Communication methods and related apparatuses

Abstract

The application relates to the field of wireless communication, and is particularly applied to a wireless local area network supporting an 802.11 series standard, and in particular to a communication method and related device, the method comprising: when a non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on a first link, receiving a first frame from a first AP, the non-AP MLD switching (part or all) spatial streams / antennas on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP; when the non-AP MLD judges that any one of a preset condition set is met, part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link are switched back to the each link (or other links) to perform the listening operation. According to the embodiment of the application, SM PS and EMLSR can be combined for communication, and the problem that the existing SM PS rule for directly multiplexing is not applicable to the definition of frame interaction end for EMLSR is solved.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application, the original application number is 202111229676.4, the original application date is October 21, 2021, and the entire contents of the original application are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular to a communication method and related apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] There is a spatial multiplexing power save (SM PS) function in the existing 802.11 standard (here referring to 802.11ax standard and before), which is described in detail in section 11.2.6 of the 802.11ax standard. SM PS allows a non-access point station (non-AP STA) to keep only one active receive channel, and often uses one antenna to receive signals. After the non-AP STA receives the initial frame sent by the AP, the other receive channels of the non-AP STA are opened and multiple antennas are used to interact with the AP. After the frame interaction ends, the non-AP STA switches back to the single receive channel mode. It should be understood that the non-AP STA can be referred to as a station (STA) for short, and the two terms can be used interchangeably herein. In the existing 802.11 standard, when the STA determines that any one of the conditions specified in the 802.11ax standard is met (see section 11.2.6 of the 802.11ax standard for details), the STA can immediately switch back to the single receive channel mode to achieve the purpose of spatial multiplexing to improve gain and save power.

[0004] The next-generation 802.11 standard, such as 802.11be, is known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT) or Wi-Fi 7. Its key technology is improving throughput through multi-link (ML) communication. The core idea of ​​multi-link communication is that wireless local area network (WLAN) devices supporting the next-generation 802.11 standard, i.e., EHT devices, have the ability to transmit and receive on multiple frequency bands, thereby using greater bandwidth for data transmission and significantly improving throughput. These multiple frequency bands include, but are not limited to, the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, the 5GHz Wi-Fi band, and the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. In 802.11be, WLAN devices supporting multi-link communication are called multi-link devices (MLDs). Clearly, multi-link devices can use multiple links (or multiple frequency bands) for parallel communication, resulting in a significant increase in transmission speed. A multi-link device (MLD) comprises one or more affiliated stations (STAs). An affiliated station is a logical station that can operate on a single link. The affiliated station can be an access point (AP) or a non-AP STA. The 802.11be standard refers to a multi-link device with an AP as its affiliated station as an AP MLD, and a multi-link device with a non-AP STA as a non-AP MLD.

[0005] However, some non-AP MLDs may only have single-radio transceiver capabilities. To allow them to take advantage of multi-link functionality, 802.11be introduced Enhanced Multi-link Single Radio (EMLSR) capability. Therefore, the design of enhanced multi-link communication methods in WLANs urgently needs exploration. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and related apparatus that can combine SMPS and EMLSR for communication, solving the problem that directly reusing the existing SMPS rules to define the end of frame interaction is not applicable to EMLSR. It also enables the AP to serve other STAs simultaneously when serving STAs in EMLSR mode, enabling multi-user communication and further improving communication efficiency.

[0007] The present application is described below from different aspects. It should be understood that the different implementation methods and beneficial effects described below can be referenced from each other.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, comprising: when a non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on a first link, receiving a first frame from a first AP, the non-AP MLD switches all or part of the spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other link) to the first link to interact with the first AP; when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of a set of preset conditions is met, part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link are switched back to the each link (or other link) to perform the listening operation. Wherein the non-AP MLD supports an enhanced multi-link (EML) mode. The set of preset conditions includes a first preset condition, and the first preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the sending address of the wireless frame is different from the sending address of the frame initiating the current transmission opportunity (TXOP), and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame includes a block ACK (BA) frame.

[0009] Correspondingly, the first AP sends the first frame on the first link.

[0010] It can be seen that the present scheme solves the problem that the existing SM PS rule is not applicable to EML SR and / or enhanced multi-radio multi-link (EMLMR) by modifying the existing SM PS rule, that is, excluding some uplink unicast control frames. That is, during the AP serving the EML SR / EMLMR non-AP STA, the EML SR / EMLMR non-AP STA does not switch back to the listening operation because of receiving these frames. In addition, the rule enables the AP to simultaneously serve other STAs and perform multi-user communication when serving the STA in the EML SR mode, further improving communication efficiency.

[0011] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in a non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; a switching unit, configured to switch spatial streams on each link back to the listening operation on the each link when the non-AP MLD meets any one of a set of preset conditions after receiving the first frame sent by the first AP when performing the listening operation on the first link, wherein the non-AP MLD supports EML. The switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link to frame interaction with the first AP on the first link, wherein the set of preset conditions comprises a first preset condition, and the first preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the sending address of the wireless frame is different from the sending address of a frame initiating a current TXOP, and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame comprises a BA frame.

[0012] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, or the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0013] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the uplink unicast control frame further comprises a Power Saving-Poll (PS-Poll) frame.

[0014] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the frame for reporting comprises one or more of the following: a Compressed Beamforming / CQI frame, a frame containing a Beamforming Report (BFR), a frame containing a Buffer Status Report (BSR), a frame containing a Bandwidth Query Report (BQR), and a frame containing a Null Data Packet Feedback Report (NFR).

[0015] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the set of preset conditions further includes a second preset condition that: the non-AP MLD receives, on the first link, a unicast frame, a destination address of the unicast frame is another station, and the unicast frame is not a unicast control frame; and the another station is a station other than a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD.

[0016] Optionally, the unicast control frame includes a Block ACK Request (BAR) frame.

[0017] Optionally, the unicast control frame includes one or more of the following: an acknowledge (ACK) frame, a Beamforming Report Poll (BFRP) frame, and a Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) frame.

[0018] Optionally, the unicast control frame further includes a unicast trigger frame. The unicast trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a multi-user (MU) Block ACK Request (MU-BAR) frame, a Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) frame, a trigger type BFRP frame, a Multi-User request to send (MU-RTS) frame, a Bandwidth Query Report Poll (BQRP) frame, and a Null Data Packet Feedback Report Poll (NFRP) frame.

[0019] It can be seen that, based on the rules of the existing SM PS, the present scheme solves the problem that the rules of the existing SM PS are not applicable to the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR by excluding some unicast control frames.

[0020] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the set of preset conditions further includes a third preset condition that: the non-AP MLD receives, on the first link, a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no association identifier indicating an uplink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) random access in the trigger frame.

[0021] Optionally, the trigger frame comprises one or more of the following: a MU-RTS frame, a BSRP frame.

[0022] It can be seen that the scheme increases the condition of switching back to the listening operation of the non-AP MLD from the perspective of the trigger frame, which is conducive to perfecting the rules of the SM PS.

[0023] In a possible implementation of any of the aspects, the set of preset conditions further comprises one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0024] The non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link;

[0025] The non-AP MLD receives a high-efficiency multiple user PPDU (HE MU PPDU) on the first link, the BSS color carried in the HE MU PPDU is the same as the BSS color of the BSS to which the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD is indicated as a receiver or one of the receivers of a resource unit (RU) in the station identification field of the HE MU PPDU, and the BSS color inhibition field carried in the HE operation element received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP last time is 0.

[0026] The carrier sensing mechanism indicates that the channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a transmission (Tx) point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) length boundary (TxPIFS slot boundary).

[0027] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: when a non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on a first link, receiving a first frame from a first AP, the non-AP MLD switches all or part of the spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other link) to the first link to interact with the first AP; when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of a set of preset conditions is met, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the each link (or other link) to perform the listening operation. Wherein the non-AP MLD supports the EML mode. The set of preset conditions includes a second preset condition, which is: the non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, the destination address of the unicast frame is another station; and the unicast frame is not a unicast control frame; and the other station is a station other than the station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link.

[0028] Correspondingly, the first AP sends the first frame on the first link.

[0029] It can be seen that the present application solves the problem that the existing SM PS rule is not applicable to EML SR and / or EML MR by modifying the existing SM PS rule, i.e. excluding some unicast control frames. That is, during the AP serving the EML SR / EML MR non-AP STA, the EML SR / EML MR non-AP STA does not switch back to the listening operation due to receiving these frames. In addition, the rule enables the AP to serve other STAs and perform multi-user communication when serving the STA in the EML SR mode, further improving the communication efficiency.

[0030] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; a switching unit, configured to switch spatial streams on each link back to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP when the first frame sent by the first AP is received when performing the listening operation on the first link, and the non-AP MLD supports EML; the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link to perform the listening operation when the non-AP MLD meets any one of a preset condition set. The preset condition set comprises a second preset condition, and the second preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, the destination address of the unicast frame is another station, and the unicast frame is not a unicast control frame; and the other station is a station other than a station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link.

[0031] In a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the unicast control frame comprises a BAR frame.

[0032] In a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the unicast control frame comprises one or more of the following: an ACK frame, a BFRP frame, and an NDPA frame.

[0033] In a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the unicast control frame further comprises a unicast trigger frame. The unicast trigger frame comprises one or more of the following: a MU-BAR frame, a BSRP frame, a trigger-type BFRP frame, a MU-RTS frame, a BQRP frame, and an NFRP frame.

[0034] In a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, or the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0035] In a possible implementation form of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the set of preset conditions further comprises a third preset condition that: the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and the trigger frame does not contain a user information field of the non-AP MLD or does not contain an association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access.

[0036] Optionally, the trigger frame comprises one or more of the following: a MU-RTS frame, a BSRP frame.

[0037] In a possible implementation form of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the set of preset conditions further comprises one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0038] the non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link;

[0039] the non-AP MLD receives a HE MU PPDU on the first link, a BSS color carried in the HE MU PPDU is the same as a BSS color of a BSS to which a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and a station identification field of any RU in the HE MU PPDU indicates the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD as a receiver or one of the receivers of the RU, and a BSS color prohibition field carried in an HE operation element received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP last time has a value of 0;

[0040] a carrier sensing mechanism indicates that a channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a TxPIFS slot boundary.

[0041] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: when a non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on a first link, receiving a first frame from a first AP, the non-AP MLD switches spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other link) to the first link to interact with the first AP in frame; when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of a set of preset conditions is met, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the each link (or other link) to perform the listening operation. Wherein, the non-AP MLD supports the EML mode. The set of preset conditions comprises a third preset condition, and the third preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access in the trigger frame.

[0042] Correspondingly, the first AP sends the first frame on the first link.

[0043] It can be seen that the present application adds a condition for the non-AP MLD to switch back to the listening operation from the perspective of the trigger frame, which is conducive to perfecting the rules of the SM PS.

[0044] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises: a transceiver unit configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; a switching unit configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP in frame after receiving the first frame sent by the first AP when performing the listening operation on the first link, and the non-AP MLD supports the EML mode; and the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link to perform the listening operation when the non-AP MLD meets any one of a set of preset conditions. Wherein, the set of preset conditions comprises a third preset condition, and the third preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access in the trigger frame.

[0045] In a possible implementation form of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; or the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0046] In a possible implementation form of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, the trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a MU-RTS frame, a BSRP frame.

[0047] In a possible implementation form of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, the set of preset conditions further includes one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0048] The non-AP MLD receives, on the first link, a frame of another basic service set;

[0049] The non-AP MLD receives, on the first link, an HE MU PPDU, a BSS color carried in the HE MU PPDU is the same as a BSS color of a BSS to which a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and a station identification field of any RU included in the HE MU PPDU indicates the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD as a receiver or one of the receivers of the RU, and a BSS color prohibition field carried in an HE operation element received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP last time has a value of 0;

[0050] The carrier sensing mechanism indicates that a channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a TxPIFS slot boundary.

[0051] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: after a non-AP MLD successfully receives a first frame when performing a listening operation on a first link, and before the non-AP MLD ends frame interaction with a first AP associated with a first station in the non-AP MLD, the non-AP MLD receives a first type of physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) on the first link using multiple spatial streams; when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of a set of preset conditions is met, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation. The first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame. The broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, and the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address. The first type of PPDU carries indication information, which is used to indicate that a station on the first link is a receiver. The first frame is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD switches spatial streams on the links to the first link to perform frame interaction. The set of preset conditions includes a first preset condition, which is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the sending address of the wireless frame is different from the sending address of the frame initiating the current TXOP; and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame includes a BA frame. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0052] It can be seen that, by constraining the AP and the station to use the first type of PPDU during frame interaction, and modifying the rules of SM PS, such as excluding some exceptional frames from the existing SM PS rules, the problem that the existing SM PS rules are not applicable to EML SR / EML MR is solved. In addition, the rules enable the AP to serve other STAs and perform multi-user communication when serving the STA in the EML SR mode, thereby further improving communication efficiency.

