US 11,991,681 B2
Methods and apparatus for supporting multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) advertisements
Taren G. McCullough, Denver, CO (US); Matthew Dillon, Greenwood Village, CO (US); and Christopher W. Watson, Highlands Ranch, CO (US)
Assigned to Charter Communications Operating, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Charter Communications Operating, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/228,613.
Application 17/228,613 is a continuation of application No. 16/413,538, filed on May 15, 2019, granted, now 10,980,029.
Prior Publication US 2021/0306995 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 72/044 (2023.01); H04B 7/0408 (2017.01); H04B 7/0452 (2017.01); H04W 74/08 (2009.01); H04W 74/0808 (2024.01)
CPC H04W 72/046 (2013.01) [H04B 7/0408 (2013.01); H04B 7/0452 (2013.01); H04W 74/0808 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A communications method, the method comprising:
receiving, at an access point, advertisements of maximum supported number of spatial streams from a plurality of stations, said advertisements including a first advertisement from a first station in said plurality of stations, said first advertisement indicating a first maximum supported number of spatial streams supported by the first station;
operating the access point to determine channel utilization;
comparing, at the access point, the determined channel utilization to a channel utilization threshold; and
determining, at the access point, based on the result of comparing the determined channel utilization to the channel utilization threshold, to reduce the maximum supported number of spatial streams one or more stations advertises, said one or more stations being stations in said plurality of stations.