First multi-link device and method of switching operating mode thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a first multi-link device and a method for switching operation modes thereof. A method for switching operation modes of a first multi-link device includes establishing a plurality of links between the first multi-link device and a second multi-link device, and determining by the first multi-link device whether to receive a plurality of streams via one of the plurality of links or via the plurality of links based on channel conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to wireless networks, and in particular to a multi-link device and a method for switching operating modes thereon. Background Technology

[0002] The IEEE 802.11be communication protocol is a new generation of Wi-Fi 7 wireless access technology, supporting multi-link multi-radio (MLMR), 320MHz bandwidth, 4096 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and 16 spatial streams, thereby achieving high transmission rate, high throughput, and low latency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a method for switching operation modes of a first multi-link device, comprising establishing multiple links between the first multi-link device and a second multi-link device, and the first multi-link device determining, based on channel conditions, whether to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links or via multiple links.

[0004] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a first multi-link device, comprising a plurality of wireless circuits and a processor. The plurality of wireless circuits are used to establish multiple links with a second multi-link device. The processor is coupled to the plurality of wireless circuits and is used to determine, based on channel conditions, whether to receive multiple streams via one or more of the multiple links. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0006] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission sequence in synchronous transmit / receive mode.

[0007] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission sequence in asynchronous transmission and reception mode.

[0008] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission sequence in a multi-link single wireless circuit mode.

[0009] Figure 5 System Figure 1 Block diagram of a non-access point multi-link device.

[0010] Figure 6 System Figure 1A flowchart of the switching operation mode method for a non-access point multi-link device. Detailed Implementation

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multi-link communication system 1 includes an access point multi-link device (AP-MLD) 10 and a non-access point multi-link device (non-AP-MLD) 12. The multi-link communication system 1 is compatible with the IEEE 802.11 communication protocol, for example, compatible with the IEEE 802.11be communication protocol.

[0012] Access point multilink device 10 includes access points (APs) 101 and 102, and non-access point multilink device 12 includes stations (STAs) 121 and 122. Access points 101 and 102, and stations 121 and 122 can be logical devices and can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Links 141 and 142 can be established between access point multilink device 10 and non-access point multilink device 12. For example, access point 101 can communicate with station 121 via link 141, and access point 102 can communicate with station 122 via link 142. Non-access point multilink device 12 can include two sets of full-function radio circuits, thus supporting enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) mode and switching between various operating modes depending on channel conditions, such as switching between baseline mode and enhanced mode. The baseline mode can also be called multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) mode, and the gain mode can also be called EMLMR mode. The two sets of wireless circuits of the non-access point multi-link device 12 can be used for data transmission in two identical or different frequency bands. For example, the two frequency bands can include channels at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. In another example, the two frequency bands can include channels at 5 GHz and 6 GHz. When EMLMR mode is enabled, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can communicate with the access point multi-link device 10 in gain mode; when EMLMR mode is disabled, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can communicate with the access point multi-link device 10 in baseline mode. In baseline mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can simultaneously use two sets of wireless circuits to transmit with the access point multi-link device 10 via links 141 and 142. N spatial streams (Nss = N) can be transmitted on link 141, and N spatial streams (Nss = N) can be transmitted on link 142, where N is greater than or equal to 1. In gain mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can use one set of wireless circuits to transmit with the access point multi-link device 10 via one of links 141 and 142. 2N spatial streams (Nss = 2N) can be transmitted on one of links 141 and 142. Throughput is improved by adjusting the number of spatial streams (Nss = 2N) on each link. In baseline mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can operate in either simultaneous transmit and receive (STR) mode or non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) mode.In gain mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can operate in EMLMR mode. When the non-access point multi-link device 12 contains only one complete radio circuit, it is called a multi-link single-radio (MLSR). Although it cannot simultaneously transmit via N spatial streams through links 141 and 142 and access point multi-link device 10, it can still transmit 2N spatial streams through one of links 141 and 142 and access point multi-link device 10 in gain multi-link single-radio (EMLSR) mode. Since the multi-link single-radio can only transmit in EMLSR mode, there is no switching of operating modes. Figures 2 to 4 The diagrams show the transmission sequence of multi-link multi-wireless circuits in STR mode, NSTR mode, and gain mode, respectively. These will be explained in detail in later paragraphs.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission sequence in STR mode, the baseline mode for multi-link multi-wireless circuits. When the channel spacing between the two sets of wireless circuits operating in the non-access point multi-link device 12 is large, such as operating on 2.4G and 5G channels respectively, the transmissions on links 141 and 142 will not interfere with each other. Therefore, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can use STR mode to transmit with the access point multi-link device 10. In STR mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 uses two sets of wireless circuits to transmit via links 141 and 142, and the channel access on links 141 and 142 operates independently. The uplink and downlink transmissions on links 141 and 142 do not need to be synchronized. For example, in Figure 2 Downlink transmission 200 and uplink transmission 202 can be performed on link 141, while downlink transmission 220 can be performed on link 142 at the same time.

