Wireless frame sending method and device, wireless frame receiving method and device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a wireless frame sending method and device, a wireless frame receiving method and device, which are used to realize the bearing of the station information of the multi-link station device in the manner that the station information of the same link is borne by multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, avoid the failure of wireless frame transmission, and improve the communication efficiency. In the method, a multi-link device generates a wireless frame, the wireless frame includes a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE includes a first information element, and the second MLE includes a second information element; the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link; thereafter, the multi-link device sends the wireless frame. The present application is applied to a wireless local area network system supporting the IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi protocol, such as 802.11be, or 802.11 series protocols such as EHT.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless local area networks (WLAN), and in particular, to a wireless frame sending method and device, and a wireless frame receiving method and device. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of wireless technology, more and more wireless devices support multi-link communication, such as simultaneously communicating in 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands, or simultaneously communicating in different channels of the same frequency band, to improve the communication rate between devices. Such devices are commonly referred to as multi-link devices (MLDs), where the multi-link devices can be multi-link access point devices or multi-link station devices.

[0003] Currently, in the communication process between multi-link devices, one multi-link device can send a wireless frame containing a multi-link element (MLE) to another multi-link device, where the MLE can be used to carry the station information of the multi-link device. The maximum length value of the information carried by the MLE is fixed, and the maximum length value is configured by a length value (Length) field in the MLE.

[0004] However, when the station information length of the multi-link device is large, it is possible that the station information length of the multi-link device carried by the MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, which can easily lead to wireless frame transmission failure due to the MLE being unable to carry the station information of the multi-link device, thereby affecting the communication efficiency. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a wireless frame sending method and device, and a wireless frame receiving method and device, which are used to carry the station information of a multi-link station device by means of multiple MLEs in a wireless frame carrying the station information of the same link, to avoid wireless frame transmission failure and improve communication efficiency.

[0006] A first aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a wireless frame sending method applied to WLAN communication, which is executed by a multi-link device, or executed by some components (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the multi-link device. In the method, the multi-link device generates a wireless frame, where the wireless frame includes a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE includes a first information element, and the second MLE includes a second information element; the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link; and thereafter, the multi-link device sends the wireless frame.

[0007] According to the technical solution, the wireless frame sent by the multi-link device includes the first MLE and the second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Compared with the implementation process that the wireless frame transmission fails because the station information of the multi-link device cannot be carried when the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried in a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the station information of the multi-link station device is carried by the multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, which avoids the wireless frame transmission failure and improves the communication efficiency.

[0008] It should be noted that the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link, which can also be expressed as the first information element and the second information element correspond to different parts of the station information of the same link. In addition, the station information of the same link is divided into at least two parts, and a part of the station information of the link corresponds to the first information element (or a part of the station information of the link is carried in the first information element), and another part of the station information of the link corresponds to the second information element (or another part of the station information of the link is carried in the second information element).

[0009] The second aspect of the embodiment of the present application provides a wireless frame receiving method applied to WLAN communication. The method is executed by a multi-link device, or the method is executed by part of components (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the multi-link device. In the method, the multi-link device receives a wireless frame, the wireless frame includes a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE includes a first information element, and the second MLE includes a second information element; the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link; and then, the multi-link device determines the station information according to the wireless frame.

[0010] According to the technical solution, the wireless frame sent by the multi-link device includes the first MLE and the second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Compared with the implementation process that the wireless frame transmission fails because the station information of the multi-link device cannot be carried when the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried in a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the station information of the multi-link station device is carried by the multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, which avoids the wireless frame transmission failure and improves the communication efficiency.

[0011] The third aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a wireless frame sending device, which is applied to WLAN communication. The device can be a multi-link device or a part of the multi-link device (for example, a processor, a chip or a chip system). The device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to generate a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE including a first information element, and the second MLE including a second information element; the first information element and the second information element corresponding to station information of the same link; and the transceiver unit is configured to send the wireless frame.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, the wireless frame sent by the transceiver unit includes the first MLE and the second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Compared with the implementation process that the wireless frame transmission fails due to the fact that the station information of the multi-link device cannot be carried when the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried in a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the station information of the multi-link station device is carried by the multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, which avoids the wireless frame transmission failure and improves the communication efficiency.

[0013] The fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a wireless frame receiving device, which is applied to WLAN communication. The device can be a multi-link device or a part of the multi-link device (for example, a processor, a chip or a chip system). The device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is configured to receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE including a first information element, and the second MLE including a second information element; the first information element and the second information element corresponding to station information of the same link; and the processing unit is configured to determine the station information according to the wireless frame.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, the wireless frame received by the transceiver unit includes the first MLE and the second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Compared with the implementation process that the wireless frame transmission fails due to the fact that the station information of the multi-link device cannot be carried when the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried in a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the station information of the multi-link station device is carried by the multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, which avoids the wireless frame transmission failure and improves the communication efficiency.

[0015] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element and the second information element each include a link identification (Link ID) field, and the value of the Link ID field in the first information element is the same as the value of the Link ID field in the second information element.

[0016] Based on the technical solution described above, the information element can identify the link where the station information carried by the information element is located through the Link ID field included in the information element. The value of the Link ID field in the first information element is the same as the value of the Link ID field in the second information element, which can indicate that the link where the station information carried by the first information element is located is the same as the link where the station information carried by the second information element is located. Thus, the same value of the Link ID field indicates that the station information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element is for the same link.

[0017] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the station information is segmented.

[0018] Based on the technical solution described above, the first information element can include the first indication information used to indicate whether the station information is segmented, to indicate that the station information for a link carried by the first information element is segmented into at least two segments, and at least one of the at least two segments is carried by another information element (for example, the second information element). Thus, the first indication information indicates that the station information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element is for the same link.

[0019] Optionally, the second information element includes the first indication information.

[0020] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the station information is segmented.

[0021] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate whether different segments of the station information are respectively carried by different information elements.

[0022] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the first segment.

[0023] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the last segment.

[0024] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is an intermediate segment (neither the first segment nor the last segment).

[0025] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is not segmented.

[0026] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first indication information is carried in a station control (STA control) field in the first information element.

[0027] Based on the above technical solution, the first indication information used to indicate whether the station information is segmented can be carried in a station control field in the first information element, so as to provide a specific implementation of the first indication information.

[0028] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information.

[0029] Based on the above technical solution, the first information element can include second indication information used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information, so as to indicate that the station information of a certain link carried by the first information element is carried in a plurality of information elements (at least including the second information element) and a number of the plurality of information elements. Thus, the second indication information is used to indicate that the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link.

[0030] Optionally, the second information element includes the second indication information.

[0031] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of segments of the station information.

[0032] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information include the first information element.

[0033] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information do not include the first information element.

[0034] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a serial number of information elements carrying the station information, and the serial number is a positive serial number.

[0035] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a serial number of information elements carrying the station information, and the serial number is a reverse serial number.

[0036] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the second indication information is carried in a station control field in the first information element.

[0037] Based on the above technical solution, the second indication information for indicating the number of information elements carrying the site information can be carried in the site control field in the first information element, so as to provide a specific implementation manner of the second indication information.

[0038] In a possible implementation manner of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the second information element includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used for indicating that the second information element is the last information element in the multiple information elements carrying the site information.

[0039] Based on the above technical solution, the second information element can include third indication information for indicating that the second information element is the last information element in the multiple information elements carrying the site information, so as to indicate that the site information of a certain link carried by the second information element is carried in the multiple information elements (at least including the second information element) and the second information element is the last one in the multiple information elements. Thus, the first information element and the second information element correspond to the site information of the same link through the third indication information.

[0040] Optionally, the third indication information is used for indicating that there is no other information element carrying the site information after the second information element.

[0041] Optionally, the site information is divided into multiple segments, and the third indication information is used for indicating that the segment of the site information carried by the second information element is the last segment.

[0042] Optionally, the third indication information includes a non-inheritance element.

[0043] In a possible implementation manner of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element and the second information element both include a complete profile field, and the value of the complete profile field in the first information element is the same as the value of the complete profile field in the second information element.

[0044] Based on the above technical solution, the information element can indicate the related configuration of the site information carried by the information element through the complete profile field included in the information element. The value of the complete profile field in the first information element is the same as the value of the complete profile field in the second information element, which can indicate that the configuration of the site information carried by the first information element is the same as the configuration of the site information carried by the second information element. Thus, the same value of the complete profile field indicates that the first information element and the second information element both carry the complete information of the site in the wireless frame.

[0045] Optionally, the second information element does not include the complete configuration information field.

[0046] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element includes a station information (STAInfo) field, and the station information field is used to indicate the relevant information of the station in the first information element and the relevant information of the station in the second information element.

[0047] Based on the above technical solution, the information element can indicate the relevant information of the station carried by the information element through the included station information field. Among them, the station information field in the first information element is not only used to indicate the relevant information of the station carried by the first information element, but also used to indicate the relevant information of the station carried by the second information element. Therefore, through the station information field of the first information element, the station information of the first information element and the second information element corresponding to the same link is indicated.

[0048] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the second information element does not include the station information field; or, the second information element includes the station information field, and the value of the station information field is a reserved value (reserved).

[0049] Based on the above technical solution, since the relevant information of the station in the second information element is indicated through the station information field in the first information element, the second information element can not carry the station information field or set the station information field in the second information element to a reserved value, so as to realize the carrying of other information / data different from the information in the station information field through the reserved value. Therefore, the indication of the relevant information of the station of multiple information elements is realized through the multiplexing of the station information field in the first information element, so as to save the overhead and further improve the communication efficiency.

