Wireless communication method, access point device, and station device

Abstract

A wireless communication method, an access point device, and a station device, the method including: a step in which a first access point device receives first information transmitted by a first site device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), where transmissions within the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first site device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first site device are located; and a step in which the first access point device establishes an R-TWT between the first access point device and the first site device based on the first information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and more particularly to a wireless communication method, an access point device, and a station device. [Background technology]

[0002] 802.11ax proposes a timed wake power-save mode, called Target Wake Time (TWT). To reduce contention between stations (STAs) and the amount of time required for STAs using power-save mode to wake up, TWT proposes that STAs wake only during a predefined service period (SP) to perform frame interaction with an access point (AP) and continue to sleep after the SP ends.

[0003] To meet the data transmission requirements of application scenarios such as low latency and high-resolution video streaming, Restricted Target Wake Time (R-TWT) has been introduced, which can deliver latency-sensitive services using enhanced media access protection and resource reservation mechanisms. However, if there is interference in data transmission within an R-TWT SP, latency-sensitive services may not be delivered on time. Therefore, how to establish R-TWT to reduce interference within an R-TWT SP is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a wireless communication method, an access point device, and a station device that are advantageous for reducing interference within an established R-TWT.

[0005] In a first aspect, a wireless communication method is provided, the wireless communication method including the steps of: receiving, by a first access point device, first information transmitted by a first station device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), where transmissions in the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located; and establishing, by the first access point device, an R-TWT between the first access point device and the first station device based on the first information.

[0006] In a second aspect, a wireless communication method is provided, the wireless communication method including: a first station device transmitting first information to a first access point device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), transmissions in the at least one first BSS likely to interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located.

[0007] In a third aspect, there is provided an access point device for carrying out the method of the first aspect or each of its realization methods.

[0008] Specifically, the access point device includes a functional module for executing the method of the first aspect or each of the realization methods thereof.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a station device for carrying out the method of the second aspect or each of its realizations.

[0010] Specifically, the station device includes a functional module for executing the method of the second aspect or each of the realization methods thereof.

[0011] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an access point device, the access point device including a processor and a memory, the memory being adapted to store a computer program, the processor being adapted to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory, and to perform the method of the first aspect or each of its implementation methods.

[0012] In a sixth aspect, a station device is provided, the station device including a processor and a memory, the memory being adapted to store a computer program, the processor being adapted to call and execute the computer program stored in the memory, and to perform the method of the second aspect or each of the implementation methods thereof.

[0013] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a chip for implementing the method of any one of the first and second aspects or the respective implementation methods thereof.

[0014] Specifically, the chip includes a processor that calls up and executes a computer program from memory, thereby causing the equipment in which the device is implemented to execute a method according to any one of the first to second aspects or their respective realization methods.

[0015] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, the computer program causing a computer to execute a method according to any one of the first to second aspects or their respective implementation methods.

[0016] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product including computer program instructions that cause a computer to perform a method according to any one of the first to second aspects or their respective implementations.

[0017] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method of any one of the first and second aspects or the respective realization methods thereof.

[0018] The above technical solution allows a station equipment to report its interfering BSS information (i.e., OBSS information) to an access point equipment, and the access point equipment can establish an R-TWT between the station equipment and the access point equipment based on the R-TWT established in the interfering BSS, which is advantageous to reducing the interference of the established R-TWT in the interfering BSS on transmission in the R-TWT between the station equipment and the access point equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a format of a TWT element according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the format of a Control field in a TWT element according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a Broadcast TWT Parameter set field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a format of a Request Type field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of the format of a Broadcast TWT Info field according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7]1 is a schematic diagram of a process for establishing and using an R-TWT according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of the format of an OBSS information list field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the format of another OBSS information list field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the format of yet another OBSS information list field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a method for obtaining OBSS R-TWT information according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another method for obtaining OBSS R-TWT information according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another method for obtaining OBSS R-TWT information according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another method for obtaining OBSS R-TWT information according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 17] 1 is a schematic diagram of establishing an R-TWT according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram of establishing an R-TWT according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 19] 1 is a schematic diagram of establishing an R-TWT according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a silent example according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of R-TWT grouping revenue according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 22] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an access point device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 23] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a station device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 24]1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 25] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 26] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, but it is clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application and do not include all of the embodiments. All other embodiments that a person skilled in the art can obtain without any creative effort from the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or other communication systems.

[0022] 1 shows a communication system 100 applied to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system 100 may include an access point (AP) 110 and a station (STA) 120 that accesses a network via the access point 110.

[0023] In some scenarios, an AP is also called an AP STA, ie, an AP is also a type of STA in some sense.

[0024] In some scenarios, the STA is also referred to as a non-AP STA.

[0025] Communication in the communication system 100 may be communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, communication between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA, or communication between a STA and a peer STA, where a peer STA may refer to a device that communicates peer-to-peer with the STA, for example, a peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0026] AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, and its main function is to connect individual wireless network clients together and access the wireless network to Ethernet. AP devices can be terminal devices (e.g., mobile phones) or network devices (e.g., routers) equipped with WiFi chips.

[0027] It should be understood that the role of an STA in a communication system is not absolute; for example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a non-AP STA, and when the mobile phone acts as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone plays the role of an AP.

[0028] APs and non-AP STAs include devices applied to connected cars, Internet of Things (IoT) nodes and sensors, smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters, and sensors applied to smart cities.

[0029] In some embodiments, the non-AP STAs may support the 802.11be standard. The non-AP STAs may support multiple current and future 802.11 family wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0030] In some embodiments, the AP may be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP may also be a device that supports multiple current and future WLAN standards in the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the STA may be a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless device in industrial control, a set-top box, a wireless device in self driving, an in-vehicle communication device, a wireless device in remote medical, a wireless device in a smart grid, a wireless device in transportation safety, a wireless device in a smart city or a wireless device in a smart home, a wireless communication chip / ASIC / SOC / , etc. that supports WLAN or WiFi technology.

[0032] The frequency bands that WLAN technology can support may include, but are not limited to, low frequency bands (eg, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz), high frequency bands (eg, 60 GHz).

[0033] FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates one AP STA and two non-AP STAs, and alternatively, the communication system 100 may include multiple AP STAs and other numbers of non-AP STAs, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0034] It should be understood that a device having a communication function in a network / system in an embodiment of the present application may be referred to as a communication device. Taking the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 as an example, the communication device may include an access point 110 and a station 120 having a communication function, and the access point 110 and the station 120 may be the specific devices described above, and descriptions thereof will be omitted here. The communication device may also include other devices in the communication system 100, such as other network entities such as a network controller and a gateway, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0035] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and / or" herein is merely a relational relationship that describes related objects and indicates that three types of relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may refer to three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Note that the character " / " herein generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0036] It should be understood that the "instruction" referred to in the embodiments of the present application may be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of an associative relationship. For example, when A instructs B, it may indicate that A directly instructs B, for example, that B can be obtained by A, or it may indicate that A indirectly instructs B, for example, that A instructs C, for example, that B can be obtained by C, or it may indicate that there is an associative relationship between A and B.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "correspondence" may mean that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or that there is an association between the two, or a relationship such as a relationship between something that indicates something and something that is indicated, or a relationship between something that arranges something and something that is arranged, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, "predefined" can be realized by pre-storing a code, a table, or other method that can be used to indicate related information corresponding to a device (including, for example, an access point and a station), and the present application is not limited to the specific implementation method. For example, "predefined" may refer to something that is defined in a protocol.

[0038] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following description will focus on the Broadcast Target Wake Time (TWT) related to the present application.

[0039] TWT is a timed wake power-saving mode proposed in 802.11ax. To reduce contention between STAs and the time required for STAs using power-saving modes to wake up, TWT proposes that STAs wake up only during a predefined service period (SP) to perform frame interaction with the AP, and continue to sleep after the SP ends.

[0040] Broadcast TWT is a TWT power-saving mode managed by the AP. In Broadcast TWT, there are interaction operations for joining and leaving a group. To use Broadcast TWT, a STA must apply to join the group to the AP. The interaction operation for joining a group is achieved by carrying a TWT element in a management frame interacting with the AP. The TWT element is used to carry Broadcast TWT parameter information corresponding to the requested Broadcast TWT. After a STA completes joining a group, it operates according to the most recently received TWT Service Period (SP). This type of STA is called a "TWT Scheduled STA" and the AP is called a "TWT Scheduling AP." In this mechanism, the TWT SP is declared by the AP. Typically, the AP declares the TWT SP already established between the AP and its associated STAs in each beacon frame. The STAs wake up after the start of the TWT SP, and the AP sends a broadcast trigger frame to discover which STAs are awake and then sends data frames to them. After the AP completes the transmission, the STAs go to sleep until the next Broadcast TWT SP time arrives.

[0041] The format of the TWT element will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the format of a TWT element.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, this TWT element contains the following fields: The TWT parameter information field includes an element ID field, a length field, a control field, and a TWT parameter information field, and is used to transmit TWT parameter information. Exemplarily, the numbers of bytes corresponding to the above fields are 1, 1, 1, and variable, respectively.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic format diagram of the Control field in the TWT element.

[0045] As shown in Figure 3, the Control field contains the following fields: It may include a Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) Paging Indicator field, a Responder PM Mode field, a Negotiation Type field, a TWT Information Frame Disable field, a Wake Duration Unit field, a Link ID Bitmap Present (or Link ID Present) field, and a Reserved field.

[0046] In some embodiments, the most significant bit (i.e., B3) of the Negotiation Type field is a Broadcast field to indicate whether the TWT element is a Broadcast TWT element. For example, the Broadcast field is set to 1 to indicate that the TWT element is a Broadcast TWT element. A value of 2 in the Negotiation Type field is used for Broadcast TWT announcement, and a value of 3 is used for Broadcast TWT member management.

[0047] In some embodiments, if the value of the Broadcast field in the Control field is 1 (ie, the TWT element is a Broadcast TWT element), the TWT Parameter Information field in the TWT element is used to carry Broadcast TWT parameter information.

[0048] In some embodiments, the Wake Duration Unit field indicates the minimum time unit for setting the TWT duration.

[0049] In some embodiments, the Wake Duration Unit field is set to 0 to indicate that the minimum time unit is 256 microseconds, and the Wake Duration Unit field is set to 1 to indicate that the minimum time unit is TU.

[0050] In some embodiments, the TWT Parameter Information field in the TWT element may include one or more Broadcast TWT parameter set fields.

[0051] FIG. 4 is an exemplary format diagram of the Broadcast TWT Parameter set field.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4, the Broadcast TWT Parameter set field contains: It includes at least one field of a Request Type field, a Target Wake Time field, a Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field, a TWT Wake Interval Mantissa field, a Broadcast TWT Info field, and a Restricted TWT Traffic Info field (optional).

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the Request Type field: It includes at least one field of a TWT Request field, a TWT Setup Command field, a Trigger field, a Last Broadcast Parameter Set field, a Flow Type field, a Broadcast TWT Recommendation field, a TWT Wake Interval Exponent field, and a reserved bit.

[0054] In some embodiments, a TWT Request field set to 1 indicates that the STA transmitting the frame carrying the TWT element is a TWT scheduled STA, and a TWT Request field set to 0 indicates that the STA transmitting the frame carrying the TWT element is a TWT scheduling AP.

[0055] In some embodiments, the TWT Setup Command field indicates the type of TWT setup command used when the STA and AP negotiate TWT parameters. For example, a value of 0 in the TWT Setup Command field indicates a Request TWT type, is valid only when the TWT Request field has a value of 1, and indicates that the TWT scheduled STA requests to join the TWT. A value of 1 in the TWT Setup Command field indicates a Suggest TWT type, and is valid only when the TWT Request field has a value of 1. A value of 2 in the TWT Setup Command field indicates a Demand TWT type, and is valid only when the TWT Request field has a value of 1. A value of 2 in the TWT Setup Command field indicates an Accept TWT type, and is valid only when the TWT Request field has a value of 0, and indicates that the TWT scheduling AP accepts the TWT parameters indicated by the TWT scheduled STA in the TWT element. This may also be used for unsolicited TWT responses.