[0014] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission sequence in NSTR mode, the baseline mode for multi-link multi-wireless circuits. When the distance between the channels operating on the two sets of wireless circuits of the non-access point multi-link device 12 is insufficient, for example, operating on 5G and 6G channels respectively, the transmissions on links 141 and 142 may interfere with each other. Therefore, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can use NSTR mode to transmit with the access point multi-link device 10. In NSTR mode, the non-access point multi-link device 12 uses two sets of wireless circuits to transmit via links 141 and 142. If one of links 141 and 142 is in the packet transmission stage, the other will be unable to receive packets. Therefore, links 141 and 142 must perform uplink transmission or downlink transmission simultaneously. Furthermore, to avoid in-device coexistence interference between links 141 and 142, the uplink and downlink transmissions of links 141 and 142 must be synchronized and comply with the physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) end-time alignment, PPDU medium access start-time synchronization, and medium access recovery specifications defined by the IEEE 802.11be communication protocol. This results in lower throughput in NSTR mode compared to STR mode. For example, in... Figure 3 In this process, downlink transmission 300 on link 141 and downlink transmission 320 on link 142 can be synchronized, and uplink transmission 302 on link 141 and uplink transmission 322 on link 142 can be synchronized.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission sequence in gain mode for multi-link, multi-wireless circuits. In gain mode, each data transmission is limited to one of links 141 and 142. For example, in... Figure 4In this process, the non-access point multi-link device 12 listens for information (400 and 420) on links 141 and 142. On link 141, it first detects a multi-user request to send (MU-RTS) frame 402 and prepares to receive data on link 141. Once prepared, the non-access point multi-link device 12 transmits a clear to send (CTS) frame 404 on link 141 and performs an receive radio chain switch (rx chain switch) 424 to switch the radio chain of link 142 to link 141. In response to CTS 404, the access point multi-link device 10 transmits an aggregated media access control protocol data unit (AMPDU) frame 406 on link 141 using 2N spatial streams. After receiving AMPDU frame 406, the non-access point multilink device 12 transmits a black acknowledgment (BA) frame 408 on link 141 and performs a receive radio link switch 410 to switch the radio link of link 142 back to link 142. Then, the non-access point multilink device 12 listens for information on links 141 and 142 again (412 and 426). Using gain mode allows the non-access point multilink device 12 to use all available spatial streams (Nss = 2N) for transmission on either link 141 or 142, thereby improving the overall throughput.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of a non-access point multilink device 12. The non-access point multilink device 12 includes a processor 52, wireless circuits 541 and 542, and a timer 56. The processor 52 is coupled to wireless circuits 541, 542, and timer 56.

