Method for sending trigger frame, method for receiving trigger frame, and communication device

Abstract

The present application provides a method and a communication device for sending a trigger frame. The method includes: an access point (AP) generates a trigger frame, the trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to a first station (STA), the first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field and a first piece of information, the first piece of information is used to indicate the manner in which the first STA transmits data, the manner includes the MU-MIMO manner or the non-MU-MIMO manner, and the spatial stream allocation information of the first STA carried by the first spatial stream allocation sub-field corresponds to the content indicated by the first piece of information; the AP sends the trigger frame. By adding 1-bit first information to the user information field, it is possible to independently indicate the spatial stream allocation information in both the MU-MIMO manner and the non-MU-MIMO manner, thereby reducing the overhead of the spatial stream allocation information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method for sending a trigger frame, a method for receiving a trigger frame, and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technologies, the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology has introduced a scheduling-based uplink transmission method based on trigger frames.

[0003] That is, an access point (AP) first sends a trigger frame, where the trigger frame includes one or more user information fields, and each user information field corresponds to a STA. The information carried by the user information field is used to indicate resource scheduling and other parameters for one or more stations (Stations, STAs) to send uplink sub-physical layer protocol data units (PHY Protocol Data Units, PPDUs).

[0004] After receiving the trigger frame, the STA parses out its own user information field therefrom, and then sends uplink data according to the information carried by the user information field.

[0005] In this prior art, the user information field includes a spatial stream allocation subfield (Spatial Stream Allocation subfield, SS Allocation subfield) for carrying information about the spatial streams (Spatial Streams, SSs) allocated by the AP for the STA (hereinafter referred to as spatial stream allocation information). For example, the spatial stream allocation information includes the number information of the SSs and the starting position information of the SSs.

[0006] In the prior art, the spatial stream allocation subfield includes 6 bits. Among them, the starting position information occupies 3 bits, so that the starting position information can indicate 8 possible positions, and the number information occupies 3 bits, so that the number information can indicate 8 possible numbers.

[0007] Moreover, in the prior art, the maximum number of SSs of the STA is 8. Therefore, the above-mentioned spatial stream allocation subfield can meet the requirements of the prior art.

[0008] However, with the evolution of the WLAN version, the uplink transmission bandwidth increases, and the maximum number of spatial streams of the STA increases to 16 or even more.

[0009] How to reduce the overhead of the spatial stream allocation information has become an urgent problem to be solved in the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present application provides a method for sending a trigger frame, a method for receiving a trigger frame, and a communication device, which can reduce the overhead of spatial stream allocation information.

[0011] In a first aspect, a method for sending a trigger frame is provided. The method includes: an access point AP generates a trigger frame, where the trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to a first station STA. The first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field and first information. The first information is used to indicate the manner in which the first STA transmits data. The manner includes a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) manner or a non-multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (non-MU-MIMO) manner. The spatial stream allocation information of the first STA carried by the first spatial stream allocation sub-field corresponds to the content indicated by the first information; the AP sends the trigger frame.

[0012] For example, when the maximum number of spatial streams of a STA is 16, the maximum number of spatial streams per user in the MU-MIMO manner is 4, 4 bits are required to indicate the number of spatial streams, and 4 bits are required to indicate the starting position. That is, the overhead of the spatial stream allocation information is 8 bits. The overhead of jointly indicating the spatial stream allocation information in the MU-MIMO manner and the non-MU-MIMO manner is shown in Table 1 below:

[0013] Table 1

[0014]

[0015] In the embodiments of the present application, the "value indicated by the index", the "value of the index", and the "index value" have the same meaning, indicating the value corresponding to a binary index (i.e., one or more bits), for example, a decimal value. For the sake of avoiding repetition, the description of the same or similar situations is omitted below.

[0016] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the index values appearing in each table are decimal numbers. However, in actual applications, the index value is the binary bit value corresponding to the decimal numerical value. For example, the decimal index value 1 corresponds to the binary bit 0, and for another example, the decimal index value 2 corresponds to the binary bit 1, and so on. The decimal index value 16 corresponds to the binary bit 1111, etc. For the sake of avoiding repetition, the description of the same or similar situations is omitted below.

[0017] That is, as shown in Table 1, the overhead of jointly indicating the spatial stream allocation information in the MU-MIMO manner and the non-MU-MIMO manner is 8 bits (256 values need to be indicated), which is greater than the number of bits included in the existing spatial stream allocation sub-field (6).

[0018] In contrast, in the embodiment of the present application, by adding 1 bit of first information to the user information field, it is possible to independently indicate the spatial stream allocation information in the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode.

[0019] Similarly, when the maximum number of spatial streams of the STA is 16, the maximum number of spatial streams per user in the MU-MIMO mode is 4. In the spatial stream allocation information of the MU-MIMO mode, the starting position of the stream can be indicated by 4 bits, and the number of spatial streams can be indicated by 2 bits. In the spatial stream allocation information of the non-MU-MIMO mode, the number of spatial streams can be indicated by 4 bits.

[0020] That is, according to the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, at most 7 bits are required to meet the requirements of the spatial stream allocation information. Thus, compared with the prior art, the overhead of the spatial stream allocation information can be reduced.

[0021] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes stream start position information and first stream number information. The stream start position information is used to indicate the start position of the stream corresponding to the first STA, and the first stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA.

[0022] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes second stream number information, and the second stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA.

[0023] Optionally, the stream start position information occupies 4 bit positions, the first stream number information occupies 2 bit positions, and the second stream number information occupies 4 bit positions.

[0024] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation sub-field occupies 6 bit positions.

[0025] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation sub-field occupies 4 bit positions.

[0026] Thus, compared with the existing spatial stream allocation sub-field, the number of bit positions is reduced, so that the reduced bit positions can be used to carry other information. The flexibility of communication can be improved, and the practicality of the present application can be further improved.

[0027] For example, one of the two bits saved compared to the existing spatial stream allocation field can be used to carry the first information.

[0028] Optionally, the first information occupies at least one bit.

[0029] Optionally, the first information is carried in a reserved sub-field in the first user information field.

[0030] Thus, the existing reserved field can be utilized to carry the first information without changing the structure of the existing trigger frame, which can further improve the practicality and compatibility of this application.

[0031] Optionally, the first information is carried in the uplink forward error correction code type sub-field in the first user information field.

[0032] Specifically, when the information carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field indicates that the number of sub-carriers corresponding to a resource unit group (including at least one resource unit) is greater than the sub-carrier number requirement corresponding to the coding method of the data (for example, 242), there is no need to indicate the coding method. In this case, that is, the uplink forward error correction code type sub-field does not need to carry the information of the coding method.

[0033] In this case, the first information can be carried in the uplink forward error correction code type sub-field.

[0034] Or, in this case, the user information field does not include the uplink forward error correction code type sub-field. Thus, the saved field (or rather, bit) can be used to carry the first information.

[0035] Thus, without occupying the reserved field, the practicality and compatibility of this application can be further improved.

[0036] Optionally, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field.

[0037] Specifically, the resource unit allocation sub-field includes 8 bits. Among them, these 8 bits include 256 index values, and among these 256 index values, there are reserved index values. Thus, the function of the first information can be realized through these reserved index values.

[0038] Or, the resource unit allocation sub-field includes 9 bits. Among them, these 9 bits include 512 index values, and among these 512 index values, there are reserved index values. Thus, the function of the first information can be realized through these reserved index values.

[0039] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is greater than a first threshold, the first user information field does not include an uplink forward error correction code type sub-field, and the first threshold is determined according to the sub-carrier number requirement corresponding to the coding method of the data.

[0040] Optionally, the first threshold is 242.

[0041] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is less than a second threshold, the default way for the first STA to transmit data is the non-MU-MIMO way, and the second threshold is determined according to the sub-carrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO way.

[0042] Optionally, the second threshold is 242 or 484.

[0043] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the coding information of the data is carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field.

[0044] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of sub-carriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field, the first threshold is determined according to the sub-carrier number requirement corresponding to the coding method of the data, and the second threshold is determined according to the sub-carrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO way.

[0045] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, which is used to carry the first resource unit corresponding to the first STA. When the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth sub-field in the common information field of the trigger frame is greater than a third threshold, the resource unit allocation sub-field includes 9 bits.

[0046] Optionally, the third threshold is 160 MHz.