[0056] In some embodiments, the Trigger field is used to indicate whether a Trigger frame needs to be transmitted, e.g., set to 1 to indicate that a Trigger frame should be transmitted at least once in the TWT SP.

[0057] In some embodiments, the Last Broadcast Parameter Set field is used to indicate whether the Broadcast TWT Parameter set field is the last Broadcast TWT Parameter set field in the TWT Parameter Information field.

[0058] In some embodiments, the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field indicates a recommendation of the frame type to be transmitted by the TWT scheduled STA and scheduling AP during the TWT SP.

[0059] In some embodiments, if the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field in a TWT element is equal to 4, the Broadcast TWT element is an R-TWT element. In this case, the TWT parameter information carried in the TWT element is also referred to as R-TWT parameter information.

[0060] In some embodiments, the TWT Wake Interval Mantissa and TWT Wake Interval Exponent fields are used to determine a TWT Wake Interval, which indicates the average time elapsed between successive TWT SPs for a TWT scheduled STA, e.g., TWT Wake Interval = (TWT Wake Interval Mantissa) * 2^(TWT Wake Interval Exponent) microseconds.

[0061] In some embodiments, the Target Wake Time field: If the TWT element is sent by a TWT scheduled STA and the TWT Setup command field is Suggest TWT or Demand TWT, the meaning of the Target Wake Time field is an unsigned integer corresponding to the Time Synchronization Function (TSF) time (i.e., the start time of the TWT SP) at which the STA requests a wakeup. If the TWT element is sent by a TWT scheduled STA and the TWT Setup command field is Request TWT, the value of the Target Wake Time field is 0.

[0062] In some embodiments, the Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field indicates the minimum time of TWT SP required for a TWT scheduled STA in units of the value indicated by the Wake Duration Unit field.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the Broadcast TWT Info field includes at least one field of a Broadcast TWT identifier (Broadcast TWT ID) field and a Broadcast TWT persistence field. The Broadcast TWT ID field, together with the AP's MAC address, uniquely identifies the Broadcast TWT. The Broadcast TWT Persistence field is used to indicate the number of TBTTs during which the Broadcast TWT parameter information exists (or is valid), where the number of beacon intervals during which the Broadcast TWT parameter information exists is equal to the value of the Broadcast TWT Persistence field plus 1, where a value of 255 indicates that the TWT exists for a long period of time until it is terminated by other means, and any other value indicates that the TWT exists for a limited time.

[0064] In some embodiments, each Broadcast TWT includes:<Broadcast TWT ID、MACアドレス> It is uniquely identified by a tuple, where Broadcast TWT ID is the value of the Broadcast TWT ID field, where Broadcast TWT ID is greater than 0, and MAC Address is the MAC address of the TWT scheduling AP.

[0065] In some embodiments, the Broadcast TWT may be established in the following manner. Method 1: The STA proactively initiates a Broadcast TWT establishment request to the AP by including a TWT element with the negotiation type field equal to 3 in the Association / Reassociation Request or TWT Setup frame. In the Broadcast TWT parameter set field in the TWT element, the STA indicates the Broadcast TWT ID corresponding to the Broadcast TWT to which it requests to join. Method 2: The AP may initiate an unsolicited TWT response. For example, the AP may allocate Broadcast TWT to the receiving STA by including a TWT element with a negotiation type field equal to 3 in the Association / Reassociation Response or TWT setup frame, where the receiving STA supports Broadcast TWT. For example, when the STA reports its capability information to the AP, the Broadcast TWT Support field in the capability information is set to 1 (indicating that the STA supports Broadcast TWT). In some embodiments, a TWT scheduling AP may advertise a Broadcast TWT, i.e., a Broadcast TWT schedule table, already established within the Basic Service Set (BSS) in which the AP is located. For example, the Broadcast TWT schedule table may be carried and advertised within a TWT element frame with the negotiation type field set to 2, e.g., advertised by a Beacon frame.

[0066] In some embodiments, the TWT scheduling AP may include a High Efficiency (HE) AP that supports Broadcast TWT (e.g., dot11TWTOptionActivated equals true), and the TWT scheduled STA may be a non-AP HE STA. The non-AP HE STA may transmit HE capability information to the AP, where the HE capability information is carried in an HE Capabilities element. The HE Capabilities element includes a Broadcast TWT Support field, and a Broadcast TWT Support field set to 1 indicates that the non-AP HE STA supports Broadcast TWT. The non-AP HE STA may receive frames carrying the Broadcast TWT element transmitted by the HE AP as a TWT scheduling AP.

[0067] In some scenarios, as the number of low-latency and high-definition video streaming application scenarios increases, data transmission places higher demands on network latency and network capacity. For example, application scenarios such as real-time video streaming, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) generate large amounts of data within a single cycle and need to be transmitted within a relatively short time. Transmitting devices may not be able to compete for channel rights in a short period of time, and a predictable and stable service time is required to complete the transmission of latency-sensitive data. Therefore, a type of TWT, namely, R-TWT, has been introduced that can deliver latency-sensitive traffic using enhanced media access protection and resource reservation mechanisms. R-TWT may be considered a new Broadcast TWT Recommendation defined based on TWT.

[0068] In some embodiments, when the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field is equal to 4, the Broadcast TWT parameter set carried in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field is an R-TWT parameter set. In this case, the Broadcast TWT parameter set field is an R-TWT parameter set field.

[0069] In some embodiments, if a TWT element includes only an R-TWT parameter set field, the TWT element is also referred to as an R-TWT element.

[0070] In some embodiments, an AP may announce an R-TWT schedule table when an R-TWT is established or modified within the BSS in which the AP is located. For example, a management frame (e.g., a beacon frame) may include a Broadcast TWT element, which is used to announce the updated R-TWT scheduling information.

[0071] In some embodiments, the establishment of a TWT may be realized by exchanging a TWT Setup frame between an AP and a STA. For example, the STA may request the establishment of a TWT SP by sending a TWT Establishment Request frame to the AP, and the AP may indicate the status of the requested TWT SP, for example, whether to agree to the establishment of the TWT SP or to deny the establishment of the TWT SP, by returning a TWT Establishment Response frame to the STA.

[0072] 7 is a schematic diagram of the R-TWT establishment and usage process. In the example of FIG. 7, an R-TWT has not been established between STA1 and the AP. STA1 sends an R-TWT request frame to the AP to request the establishment of an R-TWT between the AP and STA1. The R-TWT request frame includes the R-TWT parameter set that STA1 requests to be established, and the AP replies with an R-TWT response frame agreeing to the establishment of the R-TWT. In the R-TWT establishment, STA1 is called the "R-TWT Scheduled STA" and the AP is called the "R-TWT Scheduling AP."

[0073] In this example, the R-TWT established between STA1 and the AP and the R-TWT established between STA2 and the AP may be the same, i.e., STA1 may participate in the R-TWT established between STA2 and the AP, which will be denoted as R-TWT1.

[0074] In some embodiments, the R-TWT request frame may include an R-TWT element, which is used to convey the R-TWT parameter set that STA1 has requested to be established.

[0075] Furthermore, the AP transmits a Beacon frame at the TBTT time. The Beacon includes an R-TWT element indicating R-TWT1. For example, during a broadcast R-TWT1 SP, the AP transmits downlink latency-sensitive traffic to the R-TWT scheduled STAs. STA1 and STA2 receive the Beacon. STA1 and STA2 receive downlink data, such as a downlink multi-user physical layer protocol data unit (DL MU PPDU), transmitted by the AP in the subsequent R-TWT1 SP, and then transmit a Block Ack (BA) frame back to the AP.

[0076] Table 1 is an example of the frame format of the TWT setup frame. [Table 1]

[0077] Here, for the format of the TWT element, please refer to the related explanations of FIGS.

[0078] In some embodiments, STAs in an R-TWT SP must follow certain rules to gain channel access.

[0079] For example, a STA holding a transmission opportunity (TXOP) must release, or in other words, terminate, the TXOP before the start time of the R-TWT SP advertised by the associated AP, where the STA supports R-TWT (e.g., dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented is set to true), such as a non-AP Extreme High Throughput (EHT) STA that supports R-TWT.

[0080] STAs using the same R-TWT may be considered to belong to one grouping, and within one BSS, STAs that do not belong to one grouping must back off within the R-TWT SPs used by other groupings.

[0081] For example, if the R-TWTs established within one BSS include R-TWT1 and R-TWT2, where STA1 and STA2 belong to the grouping corresponding to R-TWT1 and STA3 and STA4 belong to the grouping corresponding to R-TWT2, then within the R-TWT1 SP, STA3 and STA4 must back off, i.e., not transmit data, and within the R-TWT2 SP, STA1 and STA2 must back off, i.e., not transmit data.

[0082] However, in practice, data transmissions of devices in other BSSs may also interfere with data transmissions in the R-TWT SP of devices in this BSS.

[0083] As shown in Figure 8, AP1 is associated with STA11 and STA12, and AP2 is associated with STA21 and STA22. Assuming that an R-TWT is established between AP1 and STA11 and is denoted as R-TWT1, if STA12 has the right to use a TXOP during the R-TWT1 SP, STA12 needs to proactively terminate the TXOP before the start of the R-TWT1 SP to avoid interfering with the data transmission of STA11 within the R-TWT1 SP.

[0084] However, during the R-TWT1 SP, devices in the BSS where AP2 is located can compete for the channel as usual, so data transmissions by devices in the BSS where AP2 is located during this period may interfere with the latency-sensitive data transmission of STA11. For example, if STA22 holds a TXOP and communicates with AP2 during the R-TWT1 SP, interference will occur in the data reception of STA11.

[0085] Furthermore, since AP2 and AP1 cannot know the R-TWT established in the other BSS, there may be a problem of time overlap between the R-TWT established between STA22 and AP2 and the R-TWT established between AP1 and STA11, which may cause data transmissions in the two BSSs to interfere with each other.

[0086] Therefore, how to establish an R-TWT so as to reduce interference to data transmission within the R-TWT is an issue that needs to be urgently resolved.