[0050] Optionally, the second information element includes the station information field.

[0051] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the station information field includes at least one of the following: a medium access control address present (MAC Address Present) field, a beacon interval present (Beacon Interval Present) field, a delivery traffic indication message information present (DTIM Info Present) field, and a non simultaneous transmit and receive link pair present (NSTR Link Pair Present) field.

[0052] According to the technical solution, the station information field can include the at least one field, and is used to indicate the related information of the station.

[0053] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the element type of the first information element is the same as the element type of the second information element.

[0054] According to the technical solution, the element type of the first information element is the same as the element type of the second information element, that is, the station information of the same link is carried by the multiple information elements of the same element type.

[0055] Optionally, the first information element and the second information element both include a type field, and the value of the type field in the first information element is the same as the value of the type field in the second information element.

[0056] Optionally, the type field is a subelement ID field.

[0057] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the element type of the first information element is different from the element type of the second information element.

[0058] According to the technical solution, the element type of the first information element is different from the element type of the second information element, that is, the station information of the same link is carried by the multiple information elements of different element types.

[0059] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first information element and the second information element each include a type field, and a value of the type field in the first information element is different from a value of the type field in the second information element.

[0060] Based on the technical solution described above, the type field in the information element is used to indicate the type of the information element, and the different values of the type field can be used to indicate that the element type of the first information element is different from the element type of the second information element.

[0061] Optionally, the type field is a subelement ID field.

[0062] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, in the wireless frame, the first MLE and the second MLE are adjacent MLEs.

[0063] Based on the technical solution described above, the first MLE and the second MLE can be MLEs in adjacent positions in the wireless frame. Compared with the mode in which the station information of the same link is carried by non-adjacent MLEs, the mode in which the station information of the same link is carried by multiple adjacent MLEs in the wireless frame can facilitate the receiving end of the wireless frame to obtain the station information of the same link.

[0064] Optionally, in the wireless frame, there is no other MLE between the first MLE and the second MLE.

[0065] Optionally, in the wireless frame, the first MLE is located before the second MLE; or, in the wireless frame, the second MLE is located after the first MLE.

[0066] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first MLE includes a common information field, and the common information field is used to indicate the multi-link common information of the first MLE and the multi-link common information of the second MLE.

[0067] Based on the technical solution described above, the information element can indicate the multi-link common information carried by the information element through the included common information field. The common information field in the first information element is used to indicate not only the multi-link common information carried by the first information element, but also the multi-link common information carried by the second information element. Thus, the common information field of the first information element is used to indicate the multi-link common information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element.

[0068] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the second MLE does not include the common information field; or, the second MLE includes the common information field, and a value of the common information field in the second MLE is a reserved value.

[0069] Based on the above technical solution, the multi-link common information in the second information element is carried through the common information field in the first information element, so that the second information element can not carry the common information field or the common information field in the second information element is set to a reserved value, to realize the carrying of other information / data different from the information in the common information field through the reserved value. Therefore, the indication of the multi-link common information of the multiple information elements is realized through the common information field in the first information element, to save the overhead and further improve the communication efficiency.

[0070] Optionally, the second information element includes the common information field.

[0071] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first MLE includes a multi-link control field, and the multi-link control field is used to indicate the multi-link control information of the first MLE and the multi-link control information of the second MLE.

[0072] Based on the above technical solution, the information element can indicate the multi-link control information carried by the information element through the included multi-link control field. The multi-link control field in the first information element is used to not only indicate the multi-link control information carried by the first information element, but also indicate the multi-link control information carried by the second information element. Therefore, the multi-link control information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element is indicated through the multi-link control field of the first information element.

[0073] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the second MLE does not include the multi-link control field; or, the second MLE includes the multi-link control field, and a value of a presence bitmap field in the multi-link control field in the second MLE is all 0.

[0074] Based on the technical solution, the multi-link control information in the second information element is carried through the multi-link control information field in the first information element, so that the second information element can not carry the multi-link control information field or the multi-link control field in the second information element is set as a reserved value to carry other information / data different from the information in the multi-link control field. Therefore, the indication of the multi-link control information of the multiple information elements is realized through multiplexing the multi-link control field in the first information element, so as to save the overhead and further improve the communication efficiency.

[0075] Optionally, the second information element includes a common information field.

[0076] In a possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the embodiment, the wireless frame is an association request frame, a re-association request frame, an association response frame, a re-association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0077] Based on the technical solution, in the multiple implementations of the wireless frame, the first MLE and the second MLE can be carried in the wireless frame, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Therefore, the station information of the multi-link station device can be carried in different wireless frames in the manner that the multiple MLEs in the wireless frame carry the station information of the same link, so as to improve the communication efficiency.

[0078] The fifth aspect of the embodiment of the application provides a communication device, including at least one processor coupled with a memory; the memory is used to store programs or instructions; the at least one processor is used to execute the programs or instructions, so that the device implements the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or so that the device implements the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or so that the device implements the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, or so that the device implements the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0079] The sixth aspect of the embodiment of the application provides a computer readable storage medium storing one or more computer execution instructions, when the computer execution instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the processor executes the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or the processor executes the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, or the processor executes the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0080] The seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program) for storing one or more computers, when the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the processor executes the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the processor executes the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the processor executes the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect.

[0081] The eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor, and is configured to support the communication device to implement the functions involved in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or support the communication device to implement the functions involved in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or support the communication device to implement the functions involved in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or support the communication device to implement the functions involved in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect.

[0082] In a possible design, the chip system can further include a memory configured to store necessary program instructions and data of the communication device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include the chip and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip system further includes an interface circuit configured to provide the at least one processor with program instructions and / or data.

[0083] The ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the communication device of the third aspect and the communication device of the fourth aspect, and / or the communication system includes the communication device of the fifth aspect.

[0084] The technical effects brought by the fifth aspect to the ninth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by the first aspect to the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0085] From the above technical solution can be seen, in the WLAN communication process of the wireless frame transmitted includes the first MLE and the second MLE, and the first information element contained in the first MLE and the second information element contained in the second MLE correspond to the same link station information. Compared with the case where the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried by a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the wireless frame transmission fails due to the inability to carry the station information of the multi-link device. By the way of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, the station information of the multi-link station device is carried, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0086] In addition, the maximum length value of the information carried by the information element in the MLE is also fixed. When the length of the station information of a link in a multi-link device carried by a single information element is greater than the maximum length value configured by the information element, the wireless frame transmission fails due to the inability to carry the station information of the link in the multi-link device. In the above technical solution, the station information of the same link in the multi-link station device is carried by multiple information elements (including the first information element and the second information element) in the wireless frame, and the communication efficiency is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0087] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a multi-link association according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 4 Another schematic diagram of a wireless frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 6 Another schematic diagram of a wireless frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Figure 7a Another schematic diagram of a wireless frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Figure 7b Another schematic diagram of a wireless frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Figure 7cAnother schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] Figure 7d Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] Figure 8a Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] Figure 8b Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Figure 8c Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Figure 9a Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Figure 9b Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] Figure 10 Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] Figure 11 Another schematic diagram of a radio frame provided by an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0104] In the present application, except for special description, the same or similar parts among various embodiments can be mutually referred. In the present application, various embodiments, and various implementation manners / implementation methods / realization methods in each embodiment, if not specially described and not in logic conflict, the terms and / or descriptions among different embodiments, and among various implementation manners / implementation methods / realization methods in each embodiment are consistent and can be mutually referred, and the technical features in different embodiments, and in various implementation manners / implementation methods / realization methods in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, implementation manners, implementation methods, or realization methods according to their inherent logical relationship. The implementation manners of the present application described below do not constitute limitation to the protection scope of the present application.

[0105] It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented independently in some scenarios, without relying on other features, such as the scheme currently based on, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects, and can be combined with other features according to the needs in some scenarios. Correspondingly, the apparatus given in the embodiments of the present application can also realize these features or functions, which will not be described here.

[0106] In the description of the present application, "a plurality of" means two or more than two, unless otherwise specified. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0107] In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second" and the like are used to distinguish the same or similar items with basically the same function and role. Those skilled in the art can understand that "first", "second" and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second" and the like do not necessarily mean different. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, "exemplary" or "for example" means to serve as an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the use of "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner, for ease of understanding.

[0108] In order to facilitate the understanding of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below. It can be understood that the system architecture described in the embodiments of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0109] The technical solutions provided by the present application can be applied to WLAN scenarios, for example, can be applied to IEEE 802.11 system standards, such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, or the next generation thereof, such as 802.11be standards or more next generation standards.

[0110] Although the embodiments of the present application are mainly described by taking the deployment of WLAN network, especially the network applying IEEE 802.11 system standard as an example, it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that various aspects involved in the present application can be extended to other networks applying various standards or protocols, for example, BLUETOOTH, high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to IEEE 802.11 standard, mainly used in Europe) and wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN) or other now known or later developed networks. Therefore, various aspects provided by the present application can be applied to any suitable wireless network regardless of the coverage range and wireless access protocol used.

[0111] Embodiments of the present application can also be applicable to wireless local area network systems such as Internet of Things (IoT) networks or Vehicle to X (V2X). Of course, embodiments of the present application can also be applicable to other possible communication systems, for example, 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, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, and future 6th generation (6G) communication systems, etc.

