, magnetic cards, optical cards, magnetic tapes, magnetic cassettes, and the like. A computer-readable storage medium may include any suitable medium that involves a computer program being downloaded or transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer by way of communication links (e.g., a modem, wireless or network connection), where the computer program is carried by data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 704 may include instructions, data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method, process and/or operations as described herein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, or the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 704 may include, or may be implemented as, software, firmware, a software module, an application, a program, a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words, values, characters, and the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, for example, source code, compiled code, parsed code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform a certain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, Visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language (e.g., C, C + +, Java, BASIC, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, etc.).

Examples of the invention

The following examples relate to other embodiments.

Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising: logic and circuitry configured to cause a wireless communication station to generate a beacon frame including an Awake Window (AW) element, the awake window element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP that is subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; and transmitting the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in the BI.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of example 1, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of example 1 or 2, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of examples 1-3, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of examples 1-4, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any of examples 1-4, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of examples 1-6, and optionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the wireless station to transmit at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 1-7, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 1-8, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 1-9, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) Station (STA) (PCP/AP STA).

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 1-10, and optionally, a radio component.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of examples 1-11, and optionally, comprising a memory, a processor, and one or more antennas.

Example 13 includes a wireless communication system comprising a wireless communication station, the wireless communication station comprising one or more antennas; a radio component; a memory; a processor; a controller configured to cause a wireless communication station to generate a beacon frame including an Awake Window (AW) element, the awake window element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; and transmitting the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in the BI.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of example 13, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of example 13 or 14, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any of examples 13-15, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any of examples 13-16, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any of examples 13-16, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of examples 13-18, and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the wireless station to transmit at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 13-19, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of any of examples 13-20, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 13-21, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) Station (STA) (PCP/AP STA).

Example 23 includes a method to be performed at a wireless communication station, the method comprising generating a beacon frame comprising an Awake Window (AW) element, the awake window element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP following the first CBAP in the BI; and transmitting the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in the BI.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of example 23, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of example 23 or 24, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 23-25, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-26, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-26, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-28, and optionally, comprising sending at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-29, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-30, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any of examples 23-31, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) Station (STA) (PCP) AP STA).

Example 33 includes a product comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable, when executed by at least one processor, to enable the at least one processor to cause a wireless communication station to: generating a beacon frame including a wakeup window (AW) element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP following the first CBAP in the BI; and transmitting the beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in the BI.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of example 33, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of example 33 or 34, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-35, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-36, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-36, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-38, and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the wireless station to: transmitting at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-39, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of any of examples 33-40, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 33-41, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) Station (STA) (PCP/AP STA).

Example 43 includes a wireless communications apparatus of a wireless communications station, the apparatus comprising means for generating a beacon frame, the beacon frame comprising an Awake Window (AW) element, the awake window element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; and means for transmitting a beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in the BI.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of example 43, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of example 43 or 44, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-45, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-46, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-46, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-48, and optionally, comprising means for sending at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-49, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of any of examples 43-50, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 43-51, and optionally, wherein the wireless communication station comprises a Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) Station (STA) (PCP/AP STA).

Example 53 includes an apparatus comprising logic and circuitry configured to cause a wireless communication station to process a received beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in a Beacon Interval (BI), the beacon frame comprising a wakeup window element including a first AW field to indicate a first AW during a first contention-based access period (CBAP) in the BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during a second CBAP following the first CBAP in the BI; waking up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of example 53, and optionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow the wireless communication station to switch to the power saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of example 53 or 54, and optionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to: the wireless communication station is allowed to switch to a power save mode prior to an end of at least one of the first or second CBAPs based on a received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1".

Example 56 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 53-55, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 53-56, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of any of examples 53-57, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 53-58, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of any of examples 53-58, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 53-60, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any of examples 53-61, and optionally, wherein the station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 53-62, and optionally, comprising a radio component.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of any of examples 53-63, and optionally, comprising a memory, a processor, and one or more antennas.