[0087] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments. The following related technologies may be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional aspects, and all of them fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application include at least some of the following contents: An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method, the method comprising: a first access point device receiving first information transmitted by a first station device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), transmissions in the at least one first BSS being likely to interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located; The first access point device establishes an R-TWT between the first access point device and the first station device based on the first information. In some embodiments, the first information comprises: Identification ID information of the at least one first BSS or color information of the at least one first BSS; already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS; and and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a first request frame, the first request frame being used to request establishment of an R-TWT between the first station device and the first access point device. In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a first target wake time TWT element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element. In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information field is used to indicate the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSSID Size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating ID information of the first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSS Color Size field for indicating the number of BSS Color fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSS Color field for indicating color information of the first BSS. In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, which is used to indicate reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by the at least one first BSS and an access point device within the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes an OBSS Information Size field for indicating the number of OBSS Information fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one OBSS Information field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes an OBSS Information List Present field for indicating whether an OBSS Information List field is included in the first request frame. In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a Broadcast TWT Information field that includes the OBSS Information List Present field. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, and each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes R-TWT information requested by the first station equipment, and the R-TWT requested by the first station equipment and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes the first access point device obtaining already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS based on the first information. In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from an access point device in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from a beacon frame transmitted by an access point device in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a second access point device is located, and the beacon frame transmitted by the second access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device. In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a second TWT element for conveying R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device. In some embodiments, the second TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one second BSS, wherein transmissions within the at least one second BSS may interfere with transmissions during an R-TWT SP already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device, and the at least one second BSS is an OBSS of the BSS in which the second access point device is located. In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from a station device associated with the first access point device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: a step in which the first access point device transmits a second request frame to a station device associated with the first access point device, the second request frame being used to request the station device to report R-TWT information acquired by the station device within an OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located; The method further includes a step in which the first access point device receives a second response frame transmitted by a station device associated with the first access point device, the second response frame reporting R-TWT information acquired by the station device within the OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located. In some embodiments, the second request frame is a beacon request frame and the second response frame is a beacon response frame. In some embodiments, the OBSS of the BSS in which the station equipment is located includes a BSS in which a third access point equipment is located, and the second response frame includes a third TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the third access point equipment and a station equipment associated with the third access point equipment. In some embodiments, the third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, and transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during an R-TWT SP already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device. In some embodiments, the access point devices in the at least one first BSS and the first access point device belong to the same group, and the access point devices in the same group share already established R-TWT information in the BSS in which the access point devices are located. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first access point device transmits a first response frame to the first station device, the first response frame being a response frame to the first request frame, the first response frame including target R-TWT information, and the R-TWT determined based on the target R-TWT information and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first access point device maintains silence during an SP of an R-TWT indicated by already established R-TWT information in a first BSS set, and the BSSs in the first BSS set and the BSS in which the first access point device is located are OBSSs. In some embodiments, the first BSS set is a BSS in which an access point device is located from which the first access point device received a beacon frame, and the beacon frame includes already established R-TWT information within the BSS. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first access point device maintains silence during the SP of the R-TWT indicated by the first R-TWT information, wherein the first R-TWT information is R-TWT information already established within a fourth BSS, and the OBSS of the fourth BSS includes the BSS in which the first access point device is located. In some embodiments, if the OBSS information reported by the second station device and the first station device to the first access point device is the same, the R-TWT information established between the first access point device and the first station device and the R-TWT information established between the first access point device and the second station device are the same. An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method, the method comprising: The method includes a step in which a first station device transmits first information to a first access point device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), wherein transmissions within the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, and the at least one first BSS is an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located. In some embodiments, the first information comprises: Identification ID information of the at least one first BSS or color information of the at least one first BSS; already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS; and and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a first request frame for requesting establishment of an R-TWT between the first station device and the first access point device. In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a first target wake time TWT element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element. In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information field is used to indicate the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSSID Size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating ID information of the first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSS Color Size field for indicating the number of BSS Color fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSS Color field for indicating color information of the first BSS. In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, which is used to indicate reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by the at least one first BSS and an access point device within the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes an OBSS Information Size field for indicating the number of OBSS Information fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one OBSS Information field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes an OBSS Information List Present field for indicating whether an OBSS Information List field is included in the first request frame. In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a Broadcast TWT Information field that includes the OBSS Information List Present field. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, and each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in one first BSS. In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes R-TWT information requested by the first station equipment, and the R-TWT requested by the first station equipment and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first station device transmits second information to the first access point device, the second information including already established R-TWT information within the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first station device from an access point device in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first station device from a beacon frame transmitted by an access point device in the at least one first BSS. In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a third access point device is located, and the beacon frame transmitted by the third access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device. In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a third TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device. In some embodiments, the third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, and transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during SP of R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and station equipment associated with the third access point device. In some embodiments, the second information is transmitted via a beacon response frame. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first station device receives a first response frame transmitted by the first access point device, the first response frame being a response frame to the first request frame, the first response frame including target R-TWT information, and the R-TWT determined based on the target R-TWT information and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first station device maintains silence during all R-TWT SPs indicated by already established R-TWT information in a second BSS set, except for the R-TWT SP established between the first station device and the first access point device, and the second BSS set is a BSS in which an access point device from which the first station device received a beacon frame is located.

[0088] FIG. 9 is a schematic interaction diagram of a wireless communication method 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the method 200 includes the following contents:

[0089] S210: A first access point device receives first information transmitted by a first station device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first BSS, and transmissions within the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions during an SP of an R-TWT established between the first station device and the first access point device.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first access point device may establish an R-TWT between the first access point device and the first station device based on the first information.

[0091] In some embodiments, the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA established based on the first information does not overlap in time with the R-TWT established within the at least one first BSS.

[0092] In the embodiments of the present application, for ease of distinction and explanation, the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA established based on the first information is referred to as the target R-TWT, and the R-TWT established within at least one first BSS is referred to as the OBSS R-TWT.

[0093] In some embodiments, the term "a target R-TWT and an OBSS R-TWT do not overlap in time" may refer to the SP of the target R-TWT and the SP of the OBSS R-TWT not overlapping in time, and similarly may refer to the SP of two or more other R-TWTs not overlapping in time.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first station device is a non-AP STA, also referred to as a first STA or a first non-AP STA.

[0095] In some embodiments, the first access point device is an AP STA, or may also be referred to as a first AP or a first AP STA.

[0096] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, an access point device, AP, refers to an AP STA, and a station device, STA, refers to a non-AP STA.

[0097] In some embodiments, the first AP and the first STA may be a Multi-Link Device (MLD).

[0098] That is, the first information may be used to establish an R-TWT between multi-link devices.

[0099] In some other embodiments, the first AP and the first STA may be single-link devices.

[0100] That is, the first AP and the first STA may be used to establish an R-TWT between single-link devices.

[0101] In some embodiments, the first access point device is an access point device associated with the first station device, i.e., the first access point device and the first station device belong to the same BSS.

[0102] In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS may be an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of the BSS in which the first AP is located, i.e., there is an overlap between the first BSS and the BSS in which the first AP is located.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first AP and / or the first STA are in an OBSS. In other words, the first AP is an OBSS device and / or the first STA is an OBSS device. Here, OBSS device may refer to a device in an OBSS that can receive signals in multiple BSSs and therefore may be interfered with by signals in BSSs other than the BSS in which the OBSS device is located.

[0104] In some scenarios, when the BSS in which the first AP is located is a target BSS and the first AP is located in an area where the first BSS and the target BSS overlap (i.e., the first AP is a BSS device), the first AP may receive data transmissions between the AP and its associated STA in the first BSS, which may interfere with transmissions between the first AP and the first STA. Therefore, when establishing an R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA, combining information about already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, for example, backing off the already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, is advantageous in reducing interference of transmissions in the first BSS with transmissions during the SP of the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0105] In some other scenarios, when the BSS in which the first AP is located is the target BSS and the first STA is located in an area where the first BSS and the target BSS overlap (i.e., the first STA is a BSS device), the first STA may receive data transmission between the AP and its associated STA in the first BSS, which data transmission may interfere with transmission between the first AP and the first STA. Therefore, when establishing an R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA, combining information about already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, for example, backing off the already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, is advantageous in reducing interference of transmissions in the first BSS with transmissions during the SP of the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0106] In still other scenarios, when the BSS in which the first AP is located is a target BSS, and the first STA and the first AP are both located within an area where the first BSS and the target BSS overlap (i.e., the first STA and the first AP are both BSS devices), the first STA and the first AP may receive data transmissions between the AP and its associated STA in the first BSS, which may interfere with transmissions between the first AP and the first STA. Therefore, when establishing an R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA, combining information about already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, for example, backing off the already established R-TWTs in the first BSS, is advantageous in reducing interference of transmissions in the first BSS with transmissions during the SP of the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0107] In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS may be considered an interfering BSS or OBSS of the first STA, i.e., the first STA is located in the first BSS and the target BSS, and therefore, transmissions in the first BSS may interfere with transmissions between the first STA and the first AP. Alternatively, it may be understood that the at least one first BSS is an interfering BSS corresponding to an R-TWT between the first STA and the first AP, i.e., transmissions in the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions in an SP of an R-TWT established between the first STA and the first AP.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first STA may determine the first STA's interfering BSSs by receiving frames (eg, beacon frames).

[0109] For example, if a first STA receives a frame transmitted by an AP in another BSS (i.e., not the BSS in which the first STA is located), the first STA may consider that BSS to be an interfering BSS for the first STA.

[0110] Also, for example, a first STA may measure a signal (e.g., a preamble signal) transmitted by an AP, and if the received strength of the signal is greater than a first threshold and the signal is not an associated AP from the first STA, it may determine that the BSS in which the AP transmitting the signal is located is an interfering BSS of the first STA.

[0111] Alternatively, the received signal strength here may be a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI).

[0112] In some embodiments, the first information is: Identification ID information (e.g., BSSID) of the at least one first BSS or color information (e.g., BSS Color) of the first BSS; already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS; and and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

[0113] The above only describes an example of identifying a BSS using a BSSID or a BSS Color. In other embodiments, it is also possible to identify a BSS using other information that can uniquely identify the BSS, but it should be understood that the present application is not limited to this.

[0114] In some embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS may include specific R-TWT parameters, such as the TWT parameters illustrated in Figures 4 to 6. Examples include a target wake time value, a specified minimum TWT wake length, a TWT wake interval, etc. The R-TWT parameters are used to determine time information of the R-TWT SP, such as a start time, a duration, a cycle, etc.

[0115] In some other embodiments, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS may include identification information corresponding to R-TWT parameters, such as an R-TWT ID, where the R-TWT ID and the AP's MAC address together identify a unique R-TWT. In this case, the first STA may not need to convey specific R-TWT parameters, which is advantageous for reducing signaling overhead.

[0116] In some embodiments, the reception strength information of the signal transmitted by the at least one AP in the first BSS by the first STA may refer to reception strength information, such as RSSI information, of the signal transmitted by the AP in the first BSS by the first STA. The reception strength of the signal transmitted by the AP in the first BSS by the first STA may reflect the interference situation of the signal in the first BSS to the first STA, where a higher reception strength may be considered to be a higher interference to the first STA, and conversely, a lower interference may be considered. When establishing an R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA, it is advantageous to combine the R-TWT with an already established R-TWT in the first BSS that has a relatively higher reception strength, thereby reducing interference of the already established R-TWT in the first BSS with the transmission in the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0117] In some embodiments, the RSSI is obtained by measuring a received physical layer preamble by the first STA.

[0118] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to frames used to transmit the first information, but may also be conveyed via frames sent by the STA to the AP, including, but not limited to, association request frames, reassociation request frames, authentication request frames, probe response frames, TWT establishment request frames, etc.

[0119] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a first request frame, which is used to request establishment of an R-TWT between the first station device and the first access point device, i.e., the first request frame is a TWT establishment request frame, or also referred to as an R-TWT establishment request frame or a TWT establishment frame.

[0120] When a first STA initiates a request to establish an R-TWT, it indicates the first AP with information about the first STA's interfering BSS, so that when the first AP establishes an R-TWT between the two, it avoids the already established R-TWT in the interfering BSS, which is advantageous in reducing interference between the data transmission in the already established R-TWT in the first BSS and the data transmission in the SP of the R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0121] In some other embodiments, the first request frame may be an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, an authentication request frame, or the like, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0122] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes R-TWT parameters that the first STA requests to establish, such as a target wake time, a specified minimum TWT wake length, a TWT wake interval, etc. The R-TWT parameters are used to determine time information, such as a start time, a duration, and a cycle, of the R-TWT SP between the first AP and the first STA.

[0123] In some embodiments, the R-TWT determined based on the R-TWT parameters requested by the first STA to establish and the R-TWTs already established in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time, i.e., do not collide, i.e., the R-TWT parameters requested by the first STA avoid the R-TWTs already established in the first STA's interfering BSS.

[0124] In some embodiments of the present application, the method 200 further comprises: The method includes a step of the first access point device transmitting a first response frame to the first station device, the first response frame being a response frame to the first request frame.

[0125] Optionally, the first response frame is used to indicate consent or denial of the R-TWT that the first request frame requests to be established.

[0126] Optionally, the first response frame may carry R-TWT parameters for establishing R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA.

[0127] Optionally, the R-TWT parameters carried in the first response frame and the R-TWT parameters carried in the first request frame may be the same or different.

[0128] In some embodiments, the R-TWT determined based on the R-TWT parameters in the first response frame and the already established R-TWTs in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time, in other words, do not collide.

[0129] That is, the R-TWT established by the first AP between the first AP and the first STA avoids the R-TWT already established in the interfering BSS of the first STA. In other words, when the first AP establishes the R-TWT with the first STA, the selected R-TWT parameters do not conflict with the R-TWT parameters corresponding to the already established R-TWT in at least one first BSS.