[0112] The above communication systems to which the present application is applicable are only illustrative, and the communication systems to which the present application is applicable are not limited thereto, which will be uniformly described herein and will not be described below.

[0113] The wireless frame sending method and device and the wireless frame receiving method and device provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a wireless communication system, which can be a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular network. The method can be implemented by a communication device in the wireless communication system or a chip or processor in the communication device. The communication device can be a wireless communication device supporting parallel transmission of multiple links, for example, a multi-link device (MLD) or a multi-band device. Compared with a device supporting only single-link transmission, the multi-link device has higher transmission efficiency and higher throughput.

[0114] Please refer to Figure 1 for a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0115] As Figure 1 shown, the communication system mainly includes at least one multi-link access point device (Multi-link AP device) and at least one multi-link non-access point station device (Multi-link non-AP STA device) (referred to as multi-link station device). The multi-link access point device and the multi-link station device can be collectively referred to as a multi-link device. The multi-link device will be introduced below.

[0116] Generally, the multi-link device includes one or more affiliated stations (affiliated STA, referred to as affiliated STA). The affiliated STA is a logical station and can work on a link. The affiliated STA can be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-access point station, non-AP STA). For convenience of description, the multi-link device with the affiliated STA as the AP can be referred to as a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device (multi-link AP device) or an AP multi-link device (AP multi-link device). The multi-link device with the affiliated STA as the non-AP STA can be referred to as a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or a STA multi-link device (STA multi-link device). For convenience of description, "the multi-link device includes the affiliated STA" is also briefly described as "the multi-link device includes the STA" in the embodiments of the present application.

[0117] It is worth noting that the multi-link device includes multiple logical stations, each of which works on a link, but allows multiple logical stations to work on the same link. The link identifier mentioned below represents a station working on a link, that is, if there is more than one station on a link, more than one link identifier is needed to represent them. The link mentioned below sometimes also represents the station working on the link.

[0118] In data transmission, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA can use the link identifier to identify a link or a station on a link. Before communication, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA device can first negotiate or communicate the correspondence between the link identifier and a link or a station on a link. Therefore, in data transmission, a large amount of signaling information is not needed to indicate the link or the station on the link, and the link identifier can be carried, reducing signaling overhead and improving transmission efficiency.

[0119] In one example, when establishing a BSS, the multi-link AP device sends a management frame such as a beacon frame, which carries an element including multiple link identifier information fields, each of which can suggest a correspondence between a link identifier and a station working on a link. Each link identifier information field includes a link identifier, and also includes one or more of a medium access control (MAC) address, an operating set, and a channel number, wherein one or more of the MAC address, the operating set, and the channel number can indicate a link. In another example, during the multi-link association establishment process, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link station device negotiate multiple link identifier information fields. In subsequent communication, the multi-link AP device or the multi-link station device can use the link identifier to represent a station in the multi-link device, and the link identifier can also represent one or more attributes of the station, such as the MAC address, the operating set, and the channel number. The MAC address can also be replaced by the association identifier of the multi-link AP device after association.

[0120] If multiple stations work on a link, the link identifier (a numerical ID) represents not only the operating set and the channel number of the link, but also the station identifier working on the link, such as the MAC address or AID of the station.

[0121] The multi-link device can implement wireless communication in compliance with the 802.11 series of protocols, for example, in compliance with an extremely high throughput (EHT) station, or in compliance with an 802.11be-based or 802.11be-compatible station, to implement communication with other devices. Of course, the other devices can be multi-link devices or can not be multi-link devices.

[0122] The non-AP MLD involved in the present application can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal. For example, a user terminal, a user device, an access device, a subscriber station, a subscriber unit, a mobile station, a user agent, a user equipment, which can include various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, and various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile stations (MS), terminals, terminal equipment, portable communication devices, handsets, portable computing devices, entertainment devices, game devices or systems, global positioning system devices or any other suitable devices configured to communicate via a wireless medium. In addition, the non-AP MLD can support the 802.11be standard or the next generation WLAN standard of 802.11be. The non-AP MLD can also support various WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a.

[0123] The AP MLD involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a device deployed in a wireless communication network to provide wireless communication functions for its associated non-AP, mainly deployed in homes, buildings and parks, with a typical coverage radius of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. The AP MLD is equivalent to a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, and its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then access the wireless network to Ethernet. Specifically, the AP MLD can be a base station, a router, a gateway, a repeater, a communication server, a switch or a bridge with a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The base station can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. In addition, the AP MLD can support the 802.11be standard or the next generation WLAN standard of 802.11be. The AP MLD can also support various WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a.

[0124] As described before, a plurality of wireless frames can be used for communication between a multi-link access point device and a multi-link station device, such as an association request frame, a re-association request frame, an association response frame, a re-association response frame, a probe response frame, etc., wherein each of the wireless frames can carry a multi-link element (MLE) to carry station information of the multi-link device via the MLE. The MLE can also be referred to as a multi-link information element.

[0125] The association request frame used in the association procedure of the multi-link device will be described in detail as an example. As shown in Figure 2 , in the multi-link setup (or multi-link association) procedure, one station in the multi-link station device can send an association request frame to one access point in the multi-link access point device, wherein the association request frame carries a MLE to carry information of the current station in the multi-link station device and information of other stations in the multi-link device. Similarly, the association response frame sent by the access point to the station can also carry a MLE to carry information of the current access point in the multi-link access point device and information of other access points in the multi-link device.

[0126] As shown in Figure 3 , a schematic diagram of the frame structure of the MLE. The MLE includes an Element ID field (e.g., the value can be 255 as shown in Figure 3 ), a Length field, an Element ID Extension field, a Multi-Link Control field, a Common Info field, and a Link Info field. The Common Info field carries common information of a plurality of stations in the multi-link device and information of the multi-link device itself; the Link Info field carries information of a station on each link in the multi-link device; and the Multi-Link Control field carries the type of the multi-link element and indication information of which fields in the Common Info field are present and which fields are not present.

[0127] Further, as shown in Figure 3 , the Link Info field can further include one or more Per-STA Profile fields, Figure 3 , wherein the number of the Per-STA Profile fields is x (x is greater than 1). Each Per-STA Profile field can further include a Subelement ID field (e.g., the value can be 255 as shown in Figure 3The fields shown are 0), Length, and Data.

[0128] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the Data field may also include a STA Control field, a STA Info field, and a STA Profile field.

[0129] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the STA Profile field includes multiple fields. Figure 3 Taking a field with m fields (x greater than 1) as an example; the STA Profile field also includes multiple elements. Figure 3 The example used is a case where the number of elements is n (n is greater than 1). In addition, the STA Profile field also includes, if present, any non-inheritance elements.

[0130] However, as Figure 3 As shown, the length of content that an MLE can carry is limited, and the specific length is indicated by the Length field in the MLE. Specifically, the Length field indicates the number of bytes following the Length field in the MLE. For example, the Length field in the MLE is 8 bits long, which can indicate a length from 0 to 255 bytes. However, the length of information that the MLE needs to carry may exceed 255 bytes, making it impossible to use only one MLE to carry information from multiple links.

[0131] Furthermore, the information of stations on each link in a multi-link device is carried in the Per-STAProfile subelement of the Link Info, and each Per-STA Profile also has a length limit. For example, the Length field in the Per-STA Profile is 8 bits long, which means that the Data part can only carry a maximum of 255 bytes. However, the information of stations on each link may be longer than 255 bytes, making it impossible to use only one Per-STA Profile to carry the information of stations on each link.

[0132] Before describing the embodiments of this application, the relevant technologies involved in the basic serviceset (BSS) scenario in a WLAN communication system will be introduced.

[0133] like Figure 4The diagram shows a schematic of a radio frame structure in which multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs) are in the same frame.

[0134] like Figure 4 As shown, the radio frame structure includes two adjacent Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier (MBSID) elements. In each MBSID element, the Element ID field (for example, its value can be...) Figure 3 The elements shown in Figure 71) include the Length field, the Max BSSID Indicator field, and the Nontransmitted BSSID Profile subelement (or Nontransmitted BSSID Profile field), and the number of Nontransmitted BSSID Profile fields is 0 or more. Figure 4 The example given is a nontransmitted BSSIDProfile subelement with the number of subelements i (i is greater than 1).

[0135] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the i-th Nontransmitted BSSID Profile subelement (BSSi) includes a Subelement ID field (e.g., the value can be 0), a Length field, and a Data field.

[0136] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the Data field includes a Nontransmitted BSSID Capability element, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) element, a Multiple BSSID-Index element, and one or more Element and Non-inheritance elements (if present). Figure 4In the illustrated example, the i-th Nontransmitted BSSID Profile subelement in the first Multiple BSSID element includes the first to L-th (L is greater than 1) Element, and the i-th Nontransmitted BSSID Profile subelement in the second Multiple BSSID element includes the L+1-th to Y-th (Y is greater than L) Element.