[0017] Wireless circuits 541 and 542 may include their respective antennas, receivers, and other radio frequency components. Wireless circuit 541 can establish link 141 with access point multiplexing device 10, and wireless circuit 542 can establish link 142 with access point multiplexing device 10. Processor 52 can determine, based on channel conditions, whether to receive multiple streams via one of links 141 and 142 or via links 141 and 142. When the channel is busy, the probability of simultaneous transmission via links 141 and 142 is reduced, therefore processor 52 determines to switch to gain mode to receive multiple spatial streams via one of links 141 and 142. When the channel is idle, the probability of simultaneous transmission via links 141 and 142 is increased, therefore processor 52 determines to switch to baseline mode to receive multiple streams via links 141 and 142.

[0018] In some embodiments, the processor 52 can be based on the measurement period T m The busy time T of the internal channel and the data transmission time T of the non-access point multi-link device 12 tx The Channel Busy Ratio (CBR) of the non-access point multilink device 12 is generated to estimate the channel status. The Channel Busy Ratio (CBR) of the non-access point multilink device 12 can be expressed by formula (1):

[0019] CBR=(T b +T tx ) / T m Formula (1)

[0020] Where T m This is for measuring time;

[0021] T b This refers to peak hours for the passageway; and

[0022] T tx This refers to the data transmission time of the non-access point multi-link device 12.

[0023] Channel busy time T b This can be obtained through physical carrier sense or virtual carrier sense. In physical carrier sense, the non-access point multilink device 12 can detect whether the channel power exceeds the CCA (Clear Channel Assessment) threshold, for example, the threshold could be -82dBm. If it does, the processor 52 can determine that the channel is busy and calculate the channel busy time T. b In virtual carrier detection, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can monitor the value of the Network Allocation Vector (NAV) in the RTS information. When the NAV is not 0, the processor 52 can determine that the channel is busy and calculate the channel busy time T. b When CBR approaches 1, it can be considered as channel busy or channel congestion.

[0024] In other embodiments, the access point multi-link device 10 may periodically broadcast beacon frames with network load reports, and the processor 52 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 may generate the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS for the overlapping basic service set based on the network load report of the multi-link communication system 1. Since other access points near the multi-link communication system 1 can transmit data simultaneously, the access point multi-link device 10 may collect traffic from these other nearby access points to generate network load reports. The network load report may be a Qload report, the format of which is shown in Table 1.

[0025] Table 1

[0026]

[0027] The component identification value represents the Qload report number;

[0028] The length indicates the length of the Qload report;

[0029] Potential single AP traffic represents the longest media time (medium time) allocated to the memory access point multi-link device 10 within a predetermined time period, such as 7 days.

[0030] The allocated single AP traffic represents the current media time allocated to the access point multi-link device 10, including the average and standard deviation;

[0031] The allocated shared traffic represents the media time allocated to all access points (including access point multilink device 10) near access point multilink device 10, including the average value μ. s and standard deviation σ s ;

[0032] The enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) factor represents the media time using the EDCA mechanism;

[0033] Hybrid coordinated channel access (HCCA) peak represents the peak media time when using the HCCA mechanism;

[0034] The HCCA factor represents the media time using the HCCA mechanism;

[0035] Overlapping APs indicate the number of APs using the same channel;

[0036] The shared policy refers to the channel sharing policy used by the AP; and

[0037] Optional sub-components can represent other information.

[0038] In some embodiments, the non-access point multilink device 12 may generate a long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1 based on the EDCA factor and HCCA factor in the Qload report, expressed by formula (2):

[0039] CBR_OBSS1=(EDCA factor + HCCA factor) / 64 Formula (2)

[0040] The 64 series corresponds to the decimal precision of the EDCA and HCCA factors.

[0041] In other embodiments, the non-access point multilink device 12 may generate a short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2 based on the allocated shared traffic in the Qload report, expressed by formula (3):

[0042] CBR_OBSS2=μ s +2σ s Formula (3)

[0043] Where μ s This refers to the average media time recorded in the allocated shared traffic field; and

[0044] σ s This refers to the media time standard deviation recorded in the allocated shared traffic field.