[0130] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the transmission method of the first information in the frame, and that, for example, the first information may be transmitted in an existing element or field in the frame, or a new element or field may be added to transmit the first information. Hereinafter, a specific example of the transmission method of the first information in the first request frame will be described, but the present application is not limited thereto, and any other alternative methods obtained based on the example of the present application are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a first TWT element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element. Optionally, an existing field (e.g., a reserved field) or a newly added field in the TWT element may be used to transmit the first information.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Info List field for transmitting the first information, which is also referred to as an Interference BSS Info field.

[0133] For example, an Interference BSSID Info field is added to the end of the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field in the first TWT element, and the length of the Interference BSSID Info field is variable, and the specific length is determined by the size of the interfering BSS information reported by the first STA.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first TWT element further includes an OBSS Info List Present field for indicating whether an Interference BSS Info field is included in the first TWT element, the OBSS Info List Present field also being referred to as an Interference BSS Info Present field.

[0135] Illustratively, if the OBSS Info List Present field is 1, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is present in the first TWT element, and if the OBSS Info List Present field is 0, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is not present in the first TWT element.

[0136] In some embodiments, the first TWT element is further used to transmit the R-TWT parameters that the first STA requests to establish. For example, the first TWT element includes a TWT Parameter Information field, and the R-TWT parameters that the first STA requests to establish are carried in the TWT Parameter Information field. The specific format of the TWT Parameter Information field refers to the formats illustrated in Figures 2 to 6.

[0137] A specific design of the OBSS Info List field in the first TWT element will be described in combination with FIGS.

[0138] Case 1: Report an interfering BSS and identify the interfering BSS using its BSSID.

[0139] 10 is a schematic format diagram of an OBSS Information List field format according to an embodiment of the present application, where the BSSID is used to identify the interfering BSS in the example of FIG. 10. The OBSS Information List is carried in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field of the first TWT element.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 10, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSSID Size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS Information List field, i.e., the number of interfering BSSs, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating the ID information of the first BSS, i.e., the BSSID.

[0141] Alternatively, the length of the BSSID field may be 6 bytes, in which case at least one BSSID field may occupy 6*n bytes, where n is the number of interfering BSSs.

[0142] Alternatively, the length of the BSSID Size field may be 1 byte or other length, specifically determined by the maximum number of interfering BSSs that can be reported.

[0143] In some embodiments, if the value of the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field in the Request Type field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field is 4 (ie, if the TWT is an R-TWT), the OBSS Information List field is present.

[0144] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT establishment phase, the first TWT element may be carried in a TWT establishment request frame, with the BSSID information list field indicating interfering BSS information that the first STA may experience via one or more BSSIDs.

[0145] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT broadcast phase, the first TWT element may be carried in a beacon frame, with the BSSID list field indicating, via one or more BSSIDs, interfering BSS information that the device using the R-TWT may experience.

[0146] Optionally, the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field further includes an OBSS Info List Present field for indicating whether the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set includes an OBSS Info List field.

[0147] For example, if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 1, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set, and if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 0, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is not present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set.

[0148] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the OBSS Info List Present field is included in the Broadcast TWT Info field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field.

[0149] Case 2: Report an interfering BSS and identify the interfering BSS using the BSS Color.

[0150] FIG. 11 is a schematic format diagram of another OBSS Info List field format according to an embodiment of the present application, where the example of FIG. 11 uses BSS Color to identify interfering BSSs.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 11, the OBSS Info List field includes a BSS Color Size field for indicating the number of BSS Color fields included in the OBSS Info List field, and / or at least one BSS Color field for indicating color information of the first BSS.

[0152] Alternatively, the BSS color field may be 6 bits or 1 byte in length, for example, using the most significant or least significant 6 bits of the byte to indicate the BSS color.

[0153] Alternatively, the length of the BSS Color Size field may be 1 byte or other length, specifically determined by the maximum number of interfering BSSs that can be reported.

[0154] In some embodiments, if the value of the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field in the Request Type field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field is 4 (ie, if the TWT is an R-TWT), the OBSS Information List field is present.

[0155] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT establishment phase, the first TWT element may be carried in a TWT establishment request frame, with the OBSS information list field indicating, via one or more BSS Colors, interfering BSS information that the first STA may experience.

[0156] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT broadcast phase, the first TWT element may be carried in a beacon frame, with the OBSS Information List field indicating, via one or more BSS Colors, interfering BSS information that the device using the R-TWT may experience.

[0157] Optionally, the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field further includes an OBSS Info List Present field for indicating whether the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set includes an OBSS Info List field.

[0158] For example, if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 1, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set, and if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 0, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is not present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set.

[0159] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the OBSS Info List Present field is included in the Broadcast TWT Info field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field.

[0160] Case 3: Report the interfering BSS and the RSSI information corresponding to the interfering BSS.

[0161] FIG. 12 is a schematic format diagram of yet another OBSS Info List field format according to an embodiment of the present application, where in the example of FIG. 12, the interfering BSS is identified using BSSID or BSS Color, and RSSI information corresponding to the interfering BSS is reported to the first AP.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 12, the OBSS Info List field includes an OBSS Info Size field for indicating the number of OBSS information fields included in the OBSS information list, i.e., the number of interfering BSSs, and / or at least one OBSS Info field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information, e.g., RSSI, of a signal transmitted by an AP in the at least one first BSS by the first STA.

[0163] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 12, the BSS Info field includes a BSSID / BSS Color field and an optional RSSI field, where the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate an interfering BSS of the first STA, and the RSSI field is used by the first STA to indicate the RSSI of a signal transmitted by an AP in the interfering BSS indicated for the BSSID / BSS Color field.

[0164] Optionally, the value range of the RSSI information is 0-255.

[0165] Optionally, the OBSS Info field further includes a Control field for indicating control information of other fields in the OBSS Info field.

[0166] For example, the control field is An OBSS Info Type or Interference BSS Info Type field to indicate whether the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate a BSSID or a BSS Color; and an RSSI Present field for indicating whether the OBSS Information field includes an RSSI field.

[0167] Alternatively, the OBSS Info Type field may be 1 bit or 2 bits, specifically determined according to the type of OBSS identification that can be indicated. For example, a value of 0 in the OBSS Info Type field indicates that the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate the BSSID, and a value of 1 in the OBSS Info Type field indicates that the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate the BSS Color.

[0168] Alternatively, the RSSI Present field may be 1 bit, for example, a value of 1 indicates that the RSSI field is included in the BSS Information field, and otherwise indicates that the RSSI field is not included.

[0169] Optionally, the value of the RSSI Present field is 1 during the R-TWT establishment phase, and the value of the RSSI Present field is 0 during the R-TWT broadcast phase.

[0170] Alternatively, if the type indicated by the OBSS Info Type field is BSSID, the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate the BSSID and may be 6 bytes in length; if the type indicated by the OBSS Info Type field is BSS Color, the BSSID / BSS Color field is used to indicate the BSS Color and may be 6 bits in length or 1 byte, where the upper or lower 6 bits of the 1 byte are used to indicate the BSS Color and the other 2 bits are reserved bits.

[0171] Optionally, the RSSI indicated by the RSSI field may be determined based on the received signal strength of a Beacon frame transmitted by the first STA to the first AP.

[0172] In some embodiments, if the value of the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field in the Request Type field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field is 4 (ie, if the TWT is an R-TWT), the OBSS Info List field is present.

[0173] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT establishment phase, the OBSS Info List field indicates, via one or more BSSIDs or BSS Colors, the first STA's reception strength information for interfering BSSs and signals within the interfering BSSs that the first STA may experience.

[0174] In some embodiments, during the R-TWT broadcast phase, the BSSID Info List field indicates, via one or more BSSIDs or BSS Colors, the interfering BSS information that the device using the R-TWT may experience.

[0175] Optionally, the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field further includes an OBSS Info List Present field for indicating whether the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set includes an OBSS Info List field.

[0176] For example, if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 1, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set, and if the OBSS Info List Present field is set to 0, it indicates that the OBSS Info List field is not present in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set.

[0177] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the OBSS Info List Present field is included in the Broadcast TWT Info field in the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field.

[0178] Case 4: Report the interfering BSS and already established R-TWT information within the interfering BSS.

[0179] In this case 4, the specific method for the first STA to report the interfering BSS refers to the specific implementation in case 1 and case 2, and the description thereof is omitted here.

[0180] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS and the identification information or color information of the at least one first BSS may be transmitted to the same element, e.g., the aforementioned first TWT element, or may be transmitted to different elements.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first TWT element may include at least one R-TWT parameter information field, each R-TWT parameter information field corresponding to one interfering BSS, and the R-TWT parameter information field is used to indicate R-TWT information already established within the corresponding interfering BSS.

[0182] In some other embodiments, the first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, where the at least one OBSS R-TWT element has a one-to-one correspondence with at least one interfering BSS of the first STA, and each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in a corresponding interfering BSS.

[0183] Table 2 shows an example of a frame format of a TWT establishment frame according to an embodiment of the present application. [Table 2]

[0184] In some implementations, Order 5 information content may be added to the TWT establishment request frame, so that the first STA can report the interfering BSS and the already established R-TWT information within the interfering BSS to the first AP via the TWT establishment request frame.

[0185] That is, the information content of Order 4 in the TWT establishment frame may be the R-TWT parameters requested by the first STA and the corresponding interfering BSS, and the information content of Order 5 may be the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS.

[0186] In some embodiments, the format of the OBSS R-TWT element may refer to the format of the TWT element in FIGS. 4 to 6, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0187] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the OBSS R-TWT element may also be referred to as a TWT element or an R-TWT element, and since it is used to transmit R-TWT information already established within the OBSS, it is also referred to as an OBSS R-TWT element for the sake of distinction and convenience of explanation, but it should be understood that this should not constitute any limitation of the present application.

[0188] Optionally, in case 4, the first STA may report RSSI information corresponding to the interfering BSS to the first AP, and the specific reporting method refers to the relevant description in case 3, and for the sake of brevity, the description is omitted here.

[0189] In some embodiments of the present application, the method 200 further comprises: The method further includes the first access point device obtaining R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS based on the first information.

[0190] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained from an AP or a first STA in the at least one first BSS.

[0191] In some embodiments, when the first information includes ID information or color information of at least one first BSS but does not include R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS, the first AP obtains the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS from pre-stored information based on the ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS, where the pre-stored information includes BSSID or color information of one or more BSSs and R-TWT information already established in the one or more BSSs.

[0192] For example, when receiving the first information transmitted by the first STA, the first AP determines the interfering BSS of the first STA based on the BSSID information or BSS color information carried in the first information, and then retrieves the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS from pre-stored information. Furthermore, when establishing an R-TWT between the first AP and the first STA, the R-TWT already established in the interfering BSS can be avoided, thereby reducing the interference of transmissions in the interfering BSS with transmissions in the SP of the R-TWT established between the first AP and the first STA.

[0193] In some embodiments, the pre-stored information may be obtained from associated STAs of the first AP and / or neighboring APs of the first AP.

[0194] For ease of distinction and explanation, the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS will be referred to as OBSS R-TWT information.

[0195] In the following specific embodiment, a method for acquiring the pre-stored information will be described.

[0196] Method 1: Pre-stored information is obtained from neighboring APs.

[0197] Optionally, the pre-stored information is obtained during the R-TWT broadcast phase.

[0198] Optionally, the BSS in which the neighbor AP is located and the BSS in which the first AP is located are OBSSs.

[0199] In the first scheme, the first AP receives a frame transmitted by a neighboring AP, and the neighboring AP can broadcast R-TWT information already established within the BSS in which it is located. In this case, the first AP can obtain the R-TWT information already established within the BSS in which the neighboring AP is located by receiving the frame transmitted by the neighboring AP. The first AP can store the BSSID or color information of the BSS in which the neighboring AP is located and the R-TWT information already established by the neighboring AP and its associated STAs. Because the AP can receive the frame transmitted by the neighboring AP, transmissions between the neighboring AP and its associated STAs will interfere with transmissions between the first AP and its associated STAs, so the first AP can store the above information.