[0137] Specifically, the Multiple BSSID element is used to carry the information of multiple virtual APs in a multi-link device to which an AP belongs, and the Length field is 8 bits, indicating that up to 255 bytes can be carried. However, the length of the multiple virtual AP information can exceed 255 bytes, so multiple multiple BSSID elements are needed to carry the information of multiple virtual APs. As shown in the following table, the first multiple BSSID element carries the first part of the information of the first BSS to the i-th BSS; the second multiple BSSID element carries the remaining part of the information of the i-th BSS and the information of the i+1-th BSS. The contents of the two multiple BSSID elements can be spliced to obtain the information of the first to i+1-th BSS, and the information of each BSS starts with a Nontransmitted BSSID Capability element. Figure 4 As shown, the first multiple BSSID element carries the first part of the information of the first BSS to the i-th BSS; the second multiple BSSID element carries the remaining part of the information of the i-th BSS and the information of the i+1-th BSS. The contents of the two multiple BSSID elements can be spliced to obtain the information of the first to i+1-th BSS, and the information of each BSS starts with a Nontransmitted BSSID Capability element.

[0138] However, in the case of Figure 4 In the illustrated example, since the information of BSS i is distributed in two multiple BSSID elements, the station needs to read the first information unit of the Data part of the Nontransmitted BSSID Profile subelement in the second multiple BSSID element to determine whether it is the information of a new BSS or the remaining part of the information of the last BSS according to whether the first information unit is a Nontransmitted BSSID Capability element.

[0139] However, for Figure 3In terms of the frame structure of the MLE shown, the first field of the Per-STA Profile subelement is the STA Control field, which is not an information element. The content carried by the STA Control field is variable, unlike a certain fixed information element, the content of the first byte (element ID) of which is fixed. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether the first byte of the Data part of the Per-STA Profile in the second MLE is information of a new AP or information of the remaining part of the last AP by reading the first byte.

[0140] That is, the implementation manner of carrying the information of the same AP by multiple BSSID elements in the current Multiple BSSID element is not applicable to the process of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple MLEs. Therefore, in the current wireless frame transmission process of the WLAN, there is an urgent need for a solution to the wireless frame transmission failure caused by the failure of the MLE to carry the station information of the multi-link device.

[0141] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a wireless frame sending method and device, and a wireless frame receiving method and device, which are used to realize the carrying of the station information of the multi-link station device in the manner of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple information elements in multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, avoid wireless frame transmission failure, and improve communication efficiency.

[0142] Please refer to Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown, and the method includes the following steps. It can be understood that, as Figure 5 As shown, the communication method involves the transmission of a wireless frame; therefore, the communication method can also be referred to as a wireless frame sending method, or a wireless frame receiving method.

[0143] S101. A wireless frame sending device generates a wireless frame.

[0144] In the embodiment, the wireless frame sending device generates a wireless frame, wherein the wireless frame includes a first multiple link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE includes a first information element, and the second MLE includes a second information element; the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link.

[0145] In the embodiments and subsequent embodiments, the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link, which can also be expressed as the first information element and the second information element correspond to different parts of the station information of the same link. In addition, the station information of the same link is divided into at least two parts, one part of the station information of the link corresponds to the first information element (or the first information element carries one part of the station information of the link), and the other part of the station information of the link corresponds to the second information element (or the second information element carries the other part of the station information of the link).

[0146] It should be noted that in the embodiments and subsequent embodiments, the wireless frame sending device and the wireless frame receiving device can both be multi-link devices. For example, the wireless frame sending device can be a multi-link access point device and the wireless frame receiving device can be a multi-link station device; for another example, the wireless frame sending device can be a multi-link station device and the wireless frame receiving device can be a multi-link access point device. In addition, the wireless frame sending device and the wireless frame receiving device can both be stations in a multi-link device, which can be an AP or a non-AP STA. For example, the wireless frame sending device can be an AP in a multi-link device and the wireless frame receiving device can be a non-AP STA in a multi-link device; for another example, the wireless frame sending device can be a non-AP STA in a multi-link device and the wireless frame receiving device can be an AP in a multi-link device.

[0147] Specifically, the wireless frame generated by the wireless frame sending device in step S101 can be an association request frame, a re-association request frame, an association response frame, a re-association response frame, or a probe response frame. That is, in the various implementations of the above wireless frames, the first MLE and the second MLE can be carried in the wireless frames, and the first information element contained in the first MLE and the second information element contained in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Thus, in different wireless frames, the station information of the same link can be carried through multiple MLEs, so as to realize the carrying of the station information of the multi-link station device and improve the communication efficiency.

[0148] In addition, in the embodiments and subsequent embodiments, the first MLE (or the second MLE) can represent at least one MLE, that is, “first” or “second” is not a limitation on the number of MLEs represented in the first MLE (or the second MLE). Similarly, the first information element (or the second information element) can represent at least one information element, and the number of MLEs represented by the first MLE (or the second MLE) is not limited, and the number of information elements represented by the first information element (or the second information element) is not limited.

[0149] In one possible implementation, the wireless frame generated in step S101 includes a link ID field in both the first and second information elements, and the value of the link ID field in the first information element is the same as the value of the link ID field in the second information element. Specifically, the information element can identify the link on which the station information it carries resides through the included link ID field. The fact that the value of the link ID field in the first and second information elements is the same indicates that the link on which the station information carried by the first information element resides is the same as the link on which the station information carried by the second information element resides. Therefore, the identical value of the link ID field indicates that the first and second information elements correspond to the same link's station information.

[0150] For example, the following will be done by Figure 6 In the scenario shown, both the first and second MLEs include a description of the implementation process of an MLE. Furthermore, in Figure 6 In this context, the first MLE is denoted as MLE 1 or the first MLE, and the second MLE is denoted as MLE 2 or the second MLE.

[0151] like Figure 6 As shown, the information of other stations in the MLD where the multi-link station (including multi-link) is located is carried by two MLEs. The first MLE carries Per-STA Profile 1 to Per-STA Profile x, and the second MLE carries Per-STA Profile x+1 to Per-STA Profile y. For Per-STA Profile x and Per-STA Profile x+1, the value of the Link ID field in their STA Control is equal (both are equal to 'a'), which means that Per-STA Profile x and Per-STA Profile x+1 carry information about stations on the same link.

[0152] Specifically, the value of the Link ID field in the STA Control field in the first Per-STA Profile subelement in the MLE 2 is set to be the same as the value of the Link ID field in the STA Control field in the last Per-STA Profile subelement in the last MLE (i.e., MLE 1), to indicate that the content carried by the first Per-STA Profile subelement in the MLE 2 is a continuation of the content of the last Per-STA Profile subelement in the last MLE. In other words, if the values of the Link ID fields in the STA Control fields in two Per-STA Profile subelements are the same, then the STA Profiles carried by the two Per-STA Profile subelements bear the information of the stations on the same link.

[0153] Optionally, when the Per-STA Profile subelement carries the content that is a continuation of the content of the last Per-STA Profile subelement, the STA Profile field in the Per-STA Profile does not carry the content in the STA Profile field in the last Per-STA Profile subelement.

[0154] In a possible implementation, the element type of the first information element and the element type of the second information element are the same in the wireless frame generated in step S101. Specifically, the element type of the first information element and the element type of the second information element are the same, that is, the carrying of the information of the stations on the same link is implemented by multiple information elements of the same element type.

[0155] Optionally, the first information element and the second information element each include a type field, and the value of the type field in the first information element is the same as the value of the type field in the second information element.

[0156] Optionally, the type field is a subelement identification (Subelement ID) field. Figure 3

[0157] In another possible implementation, the element type of the first information element and the element type of the second information element are different in the wireless frame generated in step S101. Specifically, the element type of the first information element and the element type of the second information element are different, that is, the carrying of the information of the stations on the same link is implemented by multiple information elements of different element types.​

[0158] In a possible implementation, the first information element and the second information element each include a type field, and the type field in the first information element has a value different from the value of the type field in the second information element. The type field in an information element is used to indicate the type of the information element, and different values of the type field can be used to indicate that the element type of the first information element is different from the element type of the second information element.

[0159] Specifically, a first value of the type field indicates that the corresponding information element (the first information element) carries a starting part of information of a station on a link; and a second value (different from the first value) of the type field indicates that the corresponding information element (the second information element) carries a subsequent part (not the starting part) of information of the station on the link. In other words, the second value of the type field indicates that the corresponding information element (the second information element) carries information of the station on the same link as a previous information element (which can be the first information element or the second information element).

[0160] Further, when the value of the type field in a certain information element is the second value, the information element does not carry the STA Control and the STA Info fields.

[0161] It should be noted that in the embodiments and subsequent embodiments, the first value (or the second value, or the third value, or the fourth value, etc.) can be indicated by a value of at least one bit. For example, when the number of bits of the at least one bit is 1, the value can include "0" or "1"; for another example, when the number of bits of the at least one bit is 2, the value can include "10" or "11" or "00" or "01"; for another example, when the number of bits of the at least one bit is 3, the value can include "110" or "111" or "100" or "101" or "011" or "000" or "001" or "010"; for another example, when the number of bits of the at least one bit is another number, the value can also be implemented in a similar manner, which will not be described herein again.

[0162] Optionally, the type field is a subelement identification (Subelement ID) field. Figure 3 The Subelement ID field is shown in FIG. 1.

[0163] Specifically, the above implementation defines a new subelement as the second information element to carry information that cannot be carried by the Per-STA Profile subelement (i.e., the first information element). The implementation examples shown in Table 1 and Table 2 will be described below.

[0164] As shown in Table 1, the current Link Info field part of the MLE can currently contain the following subelements: a Per-STA Profile subelement indicated by a Subelement ID value of 0, and a Vendor Specific subelement indicated by a Subelement ID value of 221, and there are Extensible indications for both of these subelements. The Subelement ID values of 1-220 and 222-225 are reserved.