[0047] In a second aspect, a method for receiving a trigger frame is provided. The method includes: a first station STA receives a trigger frame, the trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to the first STA, the first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field and first information, the first information is used to indicate a manner in which the first STA transmits data, the manner includes a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output MU-MIMO manner or a non-multi-user multiple-input multiple-output non-MU-MIMO manner, and the spatial stream allocation information of the first STA carried by the first spatial stream allocation sub-field corresponds to the content indicated by the first information; the AP first STA sends uplink data according to the information carried by the first user information field.

[0048] According to the solution provided by the present application, when the maximum number of spatial streams of the STA is 16, at most 7 bits are required to meet the requirements of the spatial stream allocation information. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the overhead of the spatial stream allocation information can be reduced.

[0049] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO manner, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes stream start position information and first stream number information. The stream start position information is used to indicate the start position of the stream corresponding to the first STA, and the first stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA; when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO manner, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes second stream number information, and the second stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA.

[0050] Optionally, the stream start position information occupies 4 bits, the first stream number information occupies 2 bits, and the second stream number information occupies 4 bits.

[0051] Optionally, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation subfield occupies 6 bits; when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation subfield occupies 4 bits.

[0052] Optionally, the first information occupies at least one bit.

[0053] Optionally, the first information is carried in a reserved subfield in the first user information field.

[0054] Optionally, the first information is carried in the uplink forward error correction code type subfield in the first user information field.

[0055] Optionally, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field.

[0056] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is greater than a first threshold, the first user information field does not include an uplink forward error correction code type subfield, and the first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the coding mode of the data.

[0057] Optionally, the first threshold is 242.

[0058] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA, the first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and when the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is less than a second threshold, the default mode for the first STA to transmit data is the non-MU-MIMO mode, and the second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

[0059] Optionally, the second threshold is 242 or 484.

[0060] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, which is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit. When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to a first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to a second threshold, the coding information of the data is carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field.

[0061] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, which is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit. When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to a first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to a second threshold, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field. The first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the data coding method, and the second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO method.

[0062] Optionally, the first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, which is used to carry the first resource unit corresponding to the first STA. When the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth sub-field in the common information field of the trigger frame is less than a third threshold, the default mode for the first STA to transmit data is the non-MU-MIMO mode; wherein, the third threshold is determined according to the bandwidth requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

[0063] Optionally, the third threshold is 160 MHz.

[0064] In a third aspect, a method for sending a trigger frame is provided. The method includes: an access point AP generating a trigger frame, where the trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to a first station STA, the first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field, and the first spatial stream allocation sub-field carries a first index value in first mapping information. The first mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between multiple index values and multiple spatial stream allocation information. Each spatial stream allocation information includes stream start position information and stream number information. The first index value corresponds to the spatial stream allocation information of the first STA. Among them, the multiple spatial stream allocation information includes multiple first spatial stream allocation information, multiple second spatial stream allocation information, and multiple third spatial stream allocation information. The first spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information shared by the multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode. The second spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information exclusive to the non-MU-MIMO mode. The third spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information exclusive to the MU-MIMO mode. The AP sends the trigger frame.

[0065] By including the spatial stream allocation information shared by the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode in the mapping relationship used to indicate the correspondence between the index value and the spatial stream allocation information, the number of required index values can be reduced, thereby reducing the bit overhead for carrying the index value.

[0066] Optionally, when the maximum total number of streams in the MU-MIMO mode is 16 and the maximum number of streams per STA in the MU-MIMO mode is 4, the first mapping relationship is shown in Table 2 below.

[0067] Table 2

[0068]

[0069]

[0070] Among them, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to index values 0-3 is the first spatial stream allocation information, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to index values 4-57 is the third spatial stream allocation information, and Y index values among index values 58-X correspond to the second spatial stream allocation information, where Y is determined according to the maximum number of streams in the non-MU-MIMO mode, and X is determined according to the number of bits included in the first spatial stream allocation sub-field.

[0071] By excluding impossible spatial stream allocation cases from the mapping relationship, for example, since the total number of streams cannot be greater than 16, that is, the number of streams of this user cannot be greater than 1 when starting from the 16th stream, thus, the number of required index values can be further reduced, and further the bit overhead for carrying this index value can be reduced.

[0072] Optionally, in the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode, the value range of the stream start position information is [1, K], where the value range of the stream number information of the spatial stream allocation information with the value of the stream start position information being k is [1, N], where the k - 1 streams include multiple allocation methods, and each allocation method corresponds to a first value, and the first value is the number of streams of the user with the least number of allocated streams in the corresponding allocation method, and N is determined according to the maximum value among multiple first values, and K represents the maximum number of streams that can be used.

[0073] Optionally, the trigger frame includes user information fields of multiple STAs, where when the multiple STAs are arranged in descending order of the number of streams they have, the start position of the streams of the i-th STA is before the start position of the streams of the (i + 1)-th STA.

[0074] Optionally, the first mapping relationship is shown in Table 3 below,

[0075] Table 3

[0076]

[0077]

[0078] Among them, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to index values 0 - 3 is the first spatial stream allocation information, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to index values 4 - 44 is the third spatial stream allocation information, and Y index values among index values 45 - X correspond to the second spatial stream allocation information, where Y is determined according to the maximum number of streams in the non-MU-MIMO mode, and X is determined according to the number of bits included in the first spatial stream allocation subfield.

[0079] Fourthly, a method for receiving a trigger frame is provided. The method includes: a first station STA receives a trigger frame from an access point AP. The trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to the first station STA. The first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field. The first spatial stream allocation sub-field carries a first index value in a first mapping information. Wherein, the first mapping relationship is used to indicate the corresponding relationship between multiple index values and multiple spatial stream allocation information. Each spatial stream allocation information includes stream start position information and stream number information. The first index value corresponds to the spatial stream allocation information of the first STA. Among them, the multiple spatial stream allocation information includes multiple first spatial stream allocation information, multiple second spatial stream allocation information, and multiple third spatial stream allocation information. The first spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information shared by the multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) mode and the non-multi-user multiple input multiple output (non-MU-MIMO) mode. The second spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information exclusive to the non-MU-MIMO mode. The third spatial stream allocation information is the spatial stream allocation information exclusive to the MU-MIMO mode. The first station STA sends uplink data according to the information carried in the first user information field.

[0080] By including the spatial stream allocation information shared by the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode in the mapping relationship used to indicate the corresponding relationship between the index value and the spatial stream allocation information, the number of required index values can be reduced, and thus the bit overhead for carrying the index value can be reduced.

[0081] Optionally, when the maximum number of streams of each STA in the MU-MIMO mode is 4, the first mapping relationship is as shown in Table 2 above.

[0082] By excluding impossible spatial stream allocation situations from the mapping relationship. For example, since the total number of streams cannot be greater than 16, that is, the number of streams of this user cannot be greater than 1 when starting from the 16th stream. Thus, the number of required index values can be further reduced, and the bit overhead for carrying the index value can be reduced.

[0083] Optionally, in the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode, the value range of the stream start position information is [1, K]. Wherein, the value range of the stream number information of the spatial stream allocation information with the value of the stream start position information being k is [1, N]. Among them, k - 1 streams include multiple allocation methods, and each allocation method corresponds to a first value. The first value is the number of streams of the user with the least number of allocated streams in the corresponding allocation method. N is determined according to the maximum value among multiple first values, and K represents the maximum number of streams that can be used.

[0084] Optionally, the trigger frame includes user information fields of multiple STAs. When the multiple STAs are arranged in descending order according to the number of streams they have, the starting position of the streams of the i-th STA is before the starting position of the streams of the (i + 1)-th STA.

[0085] Optionally, the first mapping relationship is as shown in Table 3 above.

[0086] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, including various modules or units for performing the methods in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and any of their possible implementation manners.

[0087] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and can be used to execute the methods in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and their possible implementation manners. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0088] In one implementation manner, the communication device is a device. In this case, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. In another implementation manner, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. In this case, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or a related circuit, etc. on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0089] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, including: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the methods in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and any of their possible implementation manners are implemented.

[0090] In a specific implementation process, the above communication 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 transistors, gate circuits, flip-flops, 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. The signal output by the output circuit can be output to, for example, but not limited to, a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Moreover, the input circuit and the output circuit can be different circuits or the same circuit. In this case, the circuit is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times respectively. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation manners of the processor and various circuits.

[0091] In an eighth aspect, a processing device is provided, including a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory, and can receive signals through a receiver and transmit signals through a transmitter to execute the methods in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and their various possible implementations.

[0092] Optionally, there is one or more processors, and there is one or more memories.

[0093] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory and the processor are separately arranged.