[0053] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first type of PPDU includes a frame for triggering, which is used to schedule the non-AP MLD to send a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB PPDU). After the non-AP MLD receives the first type of PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams, the method further comprises: the non-AP MLD sends the TB PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams.

[0054] It can be seen that the scheme carries a frame for triggering in the first type of PPDU, so that the station replies to the AP in the form of a TB PPDU frame, thereby adapting the rules of the existing SM PS to EMLSR or EMLMR.

[0055] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in a non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises: a transceiver unit configured to receive a first frame when performing a listening operation on a first link; the transceiver unit is further configured to, after successfully receiving the first frame when performing the listening operation on the first link, and before the end of frame interaction between the non-AP MLD and a first AP associated with a first station in the non-AP MLD on the first link, receive a first type of PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams, the first type of PPDU being a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame; a switching unit configured to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for the listening operation when the non-AP MLD satisfies any one of a set of preset conditions. The broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, and the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address. The first type of PPDU carries indication information, which is used to indicate that the station on the first link is a receiver. The first frame is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on each link to the first link for frame interaction. The set of preset conditions includes a first preset condition, which is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the sending address of the wireless frame is different from the sending address of the frame initiating the current TXOP, and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame includes a BA frame. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0056] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation, the first type of PPDU includes a frame for triggering, which is used to schedule the non-AP MLD to send a TB PPDU. The transceiver unit is further configured to send the TB PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams.

[0057] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; or the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0058] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the unicast control frame further includes a PS-Poll frame.

[0059] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the frame for reporting includes one or more of the following: a CQI frame, a frame containing a BFR, a frame containing a BSR, a frame containing a BQR, and a frame containing a NFR.

[0060] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the set of preset conditions further includes a third preset condition, which is that the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no associated identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access in the trigger frame.

[0061] Optionally, the trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a MU-RTS frame, and a BSRP frame.

[0062] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the set of preset conditions further includes one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0063] The non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, and the destination address of the unicast frame is another station;

[0064] The non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link;

[0065] a non-AP MLD receives a HE MU PPDU on the first link, the HE MU PPDU carries a BSS color same as a BSS color of a BSS to which a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and a station identifier field in the HE MU PPDU does not contain any indication that the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD is a receiver or one of the receivers of a RU, and a BSS color exclusion field carried in a last HE operation element received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP has a value of 0;

[0066] The carrier sensing mechanism indicates that the channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a TxPIFS slot boundary.

[0067] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the indication information is used to indicate the station on the first link as a receiver, and the indication information is used to indicate the station on the first link as one of the receivers. Optionally, the indication information is a station identifier.

[0068] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: after a first AP successfully transmits a first frame on a first link, and before the end of frame exchanges of N stations associated with the first AP, the first AP uses a first type of PPDU when performing frame exchanges with the N stations on the first link. The first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame. At least one of the N stations belongs to a non-AP MLD supporting EML. The broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, and the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address. The first type of PPDU carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate a station on the first link as a receiver.

[0069] It can be seen that, by constraining the AP and the station to use the first type of PPDU in the frame exchange process, and by modifying the rules of SM PS, such as excluding some exceptional frames from the existing SM PS rules, the present application solves the problem that the existing SM PS rules are not applicable to EML SR / EML MR. In addition, the rules enable the AP to serve other STAs while serving the STA in the EML SR mode, to perform multi-user communication, and to further improve the communication efficiency.

[0070] In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus can be a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus includes a first unit configured to use a first type of PPDU in frame interaction with N stations associated with the first AP on a first link after successfully sending a first frame on the first link and before the frame interaction with the N stations ends, the first type of PPDU being a MU PPDU or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame, and at least one of the N stations belonging to a non-AP MLD supporting EML; the broadcast frame carrying a broadcast address as a receiving address, the groupcast frame carrying a groupcast address as a receiving address, and the first type of PPDU carrying indication information indicating that a station on the first link is a receiver. It should be understood that the first unit is configured to implement a transceiving function, and the first unit can also be referred to as a transceiving unit.

[0071] Optionally, the communication apparatus can further include a processing unit configured to generate the first type of PPDU.

[0072] In a possible implementation of the ninth aspect or the tenth aspect, the at least one station belongs to a non-AP MLD supporting EML SR, and the first frame is an initial control frame; or the at least one station belongs to a non-AP MLD supporting EML MR, and the first frame is an initial frame.

[0073] In a possible implementation of the ninth aspect or the tenth aspect, the first type of PPDU includes a frame for triggering, and the frame for triggering is used to schedule a station to send a TB PPDU.

[0074] In a possible implementation of the ninth aspect or the tenth aspect, the indication information indicating that a station on the first link is a receiver includes the indication information indicating that the station on the first link is one of the receivers. Optionally, the indication information is a station identifier.

[0075] In an eleventh aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes, after a non-AP MLD receives a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link and switches spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other links) to the first link, if the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame interaction fails, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for a listening operation. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0076] It can be seen that the method provided by the scheme can switch back to the listening operation after the initial frame / initial control frame interaction fails. By designing the condition for the station side to determine the interaction failure, the initial frame / initial control frame can be switched back to the listening operation in a timely manner after the interaction fails, the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or EMLMR is improved, and the working efficiency and switching efficiency of the EMLSR and / or EMLMR are improved.

[0077] With reference to the eleventh aspect, in a possible implementation, the method further includes: if the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame fails in the interaction, starting from the time when the first frame is received, within a first time duration, any one of a set of preset conditions is met.

[0078] It can be seen that the scheme provides a condition for the station side to determine the interaction failure, which is conducive to supporting the initial frame / initial control frame to be switched back to the listening operation in a timely manner after the interaction fails.

[0079] The twelfth aspect provides a communication device. The communication device can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; a switching unit configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link; and the switching unit is further configured to, after receiving the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link and switching the spatial streams on each link to the first link, if the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame fails in the interaction, switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0080] With reference to the twelfth aspect, in a possible implementation, the communication device can further include a determination unit configured to determine that the first frame fails in the interaction when, starting from the time when the first frame is received, within a first time duration, any one of a set of preset conditions is met.

[0081] In a possible implementation of the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, or the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0082] In a possible implementation form of the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect, the preset condition set includes one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0083] a first PPDU received by a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration is a PPDU of another BSS;

[0084] a first PPDU received by a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration is a PPDU of another BSS;

[0085] a first PPDU received by a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration is a PPDU of another BSS;

[0086] a first PPDU received by a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration is a PPDU of another BSS;

[0087] a first PPDU received by a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration is a PPDU of another BSS;

[0088] It should be understood that any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set can be immediately executed to switch the spatial stream / antenna on the first link back to each link to perform the listening operation as soon as the condition is determined within the first time duration, that is, the switching does not need to wait until the time ΔT.

[0089] It can be seen that the present scheme designs a condition for a station to judge the interaction failure, and when any one of the conditions is met, the switching is performed.

[0090] In a possible implementation form of the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect, the first time duration is determined based on a minimum time value, and the minimum time value is one of the following:

[0091] ΔT min = t cts + 2t SIFS + t preamble + t MPDU;

[0092] ΔT min = t cts + 2t SIFS + t preamble ;

[0093] ΔT min = t cts + t SIFS + t PIFS + t aSlotTime ;

[0094] wherein, ΔT represents the first time length, ΔT min represents the minimum value of the first time length, t cts represents the transmission time length of a clear to send (CTS) frame, t SIFS represents the time length of a short interframe space, T preamble represents the reception time length of a preamble, the t MPDU represents the transmission time length of a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU), t PIFS represents the time length of a point coordination function interframe space PIFS, t aSlotTime represents the time length of a slot.

[0095] In a thirteenth aspect, the application provides a communication method, which can provide a basis for judging whether the first frame interaction fails for the non-AP MLD in the twelfth aspect. The method comprises: a first AP sends a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction; after the AP receives a response frame (such as an ACK frame) of the first frame, a PPDU is sent, the PPDU containing a unicast frame, the reception address of the unicast frame indicating a station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link, or the PPDU containing a trigger frame, the trigger frame being used to schedule the station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link to perform uplink transmission. In addition, the first AP cannot send the first frame to the non-AP MLD on a second link within a certain time range after sending the first frame. The second link here is a link other than the first link in the non-AP MLD. The certain time range here is the sum of the time length (SwitchDelay) used by the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to each link for listening operation and the first time length (denoted as ΔT).

[0096] It can be seen that, by constraining the behavior of the AP, the first PPDU sent by the AP after receiving the response frame to the initial control frame / initial frame must meet the requirement, so that if the station side does not receive the corresponding PPDU within the first time length, it indicates that the first frame interaction fails, thereby laying a foundation for the station side to judge whether the first frame interaction fails.

[0097] In a fourteenth aspect, the application provides a communication device, which can be a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises a first unit configured to send a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction; and the first unit is further configured to, after receiving a response frame (such as an ACK frame) to the first frame, send a PPDU, the PPDU containing a unicast frame, the receiving address of the unicast frame indicating a station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link, or the PPDU containing a trigger frame, the trigger frame being used to schedule the station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link for uplink transmission. In addition, the first AP cannot send the first frame to the non-AP MLD on a second link within a time range after sending the first frame. The second link is a link other than the first link in the non-AP MLD. The time range is the sum of a time length (SwitchDelay) used by the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to each link for listening operation and a first time length (denoted as ΔT).

[0098] Optionally, the communication device further comprises a processing unit configured to generate the first frame and the PPDU.

[0099] In a possible implementation of the thirteenth aspect or the fourteenth aspect, the first time length (ΔT) can be specified by a standard or broadcasted by the AP in a beacon frame or the like. The first time length can be greater than or equal to a minimum time value, and the minimum time value (i.e., the minimum value of the first time length) can be one of the following:

[0100] ΔT min = t cts + 2t SIFS + t preamble + t MPDU ;

[0101] ΔT min = t cts + 2t SIFS + t preamble ;

[0102] ΔT min = t cts + t SIFS + tPIFS +t aSlotTime .

[0103] wherein, ΔT represents the first time length, ΔT min represents the minimum value of the first time length (i.e., the time minimum value). t cts represents the transmission time length of the CTS frame, t SIFS represents the time length of the short interframe space. T preamble represents the reception time length of the preamble. t MPDU represents the transmission time length of the MPDU. t PIFS represents the time length of the PIFS. t aSlotTime represents the time length of a slot.

[0104] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: a first AP sending a first frame on a first link, the first frame carrying one or more second time lengths, and the first frame can also carry a duration field. Wherein, if the first frame carries one second time length, the second time length can be a time length allocated to a first non-AP MLD alone, and the starting time of the second time length is the time when the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame; or the second time length can be a total time length allocated to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR scheduled by the first AP, and the starting time of the second time length is the time when each non-AP MLD receives the first frame. If the first frame carries multiple second time lengths, the multiple second time lengths include a second time length allocated to the first non-AP MLD, and the starting time of the second time length allocated to the first non-AP MLD is the starting time when the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. The first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR or EMLMR.

[0105] Optionally, the above-mentioned first frame is used to instruct the non-AP MLD (including the first non-AP MLD) to switch the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP through frames. The second time length is used to make the non-AP MLD (including the first non-AP MLD) switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation after the second time length.

[0106] It can be seen that, by carrying the second time length of the first non-AP MLD in the first frame, the first non-AP MLD is made to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation after the second time length, so that the working mechanism of EMLSR and / or EMLMR is simplified, the logical operation complexity is reduced, and the implementation complexity is reduced.

[0107] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication apparatus, which can be a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip, is provided. The communication apparatus includes a first unit configured to send a first frame on a first link, the first frame carrying one or more second durations, and the first frame can also carry a duration field. If the first frame carries one second duration, the second duration can be a duration allocated to a first non-AP MLD alone, and the start time of the second duration is the time when the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. Alternatively, the second duration can be a total duration allocated to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) that support EMLSR / EMLMR and are scheduled by the first AP, and the start time of the second duration is the time when each non-AP MLD receives the first frame. If the first frame carries multiple second durations, the multiple second durations include a second duration allocated to the first non-AP MLD, and the start time of the second duration allocated to the first non-AP MLD is the time when the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. The first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR or EMLMR.

[0108] Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a processing unit configured to generate the first frame.

