An antenna channel sounding method, apparatus, and a storage medium

Abstract

An antenna channel detection method, apparatus, and storage medium are disclosed for antenna selection in a large-scale antenna scenario. In this application, a first communication device sends a first frame and a first PPDU to a second communication device. The first frame includes first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first PPDU is an NDP. The first PPDU includes a first identifier field indicating an identifier of a first transmit antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine the correspondence between the transmit antenna channel detection result corresponding to the received PPDU and the identifier of the transmit antenna combination, and further determine the identifier of the transmit antenna combination selected based on one or more transmit antenna channel detection results. This prevents the second communication device from incorrectly matching the selected transmit antenna channel detection result with the transmit antenna combination, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to an antenna channel detection method, apparatus, and storage medium. Prior Technology

[0002] Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved from 802.11a / b / g through 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax. 802.11a / b / g only supports a single spatial stream and does not support multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). 802.11n supports up to four space-time streams in MIMO, while 802.11ac and 802.11ax support up to eight. The next-generation standard, 802.11be, is under discussion, further increasing the maximum number of space-time streams to 16. These space-time streams (STS) simultaneously consider different spatial streams (SS) and space-time block coding (STBC) in the time dimension. When the transmitter does not use STBC, the space-time stream can also be called a space stream. Since the 802.11be standard specifies that STBC is not used, it can be uniformly referred to as a space stream.

[0003] Supporting multiple spatial streams requires the device to include multiple radio frequency chains (RF chains). In some implementations, the device can be equipped with more antennas (or more precisely, antenna elements) than the number of RF chains, and can select antenna combinations (or antenna patterns) to transmit data based on an antenna selection process, thereby further improving transmission performance. For example, by selecting the antenna pattern, the condition number of the equivalent channel at both ends can be reduced, the equivalent channel can be improved, more spatial streams can be transmitted, and the system throughput can be increased, etc.

[0004] In some antenna selection processes, devices can select antenna combinations based on the antenna channel detection results corresponding to different antenna patterns. However, introducing more spatial streams means introducing more antennas, and current technologies are only applicable to the 802.11n standard, supporting a maximum of 4 RF chains, 8 antennas, and 16 antenna combinations. The 802.11be standard introduces 16 spatial streams, supporting a maximum of 16 RF chains, and MIMO technology introduces even more antennas. Therefore, how to make antenna selection processes applicable to massive MIMO antennas has become a pressing issue. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an antenna channel detection method, apparatus, and storage medium for antenna channel detection, applicable to large-scale antenna scenarios, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method, in which a first communication device sends a first frame to a second communication device. The first frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first communication device sends a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the second communication device. The first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, and the first PPDU includes a first identifier field, which is used to indicate an identifier of a first transmit antenna combination.

[0007] The first PPDU may include data fields. The first PPDU may also not include data fields; for example, the first PPDU may be an NDP without data fields. Since NDPs do not include data fields, overhead can be saved.

[0008] Furthermore, in this application, since the NDP includes a first identifier field indicating the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, the second communication device determines the correspondence between the transmitting antenna channel detection results corresponding to the NDP and the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination selected based on one or more transmitting antenna channel detection results, thereby preventing the second communication device from mismatching the selected transmitting antenna channel detection results and the transmitting antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the first communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the second communication device, where the first PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs. The second communication device can perform transmit antenna channel detection based on the received one or more PPDUs to obtain transmit antenna channel detection results. Further, the second communication device can select a transmit antenna combination based on the obtained transmit antenna channel detection results and indicate the identifier of the selected transmit antenna combination to the first communication device, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario. For example, the first communication device receives a second frame from the second communication device. The second frame includes a first antenna selection feedback result. The first antenna selection feedback result includes a third identifier field, which can be used to carry the identifier of the transmit antenna combination selected by the second communication device. For example, if the transmit antenna combination selected by the second communication device is the first transmit antenna combination, then the third identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0010] In one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the first communication device receives a third frame including third indication information. The third indication information is used to request the first communication device to send information for transmitting antenna channel detection. The third indication information is carried in the high-efficiency variant field of the third frame. Since the high-efficiency variant field contains a large number of bits used to carry commands related to the antenna selection process, the solution provided in this application can support a larger number of PPDUs (e.g., more than 16 types of PPDUs), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types of antenna combinations), thus enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first communication device and the second communication device can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first and second communication devices set a group identifier for the transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. For example, before the first communication device sends a first frame to the second communication device, the first communication device sends a fourth frame to the second communication device. The fourth frame includes a fourth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, and the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination includes the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0012] Furthermore, the first communication device can also indicate the transmit antenna combination corresponding to the identifier of the transmit antenna combination it supports to the second communication device. In this way, the first communication device can know the transmit antenna combination identifier for each transmit antenna combination so that it can carry it when transmitting the PPDU. Moreover, the second communication device can determine which antennas are specifically included in the first transmit antenna combination identifier based on the first transmit antenna combination identifier indicated by the first identifier field in the received first PPDU. It can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more antenna combination-related information through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0013] In one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the first communication device sends a ninth frame to the second communication device. The ninth frame includes seventh indication information, which indicates the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the transmit antenna selection process based on the seventh indication information, and the second communication device can also decide whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a second communication device receives a first frame from a first communication device. The first frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The second communication device also receives a first Entity Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) from the first communication device. The first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first PPDU includes a first identifier field, which indicates an identifier for a first transmit antenna combination.

[0015] The first PPDU may include data fields. The first PPDU may also not include data fields; for example, the first PPDU may be an NDP. Since the NDP does not include data fields, it saves overhead.

[0016] Furthermore, in this application, since the NDP includes a first identifier field indicating the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, the second communication device determines the correspondence between the transmitting antenna channel detection results corresponding to the NDP and the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination selected based on one or more transmitting antenna channel detection results, thereby preventing the second communication device from mismatching the selected transmitting antenna channel detection results and the transmitting antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the first communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the second communication device, where the first PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs. The second communication device can perform transmit antenna channel detection based on the received one or more PPDUs to obtain transmit antenna channel detection results. Further, the second communication device can select a transmit antenna combination based on the obtained transmit antenna channel detection results and indicate the identifier of the selected transmit antenna combination to the first communication device, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario. For example, the second communication device sends a second frame to the first communication device. The second frame includes a first antenna selection feedback result. The first antenna selection feedback result includes a third identifier field, which can be used to carry the identifier of the transmit antenna combination selected by the second communication device. For example, if the transmit antenna combination selected by the second communication device is the first transmit antenna combination, then the third identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0018] In one possible implementation, before receiving the first frame, the second communication device sends a third frame including third indication information. This third indication information requests the first communication device to send information for transmitting antenna channel detection. The third indication information is carried in the high-efficiency variant field of the third frame. Since the high-efficiency variant field contains a large number of bits used to carry commands related to the antenna selection process, the solution provided in this application can support a larger number of PPDUs (e.g., more than 16 types), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types), thus enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the first communication device and the second communication device can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first communication device and the second communication device set a group identifier for the transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0020] For example, before the second communication device receives the first frame, the second communication device receives a fourth frame from the first communication device. The fourth frame includes a fourth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device. The identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination includes the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0021] Furthermore, the second communication device can also receive the identifier of the transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device from the first communication device. In this way, the first communication device can know the transmit antenna combination identifier for each transmit antenna combination so that it can be carried when transmitting the PPDU. Moreover, the second communication device can determine which antennas are specifically included in the first transmit antenna combination identifier based on the first identifier field indicated in the received first PPDU. It can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more antenna combination-related information through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0022] In one possible implementation, before receiving the first frame, the second communication device receives a ninth frame from the first communication device. The ninth frame includes seventh indication information, which indicates the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the transmit antenna selection process based on the seventh indication information, and can also determine whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0023] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the first identifier field is located in the preamble of the first PPDU. For example, the first identifier field may include: some or all of the bits in the general signaling field of the preamble, and / or some or all of the bits in the extremely high throughput signaling field.

[0024] When the first PPDU is an NDP, since the existing NDP does not carry the first identifier field, the present application can use the field in the preamble of the existing NDP to carry the content of the first identifier field, which can be better compatible with the prior art and can also achieve the purpose of carrying the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination in the NDP.

[0025] Furthermore, since there are some reserved bits in these fields in the existing protocol, such as B20-B24, B25 of the first symbol of the general signaling field and B2 and B8 of the second symbol, and B14-B15 of the extremely high throughput signaling field, the purpose of adding the first identifier field in the NDP is achieved by using the bits in these fields in the embodiments of this application, which can be better compatible with the existing technology.

[0026] Furthermore, in order to maintain consistency with existing standards, when this application is applied to the next-generation standard, the first identification field may include: some or all of the bits in the general signaling field, and / or some or all of the bits in the next-generation signaling field.

[0027] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the PPDU includes a data field and a preamble. The first identification field may include a preamble, or some or all of the bits from at least one of the data fields. For example, the identification information of the first transmit antenna combination is carried in at least one of: a general signaling field, an ultra-high throughput signaling field, or an aggregation control sub-field of the data field. When the first PPDU includes a data field, in addition to the aforementioned general signaling field and ultra-high throughput signaling field, the aggregation control sub-field of the data field can also be used as the first identification field. This provides more options for setting the position of the first identification field, and since existing fields can be used to carry the content of the first identification field, it is more compatible with existing technologies.

[0028] Furthermore, in order to maintain consistency with existing standards, when this application is applied to the next-generation standard, the first identification field may include some or all of the bits from at least one of the general signaling field, the next-generation signaling field, or the aggregated control subfield of the data field.

[0029] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the first frame further includes the number of NDPs. Thus, the second communication device can determine the number of NDPs to be received subsequently based on the first frame, so as to check whether any NDPs have been missed.

[0030] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the first frame further includes a second identification field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. The second identification field in the first frame may include identifiers of multiple transmitting antenna combinations, for example, it may include multiple transmitting antenna combinations corresponding to multiple consecutive PPDUs transmitted subsequently in the first frame. Thus, the first identification field in the first PPDU can carry a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, thereby saving the number of bits occupied by the first identification field in the first PPDU. The second communication device can combine the first and second identification fields to determine all the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, and then indicate to the first communication device all the bits of the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device (e.g., the second communication device selects the first transmitting antenna combination), so that the first communication device can determine the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device based on all the bits of the transmitting antenna combination fed back by the second communication device.

[0031] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the first indication information and / or the number of NDPs are carried in at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information. In another possible implementation, the second identification field includes some or all of the bits in at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information. The second indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information. Thus, the second communication device can, upon recognizing the second indication information, determine that the site information field carrying the second indication information carries antenna selection related information, and then obtain the antenna selection related information from that site information field. The second indication information can distinguish the site information field carrying antenna selection related information from other conventional site information fields corresponding to a specific site, thereby avoiding impact on conventional site information fields corresponding to a specific site in the scheme of using site information fields to carry antenna selection related information, achieving compatibility with existing standards.

[0032] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the second indication information is carried in an associated identifier field within the site information field. For example, a value not yet specified for a particular site in existing standards can be used as the second indication information. This second indication information includes one of 2008-2043 or 2046. Thus, the second communication device can determine whether the site information field carries antenna selection-related information or site information corresponding to a specific second communication device based on the associated identifier field. It can be seen that this solution is more compatible with existing technologies.

[0033] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the second frame includes a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) control field, and the third identifier field includes some or all of the bits in the MIMO control field. Thus, the purpose of adding the third identifier field to the second frame can be achieved by using the bits in the existing MIMO control field. This solution does not increase the length of the second frame and is better compatible with existing technologies.

[0034] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the third indication information is carried in at least one of the following in the aggregation control subfield: a control identification word field, an antenna selection command field, or an antenna selection data field. Since existing standards have divided the antenna selection command field and the antenna selection data field, dividing the A-control subfield into antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field in the high-efficiency variant can be more compatible with the command format in existing standards. Furthermore, carrying the third indication information in at least one of the control identification word field, antenna selection command field, or antenna selection data field in the A-control subfield is compatible with existing technologies, as existing technologies also have antenna selection command fields and antenna selection data fields.

[0035] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the antenna selection command field and the antenna selection data field occupy more than 7 bits. The antenna selection data field occupies more than 4 bits. The antenna selection command field and the antenna selection data field occupy no more than 26 bits.

[0036] Compared to the antenna selection process based on the High Throughput Control (HTC) field in 802.11n, which supports a maximum of 4 RF chains, 8 antennas, and 16 antenna combinations, this embodiment of the application has a larger number of bits in the control information field. Therefore, this embodiment of the application can carry more types of antenna selection commands through the MPDU shown in Figure 6, and the antenna selection data field is also greater than 4 bits. Therefore, it can support a larger number of PPDUs (more than 16 types of PPDUs can be supported), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types of antenna combinations can be supported).

[0037] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the first transmitting antenna combination is one of k1 transmitting antenna combinations of the first communication device, where k1 is a positive integer. Each of the k1 transmitting antenna combinations corresponds one-to-one with its identifier. Since the transmitting antenna combination and its identifier are in a one-to-one correspondence, if the second communication device receives two PPDUs containing the same antenna combination identifier at different times, and if the detected channel changes, since the two PPDUs contain the same antenna combination identifier, the second communication device determines that the antenna combination has not changed, and therefore it can be determined that the channel itself has changed.

[0038] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the first identification field includes all bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can uniquely determine the identifier of a transmitting antenna combination based on the first identification field carried in the PPDU.

[0039] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the first identifier field includes a portion of bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. This saves bits in the PPDU preamble.

[0040] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation of the first or second aspect, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the third frame sent by the second communication device to the first communication device may further include the number of PPDUs. In this way, the first communication device can determine how many PPDUs to send based on the number of PPDUs carried in the third frame, thereby enabling the first communication device to determine the number of PPDUs to be sent subsequently based on the needs of the second communication device, so that the number of PPDUs sent subsequently by the first communication device matches the needs of the second communication device as closely as possible.

[0041] Based on the first or second aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the first identification field includes: a group identifier for the first transmitting antenna assembly, and / or the serial number of the first PPDU. This improves the flexibility of the solution.

[0042] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a first communication device sends an eleventh frame to a second communication device. The eleventh frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first communication device sends a third entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the second communication device. The third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields. Since the first communication device can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations that need to be transmitted into one PPDU, overhead can be saved, thereby improving the efficiency of antenna selection and increasing system throughput.

[0043] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a second communication device receives an eleventh frame from a first communication device. The eleventh frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The second communication device receives a third PPDU from the first communication device. The third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields. Since the first communication device can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations that need to be transmitted into one PPDU, overhead can be saved, thereby improving antenna selection efficiency and system throughput.

[0044] Based on the third or fourth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the third PPDU includes a preamble; the preamble includes at least one of the following fields: a conventional short training field, a conventional long training field, a conventional signaling field, a repeated conventional signaling field, a general signaling field, or an extremely high throughput signaling field. This allows the portion shared by various transmit antenna combinations to be transmitted only once, thereby saving overhead.

[0045] Based on the third or fourth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the duration of the data packet extension field in any two of the M1 first information fields is the same. This improves the consistency of the receiving process.

[0046] Based on the third or fourth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the duration of the data packet extension field in at least two of the M1 first information fields is different. For example, the data packet extension field other than the last data packet extension field can be shorter than the last data packet extension field, sufficient for the first communication device to switch antennas, thereby improving signaling transmission efficiency.

[0047] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a first communication device sends a fifth frame to a second communication device. The fifth frame includes fourth indication information, which instructs the first communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection. The first communication device receives a second PPDU from the second communication device. The second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection. The second PPDU includes a fifth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of a first receiving antenna combination.

[0048] The second PPDU may include data fields. Alternatively, the second PPDU may not include data fields; for example, the second PPDU may be an NDP. Since NDPs do not include data fields, this saves on overhead.

