Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method and a communication device, which are used for supporting an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11 ax next generation Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) protocol (such as 802.11 be, Wi-Fi 7 or EHT), or an IEEE 802.11 be next generation Wi-Fi protocol (such as 802.11 bn, Wi-Fi 8 or UHR), or Wi-Fi AI (Wireless Fidelity), or MMW (Millimeter Wave), or UWB (Ultra Wideband), or perception and the like. The first communication device sends a first wireless frame, and the second communication device receives the first wireless frame. The first radio frame includes first OBSS information, such as the first OBSS information is used for indicating information of a first OBSS that causes the first communication device to perform non-primary channel transmission. Therefore, the second communication device can acquire the first OBSS information. When the wireless frame sent by the first OBSS station is received, the two devices can be synchronously switched to the non-main channel, so that the communication efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of wireless technology, system bandwidth continues to expand. For example, in the field of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi 6 and previous systems support a maximum bandwidth of 160 MHz, and in Wi-Fi 7, the maximum bandwidth reaches 320 MHz. Larger bandwidth can be used to provide higher transmission rates.

[0003] According to the 802.11 series of standards, only when the primary channel is idle can the channel be successfully competed for; if the primary channel is busy, even if other channels are idle, they cannot be used. For example, the bandwidth of the primary channel can be 20MHz, and the position of the primary channel can be within the entire system bandwidth (such as 320MHz).

[0004] When the main channel is occupied, how to improve communication efficiency needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device, which can effectively ensure that a transmitting end and a receiving end synchronously jump to a non-primary channel, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication device, wherein the first communication device includes a Wi-Fi device, or a Wi-Fi chip or a functional module that can be set in the Wi-Fi device, and the method includes:

[0007] Send a first wireless frame, the first wireless frame includes a first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) information, receive a second wireless frame on a first channel, the second wireless frame is a wireless frame sent by a station in the first OBSS indicated by the first OBSS information; switch the communication channel.

[0008] Exemplarily, the first OBSS information is used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel. When the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS indicated by the first OBSS information, the first communication device can switch the communication channel. Exemplarily, when the first communication device receives the second radio frame, the first communication device can switch the communication channel based on the first OBSS information.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, the first communication device sends the first OBSS information so that the second communication device can effectively obtain the first OBSS (such as the first OBSS is the OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel) based on the first OBSS information. Therefore, when the first communication device and the second communication device both receive wireless frames from a site in the first OBSS, the second communication device can effectively obtain whether the first communication device will switch the communication channel, thereby ensuring that the first communication device and the second communication device can switch the communication channel synchronously, so that the first communication device and the second communication device can communicate on the same communication channel, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first OBSS information may be used to indicate information of multiple first OBSSs that cause the first communication device to switch the communication channel. For example, the first OBSS may be one of the multiple OBSSs that cause the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0011] In a possible implementation manner, the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS, and the second radio frame may also be a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS, or the sender information of the second radio frame matches the first OBSS information.

[0012] In the embodiment of the present application, the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS, so that the first communication device and the second communication device can synchronously switch communication channels when receiving the second radio frame.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the second wireless frame is a wireless frame corresponding to the first OBSS, including: a BSS color value in the second wireless frame is a BSS color value of the first OBSS; or, a BSSID in the second wireless frame is a BSSID of the first OBSS.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the switching of the communication channel includes: switching the communication channel when at least one of the following conditions is met: a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the second wireless frame is greater than or equal to an RSSI threshold; a length of the second wireless frame is greater than or equal to a length threshold.

[0015] In the embodiment of the present application, if the RSSI of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold, it means that the second radio frame sent by the station in the first OBSS causes greater interference to the first communication device and the second communication device. As a result, the first communication device and the second communication device can synchronously switch the communication channel to ensure that the two can communicate with each other, thereby improving communication efficiency. Alternatively, if the length of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the length threshold, it means that the first communication device and the second communication device can communicate for a longer time on the second channel, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0016] In a possible implementation manner, the first radio frame further includes information about the RSSI threshold or information about the length threshold.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner, the RSSI threshold is defined by a standard.

[0018] In a possible implementation manner, the length threshold is defined by a standard.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: basic service set (BSS) color information of the first OBSS; BSS identifier (BSSindicatifier, BSSID) information of the first OBSS; medium access control (medium access control, MAC) address information of a station in the first OBSS.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the BSS color information is a bit map of BSS color values, each bit in the bit map of BSS color values ​​corresponds to a BSS color value, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, the BSS color information is used to indicate one or more BSS color values, and the BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, the BSSID information is a bit map of a partial BSSID, and the partial BSSID is m bits in the BSSID, and the bit map of the partial BSSID includes 2 m bits, each bit in the bitmap of the partial BSSID corresponds to a partial BSSID, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding partial BSSID is the partial BSSID of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a third radio frame, the third radio frame including second OBSS information. Exemplarily, the second OBSS information is used to indicate information of the second OBSS causing the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present application, the second communication device sends the second OBSS information so that the first communication device can effectively obtain the second OBSS based on the second OBSS information, thereby further ensuring that the first communication device and the second communication device can switch communication channels synchronously, so that the first communication device and the second communication device can communicate on the same communication channel as much as possible, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the second OBSS information may be used to indicate information of multiple second OBSSs that cause the second communication device to switch the communication channel. For example, the second OBSS may be one of the multiple OBSSs that cause the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the switching of the communication channel includes at least one of the following: switching from a first channel to a second channel; performing signal monitoring on the second channel; performing channel competition on the second channel; and sending or receiving wireless frames on the second channel.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the first channel is a primary channel. In a possible implementation, the second channel is a non-primary channel.

[0026] In the embodiment of the present application, the first communication device switches the communication channel so that the first communication device performs non-primary channel operation or the first communication device performs non-primary channel transmission. The second communication device switches the communication channel so that the second communication device performs non-primary channel operation or the second communication device performs non-primary channel transmission.

[0027] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a second communication device, where the second communication device includes a Wi-Fi device, or a Wi-Fi chip or a functional module that can be set in a Wi-Fi device, and the method includes:

[0028] Receive a first wireless frame, the first wireless frame including first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) information; receive a second wireless frame on a first channel, the second wireless frame is a wireless frame sent by a station in the first OBSS indicated by the first OBSS information; and switch a communication channel.

[0029] Exemplarily, the first OBSS information is used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0030] In a possible implementation manner, the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS, and the second radio frame may also be a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the second wireless frame is a wireless frame corresponding to the first OBSS, including: a BSS color value in the second wireless frame is a BSS color value of the first OBSS; or, a BSSID in the second wireless frame is a BSSID of the first OBSS.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the switching of the communication channel includes: switching the communication channel when at least one of the following conditions is met: the received signal strength indication RSSI of the second wireless frame is greater than or equal to an RSSI threshold; the length of the second wireless frame is greater than or equal to a length threshold.

[0033] In a possible implementation manner, the first radio frame further includes information about the RSSI threshold or information about the length threshold.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: basic service set (BSS) color information of the first OBSS; BSS identifier (BSSID) information of the first OBSS; and media access control (MAC) address information of a station in the first OBSS.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the BSS color information is a bit map of BSS color values, each bit in the bit map of BSS color values ​​corresponds to a BSS color value, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, the BSS color information is used to indicate one or more BSS color values, and the BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, the BSSID information is a bit map of a partial BSSID, and the partial BSSID is m bits in the BSSID, and the bit map of the partial BSSID includes 2 m bits, each bit in the bitmap of the partial BSSID corresponds to a partial BSSID, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding partial BSSID is the partial BSSID of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a third radio frame, wherein the third radio frame includes second OBSS information. Exemplarily, the second OBSS information is used to indicate information of the second OBSS that causes the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the switching of the communication channel includes at least one of the following: switching from a first channel to a second channel; performing signal monitoring on the second channel; performing channel competition on the second channel; and sending or receiving wireless frames on the second channel.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the first channel is a primary channel. In a possible implementation, the second channel is a non-primary channel.

[0039] For other implementation methods or beneficial effects of the second aspect, reference may be made to the first aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0040] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication device, wherein the first communication device includes a Wi-Fi device, or a Wi-Fi chip or a functional module that can be set in a Wi-Fi device, and the method includes:

[0041] A physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) is received, and when the PPDU satisfies at least one of the following items, the first communication device performs non-main channel transmission: the transmitter information of the PPDU matches the first OBSS information; the RSSI of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold; the length of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the length threshold.

[0042] In conjunction with the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: sending first OBSS information. Exemplarily, the first OBSS information is used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch a communication channel.

[0043] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a second communication device, where the second communication device includes a Wi-Fi device, or a Wi-Fi chip or a functional module that can be set in a Wi-Fi device, and the method includes:

[0044] A physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) is received, and when the PPDU satisfies at least one of the following items, the second communication device performs non-main channel transmission: the transmitter information of the PPDU matches the first OBSS information; the RSSI of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold; the length of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the length threshold.

[0045] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: receiving first OBSS information. Exemplarily, the first OBSS information is used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch a communication channel.