[0109] Optionally, the first frame is used to instruct non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) to switch spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP. The second duration is used to make the non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation after the second duration.

[0110] In a possible implementation form of the fifteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, the second duration is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0111] In a possible implementation form of the fifteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, the second duration is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0112] In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: receiving, by a first non-AP MLD, a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, wherein the first frame carries a second time length, the start time of the second time length is the end time of receiving the first frame by the first non-AP MLD, and the first frame is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP; and switching, by the first non-AP MLD, the spatial stream on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation after the second time length. The first non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0113] It can be seen that, by carrying the frame interaction time length determined by the AP in the initial control frame or the initial frame, and directly switching back to the listening operation after experiencing the frame interaction time length, the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR is simplified, the logical operation complexity is reduced, and the implementation complexity is reduced.

[0114] In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which is a first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication device comprises: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, wherein the first frame carries a second time length, the start time of the second time length is the time of receiving the first frame by the first non-AP MLD, the first non-AP MLD supports EML, and the first frame is used to trigger the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP; and a switching unit, configured to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation after the second time length.

[0115] It should be understood that, although one or more second time lengths are carried in the first frame, only the second time length of the first non-AP MLD is concerned for a certain non-AP MLD. Therefore, the present application is described by taking the first non-AP MLD as an example on the station side. The second time length mentioned in the seventeenth aspect and the eighteenth aspect of the present application can be the second time length of the first non-AP MLD, that is, the second time length mentioned in the seventeenth aspect and the eighteenth aspect of the present application is the total time length allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR, or the time length allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone.

[0116] In a possible implementation form of the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; or the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the first non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0117] In a possible implementation form of the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the second time length includes a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD; or the second time length includes a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD, and a time length during which the first non-AP MLD switches spatial streams on other links to the first link.

[0118] It can be seen that the present solution can support the AP to allocate different time lengths to different STAs, and has higher flexibility.

[0119] In a possible implementation form of the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the second time length includes a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD; or the second time length includes a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD, and a time length during which the first non-AP MLD switches spatial streams on other links to the first link.

[0120] It can be seen that the present solution can simplify the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR by using a fixed time length, and has lower complexity.

[0121] In a possible implementation form of the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the second time length is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0122] In a possible implementation form of the seventeenth aspect or the eighteenth aspect, the second time length is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0123] In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: a non-AP MLD receiving a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, and starting a timer, switching spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other link) to the first link to interact with the first AP; if the non-AP MLD receives a fourth frame during the frame interaction with the first AP, and the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the fourth frame is later than the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the first frame, the non-AP MLD updates the end time of the timer to the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the fourth frame; when the timer reaches 0, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0124] Correspondingly, the first AP sends a first frame on a first link; the first AP sends a fourth frame during the frame interaction with the non-AP MLD; and the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the fourth frame is later than the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the first frame.

[0125] It can be seen that, by constraining multiple stations (referring to multiple stations working on the same link with the AP, and the multiple stations belong to different non-AP MLDs respectively) to jointly maintain a timer, when any station receives TXOP end time update information during frame interaction, the end time of the timer is updated to the latest TXOP end time, and when the timer reaches 0, the listening operation is switched back. Therefore, the present application embodiment does not need to maintain a timer for each station, thereby simplifying the working mechanism of EMLSR and / or EMLMR, reducing the logical operation complexity and reducing the implementation complexity. In addition, the present application embodiment does not need to carry an additional specified time in the initial control frame or the initial frame, so that the non-AP MLD and the AP can complete the frame interaction within the time, thereby saving the signaling overhead.

[0126] In a twentieth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus is a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus includes: a transceiver configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; a timer configured to time; a switching unit configured to switch spatial streams / antennas on each link (or other links) to the first link to interact with the first AP; and an updating unit configured to update a time indicated by the timer to a TXOP end time indicated by a duration field in a fourth frame when the non-AP MLD receives the fourth frame during the frame interaction with the first AP, and the TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the fourth frame is later than a TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the first frame. The switching unit is further configured to switch part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation when the time reaches 0. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0127] In a twenty-first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: a first non-AP MLD receiving a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, and switching spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP; and the first non-AP MLD receiving a second frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams, the second frame including a more data field. If the more data field in the second frame is 0, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link to perform a listening operation. The first non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0128] Correspondingly, a first AP sends a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP; and the first AP sends a second frame on the first link, the second frame including a more data field.

[0129] It can be seen that the present scheme simplifies the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR by constraining the behavior of the non-AP MLD, and can completely reuse the signaling indication of the existing more data field without changing the value and meaning of the more data field.

[0130] In a possible implementation manner of the twenty-first aspect, the first frame carries a second duration, and a start time of the second duration is an end time at which the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. After the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link, the method further includes that the first non-AP MLD starts timing, and if the timing reaches the second duration, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation.

[0131] It should be understood that although the first frame carries one or more second durations, only the second duration of the first non-AP MLD is concerned for the first non-AP MLD. Therefore, the present application takes the first non-AP MLD as an example for description at the station side. The second duration mentioned in the twenty-first aspect and the twenty-second aspect of the present application can be the second duration of the first non-AP MLD, that is, the second duration mentioned in the twenty-first aspect and the twenty-second aspect of the present application is the total duration allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDS (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR, or the duration allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone.

[0132] In the twenty-second aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which is the first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus includes: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; a switching unit, configured to switch spatial streams on links to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP, and the first non-AP MLD supports EML; the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a second frame on the first link by using multiple spatial streams, and the second frame includes a more data subfield; and the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links to perform a listening operation when the more data subfield in the second frame is 0.

[0133] In a possible implementation manner of the twenty-second aspect, the first frame carries a second duration, and a start time of the second duration is an end time at which the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. The communication apparatus further includes a timing unit, configured to start timing after the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link; and the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation when the timing reaches the second duration.

[0134] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, when the more data subfield is set to 0, the first non-AP MLD is instructed to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation. Alternatively, when the more data subfield is set to 0, the first non-AP MLD is instructed to continue to maintain multi-spatial stream reception on the first link.

[0135] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, or the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the first non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0136] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, the second time duration includes a time duration for the first AP to exchange frames with the first non-AP MLD; or the second time duration includes a time duration for the first AP to exchange frames with the first non-AP MLD, and a time duration for the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link.

[0137] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, the second time duration includes a time duration for the first AP to exchange frames with the plurality of non-AP MLDs; or the second time duration includes a time duration for the first AP to exchange frames with the plurality of non-AP MLDs, and a time duration for the plurality of non-AP MLDs to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link respectively. The plurality of non-AP MLDs includes the first non-AP MLD.

[0138] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, the second time duration is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0139] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-first aspect or the twenty-second aspect, the second time duration is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0140] In a twenty-third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which comprises: a first AP sending a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; and the first AP sending a second frame on the first link, the second frame comprising a more data subfield; when the more data subfield takes a value of 0, it is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation.

[0141] It can be seen that, by adding a new meaning (which can be implicit indication) to the more data subfield, the working mechanism of the EMLSR / EMLMR is simplified, the meaning is clear and explicit, and it is beneficial to parsing at the station side.

[0142] In a twenty-fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which is a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus comprises: a first unit configured to send a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; and the first unit is further configured to send a second frame on the first link, the second frame comprising a more data subfield; when the more data subfield takes a value of 0, it is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation.

[0143] Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a processing unit configured to generate the first frame and the second frame.

[0144] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the first frame carries a second time length, and a starting time point of the second time length is a time point at which the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. Here, the second time length specifically refers to the second time length of the first non-AP MLD.

[0145] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the second time length comprises a time length of frame interaction between the first AP and the first non-AP MLD; or the second time length comprises a time length of frame interaction between the first AP and the first non-AP MLD and a time length used by the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on each link to the first link.

[0146] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the second time length comprises a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the plurality of non-AP MLIDs; or the second time length comprises a time length during which the first AP performs frame interaction with the plurality of non-AP MLIDs and a time length during which the plurality of non-AP MLIDs switch spatial streams on respective other links to the first link. The plurality of non-AP MLIDs comprises the first non-AP MLD.

[0147] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the second time length is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0148] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the second time length is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0149] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-third aspect or the twenty-fourth aspect, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; or the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the first non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0150] According to a twenty-fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method comprises: receiving, by a first non-AP MLD, a first frame transmitted by a first AP on a first link, and switching spatial streams on respective links to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP; receiving, by the first non-AP MLD, a third frame on the first link, the third frame comprising an End of Service Period (EOSP) subfield set to 1; and switching, by the first non-AP MLD, the spatial streams on the first link back to the respective links for listening operation.

[0151] Accordingly, the first AP transmits a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on respective links to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP; and the first AP transmits a third frame on the first link, the third frame comprising an EOSP subfield set to 1.

[0152] It can be seen that the present solution controls the switching of the non-AP MLD through the EOSP subfield sent by the AP, and the station in the non-AP MLD does not need to maintain a timer, thereby simplifying the operation of the station side. In addition, this implementation manner can completely reuse the signaling indication of the existing EOSP subfield, without changing the value and meaning of the EOSP subfield.

[0153] In combination with the twenty-fifth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first frame carries a second time length, and a starting time of the second time length is an ending time at which the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. After the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link, the method further includes that the first non-AP MLD starts timing, and if the timing reaches the second time length, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation.

[0154] The twenty-sixth aspect provides a communication apparatus, which is a first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus includes: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; a switching unit, configured to switch spatial streams on links to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP; the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a third frame on the first link, the third frame including an end of service period (EOSP) subfield, and the EOSP subfield is set to 1; and the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation.

[0155] In combination with the twenty-sixth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first frame carries a second time length, and a starting time of the second time length is an ending time at which the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. The communication apparatus further includes a timing unit, configured to start timing after the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link; and the switching unit is further configured to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation when the timing reaches the second time length.

[0156] In a possible implementation manner of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the second frame is a quality of service data frame or a quality of service null frame.

[0157] In a possible implementation manner of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the EOSP subfield is set to 1, for indicating that the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation. Optionally, the EOSP subfield is set to 0, for indicating that the first non-AP MLD continues to maintain the multi-spatial stream reception on the first link.

[0158] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; or, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the first non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0159] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the second time duration comprises a time duration for the first AP to perform frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD; or, the second time duration comprises a time duration for the first AP to perform frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD, and a time duration for the first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on the other links to the first link.

[0160] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the second time duration comprises a time duration for the first AP to perform frame interaction with the plurality of non-AP MLDs; or, the second time duration comprises a time duration for the first AP to perform frame interaction with the plurality of non-AP MLDs, and a time duration for the plurality of non-AP MLDs to switch spatial streams on the other links to the first link respectively. The plurality of non-AP MLDs comprises the first non-AP MLD.

[0161] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the second time duration is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0162] In a possible implementation form of the twenty-fifth aspect or the twenty-sixth aspect, the second time duration is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0163] In a twenty-seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, comprising: a first AP sending a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on a plurality of links to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP; and the first AP sending a third frame on the first link, the third frame comprising an EOSP subfield, the EOSP subfield being set to 1, and being used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on the first link back to the plurality of links to perform a listening operation.

[0164] In a twenty-eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which is a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The communication apparatus comprises: a first unit configured to send a first frame on a first link, the first frame being used to instruct a first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; and the first unit is further configured to send a third frame on the first link, the third frame comprising an EOSP subfield, the EOSP subfield being set to 1, and used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation.

[0165] Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a processing unit configured to generate the first frame and the third frame.

[0166] In a possible implementation of the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, the second frame is a quality of service data frame or a quality of service null frame.

[0167] In a possible implementation of the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, the first frame carries a second duration, and a start time of the second duration is a time when the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame. Here, the second duration specifically refers to the second duration of the first non-AP MLD.

[0168] In a possible implementation of the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, the second duration comprises a duration of frame interaction between the first AP and the first non-AP MLD; or the second duration comprises a duration of frame interaction between the first AP and the first non-AP MLD, and a duration for the first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link.

[0169] In a possible implementation of the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, the second duration comprises a duration of frame interaction between the first AP and a plurality of non-AP MLDs; or the second duration comprises a duration of frame interaction between the first AP and the plurality of non-AP MLDs, and a duration for the plurality of non-AP MLDs to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link, respectively. The plurality of non-AP MLDs comprises the first non-AP MLD.

[0170] In a possible implementation of the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, the second duration is located in a common information field or a user information field of the first frame.

[0171] In a possible implementation form of the 27th aspect or the 28th aspect, the second time length is less than or equal to a TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0172] In a possible implementation form of the 27th aspect or the 28th aspect, the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, or the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the first non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the first non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0173] In a 29th aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to receive and transmit information or frames, and the processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the communication interface, so that the communication device performs the communication method in any one of the preceding aspects.