[0049] Furthermore, the first communication device can perform receive antenna channel detection on the first receiving antenna combination based on the second PPDU to obtain the receive antenna channel detection result corresponding to the first receiving antenna combination. Since the NDP includes a fifth identifier field indicating the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, the first communication device determines the correspondence between the receive antenna channel detection result corresponding to the NDP and the identifier of the receiving antenna combination. Thus, the first communication device can determine the identifier of the receiving antenna combination selected based on one or more receive antenna channel detection results, thereby preventing the first communication device from mismatching the selected receive antenna channel detection result with the receiving antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the second communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the first communication device, where the second PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs. The first communication device can perform receive antenna channel detection based on the received one or more PPDUs to obtain the receive antenna channel detection result. Further, the first communication device can select a receive antenna combination based on the obtained receive antenna channel detection result and indicate the identifier of the selected receive antenna combination to the second communication device, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario. For example, the first communication device sends a sixth frame to the second communication device, the sixth frame including the second antenna selection feedback result. The second antenna selection feedback result includes a seventh identifier field, which can be used to carry the identifier of the receive antenna combination selected by the first communication device. For example, if the receive antenna combination selected by the first communication device is the first receive antenna combination, then the seventh identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0051] In one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the fifth frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: the first communication device receiving a seventh frame containing sixth indication information, the sixth indication information being used to request the first communication device to send information for receiving antenna channel detection. The sixth indication information is carried in the high-efficiency variant field of the seventh frame. Since the high-efficiency variant field contains a large number of bits used to carry commands related to the antenna selection process, the solution provided in this application can support a larger number of PPDUs (e.g., more than 16 types of PPDUs), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types of antenna combinations), thus enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the first communication device and the second communication device can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first communication device and the second communication device set a group identifier for the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0053] For example, in one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the fifth frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: the first communication device sending an eighth frame to the second communication device, the eighth frame including an eighth identifier field, the eighth identifier field being used to indicate the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination including the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0054] Furthermore, the first communication device can also indicate the receiving antenna combination corresponding to the identifier of the receiving antenna combination it supports to the second communication device. In this way, the second communication device can carry the identifier of the receiving antenna combination when sending the PPDU. Moreover, the second communication device can determine which antennas are specifically included in the first receiving antenna combination. It can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more information related to antenna combinations through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0055] In one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the fifth frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: the first communication device sending a tenth frame to the second communication device, the tenth frame including eighth indication information, the eighth indication information being used to indicate the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the receiving antenna selection process based on the eighth indication information, and the second communication device can also decide whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0056] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method, in which a second communication device receives a fifth frame from a first communication device. The fifth frame includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first communication device should perform receiving antenna channel detection. The second communication device sends a second PPDU to the first communication device. The second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection, and the second PPDU includes a fifth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of a first receiving antenna combination.

[0057] The second PPDU may include data fields. Alternatively, the second PPDU may not include data fields; for example, the second PPDU may be an NDP. Since NDPs do not include data fields, this saves on overhead.

[0058] Furthermore, in this application, since the NDP includes a fifth identifier field indicating the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, the first communication device determines the correspondence between the receiving antenna channel detection result corresponding to the NDP and the identifier of the receiving antenna combination. Thus, the first communication device can determine the identifier of the receiving antenna combination selected based on one or more receiving antenna channel detection results, thereby preventing the first communication device from mismatching the selected receiving antenna channel detection result and the receiving antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the second communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the first communication device, where the second PPDU is one of these PPDUs. The first communication device can perform receive antenna channel detection based on the received PPDUs to obtain the receive antenna channel detection result. Further, the first communication device can select a receive antenna combination based on the obtained receive antenna channel detection result and indicate the identifier of the selected receive antenna combination to the second communication device, thereby enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario. For example, the second communication device receives a sixth frame from the first communication device, the sixth frame including a second antenna selection feedback result. The second antenna selection feedback result includes a seventh identifier field, which can be used to carry the identifier of the receive antenna combination selected by the first communication device. For example, if the receive antenna combination selected by the first communication device is a first receive antenna combination, then the seventh identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0060] In one possible implementation, before the second communication device receives the fifth frame from the first communication device, the method further includes: the second communication device sending a seventh frame including sixth indication information, the sixth indication information being used to request the first communication device to send information for receiving antenna channel detection. The sixth indication information is carried in the high-efficiency variant field of the seventh frame. Since the high-efficiency variant field contains a large number of bits used to carry commands related to the antenna selection process, the solution provided in this application can support a larger number of PPDUs (e.g., more than 16 types of PPDUs), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types of antenna combinations), thus enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0061] In one possible implementation, the first communication device and the second communication device can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first communication device and the second communication device set a group identifier for the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0062] For example, in one possible implementation, before the second communication device receives the fifth frame from the first communication device, the second communication device receives the eighth frame from the first communication device, the eighth frame including an eighth identifier field for indicating the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination including the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0063] Furthermore, the first communication device can also indicate the receiving antenna combination corresponding to the identifier of the receiving antenna combination it supports to the second communication device. In this way, the second communication device can carry the identifier of the receiving antenna combination when sending the PPDU. Moreover, the second communication device can determine which antennas are specifically included in the first receiving antenna combination. It can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more information related to antenna combinations through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0064] In one possible implementation, before the first communication device sends the fifth frame to the second communication device, the second communication device receives the tenth frame from the first communication device. The tenth frame includes eighth indication information, which indicates the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the receiving antenna selection process based on the eighth indication information, and the second communication device can also decide whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0065] Based on the aforementioned fifth or sixth aspect, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the fifth identifier field is located in the preamble of the second PPDU. For example, the fifth identifier field may be a portion or all of the bits in the general signaling field of the preamble, and / or a portion or all of the bits in the extremely high throughput signaling field. When the second PPDU is an NDP, since existing NDPs do not carry a fifth identifier field, this application can use fields in the preamble of existing NDPs to carry the content of the fifth identifier field, thereby achieving better compatibility with the prior art and also realizing the purpose of carrying the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination in the NDP.

[0066] Furthermore, since there are some reserved bits in these fields in the existing protocol, such as B20-B24, B25 of the first symbol and B2 and B8 of the second symbol in the general signaling field, and B14-B15 of the extremely high throughput signaling field, the embodiments of this application use the bits in these fields to achieve the purpose of adding the first identifier field in NDP, which can be better compatible with the existing technology.

[0067] Furthermore, in order to maintain consistency with existing standards, when this application is applied to the next-generation standard, the fifth identification field may include: some or all of the bits in the general signaling field, and / or some or all of the bits in the next-generation signaling field.

[0068] Based on the aforementioned fifth or sixth aspect, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the PPDU includes a data field and a preamble. The fifth identification field includes a preamble, or some or all of the bits from at least one of the data fields. For example, the identification information of the first receiving antenna combination is carried in at least one of: a general signaling field, an ultra-high throughput signaling field, or an aggregation control sub-field of a data field. When the second PPDU includes a data field, in addition to the aforementioned general signaling field and ultra-high throughput signaling field, the aggregation control sub-field of the data field can also be used as the fifth identification field. This provides more options for setting the position of the fifth identification field, and since existing fields can be used to carry the content of the fifth identification field, it is more compatible with the prior art.

[0069] Furthermore, in order to maintain consistency with existing standards, when this application is applied to the next-generation standard, the identification information of the first receiving antenna combination is carried in at least one of the following: a general signaling field, a next-generation signaling field, or a data field aggregation control subfield.

[0070] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the fifth frame further includes the number of NDPs. Thus, the second communication device can determine the number of NDPs to be received subsequently based on the first frame, so as to check whether any NDPs have been missed.

[0071] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the fifth frame further includes a sixth identification field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. The sixth identification field in the fifth frame may include identifiers of multiple receiving antenna combinations, for example, it may include multiple identifiers of receiving antenna combinations corresponding to multiple consecutive PPDUs transmitted subsequently in the fifth frame. Thus, the fifth identification field in the second PPDU can carry a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, thereby saving the number of bits occupied by the fifth identification field in the second PPDU. The first communication device can combine the fifth and sixth identification fields to determine all the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, and then indicate to the first communication device all the bits of the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device (e.g., the second communication device selects the first transmitting antenna combination), so that the first communication device can determine the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device based on all the bits of the transmitting antenna combination fed back by the second communication device.

[0072] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the fourth indication information and / or the number of NDPs are carried in at least one site information field in the fifth frame that includes the fifth indication information. In yet another possible implementation, the sixth identification field includes some or all of the bits in at least one site information field in the fifth frame that includes the fifth indication information. The fifth indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information. Thus, the second communication device can, upon recognizing the fifth indication information, determine that the site information field carrying the fifth indication information carries antenna selection related information, and then obtain the antenna selection related information from that site information field. The fifth indication information can distinguish the site information field carrying antenna selection related information from other conventional site information fields corresponding to a specific site, thereby avoiding impact on conventional site information fields corresponding to a specific site in the scheme of using site information fields to carry antenna selection related information, achieving compatibility with existing standards.

[0073] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the fifth indication information is carried in the associated identifier field of the site information field. For example, a value not yet indicated for a specific site in existing standards can be used as the fifth indication information, including one of 2008-2043 or 2046. Thus, the second communication device can determine whether the site information field carries antenna selection related information or site information corresponding to a specific second communication device based on the associated identifier field. It can be seen that this solution is more compatible with existing technologies.

[0074] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the fourth indication information is carried in the trigger frame type field of the fifth frame; and / or, the number of NDPs and / or the sixth identifier field are carried in some or all of the following bits: reserved bits in the public information field, reserved bits in the user information list field, public information based on the trigger type, or site information based on the trigger frame type. The fifth frame can also be a second trigger frame. This scheme allows the use of bits in an existing second trigger frame to achieve the purpose of adding antenna selection related information in the second trigger frame, thus ensuring compatibility with the prior art.

[0075] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the sixth frame includes a MIMO Control field, and the seventh identifier field includes some or all of the bits in the MIMO Control field. Thus, the purpose of adding a third identifier field to the second frame can be achieved by using the bits in the existing Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Control (MIMO Control) field. This solution does not additionally increase the length of the second frame and is better compatible with existing technologies.

[0076] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the sixth indication information is carried in at least one of the following in the A-control subfield: a control identification word field, an antenna selection command field, or an antenna selection data field. Since existing standards distinguish between an antenna selection command field and an antenna selection data field, dividing the A-control subfield into antenna selection command and antenna selection data fields in the efficient variant is more compatible with the command format in existing standards. Furthermore, carrying the sixth indication information in at least one of the control identification word field, antenna selection command field, or antenna selection data field in the A-control subfield is compatible with the prior art.

[0077] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the antenna selection command field and the antenna selection data field occupy more than 7 bits. The antenna selection data field occupies more than 4 bits. The antenna selection command field and the antenna selection data field occupy no more than 26 bits.

[0078] Compared to the antenna selection process based on the High Throughput Control (HTC) field in 802.11n, which supports a maximum of 4 RF chains, 8 antennas, and 16 antenna combinations, this embodiment of the application has a larger number of bits in the control information field. Therefore, this embodiment of the application can carry more types of antenna selection commands through the MPDU shown in Figure 6, and the antenna selection data field is also greater than 4 bits. Therefore, it can support a larger number of PPDUs (more than 16 types of PPDUs can be supported), thereby supporting a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types of antenna combinations can be supported).

[0079] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the first receiving antenna combination is one of k² receiving antenna combinations of the first communication device, where k² is a positive integer. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the k² receiving antenna combinations and their identifiers. Since the receiving antenna combinations and their identifiers are in a one-to-one correspondence, if the second communication device receives two PPDUs containing the same antenna combination identifier at different times, and if the detected channel changes, since the two PPDUs contain the same antenna combination identifier, the second communication device determines that the antenna combination has not changed, and therefore it can be determined that the channel itself has changed.

[0080] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the fifth identification field includes all bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can uniquely determine the identifier of a receiving antenna combination based on the first identification field carried in the PPDU.

[0081] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the fifth identifier field includes a portion of bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. This saves bits in the PPDU preamble.

[0082] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the seventh frame sent by the second communication device to the first communication device further includes: the number of PPDUs. Thus, the first communication device can determine the number of PPDUs that the second communication device needs to send subsequently based on the number of PPDUs carried in the seventh frame, so that the number of PPDUs that the second communication device needs to send subsequently, as determined by the first communication device, matches the needs of the second communication device as closely as possible.

[0083] Based on the fifth or sixth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation where the fifth identification field includes: a group identifier for the first receiving antenna assembly, and / or the serial number of the second PPDU. This improves the flexibility of the solution.

[0084] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a first communication device sends a twelfth frame to a second communication device. The twelfth frame includes fourth indication information, which instructs the first communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection. The first communication device receives a fourth PPDU from the second communication device; the fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection. The fourth PPDU includes M² second information fields corresponding to M² groups of receiving antenna combinations; M² is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used for receiving antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields.

[0085] Since the second communication device can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M2 groups of receiving antennas that need to be transmitted into a single PPDU, it can save costs, thereby improving the efficiency of antenna selection and increasing the system throughput.

[0086] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna channel detection method. In this method, a second communication device receives a twelfth frame from a first communication device. The twelfth frame includes fourth indication information, which instructs the first communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. The second communication device sends a fourth PPDU to the first communication device; the fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. The fourth PPDU includes M² second information fields corresponding to M² groups of receive antenna combinations; M² is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used for receive antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields.

[0087] Since the second communication device can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M2 sets of receiving antenna combinations that need to be transmitted into one PPDU, it can save costs, thereby improving the efficiency of antenna selection and increasing the system throughput.

[0088] Based on the seventh or eighth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation whereby the fourth PPDU includes a preamble; the preamble includes at least one of the following fields: conventional short training field L-STF, conventional long training field L-LTF, conventional signaling field L-SIG, repeated conventional signaling field RL-SIG, general signaling field U-SIG, or extremely high throughput signaling field EHT-SIG. This allows the portion shared by various transmit antenna combinations to be transmitted only once, thereby saving overhead.

[0089] Based on the seventh or eighth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the duration of the data packet extension field in any two of the M2 second information fields is the same. This improves the consistency of the receiving process.

[0090] Based on the seventh or eighth aspect described above, and any possible implementation thereof, this application also provides a possible implementation in which the duration of the data packet extension field in at least two of the M2 second information fields is different. For example, the data packet extension field other than the last data packet extension field can be shorter than the last data packet extension field, sufficient for the first communication device to switch antennas, thereby improving signaling transmission efficiency.

[0091] A ninth aspect provides a communication device, including a communication unit and a processing unit. The communication device can be either the first or second communication device described above. The communication device can perform any one of the first to eighth aspects, and any embodiment of any one aspect. The communication unit is used to perform functions related to transmission and reception. Optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. In one design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit can be a processing circuit, one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit can be an interface circuit, input / output circuit, or port of the communication chip.

[0092] In another design, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver.

[0093] Optionally, the communication device may also include modules that can be used to perform any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, and any embodiment of any one aspect.

[0094] A tenth aspect provides a communication device, including a processor and a transceiver. The communication device can be either the first or second communication device described above. Optionally, it further includes memory. The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor is used to retrieve and execute the computer programs or instructions from the memory. When the processor executes the computer programs or instructions in the memory, the communication device performs any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, and any implementation thereof.

[0095] Optionally, there may be one or more processors and one or more memory modules.

[0096] Optionally, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0097] Optionally, the transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver.

[0098] Eleventhly, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The communication device can be either the first or the second communication device described above. The processor is coupled to memory and can be used to execute any one of the first to eighth aspects, and any embodiment of any one aspect. Optionally, the communication device further includes memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0099] In one implementation, when the communication device is a first communication device, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0100] In another implementation, when the communication device is a chip or chip system of the first communication device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be embodied as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0101] In one implementation, when the communication device is a second communication device, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0102] In another implementation, when the communication device is a chip or chip system of a second communication device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pins, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be manifested as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0103] In a twelfth aspect, a system is provided, which includes the aforementioned first communication device and second communication device.

[0104] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run, causes a computer to execute any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, and any implementation thereof.

[0105] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, and any embodiment of any one aspect.

[0106] In a fifteenth aspect, a chip system is provided, which may include processing circuitry. The processing circuitry can be used to execute any one of the first to eighth aspects, and any implementation thereof, via interface circuitry. Optionally, the chip system further includes memory. The memory is used to store computer programs (also referred to as code or instructions). The processing circuitry can be used to retrieve and run the computer programs from the memory, causing a device equipped with the chip system to execute any one of the first to eighth aspects, and any implementation thereof.

[0107] In a sixteenth aspect, a processing apparatus is provided, comprising: an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit may include an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, such that any one of the first to eighth aspects, and any embodiment of any one aspect, is implemented.

[0108] In specific implementation, the aforementioned processing device can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0109] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component of the first communication device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system chip or communication chip. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processing circuit can be a logic circuit on the chip.

[0110] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component of a second communication device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system chip or communication chip. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pins, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processing circuit can be the logic circuit on the chip. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0111] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of an antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an MPDU structure that can carry a third frame, provided in this application. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first frame when the first frame provided in this application is an NDPA frame; Figure 8a is a schematic diagram of a structure of the first PPDU provided in this application when the first PPDU is an NDP; Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of one structure of the first PPDU provided in this application when the first PPDU is used to detect the NDP in an NG detection scenario. Figure 8c is a schematic diagram of a first PPDU including data fields provided in this application; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the MIMO Control field in the second frame when the second frame provided in this application is a beamforming report frame; Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a third PPDU provided in this application; Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of an antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second trigger frame provided in this application; Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fifth frame when the fifth frame provided in this application is an NDPA frame; Figure 16a is a schematic diagram of a structure of the second PPDU provided in this application when the second PPDU is an NDP; Figure 16b is a schematic diagram of a structure of the second PPDU provided in this application when the second PPDU is an NDP; Figure 16c is a schematic diagram of a second PPDU including data fields provided in this application; Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application; Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a fourth PPDU provided in this application; Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of another fourth PPDU frame structure provided in this application; Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Implementation

[0112] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0113] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a first communication device 101 and a second communication device 102. This application provides an antenna selection scheme for selecting antennas for devices. This embodiment describes antenna selection for the first communication device 101 as an example. If antenna selection is required for the second communication device 102, the antenna selection process for the second communication device 102 can refer to the antenna selection process for the first communication device 101, and will not be repeated here.