[0165] Table 1

[0166]

[0167] Based on the foregoing technical solutions, in the case of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple information elements of different element types, the implementation example shown in Table 1 can be modified to that shown in Table 2.

[0168] As shown in Table 2, a new subelement is defined, and the value of the subelement ID of the new subelement can be 1 or other values. In Table 1, the Subelement ID values of 1-220 and 222-255 corresponding to the value of Reserved can be any one of the values.

[0169] Optionally, as shown in Table 2, the newly defined subelement can be referred to as a Per-STA Profile Extension subelement, or can be referred to as other element names different from the name Per-STA Profile, which is not specifically limited here.

[0170] Table 2

[0171]

[0172] Based on the implementation example shown in Table 2, the new subelement is used to carry the link information that cannot be carried by the Per-STA Profile. In other words, the information of the station of a link can be divided into several parts, the first part is carried in the Per-STA Profile subelement, and the remaining parts are carried in one or more Per-STA Profile Extension subelements. The difference lies in the different values of the subelement ID.

[0173] For example, as shown in Table 3, the frame structure of the Per-STA Profile Extension subelement can be similar to that of the Per-STA Profile subelement. Figure 7a Table 3Figure 3 The implementation procedure of Per-STA Profile. Compared with the frame structure of Per-STA Profile, in the frame structure of Per-STA Profile Extension, the Data field can not include STA Control and STA Info fields, and only contains STA Profile field.

[0174] Optionally, in the example shown in Figure 7a The STA Profile field includes fields, or the STA Profile field does not include fields.

[0175] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 7b The frame structure of Per-STA Profile Extension sub-element can be similar to Figure 3 The implementation procedure of Per-STA Profile. Compared with the frame structure of Per-STA Profile, in the frame structure of Per-STA Profile Extension, the Data field can not include STA Control and STA Info fields, and only contains STA Profile field.

[0176] Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 7c The frame structure of Per-STA Profile Extension sub-element can be similar to Figure 3 The implementation procedure of Per-STA Profile. Compared with the frame structure of Per-STA Profile, in the frame structure of Per-STA Profile Extension, the Data field can not include STA Control and STA Info fields, and only contains STA Profile field.

[0177] The following illustrates the segmented transmission mode of the station information on a certain link. As shown in Figure 7dAs shown, the information of other stations in the MLD where the station is located is split into carried by a first MLE (denoted as MLE 1 or first MLE) and a second MLE (denoted as MLE 2 or second MLE), the first MLE carries Per-STA Profile 1 to Per-STA Profile x, and the second MLE carries Per-STA Profile Extension and other Per-STA Profiles. Since the second MLE carries Per-STA Profile Extension, it indicates that Per-STA Profile Extension and the previous Per-STA Profile (i.e. Per-STA Profile x) carry the information of stations on the same link.

[0178] In a possible implementation, the first information element in the wireless frame generated in step S101 includes first indication information, which is used to indicate whether the station information is segmented. Specifically, the first information element can include first indication information used to indicate whether the station information is segmented, to indicate that the station information of a certain link carried by the first information element is divided into at least two segments, and at least one of the at least two segments is carried by another information element (for example, a second information element). Thus, the first indication information indicates that the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link.

[0179] Optionally, the second information element also includes the first indication information.

[0180] For example, when the first indication information takes a first value, it indicates that the station information is segmented and the remaining part of the station information is carried in the next Per-STA Profile information element; and when the first indication information takes a second value, it indicates that the station information is not segmented. Apparently, the values can be exchanged, or the indication process of the first indication information can be implemented in other ways, which are not limited herein.

[0181] Optionally, the function of the first indication information can also be expressed in other forms, for example, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the station information is segmented; for another example, the first indication information is used to indicate whether different segments of the station information are respectively carried in different information elements. When the first indication information is expressed in other forms, it can also be indicated by different values of the above-mentioned one bit, or other ways, which are not limited herein.

[0182] For example, the first indication information can be indicated by two bits. For instance, when the first indication information takes a first value, it indicates that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the first segment; or, when the first indication information takes a second value, it indicates that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the last segment; or, when the first indication information takes a third value, it indicates that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is a middle segment (neither the first nor the last segment); or, when the first indication information takes a fourth value, it indicates that the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is not segmented. Obviously, these values ​​can be interchanged, or the indication process of the first indication information can be implemented in other ways, which is not limited here.

[0183] Furthermore, the first indication information is carried in the site control (e.g., ...) within the first information element. Figure 3 The STA control field in the STA Info shown. In other words, the first indication information used to indicate whether the station information is segmented can be carried in the station control field of the first information element to provide a specific implementation method for the first indication information.

[0184] For example, such as Figure 8a As shown, it is possible to Figure 3 In the frame structure shown, the STAControl field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element carries first indication information. This first indication information is used to indicate whether the information indicating the station in the Per-STA Profile sub-element has been segmented.

[0185] Optionally, the first indication information is Figure 8a The "More Fragment" field can be any other field name; there are no restrictions here. Furthermore, in... Figure 8a In the implementation shown, the More Fragment field can be implemented with one bit or two bits, as described above.

[0186] In one possible implementation, the first information element in the wireless frame generated in step S101 includes second indication information, which indicates the number of information elements carrying the station information. Specifically, the first information element may include second indication information indicating the number of information elements carrying the station information, thereby indicating that the station information of a certain link carried by the first information element is carried by multiple information elements (at least including the second information element) and the number of such multiple information elements. Thus, the second indication information indicates that the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link.

[0187] Optionally, the second information element includes the second indication information.

[0188] For example, the second indication information can be indicated by one or more bits to indicate the number of information elements carrying the site information. Specifically, when the second indication information is indicated by k (k is a natural number) bits, it can indicate a maximum of 2 raised to the power of k for the number of information elements carrying the site information. For example, when k is 1, it can indicate a maximum of 2 information elements carrying the site information; when k is 4, it can indicate a maximum of 16 information elements carrying the site information; obviously, when k is other values, the number of information elements carrying the site information can also be indicated in a similar way.

[0189] Optionally, when there are multiple information elements carrying the station information, in the wireless frame generated in step S101, the multiple information elements can be multiple consecutive information elements located in the wireless frame.

[0190] Optionally, the second indication information can also be expressed in other forms. For example, the second indication information can be used to indicate the number of segments of the station information; or, the second indication information can be used to indicate the number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information include the first information element; or, the second indication information can be used to indicate the number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information do not include the first information element; or, the second indication information can be used to indicate the sequence number of the information elements carrying the station information, and the sequence number is a positive sequence number; or, the second indication information can be used to indicate the sequence number of the information elements carrying the station information, and the sequence number is a reciprocal sequence number. When the second indication information is expressed in other forms, it can also be indicated by different values ​​of the aforementioned k bits, or by other methods, which are not limited here.

[0191] For example, such as Figure 8b As shown, it is possible to Figure 3 In the frame structure shown, the STAControl field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element carries second indication information. This second indication information is used to indicate how many segments the information indicating the station in the Per-STA Profile sub-element has been divided into, or to indicate how many segments the remaining station information has been divided into after excluding this segment of the per-STA profile.

[0192] Optionally, the second indication information is Figure 8b The "Number of Fragments" field can be any other field; no restrictions are placed here. Furthermore, in...Figure 8b In the implementation shown, the Number of Fragments field can be implemented using one or more bits, as described above.

[0193] The following is through Figure 8c The implementation example illustrates the segmented transmission method of station information on a certain link. For example... Figure 8c As shown, the information of other stations in the MLD where the station is located is carried in the first MLE (denoted as MLE 1 or the first MLE) and the second MLE (denoted as MLE 2 or the second MLE). Specifically, the first MLE carries Per-STA Profile 1 to Per-STA Profile x, and the second MLE carries Per-STA Profile x+1 to Per-STA Profile y. According to the indication information in the STA Control field of Per-STA Profile x, it can be known that Per-STA Profile x and Per-STA Profile x+1 carry information about stations on the same link.

[0194] In one possible implementation, the second information element in the radio frame generated in step S101 includes third indication information, which indicates that the second information element is the last information element among a plurality of information elements carrying the station information. Specifically, the second information element may include third indication information indicating that it is the last information element among a plurality of information elements carrying the station information, thereby indicating that the station information of a certain link carried by the second information element is carried by a plurality of information elements (at least including the second information element) and that the second information element is the last of the plurality of information elements. Thus, the third indication information indicates that the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link. In other words, if an information element does not carry the third indication information, it means that the information element and the next information element carry the station information on the same link.

[0195] Optionally, when the first information element in the radio frame includes the third indication information, it can indicate that the site information of a certain link carried by the first information element has not been segmented.

[0196] Optionally, the third indication information is used to indicate that there are no other information elements carrying the site information after the second information element.

[0197] Optionally, the site information is divided into multiple segments, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the segment of the site information carried by the second information element is the last segment.

[0198] Optionally, the third indication information includes a non-inheritance element.

[0199] Specifically, if the information of a station on a link is segmented, the non-inheritance element is carried in the last Per-STA Profile sub-element corresponding to the information of the station, and the non-inheritance element is not carried in the preceding (non-last) Per-STA Profile sub-element; if there is no segmentation, the non-inheritance element must be carried in the corresponding Per-STA Profile sub-element, and the value of the Length field of the non-inheritance element is set to 1, indicating that there is only the Element ID Extension field after the Length field, and there is no other field.