[0174] In a 30th aspect, the present application provides a device, which is implemented in the form of a chip product, comprising an input / output interface and a processing circuit. The input / output interface is configured to receive and transmit information or frames, and the processing circuit is configured to execute program instructions, so that the communication device performs the communication method in any one of the preceding aspects.

[0175] In a 31st aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program instructions. When the program instructions are executed on a computer, the computer performs the communication method in any one of the preceding aspects.

[0176] In a 32nd aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising program instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method in any one of the preceding aspects.

[0177] By implementing the embodiments of the present application, the SM PS and the EMLSR can be combined for communication, the problem that the existing SM PS rule is directly reused to define the end of frame interaction is not applicable to the EMLSR is solved, and the AP can serve other STAs and perform multi-user communication when serving the STA in the EMLSR mode, so that the communication efficiency is further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0178] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed in the embodiment description will be briefly introduced as follows.

[0179] Figure 1is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a wireless communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0180] Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of a structure of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0181] Figure 2b is another schematic diagram of a structure of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0182] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0183] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an EMLSR;

[0184] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an EMLSR working mechanism;

[0185] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a rule of directly multiplexing SM PS in the EMLSR;

[0186] Figure 7 is a first schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0187] Figure 8 is a second schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0188] Figure 9 is a third schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0189] Figure 10 is a fourth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0190] Figure 11a is a first schematic diagram of a preset condition provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0191] Figure 11b is a second schematic diagram of a preset condition provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0192] Figure 11c is a third schematic diagram of a preset condition provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0193] Figure 11d is a fourth schematic diagram of a preset condition provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0194] Figure 12 is a fifth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0195] Figure 13is a schematic diagram of interaction between an AP and a non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0196] Figure 14 is another schematic diagram of interaction between an AP and a non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0197] Figure 15 is a sixth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0198] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of EMLSR operation based on TXOP duration provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0199] Figure 17 is a seventh schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0200] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of EMLSR operation based on a more data subfield provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0201] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of EMLSR operation based on a more data subfield combined with duration provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0202] Figure 20 is an eighth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0203] Figure 21 is a schematic flowchart of an information interaction method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0204] Figure 22 is another schematic flowchart of an information interaction method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0205] Figure 23 is a ninth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0206] Figure 24 is a tenth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0207] Figure 25 is a schematic diagram of existence of a hidden node when an AP communicates with multiple stations provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0208] Figure 26 is a schematic diagram of an AP and an EMLSR station maintaining continued communication when a hidden node exists provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0209] Figure 27 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 1 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0210] Figure 28 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 2 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0211] Figure 29 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 2 provided by an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0212] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0213] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean that A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; or a and b and c. Where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0214] In the description of the present application, "first", "second", and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily mean different.

[0215] In the present application, "exemplary" or "for example" is used to mean an example, an illustration, or a description. Any embodiment or design solution described as "exemplary", "for example", or "for instance" in the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, the use of "exemplary", "for example", or "for instance" is intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0216] It should be understood that in the present application, "when", "if", and "if" all refer to the corresponding processing of the device under certain objective conditions, and are not limited to time, and do not require the device to have a judgment action when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0217] In the present application, the element expressed by the singular is intended to represent "one or more", rather than "one and only one", unless otherwise specified.

[0218] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A, and B can be determined according to A. However, it should also be understood that the determination of B according to A does not mean that B is determined only according to A, but B can also be determined according to A and / or other information.

[0219] 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.

[0220] The technical solutions provided by the present application can be applied in a wireless communication system, such as a wireless local area network system. The technical solutions provided by the present application can be implemented by a communication device in a wireless communication system or a chip or processor in a communication device. The communication device can be a wireless communication device supporting parallel transmission of multiple links, for example, the communication device can be referred to as a multi-link device (MLD) or a multi-band device. Compared with a communication device supporting only single-link transmission, a multi-link device has higher transmission efficiency and larger throughput.

[0221] The next-generation 802.11 standard station device supporting multiple links at the same time is referred to as a multi-link device, wherein an internal entity responsible for any link is referred to as a station (STA). If all STAs inside a certain MLD are APs, it can be further referred to as an AP MLD; if all STAs inside a certain MLD are non-AP STAs, it can be further referred to as a non-AP MLD. In other words, a multi-link device includes one or more affiliated stations (affiliated STAs), and an affiliated station is a logical station that can work on a link or a frequency band or a channel. Among them, the affiliated station can be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-AP STA). The 802.11be refers to a multi-link device with affiliated stations as APs as an AP multi-link device (AP MLD), and a multi-link device with affiliated stations as non-AP STAs as a non-AP multi-link device (non-AP MLD).

[0222] Optionally, a multi-link device can include multiple logical stations, each of which operates on a link, but allows multiple logical stations to operate on the same link. In data transmission, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD can use a link identifier to identify a link or a station on a link. Before communication, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD can negotiate or communicate the correspondence between the link identifier and a link or a station on a link. Therefore, in the process of data transmission, a large amount of signaling information is not needed to indicate a link or a station on a link, and the link identifier can be carried, which reduces the signaling overhead and improves the transmission efficiency.

[0223] In one example, the management frame sent by the AP MLD when establishing a basic service set (BSS), such as a beacon frame, an association request frame, etc., carries an element including multiple link identifier information fields. One link identifier information field can indicate the correspondence between a link identifier and a station operating on the link corresponding to the link identifier. One link identifier information field includes one or more of the following information: medium access control (MAC) address, operating set, channel number. One or more of the MAC address, operating set, and channel number can indicate a link. For the AP, the MAC address of the AP is the BSSID (basic service set identifier) of the AP. In another example, during the multi-link device association process, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD negotiate multiple link identifier information fields. Among them, multi-link association refers to the association between one AP of the AP MLD and one STA of the non-AP MLD. This association can help multiple STAs of the non-AP MLD and multiple APs of the AP MLD to associate respectively, wherein one STA is associated with one AP. One or more STAs in the non-AP MLD can communicate after establishing an association relationship with one or more APs in the AP MLD.

[0224] Optionally, the multi-link device can implement wireless communication in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 series of protocols, for example, in compliance with the Extremely High Throughput Station, or in compliance with IEEE 802.11be or compatible with IEEE 802.11be, to implement communication with other devices. Of course, the other device can be a multi-link device or not.

[0225] The technical solution provided in the application can be applied to a scenario in which one node communicates with one or more nodes; can be applied to a single-user uplink / downlink communication scenario, a multi-user uplink / downlink communication scenario, and a device-to-device (D2D) communication scenario. In the embodiments of the application, the term "communication" can also be described as "data transmission", "information transmission", or "transmission". The term "transmission" can generally refer to sending and receiving.

[0226] Any of the nodes described above can be an AP MLD or a non-AP MLD. Optionally, one of the nodes described above can be a multi-link device, and the other nodes can be multi-link devices or non-multi-link devices. For example, the spatial stream switching method in the EMLSR is applied to a scenario in which a non-AP MLD communicates with an AP MLD, or a scenario in which a non-AP MLD communicates with a single-link AP, which is not limited in the embodiments of the application. The single-link device can be an AP.

[0227] For ease of description, the system architecture of the application is described below by taking a scenario in which a non-AP MLD communicates with an AP as an example. It can be understood that the AP here is a broad term, which refers to the AP side and can be a single-link AP or an AP in an AP MLD.

[0228] Referring to Figure 1 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the application. As shown in Figure 1 , the wireless communication system includes at least one AP (such as the AP 100 in Figure 1 ) and at least one non-AP MLD (such as the non-AP MLD 200 and the non-AP MLD 300 in Figure 1 ). Optionally, Figure 1 , the wireless communication system further includes a legacy station (such as the single-link non-AP STA 400, also referred to as the STA 400, in Figure 1 ) that supports transmission only on a single link. The AP 100 here can be a single-link AP or an AP in an AP MLD, which is not limited in the embodiments of the application. The AP is a device that provides services for the non-AP MLD. The non-AP MLD can communicate with the AP MLD by using multiple links, so as to improve the throughput. A STA in the non-AP MLD can also communicate with an AP in the AP MLD or a single-link AP by using a link. It can be understood that Figure 1 , the number of APs and non-AP MLDs in

[0229] Optionally, referring to Figure 2a , Figure 2a is a structural schematic diagram of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The 802.11 standard focuses on the 802.11 physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layer part in the multi-link device. As shown in Figure 2a , the plurality of STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other at the low MAC (low MAC) layer and the PHY layer, and are also independent of each other at the high MAC (high MAC) layer. Referring to Figure 2b , Figure 2b is another structural schematic diagram of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2b , the plurality of STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other at the low MAC (low MAC) layer and the PHY layer, and share the high MAC (high MAC) layer. Of course, in the multi-link communication process, the Non-AP MLD can be in a structure in which the high MAC layers are independent of each other, and the AP MLD is in a structure in which the high MAC layers are shared; or the Non-AP MLD is in a structure in which the high MAC layers are shared, and the AP MLD is in a structure in which the high MAC layers are independent of each other; or the Non-AP MLD and the AP MLD are both in a structure in which the high MAC layers are shared; or the Non-AP MLD and the AP MLD are both in a structure in which the high MAC layers are independent of each other. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the internal structural schematic diagram of the multi-link device, Figure 2a and Figure 2b are only exemplary descriptions. Exemplarily, the high MAC layer or the low MAC layer can be implemented by one processor in a chip system of the multi-link device, and can also be implemented by different processing modules in one chip system, respectively.

[0230] Exemplarily, the multi-link device in the embodiments of the present application can be a single-antenna device or a multi-antenna device. For example, it can be a device with two or more antennas. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of antennas included in the multi-link device.

[0231] Optionally, referring to Figure 3 , Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3As shown, the AP MLD includes n stations, which are AP1, AP2, …, APn respectively; the non-AP MLD also includes n stations, which are STA1, STA2, …, STAn respectively. The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD can communicate in parallel by using link 1, link 2, …, link n. Among them, one AP in the AP MLD can establish an association relationship with one STA in the non-AP MLD. For example, STA1 in the non-AP MLD establishes an association relationship with AP1 in the AP MLD, STA2 in the non-AP MLD establishes an association relationship with AP2 in the AP MLD, STAn in the non-AP MLD establishes an association relationship with APn in the AP MLD, and so on.

[0232] For example, the multi-link device is a device with wireless communication function, which can be a whole machine device, or a chip or processing system installed in a whole machine device, and the device installed with the chip or processing system can realize the method and function of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system. For example, the non-AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application has wireless transceiving function, can support 802.11 series protocol, and can communicate with single-link AP, AP MLD or other non-AP MLD. For example, the non-AP MLD is any user communication device that allows users to communicate with AP and then communicate with WLAN. For example, the non-AP MLD can be a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a handheld computer, a netbook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, etc. which can be connected to the network, or an Internet of Things node in the Internet of Things, or a vehicle communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, etc. The non-AP MLD can also be a chip and a processing system in the above terminals. The AP in the embodiments of the present application can be a device that provides services for the non-AP MLD, and can support 802.11 series protocol. For example, the AP can be a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, etc. communication entity, or the AP can include various forms of macro base station, micro base station, relay station, etc. Of course, the AP can also be a chip and a processing system in these various forms of devices, so as to realize the method and function of the embodiments of the present application.

[0233] It can be understood that the multi-link device can support high-rate low-latency transmission, and as the wireless local area network application scenarios continue to evolve, the multi-link device can also be applied to more scenarios, such as sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, televisions, sound systems, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as AR, VR, and other wearable devices), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, and some infrastructure in daily life (such as vending machines, self-service navigation stations in supermarkets, self-service checkout devices, and self-service ordering machines). The specific forms of the Non-AP MLD and the AP in the embodiments of the present application are not limited, and are only exemplary described herein. The 802.11 protocol can be a protocol supporting 802.11be or compatible with 802.11be.

[0234] The above briefly introduces the system structure of the embodiments of the present application. In order to better understand the technical solutions of the present application, the following briefly introduces several contents related to the present application.

[0235] I. Multi-link operation (MLO)

[0236] In order to achieve the technical goal of extremely high throughput (EHT), the next generation standard, such as 802.11be (also known as EHT or Wi-Fi7), takes multi-link operation (MLO) as one of the key technologies. The core idea is to support wireless local area network (WLAN) devices of the next generation 802.11 standard to have the ability to send and receive in multiple frequency bands (Multi-band), so as to use a larger bandwidth (such as 320MHz) for data transmission, and thus significantly improve the throughput. The multi-band includes but is not limited to: 2.4GHz WiFi frequency band, 5GHz WiFi frequency band and 6GHz WiFi frequency band. Wherein the access and transmission performed on each frequency band is called a link, or the access and transmission performed on a frequency interval in the same frequency band is called a link, and thus the access and transmission composed of multiple links is called MLO.