[0114] The first communication device 101 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. This application embodiment provides a scheme for selecting the transmitting antenna of the first communication device 101. In this scheme, the first communication device 101 sends a first frame to a second communication device 102. The first frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmitting antenna channel detection. The first communication device 101 sends a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the second communication device 102. The first PPDU includes a first identification field, which is used to indicate an identifier of a first transmitting antenna combination.

[0115] In one possible implementation, the first PPDU can be a PPDU that includes data fields.

[0116] In another possible implementation, the first PPDU may not include data fields; for example, the first PPDU may be an empty data packet (NDP). In this embodiment, the NDP may also be referred to as an empty data packet. The NDP may not include data fields.

[0117] When the first PPDU is an NDP, overhead can be saved because the NDP does not include data fields. This is especially true in scenarios involving massive MIMO (Massively Multi-Analog Devices), where the large number of antenna combinations leads to a larger number of PPDUs used for transmit antenna channel probing, increasing the overhead of transmit antenna selection. The transmit antenna channel probing scheme using NDPs in this application embodiment can save even more overhead in massive MIMO scenarios.

[0118] On the other hand, in one possible implementation, since the NDP does not include a data field, it cannot carry the sequence number information of the PPDU. The second communication device can only infer the sequence number information of the PPDU corresponding to the NDP based on the order of the NDPs it receives. However, if the second communication device misses receiving an NDP, it cannot correctly infer the sequence number information of the PPDU corresponding to the received NDP, and therefore cannot correctly report the correspondence between the transmit antenna channel detection results and the PPDU sequence number information to the first communication device, which may lead to the failure of the transmit antenna selection on the first communication device side. In the scenario of massive MIMO, due to the larger number of antenna combinations, the probability of the second communication device making an error in determining the sequence number information of the PPDU corresponding to the NDP is even greater.

[0119] To address the aforementioned issues, this embodiment adds a first identifier field to the NDP (Non-Device Detection Program) to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination. This allows the second communication device to determine the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination corresponding to the received NDP. Furthermore, the second communication device can determine the transmit antenna channel detection result obtained based on the NDP as the transmit antenna channel detection result corresponding to the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination. Since the second communication device can determine the correspondence between the transmit antenna channel detection result corresponding to the NDP and the identifier of the transmit antenna combination, it can determine the identifier of the transmit antenna combination selected based on one or more transmit antenna channel detection results. This prevents the second communication device from mismatching the selected transmit antenna channel detection result with the transmit antenna combination, thus enabling antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios. It also facilitates error recovery for antenna selection between the second and first communication devices (for example, even if the second communication device misreads the sequence number information of the PPDU, it can correctly determine the identifier of the transmit antenna combination corresponding to the PPDU based on the information indicating the transmit antenna combination identifier in the PPDU).

[0120] The above description uses the antenna selection process for the transmitting antenna of the first communication device as an example. This application embodiment also provides a scheme for selecting the receiving antenna of the first communication device. The following sections will describe the two schemes in detail. Further details will not be elaborated upon here.

[0121] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems, global system of mobile communication (GSM) systems, code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) systems, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, future 5th generation (5G) systems, or new radio (NR), etc.

[0122] The following is an illustrative example, using a WLAN system as an example, to describe the application scenarios and methods of the embodiments of this application.

[0123] Specifically, the embodiments of this application can be applied to wireless local area networks (WLANs), and can be applied to any of the IEEE 802.11 series protocols currently used in WLANs, including 802.11be, and may also be applicable to standards later than 802.11be. A WLAN may include one or more basic service sets (BSS), and the network nodes in the BSS include access points (APs) and stations (STAs).

[0124] Figure 2 exemplarily illustrates another system architecture provided by an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system includes one or more APs, and may also include one or more STAs. Figure 1 uses two APs (e.g., AP201 and AP202 in Figure 2) and three STAs (e.g., STA203, STA204, and STA205 in Figure 2) as an example. The first communication device 101 in Figure 1 can be an AP or STA in Figure 2. The second communication device 102 in Figure 2 can be an AP or STA in Figure 2.

[0125] The solution provided in this application is applicable to communication between APs, such as the communication between AP201 and AP202 in Figure 2. In this case, the first communication device 101 and the second communication device 102 in Figure 1 can both be APs, for example, the first communication device 101 is AP201 and the second communication device 102 is AP202.

[0126] The solution provided in this application embodiment is also applicable to communication between STAs, such as the communication between STA204 and STA205 in FIG2. In this case, the first communication device 101 and the second communication device 102 in FIG1 can both be STAs, for example, the first communication device 101 is STA204 and the second communication device 102 is STA205.

[0127] The solution provided in this application can also be applied to communication between one AP and one or more STAs, and also to communication between multiple APs and one or more STAs. For example, the communication between AP201 and STA203 in Figure 2. In this case, the first communication device 101 and the second communication device 102 in Figure 1 can be AP and STA, respectively. For example, the first communication device 101 can be STA203, and the second communication device can be AP201. Another example is that the first communication device 101 is AP201, and the second communication device 102 is STA203.

[0128] The following is an illustrative example, using the first communication device 101 as the AP and the second communication device 102 as the STA, to describe the application scenarios and methods of the embodiments of this application.

[0129] In this application embodiment, the STA can also be referred to as a system, user unit, access terminal, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user equipment, or user equipment (UE). The STA can be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless local area network (e.g., Wi-Fi) communication capability, wearable device, computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

[0130] The site can be a wireless communication chip, wireless sensor, or wireless communication terminal, etc. For example, the site can be a tablet computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart TV supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication, and a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, etc. Optionally, the site can support the 802.11be standard. The site can also support various wireless local area networks (WLAN) standards of the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11be next generation.

[0131] The access point in this application can be an extremely high throughput (EHT) STA or a STA that is compatible with a future generation of Wi-Fi standards.

[0132] In this embodiment, the AP can be used to communicate with access terminals (such as STAs) via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and transmit data from the access terminals to the network side, or transmit data from the network side to the access terminals. An AP is also called a wireless access point or hotspot. An AP is an access point for mobile users to access a wired network, mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, but can also be deployed outdoors. An AP acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, its main function being to connect various wireless network users end-to-end and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, an AP can be a communication server, router, switch, bridge, computer, mobile phone, etc., equipped with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip. Optionally, the AP can be a device that supports multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11.

[0133] The AP and STA can communicate wirelessly using various standards. For example, the AP and STA can communicate wirelessly using either single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) or multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology.

[0134] For example, access points and sites can be devices used in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0135] The communication device provided in this application can be a wireless communication device that supports parallel transmission across multiple links, for example, referred to as a multi-link device or a multi-band device. Compared to devices that only support single-link transmission, multi-link devices have higher transmission efficiency and higher throughput.

[0136] A multi-link device includes one or more affiliated STAs. An affiliated STA is a logical site that can operate on a single link. The affiliated site can be an Access Point (AP) or a non-Access Point Station (non-AP STA). For ease of description, a multi-link device with an affiliated AP can be called a multi-link AP, multi-link AP device, or AP multi-link device, while a multi-link device with an affiliated non-AP STA can be called a multi-link STA, multi-link STA device, or STA multi-link device.

[0137] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device shown in Figure 3 can be a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the first communication device 101 in Figure 1, or a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the second communication device 102 in Figure 1, or a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an AP (such as AP201 or AP202 in Figure 2), or a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an STA (such as STA203, STA204, or STA205 in Figure 2). The communication device shown in Figure 3 may include multiple antennas, and may be a device with two or more antennas.

[0138] As shown in Figure 3, the communication device includes a physical layer (PHY) processing circuit, a media access control (MAC) processing circuit, memory, a controller, a scheduler, and a processor.

[0139] Among them, the physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals, the memory can be used to store signaling information, the controller is a control element, the scheduler is a scheduling element, and the processor can be used to parse signaling information and process related data.

[0140] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0141] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, removable hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC.

[0142] Based on the above, Figure 4 illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of an antenna channel detection method provided in this application.

[0143] Figure 4 illustrates the interaction between the first communication device and the second communication device as an example. In this embodiment, the first communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected transmitter, and the second communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected responder.

[0144] The first communication device in Figure 4 can be the same as the first communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The second communication device in Figure 4 can be the same as the second communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. Both the first and second communication devices in Figure 4 can be APs, both can be STAs, or they can be APs and STAs respectively. Figure 4 illustrates this with the first communication device being an AP and the second communication device being a STA as an example.

[0145] The solution provided in this application can be applied to the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and a single STA, or to the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs. Figure 4 illustrates the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs (such as STA203, STA204, and STA205 in Figure 4) as an example.

[0146] As shown in Figure 4, the method includes:

[0147] S401, the first communication device sends a first frame to the second communication device. The first frame includes first indication information, which instructs the second communication device to perform transmission antenna channel detection.

[0148] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first frame from the first communication device.

[0149] S402, the first communication device sends a first Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) to the second communication device. The first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first PPDU includes a first identification field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0150] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the first PPDU from the first communication device.

[0151] In one possible implementation, in S402, after sending the first frame, the first communication device can send one or more PPDUs after a short inter-frame space (SIFS). Adjacent PPDUs can also be spaced apart by SIFS. The figure uses SIFS as an example, but other durations are possible, such as 25 microseconds, etc., and the present invention does not limit this. The first PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs sent by the first communication device in S402. In this embodiment, the PPDU can also be referred to as a physical layer data packet or physical layer data unit.

[0152] In one possible implementation, the first PPDU in S402 can be a PPDU that includes data fields.

[0153] In another possible implementation, the first PPDU in S402 may not include a data field; for example, the first PPDU could be a null data packet (NDP) without a data field. An NDP, which does not contain a data field, is a special case of a PPDU and is typically used for channel sounding. Since an NDP does not include a data field, using an NDP as the first PPDU can save overhead. This is especially true in scenarios involving massive MIMO (Massively Multi-Analog Devices), where the large number of antenna arrays leads to a large number of first PPDUs used for transmit antenna channel sounding, increasing the overhead of transmit antenna selection. Using an NDP for transmit antenna channel sounding can save even more overhead in massive MIMO scenarios.

[0154] In one possible implementation, the first communication device may send one or more PPDUs to the second communication device, wherein the first PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs. Each of the one or more PPDUs may include a first identification field, which indicates the identifier of the corresponding transmit antenna combination. For example, since the first PPDU is used for transmit antenna channel detection of the first transmit antenna combination, the first identification field in the first PPDU indicates the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination. As another example, if another PPDU among the one or more PPDUs, besides the first PPDU, is used for transmit antenna channel detection of the second transmit antenna combination, then the first identification field in that PPDU indicates the identifier of the second transmit antenna combination.

[0155] In this embodiment, the PPDU sent by the first communication device to the second communication device can also be understood as a probe PPDU, used for antenna channel detection. The second communication device can perform transmit antenna channel detection based on the received one or more PPDUs to obtain the transmit antenna channel detection result.

[0156] Furthermore, the second communication device can select a transmission antenna combination based on the obtained transmission antenna channel detection results, and indicate the identifier of the selected transmission antenna combination to the first communication device. For example, by executing S403 after S402:

[0157] S403, the second communication device transmits a second frame. The second frame includes the first antenna selection feedback result, which includes a third identifier field. The third identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0158] It should be noted that the third identifier field in S403 can be used to carry an identifier of the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device. For example, if the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device is the first transmitting antenna combination, then the third identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. In this embodiment, the example shown is that the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device is the first transmitting antenna combination. In actual applications, the second communication device may also select other transmitting antenna combinations (in which case, the third identifier field needs to indicate the other transmitting antenna combination), and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions.

[0159] In one possible implementation, in S403, the second communication device performs transmit antenna channel detection based on the first PPDU, obtains the first antenna selection feedback result, and carries the first antenna selection feedback result in the second frame for transmission.

[0160] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second frame from the second communication device.

[0161] In this embodiment, the second communication device for transmitting antenna channel detection can be a device with antenna selection capability (ASEL). The antenna selection capability transmitter (such as the first communication device) can use NDP sounding PPDUs to perform ASEL channel detection, which can be translated as "ASEL transmitter uses NDP sounding PPDUs for the ASEL sounding". The second frame can also be ASEL feedback.

[0162] In one possible implementation, after S402, one or more second communication devices can perform transmit antenna channel detection based on the first PPDU to obtain antenna selection feedback results. S403 is described using one second communication device as an example. For distinction, the antenna selection feedback result of the transmit antenna of STA203 (second communication device) in Figure 4 is referred to as the first antenna selection feedback result.

[0163] It should be noted that the antenna selection feedback results from different second communication devices may be different or the same, and this application embodiment does not limit this. Alternatively, it can be understood that different second communication devices may select different or the same transmitting antenna combinations of the first communication device, and this application embodiment does not limit this. For example, in Figure 4, STA203 (second communication device) selects the first transmitting antenna combination, while STA204 may select the first transmitting antenna combination or other transmitting antenna combinations.

[0164] As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment of the application, since the PPDU includes a first identifier field indicating the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, the second communication device determines the correspondence between the transmitting antenna channel detection result corresponding to the PPDU and the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination selected based on one or more transmitting antenna channel detection results, thereby preventing the second communication device from mismatching the selected transmitting antenna channel detection result and the transmitting antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0165] Referring to Figure 4 for further explanation, in S402 above, the first communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the second communication device for the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Each PPDU can correspond to an antenna combination of a set of transmit antennas. Each antenna combination of transmit antennas corresponds to an antenna combination identifier (identified as Antenna Combination Identification (ID) in Figure 4).

[0166] The antenna combinations schematically shown in Figure 4 are identified by antenna combination IDs of 0, 1, ..., R. R can be a positive integer. The PPDUs schematically shown in Figure 4 are: PPDU(i 0), PPDU(i 1), ..., PPDU(i R). As shown in Figure 4, the first communication device transmits PPDU(i 0) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0. The second communication device performs transmitting antenna channel detection based on PPDU(i 0) to obtain the transmitting antenna channel detection result corresponding to the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0. Similarly, the first communication device transmits PPDU(i 1) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, ..., and PPDU(i R) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R. The second communication device obtains the transmitting antenna channel detection result corresponding to the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, ..., and the transmitting antenna channel detection result corresponding to the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R. Furthermore, the second communication device can select a set of transmitting antenna combinations of the first communication device based on the detection results of the R transmitting antenna channels, such as selecting a first transmitting antenna combination, and then instruct the first transmitting antenna combination to the first communication device so that the first communication device can transmit data to the second communication device through the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0167] The order of antenna combination identifiers in Figure 4 above is merely an example. In practical applications, the identifiers of the antenna combinations corresponding to consecutive PPDUs transmitted by the first communication device can be arranged arbitrarily, such as being non-consecutive or not arranged in ascending order. For example, the first communication device can sequentially: transmit PPDU (i 1) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, transmit PPDU (i R) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R, transmit PPDU (i 0) through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0, and so on.

[0168] The following describes the relevant content of the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination mentioned in the embodiments of this application.

[0169] In one possible implementation, the first communication device includes k1 transmit antenna combinations. k1 is a positive integer. R in Figure 4 can be a positive integer not greater than k1. R can be equal to k1 or less than k1. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the k1 transmit antenna combinations and their identifiers. That is, one transmit antenna combination among the k1 transmit antenna combinations corresponds to one identifier among the k1 transmit antenna combinations, and one identifier among the k1 transmit antenna combinations corresponds to one transmit antenna combination among the k1 transmit antenna combinations. The identifiers of any two transmit antenna combinations can be different. The first transmit antenna combination is one of the k1 transmit antenna combinations, and the following description will use the first transmit antenna combination as an example.

[0170] There are several ways to identify the transmitting antenna combination, which will be introduced below.

[0171] Implementation method a1

[0172] In one possible implementation, the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination can be the serial number of the first PPDU corresponding to the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0173] In implementation a1, the first identifier field can indicate the order of the first PPDU among the R PPDUs sent by the first communication device. When the PPDU sent by the first communication device in S402 is an NDP, it can also be understood that the first identifier field can indicate the order of the current NDP among the R NDPs sent by the first communication device. Thus, the second communication device can determine the correspondence between the first PPDU and the antenna selection feedback result of the transmitting antenna based on the sequence number of the first PPDU indicated by the first identifier field. Therefore, the second communication device can indicate to the first communication device the sequence number of the PPDU corresponding to the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device (e.g., the second communication device selects the first transmitting antenna combination), so that the first communication device can correctly determine the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device based on the sequence number of the PPDU fed back by the second communication device. This enables a scheme for antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in a large-scale antenna scenario.