[0200] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the information of a station in an MLD is segmented into a first MLE (denoted as MLE 1 or first MLE) and a second MLE (denoted as MLE 2 or second MLE) to carry, the first MLE carries Per-STA Profile 1 to Per-STA Profile x, and the second MLE carries Per-STA Profile x+1 to Per-STA Profile y. Since Per-STA Profile x does not carry a Non-Inheritance element, it can be known that Per-STA Profile x and Per-STA Profile x+1 carry the information of a station on the same link. At the same time, since Per-STA Profile x+1 carries a Non-Inheritance element, it can be known that Per-STA Profile x+1 is the last Per-STA Profile sub-element carrying the information of the station. Figure 9a

[0201] In addition, since the non-inheritance element is carried in the last Per-STA Profile sub-element corresponding to the information of the station, the information of the station on the same link can be obtained by combining the information carried in the Per-STA Profile sub-element and the information carried in the non-inheritance element. Figure 3 ​In the configured MLE, the Non-Inheritance element is optionally present in the Per-STA Profile sub-element; the Non-Inheritance element includes a series of ID numbers of elements that the reported STA cannot inherit from the reporting STA, where the reporting STA is the STA that sends the MLE, and the reported STA is the STA of the other link. In the implementation mode of the third indication information, it is required that the Non-Inheritance element must be present in the last Per-STA Profile sub-element carrying the information of a certain station. To this end, as shown in FIG. 7, when the Non-Inheritance element does not need to be carried (i.e., the station does not have non-inheritance information elements), the Non-Inheritance element also needs to be carried in the Per-STA Profile sub-element, and the value of the Length field of the Non-Inheritance element is set to 1. It is indicated that only the Element ID Extension field exists after the Length field, and no other fields exist. Figure 9b

[0202] In a possible implementation mode, the first information element and the second information element in the wireless frame generated in step S101 both include a complete configuration information (Complete Profile) field, and the value of the complete configuration information field in the first information element is the same as the value of the complete configuration information field in the second information element. Specifically, the information element can indicate the related configuration of the station information carried by the information element through the complete configuration information field included in the information element. The value of the complete configuration information field in the first information element is the same as the value of the complete configuration information field in the second information element, which can indicate that the configuration of the station information carried by the first information element is the same as the configuration of the station information carried by the second information element. Therefore, through the same value of the complete configuration information field, it is indicated that the first information element and the second information element in the wireless frame both carry the complete information of the station.

[0203] Optionally, the second information element does not include the complete configuration information field.

[0204] Optionally, the second information element includes the complete configuration information field, and the value of the complete configuration information field in the second information element is a reserved value (reserved). At this time, the value of the complete configuration information field is used to indicate other information (in addition to indicating whether the complete information of the station on the corresponding link is carried by the information element). ​

[0205] In a possible implementation, in the wireless frame generated in step S101, the first information element includes a station information (STA Info) field, and the station information field is used to indicate the relevant information of the station in the first information element and the relevant information of the station in the second information element. Specifically, the information element can indicate the relevant information of the station carried by the information element through the included station information field. In this case, the station information field in the first information element is used to indicate not only the relevant information of the station carried by the first information element, but also the relevant information of the station carried by the second information element. Thus, the station information field in the first information element indicates the station information of the stations corresponding to the same link in the first information element and the second information element.

[0206] In a possible implementation, in the wireless frame generated in step S101, the second information element does not include the station information field, or the second information element includes the station information field, and the station information field has a reserved value. Specifically, since the relevant information of the station in the second information element is indicated through the station information field in the first information element, the second information element can not carry the station information field or set the station information field in the second information element to the reserved value, so as to carry other information / data different from the information in the station information field through the reserved value. Thus, the station information of the stations in multiple information elements is indicated through the station information field in the first information element, so as to save the overhead and further improve the communication efficiency.

[0207] Specifically, the current station information field includes at least one of the following information: a MAC Address used to indicate the address of the station on the link, a Beacon Interval used to indicate the period in which the station receives the beacon frame, a DTIM Info used to indicate the period in which the station receives the DTIM Beacon frame and the time at which the next DTIM Beacon is received, and an NSTR Indication Bitmap used to indicate the capability of the station on the link to simultaneously transmit and receive with the stations on other links. In the above implementation, when the station information field has the reserved value, the value of the station information field is used to indicate other information (in addition to the at least one information).

[0208] Optionally, the second information element includes the station information field.

[0209] In a possible implementation, the station information field includes at least one of the following: a medium access control address present (MAC Address Present) field, a beacon interval present (Beacon Interval Present) field, a delivery traffic indication message information present (DTIM Info Present) field, and an NSTR Link Pair Present field. Specifically, the station information field can include the at least one field described above, to indicate the relevant information of the station.

[0210] In a possible implementation, in the wireless frame generated in step S101, the first MLE and the second MLE are adjacent MLEs. Specifically, the first MLE and the second MLE can be MLEs in adjacent positions in the wireless frame. Compared with a manner of carrying the station information of the same link by non-adjacent MLEs, the manner of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple adjacent MLEs in the wireless frame can facilitate the receiving end of the wireless frame to obtain the station information of the same link.

[0211] Optionally, in the wireless frame, there is no other MLE between the first MLE and the second MLE.

[0212] Optionally, in the wireless frame, the first MLE is located before the second MLE; or, in the wireless frame, the second MLE is located after the first MLE.

[0213] In a possible implementation, in the wireless frame generated in step S101, the first MLE includes a common information field, and the common information field is used to indicate the multi-link common information of the first MLE and the multi-link common information of the second MLE. Specifically, an information element can indicate the multi-link common information carried by the information element through a contained common information field. The common information field in the first information element is used to indicate not only the multi-link common information carried by the first information element, but also the multi-link common information carried by the second information element. Thus, the common information field of the first information element indicates the multi-link common information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element.

[0214] In a possible implementation, the second MLE does not include the common information field; or, the second MLE includes the common information field, and the common information field in the second MLE has a reserved value. Specifically, since the multi-link common information in the second information element is carried through the common information field in the first information element, the second information element can not carry the common information field or set the common information field in the second information element to a reserved value, to carry other information / data different from the information in the common information field through the reserved value. Thus, the indication of the multi-link common information of the multiple information elements is implemented by multiplexing the common information field in the first information element, to save overhead and further improve communication efficiency.

[0215] Optionally, the second information element includes the common information field.

[0216] In a possible implementation, the first MLE includes a multi-link control field in the wireless frame generated in step S101, and the multi-link control field is used to indicate the multi-link control information of the first MLE and the multi-link control information of the second MLE. Specifically, an information element can indicate the multi-link control information carried by the information element through the multi-link control field included in the information element. The multi-link control field in the first information element is used to indicate not only the multi-link control information carried by the first information element, but also the multi-link control information carried by the second information element. Thus, the multi-link control information corresponding to the first information element and the second information element is indicated through the multi-link control field of the first information element.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the second MLE does not include the multi-link control field; or, the second MLE includes the multi-link control field, and a presence bitmap field in the multi-link control field in the second MLE has a value of all 0. Specifically, since the multi-link control information in the second information element is carried through the multi-link control information field in the first information element, the second information element can not carry the multi-link control information field or set the multi-link control field in the second information element to a reserved value, to carry other information / data different from the information in the multi-link control field through the reserved value. Thus, the indication of the multi-link control information of the multiple information elements is implemented by multiplexing the multi-link control field in the first information element, to save overhead and further improve communication efficiency.

[0218] Optionally, the second information element includes the common information field.

[0219] S102. The wireless frame sending device sends the wireless frame.

[0220] In this embodiment, after the wireless frame sending device generates the wireless frame in step S101, the wireless frame sending device sends the wireless frame in step S102; correspondingly, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102.

[0221] For example, the wireless frame sending device and the wireless frame receiving device can perform the transmission of the wireless frame based on the aforementioned Figure 1 or Figure 2 communication system shown in FIG. 1, i.e., through one or more of the plurality of links between the wireless frame sending device and the wireless frame receiving device.

[0222] Optionally, the wireless frame sending device can perform sending preprocessing on the wireless frame, and send the processing result of the sending preprocessing in step S102; for example, the sending preprocessing can include encryption, scrambling, etc. Correspondingly, the wireless frame receiving device can receive the processing result of the sending preprocessing on the wireless frame, and perform receiving preprocessing on the processing result in step S102 to obtain the wireless frame; for example, the receiving preprocessing can include decryption, descrambling, etc.

[0223] S103. The wireless frame receiving device determines the station information based on the wireless frame.

[0224] In this embodiment, the wireless frame receiving device determines the station information based on the wireless frame received in step S102.

[0225] Specifically, in step S103, the wireless frame receiving device determines the station information of the same link through the first information element contained in the first MLE and the second information element contained in the second MLE in the wireless frame, so as to achieve the station information of the same link in the plurality of MLEs.

[0226] Optionally, in step S103, the wireless frame receiving device can determine that the first information element contained in the first MLE and the second information element contained in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link according to the target information contained in the wireless frame, which can include at least one of the following: Link ID, subelement ID, first indication information, second indication information, third indication information, etc.

[0227] In one implementation, when the target information includes Link ID, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102. If the wireless frame includes at least two MLEs, and the value of the Link ID field in the Per-STA Profile subelement included in each of the at least two MLEs is the same, the wireless frame receiving device determines in step S103 that the STA Profile carried by the Per-STA Profile subelements carries information of stations on the same link. Further, the stations can splice the Per-STA Profile subelements corresponding to the Link ID with the same value according to the order in which the Per-STA Profile subelements appear in the wireless frame, thereby obtaining the information of the stations on the same link.