[0237] II. Spatial stream and antenna

[0238] Radio waves transmit multiple signals simultaneously, each signal being called a spatial stream. In a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system, the number of spatial streams is generally less than or equal to the number of antennas. If the number of antennas at the transmitting and receiving ends is unequal, the number of spatial streams is less than or equal to the minimum number of antennas at both ends. For example, a 4×4 (4 transmit antennas and 4 receive antennas, also known as 4 inputs and 4 outputs) MIMO system can transmit 4 or fewer spatial streams, while a 3×2 (3 transmit antennas and 2 receive antennas) MIMO system can transmit 2 or fewer spatial streams.

[0239] Optionally, this application may adopt the relationship between antennas and spatial flow in MIMO systems. In some embodiments, "spatial flow" and "antenna" may be used interchangeably.

[0240] III. Enhanced Multi-link Single Radio (EMLSR) and Enhanced Multi-link Multi-Radio (EMLMR)

[0241] A non-AP MLD only has single-radio transmission and reception capabilities, but to allow it to take advantage of multi-link functionality, 802.11be introduced EMLSR capability. See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of EMLSR. (Example) Figure 4 As shown, this example uses two links, one for a non-AP MLD and the other for an AP MLD. A non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR can operate simultaneously on multiple links (e.g.,...). Figure 4 The AP MLD enters a listening operation on link 1 and link 2 (in the example). During the listening operation, the non-AP MLD uses a single antenna (one antenna is used as an example here) on each link. When the AP MLD enters a listening operation on any link (e.g., link 1 and link 2), the AP MLD enters a listening operation on each link. Figure 4 After successfully sending an Initial Control Frame to this non-AP MLD on link 1), this non-AP MLD can then connect to each link (such as...) Figure 4 All spatial flows on link 2) are switched to this link (e.g., ... Figure 4The non-AP MLD interacts with the AP MLD on link 1, which has multiple spatial streams / antennas on link 1. After the frame interaction, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on link 1 back to each link and returns to the listening operation, i.e., the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on link 1 from link 2 back to link 2 for the listening operation, which has 1 spatial stream / antenna on each of link 1 and link 2.

[0242] A non-AP MLD has multiple radio transceiver capabilities, and a non-AP MLD supporting EMLMR can simultaneously enter the listening operation on multiple links. In the listening operation, the non-AP MLD can use multiple spatial streams to receive on each link. After the AP MLD successfully transmits an initial frame to the non-AP MLD on any link, such as link i, the non-AP MLD can switch all or part of the spatial streams on each link to link i for frame interaction with the AP MLD, and after the frame interaction, switch the spatial streams on link i back to each link.

[0243] Four, EMLSR working mechanism

[0244] See Figure 5 , Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the EMLSR working mechanism. Figure 5 The AP, STA11 of the non-AP MLD1, and STA21 of the non-AP MLD2 in operate on link 1. Figure 5 The AP in can be an AP operating on link 1 in the AP MLD. Figure 5 The non-AP MLD1 and the non-AP MLD2 in support EMLSR.

[0245] When any non-AP STA in an EMLSR-enabled non-AP MLD receives an initial control frame from the AP while performing a listening operation, this non-AP STA needs to start a timer. The timer's duration is set to the duration indicated by the duration field in the initial control frame. This EMLSR-enabled non-AP MLD also needs to switch the space stream / antenna on other links to the link operated by this non-AP STA to exchange frames with the AP. For ease of description, this paper uses a Multi-user Request to Send (MU-RTS) frame as an example for the initial control frame. Of course, the initial control frame can also be a Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) frame, or other frames; this application is not limited to these. Figure 5 As shown, after STA 11 and STA 21 successfully receive the MU-RTS frame, a timer is started. The duration of this timer is the duration indicated in the duration field of the MU-RTS frame. The non-AP MLD1 to which STA 11 belongs switches the space stream / antenna on other links (i.e., links in non-AP MLD1 other than link 1) to link 1 where STA 11 is located. Similarly, the non-AP MLD2 to which STA 21 belongs switches the space stream / antenna on other links (i.e., links in non-AP MLD2 other than link 1) to link 1 where STA 21 is located. The duration field indicates the length of time received. The start time of this duration is the end time of receiving the frame carrying this duration field, and the end time can be determined based on the start time and the duration.

[0246] When an AP sends a frame (denoted as frame A) to a non-AP STA that has successfully received an initial control frame, this frame requests a reply from the non-AP STA. The duration field of frame A indicates an end time later than the end time indicated by the non-AP STA's current timer. After the non-AP STA replies to the AP, if the physical layer instructs it to start receiving frames within a preset wait time, the non-AP STA needs to update its timer value. The timer length is set according to the duration field of frame A sent by the AP, with the start time being the end time of successful reception of frame A, and the end time being the end time indicated by the duration field of frame A. For example... Figure 5As shown, the data frame sent by the AP to STA 21 requires STA 21 to reply with a block acknowledgment (BA). After STA 21 replies with a BA, it updates its timer to the duration indicated by the Duration field in the data frame. That is, the start time of the timing is updated to the end time of receiving the data frame, and the end time of the timing can be updated based on the start time and the duration in the Duration field of the data frame.

[0247] When the timer of any non-AP STA expires, if the non-AP STA is receiving a frame whose destination address contains itself, the non-AP STA continues to operate on this link (i.e., it does not switch the spatial stream / antenna back to each link to perform listening operations) until the non-AP STA replies with an acknowledgment frame, or until the duration indicated by the Duration field of the frame expires.

[0248] When a non-AP MLD meets one of the following conditions, the non-AP MLD to which the non-AP STA belongs needs to immediately switch the spatial stream / antenna back to the respective links to perform the listening operation (in the following conditions, the non-AP STA belongs to the non-AP MLD, and the AP belongs to the AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD):

[0249] • The timer for the non-AP STA expires, and the non-AP STA does not receive an indication from the physical layer (PHY) to begin receiving packets for a period of time after the last frame. This period of time is equal to the sum of a short interframe space (SIFS), a slot duration, and a physical layer (PHY) start-receive (Rx) delay, i.e., a SIFS Time + a Slot Time + a RxPHYStart Delay.

[0250] • The timer for the non-AP STA expires, and the non-AP STA receives a unicast frame whose receiving address (RA) is not that of the non-AP STA, or receives a trigger frame (TF) but no user information field in it matches it, except for CTS-to-Self frames from the AP.

[0251] • (The non-AP STA) receives a Contention Free End (CF-END) from an AP.

[0252] It can be seen that the above-mentioned EMLSR working mechanism is relatively complex, and the implementation complexity is large.

[0253] Five, spatial multiplexing power save (SM PS)

[0254] There is a spatial multiplexing power save (SM PS) function in the 802.11ax standard. For details, please refer to the description of section 11.2.6 of the 802.11ax standard. Here is only a simple description.

[0255] SM PS allows a non-AP STA to keep only one active receive chain, and often uses one antenna to receive signals. It should be understood that the SM PS function is applicable to single-link devices, and there can be multiple receive chains on one link. When the non-AP STA receives an initial frame sent from the AP, the other receive chains of the non-AP STA are turned on and multiple antennas are used to interact with the AP. After the end of the frame interaction, the non-AP STA switches back to the single receive chain mode.

[0256] When the STA determines that any of the following conditions is met, it can immediately switch back to the single receive chain mode (The STA can determine the end of the frame exchange sequence through any of the following:):

[0257] • It (refers to this STA) receives an individually addressed frame addressed to another STA. (It receives an individually addressed frame addressed to another STA.)

[0258] • It (refers to this STA) receives a frame, but the transmitting address (TA) of this frame is different from the TA of the frame that started the transmission opportunity (TXOP). (It receives a frame with a TA that differs from the TA of the frame that started the TXOP.)

[0259] • It receives a frame from another BSS (It receives a PPDU and classifies the PPDU as inter-BSS PPDU (see 26.2.2 (Intra-BSS and inter-BSS PPDU classification)).

[0260] • It receives an HE MU PPDU where the BSS Color is the BSS color of the BSS in which the STA is associated, the RXVECTOR parameter does not have any STA_ID of an RU that identifies the STA as the recipient or one of the recipients of the RU (see 26.11.1 (STA_ID)), and the BSS Color Disabled subfield in the most recently received HE Operation element from the AP with which the STA is associated is 0.

[0261] • Carrier Sensing (CS) mechanism indicates that the channel has been idle for a length of the transmission (Tx) Point coordination function Interframe Space (PIFS) slot boundary. (The CS mechanism (see 10.3.2.1 (CS mechanism)) indicates that the medium is idle at the TxPIFS slot boundary (defined in 10.3.7 (DCF timing relations)).

[0262] To further determine the rule of spatial stream switching after the end of frame interaction, consider multiplexing SM PS function in EMLSR, but from the above (i.e. EMLSR working mechanism and SM PS function), it can be seen that if the rule of directly multiplexing SM PS in EMLSR, there are some cases that are not applicable to EMLSR. The following will be described in combination with Figure 6 , Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the rule of directly multiplexing SM PS in EMLSR. The AP sends an initial control frame, such as Figure 6 , is a MU-RTS frame. Among them, Figure 6 Take the initial control frame as the MU-RTS frame as an example for description. Of course, the initial control frame can also be a BSRP frame, or other frames, which are not limited by the present application. After STA11 and STA21 successfully receive the initial control frame, the non-AP MLD 1 (the MLD to which STA11 belongs) switches all spatial streams / antennas to the link 1 where STA11 is located, and the non-AP MLD 2 (the MLD to which STA21 belongs) switches all spatial streams / antennas to the link 1 where STA21 is located. In the process of frame interaction between the AP and STA11 and STA21, the AP may need to send a certain frame to STA21 in unicast form, such as Figure 6In the case of the STA 21, the STA 21 receives a Block ACK Request (BAR) frame from the AP 20, and then replies to the AP 20 with a Block ACK (BA) frame in unicast. According to the rules of the SM PS described above, since the STA 11 receives a unicast frame (the BAR frame) and the destination address of the unicast frame is another station, the non-AP MLD 1 to which the STA 11 belongs needs to immediately switch the spatial stream / antenna on the link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation. However, in fact, the AP can not have finished serving the STA 11, that is, the AP can still have data to send to the STA 11, but since the AP needs to send the STA 21 a unicast BAR frame, it will cause the AP to be unable to continue to serve the STA 11.

[0263] In addition, if the AP serves the STA 1 and the STA 2 in the SM PS mode at the same time in a service period (SP), the existing single-user SM PS rule of the 802.11ax standard will no longer be applicable, because if the AP needs to send the STA 1 a unicast BAR frame, the STA 2 will immediately switch back to the single-receiving-channel mode, and in fact, the AP can still have data to send to the STA 2, so in this case, the AP will also have a problem of being unable to continue to serve the STA 2.

[0264] Therefore, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which solves the problem that the existing SM PS rule is not applicable to the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR by modifying the SM PS rule or restricting the behavior of the AP, thereby determining the rule of spatial stream switching in the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR, and also enabling the AP to serve other STAs at the same time when serving the STA in the EMLSR / EMLMR mode, to perform multi-user communication and further improve the communication efficiency. The present application also provides a communication method, specifically a method for switching back to the listening operation after the initial frame / initial control frame interaction fails, which can improve the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR, improve the working efficiency and switching efficiency of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR, and support the switching back to the listening operation after the initial frame / initial control frame interaction fails. The present application also provides a communication method, which simplifies the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR by setting the frame interaction duration and / or using the signaling field in the existing standard, thereby reducing the logical operation complexity and being conducive to implementation.

[0265] The technical solutions provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to more drawings.

[0266] The technical solutions provided in the present application are described through multiple embodiments, and specific reference is made to the description below. It can be understood that the technical solutions described in each embodiment of the present application can be combined to form new embodiments, and the concepts or schemes involved can be referred to or combined. Each embodiment is described in detail below.

[0267] Optionally, the non-AP MLD in the present application can be the non-AP MLD 200 as shown in the foregoing Figure 1 The station in the present application can be a single-link device or one of the stations in the non-AP MLD, and the AP in the present application can be a single-link device or one of the APs in the AP MLD, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, the station, the AP, and the non-AP MLD in the present application support the 802.11be protocol, and can also support other WLAN communication protocols such as the 802.11ax, 802.11ac, and the like. It should be understood that the station, the AP, and the non-AP MLD in the present application can also support the next generation protocol of 802.11be. That is, the method provided in the present application is not only applicable to the 802.11be protocol, but also applicable to the next generation protocol of 802.11be.