[0174] Implementation method a2

[0175] In another possible implementation, the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination can be the group identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0176] The first communication device can obtain the correspondence between the transmitting antenna combination and the group identifier of the transmitting antenna combination. Therefore, when the first communication device transmits a PPDU in S402, it can carry indication information indicating the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination corresponding to the PPDU.

[0177] The second communication device can obtain the correspondence between the transmitting antenna combination and its group identifier, or it may not obtain (or be unaware of) this correspondence. Since the PPDU received by the second communication device carries indication information indicating the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination corresponding to that PPDU, the second communication device can determine the correspondence between the antenna selection feedback result of the transmitting antenna corresponding to the PPDU and the transmitting antenna combination, regardless of whether it knows the correspondence between the group identifiers of the antenna combination and the transmitting antenna combination. Therefore, the second communication device can indicate to the first communication device the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device (e.g., the second communication device selects the first transmitting antenna combination), so that the first communication device can correctly determine the transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device based on the identifier fed back by the second communication device. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0178] The identification of the antenna assembly may also include the following possible implementations:

[0179] Implementation method a2-1

[0180] The first communication device can negotiate with the second communication device, through which the first communication device can inform the second communication device of the total number of transmit antenna combinations it supports. For example, the first communication device sends a ninth frame to the second communication device. The ninth frame includes seventh indication information, which indicates the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. The ninth frame can be an MPDU (Multi-Level Display Unit). Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the transmit antenna selection process based on the seventh indication information, and the second communication device can also decide whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0181] The first communication device can set a group identifier for the transmitting antenna combination supported by the first communication device. The second communication device may not need to obtain (or be unaware of) the correspondence between the group identifiers of the antenna combinations and the transmitting antenna combinations.

[0182] Since the transmitting antenna combination and its identifier are in a one-to-one correspondence, if the second communication device receives two PPDUs with the same antenna combination identifier at different times, and the detected channel changes, the second communication device can determine that the channel itself has changed because the two PPDUs contain the same antenna combination identifier.

[0183] Implementation method a2-2

[0184] In this application embodiment, the correspondence between the transmitting antenna combination and the group identifier on the first communication device side can be predetermined (e.g., specified in a standard). This correspondence can be preset on the first communication device side, or it can be sent to the first communication device by other communication devices. In this way, the first communication device can know the transmitting antenna combination identifier of each transmitting antenna combination so that it can carry it when transmitting PPDU.

[0185] This correspondence can be either not pre-set on the second communication device side, or it can be pre-set on the second communication device side, or it can be sent to the second communication device by another communication device. In this way, the second communication device can determine which antennas are specifically included in the first transmit antenna combination identifier based on the first identifier field indicated by the first transmit antenna combination identifier in the received first PPDU. Furthermore, since there is a one-to-one correspondence between the transmit antenna combination and its identifier, if the second communication device receives two PPDUs with the same antenna combination identifier at different times, and the detected channel changes, the second communication device can determine that the channel itself has changed because the two PPDUs contain the same antenna combination identifier. Furthermore, the second communication device can also determine the specific transmit antenna combination corresponding to the transmit antenna combination identifier, thereby obtaining more link-related information and providing assistance for subsequent processes.

[0186] Implementation methods a2-3

[0187] The first communication device and the second communication device negotiate to determine the group identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0188] The first communication device and the second communication device can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the transmitting antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first communication device and the second communication device set a group identifier for the transmitting antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0189] For example, the first communication device sends a fourth frame to the second communication device. The second communication device receives the fourth frame. The fourth frame can be an MPDU. The fourth frame includes a fourth identification field, which is used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, and the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination includes the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0190] Thus, the first communication device can know the transmit antenna combination identifier for each transmit antenna combination so that it can be carried when transmitting the PPDU. Furthermore, the second communication device can determine which antennas are included in the first transmit antenna combination identifier based on the first identifier field indicated in the received first PPDU. It can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more antenna combination-related information through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0191] It is worth noting that the above-described implementation methods a1 and a2 can be implemented individually or in combination. For example, the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination may include: the serial number of the first PPDU corresponding to the first transmitting antenna combination, and the group identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. In this way, the first transmitting antenna combination can be indicated more accurately, and the flexibility of the solution can be improved.

[0192] In this embodiment, the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination can be represented as one or more characters, or as one or more bits, such as one or more bits corresponding to a binary number. The information carried in the first identifier field can be all or part of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, which will be described separately below.

[0193] Implementation method b1

[0194] The first identifier field includes all the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. In other words, the first identifier field carries all the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can uniquely identify a transmitting antenna combination based on the first identifier field carried in the PPDU.

[0195] Implementation method b2

[0196] Considering the precious bits in the PPDU preamble, to conserve bits, the first identifier field includes a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. This saves the number of bits occupied by the first identifier field in the PPDU. However, this implementation may have the following issues:

[0197] When there are many transmitting antenna combinations, and since the first identification field only carries part of the bits corresponding to the identification of the first transmitting antenna combination, it is possible that there are two PPDUs among the multiple PPDUs sent by the first communication device, and the fields used to indicate the identification of the transmitting antenna combination in the two PPDUs carry the same content.

[0198] In this case, there may be multiple implementation methods: for example, the first communication device carries all the bits of the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination corresponding to the PPDU in the first frame mentioned above. In this way, the second communication device can determine all the bits of the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination corresponding to the PPDU according to the order of the received PPDUs and the field in the PPDU used to indicate the identifier of the transmitting antenna combination, so that the second communication device can indicate all the bits of the identifier of the selected first transmitting antenna combination to the first communication device.

[0199] For example, the second communication device can feed back the order of the PPDU corresponding to the selected first transmitting antenna combination, as well as the partial bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination carried in the PPDU, to the first communication device, so that the first communication device can determine the first transmitting antenna combination by combining the order of the transmitted PPDU and the partial bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0200] Based on the above, Figure 5 exemplarily illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application. Figure 5 adds S501 and S502 to Figure 4. It should be noted that S501 and S502 are optional steps, not mandatory. After S502, the first communication device can execute the above-described S401 and S402, and the second communication device can execute S403. The frames involved in the embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the signaling interaction diagram shown in Figure 5.

[0201] As shown in Figure 5, the method includes:

[0202] S501, the first communication device sends the first trigger frame.

[0203] The first trigger frame can be used to notify the second communication device that it needs to select a receiving antenna.

[0204] S502, the second communication device sends a third frame. The third frame includes third instruction information. The third instruction information is used to request transmission antenna channel detection.

[0205] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the third frame.

[0206] In this embodiment, the second communication device can send the third frame based on the triggering of the first trigger frame in S501, or it can send the third frame independently. This embodiment does not impose any limitations. For distinction, in FIG5, the frame sent by STA203 (the second communication device) requesting the first communication device to send information for transmitting antenna channel detection is referred to as the third frame. Other frames sent by the second communication device to request the first communication device to send information for transmitting antenna channel detection can also refer to the relevant description of the third frame.

[0207] The third frame can be called a transmit antenna selection sounding request. In another possible implementation, it can also be understood as the third instruction information used to instruct the first communication device to send information for performing transmit antenna channel sounding. The information for performing transmit antenna channel sounding can be understood as: continuous sounding PPDU.

[0208] The third frame may also include the number of PPDUs requested from the first communication device. Thus, the first communication device can determine how many PPDUs to send based on the number of PPDUs carried in the third frame, thereby enabling the first communication device to determine the number of PPDUs to be sent subsequently based on the needs of the second communication device, so that the number of PPDUs subsequently sent by the first communication device matches the needs of the second communication device as closely as possible. The number of PPDUs sent by the first communication device can be the same as or different from the number of PPDUs requested from the first communication device in the third frame.

[0209] In WLAN, APs and STAs can transmit control signaling, management signaling, or data through Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) (or simply MAC frames). A third frame can be carried within an MPDU that includes a High Throughput Control (HTC) field in the MAC frame header.

[0210] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary structural diagram of an MPDU capable of carrying a third frame, provided by an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the MPDU may include a frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence (FCS). The frame header may include frame control, corresponding address information, sequence control information, etc. The frame body can be used to carry data transmitted from the upper layer or some management and control information. The frame check sequence (FCS) is used to verify whether the MPDU has been transmitted correctly.

[0211] As shown in Figure 6, this MPDU includes a high throughput control (HT control) field. This HT control field currently has three variants: high throughput variant, very high throughput variant, and high efficiency variant. The variant related to the third frame is the high efficiency variant; it can also be understood that the third indication information is carried in the high efficiency variant field of the third frame.

[0212] The HT control field has an efficient variant that includes the Aggregated Control (A-control) subfield. It can also be described as the A-Control subfield within the HE variant HT control field. The corresponding English translation is: "The format of the A-Control subfield of the HE variant HT Control field".

[0213] The A-Control subfield can carry one to N1 control information entries through a structure of one or more control identification fields plus control information fields. N1 can be a positive integer; in the example of Figure 6, N1 is an integer greater than 2. The control identification field can indicate the type of control information and determine its length. The control information field can be divided into an antenna selection command field and an antenna selection data field. The third indication information is carried in at least one of the control identification field, antenna selection command field, or antenna selection data field of the A-control subfield.

[0214] In this embodiment, the control ID value of the control identification word field, which is not yet used in the standard, can be used to indicate the transmit antenna selection process in this embodiment. For example, the control ID value of the control identification word field can be one of 9, 11-14. In this case, the length of the control information field can be up to 26 bits.

[0215] The antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field can occupy more than 7 bits. The antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field can occupy no more than 26 bits. The antenna selection data field can occupy more than 4 bits.

[0216] In this embodiment, the antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field in Figure 6 can be set according to actual needs. Table 1 provides an example of a possible antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field. Taking the second row of Table 1 as an example, as shown in Table 1, when the antenna selection command field is 0, it indicates that the current frame is used for transmitting antenna channel detection, and the antenna selection data field can indicate the number of remaining untransmitted PPDUs. The contents of the other rows are also just examples and will not be described further.

[0217] Table 1. Examples of a possible antenna selection command field and antenna selection data field. Antenna selection command field Meaning of antenna selection command Antenna selection data field (greater than 4 bits) 0 Transmit antenna selection detection indication Indicates the number of remaining untransmitted probe PPDUs. 1 Send antenna selection request or send antenna selection probe recovery. When the antenna selection command is to send an antenna selection request The indicator is 0. 2 Receive Antenna Selection Detection Indicator Indicates the number of remaining probe PPDUs to be received. 3 Receive Antenna Select Detection Request Number of PPDUs required for detection 4 Sounding Label During antenna selection feedback, the sequence number of the probe PPDU corresponding to the channel status information frame. 5 No feedback due to antenna selection failure or outdated feedback. The sequence number of the first probe PPDU that was not received correctly. Where 0 indicates that the antenna selected the first probe PPDU in the training sequence, or that no probe PPDU was received correctly, or that a complete retraining sequence is requested. 6 Send Antenna Selection Probe Indication - Request to Display Channel Status Information Indicates the number of remaining untransmitted probe PPDUs. 7 Reserved Reserved

[0218] As can be seen, compared to the antenna selection process based on the High Throughput Control (HTC) field in 802.11n, which supports a maximum of 4 RF chains, 8 antennas, and 16 antenna combinations, this embodiment, due to the larger number of bits in the control information field, can carry more types of antenna selection commands through the MPDU shown in Figure 6. The antenna selection data field is also greater than 4 bits, thus supporting a larger number of PPDUs (more than 16 types), and consequently, a larger number of antenna combinations (more than 16 types). Furthermore, since existing standards distinguish between antenna selection command fields and antenna selection data fields, dividing the A-control subfield into antenna selection command fields and antenna selection data fields in the high-efficiency variant allows for greater compatibility with the command formats in existing standards.

[0219] In the above S401, the first communication device can send the first frame based on the third frame sent by the second communication device, or it can send the first frame itself. This application embodiment does not impose any restrictions. The first frame can be a frame that includes first indication information for notifying the second communication device to perform transmission antenna channel detection. For example, the first frame can be a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame.

[0220] The first frame includes first indication information. The first frame may also include the number of NDPs and / or a second identification field. The second identification field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine the number of NDPs that need to be received subsequently based on the first frame, so as to check whether any NDPs have been missed.

[0221] In one possible implementation, when the NDPA frame includes a second identifier field, the second identifier field may include all bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination. Thus, the first identifier field in the first PPDU subsequently transmitted by the first communication device can carry only a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by the first identifier field in the first PPDU. Furthermore, it allows the second communication device to determine all bits of the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination corresponding to the first PPDU by combining the second identifier field and the first identifier field.

[0222] Figure 7 illustrates a structural diagram of the first frame provided in this application when the first frame is an NDPA frame. The second identifier field and the number of NDPs are not necessarily included in the NDPA frame. Figure 7 shows an example of the first frame including the second identifier field, the number of NDPs, and the first indication information.

[0223] As shown in Figure 7, an NDPA frame may include frame control, duration, receive address, send address, sounding dialog token, one or more station information (such as station information 1 (STA Info 1), station information 2 (STA Info 2), station information 3 (STA Info 3)... station information N2 (STA Info N2) in Figure 7), and may also include a frame check sequence.

[0224] In this embodiment, a specific associated identifier of the site information field can be used to indicate that the information in the site information field is antenna selection related information. For example, at least one of the first indication information, the number of NDPs, or the second identifier field can be carried in at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information. The second indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information. Thus, the second communication device can determine that the site information field carrying the second indication information carries antenna selection related information when the second indication information is identified, and then obtain the antenna selection related information from the site information field. The second indication information can distinguish the site information field carrying antenna selection related information from other conventional site information fields corresponding to a certain site, so that in the scheme of carrying antenna selection related information using site information fields, it will not affect the conventional site information fields corresponding to a certain site, thus achieving compatibility with existing standards.

[0225] The second indication information can be carried in the associated identifier field of the site information field. The second indication information includes one of 2008-2043 or 2046. For example, when the associated identifier field is one of 2008-2043 or 2046, it indicates that the site information field transmits antenna selection related information. Thus, the second communication device can determine whether the site information field carries antenna selection related information or site information corresponding to a specific second communication device based on the associated identifier field. It can be seen that this scheme is more compatible with existing technologies. Figure 7 illustrates this using site information field 1 and site information field 2 carrying antenna selection related information as examples.

[0226] The first indication information can also be referred to as antenna selection type, antenna selection NDPA variant indication information, or NDPA frame variant seed type. The first indication information is also used to indicate that the variant of the NDPA frame is an antenna selection variant. Generally, an NDPA frame instructing the second communication device to perform antenna selection is followed by multiple (more than one) NDPs, while an NDPA frame instructing the second communication device to perform channel probing is followed by one NDP. The number of NDPs following the NDPA frame affects the time it takes for the second communication device to receive the NDPs and the feedback from the second communication device. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first indication information can be used to indicate to the second communication device that the variant of the NDPA frame is an antenna selection variant. Additionally, the information carried in a specific association identifier field (the second indication information) can also achieve a similar effect. That is, when the second communication device identifies a specific association identifier (the second indication information), since the second indication information indicates that the station information field includes antenna selection-related information, the second communication device can also determine that the variant of the NDPA frame is an antenna selection variant based on the second indication information.

[0227] Since NDPA frames with the HT control field are no longer supported from the 802.11ax standard to the 802.11be standard, the site information field of the NDPA frame carries the corresponding antenna selection related information, which can realize the indication of the information required for antenna selection. Moreover, the association identifier of the site information field is a special association identifier, and multiple second communication devices can read the content of the site information field.

[0228] Figure 7 also shows a schematic diagram of the information carried in the regular site information field. Figure 7 uses the N2 field of site information as an example to illustrate the information carried by a regular site. N2 can be an integer greater than 1. As shown in Figure 7, the association identifier field of the N2 field carries the association identifier of the site. The N2 field of site information can also include partial bandwidth information (Partial BW Info), used to indicate the resources used by the STA feedback channel status information. This can be a continuous segment of RUs indicated by the start index to the end index of the resource unit (RU). Additionally, the number of groupings (Ng) indicates that Ng subcarriers are grouped together. This group of subcarriers only needs to provide unified feedback channel status information, reducing the number of bits occupied by the feedback. The codebook size indicates the quantization accuracy; different accuracies correspond to different overheads.

[0229] In this embodiment of the application, the first frame can also be used to notify which one or more second communication devices will perform transmit antenna channel detection. For example, the association identifier of the second communication device that needs to perform transmit antenna channel detection can be carried in the association identifier field of the site information field of the NDPA frame. When a second communication device determines that its own association identifier matches the association identifier carried in an association identifier field of the NDPA frame, the second communication device can determine that it needs to perform transmit antenna channel detection.

[0230] The number of bits in each field in Figure 7 is for illustrative purposes only; the specific number of bits is not limited by the present invention. The NDPA frames in this embodiment can also use the NDPA frame structure adopted in the current IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, and IEEE 802.11be standards, or a new NDPA frame can be defined to carry relevant information in the newly defined common fields.