[0045] When either the long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1 or the short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2 approaches 1, the channel is considered busy or congested. The processor 52 can determine the channel status based on the channel busy ratio CBR, the long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1, and / or the short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2 of the non-access point multilink device 12. Since the short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2 reflects the most recently allocated media time for the overlapping service set, its accuracy is greater than that of the long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1.

[0046] In some embodiments, the non-access point multilink device 12 may set a timer 56 to periodically check the channel status, thereby determining whether to switch operating modes. In some embodiments, if the non-access point multilink device 12 is to enter NSTR mode to perform NSTR operations, since the throughput of NSTR mode is low, the processor 52 determines to switch to gain mode to receive 2N spatial streams via one of links 141 and 142 to increase throughput.

[0047] In this way, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can switch operating modes according to the channel conditions, while taking into account the flexibility of multi-link multi-wireless circuits and the overall throughput.

[0048] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a switching operation mode method 600 for a non-access point multilink device 12. The switching operation mode method 600 includes steps S602 to S624. Steps S602 to S608 are used to switch to gain mode for data transmission after determining that NSTR mode transmission is to be used. Steps S610 to S618 are used to determine whether to use baseline mode or gain mode for data transmission based on channel conditions. Steps S620 to S624 are used to periodically determine channel conditions. Any reasonable technical changes or adjustments to the steps are within the scope of this invention. The details of steps S602 to S624 are as follows:

[0049] Step S602: Processor 52 sets up multi-link operation;

[0050] Step S604: Processor 52 determines whether asynchronous transmission and reception operation is required. If yes, proceed to step S606; otherwise, proceed to step S610.

[0051] Step S606: Processor 52 sets EMLMR mode to 1;

[0052] Step S608: Processor 52 determines whether a channel switch is needed. If yes, proceed to step S602; otherwise, proceed to step S606.

[0053] Step S610: Processor 52 determines whether a network load report has been received. If yes, proceed to step S612; otherwise, proceed to step S614.

[0054] Step S612: Processor 52 determines whether the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS exceeds the predetermined value α. If yes, proceed to step S616; if no, proceed to step S618.

[0055] Step S614: Processor 52 determines whether the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS exceeds the predetermined value β. If yes, proceed to step S616; if no, proceed to step S618.

[0056] Step S616: Processor 52 sets EMLMR mode to 1, and jumps to step S620;

[0057] Step S618: Processor 52 sets EMLMR mode to 0;

[0058] Step S620: Processor 52 resets timer 56;

[0059] Step S622: Processor 52 determines whether a channel switch is needed. If yes, proceed to step S602; otherwise, proceed to step S624.

[0060] Step S624: Processor 52 determines whether timer 56 has expired. If yes, proceed to step S610; otherwise, proceed to step S622.

[0061] In step S602, the non-access point multi-link device 12 enters multi-link operation setting, and the processor 52 sets the EMLMR mode to 0 to switch the non-access point multi-link device 12 to baseline mode. In step S604, the processor 52 sets the operation mode of the non-access point multi-link device 12 to STR mode or NSTR mode based on the channel spacing between links 141 and 142. For example, when the channel spacing between links 141 and 142 is less than 1 GHz, the processor 52 sets the operation mode of the non-access point multi-link device 12 to NSTR mode; when the channel spacing between links 141 and 142 exceeds 1 GHz, the processor 52 sets the operation mode of the non-access point multi-link device 12 to STR mode. In step S606, if the operation mode is NSTR mode, the processor 52 sets the EMLMR mode to 1 to switch the non-access point multi-link device 12 to gain mode to receive 2N spatial streams via one of links 141 and 142, thereby increasing throughput. In step S608, if either wireless circuit 541 or wireless circuit 542 detects a channel switch announcement (CSA) message in the beacon, processor 52 determines that a channel switch is required. Since the channel has changed, the process returns to step S602 to reset the non-access point multilink device 12's operating mode; if no CSA message is detected, the process returns to step S606 to continue receiving 2N spatial streams from either link 141 or 142 in gain mode.