[0268] Referring to Figure 7 , Figure 7 is a first schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application. How to further constrain the rules of the existing SM PS to adapt to the EMLSR or EMLMR is introduced. The first AP can be a single-link AP or one of the APs in the AP MLD, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 7 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0269] S101, after the non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP when performing the listening operation on the first link, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP, and the non-AP MLD supports enhanced multi-link EML.

[0270] S102, when the non-AP MLD satisfies any one of the preset condition set, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the listening operation on each link.

[0271] Optionally, before step S101, the non-AP MLD can inform the first AP which enhanced multi-link (EML) mode the non-AP MLD supports. In one implementation, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; in another implementation, the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0272] Optionally, taking the non-AP MLD having two links as an example, the two links are a first link and a second link. When the non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on the first link and the second link respectively, the non-AP MLD switches spatial streams on the second link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP after receiving an initial control frame or an initial frame from the first AP on the first link. There are multiple spatial streams on the first link after the switching. The first AP operates on the first link. When the non-AP MLD determines that any one of the preset condition set is met, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the second link, and performs a listening operation on the first link and the second link respectively. Optionally, when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of the preset condition set is met, the non-AP MLD shall switch back to the listening operation after the EMLSR transition delay or the EMLMR transition delay. It should be understood that if the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the non-AP MLD switches back to the listening operation after the EMLSR transition delay; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the non-AP MLD switches back to the listening operation after the EMLMR transition delay.

[0273] Optionally, the preset condition set includes one or more of the following preset conditions: a first preset condition, a second preset condition, and a third preset condition. The first preset condition, the second preset condition, and the third preset condition are described in detail as follows.

[0274] The first preset condition is: the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the transmitting address (TA) of the wireless frame is different from the TA of the frame initiating the current TXOP; and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, the uplink unicast control frame including a BA frame. Optionally, the uplink unicast control frame also includes a power saving poll (PS-Poll) frame.

[0275] Optionally, the frame for reporting includes one or more of the following: a compressed beamforming / CQI (see standard document section 9.6.31.2) frame, a frame containing a beamforming report (BFR), a frame containing a buffer status report (BSR, see standard document section 26.5.5), a frame containing a bandwidth query report (BQR, see standard document section 26.5.6), and a frame containing a null data packet feedback report (NFR, see standard document section 26.5.7).

[0276] It should be understood that a non-AP MLD includes multiple stations, and an affiliated STA of the non-AP MLD that operates on a link, so that “the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link” is equivalent to “the station of the non-AP MLD that operates on the first link receives a wireless frame”, and the same applies hereinafter, and will not be repeated.

[0277] In other words, the first preset condition is: it (referring to the station of the non-AP MLD that operates on the first link) receives a frame, but the TA of the frame is inconsistent with the TA of the frame initiating the current TXOP. Some unicast control frames sent to the AP are exceptions, including some or all of the following: BA frames, PS-Poll frames. Some frames or reports sent to the AP are also exceptions, including some or all of the following: CQI frames, BFRs, BSRs, BQRs, NFRs, etc.

[0278] The second preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, the destination address of the unicast frame is another station, and the unicast frame is not a unicast control frame. The other station here is a station other than the station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link, that is, the other station includes a station in the non-AP MLD not operating on the first link, another non-AP MLD, another single-link device, and the like. Optionally, the unicast control frame includes a BAR frame.

[0279] Optionally, the unicast control frame described above further includes one or more of the following: an acknowledge (ACK) frame, a beamforming report poll (BFRP) frame, and a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame.

[0280] Optionally, the unicast control frame described above further includes a unicast trigger frame. The unicast trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a MU-BAR frame, a buffer status report poll (BSRP) frame, a trigger type BFRP frame, a multi-user request to send (MU-RTS) frame, a bandwidth query report poll (BQRP) frame, and a null data packet feedback report poll (NFRP) frame.

[0281] In other words, the second preset condition described above is that it (referring to the station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link) receives a unicast frame, and the destination address of the frame is another STA. Some unicast control frames are exceptions, including part or all of the following: a BAR frame, an ACK frame, a BFRP frame, an NDPA frame, and a unicast address trigger frame, such as a MU-BAR frame, a BSRP frame, a trigger type BFRP frame, a MU-RTS frame, a BQRP frame, and an NFRP frame.

[0282] It can be seen that the first preset condition and the second preset condition above solve the problem that the rules of the existing SM PS are not applicable to the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR by excluding some frames. That is, during the AP serving the EMLSR / EMLMR non-AP STA, the EMLSR non-AP STA does not switch back to the listening operation due to receiving the frames, so that the rule of determining the end of frame interaction can be determined. This rule is conducive to the AP serving other STAs while serving the STA in the EMLSR mode, performing multi-user communication, and further improving the communication efficiency.

[0283] The third preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA-based random access in the trigger frame. The association identifier here can be an association identifier (AID). Optionally, the trigger frame here can include one or more of the following: a MU-RTS frame, a BSRP frame.

[0284] In other words, the third preset condition is that it (a station working on the first link in the non-AP MLD) receives a trigger frame from a TXOP holder, including part or all of the trigger frame types, such as MU-RTS and BSRP frames, and none of the association identifiers 12 (AID12) fields in the user information (User Info) field is equal to the lower 12 bits of its own AID or does not indicate the AID for uplink OFDMA-based random access (UORA).

[0285] It can be seen that the third preset condition increases the condition for the non-AP MLD to switch back to the listening operation from the perspective of the trigger frame, which is conducive to perfecting the rules of the SM PS.

[0286] Optionally, the preset condition set further includes one or more of the following preset conditions: the non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link. The non-AP MLD receives an HE MU PPDU on the first link, a basic service set BSS color carried in the HE MU PPDU is the same as a BSS color of a BSS to which a station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and a station identification field of any RU in the HE MU PPDU indicates the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD as a receiver or one of the receivers of the RU, and a BSS color prohibition field carried in an HE operation element received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP last time has a value of 0. A carrier sensing mechanism indicates that a channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a TxPIFS length boundary.

[0287] The embodiments of the present application are described by taking EMLSR / EMLMR as an example. Similarly, the preset condition set proposed by the embodiments of the present application is still applicable to multi-user SM PS, and only the non-AP MLD needs to be replaced by STA, and "when the non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation" needs to be replaced by "when the STA judges that any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set is met, the single-receiving-channel mode can be switched back immediately".

[0288] It can be seen that, by modifying the rules of SM PS, such as excluding some exceptional frames from the existing SM PS rules, the embodiments of the present application solve the problem that the existing SM PS rules are not applicable to EMLSR / EMLMR, so that the rule of determining the end of frame interaction can be determined. The rule is beneficial to the AP to simultaneously serve other STAs when serving the STA in the EMLSR mode, to perform multi-user communication, and to further improve the communication efficiency.

[0289] Referring to Figure 8 , Figure 8 is a second schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. How to constrain the AP behavior is introduced, so that the existing SM PS rule is adapted to EMLSR or EMLMR. The first AP can be a single-link AP or an AP in an AP MLD, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. As shown in Figure 8 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0290] S201, after the first AP successfully transmits the first frame on the first link and before the frame interaction of the N stations associated with the first AP ends, the first AP uses a first type of PPDU in the frame interaction with the N stations on the first link, the first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame, and at least one of the N stations belongs to a non-AP MLD supporting EML; the broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address, the first type of PPDU carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the stations on the first link are receivers; the first type of PPDU includes a triggering frame used to schedule the stations to transmit a TB PPDU.

[0291] Optionally, the N stations can include single-link stations or stations in non-AP MLDs. The N stations all work on the first link. If the N stations include stations in non-AP MLDs, at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLSR or EMLMR. Further, at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and at least one of the non-AP MLDs can support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0292] Optionally, after the first AP successfully transmits the first frame on the first link and before the end of the frame exchanges with the N stations associated with the first AP, the first AP uses the first type of PPDU (which is a MU PPDU or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame) to interact with the N stations on the first link when the first AP interacts with the N stations on the first link, and needs to carry information indicating that the stations on the first link as a receiver (or one of the receivers) in the interaction, such as a station identifier STA ID. For example, in the MU PPDU transmitted by the AP, the RXVECTOR parameter contains a STA ID field of the RU, which indicates that the station on the first link as a receiver or one of the receivers of the RU. In addition, the first AP must schedule uplink multi-user transmission, that is, the first type of PPDU contains a triggering frame for scheduling the stations to transmit a trigger-based PPDU (TB PPDU). N is a positive integer. The triggering frame is a triggering frame or a frame carrying a TRS (triggered response scheduling) control subfield.

[0293] Correspondingly, the above first station in the N stations is taken as an example. After the first station successfully receives the first frame when performing the listening operation on the first link and before the end of the frame exchanges between the first station and the first AP associated with the first station, the first station receives the first type of PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams. After the first station receives the first type of PPDU, the first station transmits a frame in the TB PPDU format to the AP.

[0294] The AP behavior proposed in the embodiments of the present application is still applicable to multi-user SM PS. When the embodiments of the present application are applied to multi-user SM PS, the aforementioned N stations are all single-link stations.

[0295] It can be seen that, by constraining the first type of PPDU used by the AP and the stations in the frame interaction process, the embodiments of the present application make the stations reply to the AP in the TB PPDU format, so that the rules of the existing SM PS adapt to the EMLSR or EMLMR to determine the rule of the end of the frame interaction. This rule is beneficial to the AP serving other STAs while serving the STA in the EMLSR mode, performing multi-user communication, and further improving the communication efficiency.

[0296] Referring to Figure 9 , Figure 9is a third schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The way of introducing rules of restricting AP behavior and modifying existing SM PS is introduced to solve the problem that the rules of the existing SM PS are not applicable to EMLSR and / or EMLMR. Among them, the first AP can be a single-link AP or one AP in an AP MLD, and the embodiments of the present application do not make any limitation. As shown in Figure 9 The communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0297] S301, after the first AP successfully transmits the first frame on the first link and before the end of the frame exchanges between the N stations associated with the first AP, the first AP uses the first type of PPDU to interact with the N stations on the first link, the first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame, and at least one station in the N stations belongs to a non-AP MLD supporting EML; the broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address, the first type of PPDU carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the stations on the first link as a receiving party.

[0298] Optionally, the N stations can include single-link stations or stations in non-AP MLDs. The N stations all work on the first link. If the N stations include stations in non-AP MLDs, at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLSR or EMLMR. Further, at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and at least one of the non-AP MLDs can support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if at least one of the non-AP MLDs supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0299] Optionally, after the first AP successfully transmits the first frame on the first link and before the end of the frame exchanges, the first AP uses the first type of PPDU (the first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame) to interact with the N stations on the first link. The first type of PPDU carries indication information, which is used to indicate the stations on the first link as a receiving party (or one of the receiving parties), such as a station identifier STA_ID. Among them, the broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, and the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address.

[0300] Optionally, the first type of PPDU comprises a triggering frame for triggering the station to transmit the TB PPDU. The triggering frame is a trigger frame or a frame carrying a TRS control subfield.

[0301] S302, the non-AP MLD receives the first type of PPDU on the first link in multiple spatial streams, the non-AP MLD supports EML, and the first frame is used to instruct the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction.

[0302] S303, when the non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset condition set, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation.

[0303] Optionally, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR or EMLMR. After the non-AP MLD successfully receives an initial frame or an initial control frame from the first AP while performing the listening operation on the first link, and before the frame interaction between the non-AP MLD and the first AP associated with the first station in the non-AP MLD ends, the non-AP MLD receives the first type of PPDU on the first link in multiple spatial streams. The initial frame or the initial control frame is used to trigger the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction. The first type of PPDU is a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame. The first type of PPDU carries indication information for indicating the station on the first link as a receiver (or one of the receivers). It should be understood that the indication information here needs to indicate the first station as a receiver (or one of the receivers). When the non-AP MLD determines that any one of the preset condition set is met, the non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the links for listening operation.