[0231] In S402 above, the first PPDU transmitted by the first communication device may not include a data field, such as an NDP, or it may include a data field. Figures 8a and 8b below exemplarily show a structural schematic diagram of the first PPDU when the first PPDU is an NDP, and Figure 8c exemplarily shows a structural schematic diagram of the first PPDU including a data field. The following descriptions are in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0232] The NDP shown in Figure 8a can be a probe PPDU of the 802.11be standard. The NDP shown in Figure 8a can also be an EHT probe PPDU, also known as EHT sounding NDP, or EHT NDP. EHT sounding NDP is a transmission mode of EHT MU PPDU used for channel sounding, indicating that the first communication device obtains channel status information between the transmitting and receiving ends, and then performs beamforming and resource scheduling.

[0233] As shown in Figure 8a, the EHT sounding NDP may include a preamble and a packet extension (PE). The first identifier field is located in the first PPDU preamble.

[0234] The preamble can include traditional preambles. Traditional preambles can include Legacy Short Training Field (L-STF), Legacy Long Training Field (L-LTF), and Legacy Signal Field (L-SIG). Traditional preambles are used to ensure coexistence between new and legacy devices. The L-SIG may contain a length field, which can indirectly indicate the duration of the portion following the L-SIG in the PPDU.

[0235] The preamble can also include repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG) entries in the traditional signaling fields to enhance their reliability. Additionally, it provides an automatic detection method that allows the receiver to identify whether a data packet is an EHT PPDU by detecting features such as whether two symbols are identical or the remainder of the length in the L-SIG.

[0236] The preamble may also include a Universal Signal Field (U-SIG), which can exist in the PPDU in the 802.11be standard and several subsequent generations of standards. The U-SIG can indicate which generation of standard the PPDU is, or an EHT PPDU or a later PPDU.

[0237] The preamble can also be included in the extremely high throughput signal field (EHT-SIG) following the U-SIG. Both the U-SIG and EHT-SIG can carry signaling information required for demodulation of subsequent data fields.

[0238] The first identifier field may include some or all bits from U-SIG, and / or some or all bits from EHT-SIG. In EHT sounding NDP, the U-SIG field may contain two symbols, and the EHT-SIG field may contain one symbol. Currently, B20-B24 of the first symbol in U-SIG and B14-B15 of the EHT-SIG field are "Disregard"; B25 of the first symbol in U-SIG and B2 and B8 of the second symbol in U-SIG are "Validate". Disregard and Validate are two types of reserved bits. In this embodiment, these reserved bits from existing standards can be used as bits in the first identifier field. In this embodiment, one or more bits from B20-B24 of the first symbol in U-SIG, B14-B15 of the EHT-SIG field, B25 of the first symbol in U-SIG, and B2 and B8 of the second symbol in U-SIG can be used as bits in the first identifier field. This allows it to be compatible with existing technologies.

[0239] EHT sounding NDP can also include Extreme High Throughput Short Training Field (EHT-STF) and Extreme High Throughput Long Training Field (EHT-LTF). EHT-STF and EHT-LTF can be used for automatic gain control and channel estimation, respectively. Packet expansion can provide more time for the second communication device to process data.

[0240] Figure 8a uses the EHT sounding NDP as an example to introduce the first PPDU. The embodiments of this application are also applicable to standards after EHT, such as next generation (NG) sounding NDP.

[0241] Figure 8b illustrates an exemplary structural diagram of the first PPDU when the first PPDU is an NG sounding NDP. As shown in Figure 8b, the NG sounding NDP may include a preamble and a packet extension (PE). The first identifier field is located in the preamble of the first PPDU.

[0242] The preamble can include traditional preambles. Traditional preambles can include Legacy Short Training Field (L-STF), Legacy Long Training Field (L-LTF), Legacy Signal Field (L-SIG), Repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG), Universal Signal Field (U-SIG), and Next Generation Signal Field (NG-SIG). The first identifier field can be some or all bits in U-SIG, and / or some or all bits in NG-SIG. That is, one or more bits from U-SIG and NG-SIG serve as the first identifier field.

[0243] NG sounding NDP can also include next-generation short training field (NG-STF) and next-generation long training field (NG-LTF). NG-STF and NG-LTF can be used for automatic gain control and channel estimation, respectively. Packet expansion can provide more time for the second communication device to process data.

[0244] Figure 8c exemplarily illustrates a structural diagram of a first PPDU including a data field. Figure 8c is shown as an example of adding a data field to the structure of Figure 8b. The first PPDU shown in Figure 8c can also be called an MPDU. Compared to the first PPDU shown in Figure 8b, Figure 8c adds a data field. The data field may include an A-control subfield. The A-control subfield in Figure 8c can be found in the description of the A-control subfield in Figure 6 above.

[0245] The first identifier field can be some or all of the bits from at least one of the following: U-SIG, NG-SIG, or data fields. For example, the first identifier field can be the bits from the control identification word field, the antenna selection command field, and the antenna selection data field in Figure 8c.

[0246] For example, the control identification field can be one of 9, 11-14, the antenna selection command field can define a new identification field to indicate that the antenna selection command field is used to indicate that the current first PPDU is the first PPDU for transmitting antenna channel detection, and the antenna selection data field can indicate the identifier of the first PPDU (for example, it can indicate the serial number of the first PPDU).

[0247] In another possible implementation, the first identifier field may also include a portion of the bits in the A-control subfield. For example, a portion of the bits in the A-control subfield may be designated as the first identifier field to indicate the identifier of the first PPDU.

[0248] Figure 8c illustrates an example where the first PPDU is a next-generation PPDU. In this embodiment, the first PPDU can also be an EHT PPDU including data fields. For example, the first PPDU can be an EHT MPDU including data fields. Specifically, the structure can be an EHT MPDU with added data fields, as shown in Figure 8a. These data fields can include an A-control subfield. The A-control subfield can be described in the aforementioned description of the A-control subfield in Figure 6. When the first PPDU is an EHT MPDU, the first identifier field can be some or all of the bits from at least one of the following: U-SIG, EHT-SIG, or data fields. Related details can be found in the foregoing discussion and will not be repeated here.

[0249] The second frame may include a MIMO Control field. The MIMO control field is located within the frame body, for example, it can be carried within the frame body of an Action frame or an Action No ACK frame. Figure 9 exemplarily illustrates a structural diagram of the MIMO Control field in the second frame when the aforementioned second frame is a beamforming report frame. It should be noted that, to more clearly illustrate the frame structure, the frame structure is shown in three rows in Figure 9.

[0250] As shown in Figure 9, the third identifier field may include some or all of the bits in the MIMO Control field. The third identifier field includes all the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination. Thus, the first communication device can determine that the transmit antenna combination selected by the second communication device is the first transmit antenna combination based on the third identifier field in the second frame. Furthermore, the purpose of adding the third identifier field in the second frame can be achieved using the bits in the existing MIMO Control field; this solution does not increase the length of the second frame and is more compatible with existing technologies.

[0251] In one possible implementation, the third identification field may include two parts: an antenna combination identification field and a probe PPDU serial number field. The antenna combination identification field may carry the group identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination, and the probe PPDU serial number field may carry the serial number of the first PPDU corresponding to the first transmitting antenna combination. Figure 9 illustrates an example where the third identification field includes both the antenna combination identification field and the probe PPDU serial number field. The third identification field may also include only one of these two fields.

[0252] In another possible implementation, the second frame may also include an antenna selection failure feedback field. A value of 1 in this field indicates that antenna selection failed, while a value of 0 indicates that antenna selection was successful. The antenna selection failure feedback field can also be included in the MIMO control field.

[0253] In another possible implementation, the second frame may further include at least one of: compressed beamforming report, multi-user dedicated beamforming report, and channel quality status report. For example, the channel quality status report may include at least one of the channel state information (CSI) or channel quality information (CQI) corresponding to the PPDU.

[0254] Among them, one or more of the compressed beamforming report, multi-user dedicated beamforming report, and channel quality status report can be carried in other fields in the second frame besides the MIMO Control field. Of course, at least one of the antenna combination identification field and the probe PPDU serial number field included in the above-mentioned third identification field can also be set in other fields. For example, the probe PPDU serial number field can be located in the A-control subfield.

[0255] As can be seen from the above, in the case where the NDPA frame and other frames do not support high throughput control fields, this application embodiment designs an antenna selection process based on NDPA (first frame) + NDP (PPDU) + feedback (second frame). This antenna selection process can match the current channel detection process, and it requires little modification to the equipment at both ends of the receiver and transmitter, making it relatively simple to implement.

[0256] Additionally, it should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the second communication device can provide feedback on one antenna selection result or multiple antenna selection results.

[0257] For example, the second communication device can select a set of transmitting antennas based on the entire bandwidth. In this case, the first transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device is a selection based on the entire bandwidth. Alternatively, the second communication device can select a set of transmitting antennas based on each sub-bandwidth. In this case, the first transmitting antenna combination corresponds to one sub-bandwidth; that is, the first transmitting antenna combination is a selection based on one sub-bandwidth. Of course, the two sets of transmitting antenna combinations selected by the second communication device based on the two sub-bandwidths may be the same or different, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0258] In addition, the second communication device can also provide feedback on the selected transmitting antenna combination based on different spatial stream numbers, or based on at least one of the channel condition number or signal-to-noise ratio, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0259] In another possible implementation, when multiple second communication devices exist, the first communication device can send a first trigger frame to trigger multiple second communication devices to simultaneously report their respective antenna selection feedback results. Furthermore, the number of bits in Figure 9 is merely an example, and N = 3 is a positive integer.

[0260] Based on the above, Figure 10 illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application.

[0261] Figure 10 illustrates the interaction between the first communication device and the second communication device as an example. In this embodiment, the first communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected transmitter, and the second communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected responder.

[0262] The first communication device in Figure 10 can be the same as the first communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The second communication device in Figure 10 can be the same as the second communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The first and second communication devices in Figure 10 can both be APs, both be STAs, or be APs and STAs respectively. Figure 10 illustrates this with the first communication device being an AP and the second communication device being a STA as an example.

[0263] The solution provided in this application can be applied to the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and a single STA, or to the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs. Figure 10 illustrates the process of transmitting antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs (such as STA203, STA204, and STA205 in Figure 10) as an example.

[0264] As shown in Figure 10, the method includes:

[0265] S601, the first communication device sends an eleventh frame to the second communication device. The eleventh frame includes first indication information, which instructs the second communication device to perform transmission antenna channel detection.

[0266] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the eleventh frame from the first communication device.

[0267] S602, the first communication device sends a third PPDU to the second communication device. The third PPDU is used by the second communication device to detect the transmitting antenna channel.

[0268] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third PPDU from the first communication device.

[0269] The third PPDU may include M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection.

[0270] S603, the second communication device provides feedback on the antenna selection result.

[0271] As can be seen from the above scheme, in this application embodiment, the first communication device can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M1 group of transmitting antenna combinations that need to be transmitted in S602 into one PPDU, thereby saving overhead, improving the efficiency of antenna selection, and increasing the system throughput.

[0272] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary frame structure diagram of a third PPDU. As shown in Figure 11, the third PPDU may include M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations. M1 is an integer greater than 1. The first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection.

[0273] The first information field includes at least one of the following: the EHT short training field, the EHT long training field, and the data package extension field. Any two first information fields use different transmit antenna combinations. For example, the three transmit antenna combinations shown in Figure 11 represent the first information field corresponding to the transmit antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0, the first information field corresponding to the transmit antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, ..., the first information field corresponding to the transmit antenna combination with antenna combination ID=M1.

[0274] As shown in Figure 11, the third PPDU may also include a preamble. The preamble includes at least one of the following fields: L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, or EHT-SIG. For a description of the preamble, please refer to the relevant description in Figure 8a above, which will not be repeated here.

[0275] As shown in Figure 11, in S602, the M1 PPDUs corresponding to the M1 groups of transmitting antennas that originally needed to be transmitted are aggregated into a third PPDU, thereby saving (M1-1) preambles.

[0276] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 11, each first information field can include a data packet extension field, such as data packet extension 0 in the first information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=0, data packet extension 1 in the first information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=1, ... data packet extension M1 in the first information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=M1. Among these, the duration of any two data packet extensions (data packet extension 0 to data packet extension (M1-1)) can be the same, except for the last data packet extension M1. The duration of these data packet extension fields can be used to provide more processing time for the second communication device, and also to provide time for the first communication device to switch antennas. Furthermore, this duration can be set shorter, just enough for the first communication device to switch antennas.

[0277] In one possible implementation, the duration of the data packet extension fields in at least two of the M1 first information fields can be different. For example, the duration of data packet extension M1 can also be different from the duration of data packet extension 1. The duration of data packet extension M1 can be set slightly longer, and the duration of data packet extension 1 can be set slightly shorter, sufficient for the first communication device to switch antennas. Furthermore, in this implementation, the duration of any two data packet extensions (data packet extension 0 to data packet extension (M1-1)) other than the last data packet extension M1 can be the same or different.

[0278] In another possible implementation, the duration of the data packet extension field in any two of the M1 first information fields is the same. This improves the consistency of the receiving process.

[0279] Compared to the first communication device transmitting M1 PPDUs corresponding to the transmitting antennas, the scheme shown in Figure 11 only requires transmitting one third PPDU to achieve the purpose of transmitting M1 sets of information for transmitting antenna channel detection. Furthermore, this scheme can save (M1-1) sets of preambles (L-STF to EHT-SIG) and short frame intervals (SIFS). If the time taken for any two of the data packet extensions from 0 to (M1-1) is equal, and the duration of data packet extension 0 is shorter than the duration of data packet extension M1, then the time difference between data packet extension M1 and data packet extension 0 can also be saved.

[0280] For example, the preamble (L-STF to EHT-SIG) in the third PPDU takes 36 microseconds, the packet extension M1 takes 16 microseconds, SIFS takes 16 microseconds, and the time from packet extension 0 to any packet extension (M1-1) is 4 microseconds. M1=64. Compared to transmitting the PPDU corresponding to M1 transmit antennas (which includes a preamble and a first information field, and the data extension field included in the first information field is 16 microseconds), transmitting the third PPDU can save: 36×(64-1)+16×(64-1)+(16-4)×(64-1)=4032 microseconds.

[0281] It should be noted that Figure 11 is merely an example of one possible PPDU structure for a third PPDU, in which EHT-SIG is transmitted once. In another possible implementation, EHT-SIG can also appear in groups, for example, each first information field may include one EHT-SIG. Furthermore, Figure 10 illustrates the transmission of one third PPDU by the first communication device. In practical applications, in S602, the first communication device can send one or more third PPDUs, and the number of first information fields included in each third PPDU can be the same or different.

[0282] Additionally, it should be noted that Figure 10 of this application embodiment provides an implementation method for aggregating PPDUs transmitted by the first communication device. This implementation method can be used in conjunction with the antenna selection scheme provided in Figure 4 or Figure 5 above, or it can be implemented independently. The eleventh frame in S601 of this application embodiment can be an NDPA frame.

[0283] When used in combination, the relevant content of S601 can be found in the relevant content of S401 mentioned above, and the relevant content of the eleventh frame can be found in the relevant introduction of the first frame mentioned above. The relevant content of S603 can be found in the relevant content of S403 mentioned above, and the relevant content of the antenna selection feedback result can be found in the relevant introduction of the second frame mentioned above. When used in combination, the number of NDPs mentioned in Figure 4 or Figure 5 can be equivalent to the number of first information fields mentioned in Figure 10. When used in combination, the structure of the first PPDU can refer to the structure of the third PPDU, that is, the first PPDU can also include first information fields corresponding to multiple transmit antenna combinations. For example, the first PPDU includes the first information field corresponding to the first transmit antenna and also includes the first information field corresponding to the second transmit antenna. The first PPDU includes a preamble. In addition, the U-SIG in the preamble can be placed in each first information field. The first identifier field can be carried in each first information field.

[0284] Based on the above, Figure 12 illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of a receiving antenna channel detection method provided in this application.

[0285] Figure 12 illustrates the interaction between the first communication device and the second communication device as an example. In this embodiment, the first communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected transmitter, and the second communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected responder.

[0286] The first communication device in Figure 12 can be the first communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The second communication device in Figure 12 can be the second communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The first and second communication devices in Figure 12 can both be APs, both be STAs, or be APs and STAs respectively. Figure 12 illustrates this with the first communication device being an AP and the second communication device being a STA as an example.

[0287] The solution provided in this application can be applied to the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and a single STA, or to the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs. Figure 12 illustrates the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and a single STA (such as STA203 in Figure 12) as an example.