[0094] In a specific implementation, the memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or may be separately arranged on different chips. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of the memory and the arrangement manner of the memory and the processor.

[0095] It should be understood that relevant data interaction processes, such as sending indication information, may be a process of outputting indication information from the processor, and receiving capability information may be a process of the processor receiving input capability information. Specifically, the processed output data may be output to the transmitter, and the input data received by the processor may come from the receiver. Among them, the transmitter and the receiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

[0096] The processor in the above eighth aspect may be a chip, and the processor may be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented by hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc.; when implemented by software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, which is implemented by reading software code stored in the memory. The memory may be integrated in the processor or may exist independently outside the processor.

[0097] In a ninth aspect, a processing device is provided, including: a communication interface and a processing circuit. The communication interface is configured to send a trigger frame according to the method in the first aspect or the third aspect and any one of their possible implementations, and the processing circuit is configured to generate the trigger frame.

[0098] In a tenth aspect, a processing device is provided, including: a communication interface and a processing circuit. The communication interface is configured to obtain a trigger frame to be processed, and the processing circuit is configured to process the trigger frame to be processed according to the method in the second aspect or the fourth aspect and any one of their possible implementations.

[0099] In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product, which includes a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is run, it causes a computer to execute the method in any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect and any possible implementation manner of each aspect.

[0100] In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium, which stores a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When it runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method in any one of the above-mentioned first aspect to the fourth aspect and any possible implementation manner of each aspect.

[0101] In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system, which includes the aforementioned AP and STA. Description of the Drawings

[0102] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the communication system of the present application.

[0103] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the channel distribution of the present application.

[0104] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the transmission process of the trigger frame of the present application.

[0105] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the frame structure of the trigger frame of the present application.

[0106] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of another example of the frame structure of the trigger frame of the present application.

[0107] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the user information field of the present application.

[0108] Figure 7 It is a schematic interaction diagram of an example of the transmission process of the trigger frame of the present application.

[0109] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of another example of the user information field of the present application.

[0110] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of yet another example of the user information field of the present application.

[0111] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of yet another example of the user information field of the present application.

[0112] Figure 11 It is a schematic interaction diagram of another example of the transmission process of the trigger frame of the present application.

[0113] Figure 12It is a schematic diagram of an example of the communication device of the present application.

[0114] Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram of another example of the communication device of the present application.

[0115] Figure 14 It is a schematic diagram of yet another example of the communication device of the present application.

[0116] Figure 15 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the AP of the present application.

[0117] Figure 16 It is a schematic diagram of an example of the STA of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0118] Next, the technical solutions in the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0119] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, future fifth generation (5G) systems or new radio (NR), etc.

[0120] The following is an exemplary description. Only taking the WLAN system as an example, the application scenarios of the embodiments of the present application and the methods of the embodiments of the present application are described.

[0121] Specifically, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a WLAN system, and the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to any one of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series of protocols currently adopted by the WLAN.

[0122] A WLAN may include one or more basic service sets (BSSs). The network nodes in a basic service set include an access point (AP) and a station (STA). One STA can only be associated with one AP (i.e., associate the STA with the AP), while multiple STAs can be associated with one AP. Before data transmission between the STA and the AP, beam training is required to obtain the optimal receiving beam and / or the optimal transmitting beam between the STA and the AP. Based on the original BSS, IEEE 802.11ad introduces a personal basic service set (PBSS) and a personal basic service set control point (PCP). Each personal basic service set can include a PCP / AP and multiple stations associated with the PCP / AP.

[0123] The user station (STA) in a WLAN can be referred to as a system, a user unit, an access terminal, a mobile station, a mobile device, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, a user device, or a user equipment (UE). The STA can be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless local area network (e.g., Wi-Fi) communication capabilities, a wearable device, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem.

[0124] The PCP / AP in a WLAN can be used to communicate with the STA via a wireless local area network, and transmit the data of the STA to the network side, or transmit the data from the network side to the STA.

[0125] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first, take the Figure 1 communication system shown in as an example to detail the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1 the scenario system can be a WLAN system, Figure 1 the WLAN system can include one or more APs, and one or more STAs, Figure 1Take one AP and three STAs as an example. Wireless communication can be carried out between the AP and the STAs through various standards. For example, single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) technology or multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology can be adopted for wireless communication between the AP and the STAs.

[0126] Among them, the AP is also known as a wireless access point or hotspot, etc. The AP is an access point for mobile users to enter the wired network, mainly deployed in homes, inside buildings, and inside campuses, and can also be deployed outdoors. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting the wired network and the wireless network. Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, the AP can be a terminal device or a network device with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip. Optionally, the AP can be a device supporting multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11.

[0127] Starting from 802.11a / g, WLAN has gone through 802.11n, 802.11ac, to the currently discussed 802.11ax and 802.11be. The allowable transmission bandwidth and the number of space-time streams are shown in Table 4 below

[0128] Table 4

[0129]

[0130] Figure 2 Shows an example of the channel allocation of this application, as Figure 2 shown, the entire channel is divided into a primary 20MHz channel (or simply the primary channel, Primary 20MHz, P20), a secondary 20MHz channel (Secondary 20MHz, S20), a secondary 40MHz channel (S40), and a secondary 80MHz (S80) channel. Additionally, there are corresponding P40 and P80. As the bandwidth increases, the data transmission rate also increases. Therefore, in the next-generation standard, larger bandwidths greater than 160MHz (such as 240MHz, 320MHz) will be considered.

[0131] As the bandwidth increases and the number of streams increases, the data transmission rate also increases. Therefore, in the next-generation standard, larger bandwidths (such as 240MHz, 320MHz) and larger numbers of streams, such as 9 to 16 spatial streams, will be considered.

[0132] Among them, a spatial stream can also be referred to as a space-time stream, or simply as a stream. In this application, the terms "spatial stream", "space-time stream" and "stream" have the same meaning.

[0133] Normally, the STA obtains the transmission right through channel competition and then performs uplink data transmission. For example, it grabs the channel based on the enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) method. 802.11ax introduces a trigger-frame-based scheduled uplink transmission method.

[0134] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the process of this uplink transmission is as follows Figure 3 As shown, the AP first sends a trigger frame, which contains resource scheduling information and other parameters for one or more stations to send uplink physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs).

[0135] Figure 4 An example of the frame structure of the trigger frame is shown as follows Figure 4 As shown, the trigger frame contains a CommonInfo field and a User Info List field.

[0136] Among them, the CommonInfo field contains common information that all STAs need to read. Figure 5 An example of the CommonInfo field is shown.

[0137] The User Info List field consists of one or more user information fields, and each user information field contains information that each STA needs to read separately. In the user information field, the Association Identification12 (AID12) represents the association identification of a certain STA, and the Resource Unit Allocation subfield is used to indicate the specific resource unit (RU) location allocated to this STA (the STA indicated by AID12). Figure 6 An example of the user information field is shown.

[0138] After receiving the trigger frame, the STA parses out the user information field that matches its AID, and then sends an efficient trigger-based PPDU on the RU indicated by the Resource Unit Allocation subfield in this user information field. The names and simple functions of each field of this PPDU are shown in Table 5 below.

[0139] Table 5

[0140]

[0141] From the HE-STF to the Data, the entire bandwidth can be divided into one or more resource units. It should be noted that in the 802.11ax standard, only one RU is allowed to be allocated to one STA. The next-generation 802.11be standard allows multiple RUs to be allocated to one STA.

[0142] After the AP receives an uplink multi-user PPDU composed of one or more uplink sub-PPDUs sent by stations, it replies with an acknowledgment frame. The acknowledgment frames for one or more stations can be sent in the form of downlink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), or in the form of non-HT replication transmission. The acknowledgment frame includes an acknowledgment (Ack) frame and a block acknowledgment (Block Ack) frame. The Block Ack frame includes a compressed Block Ack frame and a multi-station (Multi-STA) Block Ack frame. Among them, the Ack frame and the Block Ack frame are acknowledgments for the information sent to one station, and the Multi-STA Block Ack is an acknowledgment for the information sent to one or more stations.

[0143] Next, the resource unit allocation sub-field in the user information field of the trigger frame will be described in detail. This sub-field is located in the user information field of the trigger frame. The trigger-based uplink multi-user transmission uses the same subcarrier distribution as the downlink. As an example but not a limitation, for example, when the bandwidth is 160 MHz, first, a 1-bit (the B12 bit in the user information field) is used to indicate whether it is the lower 80 MHz or the upper 80 MHz (for the case where the bandwidth is less than or equal to 80 MHz, this bit is default set to 0 to indicate the lower 80 MHz). Then, all possible resource unit allocations for 80 MHz are listed in Table 6 below, and then the index (or index value or index information) in this table is used to indicate.