[0304] Optionally, the preset condition set comprises one or more of the following preset conditions: a first preset condition and a third preset condition. The descriptions of the first preset condition and the third preset condition can be referred to the corresponding descriptions in the foregoing embodiments, which will not be described here. Figure 7

[0305] ​Optionally, the preset condition set further includes one or more of the following preset conditions: the non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, and a destination address of the unicast frame is another station; the non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link; the non-AP MLD receives a HE MU PPDU on the first link, a BSS color carried in the HE MU PPDU is the same as a BSS color of a BSS to which a first station of the non-AP MLD operating on the first link belongs, and a station identification field of any RU in the HE MU PPDU indicates the first station of the non-AP MLD operating on the first link as a receiver or one of the receivers of the RU, and a BSS color prohibition field carried in a HE operation element last received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP is 0; and a carrier sensing mechanism indicates that a channel corresponding to the first link is idle for a duration reaching a TxPIFS length boundary.

[0306] Optionally, the first type of PPDU includes a frame for triggering, and the frame for triggering is used to schedule the non-AP MLD to transmit the TB PPDU. After the non-AP MLD receives the first type of PPDU on the first link by using multiple spatial streams, the non-AP MLD transmits the TB PPDU on the first link by using multiple spatial streams.

[0307] The AP behavior and the preset condition set proposed in the embodiments of the present application are still applicable to the SM PS of multiple users, and only need to replace the non-AP MLD with a STA and replace “when the non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for listening operation” with “when the STA determines to meet any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set, the STA can immediately switch back to the single-receiving-channel mode”.

[0308] It can be seen that, by constraining the AP and the station to use the first type of PPDU in the frame interaction process, and by modifying the rules of the SM PS, such as excluding some exceptional frames from the existing SM PS rules, the embodiments of the present application solve the problem that the existing SM PS rules are not applicable to the EMLSR / EMLMR, so that the rule of ending the frame interaction can be determined. The rule is beneficial to the AP to simultaneously serve other STAs when serving the STA in the EMLSR mode, to perform multi-user communication, and to further improve the communication efficiency.

[0309] Referring to Figure 10 , Figure 10is a fourth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. A method of switching back to listening operation after initial frame / initial control frame interaction failure is introduced. The first AP can be a single-link AP or one of the AP MLDs, and the embodiments of the present application do not make any limitation. As shown in Figure 10 The communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0310] S401, after the non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link and switches the spatial streams on each link to the first link, if the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame interaction fails, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to each link for listening operation, and the non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0311] Optionally, before step S401, the non-AP MLD can inform the first AP of which EML mode the non-AP MLD supports. In one implementation mode, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; in another implementation mode, the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, and the non-AP MLD can also support single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the above first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the above first frame is an initial frame.

[0312] Optionally, the communication method further includes the following steps:

[0313] S402, if the non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset condition set within a first time length from the time of receiving the first frame, the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame interaction fails.

[0314] Optionally, after the non-AP MLD receives the initial control frame or the initial frame sent by the first AP on the first link and switches the spatial streams on each link to the first link, if the non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset condition set within a first time length (i.e., ΔT) from the time of receiving the initial control frame or the initial frame, the non-AP MLD determines that the initial control frame or the initial frame interaction fails, and the non-AP MLD immediately switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to each link for listening operation.

[0315] Optionally, the above preset condition set includes one or more of the following preset conditions:

[0316] (1) The station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD does not receive a PPDU within the first time duration (ΔΤ). See Figure 11a , Figure 11a The first scenario of the preset condition provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the AP sends a MU-RTS frame, and the STA operating on link 1 in the non-AP MLD does not receive a PPDU within the first time duration (ΔΤ) after receiving the MU-RTS frame. Then, the non-AP MLD immediately switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on link 1 back to each link for the listening operation. Figure 11a

[0317] (2) The first PPDU received by the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration (ΔΤ) is a PPDU of another BSS. See Figure 11b , Figure 11b The second scenario of the preset condition provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the AP sends a MU-RTS frame, and the STA operating on link 1 in the non-AP MLD receives the first PPDU from inter-BSS (another BSS) within the first time duration (ΔΤ) after receiving the MU-RTS frame. Then, the non-AP MLD immediately switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on link 1 back to each link for the listening operation. Figure 11b

[0318] (3) The first PPDU received by the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD within the first time duration (ΔΤ) is an uplink PPDU of the BSS (intra-BSS). See Figure 11c , Figure 11c The third scenario of the preset condition provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the AP sends a MU-RTS frame, and the STA operating on link 1 in the non-AP MLD receives the first PPDU from intra-BSS (the BSS) within the first time duration (ΔΤ) after receiving the MU-RTS frame. However, the direction is uplink. Then, the non-AP MLD immediately switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on link 1 back to each link for the listening operation. Figure 11c

[0319] ​​​(4) The first PPDU received by the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD in the first time duration (AT) is a downlink PPDU in the BSS to which the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD belongs, and the station identifier field in the downlink PPDU indicates a receiver other than the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD. In other words, the first PPDU received by the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD in the first time duration (AT) is an intra-BSS PPDU, but the STA-ID field indicates that the station itself is not the receiver.

[0320] (5) The first PPDU received by the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD in the first time duration (AT) contains a frame with a unicast address and the receiving address of the frame is not the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD, or the first PPDU contains a trigger frame and the association identifier in any user information field in the trigger frame is inconsistent with the association identifier of the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD, or the trigger frame does not have an association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access. The association identifier here can be a management identifier (AID). In other words, the first PPDU received by the station operating in the first link in the non-AP MLD in the first time duration (AT) contains a frame with a unicast address and the receiving address is not itself, or the first PPDU received contains a trigger frame but any AID in the user information field is inconsistent with its own AID, or there is no AID indicating uplink OFDMA random access.

[0321] Referring to Figure 11d , Figure 11d is a fourth embodiment of the preset condition provided by the present application. As shown in Figure 11d , the AP sends a MU-RTS frame, and the STA operating in link 1 in the non-AP MLD satisfies the above conditions (4) or (5) in the first time duration (AT) after receiving the MU-RTS frame, then the non-AP MLD immediately switches part of the space stream / antenna on link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation.

[0322] It should be understood that any one of the above preset condition set can be immediately executed to switch part of the space stream / antenna on the first link back to each link to perform the listening operation as soon as it is judged in AT, that is, it is not necessary to wait until AT to perform the switching.

[0323] Accordingly, it is also necessary to provide a basis for the non-AP MLD to judge whether the initial control frame or initial frame interaction is successful or not by restricting the behavior of the AP. Specifically, the first AP sends a first frame (initial control frame or initial frame) on the first link, and the first frame is used to instruct the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction. After the first AP receives the response frame (such as an ACK frame) of the first frame, the first AP sends a PPDU. The PPDU contains a unicast frame, and the receiving address of the unicast frame indicates a station in the non-AP MLD that operates on the first link. Alternatively, the PPDU contains a trigger frame, and the trigger frame is used to schedule the station in the non-AP MLD that operates on the first link to perform uplink transmission. In addition, the first AP cannot send the first frame to the non-AP MLD on the second link within a time range after sending the first frame. The second link here is a link other than the first link in the non-AP MLD. The time range here is the sum of the SwitchDelay and the first time length (ΔT). In other words, assuming that the link on which the AP sends the initial control frame / initial frame is link i, the first PPDU sent by the AP after receiving the response frame of the initial control frame / initial frame must contain a unicast frame that takes the station in the non-AP MLD that operates on link i as the receiving address, or must contain a trigger frame that explicitly schedules this station. In addition, the AP is not allowed to send the initial control frame / initial frame to this non-AP MLD on any other link j (j≠i) within the time range of ΔT+SwitchDelay after sending the initial control frame / initial frame.

[0324] It can be seen that, by restricting the behavior of the AP, the embodiments of the present application require that the first PPDU sent by the AP after receiving the response frame of the initial control frame / initial frame must meet the requirements, so that if the station side does not receive the corresponding PPDU within the first time length, it indicates that the first frame interaction fails.

[0325] Optionally, the above-mentioned first time length (ΔT) can be specified by a standard or broadcasted by the AP in a beacon frame or the like. The first time length can be greater than or equal to a time minimum value, and the time minimum value (i.e., the minimum value of the first time length) can be one of the following:

[0326] ΔT min =t cts +2t SIFS +t preamble +t MPDU ;

[0327] ΔT min =t cts +2tSIFS +t preamble ;

[0328] ΔT min =t cts +t SIFS +t PIFS +t aSlotTime .

[0329] wherein, ΔT represents the first time length, ΔT min represents the minimum value of the first time length (i.e. the minimum time value). t cts represents the transmission time length of a clear to send (CTS) frame, t SIFS represents the time length of a short interframe space (SIFS). T preamble represents the reception time length of a preamble. t MPDU represents the transmission time length of a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU). t PIFS represents the time length of a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS). t aSlotTime represents the time length of a slot.

[0330] It should be understood that the technical solutions proposed in the embodiments of the present application are still applicable to the SM PS of multiple users, and only need to replace the non-AP MLD with STA, replace the "first frame" with "initial frame", and replace "the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to each link for the listening operation" with "the STA immediately switches back to the single reception channel mode". It should also be understood that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented alone or together with any of the foregoing embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0331] It can be seen that, by constraining the behavior of the AP, the embodiments of the present application provide a basis for the station side to judge whether the initial control frame or initial frame interaction is successful, and by designing the condition for the station side to judge the interaction failure, the initial frame / initial control frame can be switched back to the listening operation in time after the interaction failure, which perfects the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or EMLMR, and also improves the working efficiency and switching efficiency of the EMLSR and / or EMLMR.

[0332] Referring to Figure 12 , Figure 12is a fifth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The working mechanism of EMLSR and / or EMLMR is simplified by setting a frame interaction duration. The first AP can be a single-link AP or one of the AP MLDs, and the embodiments of the present application do not make any limitation. As shown in Figure 12 the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0333] S501, the first AP sends a first frame on the first link, and the first frame carries one or more second durations.

[0334] Optionally, the first frame can be an initial control frame, or can not be an initial frame. The first frame carries one or more second durations, and the first frame can also carry a duration field. If the first frame carries one second duration, the second duration can be a duration allocated to the first non-AP MLD alone, and the starting time of the second duration is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame; or the second duration can be a total duration allocated to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR scheduled by the first AP, and the starting time of the second duration is the end time of each non-AP MLD receiving the first frame. If the first frame carries multiple second durations, the multiple second durations include a second duration allocated to the first non-AP MLD, and the starting time of the second duration allocated to the first non-AP MLD is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame. The first non-AP MLD supports EMLSR or EMLMR.

[0335] Optionally, the above first frame is used to instruct the non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) to switch the spatial streams on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP. The second duration is used to make the non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) switch part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the each link for listening operation after the second duration.

[0336] S502, the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link, the first frame carries a second duration, the starting time of the second duration is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame, the first non-AP MLD supports EML, and the first frame is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP.

[0337] S503, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for listening operation after the second time length.

[0338] Optionally, before step S501, the first non-AP MLD can inform the first AP which EML mode the first non-AP MLD supports. In one implementation, the first non-AP MLD supports EML SR; in another implementation, the first non-AP MLD supports EML MR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EML SR / EML MR, or the first non-AP MLD supports single-user EML SR / EML MR, or the first non-AP MLD supports both multi-user EML SR / EML MR and single-user EML SR / EML MR. If the non-AP MLD supports EML SR, the first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EML MR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0339] Optionally, the first non-AP MLD receives a first frame (i.e. an initial control frame or an initial frame) sent by the first AP on the first link, and the first frame carries a second time length. The second time length can be a time length allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone, or can be a total time length allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs supporting EML SR / EML MR scheduled by the first AP. The start time of the second time length is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame. After receiving the first frame, the first non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial stream / antenna on the links to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP. The first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for listening operation after the second time length.

[0340] In one implementation, if the second time length is a time length (denoted as T1) allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone, the second time length can include a time length for frame interaction between the first AP and the first non-AP MLD. Optionally, the second time length can further include a time length for the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial stream on the links to the first link.

[0341] For example, Figure 13 , Figure 13 is an interaction diagram between an AP and a non-AP MLD supporting EML SR provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 13As shown, the AP indicates a frame interaction duration (i.e., the second duration) for each STA operating on link 1 in each non-AP MLD in the MU-RTS frame, so that the frame interaction durations of the STAs operating on link 1 in different non-AP MLDs can be different. As shown in FIG. 6, the AP indicates the frame interaction duration of non-AP STA 11 operating on link 1 in non-AP MLD 1 as T1, and the frame interaction duration of non-AP STA 21 operating on link 1 in non-AP MLD 2 as T2. Figure 13 The frame interaction duration of non-AP STA 11 operating on link 1 in non-AP MLD 1 is T1, and the frame interaction duration of non-AP STA 21 operating on link 1 in non-AP MLD 2 is T2. After receiving the MU-RTS frame, the non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR complete spatial stream / antenna switching on link 1, and perform frame interaction with the AP within the frame interaction duration starting from the time point of successful sending / receiving of the MU-RTS frame. The non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR switch the spatial stream / antenna on link 1 back to each link to perform listening operation when the frame interaction duration expires. Optionally, the frame interaction duration (i.e., the second duration) can be set as the TXOP duration allocated by the AP to different STAs, which can be determined by the AP according to experience and channel conditions to complete frame interaction with the corresponding STA within the duration.