[0062] If, in step S604, the processor 52 sets the operating mode of the non-access point multilink device 12 to a non-NSTR mode (i.e., STR mode), the processor 52 further determines whether a network load report has been received (step S610). If so, the processor 52 generates the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS for the overlapping service set based on the network load report, and estimates the channel status based on the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS (step S612). The channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS can be a long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1 or a short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2. In some embodiments, the processor 52 generates the short-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS2 based on the allocated shared traffic in the Qload report to improve the accuracy of the channel busy ratio. In some embodiments, the processor 52 can also use the long-term channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS1 as the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS for the overlapping service set. If the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS exceeds a predetermined value α, it indicates that the channel status is busy; if the channel busy ratio CBR_OBSS is less than the predetermined value α, it indicates that the channel status is idle. The predetermined value α can be a value between 0 and 1, for example, the predetermined value α can be between 0.4 and 0.5.

[0063] If, in step S610, the processor 52 determines that no network load report has been received, it can generate the channel busy ratio CBR of the non-access point multi-link device 12. If the channel busy ratio CBR exceeds a predetermined value β, it indicates that the channel is busy; if the channel busy ratio CBR is less than the predetermined value β, it indicates that the channel is idle. The predetermined value β can be a value between 0 and 1, for example, the predetermined value β can be between 0.4 and 0.5. The predetermined value α and the predetermined value β can be the same or different.

[0064] If, in step S612 or S614, the processor 52 determines that the channel is busy, it sets the EMLMR mode to 1 to switch the non-access point multi-link device 12 to gain mode to receive 2N spatial streams via one of links 141 and 142, thereby increasing throughput (step S616). If, in step S612 or S614, the processor 52 determines that the channel is idle, it sets the EMLMR mode to 0 to switch the non-access point multi-link device 12 to baseline mode to receive N spatial streams via each of links 141 and 142 (step S618).

[0065] In step S620, the processor 52 resets the timer 56 to a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be longer than dot11QLoadReportIntervalDTIM defined in the 802.11be communication protocol. In step S622, if radio circuit 541 or radio circuit 542 detects CSA information in the beacon, the processor 52 determines that a channel should be switched. Since the channel has changed, the process returns to step S602 to reset the non-access point multilink device 12 to its operating mode; if no CSA information is detected, the process continues to step S624 to determine whether the timer 56 has expired. If the timer 56 has not expired, the processor 52 continues to determine whether to switch channels (step S622); if the timer 56 has expired, the processor 52 resets the operating mode according to the channel status (S610 to S618).

[0066] In steps S602, S606, S616 and S618, once the operating mode of the non-access point multi-link device 12 changes, for example, the EMLMR mode changes from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1, the wireless circuit 541 and / or the wireless circuit 542 will transmit an enhanced multi-link (EML) operating mode notification frame with the EMLMR mode setting value to the access point multi-link device 10 via the link 141 and / or 142, notifying the access point multi-link device 10 to change its transmission mode.

[0067] Although Figures 1 to 6 In the embodiments described, the non-access point multi-link device 12 includes only two sets of wireless circuits and establishes only two links. The non-access point multi-link device 12 may also include more sets of wireless circuits and establish more links. Those skilled in the art can determine, based on the spirit of the invention and the channel conditions, whether the non-access point multi-link device 12 should receive streams via one or more links. Although in the baseline mode, links 141 and 142 each transmit N spatial streams, in some embodiments, the spatial streams on links 141 and 142 may not be equal. For example, link 141 may transmit N1 spatial streams, and link 142 may transmit N2 spatial streams. Furthermore, in the gain mode, one of links 141 and 142 may transmit (N1+N2) spatial streams. Moreover, although the embodiments of the invention only use downlink transmission for description, those skilled in the art can apply the invention to uplink transmission based on its spirit.