[0144] Table 6

[0145]

[0146]

[0147]

[0148] It should be understood that the above example of the highest uplink bandwidth of 160 MHz is only for illustrative purposes, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the highest uplink bandwidth can also reach, for example, 240 MHz or 320 MHz or even higher.

[0149] In addition, for example, if the uplink bandwidth reaches up to 320 MHz, one additional bit can be added to the RU Allocation subfield on the basis of Table 6 to expand the RU Allocation subfield to indicate the position of the selected 80 MHz within the 320 MHz.

[0150] Among them, the 0th bit (B0) in the Resource Unit Allocation subfield (RU Allocation subfield) indicates whether it is the primary 80 MHz or the secondary 80 MHz. For a bandwidth of 20 / 40 / 80 MHz, this bit is defaultly indicated as 0 (within the primary 80 MHz).

[0151] When the bandwidth increases to 320 MHz, the Resource Unit Allocation subfield adds 1 bit (or 1 bit position). Combining the existing 0th bit and 1st bit in the Resource Unit Allocation subfield to indicate which specific 80 MHz within the 320 MHz. Based on the determined position of the 80 MHz, then use a 7-bit table to indicate which specific RU. Among them, the Resource Unit Allocation subfield indicates whether it is the primary 160 MHz or the secondary 160 MHz.

[0152] As Figure 6 shown, when random access is not involved (i.e., when AID12 is not equal to 0 and 2045), B26 - B31 in the user information field is the Spatial Stream Allocation subfield (SS Allocation subfield), which is used to indicate the starting position and quantity of the spatial streams allocated to the STA corresponding to this user information field.

[0153] The embodiments of the present application are applicable to communication systems having one or more of the following characteristics:

[0154] 1) In the Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) mode, the maximum total number of supported streams is 16, that is, the maximum value of the sum of the number of streams of all users in the MU-MIMO mode is 16;

[0155] 2) In the Non Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (non-MU-MIMO) mode, a maximum of 16 streams are supported, that is, the maximum value of the number of streams of one user in the non-MU-MIMO mode is 16;

[0156] 3) In the MU-MIMO mode, the maximum number of spatial streams for each user is 4;

[0157] 4) The maximum number of users supported by the MU-MIMO mode on each resource unit group is 8. Here, a resource unit group includes at least one RU. When a resource unit group includes one RU, the resource unit group can also be understood as a resource unit. When a resource unit group includes two or more RUs, the resource unit group can be understood as a Multiple Resource Unit (MRU).

[0158] 5) MU-MIMO can be used only on resource unit groups with a number of subcarriers greater than or equal to 242. Or rather, the MU-MIMO mode can be used only when the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group is greater than or equal to 242.

[0159] Embodiment 1

[0160] Figure 7 A schematic interaction diagram showing an example of the spatial stream indication process of the embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0161] As Figure 7 shown, the AP generates a trigger frame #A. Here, the trigger frame #A includes a user information field of at least one STA. Among them, the structures of the user information fields of the at least one STA are similar, and the operations performed by the at least one STA according to the trigger frame are similar. Here, for the sake of easy understanding, the processing process for STA#A (i.e., an example of the first STA in the first aspect) is taken as an example for description.

[0162] That is, the trigger frame #A includes the user information field of STA#A (denoted as the user information field #A, i.e., an example of the first user information field).

[0163] In the embodiment of the present application, information #A (i.e., an example of the first information) is carried in the user information field #A.

[0164] The information #A is used to indicate the MIMO mode (denoted as mode #A for the sake of easy understanding and distinction) used by STA#A when transmitting data. That is, the mode #A is the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode.

[0165] In the embodiment of the present application, when the transmission modes indicated by the information #A are different (or rather, the modes used by STA#A when transmitting data are different), the information carried in the spatial stream allocation subfield (SS Allocation subfield) of the user information field #A (such as the number of bits occupied by the information or the interpretation method of the information) is also different.

[0166] Next, the structures of the SS Allocation subfield in the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode will be described in detail respectively.

[0167] 1. MU-MIMO mode

[0168] In the case where the maximum total number of streams supported in the MU-MIMO mode is 16, there are 16 possible starting positions for the streams allocated to a STA (e.g., STA#A) (which may also be referred to as spatial streams or space-time streams). Therefore, 4 bits are required to indicate the starting position of the streams of this STA (e.g., STA#A).

[0169] In the case where the maximum number of spatial streams per user in the MU-MIMO mode is 4, there are 4 possible numbers of streams allocated to a STA (e.g., STA#A). Therefore, 2 bits are required to indicate the number of streams of this STA (e.g., STA#A).

[0170] That is, in the MU-MIMO mode, the SS Allocation subfield includes at least 6 bits (e.g., Figure 6 B26 - B31 in [reference]). Among them, 4 bits are used to carry the spatial stream starting position information to indicate the starting position of the spatial streams allocated to the STA, and the other 2 bits are used to carry the spatial stream number information to indicate the number of spatial streams allocated to the STA.

[0171] It should be noted that the positions of the spatial stream starting position information and the spatial stream number information in the SS Allocation subfield can adopt different structures according to needs, as long as the understanding of the information carried in the SS Allocation subfield by the AP and the STA is consistent.

[0172] That is, in the MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information of STA#A includes the spatial stream starting position information and the spatial stream number information. Among them, the spatial stream starting position information occupies 4 bits, and the spatial stream number information occupies 2 bits.

[0173] 2. non-MU-MIMO mode

[0174] In the non-MU-MIMO mode, the spatial streams indicated by the information carried in the SS Allocation subfield are allocated to a STA (e.g., STA#A). The starting position of the spatial streams allocated to the STA can be defaulted to 1. Therefore, there is no need to indicate the starting position of the spatial streams allocated to the STA.

[0175] In addition, in the case of supporting up to 16 streams in the non-MU-MIMO mode, there are 16 possibilities for the number of streams allocated to a STA (e.g., STA#A). Therefore, 4 bits are required to indicate the number of streams of this STA (e.g., STA#A).

[0176] That is, in the non-MU-MIMO mode, the SS Allocation subfield includes at least 4 bits for carrying the spatial stream number information to indicate the number of spatial streams allocated to the STA.

[0177] That is, in the non-MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information of STA#A includes the spatial stream number information, and this spatial stream number information occupies 4 bits.

[0178] In one implementation, the SS Allocation subfield includes 6 bits (e.g., B26 - B31 in Figure 6 ), but the spatial stream allocation information of STA#A only occupies 4 of them, and the other two bits can be used to indicate other information.

[0179] It should be noted that in this case, the position of the spatial stream allocation information (specifically, the spatial stream number information) in the SS Allocation subfield can be different according to different methods, as long as the understanding of the information carried in the SS Allocation subfield by the AP and the STA is consistent.

[0180] In another implementation, the SS Allocation subfield includes 4 bits (e.g., B26 - B29 in Figure 8 ), and two bits can be saved in this implementation (e.g., B30 - B31 in Figure 8 ), and these two bits can be used to carry other information, for example, they can be used as a reserved subfield.

[0181] In addition, as described above, the SS Allocation subfield (specifically, the number of bits included in the SS Allocation subfield) may be different in the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode. In this case, the positions of the SS Allocation subfield in the user information field in the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode may overlap or be different. The embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit this, as long as the understanding (or interpretation) of the user information field and the SS Allocation subfield field by the STA and the AP in the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode is consistent.

[0182] In the embodiments of the present application, the information #A can be indicated in a display indication manner or an implicit indication manner to indicate the mode #A.

[0183] Embodiment 2

[0184] In this embodiment, the process of the display indication mode #A is described.

[0185] In the embodiments of the present application, the information #A includes 1 bit, or rather, the information #A occupies 1 bit position.

[0186] For example, when the value of the bit corresponding to the information #A is "1", the information #A is used to indicate that the STA #A uses the MU-MIMO mode when transmitting data. When the value of the bit corresponding to the information #A is "0", the information #A is used to indicate that the STA #A uses the non-MU-MIMO mode when transmitting data.

[0187] Alternatively, when the value of the bit corresponding to the information #A is "0", the information #A is used to indicate that the STA #A uses the MU-MIMO mode when transmitting data. When the value of the bit corresponding to the information #A is "1", the information #A is used to indicate that the STA #A uses the non-MU-MIMO mode when transmitting data.