[0228] In one implementation, when the target information includes subelement ID, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102. If the wireless frame includes at least two MLEs, and each of the MLEs other than the first MLE includes a Per-STA Profile Extension subelement, the wireless frame receiving device determines in step S103 that the STA Profile carried by the Per-STA Profile Extension subelements carries information of stations on the same link as the STA Profile carried by the Per-STA Profile immediately preceding the Per-STA Profile Extension subelements. Further, the stations can splice the Per-STA Profile subelements according to the order in which the Per-STA Profile subelements appear in the wireless frame, thereby obtaining the information of the stations on the same link.

[0229] In one implementation, when the target information includes first indication information, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102. If the wireless frame includes at least two MLEs, the wireless frame receiving device determines whether the information of stations on a link carried by a Per-STA Profile subelement is segmented according to the first indication information in the Per-STA Profile subelement. If so, the wireless frame receiving device splices the fields in the STA Profile carried by the next (or several next) Per-STA Profile subelement according to the order in which the Per-STA Profile subelements appear in the wireless frame, thereby obtaining the information of the stations on the same link.

[0230] In an implementation, when the target information includes the second indication information, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102, and if the wireless frame contains at least two MLEs, determines, according to the second indication information in the Per-STA Profile subelement in the at least two MLEs, how many Per-STA Profiles the information of the station on a certain link carried by the Per-STA Profile subelement is carried by. And the wireless frame receiving device concatenates the fields in the STA Profile carried by the next (or several) Per-STA Profile subelement in the order of the appearance of the Per-STA Profile subelement in the wireless frame based on the number of Per-STA Profiles indicated by the second indication information in step S103, thereby obtaining the information of the station on the same link.

[0231] In an implementation, when the target information includes the third indication information, the wireless frame receiving device receives the wireless frame in step S102, and if the wireless frame contains at least two MLEs, determines, according to the third indication information in the Per-STA Profile subelement in the at least two MLEs, that the Per-STA Profile subelement is the last Per-STA Profile in the multiple Per-STA Profiles carrying the information of the station on a certain link. And the wireless frame receiving device concatenates the fields in the STA Profile carried by the Per-STA Profile subelement before the Per-STA Profile subelement in the order of the appearance of the Per-STA Profile subelement in the wireless frame based on the third indication information in step S103, thereby obtaining the information of the station on the same link.

[0232] Based on the above technical solutions, compared with the implementation process of wireless frame transmission failure caused by the fact that the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried in a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, for example, the length of the Length field in the MLE shown in the foregoing Figure 3 is 8 bits, and the length that can be indicated is 0 to 255 bytes, but the length of the information that the MLE needs to carry may exceed 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario in which one MLE cannot be used to carry the information of the multi-link device; and for another example, the MLE shown in the foregoing Figure 3The Length field in the Per-STA Profile shown has a length of 8 bits, so that the Data part can also at most carry only 255 bytes, but the information of the station on each link can be longer than 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario where a Per-STA Profile cannot be used to carry the information of the station on each link. By the foregoing Figure 5 to Figure 9b In the described embodiments, the wireless frame sent or received by the multi-link device includes a first MLE and a second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Thus, by the way of carrying the station information of the same link by multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, the carrying of the station information of the multi-link station device is realized, and at the same time, it can be ensured that the data part in the Per-STA Profile does not exceed 255 bytes, and it can also be ensured that the length of the content carried by the MLE does not exceed 255 bytes, avoiding the failure of wireless frame transmission and improving communication efficiency.

[0233] The foregoing describes the present application from the perspective of a method. The present application will be further described from the perspective of an apparatus.

[0234] Please refer to Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 1000 provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown, wherein the communication apparatus 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002.

[0235] Specifically, the communication apparatus 1000 can be a wireless frame sending apparatus, which is used to implement the wireless frame sending method in any of the foregoing embodiments. Correspondingly, the processing unit 1001 and the transceiver unit 1002 include the following processes.

[0236] The processing unit 1001 is configured to generate a wireless frame, wherein the wireless frame includes a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE includes a first information element, and the second MLE includes a second information element; the first information element and the second information element correspond to the station information of the same link; and the transceiver unit 1002 is configured to send the wireless frame.

[0237] Based on the foregoing technical solution, compared with the implementation process in which the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried by a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, and the wireless frame transmission fails due to the inability to carry the station information of the multi-link device, for example, the foregoing Figure 3 The Length field in the MLE shown has a length of 8 bits, and can indicate a length of 0 to 255 bytes, but the length of the information that the MLE needs to carry can exceed 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario in which a single MLE cannot be used to carry the information of the multi-link device; for another example, the foregoing Figure 3The Length field in the Per-STA Profile shown has a length of 8 bits, so that the Data part can at most also can only carry 255 bytes, but the information of the station on each link can be longer than 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario in which a Per-STA Profile cannot be used to carry the station information on each link. Figure 10 In the embodiment shown, the wireless frame sent by the transceiver unit 1002 includes a first MLE and a second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. Thus, by using multiple MLEs in the wireless frame to carry the station information of the same link, the carrying of the station information of the multi-link station device is realized, and at the same time, it can be ensured that the data part in the Per-STA Profile does not exceed 255 bytes, and it can also be ensured that the length of the content carried by the MLE does not exceed 255 bytes, avoiding wireless frame transmission failure and improving communication efficiency.

[0238] In addition, the communication apparatus 1000 can specifically be a wireless frame sending apparatus, used to implement the wireless frame sending method in any of the foregoing embodiments. Correspondingly, the processing unit 1001 and the transceiver unit 1002 include the following processes.

[0239] The transceiver unit 1002 is configured to receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE including a first information element, and the second MLE including a second information element; the first information element and the second information element corresponding to station information of the same link; and the processing unit 1001 is configured to determine the station information according to the wireless frame.

[0240] Based on the foregoing technical solutions, compared with the implementation process in which, in the case where the length of the station information of the multi-link device carried by a single MLE is greater than the maximum length value configured by the MLE, the wireless frame transmission fails because the station information of the multi-link device cannot be carried: for example, the foregoing Figure 3 The Length field in the MLE shown has a length of 8 bits, and can indicate a length of 0 to 255 bytes, but the length of the information that needs to be carried by the MLE can exceed 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario in which a single MLE cannot be used to carry the information of the multi-link device; for another example, the foregoing Figure 3 The Length field in the Per-STA Profile shown has a length of 8 bits, so that the Data part can at most also can only carry 255 bytes, but the information of the station on each link can be longer than 255 bytes, resulting in a scenario in which a Per-STA Profile cannot be used to carry the station information on each link. In Figure 10In the embodiment shown, the wireless frame received by the transceiver unit 1002 includes a first MLE and a second MLE, and the first information element included in the first MLE and the second information element included in the second MLE correspond to the station information of the same link. In this way, by carrying the station information of the same link by multiple MLEs in the wireless frame, the carrying of the station information of the multi-link station device is realized, and at the same time, it can be ensured that the data part in the Per-STA Profile does not exceed 255 bytes, and it can also be ensured that the length of the content carried by the MLE does not exceed 255 bytes, avoiding the failure of wireless frame transmission and improving the communication efficiency.

[0241] In addition, Figure 10 The MLE (the first MLE or the second MLE) or the information element (the first information element or the second information element) included in the wireless frame transmitted (received or sent) by the communication device shown can be further optimized, as shown below.

[0242] In a possible implementation, the first information element and the second information element each include a link identification (Link ID) field, and the value of the link identification field in the first information element is the same as the value of the link identification field in the second information element.

[0243] In a possible implementation, the first information element includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the station information is segmented.

[0244] Optionally, the second information element includes the first indication information.

[0245] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the station information exists segmentation.

[0246] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate whether different segments of the station information are respectively carried in different information elements.

[0247] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the first segment.

[0248] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is the last segment.

[0249] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is segmented, and the station information in the first information element is an intermediate segment (neither the first segment nor the last segment).

[0250] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the station information is not segmented.

[0251] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is carried in a station control (STA control) information field in the first information element.

[0252] In a possible implementation, the first information element comprises second indication information, which is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information.

[0253] Optionally, the second information element comprises the second indication information.

[0254] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of segments of the station information.

[0255] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information comprise the first information element.

[0256] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information, and the information elements carrying the station information do not comprise the first information element.

[0257] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a sequence number of information elements carrying the station information, and the sequence number is a positive sequence number.

[0258] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate a sequence number of information elements carrying the station information, and the sequence number is a reverse sequence number.

[0259] In a possible implementation, the second indication information is carried in a station control field in the first information element.

[0260] In a possible implementation, the second information element comprises third indication information, which is used to indicate that the second information element is the last information element of a plurality of information elements carrying the station information.

[0261] Optionally, the third indication information is used to indicate that there is no other information element carrying the station information after the second information element.

[0262] Optionally, the station information is divided into a plurality of segments, and the third indication information is used to indicate that a segment of the station information carried by the second information element is the last segment.

[0263] Optionally, the third indication information comprises a non-inheritance element.

[0264] In a possible implementation, the first information element and the second information element both include a complete profile field, and a value of the complete profile field in the first information element is the same as a value of the complete profile field in the second information element.

[0265] Optionally, the second information element does not include the complete profile field.