[0046] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: BSS color information of the first OBSS; BSSID information of the first OBSS; MAC address information of a site in the first OBSS.

[0047] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the transmitter information of the PPDU matches the first OBSS information, including that the transmitter information of the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information. Exemplarily, the BSS color value in the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information, or the BSSID in the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information, or the MAC address of the OBSS station sending the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information.

[0048] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the matching of the sender information of the PPDU and the first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: the BSS color value in the PPDU is included in the BSS color value corresponding to the bit set to the first value in the bit map of the BSS color value; the BSS color value in the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information; the partial BSSID in the PPDU is included in the partial BSSID corresponding to the bit set to the first value in the bit map of the partial BSSID; the MAC address of the sender of the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information.

[0049] Exemplarily, the first value is 1.

[0050] For other explanations about the third aspect or the fourth aspect, please refer to the first aspect or the second aspect and will not be described in detail here.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a first communication device, configured to execute the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation. The first communication device includes a module for executing the method in the first aspect, the third aspect, or any possible implementation.

[0052] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a second communication device, configured to execute the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation. The second communication device includes a module for executing the method in the second aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible implementation.

[0053] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a first communication device, the first communication device comprising a processor, configured to execute the method described in the first aspect, the third aspect, or any possible implementation. The processor is configured to execute a program stored in a memory, and when the program is executed, the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation is executed.

[0054] In a possible implementation manner, the memory is located outside the first communication device.

[0055] In a possible implementation manner, the memory is located in the first communication device.

[0056] In the embodiment of the present application, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device, that is, the processor and the memory may also be integrated together. Exemplarily, the first communication device may be a chip.

[0057] In a possible implementation manner, the first communication device further includes a transceiver, and the transceiver is used to receive information or send information.

[0058] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a second communication device, the second communication device comprising a processor, configured to execute the method described in the second aspect, the fourth aspect, or any possible implementation. The processor is configured to execute a program stored in a memory, and when the program is executed, the method described in the second aspect, the fourth aspect, or any possible implementation is executed.

[0059] In a possible implementation manner, the memory is located outside the second communication device.

[0060] In a possible implementation manner, the memory is located in the second communication device.

[0061] In the embodiment of the present application, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device, that is, the processor and the memory may also be integrated together. Exemplarily, the second communication device may be a chip.

[0062] In a possible implementation manner, the second communication device further includes a transceiver, and the transceiver is used to receive information or send information.

[0063] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a first communication device, which includes a logic circuit and an interface, and the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in the first aspect, the third aspect or any possible implementation method.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the interface is used to output information including: the interface is used to output a first radio frame, etc. The interface is used to input information including: the interface is used to input a second radio frame, the interface is used to input a third radio frame, etc. Exemplarily, the logic circuit is used to generate a first radio frame, etc.

[0065] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a second communication device, which includes a logic circuit and an interface, and the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in the second aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the interface is used to input information including: the interface is used to input a first radio frame, a second radio frame, etc. The interface is used to output information including: the interface is used to output a third radio frame, etc. Exemplarily, the logic circuit is used to determine, based on the first radio frame, information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel, etc.

[0067] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the method shown in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method is executed.

[0068] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or a computer code. When the computer program product runs on a computer, the method shown in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method is executed.

[0069] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, the method shown in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible implementation is executed.

[0070] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device.

[0071] In one possible implementation, the first communication device is used to execute the method shown in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, and the second communication device is used to execute the method shown in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0072] In one possible implementation, the first communication device is used to execute the method shown in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, and the second communication device is used to execute the method shown in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Figure 1a It is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Figure 1b is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Figure 2 It is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] Figure 4a is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] Figure 4b is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] Figure 5a It is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] Figure 5b It is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Figure 6 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] Figure 7 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] Figure 8 It is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present application, the present application will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0086] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are only used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units that are inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0087] The "embodiment" mentioned in this article means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It can be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0088] In the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "more than one" means two or more, "at least two (items)" means two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" means that two relationships may exist, such as only A exists, only B exists; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that there are three relationships, such as only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".

[0089] When the first communication device detects that the main channel is occupied by a site in another cell, the first communication device can jump to other channels (such as non-main channels) to compete for channels. When the first communication device jumps to other channels (such as non-main channels), and the second communication device communicating with the first communication device does not jump to the aforementioned channel and does not know that the first communication device has jumped to the channel, communication between the transmitting and receiving ends cannot be achieved.

[0090] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and device, which can effectively ensure that the first communication device and the second communication device can jump to other channels synchronously, thereby improving communication efficiency. The synchronous jumping to other channels shown in the embodiment of the present application means that the first communication device jumps to the second channel, and the second communication device can also jump to the second channel. The "synchronous" shown in the embodiment of the present application is relative to "asynchronous", such as "asynchronous" means that one of the first communication device or the second communication device jumps to the second channel, while the other device is still on the first channel.

[0091] The following introduces the communication system involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0092] The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, such as Wi-Fi, etc. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the IEEE 802.11 series of protocols, such as the 802.11be protocol, the 802.11bn protocol, or the next generation of the 802.11bn protocol, etc., which are not listed one by one. The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to wireless personal area networks (WPAN) based on millimeter wave (MMW) and ultra wideband (UWB) technologies. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the IEEE 802.15 series of protocols, such as the 802.15.4a protocol, the 802.15.4z protocol, or the 802.15.4ab protocol, or a future generation of UWB WPAN protocols, etc., which are not listed one by one. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to the following communication systems, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT) system, the Vehicle to X (V2X), the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the fifth generation (5G) communication system, and new communication systems that will emerge in the future development of communications.

[0093] WLAN systems can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission. With the continuous evolution of WLAN application scenarios, WLAN systems will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry or the banking industry, corporate offices, sports stadiums and exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, production workshops and warehouses, etc. Of course, devices that support WLAN communication or perception (such as access points or sites) can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, televisions, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, loudspeakers, speakers, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation desks in supermarkets, self-service cash registers, self-service ordering machines, etc.), and equipment in large sports and music venues.

[0094] Although the embodiments of the present application mainly take WLAN as an example, especially the network applied to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. The embodiments of the present application can also support Wi-Fi 8, which can also be called ultra-high reliability (UHR) or ultra-high reliability and throughput (UHRT), etc., which are not listed here one by one. The various aspects involved in the embodiments of the present application can be extended to other networks that adopt various standards or protocols. For example, Bluetooth, high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE802.11 standard) and wide area network (WAN) or other networks now known or developed later.

[0095] In a possible implementation, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be implemented by a communication device in a communication system. For example, the communication device may be an access point (AP) or a station (STA).

[0096] AP is a device with wireless communication function, supports communication or perception using WLAN protocol, has the function of communicating or perceiving with other devices in WLAN network (such as non-access point station (non-AP STA) or other access points), and of course, can also have the function of communicating or perceiving with other devices. Alternatively, the access point is equivalent to a bridge connecting the wired network and the wireless network, and its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together, and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. In the WLAN system, the access point can be called an access point station (AP STA). The device with wireless communication function can be a complete device, or it can be a chip, processing system or functional module installed in the complete device. The device installed with these chips or processing systems or functional modules can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system or functional module. The AP in the embodiments of the present application is a device that provides services for non-AP STA, and can support 802.11 series protocols or subsequent protocols. For example, an access point can be an access point for a terminal (such as a mobile phone) to enter a wired (or wireless) network. It is mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and parks, with a typical coverage radius of tens to hundreds of meters. Of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. For another example, an AP can be a communication server, router, switch, bridge, or other communication entity; an AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, an AP can also be a chip or processing system or module in the above-mentioned various forms of equipment, so as to realize the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0097] STA is a device with wireless communication function, supports communication or perception using WLAN protocol, and has the ability to communicate or perceive with other non-AP STA or access points in the WLAN network. In the WLAN system, the station can be called a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For example, STA is any user communication device that allows the user to communicate or perceive with the AP and then communicate with the WLAN. The device with wireless communication function can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system or functional module installed in the complete device. The device installed with these chips or processing systems or functional modules can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system or functional module. For example, STA can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal, etc., and can also be called a user. For another example, STA can be a mobile phone supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a tablet supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a smart TV supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication function, and a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication function. Of course, STA can also be a chip or processing system or module in the above-mentioned various forms of devices, so as to implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0098] Exemplarily, the communication system to which the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied may include access points and stations. For example, the embodiment of the present application may be applicable to the scenario of communication or perception between AP and STA, between AP and AP, or between STA and STA in WLAN, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. Optionally, the AP may communicate or perceive with a single STA, or the AP may communicate or perceive with multiple STAs at the same time. Specifically, the communication or perception between the AP and multiple STAs can be divided into downlink transmission in which the AP sends signals to multiple STAs at the same time, and uplink transmission in which multiple STAs send signals to the AP. Among them, the WLAN communication protocol can be supported between the AP and the STA, between the AP and the AP, and between the STA and the STA. The communication protocol may include the IEEE802.11 series of protocols, such as 802.11n / 802.11ac / 802.11ax / 802.11be / 802.11bn protocols, and of course, it is also applicable to protocols after 802.11bn.