[0188] It should be understood that the relationship between the values of the information #A listed above and the indicated content is only for illustrative purposes. The embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit this, as long as the understanding of the content indicated by different values of the information #A by the AP and the STA is consistent. For example, the relationship between the values of the information #A and the indicated content can be specified by the communication system or communication protocol, or the relationship between the values of the information #A and the indicated content can also be indicated by the AP to the STA.

[0189] Since there are 2 possible cases for mode #A, only 1 bit is required to meet the requirement. Thus, the bit overhead can be solved, and the practicality of this application can be further improved. However, the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto, and information #A can also occupy 2 or more bit positions.

[0190] Next, the carrying position of information #A in the user information field will be described.

[0191] Method 1

[0192] In one implementation, this information #A is carried in a reserved subfield in the user information field. For example, Figure 6 the shown B39.

[0193] In this case, STA #A can obtain information #A from the reserved subfield in user information field #A, that is, B39 in user information field #A.

[0194] Method 2

[0195] In another implementation, Figure 6 the information carried in the shown uplink dual-carrier modulation subfield can be carried using the modulation and coding strategy subfield, and this method can be similar to the method and process of using the coding strategy subfield to carry uplink dual-carrier modulation information in the prior art. Here, to avoid repetition, its detailed description is omitted.

[0196] Therefore, in this application, trigger frame #A can not include the uplink dual-carrier modulation subfield carrying. Thus, the saved bit positions (such as B25) can be used as the field for carrying information #A, for example Figure 9 the shown MU-MIMO / non-MU-MIMO indication subfield.

[0197] It should be noted that in the case where bit positions are saved because the trigger frame does not include some subfields in the prior art (such as the uplink dual-carrier modulation subfield carrying), the positions of some subfields in the trigger frame can change, that is, different from the positions of these subfields in the trigger frame in the prior art. Or, the positions of some subfields in the trigger frame can remain unchanged, that is, the same as the positions of these subfields in the trigger frame in the prior art. That is, the embodiments of this application do not particularly limit the placement positions of the saved bit positions in the trigger frame. Hereinafter, to avoid repetition, the description of the same or similar cases is omitted.

[0198] In this case, STA #A can obtain information #A from the bit positions saved by not including the uplink dual-carrier modulation subfield in user information field #A, such as B25 in user information field #A.

[0199] Mode 3

[0200] As Figure 6 shown, the user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield (RU Allocation subfield), that is, B12 - B19 in the user information field. The RU Allocation subfield is used to carry the resource unit group allocated to the STA, for example, RU or MRU.

[0201] And, as Figure 6 shown, the user information field includes an uplink forward error correction code type subfield, that is, B20 in the user information field. This subfield is used to carry coding method information, and this coding method information can indicate the coding method for uplink transmission, for example, binary convolutional coding (BCC) method or Low Density Parity Check Code (LDPC).

[0202] And, this coding method needs to be indicated only when the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group allocated to the STA is less than or equal to a certain threshold (denoted as threshold #A, that is, an example of the first threshold).

[0203] As an example but not a limitation, the value of the threshold #A is 242.

[0204] It should be noted that the threshold #A can be specified by a communication system or a communication protocol, and the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit it.

[0205] For example, if the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group allocated to STA#A (or, the resource unit group indicated by the information carried in the RU Allocation subfield of user information field #A) is greater than the threshold #A, it means that the coding method does not need to be indicated, that is, as Figure 10 shown, the user information field #A may not include an uplink forward error correction code type subfield.

[0206] Thus, the saved bit positions (for example, B20) can be used as a field for carrying information #A, for example Figure 10 shown MU - MIMO / non - MU - MIMO indication subfield.

[0207] It should be noted that in the case where bit positions are saved because the trigger frame does not include certain sub - fields in the prior art (for example, the uplink forward error correction code type sub - field), the positions of certain sub - fields in the trigger frame may change, that is, they are different from the positions of these sub - fields in the trigger frame in the prior art. Or, the positions of certain sub - fields in the trigger frame may not change, that is, they are the same as the positions of these sub - fields in the trigger frame in the prior art. That is, the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the placement positions of the saved bit positions in the trigger frame. Hereinafter, to avoid repetition, descriptions of the same or similar situations are omitted.

[0208] In this case, STA#A can obtain information#A from the bit positions saved by not including the uplink forward error correction code type sub - field in user information field#A, for example, B20 in user information field#A.

[0209] In addition, although in the embodiments of the present application, 1 bit saved by not including the UL FEC Coding Type sub - field is used to indicate information#A, the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. This saved 1 bit can also be used to indicate other information. For example, when the 8 - bit RU Allocation subfield indicates an RU greater than 242, this 1 bit can expand the RU Allocation subfield table, or can also be used for the indication of MRU combination, etc.

[0210] Embodiment 3

[0211] In this embodiment, the process of implicit indication mode#A is described.

[0212] As shown in Figure 6 the user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub - field (RU Allocation subfield), that is, B12 - B19 in the user information field. The RU Allocation subfield is used to carry the resource unit group allocated to the STA, for example, RU or MRU.

[0213] Moreover, the MU - MIMO mode can be used only when the number of sub - carriers included in the resource unit group allocated to the STA is greater than a certain threshold (denoted as threshold#B, that is, an example of the second threshold).

[0214] As an example rather than a limitation, the value of threshold#B is 242 or 484.

[0215] It should be noted that this threshold#B can be specified by the communication system or communication protocol, and the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit it.

[0216] For example, if the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group allocated to STA#A (or, the resource unit group indicated by the information carried in the RU Allocation subfield of user information field#A) is less than threshold#B, it means that STA#A cannot use the MU-MIMO mode, that is, mode#A is defaulted to the non-MU-MIMO mode.

[0217] In this case, when STA#A determines that the number of subcarriers included in the RU or MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield in user information field#A is less than threshold#B, it is defaulted that the mode indicated by information#A is the non-MU-MIMO mode.

[0218] It should be noted that the above threshold#A and threshold#B can be used jointly or separately, and the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit this.

[0219] When the number of subcarriers included in the RU or MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield in user information field#A is greater than the threshold#B for enabling the MU-MIMO mode, it can be further indicated / determined that the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode is adopted on the RU or MRU. For example, any one of the above methods 1-3 can be used to implement the indication function of information#A.

[0220] In addition, when the number of subcarriers included in the RU or MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield in user information field#A is equal to the threshold#B for enabling the MU-MIMO mode, it can be further indicated / determined that the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode is adopted on the RU or MRU. And when threshold#A is the same as threshold#B, for example, both are 242, the uplink forward error correction code field of user information field#A needs to carry information about the coding method, that is, the above method 3 cannot be used.

[0221] In this case, in addition to implementing the indication function of information#A through the above method 1 or method 2, the embodiments of the present application can also provide the following method to implement the indication function of information#A.

[0222] Method x

[0223] Four additional entries corresponding to 242 tones can be added to the 7-bit 80 MHz specific indication (refer to Table 6) in the RU Allocation subfield. Together with the original four entries corresponding to 242 tones, there are a total of eight entries. Four of these entries are set to correspond to the MU-MIMO transmission mode, and the other four entries correspond to the non-MU-MIMO transmission mode. By selecting different entries, the purpose of informing the STA allocated with 242-tone RU whether it is MU-MIMO or non-MU-MIMO can be achieved. In this method x, when the values of threshold #A and threshold #B are the same (for example, both are 242), when the allocated resource block is equal to this threshold, the indication of the MU-MIMO / non-MU-MIMO transmission mode can be achieved with fewer communication resources.

[0224] The following Table 7 shows an example of the correspondence between the index values of the allocation method of 242-tone RU.

[0225] Table 7

[0226]

[0227]

[0228] Among them, the entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64 can reuse the entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64 in Table 6, that is, the MIMO mode corresponding to this entry is added to the entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64 in Table 6, for example, MU-MIMO.

[0229] The entries corresponding to the index values 69 - 72 can be new entries.

[0230] Method y

[0231] When the values of threshold #A and threshold #B are the same, for example, both are 242, four additional entries corresponding to 242 tones can be added to the 7-bit 80 MHz specific indication in the RU Allocation subfield. Together with the original four entries corresponding to 242 tones, there are a total of eight entries. Four of these entries are set to correspond to the BCC coding method, and the other four entries correspond to the LDPC coding method. By selecting different entries, the purpose of informing the user allocated with 242-tone RU whether to use the BCC coding method or the LDPC coding method can be achieved. In this method y, when the values of threshold #A and threshold #B are the same (for example, both are 242), when the allocated resource block is equal to this threshold, the indication of using the BCC coding method or the LDPC coding method with fewer communication resources can be achieved.

