Edca parameter set differentiation for different device types

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for signaling enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter sets, with support for different device types. The apparatus typically includes a processing system configured to generate a frame with an indication of a type of device that is to use a particular enhanced distribution channel access (EDCA) parameter set and an interface for outputting a frame containing the TIM IE for transmission

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 a processing system configured to generate a frame with an indication of a type of device that is to use a particular enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter set; and   an interface configured to output the frame for transmission, wherein:
 the apparatus belongs to a basic service set (BSS) that supports at least one of a first type of device or a second type of device; 
 the processing system is further configured to:
 generate the frame with a first EDCA parameter set element having an indication of the first type of device; and 
 generate an additional frame with a second EDCA parameter set element having an indication of the second type of device; and 
 
 the interface is also configured to output the additional frame for transmission. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the indication of the first type of device comprises a value that identifies the first type of device from a group of different device types comprising at least a sensor type device and a non-sensor type device; and   the indication of the second type of device comprises a value that identifies the second type of device from the group of different device types.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the indication of the first type of device is provided as a device type subfield in an Update EDCA Info field in the first EDCA parameter set element; and   the indication of the second type of device is provided as a device type subfield in an Update EDCA Info field in the second EDCA parameter set element.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the processing system is configured to set the device type subfield in at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element to a value that indicates information provided by at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element is valid for sensor type devices.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the processing system is configured to set the device type subfield in at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element to a value that indicates information provided by at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element is valid for non-sensor type devices.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the processing system is configured to set the device type subfield in at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element to a value that indicates information provided by at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element is valid for both sensor and non-sensor types of devices.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the processing system is configured to set the device type subfield in at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element to a value that indicates information provided by at least one of the first EDCA parameter set element or the second EDCA parameter set element is valid for more than one type of device.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the frame and the additional frame, wherein
 the apparatus is configured as an access point.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 an interface configured to receive a frame with an indication of a type of device that is to use a particular enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter set; and   a processing system configured to:
 use the particular EDCA parameter set if the indication of the type of device corresponds to the apparatus; and 
 use a default EDCA parameter set if the indication of the type of device does not correspond to the apparatus. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the indication comprises a value that identifies the type of device from a group of different device types comprising at least a sensor type device and a non-sensor type device; and   the processing system is configured to determine whether the apparatus should use the particular EDCA parameter set based on whether the apparatus is a sensor type device or non-sensor type of device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing system is configured to:
 use information provided by the EDCA parameter set if a device type subfield in an Update EDCA Info field in an EDCA parameter set element of the received frame is set to a value that indicates the information is valid for sensor type devices and the apparatus is a sensor type device; or   use information provided by the EDCA parameter set if the device type subfield is set to value that indicates the information is valid for non-sensor type devices and the apparatus is a non-sensor type device.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing system is configured to use information provided by the EDCA parameter set if a device type subfield in an Update EDCA Info field in an EDCA parameter set element of the received frame is set to a value that indicates the information is valid for both sensor type devices and non-sensor type devices, and the apparatus is a sensor type device or non-sensor type device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing system is configured to use information provided by the EDCA parameter set if a device type subfield in an Update EDCA Info field in an EDCA parameter set element of the received frame is set to a value that indicates the information is valid for multiple types of devices and the apparatus is one of the multiple types of devices. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a receiver for receiving the frame, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless station. 
     
     
         16 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . An access point, comprising:
 a processing system configured to generate a frame with an indication of a type of device that is to use a particular enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter set; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the frame, wherein:
 the access point belongs to a basic service set (BSS) that supports at least one of a first type of device or a second type of device; 
 the processing system is further configured to:
 generate the frame with a first EDCA parameter set element having an indication of the first type of device; and 
 generate an additional frame with a second EDCA parameter set element having an indication of the second type of device; and 
 
 the transmitter is also configured to transmit the additional frame. 
   
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive the frame, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless station.