Multi-Device Experience with Peer-to-Peer Connectivity in IEEE 802.11bn (Wi-Fi 8)

The increasing demand for high-performance wireless communication, due to emerging applications such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and Internet-of-Things (IoT), has highlighted the need for enhanced Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication in Wi-Fi networks. P2P communication, often implemented through technologies like Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Aware, plays a crucial role in enabling seamless device-to-device interaction. This paper explores two significant enhancements for improving P2P communication: enhancing base-channel P2P through the optimization of TXOP sharing for P2P groups, and improving off-channel P2P through multi-AP coordination for channel advertisement. First, we examine the enhancement of base-channel P2P communication by introducing a refined transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing mechanism, where an AP allocates portions of its TXOP to P2P devices within a group. This allocation ensures that devices can transmit data within a controlled, synchronized framework, thereby reducing contention and improving overall throughput. Furthermore, the proposed improvements enable devices to efficiently share resources based on group-level needs, supporting latency-sensitive applications such as real-time media streaming. Second, we address the challenges of off-channel P2P communication in OBSS (Overlapping Basic Service Set) environments, where interference from neighboring networks can severely affect performance. Through multi-AP coordination, APs can advertise recommended P2P channels that minimize overlap with infrastructure operations, thereby providing cleaner and more reliable channels for P2P communication. In addition, this coordination also facilitates faster setup and more efficient operation of P2P links.