168032 20260123152959.0 doi 10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3654254 sideral 147619 ART-2026-147619 eng Salazar-Riaño, J.-L. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-4888-7734 Legacy-Compatible Multi-User Wi-Fi Aggregation for Enhanced Downlink Efficiency and Security 2026 This work introduces a novel Wi-Fi frame aggregation mechanism that enables efficient multiuser downlink transmissions in IEEE 802.11 networks (including earlier standards). We focus on exploring feasible and practical approaches to enable or approximate multi-user aggregation by leveraging existing features, while ensuring the compatibility with legacy standards. The proposed approach, implemented and evaluated on a real-world testbed, allows the Access Point (AP) to aggregate MAC Service Data Units (MSDUs) destined for multiple users/stations, using a scheme based on Multichannel Broadcast Encryption of Short Messages. It is particularly effective in scenarios involving a high volume of small data packets to multiple users/stations and where communication reliability is critical to maintaining high-quality service. This innovative solution not only extends and improves the efficiency of standard aggregation schemes in such scenarios but also enables efficient multi-user downlink transmissions and enhances security by strengthening the protection of transmitted data. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T31-23R info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCINN/PID2022-136476OB-I00 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Fernández-Navajas, J. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-5237-0447 Hernández-Solana, A. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0299-0859 Ruíz-Mas, J. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-4690-6089 Azuara-Guillén, G. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3270-5462 Cajal-Pérez, R. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0009-0001-0270-6109 2002 385 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Física Aplicada Área Física Aplicada 5008 560 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Electrón.Com. Área Ingeniería Telemática (2026), 19 pp. IEEE Access IEEE Access 2169-3536 2382471 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168032/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2725181 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168032/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:168032 articulos driver 2026-01-23-14:33:45 ARTICLE