[0232] Specifically, the user information field #A may not include the uplink forward error correction code type UL FEC CodingType subfield at this time. Thus, as Figure 10 shown, the saved bit positions (e.g., B20) can be used to carry the information #A.

[0233] It should be noted that in the case where bit positions are saved because the trigger frame does not include certain subfields in the prior art (e.g., the uplink forward error correction code type subfield), the positions of certain subfields in the trigger frame may change, i.e., be different from the positions of these subfields in the trigger frame in the prior art. Or, the positions of certain subfields in the trigger frame may not change, i.e., be the same as the positions of these subfields in the trigger frame in the prior art. That is, the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the placement positions of the saved bit positions in the trigger frame. Hereinafter, to avoid redundancy, descriptions of the same or similar situations are omitted.

[0234] In this case, STA #A can obtain the information #A from the bit positions saved in the user information field #A by not including the uplink forward error correction code type subfield, e.g., B20 in the user information field #A.

[0235] In addition, although 1 bit saved due to not including the UL FEC Coding Type subfield is used to indicate the information #A in the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. This saved 1 bit can also be used to indicate other information. For example, when the 8-bit RU Allocation subfield indicates an RU greater than 242, this 1 bit can expand the RU Allocation subfield table or can also be used for indicating the MRU combination, etc.

[0236] Table 8 below shows another example of the correspondence of index values for the allocation method of 242-tone RUs.

[0237] Table 8

[0238]

[0239]

[0240] Among them, the entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64 can reuse the entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64 in Table 6, i.e., add the coding method corresponding to this entry to the existing entries corresponding to the index values 61 - 64, e.g., BBC.

[0241] The entries corresponding to the index values 69 - 72 can be new entries.

[0242] In addition, asFigure 6 , Figures 8 - 10 The user information field shown includes a Resource Unit Allocation subfield (RU Allocation subfield), i.e., B12 - B19 in the user information field. The RU Allocation subfield is used to carry the resource unit group allocated to the STA, for example, RU or MRU.

[0243] And when the uplink bandwidth subfield (as shown in Figure 5 ) in the common information field of the trigger frame indicates a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz, the RU Allocation subfield requires 9 bits to complete the indication.

[0244] In addition, when the uplink bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth subfield is greater than 160 MHz, the threshold #B can be 484.

[0245] That is, let the threshold #A = 242 and the threshold #B = 484.

[0246] Then, if the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth subfield in the common information field of trigger frame #A is greater than 160 MHz, and the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group allocated to STA#A is less than or equal to 242, the uplink forward error correction code type subfield can be retained, and information #A can be sent in the above - mentioned manner 1 or manner 2.

[0247] If the size of the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth subfield in the common information field of trigger frame #A is greater than 160 MHz, and the number of subcarriers included in the resource unit group allocated to STA#A is greater than the threshold #A of 242, it means that there is no need to indicate the coding method. That is, as shown in Figure 10 , the user information field #A may not include the uplink forward error correction code type subfield. Thus, the saved bits (for example, B20) can be used to carry information #A.

[0248] If the size of the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth subfield in the common information field of trigger frame #A is less than or equal to 160 MHz, there is no need to use an additional 1 bit based on Table 6 to expand the RU Allocation subfield to indicate 320 MHz. And information #A can be sent in the above - mentioned manner 1 or manner 2.

[0249] In summary, when the MU - MIMO mode requires the corresponding threshold (i.e., threshold #B) to be 242,

[0250] If the number of subcarriers included in the RU / MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield is greater than 242, it is necessary to indicate in an explicit manner whether to use the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode. That is, in this case, any one of Mode 1, Mode 2, or Mode 3 in the second embodiment above can be used to send the indication information (i.e., Information #A) of the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode;

[0251] If the number of subcarriers included in the RU / MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield is less than 242, the non-MU-MIMO mode can be implicitly defaulted, that is, in this case, the non-MU-MIMO mode can be implicitly indicated by the method in the third embodiment above;

[0252] If the number of subcarriers included in the RU / MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield is equal to 242, it is necessary to indicate in an explicit manner whether to use the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode. And if the corresponding threshold (i.e., Threshold #A) required by the coding method is 242, the coding method also needs to be indicated. In this case, the indication information (i.e., Information #A) of the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode and the information of the coding method can be sent by Method x or Method y.

[0253] When the corresponding threshold (i.e., Threshold #B) required by the MU-MIMO mode is 484,

[0254] If the number of subcarriers included in the RU / MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield is greater than or equal to 484, it is necessary to indicate in an explicit manner whether to use the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode. That is, in this case, any one of Mode 1, Mode 2, or Mode 3 in the second embodiment above can be used to send the indication information (i.e., Information #A) of the MU-MIMO mode or the non-MU-MIMO mode;

[0255] If the number of subcarriers included in the RU / MRU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield is less than 484, the non-MU-MIMO mode can be implicitly defaulted, that is, in this case, the non-MU-MIMO mode can be implicitly indicated by the method in the third embodiment above.

[0256] Embodiment 4

[0257] Figure 11A schematic interaction diagram showing an example of the spatial stream indication process according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0258] As Figure 11 shown, the AP generates trigger frame #1, where the trigger frame #1 includes a user information field of at least one STA. The structures of the user information fields of the at least one STA are similar, and the operations performed by the at least one STA according to the trigger frame are similar. Here, for ease of understanding, the processing process for STA #1 (i.e., an example of the first STA in the second aspect) is taken as an example for description.

[0259] That is, the trigger frame #1 includes a user information field of STA #1 (denoted as user information field #1, i.e., an example of the first user information field).

[0260] In the embodiment of the present application, a mapping relationship #1 (i.e., an example of the first mapping relationship in the third aspect) is configured in the AP and the STA. The mapping relationship #1 includes the correspondence between multiple spatial stream allocation information and multiple index values. In the embodiment of the present application, the index value can include 6 bits. Different from other embodiments, the spatial stream allocation information no longer separately indicates the number information of the streams and the starting position information of the streams, but adopts a method of indexing the number information of the streams and the starting position information of the streams as a whole.

[0261] Moreover, the user information field #1 includes a spatial stream allocation subfield (SS Allocation subfield). The information carried by the SS Allocation subfield is used to carry the index value (denoted as index value #1) corresponding to the spatial stream configuration information #1. The spatial stream configuration information #1 is used to indicate the information of spatial stream #1 allocated to STA #1, that is, the starting position of the spatial stream #1 and the number of the spatial stream #1. The SS Allocation subfield can include 6 bits.

[0262] In the embodiment of the present application, the mapping relationship #1 includes entries shared by the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode, as well as entries dedicated to the MU-MIMO mode, and entries dedicated to the non-MU-MIMO mode. Correspondingly, the index (entry) dedicated to the MU-MIMO mode also indicates that the transmission is in the MU-MIMO mode, and the index (entry) dedicated to the non-MU-MIMO mode also indicates that the transmission is in the non-MU-MIMO mode. For the case of shared entries, this embodiment can combine the previous schemes for indicating the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode, or can not adopt the previous technical schemes.

[0263] Specifically, the WLAN of the embodiment of the present application satisfies the following conditions:

[0264] 1) The maximum total number of streams supported in the MU-MIMO mode is 8 or 16;

[0265] 2) The maximum number of 16 streams is supported in the non-MU-MIMO mode;

[0266] 3) The maximum number of spatial streams for each user in the MU-MIMO mode is 4;

[0267] 4) The maximum number of users supported by the MU-MIMO mode on each resource unit group is 8.

[0268] Therefore, the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode can share the entries in the spatial stream configuration information indicating that the stream start position is 1 and the number of streams is from 1 to 4. For example, the entries corresponding to the index values 1-4 in Tables 9 to 11 below, that is, the first row in Tables 9 to 11.

[0269] That is, when the maximum number of supported spatial streams of non-MU-MIMO is 8, the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode can share the entries in the spatial stream configuration information indicating that the stream start position is 1 and the number of streams is from 1 to 4. For example, the entries corresponding to the index values 1-4 in Tables 9 to 11 below, that is, the first row in Tables 9 to 11. Therefore, only 4 additional entries are needed to indicate that the start stream of non-MU-MIMO is 1 and the number of streams is from 5 to 8. In this case, the number of bits of the spatial stream allocation subfield is 6 bits.