[0099] Figure 1a 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication system may include one or more APs and one or more STAs. Figure 1aAn access point such as AP1 and three stations such as STA1, STA2 and STA3 are shown in FIG. Figure 1a The communication between AP1 and STA1 shown in FIG. 1 , or the communication between AP1 and STA1, STA2), or the communication between AP and AP (such as Figure 1a ), or, for communication between STAs (such as Figure 1a The method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applicable to, but not limited to, uplink / downlink transmission of a single user, uplink / downlink transmission of multiple users, vehicle-to-everything (V2X, X can represent anything), device-to-device (D2D). For example, the V2X may include: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0100] Figure 1a The STA is a mobile phone and the AP is a router as an example, which does not limit the types of AP and STA in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 1a Only one AP and three STAs are shown for example, but the number of the APs or STAs may be more or less, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0101] Figure 1b Schematic diagram of another communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1b As shown, a BSS may include an AP and one or more STAs associated or unassociated with the AP. The communication system may also include multiple BSSs. Figure 1b Two BSSs are shown as an example, and the coverage areas of the two BSSs overlap. BSS#1 includes AP#1, STA11, STA12, and STA13, and BSS#2 includes AP#2, STA21, STA22, and STA23. Each BSS consists of an AP and multiple STAs. Within a BSS, data can be transmitted between the AP and each STA. AP#1 and AP#2 can also communicate.

[0102] The relationship between BSS, BSSID, BSS color value and station can be as follows:

[0103] Each BSS can be identified by an ID, such as BSSID. In other words, one BSSID can correspond to one BSS. For example, BSSID can be carried in the MAC layer preamble of a wireless frame, such as MAC header. Generally speaking, AP can set BSSID to its own MAC address. Each BSS can correspond to multiple STAs. Figure 1b As shown, BSS#1 may correspond to STA11~STA13, and BSS#2 may correspond to STA21~STA23.

[0104] For each BSS, each BSS may also be identified by a BSS color value. For example, the BSS color value may be carried in a physical layer preamble of a wireless frame, such as a PHY header.

[0105] OBSS can be understood as: a BSS that operates on the same channel as the STA's BSS and partially or completely overlaps with the basic service area of ​​the station is the OBSS of the station (OBSS: a BSS operating on the same channel as the STA's BSS and within (either partly or wholly) its basic service area). For example, for STA13 in BSS#1, BSS#2 is the OBSS of STA13, and any one of STA21~STA23 or AP#2 in BSS#2 can be the OBSS station of STA13 (or called a station within the OBSS). For another example, for AP#1 in BSS#1, BSS#2 is the OBSS of AP#1, and any one of STA21~STA23 and AP#2 in BSS#2 can be the OBSS station of AP#1. For another example, for STA22 in BSS#2, BSS#1 can be the OBSS of STA22, and any one of STA11 to STA13 or AP#1 in BSS#1 can be the OBSS site of STA22. For ease of description, the present embodiment of the application refers to the sites in the OBSS as OBSS sites, but this should not be understood as a limitation on the present embodiment of the application. For example, the site in the first OBSS is called the first OBSS site, and the site in the second OBSS is called the second OBSS site.

[0106] Figure 1bTwo BSSs are used as an example. In a specific implementation, OBSS can also be applied to a larger number of BSSs. For example, if three BSSs satisfy the above description of OBSS, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied. For a larger number of BSSs, they are not listed one by one here. With the progress of the standard, other scenarios similar to OBSS may appear in the future, or the OBSS may have other names. However, any scenario with similar functions to OBSS belongs to the protection scope of the embodiment of the present application.

[0107] From the different perspectives of sending the first radio frame and receiving the first radio frame, the first communication device shown below can be understood as a communication device that sends the first radio frame, and the second communication device can be understood as a communication device that receives the first radio frame. The first communication device and the second communication device belong to the same BSS. As an example, the first communication device and the second communication device can be Wi-Fi chips or functional modules or processing systems set in different Wi-Fi devices. As another example, the first communication device can be an AP, and the second communication device can be a non-AP STA. As another example, the first communication device and the second communication device can both be non-AP STAs or both APs. As another example, the first communication device can be a non-AP STA, and the second communication device can be an AP. As another example, at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device can be a multi-link device (multi-link device, MLD), etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not listed one by one. Exemplarily, a multi-link device (multi-link device, MLD) means that the device has multiple stations (such as AP or non-AP STA) at the same time, respectively working on different frequency bands or channels. A multi-link device includes multiple subordinate sites, and the subordinate sites can be physical sites or logical sites. Each site can work on a link, a frequency band, or a channel, etc. The above-mentioned subordinate sites can be APs or non-AP STAs. A multi-link device (such as non-APMLD or AP MLD) can be a communication device with wireless communication function. The communication device can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system or module installed in the complete device, etc. The devices installed with these chips or processing systems or modules can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of these chips or processing systems or modules. The multi-link device can implement wireless communication in accordance with the 802.11 series of protocols, thereby realizing communication with other devices. The other devices shown here may be multi-link devices or may not be multi-link devices. The frequency bands in which the multi-link device works may include but are not limited to: sub 1GHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, etc., which are not listed here one by one.

[0108] For example, Figure 1b For example, the first communication device may be AP#1, the second communication device may be any one of STA11-STA13, and the OBSS site may be any site in BSS#2, such as STA21, STA22, STA23, or any one of AP#2. Alternatively, the first communication device may be AP#2, the second communication device may be any one of STA21-STA23, and the OBSS site may be any site in BSS#1, such as STA11, STA12, STA13, or any one of AP#1.

[0109] Exemplarily, the OBSS site may also be one of the two communication devices performing D2D communication, or the OBSS site may be one of the two communication devices performing V2X communication, etc. For ease of description, the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the OBSS site as an example.

[0110] The embodiment of the present application describes the method provided by the embodiment of the present application based on the first communication device and the second communication device. However, during the process of transmitting wireless frames (such as the first wireless frame or the second wireless frame, etc.), the first communication device and the second communication device can also forward the wireless frames through other devices, such as forwarding the wireless frames between the first communication device and the second communication device through a forwarding device. The embodiment of the present application does not limit other devices other than the first communication device and the second communication device.

[0111] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The relevant description of the first communication device and the second communication device involved in the method can be referred to Figure 1a or Figure 1b , which will not be described in detail here. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0112] In one possible implementation, Figure 2 The method shown may include step 201:

[0113] 201. A first communication device generates a first radio frame, where the first radio frame includes first OBSS information.

[0114] Exemplarily, the first OBSS information may be used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel. For example, because the communication of the stations in the first OBSS occupies the resources of the primary channel, the first communication device needs to switch to other channels to communicate with other communication devices (such as the second communication device) of the BSS corresponding to the first communication device.

[0115] Switching a communication channel may include at least one of the following: switching from a first channel to a second channel; performing signal monitoring on the second channel; performing channel competition on the second channel; and sending or receiving a wireless frame on the second channel. The first channel may also be referred to as a communication channel before switching, and the second channel may also be referred to as a communication channel after switching. The switching communication channel shown in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as jumping to another channel.

[0116] Exemplarily, the communication channel before switching (such as the first channel mentioned above) can be a primary channel (primary channel, PC). Generally speaking, when establishing a BSS, the AP can select a channel as the primary channel, and then the AP can send a beacon frame on the primary channel. The specific location of the primary channel is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the bandwidth of the primary channel can be 20 MHz, and its location can be in the entire system bandwidth.

[0117] Exemplarily, the communication channel after switching (such as the second channel mentioned above) can be a non-primary channel (NPC). For example, the first channel mentioned above can be the primary channel, and the second channel can be the non-primary channel. When the communication channel after switching is a non-primary channel, the above-mentioned switching of the communication channel can also be referred to as performing a non-primary channel operation or performing a non-primary channel transmission, etc. The specific name of the switching communication channel is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For the convenience of description, when some implementation methods are involved below, the non-primary channel operation is used as an example for explanation, and the description of the non-primary channel operation and the non-primary channel transmission can be interchangeable. For example, the first OBSS information can be used to indicate the information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to perform a non-primary channel operation (or a non-primary channel transmission).

[0118] The first OBSS information can be used to indicate the information of the first OBSS. The first OBSS is an OBSS that causes the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation, or the first OBSS is an OBSS that triggers the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation, or the first OBSS is an OBSS that may cause the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation, or the first OBSS is an OBSS that enables the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation, or the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site will cause / trigger / enable the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation / perform non-main channel transmission / perform channel switching. The first OBSS shown in the embodiment of the present application is an example of one or more OBSSs indicated by the first OBSS information, such as the first OBSS information can be used to indicate the information of multiple first OBSSs. The number of first OBSSs indicated by the first OBSS information is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0119] The first OBSS information may be information about the OBSS that may cause the first communication device to perform non-main channel operations. For example, the first OBSS information may include information about the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to perform non-main channel operations, and may also include information about the OBSS that does not cause the first communication device to perform non-main channel operations. The name of the first OBSS information shown in the embodiment of the present application is only an example. For example, the first OBSS information may also be called OBSS site information, or channel switching information, or indication information, or neighboring cell information, etc., which are not listed here one by one. For the specific content of the first OBSS information, please refer to the following text, which will not be described in detail here.

