In aspects of acknowledgement options for downlink multi-user transmission, a wireless network system includes an access point that can communicate a downlink multi-user transmission soliciting acknowledgement from one or more station devices. The access point can receive an association request or an operation mode change request frame from one or more of the station devices, and determine an acknowledgement option for each of the station devices that communicate the request to the access point. The access point can then use a multi-user transmission mode or a single user transmission mode for each of the station devices based on the acknowledgement option determined for each of the respective station devices.

A wireless network comprises nodes, including routers having a tree-shaped communication topology and end devices, communicate in accordance a network protocol, wherein the routers transmit beacons in respective timeslots within a periodic beaconing interval, passively scan for messages, and, in response to receiving a message, transmit an acknowledgement thereof the received message. An end device that has a message that is pending transmission, passively scans for beacons transmitted from any router; and in response thereto, transmits the message, and passively scans for an acknowledgement, repeating those steps if no acknowledgement is received. This provides responsivity in an environment having rapidly changing propagation paths. To reduce power consumption, the end devices do not passively scan for beacons except when they have a message that is pending transmission, and also at predetermined times for reception of a downstream message. When radio silence is required, the routers do not transmit beacons.

A data communication system controls Software Defined Network (SDN) Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). A Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) executes the SDN VNFs and responsively transfers SDN Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to a Management and Orchestration (MANO) computer. The MANO computer processes the SDN KPIs from the NFVI to determine an NFVI task to perform for the SDN VNFs. The NFVI task comprises at least one of: SDN VNF relocation, SDN VNF off-boarding, SDN VNF darkening, SDN VNF lightening, and SDN VNF on-boarding. The MANO computer transfers NFVI control data indicating the NFVI task to the NFVI. The NFVI performs the NFVI task for the SDN VNFs responsive to the NFV control data.

A data communication system controls Software Defined Network (SDN) Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). A Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) executes the SDN VNFs and responsively transfers SDN Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to a Management and Orchestration (MANO) computer. The MANO computer processes the SDN KPIs from the NFVI to determine an NFVI task to perform for the SDN VNFs. The NFVI task comprises at least one of: SDN VNF relocation, SDN VNF off-boarding, SDN VNF darkening, SDN VNF lightening, and SDN VNF on-boarding. The MANO computer transfers NFVI control data indicating the NFVI task to the NFVI. The NFVI performs the NFVI task for the SDN VNFs responsive to the NFV control data.

A method and apparatus for wireless communication in the unlicensed spectrum between an eNB and UEs having different bandwidths, e.g., between a narrowband UE and a wideband eNB. A UE apparatus transmits uplink transmissions in a plurality of transmission units and hops frequency bands in a first pattern across frames based on a base station hopping pattern. The apparatus may transmit uplink transmissions based on dual hopping patterns, and may hop in a second pattern across transmission units within the base station's channel occupancy within a frame. A base station apparatus may hop frequency bands in a first pattern across frames based on a base station hopping pattern, and may receive uplink transmissions in a narrowband from a UE in a plurality of transmission units within the frequency bands based on the base station hopping pattern.

A method and apparatus for wireless communication in the unlicensed spectrum between an eNB and UEs having different bandwidths, e.g., between a narrowband UE and a wideband eNB. A UE apparatus transmits uplink transmissions in a plurality of transmission units and hops frequency bands in a first pattern across frames based on a base station hopping pattern. The apparatus may transmit uplink transmissions based on dual hopping patterns, and may hop in a second pattern across transmission units within the base station's channel occupancy within a frame. A base station apparatus may hop frequency bands in a first pattern across frames based on a base station hopping pattern, and may receive uplink transmissions in a narrowband from a UE in a plurality of transmission units within the frequency bands based on the base station hopping pattern.

A resource scheduling method of a wireless communication system is provided. The resource scheduling method includes the following steps. Each of the user equipment (UEs) is classified by a centralized scheduler as a cell-edge UE or a non cell-edge UE. A first scheduling is performed by the centralized scheduler by allocating a first resource for the cell-edge UEs, a second resource for the non cell-edge UEs, and a third resource for retransmission of at least one of the cell-edge UEs. A second scheduling is performed by a distributed scheduler by allocating a first part of the second resource for at least one of the non cell-edge UEs.

A resource scheduling method of a wireless communication system is provided. The resource scheduling method includes the following steps. Each of the user equipment (UEs) is classified by a centralized scheduler as a cell-edge UE or a non cell-edge UE. A first scheduling is performed by the centralized scheduler by allocating a first resource for the cell-edge UEs, a second resource for the non cell-edge UEs, and a third resource for retransmission of at least one of the cell-edge UEs. A second scheduling is performed by a distributed scheduler by allocating a first part of the second resource for at least one of the non cell-edge UEs.

This disclosure relates to orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication in wireless local area networks (WLANs). According to some embodiments, a downlink OFDMA frame may be transmitted. An uplink OFDMA frame including acknowledgements associated with the downlink OFDMA frame may be received. The uplink OFDMA frame may be processed, in some instances including determining which devices receiving the downlink OFDMA frame transmitted an acknowledgement associated with the downlink OFDMA frame in the uplink OFDMA frame.

This disclosure relates to orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication in wireless local area networks (WLANs). According to some embodiments, a downlink OFDMA frame may be transmitted. An uplink OFDMA frame including acknowledgements associated with the downlink OFDMA frame may be received. The uplink OFDMA frame may be processed, in some instances including determining which devices receiving the downlink OFDMA frame transmitted an acknowledgement associated with the downlink OFDMA frame in the uplink OFDMA frame.