[0270] In a possible implementation, since the total number of streams cannot be greater than 16, for example, when starting from the 16th stream, the number of streams of this STA cannot be greater than 1, otherwise the total number of streams will exceed 16. Therefore, mapping relationship #1 may not include this entry. Table 9 below shows an example of the mapping relationship #1 in the embodiment of the present application.

[0271] Table 9

[0272]

[0273]

[0274] It should be noted that the above table adopts a compressed recording method. Of course, other recording methods can also be used, for example, each entry only contains a unique value.

[0275] It should be noted that when the maximum number of supported spatial streams of non-MU-MIMO is 16, the above table needs to be extended to 7 bits (because the 64 index values corresponding to 6 bits are not enough to indicate the additional 12 entries).

[0276] Table 10 below shows an example of mapping relationship #1 when the maximum supported number of spatial streams for non-MU-MIMO is 16.

[0277] Table 10

[0278]

[0279]

[0280] In another possible implementation, the trigger frame #1 includes user information fields of at least two STAs, where the structures of the user information fields of the at least two STAs are similar; the number of streams allocated to the at least two STAs can be sorted, and the STA (user) with the most streams should be assigned the smallest stream starting position, and at the same time, the number of streams of this STA is indicated. In this way, the entries dedicated to the MU-MIMO mode can be further compressed.

[0281] Specifically, according to the rule that the user with the most streams should be assigned the smallest stream starting position. In other words, the spatial stream allocation subfield in the user information field indicates not only the spatial stream allocation information of this STA, but also the range of spatial streams allocated to other STAs, such as the range of the number of streams.

[0282] For example, when the starting position of the stream of a certain STA-a is the second stream, it proves that the first stream in front is allocated to other users. Therefore, according to the above rule, the number of streams allocated to this STA-a can only be 1 (not greater than the number of streams of this STA-a).

[0283] For another example, when the starting position of the stream of a certain STA-b1 is the third stream, it proves that the first two streams in front are allocated to other users. Therefore, these two streams may be allocated to the same STA or different STAs. When they are allocated to the same STA-b2, according to the above rule, the number of streams allocated to this STA-b1 may be 2 (not greater than the number of streams of this STA-b2). Therefore, the possible values of the number of streams in the entry with the starting position of the third stream are 1 or 2.

[0284] For another example, when the starting position of the stream of a certain STA-c1 is the fourth stream, it proves that the first three streams in front are allocated to other STAs. Therefore, these three streams may be allocated to the same STA or different STAs. When they are allocated to the same STA-c2, according to the above rule, the number of streams allocated to this STA-c1 may be 3 (not greater than the number of streams of this STA-c2). Therefore, the possible values of the number of streams in the entry with the starting position of the fourth stream are 1, 2, or 3.

[0285] For another example, when the starting position of the stream of a certain STA-d1 is the 5th stream, it proves that the previous 4 streams are allocated to other STAs. Therefore, these 4 streams may be allocated to the same STA or different STAs. When allocated to the same STA-d2, according to the above rules, the number of streams allocated to this STA-d1 may be 4 (not greater than the number of streams of this STA-d2). Therefore, the possible values of the number of streams in the entry where the starting position of the stream is the 5th stream are 1, 2, 3, or 4.

[0286] For another example, when the starting position of the stream of a certain STA-e1 is the 6th stream, it proves that the previous 5 streams are allocated to other STAs. And as described above, the maximum number of streams allocated to the same STA in the MU-MIMO mode is 4. Since there will be no situation where these 5 streams are allocated to the same STA, the possible allocation methods for these 5 streams include: α. 3 streams are allocated to one STA-e2, and the other 2 streams are allocated to another STA-e3. In this case, according to the above rules, the number of streams allocated to this STA-e1 may be 2 (not greater than the number of streams of any one of STA-e2 and STA-e3).

[0287] β, 4 streams are allocated to one STA-e4, and the other 1 stream is allocated to another STA-e5. In this case, according to the above rules, the number of streams allocated to this STA may be 1 (not greater than the number of streams of any one of STA-e4 and STA-e5).

[0288] γ, 2 streams are allocated to one STA-e6, 2 streams are allocated to another STA-e7, and 2 streams are allocated to yet another STA-e8. In this case, according to the above rules, the number of streams allocated to this STA may be 2 (not greater than the number of streams of any one of STA-e6, STA-e7, and STA-e8).

[0289] ε, 2 streams are allocated to one STA-e9, 2 streams are allocated to another STA-e10, 1 stream is allocated to yet another STA-e11, and 1 stream is allocated to yet another STA-e12. In this case, according to the above rules, the number of streams allocated to this STA may be 1 (not greater than the number of streams of any one of STA-e9 to STA-e12).

[0290] It should be understood that the above-listed allocation methods are only for illustrative purposes, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The allocation methods may also include, for example, 5 streams may also be respectively allocated to 5 STAs (that is, each STA is allocated 1 stream), etc.

[0291] Therefore, the possible values of the number of streams in the entry where the starting position of the stream is the 5th stream are 1 or 2.

[0292] By analogy, Table 11 below shows another example of Mapping Relationship #1 at that time.

[0293] Table 11

[0294]

[0295]

[0296] In the above schemes of resource allocation rules and spatial stream allocation information, allocation indication is carried out efficiently. On the one hand, it is beneficial to product implementation, and on the other hand, storage resources and communication resources are saved.

[0297] Thus, when STA#1 receives Trigger Frame #1, it can use the information carried in the SS Allocation subfield to carry Index Value #1, determine the corresponding spatial stream configuration information #1 from Mapping Relationship #1, and further determine the starting position and quantity of the spatial streams allocated by the AP to this STA#1.

[0298] By including the spatial stream allocation information shared by the MU-MIMO mode and the non-MU-MIMO mode in the mapping relationship used to indicate the correspondence between the index value and the spatial stream allocation information, the required number of index values can be reduced, and further the bit overhead for carrying this index value can be reduced.

[0299] The embodiments of the present application provide a device for transmitting a physical layer protocol data unit. In a possible implementation manner, this device is used to implement the steps or processes corresponding to the receiving end in the above method embodiments. In another possible implementation manner, this device is used to implement the steps or processes corresponding to the sending end in the above method embodiments.

[0300] Figure 12 It is a schematic block diagram of the communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 12 shown, the device 100 may include a communication unit 110 and a processing unit 120. The communication unit 110 can communicate with the outside, and the processing unit 120 is used for data processing. The communication unit 110 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver unit.

[0301] In a possible design, the device 100 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to the AP (for example, AP#A or AP#1) in the above method embodiments. Among them, the processing unit 120 is used to execute the operations related to the processing of the AP in the above method embodiments, and the communication unit 110 is used to execute the operations related to the transceiver of the AP in the above method embodiments.

[0302] In yet another possible design, the device 100 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the STA (e.g., STA#A or STA#1) in the above method embodiments. Among them, the communication unit 110 is used to perform the operations related to the transceiver of the STA in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 120 is used to perform the operations related to the processing of the STA in the above method embodiments.

[0303] It should be understood that the device 100 here is embodied in the form of functional units. The term "unit" here can refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors, etc.) for executing one or more software or firmware programs, and a memory, a combined logic circuit, and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. In an alternative example, those skilled in the art can understand that the device 100 can specifically be the AP in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute each process and / or step corresponding to the AP in the above method embodiments. Or, the device 100 can specifically be the STA in the above embodiments, and can be used to execute each process and / or step corresponding to the STA in the above method embodiments. To avoid repetition, it will not be elaborated here.

[0304] The device 100 in each of the above solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the AP in the above method, or the device 100 in each of the above solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the STA in the above method. The function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, the communication unit can be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., the sending unit in the communication unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the communication unit can be replaced by a receiver). Other units, such as the processing unit, can be replaced by a processor to respectively execute the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0305] In addition, the above communication unit can also be a transceiver circuit (e.g., it can include a receiving circuit and a sending circuit), and the processing unit can be a processing circuit. In the embodiments of the present application, Figure 12 the device can be the AP or STA in the foregoing embodiments, or can be a chip or a chip system, such as: a system on chip (SoC). Among them, the communication unit can be an input / output circuit, a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. It is not limited here.

[0306] Figure 13Fig. 200 of the communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown. The device 200 includes a processor 210 and a transceiver 220. Among them, the processor 210 and the transceiver 220 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The processor 210 is used to execute instructions to control the transceiver 220 to send signals and / or receive signals.