[0200] Alternatively, the neighboring AP may include an AP in the first BSS, and the first AP may obtain R-TWT information already established in the first BSS by receiving a frame transmitted by an AP in the first BSS.

[0201] In some embodiments, a first AP receives a beacon frame transmitted by a neighboring AP (e.g., a second AP), the beacon frame including R-TWT information already established within the BSS in which the second AP is located.

[0202] Optionally, the beacon frame may further include interfering BSS information (i.e., BSSID information) corresponding to an R-TWT already established in the BSS in which the second AP is located, where transmissions in the interfering BSS interfere with transmissions in an R-TWT already established in the BSS in which the second AP is located, and the interfering BSS information may be, for example, a BSSID or BSS Color corresponding to the interfering BSS.

[0203] Alternatively, the second AP may obtain interfering BSS information corresponding to an R-TWT already established in the BSS where the second AP is located from its associated STA. For example, when an associated STA of the second AP requests the establishment of an R-TWT, it may report the interfering BSS information (i.e., OBSS information) of the associated STA to the second AP. For a specific reporting method, refer to the related implementation in which a first STA reports interfering BSS information (i.e., OBSS information) to the first AP; for brevity, the description thereof is omitted here. The second AP may consider the OBSS reported by the associated STA as the interfering BSS corresponding to the R-TWT established between the second AP and the associated STA.

[0204] In some embodiments, the beacon frame may include a second TWT element for conveying R-TWT information established between the second AP and a STA associated with the second AP.

[0205] Optionally, the second TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one second BSS, such as BSSID or color information of the at least one second BSS, where the at least one second BSS is an interference BSS corresponding to an R-TWT already established in a BSS where the second AP is located, i.e., transmissions in the at least one second BSS may interfere with transmissions in SPs of an R-TWT established between the second AP and a STA associated with the second AP.

[0206] In some embodiments, the format of the second TWT element may refer to the format of the first TWT element in the above-mentioned embodiments, and for specific implementation, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0207] 13, AP1 and AP2 can receive frames sent by each other, where R-TWT has been established between AP2 and STA21 and STA22, and AP2 can broadcast the R-TWT information already established between AP2 and STA21 and between AP2 and STA22 through a Beacon frame. AP1 can determine the R-TWT information established between AP2 and STA21 and between AP2 and STA22 by analyzing the TWT element in the Beacon frame sent by AP2.

[0208] Method 2: The pre-stored information is obtained from the associated STAs of the first AP.

[0209] Alternatively, an associated STA of the first AP is located within the BSS, and the associated STA of the first AP can receive frames transmitted by APs in other BSSs, and the APs in the other BSSs can broadcast R-TWT information already established in the BSS in which it is located, and the first STA can obtain the R-TWT information already established in the other BSS by receiving frames transmitted by APs in the other BSSs.

[0210] In some embodiments, the BSS of the BSS in which the first STA is located includes the at least one first BSS, and the STA may receive already-established R-TWT information in the BSS in which it is located, broadcast by an AP in the at least one first BSS. For example, the first STA may receive a beacon frame transmitted by an AP in the first BSS and obtain the already-established R-TWT information in the first BSS from the beacon frame.

[0211] In some embodiments, the pre-stored information is obtained by the first AP from an associated STA of the first AP upon request.

[0212] That is, the associated STA of the first AP may report the already established R-TWT information in the OBSS that it has acquired to the first AP based on the request of the first AP.

[0213] For example, the first AP may request the first STA to report already established R-TWT information within the BSS, and further, the first STA may report to the first AP the already established R-TWT information within at least one first BSS that it has acquired.

[0214] In some embodiments, the method 200 further comprises: a step of the first AP transmitting a second request frame to the first STA, the second request frame being used to request the first STA to report R-TWT information already established in a BSS (i.e., an OBSS) in which another AP, acquired by the first STA, is located; The method includes a step in which the first AP receives a second response frame transmitted by the first STA, the second response frame reporting R-TWT information already established within the BSS (i.e., OBSS) in which the other AP is located, which the first STA has acquired.

[0215] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in other BSSs reported by the first STA may be obtained by the first STA from APs in the other BSSs during the broadcast phase. For example, the first STA may obtain the information by receiving a beacon frame transmitted by an AP in the other BSS. Optionally, the beacon frame may include interfering BSS information corresponding to the R-TWTs already established in the other BSSs. Optionally, the information is carried in a TWT element in the beacon frame. Thus, when the first STA receives a beacon frame transmitted by a non-associated AP and the beacon frame includes a TWT element, the first STA may store the information in the TWT element.

[0216] In some embodiments, the second response frame further includes interfering BSS information corresponding to R-TWTs already established in other BSSs.

[0217] In some embodiments, the other BSS includes a BSS in which a third AP is located, and the second response frame includes a third TWT element, which is used to transmit R-TWT information already established between the third AP and a STA associated with the third AP.

[0218] Optionally, the third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, where transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during an SP of the R-TWT between the third AP and a STA associated with the third AP.

[0219] That is, the at least one third BSS is an interfering BSS of a STA associated with a third AP.

[0220] Optionally, in the second response frame, the interfering BSS information corresponds to an R-TWT between the third AP and a STA associated with the third AP. For example, R-TWTs established between the third AP and different STAs may each correspond to the interfering BSS information. Optionally, the interfering BSS information corresponding to the R-TWTs established between the third AP and different STAs (in other words, the APs and STAs of each group) may be the same or different.

[0221] Therefore, the first STA can receive frames transmitted by other APs, and since transmissions between the other APs and their associated STAs may interfere with transmissions between the first STA and the first AP, the first AP can store the BSSID or color information of the BSS in which the other APs are located, and the R-TWT information already established between the other APs and their associated STAs, which is obtained by the associated STAs.

[0222] In some embodiments, the second request frame is a Beacon Request frame, and the second response frame is a Beacon Response frame.

[0223] 14, AP1 is associated with STA11 and STA12, and AP2 is associated with STA21 and STA22. Assuming that STA21, STA22, and AP2 have already established R-TWT, AP2 broadcasts the R-TWT information already established between AP2 and STA21 and between AP2 and STA22 via a Beacon frame. STA11 receives the Beacon frame from AP2 and can learn the R-TWT information already established within the BSS in which AP2 is located. AP1 sends a Beacon Request to STA11, requesting STA11 to reply with a Beacon Response. The Beacon Response includes the R-TWT information carried in the Beacon frame sent by AP2. Therefore, AP1 can learn the R-TWT information established between AP2 and STA21 and STA22 via the Beacon Response.

[0224] Method 3: The pre-stored information is obtained by a sharing method.

[0225] In this method 3, APs are grouped, and APs in the same group may share the R-TWT information already established in the BSS in which they are located with other APs, i.e., one AP in the same group may know the R-TWT information already established in the BSS in which other APs in the same group exist.

[0226] Alternatively, a group of APs that share R-TWT information may be referred to as a multi-AP group. The APs in the multi-AP group may be connected via wired or wireless connections, thereby realizing the sharing of R-TWT information.

[0227] Alternatively, a multi-AP group may or may not have a central AP. For example, if a central AP is present, each AP obtains R-TWT information already established in the BSS where the other APs are located via the central AP. If a central AP is not present, each AP may directly obtain R-TWT information already established in the BSS where the other APs are located.

[0228] Optionally, APs in a multi-AP group may share interfering BSS information corresponding to already established R-TWTs, i.e., which BSSs interfere with the already established R-TWTs.

[0229] For example, as shown in Figure 15, AP1 and AP2 belong to one multi-AP group, and AP2 establishes R-TWTs with STA21 and STA22 and shares the R-TWT information with AP1. AP2 may share interference BSS information of the already established R-TWTs with AP1, so that AP1 may determine whether the R-TWTs established between AP2 and its associated STAs are likely to be interfered with by AP1 based on the interference BSS information. For example, in the example of Figure 15, the interference BSS information of the R-TWT established between AP2 and STA21 includes ID information or color information of the BSS in which AP1 is located, but the interference BSS information of the R-TWT established between AP2 and STA22 does not include ID information or color information of the BSS in which AP1 is located.

[0230] In some other embodiments of the present application, the already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained during an R-TWT establishment phase.

[0231] That is, when the first STA requests the establishment of an R-TWT, it indicates to the first AP the interfering BSS of the first STA and the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS.

[0232] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is carried in the first information transmitted via the first request frame. For the transmission manner of the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS in the first request frame, please refer to the relevant description in Case 4, and the description thereof will be omitted here for brevity.

[0233] As shown in Figure 16, AP1 is associated with STA1, AP2 is associated with STA2, and AP3 is associated with STA3. The dashed lines indicate the coverage of each AP, in other words, the BSS range. As can be seen from Figure 16, the BSSs where AP2 and AP3 are located are interfering BSSs of STA1. Assume that AP2 and STA2, and AP3 and STA3 have already established R-TWT.

[0234] When STA1 wants to establish an R-TWT with AP1, STA1 transmits a TWT establishment request frame to AP1 to request the establishment of an R-TWT. The TWT establishment request frame includes a first TWT element and at least one OBSS R-TWT element, where the first TWT element is used to indicate R-TWT information and interfering BSS information to be established, and the at least one OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit information on R-TWTs already established in at least one interfering BSS. The information on R-TWTs already established in the interfering BSSs transmitted to the OBSS R-TWT element may be obtained by receiving Beacon frames broadcast by AP2 and AP3.

[0235] Hereinafter, the R-TWT establishment method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a specific example.

[0236] Example 1: 17 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario in an embodiment of the present application. In the application scenario shown in FIG. 17, STA11 and STA12 are associated with AP1, and STA21 is associated with AP2. The dashed line in FIG. 17 indicates the coverage of the AP, and STA11 is in an OBSS and may be interfered with by AP2. Assuming that STA12 has already established R-TWT with AP1, the TWT element included in the Beacon frame by AP1 may advertise the R-TWT information established between AP1 and STA12. Assuming that STA21 has already established R-TWT with AP2, the TWT element included in the Beacon frame by AP2 may advertise the R-TWT information established between AP2 and STA21.

[0237] Because STA11 is in the OBSS, it receives the Beacon frame transmitted by AP1 and the Beacon frame transmitted by AP2. The Beacon frame transmitted by AP1 includes information about the R-TWT established by AP1 and STA12. By analyzing the Interference BSSID Info field in the Broadcast R-TWT Parameter Set field in the TWT element of the Beacon, STA11 determines the interfering BSSs corresponding to the R-TWT established by AP1 and STA12. The interfering BSSs do not include the BSS in which AP2 is located. Because STA11 is in the OBSS, it may experience interference from AP2. Therefore, STA11 determines that it cannot participate in the R-TWT established between AP1 and STA12. By analyzing the TWT element in the Beacon frame transmitted by AP2, STA11 may learn the interfering BSSs corresponding to the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA21. Furthermore, STA11 transmits a TWT establishment request to its associated AP1 to request the establishment of an R-TWT between STA11 and AP1.

[0238] In this example, the R-TWT parameters requested by the TWT establishment request must avoid the R-TWT SP between AP2 and STA21 (i.e., STA11 must select and use parameters different from those of the R-TWT established between AP2 and STA21 to avoid time conflict between the R-TWT SP between STA11 and AP1 and the R-TWT SP between AP2 and STA21).

[0239] In this example, the interfering BSS indicated by the Interference BSSID Info field in the TWT element included in the TWT establishment request is the BSS where AP2 is located, and the Interference BSSID Info Present field is set to 1 to indicate that the TWT element transmits the Interference BSSID Info field.

[0240] Furthermore, AP1 returns an R-TWT response frame to STA11 indicating that it agrees to the establishment request of STA11.

[0241] In some embodiments, if AP1 successfully establishes R-TWT with STA11, the TWT information that AP1 broadcasts in the Beacon frame includes the R-TWT information established by AP1 and STA11.