[0120] Exemplarily, the first communication device can observe which first OBSS sites send radio frames that will cause it to initiate non-main channel operations. As an example, if the first communication device receives a radio frame sent from an OBSS site, it can determine that the OBSS site is the first OBSS site. As another example, after the first communication device receives a radio frame from an OBSS site, it can determine that the OBSS site is the first OBSS site based on at least one of the following information of the radio frame: received signal strength indication (RSSI), received power, and length. For example, if the RSSI of the radio frame is greater than a certain threshold A, it indicates that the aforementioned OBSS site is the first OBSS site. For another example, if the length of the radio frame is greater than a certain threshold B, it indicates that the aforementioned OBSS site is the first OBSS site. For another example, if the received power of the radio frame is greater than a certain threshold C, it indicates that the aforementioned OBSS site is the first OBSS site. The length of the above-mentioned radio frame can be represented by any of the following items: the air interface transmission duration of the radio frame, the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol occupied by the radio frame. As another example, the first communication device can determine the first OBSS site that will cause it to perform non-main channel operation this time in combination with the first OBSS site that has caused the first communication device to perform non-main channel operation in history. The specific method for the first communication device to determine the first OBSS site that causes it to perform non-main channel operation is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The above is shown by taking the first OBSS site as an example. In a specific implementation, the first communication device can also determine the first OBSS that causes it to perform non-main channel operation. Whether it is the first OBSS site or the first OBSS, the first communication device can generate a first radio frame based on the relevant information of the first OBSS (such as BSS color value or BSSID, etc.), or the relevant information of the BSS corresponding to the first OBSS site (such as BSS color value or BSSID, etc.), or the MAC address of the first OBSS site.

[0121] Exemplarily, the first communication device determines the OBSS that will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operation according to predefined information or configuration information. For example, the predefined information or configuration information may indicate information of the OBSS that will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operation, such as the BSS color value of the OBSS, the BSSID of the OBSS, or the MAC address of the OBSS station. In other words, the first OBSS information may also be predefined information, or defined by a standard, etc.

[0122] Exemplarily, the first wireless frame may be a beacon frame or a probe response frame or a non-main channel operation parameter request frame or a non-main channel operation parameter response frame, etc., which are not listed one by one here. The non-main channel operation parameter request frame can be used to request parameters related to non-main channel operation, and the main channel operation parameter response frame is a response frame of the aforementioned request frame. The first wireless frame may also include communication parameters of the cell where the first communication device is located, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit other contents included in the first wireless frame. Exemplarily, when the first communication device is an AP, the first wireless frame may be a beacon frame or a probe response frame or a non-main channel operation parameter response frame.

[0123] 202. The first communication device sends a first wireless frame, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first wireless frame.

[0124] Exemplarily, the first communication device may send the first wireless frame on a certain channel. For example, the certain channel may be the first channel. Whether the communication channel occupied by the first communication device when sending the first wireless frame is the same as the communication channel (such as the first channel) occupied by the first communication device when receiving the second wireless frame is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0125] 203. The second communication device determines first OBSS information based on the first radio frame.

[0126] The first OBSS information shown in the embodiment of the present application can be carried in a newly added element or field in the first wireless frame, or the first OBSS information can also be carried in a reserved bit in the first wireless frame, or the first OBSS information can also reuse the existing fields or elements in the first wireless frame, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the element or field where the first OBSS information is located.

[0127] The specific content of the first OBSS information is introduced below.

[0128] The information of the first OBSS may include at least one of the following: BSS color information of the first OBSS, BSSID information of the first OBSS, and MAC address information of stations in the first OBSS, which are described below.

[0129] Implementation method 1:

[0130] The first OBSS information may include information related to the BSS color of the first OBSS (such as BSS color information). The BSS color may be used to indicate the BSS color value of the first OBSS. The BSS color value shown in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as the BSS color, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific name.

[0131] As an example, the BSS color information is a bitmap of BSS color values, and each bit in the bitmap of BSS color values ​​corresponds to a BSS color value (or BSS color). The value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color value (or BSS color) is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel. Alternatively, the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color is the BSS color of the first OBSS. Alternatively, the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the OBSS indicated by the corresponding BSS color value will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations.

[0132] Generally speaking, a BSS color value may correspond to a BSS, such as an OBSS may correspond to a BSS color value, so the BSS color bitmap may effectively indicate which OBSSs may cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations. The BSS color bitmap may be carried in the first field below.

[0133] The length of the BSS color value defined by the 802.11 standard is 6 bits, and the value range is 0 to 63. For example, the first wireless frame may include a first field, and the first field may be a bitmap field with a length of 64 bits (8 bytes), and each bit of the bitmap field corresponds to a BSS color value. For example, the first bit (or bit 0) of the bitmap field corresponds to BSS color 0 (BSS color 0), the second bit (or bit 1) corresponds to BSS color 1 (BSS color 1), and so on. The sixty-fourth bit (or bit 63) corresponds to BSS color 63 (BSS color63). The 64 bits shown here are only examples. As the standard progresses, the length of subsequent BSS colors may be more or less. As the length of the BSS color changes, the length of the bitmap shown in the embodiment of the present application may also change.

[0134] For example, if a bit in the bitmap field is set to a first value, it means that the BSS color value corresponding to the bit is the BSS color value of the first OBSS. For another example, if a bit in the bitmap field is set to a second value, it means that the BSS color value corresponding to the bit is the BSS color value of the OBSS that will not cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations. Exemplarily, the first value may be 1, and the second value may be 0.

[0135] Exemplarily, the first field may be carried in a first information element. The first information element may be used to carry parameters related to non-primary channel operation (or non-primary channel transmission). For example, the first information element may be called a non-primary channel transmission parameter set information element. Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3a As shown, the first information element may include at least one of the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension, control, BSS color bitmap. For the relevant description of the BSS color bitmap, please refer to the aforementioned description of the bitmap of the BSS color value, which will not be described in detail here. The BSS color bitmap may also be called a non-primary channel BSS color bitmap (NPC BSS colorbitmap). Figure 3a The order and length of each field shown are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0136] The bit map shown in the embodiment of the present application can clearly indicate which OBSSs (such as one or more first OBSSs, or PPDUs from which OBSS sites) will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations, and can also clearly indicate which OBSSs will not cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations.

[0137] As another example, the BSS color information is one or more BSS color values, which are BSS color values ​​of the first OBSS, or the first OBSS indicated by each of the one or more BSS color values ​​will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operation.

[0138] For example, the first radio frame may include a first field, the first field may indicate a BSS color list, the BSS color list may include one or more BSS color values. When a BSS color value is carried in the first field, it indicates that the BSS color value is a BSS color value of the first OBSS.

[0139] Exemplarily, the above-mentioned first field can be carried in a first information element. For other descriptions about the first information element, please refer to the above and will not be described in detail here. Figure 3b is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3bAs shown, the first information element may include at least one of the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension, control, and BSS color list. Figure 3b The BSS color value x and the BSS color value y in the BSS color list are exemplarily shown, where x and y represent the identifiers of the BSS color values, and the specific values ​​of x and y are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Exemplarily, the control field may include length indication information of the BSS color list, and the length indication information may be used to indicate the length of the BSS color list, or to indicate the number of BSS color values ​​in the BSS color list. Figure 3b The order and length of each field shown are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0140] Implementation method 2:

[0141] The first OBSS information may include BSSID information of the OBSS. For example, the BSSID information may be a bitmap of a portion of the BSSID, and the portion of the BSSID may be any m bits in the BSSID. For example, the length of the BSSID may be 48 bits, and m may be a positive integer less than 48. For example, the value of m may be equal to 6. For another example, the value of m may be equal to 4, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Any m bits may be m consecutive bits in the BSSID, or may be m non-continuous bits, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0142] Since the BSSID information is a bitmap of a partial BSSID, and the length of the partial BSSID is m bits, the length of the bitmap of the partial BSSID can be equal to 2 m Each bit corresponds to a partial BSSID, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding partial BSSID is the partial BSSID of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0143] For example, the first radio frame may include a second field, which may indicate a partial BSSID bitmap. For example, the partial BSSID may be the 40th to 45th bits of the BSSID, i.e., BSSID[39:44]. When m=6, the partial BSSID may be any value between 0 and 63, so the second field may be a bitmap field with a length of 64 bits (8 bytes), and each bit of the bitmap field corresponds to a partial BSSID. For example, the first bit (or bit 0) of the bitmap field corresponds to a partial BSSID with a value of 0, the second bit (or bit 1) corresponds to a partial BSSID with a value of 1, and so on, the 64th bit (or bit 63) corresponds to a partial BSSID with a value of 63.