[0307] Optionally, the device 200 may further include a memory 230. The memory 230 communicates with the processor 210 and the transceiver 220 through an internal connection path. The memory 230 is used to store instructions, and the processor 210 may execute the instructions stored in the memory 230. In a possible implementation, the device 200 is used to implement each process and step corresponding to the AP (for example, AP#A or AP#1) in the above method embodiment. In another possible implementation, the device 200 is used to implement each process and step corresponding to the STA (for example, STA#A or STA#1) in the above method embodiment.

[0308] It should be understood that the device 200 may specifically be the AP or STA in the above embodiment, or a chip or a chip system. Correspondingly, the transceiver 220 may be the transceiver circuit of the chip, which is not limited here. Specifically, the device 200 may be used to execute each step and / or process corresponding to the sending end or the receiving end in the above method embodiment. Optionally, the memory 230 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A part of the memory may also include a non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store information about the device type. The processor 210 may be used to execute the instructions stored in the memory, and when the processor 210 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 210 is used to execute each step and / or process of the above method embodiment corresponding to the AP or STA.

[0309] In the implementation process, each step of the above method may be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or the instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed by the hardware processor, or executed by a combination of the hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines its hardware to complete the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0310] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or the instructions in the form of software. The above processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The processor in the embodiments of the present application can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed by the hardware decoding processor, or executed by the combination of the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. This storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines its hardware to complete the steps of the above method.

[0311] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and directrambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0312] Figure 14 FIG. 4 shows a communication device 300 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device 300 includes a processing circuit 310 and a transceiver circuit 320. Among them, the processing circuit 310 and the transceiver circuit 320 communicate with each other through an internal connection path, and the processing circuit 310 is configured to execute instructions to control the transceiver circuit 320 to send signals and / or receive signals.

[0313] Optionally, the device 300 may further include a storage medium 330, which communicates with the processing circuit 310 and the transceiver circuit 320 through an internal connection path. The storage medium 330 is used to store instructions, and the processing circuit 310 may execute the instructions stored in the storage medium 330. In one possible implementation, the device 300 is used to implement each process and step corresponding to the AP (for example, AP#A or AP#1) in the above method embodiment. In another possible implementation, the device 300 is used to implement each process and step corresponding to the STA (for example, STA#A or STA#1) in the above method embodiment.

[0314] Figure 15 Shows the internal structure diagram of the AP product. Among them, the AP can be multi-antenna or single-antenna. Figure 2 In it, the AP includes a physical layer (PHY) processing circuit and a media access control (MAC) layer processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals.

[0315] Figure 16 Shows the internal structure diagram of the STA product. Among them, the STA product is usually a terminal product that supports the 802.11 series of standards, such as mobile phones, laptops, etc. Figure 3 Shows the structure diagram of a single-antenna STA. In the actual scenario, the STA can also be multi-antenna and can be a device with more than two antennas. Figure 3 In it, the STA can include a PHY layer processing circuit and a MAC layer processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals.

[0316] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code. When the computer program code runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute Figure 7 or Figure 11 the method in the embodiments shown.

[0317] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides a computer-readable medium, which stores program code. When the program code runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute Figure 7 or Figure 11 the method in the embodiments shown.

[0318] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides a system, which includes one or more of the foregoing stations and one or more access points.

[0319] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods for each specific application to implement the described functions, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present application.

[0320] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments and will not be elaborated herein.

[0321] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed couplings or direct couplings or communication connections to each other can be through some interfaces, and the indirect couplings or communication connections of the devices or units can be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0322] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0323] In addition, in each embodiment of the present application, the functional units can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0324] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or a part of this technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes: various media such as USB flash drives, mobile hard disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical discs that can store program codes.

[0325] As described above, it is only the specific implementation manner of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present application can easily think of changes or substitutions, which should all be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims described above.

Claims

1. A method for sending a trigger frame, characterized in that The method includes: An access point AP generates a trigger frame, where the trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to a first station STA. The first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation sub-field and first information. The first information is used to indicate a manner for the first STA to transmit data. The manner includes a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) manner or a non-multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (non-MU-MIMO) manner. The spatial stream allocation information of the first STA carried by the first spatial stream allocation sub-field corresponds to the content indicated by the first information. The AP sends the trigger frame. Wherein, when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO manner, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes second stream number information, and the second stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA. The second stream number information occupies 4 bit positions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO manner, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes stream start position information and first stream number information. The stream start position information is used to indicate the start position of the stream corresponding to the first STA, and the first stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The stream start position information occupies 4 bit positions, and the first stream number information occupies 2 bit positions.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO manner, the first spatial stream allocation sub-field occupies 6 bit positions. When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO manner, the first spatial stream allocation sub-field occupies 4 bit positions.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information occupies at least one bit position.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a reserved sub-field in the first user information field; or The first information is carried in an uplink forward error correction code type sub-field in the first user information field; or The first information is carried in a resource unit allocation sub-field in the first user information field.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, and the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is greater than a first threshold, the first user information field does not include an uplink forward error correction code type sub-field. The first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the coding manner of the data.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The first threshold is 242.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, and the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry a first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is less than the second threshold, the default mode for the first STA to transmit data is the non-MU-MIMO mode, and the second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second threshold is 242 or 484.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry the first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the coding information of the data is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field; Or When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field, The first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the data coding mode, and the second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry the first resource unit corresponding to the first STA, and When the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth subfield in the common information field of the trigger frame is greater than the third threshold, the resource unit allocation subfield includes 9 bit positions.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein The third threshold is 160 MHz.

14. A method for receiving a trigger frame, characterized in that, The method includes: The first station STA receives a trigger frame. The trigger frame includes a first user information field corresponding to the first STA. The first user information field includes a first spatial stream allocation subfield and first information. The first information is used to indicate the mode for the first STA to transmit data. The mode includes the multi-user multiple input multiple output MU-MIMO mode or the non-multi-user multiple input multiple output non-MU-MIMO mode. The spatial stream allocation information of the first STA carried by the first spatial stream allocation subfield corresponds to the content indicated by the first information; The first STA sends uplink data according to the information carried by the first user information field; Where when the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes second stream number information. The second stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA, and the second stream number information occupies 4 bit positions.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO mode, the spatial stream allocation information corresponding to the first STA includes stream start position information and first stream number information. The stream start position information is used to indicate the start position of the stream corresponding to the first STA, and the first stream number information is used to indicate the number of streams corresponding to the first STA.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein The stream start position information occupies 4 bit positions, and the first stream number information occupies 2 bit positions.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation subfield occupies 6 bit positions; When the first information is used to indicate that the first STA transmits data according to the non-MU-MIMO mode, the first spatial stream allocation subfield occupies 4 bit positions.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first information occupies at least one bit position.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first information is carried in the reserved subfield in the first user information field; or The first information is carried in the uplink forward error correction code type subfield in the first user information field; or The first information is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry the first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is greater than the first threshold, the first user information field does not include the uplink forward error correction code type subfield. The first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the coding mode of the data.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein The first threshold is 242.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry the first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is less than the second threshold, the default mode for the first STA to transmit data is the non-MU-MIMO mode. The second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier number requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein The second threshold is 242 or 484.

24. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the resource unit allocation subfield is used to carry the first resource unit group corresponding to the first STA. The first resource unit group includes at least one resource unit, and When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the coding information of the data is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field; Or When the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the first threshold and the number of subcarriers corresponding to the first resource unit group is equal to the second threshold, the first information is carried in the resource unit allocation subfield in the first user information field, The first threshold is determined according to the subcarrier quantity requirement corresponding to the coding mode of the data, and the second threshold is determined according to the subcarrier quantity requirement corresponding to the MU-MIMO mode.

25. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first user information field includes a resource unit allocation sub-field, and the resource unit allocation sub-field is used to carry the first resource unit corresponding to the first STA, and when the bandwidth indicated by the uplink bandwidth sub-field in the common information field of the trigger frame is greater than a third threshold, the resource unit allocation sub-field includes 9 bits.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The third threshold is 160 MHz.

27. A wireless communication device, characterized in that, Comprising: a unit for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13; or a unit for implementing the method according to any one of claims 14 to 26.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program runs, causing the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or causing the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 26.

29. A chip system, characterized in that, Comprising: a processor for calling and running a computer program from a memory, causing the communication device equipped with the chip system to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13; or causing the communication device equipped with the chip system to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

30. A communication system, characterized in that, Comprising: an access point AP for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13; at least one station STA for executing the method according to any one of claims 14 to 26.

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