[0242] Example 2: FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. In the application scenario shown in FIG. 18, it is assumed that STA11, STA12, and STA13 are associated with AP1, STA21 is associated with AP2, STA12 has already established R-TWT with AP1, and STA11 has already established R-TWT with AP1 according to the process described in embodiment 1. The TWT element included in AP1's Beacon frame may advertise the R-TWT information established between AP1 and STA11 and STA12. Assuming that STA21 has already established R-TWT with AP2, the R-TWT element included in AP2's Beacon frame may advertise the R-TWT information established between AP2 and STA21. The dashed lines in FIG. 18 indicate the coverage of an AP or the service of a BSS. STA13 is located within the BSS and may be interfered with by AP2.

[0243] Because STA13 is in the OBSS, it receives the Beacon frame transmitted by AP1 and the Beacon frame transmitted by AP2. The Beacon frame transmitted by AP1 includes information about the R-TWT established by AP1, STA11, and STA12. By analyzing the Interference BSSID Info field in the Broadcast R-TWT Parameter Set field in the TWT element of the Beacon, STA13 determines the interfering BSS corresponding to the R-TWT established by AP1 and STA11, which does not include the BSS in which AP2 is located. Because STA13 is in the OBSS, it may also experience interference from AP2; that is, the interfering BSSs of STA11 and STA13 are the same. Therefore, STA13 determines that it can join the R-TWT established between AP1 and STA11. STA13 may determine the interfering BSS of STA21 by analyzing the Interference BSSID Info field of the Broadcast R-TWT Parameter Set field in the TWT element in the Beacon frame transmitted by AP2.

[0244] Furthermore, STA13 transmits a TWT establishment request to its associated AP1 to request establishment of an R-TWT between STA13 and AP1. Because STA11 and STA12 have the same interfering BSS, STA13 may initiate the R-TWT establishment request using the R-TWT information established between AP1 and STA11. That is, the R-TWT parameters conveyed in the TWT establishment request by STA13 may be the same as the R-TWT parameters conveyed in the TWT establishment request sent by STA11.

[0245] In this example, the interfering BSS indicated by the Interference BSSID Info field in the TWT element included in the TWT establishment request sent by STA13 is the BSS where AP2 is located, and the Interference BSSID Info Present field is set to 1 to indicate that the TWT element carries the Interference BSSID Info field.

[0246] Furthermore, AP1 returns an R-TWT response frame to STA13 indicating that it agrees to the establishment request of STA13.

[0247] In some embodiments, if AP1 successfully establishes R-TWT with STA13, the TWT information that AP1 broadcasts in the Beacon frame includes the R-TWT information established by AP1 and STA13.

[0248] Example 3: 19 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. In the application scenario shown in FIG. 19, it is assumed that STA11, STA12, and STA13 are associated with AP1, STA21 and STA22 are associated with AP2, STA12 has already established an R-TWT with AP1, STA11 has already established an R-TWT with AP1 according to the process described in Example 1, STA13 has already established an R-TWT with AP1 according to the process described in Example 2, and STA21 has already established an R-TWT with AP2. The dashed lines in FIG. 19 indicate the coverage of an AP or the service of a BSS, and STA22 may be interfered with by AP1, i.e., the interfering BSS of STA22 includes the BSS in which AP1 is located.

[0249] Similar to the second embodiment described above, STA22 may learn the R-TWT information already established in the BSS in which it is located and the corresponding interfering BSS information by analyzing the beacon frames of AP1 and AP2. In the example of Fig. 19, the interfering BSSs of STA21 do not include the BSS in which AP1 is located, and the interfering BSSs of STA22 include the BSS in which AP1 is located, so STA22 may determine that it cannot participate in the R-TWT already established by STA21 and AP2.

[0250] Furthermore, STA22 transmits a TWT establishment request to its associated AP2 to request establishment of an R-TWT between STA22 and AP2.

[0251] In this example, the interfering BSS indicated by the Interference BSSID Info field in the TWT element included in the TWT establishment request sent by STA 22 is the BSS where AP 1 is located, and the Interference BSSID Info Present field is set to 1 to indicate that the TWT element carries the Interference BSSID Info field.

[0252] Furthermore, AP2 returns an R-TWT response frame to STA22 indicating that it agrees to the establishment request of STA22.

[0253] In some embodiments, if AP2 successfully establishes R-TWT with STA22, the TWT information that AP2 broadcasts in the Beacon frame includes the R-TWT information established by AP2 and STA22.

[0254] In some embodiments, the first AP may be silenced based on the source of interference or the environment.

[0255] In some embodiments, the first AP: A silent rule in which a first AP maintains a silent state during an SP of an R-TWT indicated by already established R-TWT information in a first BSS set, where a BSS in the first BSS set and a BSS in which the first AP is located are OBSSs; and The first AP may follow at least one silent rule among the silent rules that maintain a silent state within an R-TWT SP indicated by the first R-TWT information, and the interfering BSS corresponding to the first R-TWT information includes the BSS in which the first AP is located.

[0256] In some embodiments, the first BSS set is a BSS in which an AP from which the first AP received a beacon frame is located, where the beacon frame includes already established R-TWT information within the BSS.

[0257] In some embodiments, the R-TWT determined using the R-TWT information obtained by the above-mentioned method 1 is referred to as a first type of R-TWT, and the R-TWT determined using the R-TWT information obtained by the above-mentioned method 2 or method 3 is referred to as a second type of R-TWT.

[0258] During the SP of the first type of R-TWT, the first AP remains silent, and if the first AP holds a TXOP, the first AP must end the TXOP before the SP of the first type of R-TWT begins.

[0259] If the interfering BSS corresponding to the second type R-TWT includes the BSS where the first AP is located, the first AP maintains silence during the SP of the second type R-TWT. If the first AP holds a TXOP, the first AP must end the TXOP before the SP of the second type R-TWT starts.

[0260] In some scenarios, the first AP may receive a frame transmitted by a neighboring AP, i.e., the neighboring AP may also receive a frame transmitted by the first AP, and the transmission between the first AP and its associated STAs may interfere with the transmission between the neighboring AP and its associated STAs. In this case, the first AP may maintain silence during the SP of the R-TWT already established within the BSS in which the neighboring AP is located.

[0261] In some other scenarios, the first AP may not be able to receive frames from neighboring APs. In this case, the first AP may obtain R-TWT information and corresponding interfering BSS information already established in one or more BSSs through the above-mentioned method 2. If the interfering BSS corresponding to an R-TWT includes the BSS in which the first AP is located, the first AP may maintain silent during the SP of the R-TWT.

[0262] In some other scenarios, the first AP acquires the R-TWT information and corresponding interfering BSS information of other APs through a multi-AP group scheme, and if the interfering BSS corresponding to an R-TWT includes the BSS where the first AP is located, the first AP may maintain silent during the SP of the R-TWT.

[0263] In some embodiments, the first STA may be silenced based on the interference source or the environment.

[0264] In some embodiments, the first STA: Except during the R-TWT SP established by the first STA and the first AP, the first STA may follow a silent rule to remain silent during any R-TWT SP indicated by the already established R-TWT information in a second BSS set, where the second BSS set is the BSS in which the access point device from which the first station device received the beacon frame is located.

[0265] Since the first STA is able to receive beacon frames transmitted by an AP in a BSS in the second BSS set, which indicates that the first STA is located within the BSS, the first STA must maintain silence during any SP of the R-TWT indicated by the already established R-TWT information in the second BSS set, since transmissions between the first STA and the first AP will interfere with transmissions within the BSS in the second BSS set.

[0266] The silent mode of the AP and STA according to the embodiment of the present application will be described in combination with the specific example of FIG.

[0267] 20, AP1 is associated with STA11 and STA12, and AP2 is associated with STA21 and STA22. AP1 establishes R-TWT with STA11 and STA12, respectively, and AP2 establishes R-TWT with STA21 and STA22, respectively.

[0268] Here, the interfering BSS of STA11 includes the BSS where AP2 is located, the interfering BSS of STA21 includes the BSS where AP1 is located, the interfering BSS of STA12 does not include the BSS where AP2 is located, and the interfering BSS of STA22 does not include the BSS where AP1 is located.

[0269] STA11 must maintain silence during the R-TWT SP between AP2 and STA21, during the R-TWT SP between AP2 and STA22, and during the R-TWT SP between AP1 and STA12.

[0270] STA12 must maintain silence during the SP of the R-TWT of AP1 and STA11.

[0271] STA21 must maintain silence during the R-TWT SP between AP1 and STA11, the R-TWT SP between AP1 and STA12, and the R-TWT SP between AP2 and STA22.

[0272] STA22 must maintain silence during the SP of the R-TWT between AP2 and STA21.

[0273] AP1 must maintain silence during the SP of the R-TWT of AP2 and STA21.

[0274] AP2 must maintain silence during the SP of the R-TWT of AP1 and STA11.

[0275] In the example of Figure 13, if AP1 is located within the OBSS, AP1 must maintain silent mode during the SP of the R-TWT established by AP2 and its associated STAs. Also, if AP2 is located within the OBSS, AP2 must maintain silent mode during the SP of the R-TWT established by AP1 and its associated STAs.

[0276] 14, AP1 can learn from the Beacon Response frame transmitted by STA11 that the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA21 may be interfered with by AP1 (i.e., the interfering BSS information includes the ID information or color information of the BSS in which AP1 is located), but the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA22 will not be interfered with by AP1 (i.e., the interfering BSS information does not include the ID information or color information of the BSS in which AP1 is located). Therefore, AP1 must maintain silent mode during the SP of the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA21.

[0277] In the example of Figure 15, AP1 can know through the sharing scheme that the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA21 may be interfered with by AP1, but the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA22 will not be interfered with by AP1. Therefore, AP1 needs to maintain silent during SP of the R-TWT established by AP2 and STA21.

[0278] In some embodiments of the present application, the first AP may establish R-TWTs between the first AP and its associated STAs based on the environment in which the STAs are located (e.g., received interference, e.g., interfering BSS information). For example, for STAs with the same interfering BSS, the first AP may establish the same R-TWT, i.e., adopt the same R-TWT parameters. For STAs with different interfering BSSs, the first AP may establish different R-TWTs, i.e., adopt different R-TWT parameters. Therefore, embodiments of the present application may group R-TWTs according to interference sources, with the R-TWTs in each group corresponding to respective interfering BSSs and the R-TWTs in different groups corresponding to different interfering BSSs.

[0279] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes interfering BSS information corresponding to the first STA and is used to request the first AP to establish an R-TWT for the interfering BSS information. For example, the first AP may establish different R-TWTs for different interfering BSSs or the same R-TWT for the same interfering BSS. If multiple STAs have the same interfering BSS, the multiple STAs may use the same R-TWT, which eliminates the need to establish different R-TWTs for each STA and reduces the need for other STAs to backoff during the SP of the R-TWT, which can cause problems such as data not being transmitted in a timely manner, thereby improving the grouping yield of the R-TWT.

[0280] That is, in the embodiment of the present application, the first AP can establish an R-TWT according to an interference source, and further, the first AP and the first STA do not need to perform backoff during each R-TWT SP, but can perform backoff according to the interference source, which is advantageous to improving the grouping yield of the R-TWT.

[0281] 21, AP1 is associated with STA11, STA12, STA13, and STA14, and AP2 is associated with STA21. STA11 is not subject to interference from other BSSs, STA12 is subject to interference from the BSS in which AP3 is located, STA13 is subject to interference from the BSS in which AP2 is located, STA14 is subject to interference from the BSSs in which AP2 and AP3 are located, and STA21 is subject to interference from the BSS in which AP3 is located.

[0282] Due to different interference environments, AP1 needs to establish different R-TWTs for STA11, STA12, STA13, and STA14. AP2 establishes an R-TWT for STA21, and the R-TWT SPs between AP1 and STA13 and AP1 and STA14 do not collide in time, but can overlap with the R-TWT SPs between AP1 and STA11 and AP1 and STA12.

[0283] Assuming that the duration of the R-TWT SP between AP1, AP2, AP3 and the corresponding associated STAs is the same, t may be the time it takes for each STA to complete the transmission of latency-sensitive traffic.