[0288] It should be noted that the scheme provided in Figure 12 is used to select the receiving antenna on the first communication device side. The schemes provided in Figures 4 and 10 are used to select the transmitting antenna on the first communication device side. The scheme in Figure 12 can be used in conjunction with Figure 4 or Figure 10, or it can be implemented independently. The schemes in Figure 4 or Figure 10 can also be implemented independently, or they can be used in conjunction with the scheme in Figure 12. When the schemes in Figure 4 and Figure 12 are used in combination, the first communication device can select the transmitting antenna using the scheme in Figure 4 and the receiving antenna using the scheme in Figure 12. When the schemes in Figure 10 and Figure 12 are used in combination, the first communication device can select the transmitting antenna using the scheme in Figure 10 and the receiving antenna using the scheme in Figure 12.

[0289] As shown in Figure 12, the method includes:

[0290] S701, the first communication device sends a fifth frame to the second communication device. The fifth frame includes fourth instruction information, which instructs the second communication device to detect the receiving antenna channel of the first communication device.

[0291] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the fifth frame from the first communication device.

[0292] In this application embodiment, the fifth frame may have multiple implementations, such as being the second trigger frame or an NDPA frame. These will be described in detail later and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0293] S702, the second communication device sends a second PPDU to the first communication device. The second PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection. The second PPDU includes a fifth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0294] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the second PPDU from the second communication device.

[0295] In one possible implementation, in S702, after the first communication device sends the fifth frame and after a short inter-frame space (SIFS), the second communication device sends one or more PPDUs, with adjacent PPDUs also separated by an SIFS interval. The second PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs sent by the second communication device in S702.

[0296] In one possible implementation, the second PPDU in S702 can be a PPDU that includes data fields.

[0297] In another possible implementation, the second PPDU in S702 may not include data fields; for example, the second PPDU may be an NDP without data fields. Since the NDP does not include data fields, using an NDP as the second PPDU can save overhead. This is especially true in scenarios involving massive MIMO (Massively Multi-Analog Devices), where the large number of antenna arrays leads to a larger number of second PPDUs used for receiver antenna channel probing, increasing the overhead of receiver antenna selection. The scheme using NDPs for receiver antenna channel probing can save even more overhead in massive MIMO scenarios.

[0298] In one possible implementation, the second communication device may send one or more PPDUs to the first communication device, wherein the second PPDU is one of the one or more PPDUs. Each of the one or more PPDUs may include a fifth identification field, which indicates the identifier of the receiving antenna combination corresponding to that PPDU. For example, since the second PPDU is used for receiving antenna channel detection of the first receiving antenna combination, the fifth identification field of the second PPDU indicates the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. As another example, if another PPDU among the one or more PPDUs, besides the second PPDU, is used for receiving antenna channel detection of the second receiving antenna combination, then the fifth identification field of that PPDU indicates the identifier of the second receiving antenna combination.

[0299] In this embodiment, the PPDU sent by the second communication device to the first communication device can also be understood as a probe PPDU, used for antenna channel detection. In one possible implementation, S703 is executed after S702:

[0300] S703, the first communication device performs receiving antenna channel detection based on the second PPDU and obtains the second antenna selection feedback result.

[0301] In S703, the first communication device can receive multiple PPDUs sent by the second communication device through different combinations of receiving antennas, thereby performing receiving antenna channel detection on different combinations of receiving antennas and obtaining the second antenna selection feedback result.

[0302] In this embodiment, the first communication device for detecting the receiving antenna channel can be a device with antenna selection capability (ASEL). The antenna selection capability transmitter (such as the second communication device) can use an NDP probe PPDU to perform ASEL channel detection.

[0303] In S703, the first communication device can perform receiving antenna channel detection based on the received one or more PPDUs to obtain one or more receiving antenna channel detection results. Furthermore, the first communication device can select a receiving antenna combination based on the obtained receiving antenna channel detection results.

[0304] Furthermore, the first communication device can indicate the identifier of the selected receiving antenna combination to the second communication device. For example, in S703, the first communication device can also transmit the second antenna selection feedback result in the sixth frame. The first communication device transmits the sixth frame. The sixth frame includes the second antenna selection feedback result, which includes a seventh identifier field used to indicate the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0305] It should be noted that the seventh identifier field can be used to carry an identifier for the receiving antenna combination selected by the first communication device. For example, if the receiving antenna combination selected by the first communication device is the first receiving antenna combination, then the seventh identifier field can be used to indicate the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. In this embodiment, the first receiving antenna combination selected by the first communication device is used as an example for illustration. In actual applications, the first communication device may also select other receiving antenna combinations (in which case, the seventh identifier field needs to indicate the other receiving antenna combination), and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions.

[0306] In this embodiment, the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna of the first communication device selected may be the same or different. That is, the first transmitting antenna combination and the first receiving antenna combination may be the same antenna combination or different antenna combinations. This embodiment does not impose any restrictions.

[0307] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the sixth frame from the first communication device.

[0308] It should be noted that the first communication device may or may not send the sixth frame. S403 is optional. The first communication device performs receiving antenna channel detection based on the second PPDU, obtains the second antenna selection feedback result, and receives data from the second communication device according to the selected first receiving antenna combination.

[0309] In one possible implementation, after S702, the first communication device can perform receive antenna channel detection based on PPDUs from one or more second communication devices to obtain antenna selection feedback results. S703 uses one second communication device as an example; the schemes for other second communication devices are similar and will not be described further.

[0310] It should be noted that the antenna selection feedback results for different second communication devices may be different or the same, and this application embodiment does not limit this. Alternatively, it can be understood that the receiving antenna combinations of the first communication devices corresponding to different second communication devices may be different or the same, and this application embodiment does not limit this. For example, in Figure 12, STA203 (second communication device) selects the first receiving antenna combination, while other second communication devices may select the first receiving antenna combination or other receiving antenna combinations.

[0311] As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment, by adding a fifth identifier field to the second PPDU, the first communication device can determine the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination corresponding to the received second PPDU. Furthermore, the first communication device can determine the receiving antenna channel detection result obtained based on the NDP as the receiving antenna channel detection result corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. Thus, the first communication device can determine the identifier of the receiving antenna combination selected based on the results of one or more receiving antenna channel detections, and then receive data from the second communication device according to the receiving antenna combination corresponding to the identifier of the selected receiving antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0312] Referring to Figure 12 for further explanation, in S702 above, the second communication device can send one or more PPDUs to the first communication device for detecting the receiving antenna channel of the first communication device. Each PPDU can correspond to an antenna combination of a set of receiving antennas. Each antenna combination of receiving antennas corresponds to an antenna combination identifier (identified as Antenna Combination Identification (ID) in Figure 12).

[0313] The antenna combinations schematically shown in Figure 12 are identified by antenna combination IDs of 0, 1, ..., R. R can be a positive integer. It should be noted that there is no necessary relationship between the number of transmitting antenna combinations and the number of receiving antenna combinations in the first communication device; they may be the same or different. The example of (R+1) receiving antenna combinations in Figure 12 is merely an example. The PPDUs schematically shown in Figure 12 are: PPDU(j0), PPDU(j1), ..., PPDU(jR). As shown in Figure 12, the second communication device transmits PPDU(j0) through the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0. The first communication device performs receiving antenna channel detection based on PPDU(j0) to obtain the receiving antenna channel detection result corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0. Similarly, the second communication device transmits PPDU(j1) through the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1... and PPDU(jR) through the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R. The first communication device obtains the receiving antenna channel detection results corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, ..., the receiving antenna channel detection results corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R. Further, the first communication device can select a set of receiving antenna combinations based on these R receiving antenna channel detection results, for example, selecting a first receiving antenna combination, and then receiving data from the second communication device through this first receiving antenna combination. Furthermore, the first communication device can also indicate the selected first receiving antenna combination to the second communication device.

[0314] The order of antenna combination identifiers in Figure 12 above is merely an example. In practical applications, the identifiers of the antenna combinations used by the first communication device to receive consecutive PPDUs can be arranged arbitrarily, such as being discontinuous or not arranged in ascending order. For example, the second communication device can sequentially: receive PPDUs (j1) from the second communication device through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, receive PPDUs (jR) from the second communication device through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=R, receive PPDUs (j0) from the second communication device through the transmitting antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0, and so on.

[0315] The following describes the relevant content of the identifier of the receiving antenna combination mentioned in the embodiments of this application.

[0316] In one possible implementation, the first communication device includes k² receiving antenna combinations. k² is a positive integer. R in Figure 12 can be a positive integer not greater than k². R can be equal to or less than k². There is a one-to-one correspondence between the k² receiving antenna combinations and their identifiers. That is, one receiving antenna combination among the k² receiving antenna combinations corresponds to one identifier among the k² receiving antenna combinations, and one identifier among the k² receiving antenna combinations corresponds to one receiving antenna combination among the k² receiving antenna combinations. The identifiers of any two receiving antenna combinations can be different. The first receiving antenna combination is one of the k² receiving antenna combinations, and will be used as an example in the following description.

[0317] There are several ways to identify the receiving antenna assembly, which will be introduced below.

[0318] Implementation method c1

[0319] In one possible implementation, the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination can be the serial number of the second PPDU corresponding to the first receiving antenna combination.

[0320] In implementation c1, the fifth identifier field can indicate the order of the second PPDU among the R PPDUs sent by the second communication device. When the PPDU sent by the first communication device in S702 is an NDP, it can also be understood that the fifth identifier field can indicate the order of the current NDP among the R NDPs sent by the second communication device. Thus, the first communication device can determine the correspondence between the second PPDU and the antenna selection feedback result of the receiving antenna based on the sequence number of the second PPDU indicated by the fifth identifier field. Therefore, the first communication device can determine the identifier of the receiving antenna combination selected based on the detection results of one or more receiving antenna channels, and then receive data from the second communication device according to the receiving antenna combination corresponding to the identifier of the selected receiving antenna combination. This enables antenna selection based on antenna channel detection results in large-scale antenna scenarios.

[0321] Implementation method c2

[0322] In another possible implementation, the identifier of the first receiving antenna assembly can be a group identifier of the first receiving antenna assembly. For details regarding the group identifier of the first receiving antenna assembly, please refer to the aforementioned details regarding the group identifier of the first transmitting antenna assembly. Embodiment c2 can be referenced from the above-described implementation a2.

[0323] The identification of the receiving antenna assembly may also include the following possible implementations:

[0324] Implementation method c2-1

[0325] The first communication device can negotiate with the second communication device, through which the first communication device can inform the second communication device of the total number of receiving antenna combinations it supports. For example, the first communication device sends a tenth frame to the second communication device. The tenth frame includes eighth indication information, which indicates the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. The tenth frame can be an MPDU (Multi-Level Display Unit). Thus, the second communication device can estimate the overhead and duration of the receiving antenna selection process based on the eighth indication information, and the second communication device can also decide whether to establish an association with the first communication device based on the total number of receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0326] The embodiment c2-1 can be referred to the above embodiment a2-1, and will not be repeated here.

[0327] Implementation method c2-2

[0328] In this application embodiment, the correspondence between the receiving antenna combination and the group identifier on the first communication device side can be predetermined (e.g., specified in a standard). This correspondence can be preset on the first communication device side, or it can be sent to the first communication device by other communication devices. In this way, the first communication device can know the receiving antenna combination identifier of each receiving antenna combination so that it can carry it when transmitting PPDU.

[0329] The implementation method c2-2 can be referred to the above implementation method a2-2, and will not be repeated here.

[0330] Implementation method c2-3

[0331] The first communication device and the second communication device negotiate to determine the group identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0332] The first and second communication devices can negotiate, through which the second communication device learns about the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device, and through negotiation, the first and second communication devices set a group identifier for the receiving antenna combinations supported by the first communication device. For example, the first communication device sends an eighth frame to the second communication device. The eighth frame can be an MPDU. The second communication device receives the eighth frame. The eighth frame includes an eighth identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination supported by the first communication device, and the identifier of at least one receiving antenna combination includes the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0333] In this way, the second communication device can know the receiver antenna combination identifier for each receiver antenna combination so that it can carry it when transmitting the PPDU. Moreover, it can be seen that the second communication device can obtain more information related to antenna combinations through negotiation, and subsequently obtain more link-related information, thereby providing assistance for other subsequent processes.

[0334] The embodiments c2-3 can be referred to the above embodiments a2-3, and will not be repeated here.

[0335] It is worth noting that the above-described implementation methods c1 and c2 can be implemented individually or in combination. For example, the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination may include: the serial number of the second PPDU corresponding to the first receiving antenna combination, and the group identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. In this way, the first receiving antenna combination can be indicated more accurately, and the flexibility of the solution can be improved.

[0336] In this embodiment, the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination can be represented as one or more characters, or as one or more bits, such as one or more bits corresponding to a binary number. The information carried in the fifth identifier field can be all or part of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. This implementation is similar to the relevant content of the first transmitting antenna combination, and can be referred to the relevant content of the aforementioned implementations b1 and b2 of the first transmitting antenna combination, which will not be repeated here.

[0337] Based on the above, Figure 13 exemplarily illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application. Figure 13 adds S801, S802, and S803 to Figure 12. Since the fifth frame in S701 of Figure 12 can be an NDPA frame or a second trigger frame, S701 can include both S801 and S803 implementations. After S801 or S803, the second communication device can execute the above-described S702, and the first communication device can execute S703. The frames involved in the embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the signaling interaction diagram shown in Figure 13.

[0338] As shown in Figure 13, the method includes:

[0339] S801, the first communication device sends the second trigger frame.

[0340] The second trigger frame can be used to notify the second communication device that it needs to select a receiving antenna.

[0341] S802, the second communication device sends the seventh frame. The seventh frame includes the sixth instruction information. The sixth instruction information is used to request the detection of the receiving antenna channel.

[0342] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the seventh frame.

[0343] In this embodiment, the second communication device can send the seventh frame based on the triggering of the second trigger frame in S801, or it can send the seventh frame on its own. This embodiment does not impose any limitations.

[0344] The following section introduces the various frame structures involved, based on Figures 13 and 12.

[0345] In one possible implementation, the fifth frame in S701 of this embodiment is the second trigger frame in S801. The second trigger frame may further include fourth indication information. The fourth indication information may be used to notify the second communication device that transmit antenna selection is required. Alternatively, the fourth indication information may be used to indicate that the second trigger frame is a variant of receive antenna selection. The fifth frame may further include the number of NDPs and / or a sixth identification field. The sixth identification field is used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0346] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of a second trigger frame. In another possible implementation, information related to the received antenna selection, such as the number of NDPs and / or the sixth identifier field, can be carried in some or all of the following bits: reserved bits in the public information field, or reserved bits in the user information list field, public information based on the trigger type, or site information based on the trigger frame type.

[0347] As shown in Figure 14, the second trigger frame can use the existing trigger structure to carry the content related to the receiving antenna selection in this embodiment within its existing fields. As shown in Figure 14, the second trigger frame may include a public information field and a user and information list field.

[0348] The public information field may include at least one of the following: trigger type, uplink (UL) length, more trigger frames, carrier sense required, uplink (HE) bandwidth, guard interval (GI) + EHT long training sequence type, multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) EHT-LTF mode, number of EHT-LTF symbols and midamble periodicity, uplink space-time block coding (UL STBC), low-density parity check code (LDPC) extra symbol segment, AP transmit power, pre-FEC padding factor, packet expansion disambiguation, and uplink spatial multiplexing (UL). Spatial Reuse, Doppler, Uplink HE-SIG-A2 Reserved, Reserved, Trigger-dependent common Info.

[0349] Among them, the uplink HE-SIG-A2 reservation (UL HE-SIG-A2 Reserved) may include HE / EHT indication, special user field presence indication, and other uplink HE-SIG-A2 reservations (other UL HE-SIG-A2 Reserved).

[0350] The user information list field can include one or more user information entries, such as User Information 1, User Information 2, ... User Information M in the diagram. These user information entries can be special user information fields, or they can be EHT variant user information fields.

[0351] The special user information fields may include: association identifier (AID12) (=2007), physical version ID, uplink EHT bandwidth extension (UL EHT BW Extension), uplink EHT spatial reuse 1 (UL EHT Spatial Reuse 1), uplink EHT spatial reuse 2 (UL EHT Spatial Reuse 2), general signaling fields disregard and validate (U-SIG Disregard And Validate), reserved, and trigger dependent user Info. In this embodiment, infonation can also be abbreviated as Info, representing information.

[0352] The EHT variant user information fields (User Info 2~M) may include the following: association identifier (AID12), resource unit allocation (RU Allocation), uplink forward error correction coding type (UL forward error correction coding Type), modulation and coding scheme (UL EHT modulation and coding scheme), reserved, spatial stream start value, spatial stream number, uplink target received signal strength indicator (UL target received signal strength indicator), PS160 primary and secondary 160MHz indicator, and trigger dependent user Info.

