Systems and methods for fractional carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (csma/ca) for wlans

Abstract

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are described to implement an interference management method. A method performed by an Access Point (AP) may include receiving, from a station (STA) associated with a first basic service set (BSS), information indicating support for coordinated carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) and receiving information associated with a second BSS. The method may further include coordinating, based on the received information associated with the second BSS, carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) access among STAs of the first BSS to minimize interference of the STA.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method performed by an Access Point (AP), the method comprising:
 receiving, from a station (STA) associated with a first basic service set (BSS), information indicating support for coordinated carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA);   receiving information associated with a second BSS; and   coordinating, based on the received information associated with the second BSS, carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) access among STAs of the first BSS to minimize interference of the STA.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a transmit power of a plurality of stations (STAs) associated with the first BSS by limiting a maximum power of the plurality of STAs, wherein the plurality of STAs comprises a STA identified as non-edge STA and at least one STA identified as edge STA. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a messaging including information indicating an edge flag to the STA. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying the STA associated with the first BSS as an edge STA or a non-edge STA based on a path loss from an AP to the STA, physical or geographic location of the STA, information received from the STA, or information received from a central controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the information received from the central controller comprises a difference between a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the AP at the STA and a next highest RSSI of another AP at the STA. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein received transmissions of a first station associated with a first edge group are orthogonal to received transmissions of a second station associated with a second edge group. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating CSMA/CA access comprises coordinating timing between STAs associated with the first BSS and STAs associated with the second BSS. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received information indicating support for CSMA/CA is received in an BSS Coordination Capability element via one of a control frame, a management frame, or an extension frame. 
     
     
         9 . An Access Point (AP) comprising:
 a processor; and   a transceiver;   the transceiver configured to receive, from a station (STA) associated with a first basic service set (BSS), information indicating support for coordinated carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA);   the transceiver further configured to receive information associated with a second BSS; and   the processor and the transceiver configured to coordinate, based on the received information associated with the second BSS, carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) access among STAs of the first BSS to minimize interference of the STA.   
     
     
         10 . The AP of  claim 9 , the processor and the transceiver configured to adjust a transmit power of a plurality of stations (STAs) associated with the first BSS by limiting a maximum power of the plurality of STAs, wherein the plurality of STAs comprises a STA identified as non-edge STA and at least one STA identified as edge STA. 
     
     
         11 . The AP of  claim 9 , the transceiver configured to send a message including information indicating an edge flag to the STA. 
     
     
         12 . The AP of  claim 9 , the processor and the transceiver configured to identify the STA associated with the first BSS as an edge STA or a non-edge STA based on a path loss from an AP to the STA, physical or geographic location of the STA, information received from the STA, or information received from a central controller. 
     
     
         13 . The AP of  claim 12 , wherein the information received from the central controller comprises a difference between a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the AP at the STA and a next highest RSSI of another AP at the STA. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein received transmissions of a first station associated with a first edge group are orthogonal to received transmissions of a second station associated with a second edge group. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein coordinating CSMA/CA access comprises coordinating timing between STAs associated with the first BSS and STAs associated with the second BSS. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the received information indicating support for CSMA/CA is received in an BSS Coordination Capability element via one of a control frame, a management frame, or an extension frame.