[0266] In a possible implementation, the first information element includes a station information (STAInfo) field, and the station information field is used to indicate relevant information of a station in the first information element and relevant information of a station in the second information element.

[0267] In a possible implementation, the second information element does not include the station information field; or the second information element includes the station information field, and a value of the station information field is a reserved value.

[0268] Optionally, the second information element includes the station information field.

[0269] In a possible implementation, the station information field includes at least one of the following: a medium access control address present (MAC Address Present) field, a beacon interval present (Beacon Interval Present) field, a delivery traffic indication message information present (DTIM Info Present) field, and an NSTR Link Pair Present field.

[0270] In a possible implementation, an element type of the first information element is the same as an element type of the second information element.

[0271] Optionally, the first information element and the second information element both include a type field, and a value of the type field in the first information element is the same as a value of the type field in the second information element.

[0272] Optionally, the type field is a subelement ID field.

[0273] In a possible implementation, an element type of the first information element is different from an element type of the second information element.

[0274] In a possible implementation, the first information element and the second information element each comprise a type field, and a value of the type field in the first information element is different from a value of the type field in the second information element.

[0275] Optionally, the type field is a subelement ID field.

[0276] In a possible implementation, in the wireless frame, the first MLE and the second MLE are adjacent MLEs.

[0277] Optionally, in the wireless frame, there is no other MLE between the first MLE and the second MLE.

[0278] Optionally, in the wireless frame, the first MLE is located before the second MLE; or, in the wireless frame, the second MLE is located after the first MLE.

[0279] In a possible implementation, the first MLE comprises a common information field, and the common information field is used to indicate multi-link common information of the first MLE and multi-link common information of the second MLE.

[0280] In a possible implementation, the second MLE does not comprise the common information field; or, the second MLE comprises the common information field, and a value of the common information field in the second MLE is a reserved value.

[0281] Optionally, the second information element comprises the common information field.

[0282] In a possible implementation, the first MLE comprises a multi-link control field, and the multi-link control field is used to indicate multi-link control information of the first MLE and multi-link control information of the second MLE.

[0283] In a possible implementation, the second MLE does not comprise the multi-link control field; or, the second MLE comprises the multi-link control field, and a value of a presence bitmap field in the multi-link control field in the second MLE is all 0.

[0284] Optionally, the second information element comprises the common information field.

[0285] In a possible implementation, the wireless frame is an association request frame, a reassociation request frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0286] It should be noted that the communication apparatus 1000 can also be used to perform the foregoing Figure 1Other embodiments in FIG. 9 are provided, and the corresponding beneficial effects can be achieved, which can be referred to the foregoing embodiments, and will not be described here.

[0287] Referring to Figure 11 , Figure 11 FIG. 11 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 1100 provided by an embodiment of the present application, which includes a processor 1101 and a transceiver 1102.

[0288] The communication device 1100 can be a wireless frame sending device or a wireless frame receiving device, or a chip thereof.

[0289] Figure 11 Only the main components of the communication device 1100 are shown. In addition to the processor 1101 and the transceiver 1102, the communication device can further include a memory 1103 and an input / output device (not shown in the figure).

[0290] The processor 1101 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the whole communication device, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The memory 1103 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The transceiver 1102 can include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna, and the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing of the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. The input / output device, such as a touch screen, a display screen, a keyboard, etc., is mainly used for receiving data input by a user and outputting data to the user.

[0291] The processor 1101, the transceiver 1102, and the memory 1103 can be connected through a communication bus.

[0292] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1101 can read the software program in the memory 1103, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1101 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit converts the baseband signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1101. The processor 1101 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0293] In any of the above designs, the processor 1101 can include a communication interface for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the communication interface can be a transceiver circuit, or an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and sending functions can be separate or integrated together. The above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface or interface circuit can be used for code / data reading and writing, or the above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface or interface circuit can be used for signal transmission or transfer.

[0294] In any of the above designs, the processor 1101 can store instructions, which can be a computer program, running on the processor 1101, to enable the communication device 1100 to perform the methods described in any of the above embodiments. The computer program can be fixed in the processor 1101, in which case the processor 1101 can be implemented by hardware.

[0295] In an implementation, the communication device 1100 can include a circuit that can implement the functions of sending or receiving or communication in any of the above embodiments. The processor and communication interface described in the present application can be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a mixed-signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processor and communication interface can also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0296] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged independently of the processor performing baseband processing, for example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged remotely from the communication device.

[0297] The communication device can be a stand-alone device or can be a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be:

[0298] (1) a stand-alone integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0299] (2) a set of one or more ICs, optionally including memory elements for storage of data and instructions;

[0300] (3) an ASIC, such as a Modem;

[0301] (4) a module that can be embedded within other devices;

[0302] (5) a receiver, a smart terminal, a wireless device, a handset, a mobile unit, a car device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.

[0303] (6) and / or the like.

[0304] In addition, the processor 1101 can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, baseband related processing, and the transceiver 1102 can be configured to perform, for example but not limited to, radio frequency transmitting and receiving. The above-mentioned devices can be respectively arranged on independent chips from each other, or at least part or all of them can be arranged on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. Among them, the analog baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as the transceiver, and the digital baseband processor can be arranged on an independent chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip, for example, the digital baseband processor can be integrated on the same chip as various application processors (such as but not limited to a graphics processor, a multimedia processor, etc.). Such a chip can be called a system on chip. Whether to arrange each device independently on different chips or to integrate them on one or more chips often depends on the specific needs of product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation form of the above-mentioned devices.

[0305] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores computer program codes, when the processor executes the computer program codes, the electronic device executes the method in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0306] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, when the computer program product runs on a computer, the computer program product makes the computer execute the method in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0307] The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which can exist in the form of a chip, and the structure of the device comprises a processor and an interface circuit, the processor is used for communicating with other devices through the receiving circuit, so that the device executes the method in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0308] The embodiment of the present application further provides a WLAN communication system, which comprises a wireless frame sending device and a wireless frame receiving device, and the wireless frame sending device and the wireless frame receiving device can execute the method in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0309] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in connection with the present disclosure can be embodied directly in hardware, in software or in a combination of the two. Software instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which can include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. The ASIC can be located in a core network interface device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the core network interface device.

[0310] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in one or more examples described above, the functions described in the present application can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes a computer-readable storage medium and a communication medium, wherein the communication medium includes any medium that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general or special purpose computer.

[0311] Although the application has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application following, in general, the principles of the application and including such further modifications as come within the four corners of the following claims. The use of the terms "including", "comprising" or "having" and the like operators are used herein in the sense of "including but not limited to". The terms "coupled" and "connected", along with derivatives thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect couplings, connections, associations and orientations, without limitations. Further, various optional elements of the application have been presented in this detailed description for a purpose of illustration and explanation and as such should not be construed as mandatory limitations on the scope of the application. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as" and "for instance") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the application and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the application unless otherwise claimed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the application as defined in the following claims.

[0312] The above detailed description has been described for the purposes of clarity and understanding. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible embodiments, modifications, and / or variations thereof. Other objects, advantages and / or specific embodiments of the application will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wireless frame transmission method, characterized by, The method comprises: generating a wireless frame, the wireless frame comprising a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE comprising a first information element, and the second MLE comprising a second information element, wherein the first information element and the second information element correspond to different parts of station information of a same link; transmitting the wireless frame.

2. A wireless frame receiving method, characterized by, The method comprises: receiving a wireless frame, the wireless frame comprising a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE comprising a first information element, and the second MLE comprising a second information element, wherein the first information element and the second information element correspond to different parts of station information of a same link; determining the station information according to the wireless frame.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information element and the second information element both comprise a link identification field, and a value of the link identification field in the first information element is the same as a value of the link identification field in the second information element.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information element comprises first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate whether the station information is segmented.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The first indication information is carried in a station control field in the first information element.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information element comprises second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a number of information elements carrying the station information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The second indication information is carried in a station control field in the first information element.

8. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second information element comprises third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate that the second information element is a last information element of the multiple information elements carrying the station information.

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the second information element does not comprise a station information field; or the second information element comprises the station information field, and a value of the station information field is a reserved value.

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, an element type of the first information element is the same as an element type of the second information element.

11. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, an element type of the first information element is different from an element type of the second information element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first information element and the second information element both comprise a type field, and a value of the type field in the first information element is different from a value of the type field in the second information element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The type field is a sub-element identification field.

14. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, In the wireless frame, the first MLE and the second MLE are adjacent MLEs.

15. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the second MLE does not comprise a common information field; or the second MLE comprises the common information field, and a value of the common information field in the second MLE is a reserved value; or the second MLE does not comprise a multi-link control field; or the second MLE comprises the multi-link control field, and a value of a status bitmap field in the multi-link control field in the second MLE is all 0s.

16. A wireless frame transmitting apparatus, characterized by comprising: The apparatus comprises a transceiver unit and a processing unit, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1, 3-15.

17. A wireless frame receiving apparatus, characterized by comprising: The apparatus comprises a transceiver unit and a processing unit, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 2-15.

18. A communications device, characterized by comprising at least one processor coupled with a memory; the memory is configured to store a program or instructions; the at least one processor is configured to execute the program or instructions to cause the apparatus to implement the method of any one of claims 1-15.

19. A computer program product comprising program instructions, characterized in that, A program instruction, when running on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A program instruction stored in the computer readable storage medium, when running, causes the method of any one of claims 1-15 to be performed.

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