[0144] For example, if a bit in the bitmap field is set to the first value, it indicates that the corresponding partial BSSID value is the partial BSSID value of the first OBSS. Alternatively, if the value of the corresponding bit in the partial BSSID bitmap corresponding to the partial BSSID value in a certain BSSID is the first value, it means that the BSSID value is the BSSID value of the first OBSS. For another example, if a bit in the bitmap field is set to the second value, it means that the OBSS indicated by the partial BSSID value corresponding to the bit will not cause the first communication device to perform non-main channel operations. Exemplarily, the first value can be 1 and the second value can be 0.

[0145] Exemplarily, the second field may be carried in the first information element. For other descriptions of the first information element, please refer to the above text and will not be described in detail here. Figure 4a is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4a As shown, the first information element may include at least one of the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension, control, and partial BSSID bitmap. For the relevant description of the partial BSSID bitmap, please refer to the above description and will not be described in detail here. The partial BSSID bitmap may also be called a non-primary channel partial BSSID bitmap (NPC partial BSSID bitmap). Figure 4a The order and length of each field shown are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0146] Combined with the BSS color bitmap shown above, Figure 4b is a schematic diagram of another first information element provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4bAs shown, the first information element may include a BSS color bit map and a partial BSSID bit map. Figure 4b For the related instructions, please refer to the above description and will not be described in detail here.

[0147] Implementation method three:

[0148] The first OBSS information includes the MAC address information of the first OBSS site. For example, the first OBSS information may include the MAC address information of one or more first OBSS sites. The MAC address information included in the first OBSS information is: when the first communication device receives the wireless frame (including management frame or data frame) sent by the first OBSS site, it will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel transmission. The MAC address of the first OBSS site. As shown above, the first communication device can observe which OBSS sites (such as one or more first OBSS sites) will send wireless frames to initiate non-primary channel operations, and then carry the MAC addresses of these OBSS sites in the first wireless frame.

[0149] Of course, the first OBSS information may also include IP address information of the first OBSS site, or other information used to identify the first OBSS site, etc., which are not listed here one by one.

[0150] Any of the examples in the above implementation modes 1 to 3 can be combined with each other. For example, the first wireless frame may include a bitmap of BSS color values ​​and a BSS color list, or the first wireless frame may include a bitmap of BSS color values ​​and a bitmap of a portion of BSSIDs, etc. The specific methods of combination are not listed here one by one.

[0151] In one possible implementation, Figure 2 The method shown may also include step 204:

[0152] 204. The first communication device receives a second radio frame on the first channel, where the second radio frame is a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS; the first communication device switches the communication channel. The second communication device receives a second radio frame on the first channel, where the second radio frame is a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS; the second communication device switches the communication channel.

[0153] For the relevant description on switching the communication channel, please refer to step 201, which will not be described in detail here.

[0154] Exemplarily, step 204 may also be: the first communication device / the second communication device receives the second radio frame on the first channel, and switches the communication channel based on the information of the first OBSS. Alternatively, the first communication device / the second communication device receives the second radio frame, and switches the communication channel based on the second radio frame and the information of the first OBSS. Alternatively, the first communication device / the second communication device receives a certain radio frame, and the first communication device / the second communication device can switch the communication channel only when the certain radio frame is a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS. In the embodiment of the present application, the second radio frame is a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS, and the transmitter information of the second radio frame may also match the first OBSS information. For example, the OBSS information carried in the second radio frame matches the first OBSS in the first radio frame, or the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by the first OBSS site. For example, the second radio frame is a radio frame corresponding to the first OBSS, and the transmitter information of the second radio frame may match the first OBSS information, or the second radio frame may be a radio frame sent by the first OBSS site.

[0155] Exemplarily, the first communication device (or the second communication device) receives a second radio frame, and when at least one of the following conditions is met, the first communication device (or the second communication device) can switch the communication channel (such as performing non-main channel operation): Condition 1, the transmitter information of the second radio frame (that is, the information of the transmitter of the second radio frame) matches the first OBSS information; Condition 2, the RSSI of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold; Condition 3, the length of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the length threshold. A station (such as a first communication device or a second communication device), when receiving a second radio frame, can perform non-main channel operation when the second radio frame meets at least one of the following conditions 1 to 3. The second radio frame can be a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PHY protocol data unit, PPDU) or a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MAC protocol data unit, MPSU). When referring to specific examples below, the second radio frame is explained by taking PPDU as an example, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0156] If the condition satisfied is the above condition 1, then when the above condition 1 is satisfied, the first communication device and the second communication device can perform non-primary channel operation. When the above condition 1 is not satisfied, such as the transmitter information obtained in the PPDU does not match the first OBSS information, the first communication device (or the second communication device) cannot perform non-primary channel operation. That is, only when the above condition 1 is satisfied, the first communication device and the second communication device can perform non-primary channel operation. For example, the conditions satisfied are the above conditions 1 and 2, or the conditions satisfied may be the above conditions 1 and 3, or the conditions satisfied may be the above conditions 1 to 3, or the conditions satisfied may be the above conditions 2 or 3. When the PPDU received by the STA satisfies the conditions shown above, the STA can perform non-primary channel operation, and when the PPDU received by the STA does not satisfy the conditions shown above, the STA does not perform non-primary channel operation.

[0157] Since the first wireless frame received by the second communication device is sent by the first communication device, the first communication device and the second communication device can have the same understanding of the first OBSS information. When the first communication device and the second communication device both receive a PPDU from the first OBSS site, and the first OBSS information indicates that the first OBSS site will cause the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operations, then the first communication device and the second communication device can both perform non-primary channel operations, such as jumping to the second channel to monitor signals or send wireless frames or receive wireless frames.

[0158] The above conditions 1 to 3 are described in detail below.

[0159] The description of condition 1 is as follows:

[0160] Taking the above-mentioned implementation method 1 as an example, the BSS color value obtained by the STA (such as the first communication device or the second communication device) from the PPDU matches the first OBSS information, or the BSS color value obtained from the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information, and the STA can perform non-main channel operations. For example, when the STA receives a PPDU carrying a BSS color value, it can determine which BSS the PPDU comes from based on the BSS color value. If the PPDU comes from the first OBSS, the STA can perform non-main channel operations. If the first communication device receives a PPDU, the first communication device finds through parsing the PPDU that the BSS color value carried in the PPDU is the BSS color value corresponding to the bit set to 1 in the bitmap of the BSS color value, and the first communication device can perform non-main channel operations. The relevant description of the first communication device here also applies to the second communication device. If the second communication device receives the PPDU, the BSS color value obtained from the PPDU matches the first OBSS information, and the second communication device can perform non-main channel operations. If the second communication device receives a PPDU, the second communication device finds by parsing the PPDU that the BSS color value carried in the PPDU is the BSS color value corresponding to the bit set to 1 in the bitmap of the BSS color value, and the second communication device can perform non-primary channel operation. Generally speaking, the preamble of the wireless frame can carry the sender information, and the sender information may include but is not limited to the BSS color value, BSSID, the length of the wireless frame, the MAC address of the sender of the wireless frame, etc.

[0161] Taking the above-mentioned implementation method 2 as an example, the BSSID obtained by the STA (such as the first communication device or the second communication device) from the PPDU matches the first OBSS information, or the BSSID obtained from the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information, and the STA can perform non-main channel operations. For example, when the first communication device receives a PPDU sent by the first OBSS station in the BSS (i.e., the first OBSS) corresponding to the BSSID indicated by the first OBSS information, a non-main channel operation is performed. If the first communication device receives the PPDU, the value of the BSSID is parsed from the PPDU (i.e., the BSSID of the BSS from which the station sending the PPDU comes), if the m bit value of the BSSID is the partial BSSID corresponding to the bit set to 1 in the bitmap of the partial BSSID, the first communication device performs a non-main channel operation. The relevant description of the first communication device here also applies to the second communication device. The specific description of the second communication device will not be described in detail here.

[0162] Taking the above implementation method three as an example, the MAC address of the sender of the PPDU is included in the first OBSS information, and the first communication device can perform non-primary channel operations. After the second communication device receives the first wireless frame, the MAC address of the first OBSS site can be obtained from the first wireless frame. When the second communication device receives the above PPDU and finds that the MAC address of the site sending the PPDU is carried in the first wireless frame, it can initiate non-primary channel operations.

[0163] In the embodiment of the present application, when the first communication device and the second communication device both receive the aforementioned PPDU, the transmitter information obtained from the PPDU matches the first OBSS information, and the first communication device and the second communication device can jump to the second channel, such as performing signal monitoring on the second channel, or performing channel competition on the second channel, or sending or receiving wireless frames on the second channel.

[0164] The description of condition 2 is as follows:

[0165] The RSSI of the PPDU received by the first communication device is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold, and the first communication device performs non-main channel operation. The RSSI of the PPDU received by the second communication device is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold, and the second communication device performs non-main channel operation. In combination with the above conditions 1 and 2, when the conditions satisfied in the previous text are conditions 1 and 2, the transmitter information obtained by the first communication device from the received PPDU matches the first OBSS information, and the RSSI of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold, the first communication device performs non-main channel operation. The transmitter information obtained by the second communication device from the received PPDU matches the first OBSS information, and the RSSI of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold, the second communication device performs non-main channel operation. The combination of condition 2 and condition 3, or the combination between conditions 1 to 3, will not be described in detail here.