[0353] Table 2 provides an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the meaning of the trigger frame type values ​​for the second trigger frame shown in Figure 14. As can be seen from Table 2, values ​​8-15 for the trigger frame type of this second trigger frame are currently reserved in the standard. When the second trigger frame is selected as the fifth frame, the trigger frame type value can be selected from 8-15, thereby indicating that the second trigger frame is used for receiving antenna selection. The trigger frame type value of the second trigger frame can be used as a possible implementation of the fourth indication information.

[0354] Table 2. Schematic diagram illustrating the meaning of the values ​​for the trigger frame type of a second trigger frame. Trigger type subfield value Meaning of trigger frame variant values 0 Basic 1 Beamforming report poll (BFRP) 2 Multiple user block acknowledge request (MU-BAR) 3 Multiple User Request to Send (MU-RTS) 4 Buffer status report poll (BSRP) 5 Groupcast with Retries (GCR) MU-BAR 6 Bandwidth query report poll (BQRP) 7 NDP Feedback Report Poll (NFRP) 8-15 Reserved

[0355] In S802 above, the seventh frame can be called a receiver antenna selection sounding request. The seventh frame may also include a request for the second communication device to transmit a number of PPDUs. Thus, the first communication device can determine the number of PPDUs that the second communication device needs to transmit subsequently based on the number of PPDUs carried in the seventh frame, so that the number of PPDUs that the second communication device needs to transmit subsequently, as determined by the first communication device, matches the needs of the second communication device as closely as possible. The number of PPDUs transmitted by the second communication device can be the same as or different from the number of PPDUs requested in the seventh frame.

[0356] The seventh frame can be carried in an MPDU with a High Throughput Control (HTC) field in the MAC frame header. The frame structure of the seventh frame can adopt the frame structure shown in Figure 6 above. The variant related to the seventh frame is the high-efficiency variant, which can also be understood as the sixth indication information being carried in the high-efficiency variant field of the seventh frame. Among them, the sixth indication information is carried in at least one of the control identification word field, antenna selection command field, or antenna selection data field of the A-control subfield. In this embodiment, the control ID value of the control identification word field, which is not yet used in the standard, can be used to indicate the receiving antenna selection process in this embodiment. For example, the control ID value of the control identification word field can be one of 9, 11-14. At this time, the length of the control information field can be up to 26 bits. Regarding the beneficial effects of the seventh frame being an MPDU, please refer to the relevant description in Figure 6 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0357] In S803 above, the first communication device can send an NDPA frame based on the seventh frame sent by the second communication device, or it can send an NDPA frame itself; this embodiment does not impose any restrictions. In another possible implementation, the fifth frame in S701 can be an NDPA frame. In this case, the NDPA frame can be a frame that includes fourth indication information for notifying the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection.

[0358] The fifth frame (e.g., an NDPA frame) may also include the number of NDPs and / or a sixth identification field. The sixth identification field is used to indicate the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination.

[0359] In one possible implementation, when the NDPA frame includes a sixth identifier field, the sixth identifier field may include all bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. Thus, the fifth identifier field in the second PPDU subsequently transmitted by the second communication device can carry only a portion of the bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by the fifth identifier field in the second PPDU. Furthermore, it allows the first communication device to determine all bits of the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination corresponding to the second PPDU by combining the sixth and fifth identifier fields.

[0360] Figure 15 exemplarily illustrates a structural diagram of the fifth frame when the fifth frame is an NDPA frame. The sixth identifier field and the number of NDPs are not necessarily included in the NDPA frame. Figure 15 illustrates an example where the fifth frame includes the sixth identifier field, the number of NDPs, and the fourth indication information. The structure of the NDPA frame shown in Figure 15 differs from that shown in Figure 7 in that Figure 15 uses an identifier that includes the receiving antenna combination as an example, and the associated identifier field is shown as 2043. The remaining content and beneficial effects can be found in the description of Figure 7.

[0361] Similarly, in this embodiment, a specific associated identifier of the site information field can be used to indicate that the information in the site information field is antenna selection related information. For example, at least one of the fourth indication information, the number of NDPs, or the sixth identifier field can be carried in at least one site information field in the fifth frame that includes the fifth indication information. The fifth indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information. In this way, the second communication device can determine that the site information field carrying the fifth indication information carries antenna selection related information when the fifth indication information is identified, and then obtain the antenna selection related information from the site information field. The fifth indication information can distinguish the site information field carrying antenna selection related information from other conventional site information fields corresponding to a certain site, so that in the scheme of carrying antenna selection related information using site information fields, it will not affect the conventional site information fields corresponding to a certain site, thus achieving compatibility with existing standards.

[0362] Similar to Figure 7, the fifth indication information can be carried in the associated identifier field of the site information field. The fifth indication information includes one of 2008-2043 or 2046. Thus, the second communication device can determine whether the site information field carries antenna selection-related information or site information corresponding to a specific second communication device based on the associated identifier field. It can be seen that this scheme is more compatible with existing technologies. The fourth indication information can also be called antenna selection type, antenna selection NDPA variant indication information, or NDPA frame change seed type. The fourth indication information is also used to indicate that the variant of the NDPA frame is an antenna selection variant.

[0363] Since NDPA frames with the HT control field are no longer supported from the 802.11ax standard to the 802.11be standard, the site information field in this application carries the corresponding antenna selection related information, which can realize the indication of the information required for antenna selection. Moreover, the association identifier of the site information field is a special association identifier, and multiple second communication devices can read the content of the site information field.

[0364] In the above S702, the second PPDU sent by the second communication device may not include a data field, such as an NDP, or it may include a data field. These will be described separately below.

[0365] When the second PPDU does not include a data field, its structure can be the NDP structure shown in Figure 8a or Figure 8b. When the second PPDU is the NDP shown in Figure 8a or Figure 8b, the fifth identifier field is located in the preamble of the second PPDU. For example, the fifth identifier field may include some or all bits in the U-SIG, and / or some or all bits in the EHT-SIG. For related details, please refer to the descriptions in Figures 8a and 8b above; further elaboration is unnecessary.

[0366] In another possible implementation, when the second PPDU does not include a data field, the structure of the second PPDU can be the NDP structure shown in Figure 16a or Figure 16b. Figures 16a and 16b exemplify two structural diagrams of the second PPDU when it is an NDP. Compared to Figure 8a, Figure 16a does not have an EHT-SIG field; the remaining fields can be found in the relevant description of Figure 8a. Compared to Figure 8b, Figure 16b does not have an NG-SIG field; the remaining fields can be found in the relevant description of Figure 8b. When the second PPDU is an NDP as shown in Figure 16a or Figure 16b, the fifth identifier field is located in the preamble of the second PPDU. For example, the fifth identifier field can include some or all of the bits in U-SIG. For example, one or more bits from B20-B24 of the first symbol of U-SIG and B25 of the first symbol of U-SIG can be used as the fifth identifier field.

[0367] When the second PPDU includes a data field, its structure can be as shown in the frame structure diagram in Figure 8c. When the second PPDU is the frame shown in Figure 8c, the fifth identifier field is located in the preamble of the second PPDU. For example, the fifth identifier field may include some or all of the bits from at least one of the U-SIG, EHT-SIG, or data fields. For related details, please refer to the descriptions in Figures 8a and 8b above, which will not be repeated here.

[0368] In another possible implementation, when the second PPDU includes a data field, the structure of the second PPDU can be the frame structure diagram shown in FIG16c. FIG16c exemplarily illustrates a structural diagram of a second PPDU including a data field. Compared to FIG8c, FIG16c does not have an NG-SIG field; the other fields can be referred to the relevant description in FIG8c. When the second PPDU has the frame structure shown in FIG16c, the fifth identifier field is located in the preamble of the second PPDU. For example, the fifth identifier field may include some or all of the bits of at least one of the U-SIG or data fields. Related content can be found in the foregoing discussion and will not be repeated here.

[0369] In S703 above, the sixth frame can be a beamforming report frame, and the frame structure can be the frame structure shown in Figure 9 above. Related information can also be found in the description of Figure 9 above. The sixth frame will now be described in conjunction with Figure 9 above.

[0370] The sixth frame may include a MIMO Control field. The seventh identification field may include some or all of the bits from the MIMO Control field. The seventh identification field includes all bits corresponding to the identifier of the first receiving antenna combination. Thus, the second communication device can determine that the receiving antenna combination selected by the first communication device is the first receiving antenna combination based on the seventh identification field in the sixth frame.

[0371] In one possible implementation, the seventh identification field may include two parts: an antenna combination identification field and a probe PPDU serial number field, wherein the antenna combination identification field may carry the group identifier of the first receiving antenna combination, and the probe PPDU serial number field may carry the serial number of the second PPDU corresponding to the first receiving antenna combination.

[0372] In another possible implementation, the sixth frame may also include an antenna selection failure feedback field. In yet another possible implementation, the sixth frame may also include at least one of: compressed beamforming report, multi-user dedicated beamforming report, and channel quality status report. For example, the channel quality status report may include at least one of the channel state information (CSI) or channel quality information (CQI) corresponding to the PPDU.

[0373] Among them, one or more of the compressed beamforming report, multi-user dedicated beamforming report, and channel quality status report can be carried in other fields in the sixth frame besides the MIMO Control field. Of course, at least one of the antenna combination identification field and the probe PPDU serial number field included in the seventh identification field can also be set in other fields. For example, the probe PPDU serial number field can be located in the A-control sub-field. For other contents of the sixth frame, please refer to the relevant description in Figure 9 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0374] As can be seen from the above, in the case where the NDPA frame and other frames do not support high throughput control fields, this application embodiment designs an antenna selection process based on the receiving antenna of NDPA (fifth frame) + NDP (PPDU) + feedback (sixth frame). This antenna selection process can match the current channel detection process, and it requires little modification to the equipment at both the transmitting and receiving ends, making it relatively simple to implement.

[0375] Based on the above, Figure 17 illustrates a signaling interaction diagram of another antenna channel detection method provided in this application.

[0376] Figure 17 illustrates the interaction between the first communication device and the second communication device as an example. In this embodiment, the first communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected transmitter, and the second communication device can also be referred to as the antenna-selected responder.

[0377] The first communication device in Figure 17 can be the first communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The second communication device in Figure 17 can be the second communication device in Figure 1, or the AP or STA in Figure 2, or the communication device in Figure 3. The first and second communication devices in Figure 17 can both be APs, both be STAs, or be APs and STAs respectively. Figure 17 illustrates this with the first communication device being an AP and the second communication device being a STA as an example.

[0378] The solution provided in this application can be applied to the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and a single STA, or to the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs. Figure 17 illustrates the process of receiving antenna channel detection between an AP and multiple STAs (such as STA203, STA204, and STA205 in Figure 17) as an example.

[0379] It should be noted that the scheme provided in Figure 17 is used to select the receiving antenna on the first communication device side. The schemes provided in Figures 4 and 10 are used to select the transmitting antenna on the first communication device side. The scheme in Figure 17 can be used in conjunction with Figure 4 or Figure 10, or it can be implemented independently. The schemes in Figure 4 or Figure 10 can also be implemented independently, or they can be used in conjunction with the scheme in Figure 17. When the schemes in Figure 4 and Figure 17 are used in combination, the first communication device can select the transmitting antenna using the scheme in Figure 4, and select the receiving antenna using the scheme in Figure 17. When the schemes in Figure 10 and Figure 17 are used in combination, the first communication device can select the transmitting antenna using the scheme in Figure 10, and select the receiving antenna using the scheme in Figure 17.

[0380] As shown in Figure 17, the method includes:

[0381] S901, the first communication device sends the twelfth frame to the second communication device. The twelfth frame includes fourth instruction information, which instructs the second communication device to perform receiving antenna channel detection.

[0382] Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the twelfth frame from the first communication device.

[0383] S902, the second communication device sends a fourth PPDU to the first communication device. The fourth PPDU is used for receiving antenna channel detection.

[0384] Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the fourth PPDU from the second communication device.

[0385] The fourth PPDU may include M2 ​​second information fields corresponding to M2 groups of receiving antenna combinations; M2 is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used for receiving antenna channel detection.

[0386] S903, the first communication device performs receiving antenna channel detection based on the second PPDU and obtains the second antenna selection feedback result.

[0387] Furthermore, in S903, the first communication device can also feed back the second antenna selection feedback result to the second communication device.

[0388] As can be seen from the above scheme, the second communication device in this application embodiment can aggregate the PPDUs corresponding to the M2 groups of receiving antenna combinations that need to be sent in S902 into one PPDU, thereby saving overhead, improving the efficiency of antenna selection, and increasing the system throughput.

[0389] Figures 18 and 19 illustrate two illustrative frame structures for the fourth PPDU, respectively. Compared to Figure 18, Figure 19 does not include the EHT-SIG field.

[0390] As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the fourth PPDU may include M2 ​​second information fields corresponding to M2 sets of receiving antenna combinations. M2 is an integer greater than 1. The second information fields are used for receiving antenna channel detection.

[0391] The second information field includes at least one of the following: the EHT short training field, the EHT long training field, and the data package extension field. Any two second information fields use different receiving antenna combinations. For example, the three receiving antenna combinations shown in Figure 18 represent the second information field corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=0, the second information field corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=1, ..., the second information field corresponding to the receiving antenna combination with antenna combination ID=M2.

[0392] As shown in Figure 18, the fourth PPDU may also include a preamble. The preamble includes at least one of the following fields: L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, or EHT-SIG. As shown in Figure 19, the fourth PPDU may also include a preamble. The preamble includes at least one of the following fields: L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, or U-SIG. For a description of the preamble, please refer to the relevant description in Figure 16a above, which will not be repeated here.

[0393] As can be seen from Figures 18 and 19, in S902, the M2 PPDUs corresponding to the M2 groups of receiving antennas that originally needed to be transmitted are aggregated into a fourth PPDU, thereby saving (M2-1) preambles.

[0394] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 18, each second information field can include a data packet extension field, such as data packet extension 0 in the second information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=0, data packet extension 1 in the second information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=1, ... data packet extension M2 in the second information field corresponding to antenna combination ID=M2. The duration of any two data packet extensions (data packet extension 0 to data packet extension (M2-1)) can be the same, except for the last data packet extension M2. The duration of these data packet extension fields can be used to provide more processing time for the second communication device, and also to provide time for the first communication device to switch antennas. Furthermore, this duration can be set shorter, just enough for the first communication device to switch antennas.

[0395] In one possible implementation, the duration of the data packet extension fields in at least two of the M2 second information fields can be different. For example, the duration of data packet extension M2 can also be different from the duration of data packet extension 1. The duration of data packet extension M2 can be set slightly longer, and the duration of data packet extension 1 can be set slightly shorter, sufficient for the first communication device to switch antennas. Furthermore, in this implementation, the duration of any two data packet extensions (data packet extension 0 to data packet extension (M2-1)) other than the last data packet extension M2 can be the same or different.

[0396] In another possible implementation, the duration of the data packet extension field in any two of the M2 second information fields is the same. This improves the consistency of the receiving process.

[0397] Compared to the second communication device transmitting PPDUs corresponding to M2 receiving antennas, the scheme shown in Figure 18 only requires transmitting a fourth PPDU to achieve the purpose of transmitting M2 sets of information for receiving antenna channel detection. Furthermore, this scheme can save (M2-1) sets of preambles (L-STF to EHT-SIG) and short frame intervals (SIFS). If the time taken for any two of the data packet extensions from 0 to (M2-1) is equal, and the duration of data packet extension 0 is shorter than the duration of data packet extension M2, then the time difference between data packet extension M2 and data packet extension 0 can also be saved.

[0398] For example, the preamble (L-STF to EHT-SIG) in the fourth PPDU takes 36 microseconds, the packet extension M2 takes 16 microseconds, SIFS takes 16 microseconds, and the time from packet extension 0 to any packet extension (M2-1) is 4 microseconds. M2=64. Compared to transmitting the PPDU corresponding to M2 receiving antennas (which includes a preamble and a second information field, and the second information field includes a data extension field of 16 microseconds), transmitting the fourth PPDU can save: 36×(64-1)+16×(64-1)+(16-4)×(64-1)=4032 microseconds.

[0399] It should be noted that Figure 18 is merely an example of one possible frame structure for the fourth PPDU, in which EHT-SIG is transmitted once. In another possible implementation, EHT-SIG can also appear in groups, for example, each second information field may include one EHT-SIG. Furthermore, Figure 17 illustrates the transmission of one fourth PPDU by the second communication device. In practical applications, in S902, the second communication device can send one or more fourth PPDUs, and the number of second information fields included in each fourth PPDU can be the same or different.

[0400] Additionally, it should be noted that Figure 17 of this application embodiment provides an implementation method for aggregating PPDUs transmitted by the second communication device. This implementation method can be used in conjunction with the antenna selection scheme provided in Figure 12 or Figure 13, or it can be implemented independently. The twelfth frame in S901 of this application embodiment can be an NDPA frame.