Example 65 includes a wireless communication system comprising a wireless communication station, the wireless communication station comprising one or more antennas; a radio component; a memory; a processor; a controller configured to cause: a wireless communication station processing a received beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in a Beacon Interval (BI), the beacon frame including an Awake Window (AW) element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) in the BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP following the first CBAP; waking up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of example 65, and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to allow the wireless communication station to switch to the power saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of example 65 or 66, and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to: based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1," the wireless communication station is allowed to switch to a power save mode prior to the end of at least one of the first or second CBAPs.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 65-67, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of any of examples 65-68, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of any of examples 65-69, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of any of examples 65-70, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of any of examples 65-70, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 65-72, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 65-73, and optionally, wherein the station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 75 includes a method to be performed at a wireless communication station, the method comprising processing a received beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in a Beacon Interval (BI), the beacon frame comprising an Awake Window (AW) element, the Awake Window (AW) element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) in the BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; waking up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of example 75, and optionally, comprising allowing the wireless communication station to switch to the power save mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 77 includes the subject matter of example 75 or 76, and optionally, comprising: based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1," the wireless communication station is allowed to switch to a power save mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 78 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 75-77, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 75-78, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of any of examples 75-79, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of any of examples 75-80, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of any of examples 75-80, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of any of examples 75-82, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 84 includes the subject matter of any of examples 75-83, and optionally, wherein the station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 85 includes a product comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable, when executed by at least one processor, to cause the at least one processor to enable a wireless communication station to: processing the received beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in a Beacon Interval (BI), the beacon frame including an Awake Window (AW) element including a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) in a first AW BI during the first AW and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP following the first CBAP in the BI; waking up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of example 85, and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, enable the wireless communication station to switch to the power saving mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of example 85 or 86, and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed: based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1," the wireless communication station is allowed to switch to a power save mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 85-87, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 89 includes the subject matter of any of examples 85-88, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of any of examples 85-89, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of any of examples 85-90, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 92 includes the subject matter of any of examples 85-90, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 93 includes the subject matter of any of examples 85-92, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 94 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 85-93, and optionally, wherein the station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Example 95 includes a wireless communications apparatus of a wireless communication station, the apparatus comprising means for processing a received beacon frame during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) in a Beacon Interval (BI), the beacon frame comprising an Awake Window (AW) element, the awake window element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first contention-based access period (CBAP) in the BI and a second AW field to indicate at least one second AW during at least one second CBAP subsequent to the first CBAP in the BI; means for waking up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the wireless communication station to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM); and means for allowing the wireless communication station to be in a power save mode during a time period between the first CBAP and the second CBAP.

Example 96 includes the subject matter of example 95, and optionally, comprising means for allowing the wireless communication station to switch to a power save mode before at least one of the first or second CBAPs ends.

Example 97 includes the subject matter of example 95 or 96, and optionally, comprising means for allowing the wireless communication station to switch to a power save mode prior to an end of at least one of the first or second CBAPs based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field comprising a value of "1".

Example 98 includes the subject matter of any one of examples 95-97, and optionally, wherein the first CBAP precedes any other CBAP in the BI.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-98, and optionally, wherein the first AW field includes an indication of a duration of the first AW.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-99, and optionally, wherein the second AW field includes an indication of a duration of the second AW.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-100, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for each CBAP in the BI.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-100, and optionally, wherein the AW element is to allocate an AW for only some CBAPs in the BI.

Example 103 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-102, and optionally, wherein the AW element comprises: a length field to indicate the length of the AW element, and an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element.

Example 104 includes the subject matter of any of examples 95-103, and optionally, wherein the station comprises an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station.

Functions, operations, components, and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments may be used in combination with, or in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components, and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, and vice versa.

While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

Claims (46)

1. An apparatus of wireless communication, the apparatus comprising logic and circuitry configured to cause an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA) to:

generating a wakeup window (AW) element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first duration of a first AW during a first contention-based access period (CBAP) allocation in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate a second duration of a second AW during one or more other CBAP allocations in the BI; and is

Transmitting a beacon frame including the AW element during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of the BI.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first AW field comprises a first AW duration field having a length of two bytes and the second AW field comprises a second AW duration field having a length of two bytes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, configured to cause the EDMG STA to include an allocation key field in the beacon frame to identify a CBAP allocation of the one or more other CBAP allocations.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the assignment key field comprises an assignment Identifier (ID) field, a source Association Identifier (AID) field, and a destination AID field.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the distribution key field has a length of three bytes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, configured to cause the EDMG STA to transmit at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first CBAP allocation precedes the one or more other CBAP allocations.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the AW element comprises an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element, a length field to indicate a length of the AW element, and the first AW field and the second AW field after the length field.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the first CBAP allocation and the one or more other CBAP allocations are in a Data Transfer Interval (DTI) after the BTI.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the EDMG STA comprises an EDMG Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) STA (PCP/AP STA).

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, comprising a radio component to transmit the beacon frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising one or more antennas connected to the radio, a memory for storing data processed by the EDMG STA, and a processor for executing instructions of an operating system.

13. An apparatus of wireless communication, the apparatus comprising logic and circuitry configured to cause an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA) to:

processing an Awake Window (AW) element in a beacon frame received during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of a Beacon Interval (BI), the AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first duration of a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP allocation in the BI and a second AW field to indicate a second duration of a second AW during one or more other CBAP allocations in the BI; and is

Wake up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the EDMG STA to receive at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM).