[0166] As an example, the first wireless frame also includes RSSI threshold information. The RSSI threshold can be used to indicate the RSSI threshold of the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site (or to indicate the RSSI threshold of the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site). When the first communication device or the second communication device receives the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site, it can determine whether to initiate a non-main channel operation based on the RSSI of the PPDU. For example, when the RSSI of the received PPDU is greater than the RSSI threshold, a non-main channel operation can be initiated. For example, the RSSI threshold can be any value in the following value range [-82dBm, -72dBm].

[0167] For example, the information of the RSSI threshold may be a third field, and the third field may carry the RSSI threshold, or the third field may carry a reference value. The first communication device or the second communication device may determine the RSSI threshold by the reference value and a fixed value. For example, if a fixed value is -82dBm, the RSSI threshold may be equal to -82+reference value. For example, if a fixed value is -72dBm, the RSSI threshold may be equal to -72-reference value, which are not listed here one by one. The above-mentioned fixed values ​​may be defined by a standard or broadcast by an AP, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The above-mentioned reference value may be a positive number or a negative number, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0168] For another example, the third field may be an index of an RSSI threshold. For example, the first communication device or the second communication device may pre-store indexes corresponding to different RSSI thresholds. After receiving the third field, the RSSI threshold may be determined by the indexes corresponding to the stored different RSSI thresholds and the third field. Exemplarily, the third field may occupy 3 bits or 4 bits, etc. For example, when the third field occupies 4 bits, the value of the third field may be a value between 0 and 10, and values ​​between 11 and 15 are invalid values.

[0169] As another example, the RSSI threshold may be a fixed value. For example, the RSSI threshold may be -72dBm or -82dBm, etc., which are not listed here. For example, the RSSI threshold may be defined by a standard or broadcast by an AP, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, when the AP broadcasts, a value may be selected from the following range as the RSSI threshold: [-82dBm, -72dBm].

[0170] The RSSI thresholds listed above are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific values.

[0171] The description of condition 3 is as follows:

[0172] The length of the PPDU received by the first communication device is greater than or equal to the length threshold, and the first communication device performs non-main channel operation. The length of the PPDU received by the second communication device is greater than or equal to the length threshold, and the second communication device performs non-main channel operation. In combination with the above conditions 1 and 3, when the conditions satisfied in the previous text are conditions 1 and 3, the STA (the first communication device or the second communication device) can perform non-main channel operation only when the transmitter information obtained from the received PPDU matches the first OBSS information, and the length of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the length threshold. For example, when the first communication device or the second communication device receives a PPDU sent by the first OBSS site, the length of the PPDU is obtained from the preamble of the PPDU. If the length of the PPDU is greater than or equal to the length threshold, the first communication device or the second communication device can perform non-main channel operation.

[0173] As an example, the first radio frame also includes information about a length threshold. The length threshold can be used to indicate a length threshold of a PPDU sent by the first OBSS site, or the length threshold can be used to indicate a length threshold of a PPDU sent by the first OBSS site. For the indication method of the length threshold, reference can be made to the description of the RSSI threshold above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0174] As another example, the length threshold may be a fixed value. For example, the length threshold may be defined by a standard or broadcast by an AP, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0175] In an embodiment of the present application, after switching to the second channel, the first communication device and the second communication device can jump back to the original main channel (such as the first channel) before the first OBSS site finishes sending the PPDU. After jumping back to the first channel, the first communication device and the second communication device can continue to communicate on the first channel. Exemplarily, the length of the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site can affect the communication duration of the non-main channel. Therefore, by setting the length threshold, the necessity of the first communication device and the second communication device to jump to the second channel can be effectively guaranteed, and the two communication devices can be guaranteed to communicate effectively on the non-main channel.

[0176] In an embodiment of the present application, when the transmitter information (such as the transmitter is site A) corresponding to the PPDU received by the first communication device does not match the first OBSS information, the first communication device can update the first OBSS information. For example, the first communication device can determine that the aforementioned transmitter (such as the aforementioned site A) is the first OBSS site. That is, when the transmitter of the PPDU is not the first OBSS site indicated in the first radio frame, the first communication device can update the first OBSS indicated in the first OBSS information and send new first OBSS information to the second communication device. The name of the new first OBSS information shown here is only an example. The embodiment of the present application is shown as an example relative to the first OBSS information before the update, that is, relative to the first OBSS information before the update, the updated first OBSS information can be called the new first OBSS information. The new first OBSS information can be sent through a beacon frame, or it can be sent through other types of radio frames, etc., which are not listed here one by one. The radio frame type carried by the new first OBSS information can be the same as the radio frame type carried by the first OBSS information (such as the first OBSS information before the update or the old first OBSS information), or it can be different, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0177] In an embodiment of the present application, the information of the second channel may be carried in the first wireless frame, or the information of the second channel may be broadcast by an AP, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific location of the second channel.

[0178] In one possible implementation, Figure 2 The method shown may further include step 205:

[0179] 205. The second communication device sends a third radio frame, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third radio frame. The third radio frame includes second OBSS information.

[0180] Exemplarily, the second OBSS information is used to indicate information of the second OBSS causing the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0181] In the embodiment of the present application, the first OBSS may be the same as or different from the second OBSS, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, at least one first OBSS among the multiple first OBSSs may be the same as at least one second OBSS among the multiple second OBSSs.

[0182] For the relevant description of the second OBSS information, reference may be made to the description of the first OBSS information, which will not be described in detail here. Exemplarily, the second OBSS information may include at least one of the following: BSS color information of the second OBSS, BSSID information of the second OBSS, and MAC address information of the second OBSS site. For the relevant description of the BSS color information of the second OBSS, reference may be made to the above implementation method 1. For the relevant description of the BSSID information of the second OBSS, reference may be made to the above implementation method 2. For the relevant description of the MAC address information of the second OBSS site, reference may be made to the above implementation method 3.

[0183] Exemplarily, the third wireless frame may be a probe request frame or a non-primary channel operation parameter request frame or a non-primary channel operation parameter response frame, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Exemplarily, when the second communication device is a non-AP STA, the third wireless frame may be a probe request frame or a non-primary channel operation parameter request frame.

[0184] Before the second communication device sends the third radio frame, the third radio frame may also be generated. For example, the second communication device may determine which second OBSS stations will cause non-primary channel operations. For specific instructions on generating the third radio frame, please refer to step 201, which will not be described in detail here.

[0185] After receiving the third radio frame, the first communication device may also determine information of the second OBSS based on the third radio frame.

[0186] The various steps shown in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other, or each step (or each implementation or each example, etc.) can also be an embodiment alone. For the specific description of each step as an embodiment alone, please refer to the above, and no further details are given here. The following exemplarily shows the combined embodiments:

[0187] For example, the above steps 202 and 203 can be combined into one embodiment. Through this embodiment, the second communication device can effectively obtain information about the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to perform non-primary channel operation. Thus, the second communication device can effectively obtain when the first communication device will perform non-primary channel operation, and the second communication device can be consistent with the first communication device, such as synchronously jumping to the non-primary channel for communication.

[0188] For another example, the above steps 202 and 204 (or steps 202 to 204) can be combined into an embodiment. Through this embodiment, the second communication device can not only obtain the information of the first OBSS, but also switch the communication channel when receiving the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site. And the first communication device switches the communication channel when receiving the PPDU sent by the first OBSS site. Thus, it can be effectively ensured that both the first communication device and the second communication device switch the communication channel to achieve communication between the two communicating parties.

[0189] For another example, the above steps 202 and 205 (or step 202, step 203 and step 205) can also be combined into an embodiment. For the specific description of the embodiment, please refer to the following, which will not be described in detail here. For another example, the above steps 202, 204 and 205 (or steps 202 to 205) can also be combined into an embodiment. At this time, the above third wireless frame can be transmitted on the second channel, or the above third wireless frame can be transmitted on the first channel after the first communication device and the second communication device jump from the second channel to the first channel. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the communication channel occupied by the second communication device when sending the third wireless frame. For other descriptions of this embodiment, please refer to the following. In the embodiment of the present application, when the first communication device initiates a non-main channel operation due to a PPDU sent by a certain OBSS site, it can be known which second communication devices will initiate a non-main channel operation due to the PPDU sent by the current OBSS site, so as to communicate with those second communication devices when performing non-main channel transmission.

[0190] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of executions or specific order of the above steps.

[0191] The following describes an embodiment in which step 202 and step 205 are combined. For other descriptions of the embodiments combined below, reference may be made to the above text, such as the description of matching the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame with the first OBSS information, reference may be made to Figure 2 , which will not be described in detail here. When referring to specific examples below, Condition 2 or Condition 3 is not shown, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0192] In the embodiment of the present application, if the radio frame received by the STA is the fourth radio frame, the STA shown here may be the first communication device or the second communication device. The following is described in conjunction with the content of the fourth radio frame.