[0401] When used in combination, the relevant content of S901 can be found in the relevant content of S701 mentioned above, and the relevant content of the twelfth frame can be found in the relevant introduction of the fifth frame mentioned above. The relevant content of S903 can be found in the relevant content of S703 mentioned above, and the relevant content of the antenna selection feedback result can be found in the relevant introduction of the sixth frame mentioned above. When used in combination, the number of NDPs mentioned in Figure 12 or Figure 13 can be equivalent to the number of second information fields mentioned in Figure 17. When used in combination, the structure of the second PPDU mentioned above can refer to the structure of the fourth PPDU, that is, the second PPDU can also include second information fields corresponding to multiple receiving antenna combinations, such as the second PPDU including the second information field corresponding to the first receiving antenna and the second information field corresponding to the second receiving antenna. The first PPDU includes a preamble. In addition, the U-SIG in the preamble can be placed in each second information field. The fifth identifier field can be carried in each second information field.

[0402] It is understood that, in order to achieve the functions in the above embodiments, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and method steps described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed by hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0403] Figures 20, 21, and 22 are schematic diagrams illustrating a possible communication device provided in the embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the function of the first communication device in the above method embodiments, and thus also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. These communication devices can also be used to implement the function of the second communication device in the above method embodiments, and thus also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device can be a transmitting end device or a first communication device as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, or 17, or it can be a module (such as a chip) applied to the transmitting end device or the first communication device. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device can be a receiving end device or a second communication device as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, or 17, or it can be a module (such as a chip) applied to the receiving end device or the second communication device.

[0404] As shown in Figure 20, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the first communication device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4, 5, 10, 12, 13 or 17.

[0405] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: sending a first frame to the second communication device and sending a first PPDU to the second communication device. The first frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first PPDU is an NDP. The first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, and the first PPDU includes a first identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0406] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processing unit 1310 is further used to perform, through the transceiver unit 1320: receiving a second frame from the second communication device. The second frame includes a first antenna selection feedback result, the first antenna selection feedback result including a third identifier field, the third identifier field being used to indicate an identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination.

[0407] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through the transceiver unit 1320: sending a fourth frame to the second communication device, the fourth frame including a fourth identification field, the fourth identification field being used to indicate the identification of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identification of at least one transmit antenna combination including the identification of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0408] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through the transceiver unit 1320: sending a ninth frame to the second communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0409] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG10: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: sending an eleventh frame to the second communication device, the eleventh frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first communication device sends a third PPDU to the second communication device; the third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Wherein, the third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training field, EHT long training field, and data packet extension field.

[0410] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG12 or FIG13: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: sending a fifth frame to the second communication device and receiving a second PPDU from the second communication device. The fifth frame includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first communication device is performing receive antenna channel detection. The first communication device refers to the second PPDU as an NDP; the second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection, and the second PPDU includes a fifth identification field, which is used to indicate the identification of the first receive antenna combination.

[0411] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG17: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: sending a twelfth frame to the second communication device and receiving a fourth PPDU from the second communication device. The twelfth frame includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. The fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. The fourth PPDU includes M2 second information fields corresponding to M2 groups of receive antenna combinations; M2 is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used for receive antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields.

[0412] As shown in Figure 20, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions of the second communication device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4, 5, 10, 12, 13 or 17.

[0413] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: receiving a first frame from the first communication device and receiving a first PPDU from the first communication device. The first frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first PPDU is an NDP; the first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, and the first PPDU includes a first identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0414] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processing unit 1310 is further used to perform the following through the transceiver unit 1320: perform transmit antenna channel detection according to the first PPDU to obtain the first antenna selection feedback result. Transmit a second frame, the second frame including the first antenna selection feedback result, the first antenna selection feedback result including a third identifier field, the third identifier field being used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0415] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5: the processing unit 1310 is specifically used to perform, through the transceiver unit 1320: receiving a fourth frame from the first communication device. The fourth frame includes a fourth identification field, which is used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, and the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination includes the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0416] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processing unit 1310 is specifically used to perform the following through the transceiver unit 1320: receiving a ninth frame from the first communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

[0417] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG10: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: receiving an eleventh frame from the first communication device and receiving a third PPDU from the first communication device. The eleventh frame includes first indication information, which notifies the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields.

[0418] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13: the processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through the transceiver unit 1320: receiving a fifth frame from the first communication device, the fifth frame including fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Sending a second PPDU to the first communication device; the second PPDU is an empty data packet (NDP); the second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection, the second PPDU includes a fifth identifier field, the fifth identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0419] When communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG17: processing unit 1310 is used to perform the following through transceiver unit 1320: receiving a twelfth frame from the first communication device. The twelfth frame includes fourth indication information, which indicates that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Sending a fourth PPDU to the first communication device. The fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. Wherein, the fourth PPDU includes M2 second information fields corresponding to M2 groups of receive antenna combinations; M2 is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used to perform receive antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training field, EHT long training field, and data packet extension field.

[0420] A more detailed description of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver unit 1320 can be obtained directly from the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4, 5, 10, 12, 13 or 17, and will not be repeated here.

[0421] As shown in Figure 21, the communication device 1400 includes a processing circuit 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processing circuit 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1400 may also include memory for storing instructions executed by the processing circuit, or storing input data required for the processing circuit 1410 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processing circuit 1410 executes instructions.

[0422] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement the method shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG10, FIG12, FIG13 or FIG17, the processing circuit 1410 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0423] As shown in Figure 22, the communication device 1500 includes a processor 1510 and a communication interface 1520. The processor 1510 and the communication interface 1520 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the communication interface 1520 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1500 may also include a memory 1530 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1510, or storing input data required by the processor 1510 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1510 executes instructions.

[0424] When the communication device 1500 is used to implement the method shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG10, FIG12, FIG13 or FIG17, the processor 1510 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 1310, and the communication interface 1520 is used to implement the function of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0425] When the communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: the processor 1510 is used to perform the following through the communication interface 1520: sending a first frame to the second communication device, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection; sending a first PPDU to the second communication device; the first PPDU is an empty data packet (NDP); the first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, the first PPDU includes a first identifier field, the first identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0426] When the communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG10: the processor 1510 is used to execute through the communication interface 1520: sending an eleventh frame to the second communication device, the eleventh frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Sending a third PPDU to the second communication device; the third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Wherein, the third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training field, EHT long training field, and data packet extension field.

[0427] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13: processor 1510 is used to execute through communication interface 1520: sending a fifth frame to the second communication device, the fifth frame including fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Receiving a second entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the second communication device; the second PPDU is an empty data packet (NDP); the second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection, the second PPDU includes a fifth identifier field, the fifth identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0428] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG17: processor 1510 is used to execute through communication interface 1520: sending a twelfth frame to the second communication device, the twelfth frame including fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Receiving a fourth entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the second communication device; the fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. Wherein, the fourth PPDU includes M2 second information fields corresponding to M2 groups of receive antenna combinations; M2 is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used to perform receive antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training field, EHT long training field, and data packet extension field.

[0429] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5: processor 1510 is used to perform the following through communication interface 1520: receiving a first frame from the first communication device, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Receiving a first entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the first communication device; the first PPDU is an empty data packet (NDP); the first PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, the first PPDU includes a first identifier field, the first identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

[0430] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the first communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG10: processor 1510 is used to execute through communication interface 1520: receiving an eleventh frame from the first communication device, the eleventh frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. Receiving a third entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the first communication device; the third PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection. The third PPDU includes M1 first information fields corresponding to M1 groups of transmit antenna combinations; M1 is an integer greater than 1; the first information fields are used for transmit antenna channel detection. The first information fields include at least one of EHT short training fields, EHT long training fields, and data packet extension fields.

[0431] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13: processor 1510 is used to perform the following through communication interface 1520: receiving a fifth frame from the first communication device, the fifth frame including fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Sending a second entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the first communication device; the second PPDU is an empty data packet (NDP). The second PPDU is used by the first communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection, the second PPDU including a fifth identifier field, the fifth identifier field being used to indicate the identifier of the first receive antenna combination.

[0432] When communication device 1500 is used to implement the function of the second communication device in the method embodiment shown in FIG17: processor 1510 is used to execute through communication interface 1520: receiving a twelfth frame from the first communication device, the twelfth frame including fourth indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the first communication device should perform receive antenna channel detection. Sending a fourth entity layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the first communication device; the fourth PPDU is used by the second communication device to perform receive antenna channel detection. Wherein, the fourth PPDU includes M2 second information fields corresponding to M2 groups of receive antenna combinations; M2 is an integer greater than 1; the second information fields are used to perform receive antenna channel detection. The second information fields include at least one of EHT short training field, EHT long training field, and data packet extension field.

[0433] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a communication device, the communication device chip implements the functions of the communication device in the above method embodiments. The communication device chip receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the communication device, the information being sent to the communication device by the network device; or, the communication device chip sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the communication device, the information being sent to the network device by the communication device.

[0434] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0435] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: a computer program or instructions, which, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG10, FIG12, FIG13 or FIG17.

[0436] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a program or instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG10, FIG12, FIG13 or FIG17.

[0437] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a wafer system, which may include processing circuitry and interface circuitry. The processing circuitry can execute the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, or FIG. 17 through the interface circuitry. Optionally, the wafer system further includes memory. The memory is used to store computer programs (also referred to as code or instructions). The processing circuitry can be used to call and run the computer programs from the memory, causing a device equipped with the wafer system to execute the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, or FIG. 17.

[0438] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a system, which includes the aforementioned first communication device and second communication device.

[0439] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM, registers, hard disks, solid-state drives (SSDs), removable hard disks, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROMs), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC can reside in a communication device. Of course, processors and storage media can also exist as discrete components in communication devices.

[0440] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions of the embodiments of this application are executed, in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one site, computer, server, or data center to another site, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media, such as floppy disks, hard disks, and magnetic tapes; optical media, such as digital video discs; or semiconductor media, such as solid-state drives. The computer-readable storage medium can be volatile or non-volatile, or may include both types.

[0441] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0442] In this application, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects; in the formulas of this application, the character " / " indicates a "division" relationship between related objects. "Including at least one of A, B, or C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B, and C.

[0443] It is understood that the various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0444] 101: First Communication Device 102: Second communication device 201, 202: AP 203, 204, 205:STA S401, S402, S403, S501, S502, S601, S602, S603, S701, S702, S703, S801, S802, S803, S901, S902, S903: Steps 1300, 1400, 1500: Communication device 1310, 1410: Processing Units 1320: Transceiver Unit 1420: Interface Circuit 1510: Processor 1520: Communication Interface 1530: Memory

Claims

1. A method for detecting an antenna channel, wherein, include: A first communication device transmits a first frame, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying one or more second communication devices to perform transmit antenna channel detection; the first communication device transmits one or more empty data packets (NDPs) through one or more first transmit antenna combinations, the NDPs being used by the second communication devices to perform transmit antenna channel detection, each NDP including an identifier of the transmit antenna combination of the first transmit antenna combination that transmitted the NDP; the first communication device receives a second frame from the one or more second communication devices, the second frame including one or more antenna selection feedback results.

2. The method as described in request item 1, wherein, The antenna selection feedback result also includes a third identifier field: the third identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device.

3. The method as described in request item 1 or 2, wherein, Before the first communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: the first communication device sending a fourth frame to the second communication device, the fourth frame including a fourth identification field, the fourth identification field being used to indicate the identification of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identification of the at least one transmit antenna combination including the identification of the first transmit antenna combination.

4. The method as described in request item 1 or 2, wherein, Before the first communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: the first communication device sending a ninth frame to the second communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

5. An antenna channel detection method, wherein, include: The second communication device receives a first frame from the first communication device, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection; the second communication device receives one or more empty data packets (NDPs), the NDPs being used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, each NDP including an identifier of a transmit antenna combination of a first transmit antenna combination sent by the first communication device; the second communication device sends a second frame, the second frame including one or more antenna selection feedback results.

6. The method as described in request item 5, wherein, After receiving the NDP, the second communication device further includes: the second communication device performs transmit antenna channel detection based on the NDP to obtain the antenna selection feedback result; the antenna selection feedback result includes a third identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the selected first transmit antenna combination.

7. The method as described in claim 5 or 6, wherein, Before the second communication device receives the first frame, the method further includes: the second communication device receiving a fourth frame from the first communication device, the fourth frame including a fourth identification field, the fourth identification field being used to indicate the identification of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identification of the at least one transmit antenna combination including the identification of the first transmit antenna combination.

8. The method as described in request item 5 or 6, wherein, Before the second communication device receives the first frame, the method further includes: the second communication device receiving a ninth frame from the first communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

9. The method as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein, The first identifier field is located in the NDP.

10. The method as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein, The first frame also includes the number of NDPs; and / or, the first frame also includes a second identification field for indicating the identification of the transmit antenna combination.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein, The first indication information and / or the number of NDPs are carried in: at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information; the second indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information; and / or, the second identification field includes some or all of the bits in at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information.

12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein, The second instruction information is carried in the associated identifier field of the site information field.

13. The method as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein, The first transmitting antenna combination is one of the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations of the first communication device, where k 1 is a positive integer; the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations correspond one-to-one with the identifiers of the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations.

14. A communication device, wherein, include: The transceiver unit transmits a first frame, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying one or more second communication devices to perform transmit antenna channel detection; the transceiver unit transmits one or more empty data packets (NDPs) through one or more first transmit antenna combinations, the NDPs being used by the second communication devices to perform transmit antenna channel detection, each NDP including an identifier of the transmit antenna combination of the first transmit antenna combination that transmitted the NDP; the transceiver unit receives a second frame from the one or more second communication devices, the second frame including one or more antenna selection feedback results.

15. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein, The antenna selection feedback result also includes a third identifier field: the third identifier field is used to indicate the identifier of the first transmitting antenna combination selected by the second communication device.

16. The communication apparatus as described in claim 14 or 15, wherein, Before the communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: sending a fourth frame to the second communication device, the fourth frame including a fourth identifier field, the fourth identifier field being used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the communication device, the identifier of the at least one transmit antenna combination including the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

17. The communication apparatus as described in claim 14 or 15, wherein, Before the communication device sends the first frame to the second communication device, the method further includes: sending a ninth frame to the second communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the communication device.

18. A communication device, wherein, include: The transceiver unit receives a first frame from a first communication device, the first frame including first indication information, the first indication information notifying the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection; the transceiver unit receives one or more empty data packets (NDPs), the NDPs being used by the second communication device to perform transmit antenna channel detection, each NDP including an identifier of a transmit antenna combination of a first transmit antenna combination sent by the first communication device; the transceiver unit transmits a second frame, the second frame including one or more antenna selection feedback results.

19. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein, After receiving the NDP, the second communication device further includes: a processing unit, which performs transmit antenna channel detection based on the NDP to obtain the antenna selection feedback result; the antenna selection feedback result includes a third identifier field, which is used to indicate the identifier of the selected first transmit antenna combination.

20. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein, Before receiving the first frame, the communication device further includes: receiving a fourth frame from the first communication device, the fourth frame including a fourth identifier field, the fourth identifier field being used to indicate the identifier of at least one transmit antenna combination supported by the first communication device, the identifier of the at least one transmit antenna combination including the identifier of the first transmit antenna combination.

21. The communication apparatus as described in claim 18 or 19, wherein, Before receiving the first frame, the communication device further includes: receiving a ninth frame from the first communication device, the ninth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate the total number of transmit antenna combinations supported by the first communication device.

22. The communication apparatus as described in any one of claims 14, 15, 18, and 19, wherein, The first identifier field is located in the NDP preamble.

23. The communication apparatus as described in any one of claims 14, 15, 18, and 19, wherein, The first frame also includes the number of NDPs; and / or, the first frame also includes a second identification field for indicating the identification of the first transmit antenna combination.

24. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein, The first indication information and / or the number of NDPs are carried in: at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information; the second indication information indicates that the site information field includes antenna selection related information; and / or, the second identification field includes some or all of the bits in at least one site information field in the first frame that includes the second indication information.

25. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein, The second instruction information is carried in the associated identifier field of the site information field.

26. The communication apparatus as described in any one of claims 14, 15, 18, and 19, wherein, The first transmitting antenna combination is one of the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations of the first communication device, where k 1 is a positive integer; the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations correspond one-to-one with the identifiers of the k 1 transmitting antenna combinations.

27. A communication device, wherein, It includes a processor and a communication interface, the processor being configured to execute the method described in any one of requests 1-13 via the communication interface.

28. A communication device, wherein, The apparatus includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to execute the method described in any one of request items 1-13 through the transceiver unit.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when invoked by a computer, cause the method described in any one of requests 1-13 to be executed.

30. A chip system, wherein, Includes processing circuitry and interface circuitry: the interface circuitry is used for inputting and / or outputting signaling or data; the processing circuitry is used for executing a computer-executable program, causing a device on which the chip system is installed to perform the method described in any one of claims 1-13.

31. A computer program product containing program instructions, wherein, When the program instructions are run on a computer, the computer causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-13.

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