[0068] The non-access point multi-link device 12 switches between baseline mode and gain mode according to the channel conditions, while taking into account the flexibility of multi-links and overall throughput.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention shall be covered by the present invention.

[0070] [Symbol Explanation]

[0071] 1: Multi-link communication system

[0072] 10: Access Point Multilink Device

[0073] 101 and 102: Access Points

[0074] 12: Non-access point multi-link device

[0075] 121 and 122: Stations

[0076] Links 141 and 142

[0077] 200, 142, 300, 320: Downlink transmission

[0078] 202, 302, 322: Uplink transmission

[0079] 400, 412, 420, 426: Listen to information

[0080] 402 to 408: Frames

[0081] 410, 424: Receive wireless link switching

[0082] 52: Processor

[0083] 541 and 542: Wireless circuits

[0084] 56: Timer

[0085] 600: How to switch operating modes

[0086] S602 to S624: Steps.

Claims

1. A method for switching operating modes of a first multi-link device, comprising: The first multi-link device establishes multiple links with a second multi-link device; and The first multi-link device determines, based on the channel conditions, whether to receive multiple streams via one or more of the links. The first multi-link device includes a processor and a timer. The processor is used to set the operating mode of the first multi-link device. The timer is repeatedly set to a predetermined time. When the timer expires, the processor resets the operating mode according to the channel status. The processor's method of resetting the operating mode based on the channel status includes: generating a short-term channel busy ratio based on a media time average and a media time standard deviation; when the short-term channel busy ratio exceeds a predetermined value, the processor determines that the channel status is busy and switches the first multi-link device to a gain mode; when the short-term channel busy ratio is less than the predetermined value, the processor determines that the channel status is idle and switches the first multi-link device to a baseline mode. The short-term channel busy ratio is expressed as: ， in, The media time average, Let be the standard deviation of the media time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first multi-link device determines whether to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links or via multiple links based on the channel status, comprising: when the channel status is busy, the first multi-link device determines to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first multi-link device determines whether to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links or via multiple links based on the channel status comprises: when the channel status is idle, the first multi-link device determines to receive multiple streams via multiple links.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: If the first multi-link device needs to perform an asynchronous transmit / receive operation, it determines that it needs to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first multi-link device estimates the channel status based on the channel busy time during a measurement period and the data transmission time of the first multi-link device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first multi-link device receives a network load report from the second multi-link device; and The first multi-link device estimates the channel status based on the network load report.

7. A first multi-link device, comprising: Multiple wireless circuits are used to establish multiple links with a second multi-link device; and A processor, coupled to multiple wireless circuits, is used to determine, based on a channel condition, whether to receive multiple streams via one or more of the links, and to set the operating mode of the first multi-link device, wherein... The first multi-link device includes a timer that is repeatedly set to a predetermined time. When the timer expires, the processor resets the operating mode based on the channel status. The processor's method of resetting the operating mode based on the channel status includes: generating a short-term channel busy ratio based on a media time average and a media time standard deviation; when the short-term channel busy ratio exceeds a predetermined value, the processor determines that the channel status is busy and switches the first multi-link device to a gain mode; when the short-term channel busy ratio is less than the predetermined value, the processor determines that the channel status is idle and switches the first multi-link device to a baseline mode. The short-term channel busy ratio is expressed as: ， in, The media time average, Let be the standard deviation of the media time.

8. The first multi-link device according to claim 7, wherein when the channel is busy, the processor determines that it needs to receive multiple streams via one of the multiple links.

9. The first multi-link device according to claim 7, wherein when the channel is idle, the processor determines that multiple streams need to be received via multiple links.

10. The first multi-link device according to claim 7, wherein: If the first multi-link device needs to perform an asynchronous transmit / receive operation, the processor further determines that multiple streams need to be received via one of the multiple links.

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