[0193] Exemplarily, when at least one of the following conditions is met, the STA can switch the communication channel: Condition 1, the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame matches the first OBSS information; Condition 2, the RSSI of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the RSSI threshold; Condition 3, the length of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to the length threshold; Condition 4, the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame matches the second OBSS information. The following exemplarily illustrates the conditions for the STA to switch the communication channel.

[0194] As an example, the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame matches the first OBSS information, and the STA performs non-main channel operation. In this embodiment, as long as the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame matches the first OBSS information, the first communication device and the second communication device can perform non-main channel operation. In other words, regardless of whether the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame matches the second OBSS information, as long as the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame does not match the first OBSS information, the first communication device and the second communication device do not perform non-main channel operation. For a detailed description of this embodiment, please refer to the above. Figure 2 The description of the above is not described in detail here. Here, the condition to be satisfied is shown as condition 1 as an example. Of course, whether the STA performs non-primary channel operation not only needs to satisfy condition 1 shown above, but can also be combined with condition 2 or condition 3, etc. The conditions satisfied by the STA for performing non-primary channel operation are not described in detail here.

[0195] As another example, the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame matches the first OBSS information, and the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame does not match the second OBSS information, and the first communication device (such as AP) may not send wireless frames to the second communication device (non-AP STA).

[0196] Figure 5a is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5a As shown, the method includes:

[0197] Figure 5a For the relevant description of step 501, please refer to the description of step 202, and for the relevant description of step 502, please refer to the description of step 205, which will not be described in detail here.

[0198] 503. The first communication device receives a fourth radio frame on the first channel. The fourth radio frame matches the first OBSS information and does not match the second OBSS information. Then, the first communication device does not send a radio frame to the second communication device.

[0199] Exemplarily, since the fourth radio frame matches the first OBSS information, the first communication device can perform non-primary channel operation when the condition satisfied is condition 1 shown above. Whether the second communication device performs non-primary channel operation is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

[0200] Through the embodiments of the present application, the first communication device can effectively obtain the information of the second OBSS, and the second communication device can effectively obtain the information of the first OBSS, so that the first communication device can effectively obtain the circumstances under which the second communication device will perform non-primary channel operations, and the second communication device can effectively obtain the circumstances under which the first communication device will perform non-primary channel operations. Therefore, when the embodiments of the present application are applicable to the communication or perception scenarios between an AP and multiple non-AP STAs, the AP can effectively obtain the non-APSTAs to which the AP can send wireless frames in combination with the first OBSS information and the second OBSS information, so that the AP can choose to communicate with the non-AP STA on the same non-primary channel, further improving the communication efficiency.

[0201] As another example, the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame matches the first OBSS information and the second OBSS information, and the STA performs non-primary channel operation. Exemplarily, in this embodiment, the satisfied conditions may include that the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame matches the first OBSS information and the second OBSS information. Of course, the satisfied conditions shown here may also include condition 2 or condition 3, etc. The description of condition 2 and condition 3 can be referred to above and will not be described in detail here. Figure 5b is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5b As shown, the method includes: Figure 5b For the relevant description of step 511, please refer to the description of step 202, and for the relevant description of step 512, please refer to the description of step 205, which will not be described in detail here.

[0202] 513. Receive a fourth radio frame on the first channel, wherein the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame matches both the first OBSS information and the second OBSS information, and the first communication device may send the radio frame to the second communication device.

[0203] The BSS corresponding to the transmitter of the fourth wireless frame belongs to both the first OBSS and the second OBSS, and the first communication device and the second communication device can switch the communication channel. That is to say, among the one or more first OBSSs that cause the first communication device to switch the communication channel, there is at least one first OBSS that will also cause the second communication device to switch the communication channel. Alternatively, there is a wireless frame sent by a certain OBSS site (such as the transmitter in the above step 513) that will cause both the first communication device to perform non-main channel operations and the second communication device to perform non-main channel operations. In this embodiment, only when the transmitter information of the fourth wireless frame matches both the first OBSS information and the second OBSS information, the STA can perform non-main channel operations. As a result, after the first communication device and the second communication device perform non-main channel operations, the first communication device can send wireless frames to the second communication device, further improving communication efficiency.

[0204] As another example, the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame does not match the first OBSS information, and the first communication device updates the first OBSS information.

[0205] As another example, the transmitter information of the fourth radio frame does not match the second OBSS information, and the second communication device may update the second OBSS information.

[0206] For further explanation of the examples shown above, please refer to Figure 2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0207] In the above embodiments, the first radio frame may further include a delay for the first communication device to switch the communication channel. The first communication device indicates the delay for switching the communication channel, so that when the second communication device needs to send a radio frame to the first communication device on the second channel, the delay may be considered, such as sending the radio frame after the delay. This ensures that the first communication device can receive the radio frame in time, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0208] In the above embodiments, the third radio frame may further include a delay for the second communication device to switch the communication channel. The second communication device indicates the delay for switching the communication channel, so that when the first communication device needs to send a radio frame to the second communication device on the second channel, the delay may be considered, such as sending the radio frame after the delay. This ensures that the second communication device can receive the radio frame in time, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0209] In an embodiment of the present application, the first communication device sends the first OBSS information so that the second communication device can effectively obtain the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel based on the first OBSS information. Therefore, when the first communication device and the second communication device both receive wireless frames from a site in the first OBSS, the second communication device can effectively obtain whether the first communication device will switch the communication channel, thereby ensuring that the first communication device and the second communication device can switch the communication channel synchronously, so that the first communication device and the second communication device can communicate on the same communication channel, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0210] The following is an introduction to the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0211] The present application divides the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. Figures 6 to 8 The communication device according to the embodiment of the present application is described in detail.

[0212] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 6 As shown, the communication device includes a processing module 601 and a transceiver module 602. The transceiver module 602 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 601 is used for data processing. For example, the transceiver module 602 can also be called an interface, a communication interface or a communication module.

[0213] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the actions performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment. In this case, the communication device can be the Wi-Fi device itself or a component that can be configured in the Wi-Fi device (such as a chip or a system or a functional module, etc.). The transceiver module 602 is used to execute the transceiver-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 601 is used to execute the processing-related operations of the first communication device in the above method embodiment.

[0214] The processing module 601 is used to generate a first wireless frame, which includes first OBSS information, such as the first OBSS information is used to indicate the first OBSS information that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; the transceiver module 602 is used to send or output the first wireless frame.

[0215] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further used to receive or input a second wireless frame, which is a wireless frame sent by the first OBSS site; the processing module 601 is used to switch the communication channel (such as performing non-main channel operation or non-main channel transmission).

[0216] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further used to receive or input a third radio frame, where the third radio frame includes second OBSS information, such as the second OBSS information is used to indicate information of the second OBSS that causes the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0217] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive or input a fourth radio frame.

[0218] Reuse Figure 6 In some other embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the actions executed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment. In this case, the communication device can be the Wi-Fi device itself or a component that can be configured in the Wi-Fi device (such as a chip or a system or a functional module, etc.). The transceiver module 602 is used to execute the transceiver-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 601 is used to execute the processing-related operations of the second communication device in the above method embodiment.

[0219] The transceiver module 602 is used to receive or input a first wireless frame, where the first wireless frame includes first OBSS information, where the first OBSS information is used to indicate information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; the processing module 601 is used to determine information of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel based on the first wireless frame.

[0220] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further used to receive or input a second radio frame, where the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by the first OBSS site; the processing module 601 is used to switch the communication channel.

[0221] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to send or output a third radio frame, where the third radio frame includes second OBSS information, where the second OBSS information is used to indicate information of the second OBSS that causes the second communication device to switch the communication channel.

[0222] Exemplarily, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive or input a fourth radio frame.

[0223] Optionally, in each of the above embodiments, the communication device may further include a storage module, which may be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing module 601 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage module so that the communication device implements the above method embodiments. Exemplarily, the storage module may be used to store the first OBSS information and / or the second OBSS information shown above.

[0224] In the above-mentioned embodiments, for the specific description of the first radio frame, the second radio frame, the third radio frame, the fourth radio frame, the first OBSS information, the second OBSS information and the like, reference may be made to the introduction in the above method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0225] The specific descriptions of the transceiver module and the processing module shown in the above embodiments are only examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver module and the processing module, reference may be made to the above method embodiments and will not be described in detail here.

[0226] The above describes the communication device of the embodiment of the present application, and the following describes possible product forms of the communication device. Figure 6 Any form of product with the functions of the communication device described above falls within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. The following description is only for example and does not limit the product form of the communication device of the embodiments of the present application to this.

[0227] In one possible implementation, Figure 6 In the communication device shown, the processing module 601 may be one or more processors, the transceiver module 602 may be a transceiver, or the transceiver module 602 may also be a sending module and a receiving module, the sending module may be a transmitter, the receiving module may be a receiver, and the sending module and the receiving module are integrated into one device, such as a transceiver. In the embodiment of the present application, the processor and the transceiver may be coupled, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the connection mode of the processor and the transceiver. In the process of executing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method may be a process in which the processor outputs the above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver so that it is transmitted by the transceiver. After the above information is output by the processor, it may also need to be processed in other ways before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method may be a process in which the processor receives the input information. When the processor receives the input information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to be processed in other ways before it is input into the processor.