14. The apparatus of claim 13, configured to cause the EDMG STA to process ATIMs received in the second AW during an allocation in the one or more other CBAP allocations, and to allow the EDMG STA to switch to a power save mode prior to the end of the allocation based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1".

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first AW field comprises a first AW duration field having a length of two bytes and the second AW field comprises a second AW duration field having a length of two bytes.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, configured to cause the EDMG STA to identify a CBAP allocation of the one or more CBAP allocations based on an allocation key field.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the assignment key field comprises an assignment Identifier (ID) field, a source Association Identifier (AID) field, and a destination AID field.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the distribution key field has a length of three bytes.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first CBAP allocation precedes the one or more other CBAP allocations.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 13-19, wherein the AW element comprises an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element, a length field to indicate a length of the AW element, and the first and second AW fields following the length field.

21. The apparatus of any one of claims 13-19, wherein the first CBAP allocation and the one or more other CBAP allocations are in a Data Transfer Interval (DTI) after the BTI.

22. The apparatus of any of claims 13-19, wherein the beacon frame is from an EDMG Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) STA (PCP/AP STA).

23. The apparatus of any of claims 13-19, comprising a radio component to receive the beacon frame.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, comprising one or more antennas connected to the radio, a memory for storing data processed by the EDMG STA, and a processor for executing instructions of an operating system.

25. A method of wireless communication to be performed at an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA), the method comprising:

generating a wakeup window (AW) element comprising a first AW field to indicate a first duration of a first AW during a first contention-based access period (CBAP) allocation in a Beacon Interval (BI) and a second AW field to indicate a second duration of a second AW during one or more other CBAP allocations in the BI; and

transmitting a beacon frame including the AW element during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of the BI.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first AW field comprises a first AW duration field having a length of two bytes and the second AW field comprises a second AW duration field having a length of two bytes.

27. The method of claim 25, comprising including an allocation key field in the beacon frame to identify a CBAP allocation of the one or more other CBAP allocations.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the assigned key field comprises an assigned Identifier (ID) field, a source Association Identifier (AID) field, and a destination AID field.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the distribution key field has a length of three bytes.

30. The method of claim 25, comprising sending at least one Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) during at least one of the first AW or the second AW.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the first CBAP allocation precedes the one or more other CBAP allocations.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the AW element comprises an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element, a length field to indicate a length of the AW element, and the first AW field and the second AW field following the length field.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the first CBAP allocation and the one or more other CBAP allocations are in a Data Transfer Interval (DTI) after the BTI.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the EDMG STA comprises an EDMG Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or an Access Point (AP) STA (PCP/AP STA).

35. A method of wireless communication to be performed at an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA), the method comprising:

processing an Awake Window (AW) element in a beacon frame received during a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI) of a Beacon Interval (BI), the AW element including a first AW field to indicate a first duration of a first contention-based access period (CBAP) during a first CBAP allocation in the BI and a second AW field to indicate a second duration of a second AW during one or more other CBAP allocations in the BI; and

causing the EDMG STA to wake up during the first AW and the second AW to allow the EDMG STA to receive at least one Announce Traffic Indication Message (ATIM).

36. The method of claim 35, comprising processing ATIMs received in the second AW during an allocation of the one or more other CBAP allocations, and allowing the EDMG STA to switch to a power saving mode prior to the end of the allocation based on the received frame including an end of service period (EOSP) field including a value of "1".

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first AW field comprises a first AW duration field having a length of two bytes and the second AW field comprises a second AW duration field having a length of two bytes.

38. The method of claim 35, comprising identifying a CBAP allocation of the one or more CBAP allocations based on an allocation key field.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the assigned key field comprises an assigned Identifier (ID) field, a source Association Identifier (AID) field, and a destination AID field.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the distribution key field has a length of three bytes.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the first CBAP allocation precedes the one or more other CBAP allocations.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the AW element comprises an element Identifier (ID) field to identify the AW element, a length field to indicate a length of the AW element, and the first AW field and the second AW field following the length field.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the first CBAP allocation and the one or more other CBAP allocations are in a Data Transfer Interval (DTI) after the BTI.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the beacon frame is from an EDMG Personal Basic Service Set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or Access Point (AP) STA (PCP/AP STA).

45. An apparatus of wireless communication, the apparatus comprising means for causing an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA) to perform the method of any of claims 25-44.

46. An article of manufacture comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, enable the at least one processor to cause an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication Station (STA) to perform the method of any one of claims 25-44.

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