[0284] Without grouping or silent mode for each interference source, if only one R-TWT is established between AP1 and STA11, STA12, STA13, and STA14, the total time required to complete transmission of latency-sensitive traffic is 4t. In order not to affect the transmission of latency-sensitive traffic between AP1 and STA11, STA12, STA13, and STA14, AP2 and AP3 must maintain silent mode during the R-TWT SP described above, and the silent time for each is 4t.

[0285] When grouping and silence are performed by interference source, AP2 only needs to maintain silence if latency-sensitive traffic is transmitted during the SP of R-TWT between AP1 and STA13, and between AP1 and STA14, and the total time is 2t.If latency-sensitive traffic is transmitted during the SP of R-TWT between AP1 and STA11, and between AP1 and STA12, AP2 can compete for the channel as usual because STA11 and STA12 are not located in the BSS where AP2 is located, and the total silent time for AP2 is 2t.

[0286] Similarly, AP3 only needs to maintain silence when latency-sensitive traffic is transmitted during the R-TWT SPs of AP1 and STA12, and AP1 and STA14, and the total silent time of AP3 is 2t.

[0287] Therefore, based on the interference source-dependent R-TWT grouping method and silent method in the embodiments of the present application, it is advantageous to shorten the silent time of the device, thereby ensuring the timely transmission of latency-sensitive services.

[0288] As described above, in an embodiment of the present application, a station device can report its interfering BSS information (i.e., BSS information) to an access point device, and the access point device can establish an R-TWT between the station device and the access point device based on the R-TWT established in the interfering BSS, which is advantageous for reducing interference of the R-TWT established in the interfering BSS with transmission in the R-TWT between the station device and the access point device. For example, the R-TWT established by the access point device and the station device avoids the R-TWT already established in the interfering BSS.

[0289] In some implementations, information about an R-TWT already established in an interfering BSS may be transmitted to the access point device when a station device requests the establishment of an R-TWT.

[0290] In some other implementations, the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS may be obtained by the access point device from a neighboring access point device. For example, the neighboring access point device may broadcast the R-TWT information already established in the BSS in which it is located, and the access point device may receive and store the information. When a station device requests R-TWT establishment, the access point device may instruct the access point device to provide the ID information or color information of the interfering BSS and obtain the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS from the stored information.

[0291] In some other implementations, the access point device may obtain information about the R-TWTs already established in the interfering BSS from the associated station device. For example, a neighboring access point device may broadcast information about the R-TWTs already established in the BSS in which it is located, and the associated station device may receive and retain the information. When the access point device requests the information, the station device may report the information to the access point device, and the access point device may store the information. Furthermore, when the station device requests the establishment of an R-TWT, it may instruct the access point device to provide the ID information or color information of the interfering BSS, and the access point device may obtain the R-TWT information about the R-TWTs already established in the interfering BSS from the stored information.

[0292] In still other implementations, the R-TWT information already established in the interfering BSS may be obtained through a multi-AP group sharing scheme.

[0293] Furthermore, the access point devices and station devices may go silent depending on the environment in which they are located or the interfering BSS.

[0294] For example, except for the R-TWT established by the STA and the AP, the STAs all maintain silence during the R-TWT SP indicated in the TWT element included in all received Beacon frames.

[0295] For example, the APs all maintain silence during the R-TWT SP indicated by the TWT element included in the received Beacon frame of the neighboring AP.

[0296] For example, an AP receives a Beacon frame transmitted by a neighboring AP through a Beacon Request and a Beacon Response. If the BSSID field of the TWT element in the Beacon frame contains the BSSID of the BSS in which the AP is located (or if the BSS Color field contains color information of the BSS in which the AP is located), the AP maintains silent during the R-TWT SP indicated by the TWT element.

[0297] For example, an AP may join the R-TWT information and corresponding interfering BSS information already established in the BSS in which other APs are located, obtained through multi-AP group sharing, and if the interfering BSS in which the R-TWT information exists includes the BSS in which the AP is located, the AP will remain silent during the R-TWT SP indicated by the R-TWT information.

[0298] The embodiment of the method of the present application has been described in detail above in combination with FIGS. 9 to 21. 22 26 will be used in combination to describe in detail the device embodiments of the present application, but the device embodiments and the method embodiments correspond to each other, and similar descriptions can be referred to the method embodiments.

[0299] 22 is a schematic block diagram of an access point device 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 22, the access point device 400 includes: a communication unit 410 used to receive first information transmitted by a first station device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), transmissions in the at least one first BSS being likely to interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the access point device and the first station device are located; a processing unit 420 adapted to establish an R-TWT between the access point device and the first station device based on the first information.

[0300] In some embodiments, the first information comprises: Identification ID information of the at least one first BSS or color information of the at least one first BSS; already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS; and and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

[0301] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a first request frame, and the first request frame is used to request establishment of an R-TWT between the first station device and the access point device.

[0302] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a first target wake time TWT element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element.

[0303] In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information field is used to indicate the at least one first BSS.

[0304] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSSID Size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating ID information of the first BSS.

[0305] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSS Color Size field for indicating the number of BSS Color fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSS Color field for indicating color information of the first BSS.

[0306] In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, which is used to indicate reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by the at least one first BSS and an access point device within the at least one first BSS.

[0307] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes an OBSS Information Size field for indicating the number of OBSS Information fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one OBSS Information field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

[0308] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes an OBSS Information List Present field for indicating whether an OBSS Information List field is included in the first request frame.

[0309] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a Broadcast TWT Information field that includes the OBSS Information List Present field.

[0310] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, where each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in one first BSS.

[0311] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes R-TWT information requested by the first station equipment, wherein the R-TWT requested by the first station equipment and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time.

[0312] In some embodiments, the processing unit 420 further comprises: It is used to obtain already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS based on the first information.

[0313] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the access point device from an access point device in the at least one first BSS.

[0314] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the access point device from a beacon frame transmitted by the access point device in the at least one first BSS.

[0315] In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a second access point device is located, and the beacon frame transmitted by the second access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device.

[0316] In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a second TWT element for conveying R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device.

[0317] In some embodiments, the second TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one second BSS, where transmission within the at least one second BSS may interfere with transmission during SP of R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device, and the at least one second BSS is an OBSS of the BSS in which the second access point device is located.

[0318] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the access point device from a station device associated with the access point device.

[0319] In some embodiments, the communication unit 410 is further used for: transmitting a second request frame to a station device associated with the access point device, the second request frame being used to request the station device to report R-TWT information acquired by the station device within the OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located; and Receiving a second response frame transmitted by a station device associated with the access point device, the second response frame being used to report R-TWT information acquired by the station device within the OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located.

[0320] In some embodiments, the second request frame is a beacon request frame and the second response frame is a beacon response frame.

[0321] In some embodiments, the OBSS of the BSS in which the station equipment is located includes a BSS in which a third access point equipment is located, and the second response frame includes a third TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the third access point equipment and a station equipment associated with the third access point equipment.

[0322] In some embodiments, the third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, where transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during SP of R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and station equipment associated with the third access point device.

[0323] In some embodiments, the access point devices in the at least one first BSS and the access point devices belong to the same group, and wherein the access point devices in the same group share already established R-TWT information in the BSS in which the access point devices are located.

[0324] In some embodiments, the communication unit 410 further comprises: Used to transmit a first response frame to the first station equipment, the first response frame is a response frame to the first request frame, and the first response frame includes target R-TWT information, wherein the R-TWT determined based on the target R-TWT information does not overlap in time with the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS.

[0325] In some embodiments, the communication unit 410 further comprises: It is used to maintain a silent state during the SP of an R-TWT indicated by already established R-TWT information in a first BSS set, where the BSS in the first BSS set and the BSS in which the access point device is located are OBSSs.

[0326] In some embodiments, the first BSS set is a BSS in which the access point device is located from which the access point device received a beacon frame, where the beacon frame includes already established R-TWT information within the BSS.

[0327] In some embodiments, the communication unit 410 further comprises: Used to maintain a silent state during the SP of the R-TWT indicated by the first R-TWT information, where the first R-TWT information is R-TWT information already established within a fourth BSS, and the OBSS of the fourth BSS includes the BSS in which the access point device is located.

[0328] In some embodiments, if the OBSS information reported by the second station device and the first station device to the access point device is the same, the R-TWT information established between the access point device and the first station device and the R-TWT information established between the access point device and the second station device are the same.

[0329] In some embodiments, the processing unit 420 is further used to analyze the beacon frame and obtain the BSSID information of neighboring APs and the already established R-TWT information carried in the TWT element in the beacon frame.

[0330] Alternatively, the beacon frames may be received by the access point device 400 from neighboring access point devices.

[0331] Alternatively, the beacon frame may be received by the first station device from a nearby neighboring access point device and reported to the access point device 400 through an interaction of a beacon request frame and a beacon response frame.

[0332] In some embodiments, the access point device 400 further comprises: The first type of R-TWT information; BSSID or color information corresponding to the first type of R-TWT information; Interfering BSS information corresponding to the first type of R-TWT information; The second type of R-TWT information, BSSID or color information corresponding to the second type of R-TWT information; and interference BSS information corresponding to the second type of R-TWT information.

[0333] In some embodiments, transmissions in a first type of R-TWT may be interfered with by transmissions of an access point device, and transmissions in a second type of R-TWT may be interfered with by transmissions of an access point device.

[0334] In some embodiments, at least one of the first type of R-TWT information, the corresponding BSSID or color information, and the corresponding interfering BSS information is obtained by the access point device from a beacon frame transmitted by a neighboring access point device.

[0335] In some embodiments, at least one of the second type of R-TWT information, the corresponding BSSID or color information, and the corresponding interfering BSS information is obtained by the access point device from the associated station device, and the associated station device obtains at least one of the second type of R-TWT information, the corresponding BSSID or color information, and the corresponding interfering BSS information from a neighboring access point device.

[0336] Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or may be an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0337] It should be understood that the access point device 400 according to the embodiments of the present application may correspond to the first access point device in the method embodiments of the present application, and further, that the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the access point device 400 respectively realize the corresponding flow of the first access point device in the method 200 shown in Figures 9 to 21, and the description thereof will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0338] 23 is a schematic block diagram of a station device according to an embodiment of the present application. The station device 500 of FIG. 23 includes: A communication unit 510 is provided for transmitting first information to a first access point device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), wherein transmissions within the at least one first BSS may interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the station device and the first access point device, and the at least one first BSS is an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the station device are located.

[0339] In some embodiments, the first information comprises: Identification ID information of the at least one first BSS or color information of the at least one first BSS; already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS; and and reception strength information of the station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

[0340] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a first request frame for requesting establishment of an R-TWT between the station device and the first access point device.

[0341] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a first target wake time TWT element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element.

[0342] In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information field is used to indicate the at least one first BSS.

[0343] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSSID Size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating ID information of the first BSS.

[0344] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes a BSS Color Size field for indicating the number of BSS Color fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one BSS Color field for indicating color information of the first BSS.

[0345] In some embodiments, the first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, which is used to indicate reception strength information of the station device for signals transmitted by the at least one first BSS and an access point device within the at least one first BSS.

[0346] In some embodiments, the OBSS Information List field includes an OBSS Information Size field for indicating the number of OBSS Information fields included in the OBSS Information field, and / or at least one OBSS Information field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information of the station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

[0347] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes an OBSS Information List Present field for indicating whether an OBSS Information List field is included in the first request frame.

[0348] In some embodiments, the first request frame includes a Broadcast TWT Information field that includes the OBSS Information List Present field.

[0349] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, where each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in one first BSS.

[0350] In some embodiments, the first request frame further includes R-TWT information requested by the station equipment, wherein the R-TWT requested by the station equipment and the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS do not overlap in time.

[0351] In some embodiments, the communication unit 510 further comprises: Used to transmit second information to the first access point device, the second information including R-TWT information already established within the at least one first BSS.

[0352] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the station equipment from an access point equipment in the at least one first BSS.