[0228] like Figure 7 As shown, the communication device 70 includes one or more processors 720 and a transceiver 710 .

[0229] Exemplarily, the communication device may be used to execute the steps, methods or functions executed by the first communication device, and the processor 720 may be used to execute the following steps: Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the processing module 601 shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B may be implemented by the transceiver 710. Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 602 are shown in FIG. Figure 6 Or the method embodiments shown above will not be described in detail here.

[0230] Exemplarily, the communication device may be used to execute the steps, methods or functions executed by the second communication device, and the processor 720 may be used to execute the following steps: Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the processing module 601 shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B may be implemented by the transceiver 710. Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 602 are shown in FIG. Figure 6 Or the method embodiments shown above will not be described in detail here.

[0231] In the above-mentioned embodiments, for the specific description of the first radio frame, the second radio frame, the third radio frame, the fourth radio frame, the first OBSS information, the second OBSS information and the like, reference may be made to the introduction in the above method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0232] exist Figure 7 In various implementations of the communication device shown, the transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the receiver is used to perform a receiving function (or operation) and the transmitter is used to perform a transmitting function (or operation). The transceiver is used to communicate with other devices / devices through a transmission medium.

[0233] Optionally, the communication device 70 may also include one or more memories 730 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 730 is coupled to the processor 720. The coupling in the embodiment of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which may be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules. The processor 720 may operate in conjunction with the memory 730. The processor 720 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 730. Optionally, at least one of the one or more memories may be included in the processor.

[0234] The specific connection medium between the transceiver 710, the processor 720 and the memory 730 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 7The memory 730, the processor 720 and the transceiver 710 are connected via a bus 740. Figure 7 The connections between the other components are shown in bold lines, which are only for illustration and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 7 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0235] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc., and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor, etc.

[0236] In the embodiment of the present application, the memory may include, but is not limited to, non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a read-only memory (ROM) or a portable read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc. The memory is any storage medium that can be used to carry or store program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and can be read and / or written by a computer (such as a communication device shown in the present application), but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiment of the present application can also be a circuit or any other device that can realize a storage function, for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0237] The processor 720 is mainly used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and to control the entire communication device, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program. The memory 730 is mainly used to store the software program and data. The transceiver 710 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is mainly used to convert the baseband signal and the radio frequency signal and to process the radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. The input and output devices, such as a touch screen, a display screen, a keyboard, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by the user and output data to the user.

[0238] When the communication device is turned on, the processor 720 can read the software program in the memory 730, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 720 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then sends the radio frequency signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 720. The processor 720 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0239] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be arranged independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be arranged remotely from the communication device.

[0240] The communication device shown in the embodiment of the present application may also have Figure 7 The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of components and the like. The methods executed by the processor and the transceiver shown above are only examples, and the specific steps executed by the processor and the transceiver can refer to the methods described above.

[0241] In another possible implementation, Figure 6 In the communication device shown, the processing module 601 may be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiver module 602 may be an input / output interface, or a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiver module 602 may be a sending module and a receiving module, the sending module may be an output interface, and the receiving module may be an input interface, and the sending module and the receiving module may be integrated into one module, such as an input / output interface. Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 The communication device shown includes a logic circuit 801 and an interface 802. That is, the processing module 601 can be implemented by the logic circuit 801, and the transceiver module 602 can be implemented by the interface 802. The logic circuit 801 can be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit or a system on chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface 802 can be a communication interface, an input / output interface, a pin, etc. For example, Figure 8The above communication device is used as a chip as an example, and the chip includes a logic circuit 801 and an interface 802. Exemplarily, the chip may also include a memory, and the memory may be used for the first OBSS information and / or the second OBSS information, etc. Alternatively, the memory may be used to store computer instructions. For example, the logic circuit 801 may execute a method, function or step as executed by the first communication device based on the instruction. For another example, the logic circuit 801 may execute a method, function or step as executed by the second communication device based on the instruction.

[0242] In the embodiment of the present application, the logic circuit and the interface may also be coupled to each other. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific connection method between the logic circuit and the interface. For example, the logic circuit 801 may be used to perform the following Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the processing module 601 shown in FIG. 8 are as follows: Figure 6 The functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 602 are shown in FIG. 8 . For a detailed description of the logic circuit 801 and the interface 802, please refer to FIG. Figure 6 Or the method embodiments shown above will not be described in detail here.

[0243] The communication device shown in the embodiment of the present application can implement the method provided in the embodiment of the present application in the form of hardware, or can implement the method provided in the embodiment of the present application in the form of software, etc., and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0244] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the specific description of the first radio frame, the second radio frame, the third radio frame, the fourth radio frame, the first OBSS information, the second OBSS information and the like can be referred to the introduction in the above method embodiment, and will not be described in detail here. Figure 8 The specific implementation methods of the various embodiments shown can also refer to the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0245] An embodiment of the present application also provides a wireless communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device can be used to execute the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0246] In addition, the present application also provides a computer program, which is used to implement the operations and / or processing performed by the first communication device in the method provided by the present application.

[0247] The present application also provides a computer program, which is used to implement the operations and / or processing performed by the second communication device in the method provided by the present application.

[0248] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer codes are stored. When the computer codes are executed on a computer, the computer executes the operations and / or processes performed by the first communication device in the method provided by the present application.

[0249] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer codes are stored. When the computer codes are executed on a computer, the computer executes the operations and / or processes performed by the second communication device in the method provided by the present application.

[0250] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer code or a computer program. When the computer code or the computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the first communication device in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0251] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer code or a computer program. When the computer code or the computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the second communication device in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0252] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the modules is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, or it can be an electrical, mechanical or other form of connection.

[0253] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as modules may or may not be physical modules, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0254] In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules.

[0255] If the integrated module is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or partly contributed to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, including a number of instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program code.

[0256] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a first communication device, and the method includes: Sending a first radio frame, wherein the first radio frame includes first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) information; receiving a second radio frame on the first channel, where the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS indicated by the first OBSS information; Switch communication channels.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The switching communication channel comprises: The communication channel is switched when at least one of the following conditions is met: the received signal strength indication RSSI of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to an RSSI threshold; and the length of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to a length threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first wireless frame also includes information about the RSSI threshold or information about the length threshold.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: Basic service set BSS color information of the first OBSS; BSS identifier BSSID information of the first OBSS; The media access control (MAC) address information of the stations in the first OBSS.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The BSS color information is a bitmap of BSS color values, each bit in the bitmap of BSS color values ​​corresponds to a BSS color value, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or The BSS color information is used to indicate one or more BSS color values, where the BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, The BSSID information is a bitmap of a portion of the BSSID, where the portion of the BSSID is m bits in the BSSID, and the bitmap of the portion of the BSSID includes 2 m bits, each bit in the bitmap of the partial BSSID corresponds to a partial BSSID, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding partial BSSID is the partial BSSID of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A third radio frame is received, where the third radio frame includes second OBSS information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The switching of the communication channel comprises at least one of the following: Switch from a first channel to a second channel; monitor signals on the second channel; compete for channels on the second channel; and send or receive wireless frames on the second channel.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a non-primary channel.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a second communication device, and the method includes: Receiving a first radio frame, wherein the first radio frame includes first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) information; receiving a second radio frame on the first channel, where the second radio frame is a radio frame sent by a station in the first OBSS indicated by the first OBSS information; Switch communication channels.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The switching communication channel comprises: The communication channel is switched when at least one of the following conditions is met: the received signal strength indication RSSI of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to an RSSI threshold; and the length of the second radio frame is greater than or equal to a length threshold.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first wireless frame also includes information about the RSSI threshold or information about the length threshold.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The first OBSS information includes at least one of the following: Basic service set BSS color information of the first OBSS; BSS identifier BSSID information of the first OBSS; The media access control (MAC) address information of the stations in the first OBSS.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The BSS color information is a bitmap of BSS color values, each bit in the bitmap of BSS color values ​​corresponds to a BSS color value, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or The BSS color information is used to indicate one or more BSS color values, where the BSS color value is the BSS color value of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel; or, The BSSID information is a bitmap of a portion of the BSSID, where the portion of the BSSID is m bits in the BSSID, and the bitmap of the portion of the BSSID includes 2 m bits, each bit in the bitmap of the partial BSSID corresponds to a partial BSSID, and the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the corresponding partial BSSID is the partial BSSID of the first OBSS that causes the first communication device to switch the communication channel.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A third radio frame is sent, where the third radio frame includes second OBSS information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that: The switching of the communication channel comprises at least one of the following: Switch from a first channel to a second channel; perform signal monitoring on the second channel; perform channel contention on the second channel; and send or receive wireless frames on the second channel.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a non-primary channel.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16.

19. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; The interface is used to input and / or output information, the logic circuit is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or the logic circuit is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 16.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is executed.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is performed.

23. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system comprises a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and the second communication device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 16.

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