[0353] In some embodiments, the R-TWT information already established in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the station equipment from a beacon frame transmitted by an access point equipment in the at least one first BSS.

[0354] In some embodiments, the at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a third access point device is located, and the beacon frame transmitted by the third access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device.

[0355] In some embodiments, the beacon frame includes a third TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device.

[0356] In some embodiments, the third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, where transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during SP of R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and station equipment associated with the third access point device.

[0357] In some embodiments, the second information is transmitted via a beacon response frame.

[0358] In some embodiments, the communication unit 510 further comprises: Used to receive a first response frame transmitted by the first access point device, the first response frame is a response frame to the first request frame, and the first response frame includes target R-TWT information, wherein the R-TWT determined based on the target R-TWT information does not overlap in time with the R-TWT in the at least one first BSS.

[0359] In some embodiments, the communication unit 510 further comprises: Except for the R-TWT SP established between the station equipment and the first access point equipment, the second BSS set is used to maintain silence during all R-TWT SPs indicated by the already established R-TWT information in the second BSS set, where the second BSS set is the BSS in which the access point equipment from which the station equipment received the beacon frame is located.

[0360] In some embodiments, the station equipment 500 further comprises: The device includes a processing unit for analyzing a received beacon frame to obtain BSSID information of a sender of the beacon frame and R-TWT information already established within a BSS identified by the BSSID information.

[0361] In some embodiments, the station equipment 500 further comprises: The device includes a storage unit for storing, when receiving a beacon frame transmitted by a non-associated access point device, the BSSID information of the non-associated access point device and the already established R-TWT information in the beacon frame, i.e., the OBSS R-TWT information.

[0362] In some embodiments, the processing unit further comprises: Based on the stored OBSS R-TWT information, it is used to determine the time parameters of the R-TWT between the station device that requested the establishment and the first access point device, such as the start time, duration, cycle, etc., to avoid collision with the SP of the OBSS R-TWT.

[0363] In some embodiments, the communication unit 510 further comprises: This is used to maintain silence during SPs of OBSS R-TWTs other than the R-TWT established by the station device and the first access point device, and other R-TWTs in the BSS in which the station device is located. If the station device is holding a TXOP, the station device must end the TXOP before the SP of the R-TWT is started.

[0364] Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or may be an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0365] It should be understood that the station equipment 500 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the first station equipment in the method embodiment of the present application, and further, that the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the station equipment 500 respectively realize the corresponding flow of the first station equipment in the method 200 shown in Figures 9 to 21, and the description thereof will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0366] Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 shown in Fig. 24 includes a processor 610, and the processor 610 may implement the method according to the embodiment of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0367] Selectively, Fig. 24 As shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 600 may further include a memory 620. Here, the processor 610 may call and execute a computer program from the memory 620 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0368] Here, the memory 620 may be a separate device independent of the processor 610 or may be integrated into the processor 610.

[0369] Selectively, Fig. 24 As shown, the communications device 600 may include a transceiver 630, and the processor 610 may control the transceiver 630 to communicate with other devices, specifically to transmit information or data to other devices and to receive information or data transmitted by other devices.

[0370] Here, the transceiver 630 may include a transmitter and a receiver, and may further include an antenna, and the number of antennas may be one or more.

[0371] Alternatively, the communication device 600 may specifically be the first access point device of the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 600 may implement the corresponding flow implemented by the first access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0372] Alternatively, the communication device 600 may specifically be the first station device of the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 600 may implement the corresponding flow implemented by the first station device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0373] Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application. The chip 700 shown in Fig. 25 includes a processor 710, which may implement the method according to the embodiment of the present application by calling up and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0374] Optionally, as shown in Figure 7, the chip 700 may further include a memory 720. Here, the processor 710 may call and execute a computer program from the memory 720 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0375] Here, the memory 720 may be a separate device independent of the processor 710 or may be integrated into the processor 710.

[0376] Optionally, the chip 700 may further include an input interface 730. Here, the processor 710 may control the input interface 730 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may obtain information or data sent by other devices or chips.

[0377] Optionally, the chip 700 may further include an output interface 740. Here, the processor 710 may control the output interface 740 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0378] Optionally, the chip may be applied to the first access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip may implement the corresponding flow implemented by the first access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0379] Alternatively, the chip may be applied to the first station device in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip may implement the corresponding flow implemented by the first station device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0380] It should be understood that the chips referred to in the embodiments of this application may be referred to as system level chips, system chips, chip systems, or system-on-chips.

[0381] 26 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 26, the communication system 900 includes an access point device 910 and a station device 920.

[0382] Here, the access point device 910 may be used to realize the corresponding functions realized by the first access point device in the above-mentioned method, and further, the station device 920 may be used to realize the corresponding functions realized by the first station device in the above-mentioned method, but for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0383] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. During the implementation process, each step of the above-described method embodiments can be completed through instructions in the form of software or an integrated logic circuit in a hardware processor. The above-described processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. Each method, step, and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. 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 to be executed by a hardware decoding processor or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in storage media familiar to the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with the hardware.

[0384] It will be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, or both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Here, nonvolatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) functioning as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many types of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct Rambus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0385] It should be understood that the above memory is exemplary and not limiting, and that, for example, memory in embodiments of the present application may be static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct Rambus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM), etc. That is, memory in embodiments of the present application is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0386] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program.

[0387] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to the first access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program causes a computer to execute the corresponding flow realized by the first access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, and the description thereof will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0388] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to the first station device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer-readable storage medium causes a computer to execute the corresponding flow realized by the first station device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, and for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0389] Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product including computer program instructions.

[0390] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to the first access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause a computer to execute the corresponding flow implemented by the first access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, and the description thereof will be omitted here for brevity.

[0391] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to a first station device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause a computer to execute the corresponding flow realized by the first station device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, and the description thereof will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0392] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program.

[0393] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to the first access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the corresponding flow realized by the first access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, the description of which is omitted here for brevity.

[0394] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to a first station device in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the corresponding flow realized by the first station device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, and for the sake of brevity, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0395] Those skilled in the art can recognize that each example unit and algorithm step described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in a hardware manner or a software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can realize the described functions using different methods for each specific application, but such realization should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0396] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific operation processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0397] It should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods in some embodiments provided by the present application can be realized in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic, and the division of the above units is merely a logical division of functions. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or described couplings or direct couplings or communication connections between each other may be indirect couplings or communication connections via some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0398] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. To achieve the objectives of the technical solution of this embodiment, some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs.

[0399] Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0400] When the above functions are realized in the form of software functional units and sold or used as an independent product, they may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the essential aspects of the technical solution of the present application or the parts that contribute to the prior art or parts of the technical solution may be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a U disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0401] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto, and any modifications or replacements that any person skilled in the art can easily imagine within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should all be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be governed by the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: a first access point device receiving first information transmitted by a first station device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), transmissions in the at least one first BSS being likely to interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located; and establishing, by the first access point device, an R-TWT between the first access point device and the first station device based on the first information. A wireless communication method comprising:

2. The first information is Identification ID information of the at least one first BSS or color information of the at least one first BSS; information of already established R-TWTs in the at least one first BSS; and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS; and / or the first information is carried in a first request frame, the first request frame being used to request establishment of an R-TWT between the first station device and the first access point device; the first request frame includes a first target wake time (TWT) element, and the first information is carried in the first TWT element; 2. The method of claim 1 .

3. The first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information List field is used to indicate the at least one first BSS; the OBSS information list field includes a BSSID size field for indicating the number of BSSID fields included in the OBSS information list field, and / or at least one BSSID field for indicating ID information of the first BSS; Or, The OBSS information list field includes a BSS color size field for indicating the number of BSS color fields included in the OBSS information list field, and / or at least one BSS color field for indicating color information of the first BSS.

3. The method of claim 2.

4. The first TWT element includes an OBSS Information List field, and the OBSS Information List field is used to indicate reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by the at least one first BSS and an access point device within the at least one first BSS; the OBSS information list field includes an OBSS information size field for indicating the number of OBSS information fields included in the OBSS information list field, and / or at least one OBSS information field for indicating ID information or color information of the at least one first BSS and reception strength information of the first station device for signals transmitted by access point devices in the at least one first BSS.

3. The method of claim 2.

5. The first request frame further includes at least one OBSS R-TWT element for transmitting already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS, and each OBSS R-TWT element is used to transmit already established R-TWT information in one first BSS.

3. The method of claim 2.

6. The method comprises: The method further includes: the first access point device obtaining information of already established R-TWTs in the at least one first BSS based on the first information; The access point device in the at least one first BSS and the first access point device belong to the same group, and the access point devices in the same group share already established R-TWT information in the BSS in which the access point devices are located.

2. The method of claim 1 .

7. The already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from an access point device in the at least one first BSS; The already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from a beacon frame transmitted by an access point device in the at least one first BSS; The at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a second access point device is located, and a beacon frame transmitted by the second access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device; the beacon frame includes a second TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the second access point device and a station device associated with the second access point device; The second TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one second BSS, and transmissions within the at least one second BSS may interfere with transmissions during SPs of R-TWTs already established between the second access point device and station devices associated with the second access point device, and the at least one second BSS is an OBSS of a BSS in which the second access point device is located.

7. The method of claim 6.

8. The already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first access point device from a station device associated with the first access point device; The method comprises: a step in which the first access point device transmits a second request frame to a station device associated with the first access point device, the second request frame being used to request the station device to report R-TWT information acquired by the station device within the OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located; The method further includes receiving, by the first access point device, a second response frame transmitted by a station device associated with the first access point device, the second response frame reporting R-TWT information acquired by the station device within the OBSS of the BSS in which the station device is located; the second request frame is a beacon request frame, and the second response frame is a beacon response frame.

7. The method of claim 6.

9. The method comprises: The first access point device further includes a step of maintaining silence during an SP of an R-TWT indicated by information of an already established R-TWT in a first BSS set, wherein a BSS in the first BSS set and a BSS in which the first access point device is located are OBSSs; The first BSS set is a BSS in which an access point device is located from which the first access point device has received a beacon frame, and the beacon frame includes information of an already established R-TWT within the BSS; 2. The method of claim 1 .

10. If the OBSS information reported by the second station device and the first station device to the first access point device is the same, the R-TWT information established between the first access point device and the first station device and the R-TWT information established between the first access point device and the second station device are the same.

2. The method of claim 1 .

11. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: The method includes a step of transmitting first information from a first station device to a first access point device, the first information being used to indicate information of at least one first basic service set (BSS), transmissions in the at least one first BSS being likely to interfere with transmissions during a service period (SP) of a restricted target wake time (R-TWT) established between the first station device and the first access point device, the at least one first BSS being an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) of a BSS in which the first access point device and the first station device are located; A wireless communication method comprising:

12. The method comprises: The method further includes a step of transmitting second information from the first station device to the first access point device, the second information including information of already established R-TWTs in the at least one first BSS; The already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first station device from an access point device in the at least one first BSS; The already established R-TWT information in the at least one first BSS is obtained by the first station device from a beacon frame transmitted by an access point device in the at least one first BSS; The at least one first BSS includes a BSS in which a third access point device is located, and a beacon frame transmitted by the third access point device includes R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device; the beacon frame includes a third TWT element for transmitting R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device; The third TWT element is further used to transmit information of at least one third BSS, and transmissions within the at least one third BSS may interfere with transmissions during SP of R-TWT information already established between the third access point device and a station device associated with the third access point device.

12. The method of claim 11 .

13. The method comprises: The method further includes a step in which the first station device maintains silence during any SP of the R-TWT indicated by the already established R-TWT information in a second BSS set, except for the SP of the R-TWT established between the first station device and the first access point device, and the second BSS set is a BSS in which an access point device from which the first station device has received a beacon frame is located.

12. The method of claim 11 .

14. A first access point device, comprising: A method for executing a computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing a computer program, the processor being adapted to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory. A first access point device comprising:

15. A first station device, A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing a computer program, wherein the processor is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 13 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory. A first station device characterized by:

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