[0342] It can be seen that in this implementation, the AP can allocate different durations to different STAs, which is more flexible.

[0343] In another implementation, if the second duration is a total duration (denoted as T) allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR / EMLMR scheduled by the first AP, the second duration can include the duration of frame interaction between the first AP and the plurality of non-AP MLDs (i.e., all non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR / EMLMR scheduled by the first AP). Optionally, the second duration can also include the duration of spatial stream switching of the plurality of non-AP MLDs from other links to the first link. The plurality of non-AP MLDs includes the first non-AP MLD.

[0344] For example, referring to FIG. 7, Figure 14 , Figure 14 is another interaction diagram between the AP and the non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, Figure 14As shown, the AP carries a fixed time duration T in the MU-RTS frame, and the non-AP MLDs (which can be multiple) supporting EMLSR complete spatial stream / antenna switching on the link 1 after receiving the MU-RTS frame, and perform frame interaction with the AP within the time duration T from the time point of successful sending / receiving of the MU-RTS frame. All non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR switch the spatial stream / antenna on the link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation when the time duration T expires. Optionally, the time duration T (i.e., the second time duration) can be set as the TXOP duration of the AP on the link 1, or can be shorter, for example, the time duration T is determined by the AP according to experience and channel condition to complete the frame interaction within the time duration T.

[0345] It can be seen that, by using the fixed time duration, the implementation manner can simplify the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR, and has lower complexity.

[0346] It should be understood that the above Figure 13 and the above Figure 14 The non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR is exemplarily described, and the non-AP MLD supporting EMLMR is the same as the non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR, and only needs to replace “MU-RTS frame” with “initial frame” and “EMLSR” with “EMLMR”.

[0347] Optionally, the second time duration can be located in the common information field or the user information field of the first frame. In one example, if the second time duration is the total time duration allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs supporting EMLSR / EMLMR, the second time duration can be located in the common information field of the first frame. In another example, if the second time duration is the time duration allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD, the second time duration can be located in the user information field or the common information field of the first frame.

[0348] Optionally, the second time duration is less than or equal to the TXOP duration of the first AP on the first link.

[0349] It should be understood that the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are still applicable to the SM PS of multiple users, and only need to replace the non-AP MLD with a STA, replace the “first frame” with an “initial frame”, and replace “the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to each link to perform the listening operation after the second time duration” with “the STA immediately switches back to the single-receiving-channel mode after the second time duration”. Optionally, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented alone or together with any one or more of the preceding embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0350] It can be seen that, by carrying the AP-determined frame interaction duration in the initial control frame or the initial frame, and directly switching back to the listening operation after experiencing the frame interaction duration, the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR is simplified, the logical operation complexity is reduced, and the implementation complexity is reduced.

[0351] Referring to Figure 15 , Figure 15 is a sixth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR is simplified in a manner that multiple stations jointly maintain a timer. The first AP can be a single-link AP or one of the AP MLDs, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 15 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0352] S601, the non-AP MLD receives a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, starts timing, and switches the spatial streams on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0353] S602, if the non-AP MLD receives a fourth frame during the frame interaction with the first AP, and the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the fourth frame is later than the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the first frame, the non-AP MLD updates the end time of the timing to the TXOP end time indicated in the duration field of the fourth frame.

[0354] S603, when the timing reaches 0, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to each link to perform listening operation.

[0355] Optionally, before step S601, the non-AP MLD can inform the first AP of which EML mode the non-AP MLD supports. In one implementation, the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR; in another implementation, the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR. Further, the non-AP MLD supports multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, or the non-AP MLD supports single-user EMLSR / EMLMR, or the non-AP MLD supports both multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR and single-user EMLSR / EMLMR. If the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the above-mentioned first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the above-mentioned first frame is an initial frame.

[0356] Optionally, the first AP can send the first frame to a plurality of non-AP MLDs on the first link, and the plurality of non-AP MLDs support the same EML mode. For example, the plurality of non-AP MLDs all support EML SR, or the plurality of non-AP MLDs all support EML MR, or the plurality of non-AP MLDs support both EML SR and EML MR. After each non-AP MLD receives the first frame on the first link, it starts timing and switches its spatial streams / antennas on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP. Alternatively, after the plurality of non-AP MLDs receive the first frame, they jointly maintain a timer to record the remaining TXOP time of the first AP. The timer is initialized (i.e., after receiving the first frame) to the time indicated by the Duration field in the first frame. If a non-AP MLD in the plurality of non-AP MLDs receives the fourth frame during the frame interaction with the first AP, and the TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the fourth frame is later than the TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the first frame, the non-AP MLD updates the end time of the timing to the TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the fourth frame, or the non-AP MLD modifies the end time of the timer jointly maintained by the plurality of non-AP MLDs to the TXOP end time indicated by the duration field in the fourth frame. When the timing reaches 0 (i.e., the timer is 0), each non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to each link for listening operation.

[0357] For example, referring to Figure 16 , Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of EML SR based on TXOP time provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 16As shown, the AP sends a MU-RTS frame to non-AP MLD1 and non-AP MLD2 on link 1. After non-AP MLD1 and non-AP MLD2 receive the MU-RTS frame on link 1, STA11 working on link 1 in non-AP MLD1 and STA21 working on link 1 in non-AP MLD2 jointly maintain a timer to record the TXOP remaining time of the AP. When initialized, the timer jointly maintained by STA11 and STA21 is set to the time indicated by the Duration field in the MU-RTS frame. During the frame interaction between the AP and STA11 and STA21, if a frame sent by the AP updates the end time of the TXOP (i.e., extends), the timer jointly maintained by STA11 and STA21 also needs to be updated accordingly, i.e., the end time of the timer is updated to the end time indicated by the Duration field in the frame. When the timer reaches 0, each non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream / antenna on link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation.

[0358] It should be understood that the above description of the EMLSR workflow is exemplary and illustrative only. The EMLMR workflow is similar to the EMLSR workflow, except that the "MU-RTS frame" is replaced by the "initial frame" and the "EMLSR" is replaced by the "EMLMR". Figure 16 It should be understood that the above description of the EMLSR workflow is exemplary and illustrative only. The EMLMR workflow is similar to the EMLSR workflow, except that the "MU-RTS frame" is replaced by the "initial frame" and the "EMLSR" is replaced by the "EMLMR".

[0359] It should be understood that the above description of the EMLSR workflow is exemplary and illustrative only. The EMLMR workflow is similar to the EMLSR workflow, except that the "MU-RTS frame" is replaced by the "initial frame" and the "EMLSR" is replaced by the "EMLMR".

[0360] It can be seen that, by constraining multiple stations (i.e., multiple stations working on the same link with the AP, and the multiple stations belong to different non-AP MLDs respectively) to jointly maintain a timer, when any station receives the end time update information of TXOP in the frame interaction process, the end time of the timer is updated to the latest TXOP end time, and when the timer reaches 0, the switching back to the listening operation. Therefore, the embodiment of the application does not need to maintain a timer for each station, thereby simplifying the working mechanism of EMLSR and / or EMLMR, reducing the logical running complexity and reducing the implementation complexity. In addition, the embodiment of the application does not need to carry an additional specified time length in the initial control frame or the initial frame, so that the non-AP MLD and the AP can complete the frame interaction within the time length, thereby saving the signaling overhead.

[0361] Referring to Figure 17 , Figure 17 is a seventh schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiment of the application. The working mechanism of EMLSR and / or EMLMR is simplified by using the existing more data subfield indication. Wherein, the first AP can be a single-link AP or an AP in the AP MLD, and the embodiment of the application does not make any limitation. As shown in Figure 17 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0362] S701, the first AP sends a first frame on the first link, and the first frame is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP.

[0363] S702, the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link, and switches the spatial streams on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP, and the first non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0364] Optionally, before step S701, the first non-AP MLD can inform the first AP which EML mode the first non-AP MLD supports. In one implementation, the first non-AP MLD supports EML SR; in another implementation, the first non-AP MLD supports EML MR. Further, the first non-AP MLD supports multi-user EML SR / EML MR, or the first non-AP MLD supports single-user EML SR / EML MR, or the first non-AP MLD supports both multi-user EML SR / EML MR and single-user EML SR / EML MR. If the non-AP MLD supports EML SR, the above first frame is an initial control frame; if the non-AP MLD supports EML MR, the above first frame is an initial frame.

[0365] Optionally, the first AP sends an initial control frame or an initial frame on the first link. The first non-AP MLD receives the initial control frame or the initial frame when performing the listening operation on the first link, and switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP.

[0366] S703, the first AP sends a second frame on the first link, and the second frame includes a more data subfield.

[0367] S704, the first non-AP MLD receives the second frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams, and the second frame includes a more data subfield.

[0368] S705, if the more data subfield in the second frame is 0, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to each link to perform the listening operation.

[0369] In an implementation, in the process of the first AP and the first non-AP MLD interacting with each other through frames on the first link, the first AP sends a second frame on the first link, and the second frame includes a more data subfield. The value and meaning of the more data subfield can refer to 802.11ax or 802.11be standard section 9.2.4.1.8, which will not be described here. Accordingly, the first non-AP MLD receives the second frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams. It should be understood that the AP can carry the more data subfield of each station in the sent frame, such as a data frame, to indicate whether the AP has data for the STA in the next frame. The value of the more data subfield is 1, indicating that the AP has data for the STA in the next frame, and the value of the more data subfield is 0, indicating that the AP has no data for the STA in the next frame. Here, the second frame carries the more data subfield of the STA working on the first link in the first non-AP MLD. If the value of the more data subfield in the second frame is 0, it means that the AP has no data for the STA working on the first link in the first non-AP MLD in the next frame, and the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation. Optionally, if the value of the more data subfield in the second frame is 0, the first non-AP MLD can switch the spatial stream on the first link back to the links to perform the listening operation after completing the sending of the response frame of the second frame. Of course, if the value of the more data subfield in the second frame is 1, it means that the AP has data for the STA working on the first link in the first non-AP MLD in the next frame, and the first non-AP MLD continues to maintain multiple spatial stream reception on the first link.

[0370] For example, referring to Figure 18 , Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the EMLSR based on the more data subfield provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 18As shown, the AP sends a MU-RTS frame on link 1, and the non-AP MLDs (which can be multiple) supporting EMLSR complete spatial stream / antenna switching on link 1 after receiving the MU-RTS frame. Each STA (here referring to STA11 working on link 1 in non-AP MLD1, or STA21 working on link 1 in non-AP MLD2) during the process of receiving the data packet of the AP, if it finds that the value of the more data subfield is 0, then after completing the sending of the response frame, the non-AP MLD to which the STA belongs switches part of the spatial stream / antenna on link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation. Conversely, if the value of the more data subfield is 1, then the STA continues to work in multiple spatial streams / multiple antennas on the link (i.e. link 1).

[0371] It should be understood that the above Figure 18 Only the working process of EMLSR is exemplarily described by way of example, and the working process of EMLMR is the same as that of EMLSR, only replacing “MU-RTS frame” with “initial frame” and “EMLSR” with “EMLMR”.

[0372] It can be seen that this implementation simplifies the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR by constraining the behavior of the non-AP MLD, and can completely reuse the signaling indication of the existing more data subfield without changing the value and meaning of the more data subfield.

[0373] In another implementation, during the process that the first AP and the first non-AP MLD interact with each other through frames on the first link, the first AP sends a second frame on the first link, and the second frame includes a more data subfield. When the more data subfield is 0, it indicates (which can be implicit indication or explicit indication) that the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to listen to each of the links. When the more data subfield is 1, it indicates (which can be implicit indication or explicit indication) that the first non-AP MLD continues to receive the second frame on the first link in multiple spatial streams. Accordingly, the first non-AP MLD receives the second frame on the first link in multiple spatial streams. If the more data subfield in the second frame is 0, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to listen to each of the links according to the indication of the more data subfield. Optionally, if the more data subfield in the second frame is 0, the first non-AP MLD can switch the spatial stream on the first link back to listen to each of the links according to the indication of the more data subfield after sending an acknowledgement frame of the second frame. Of course, if the more data subfield in the second frame is 1, indicating that the first non-AP MLD continues to receive the second frame on the first link in multiple spatial streams, the first non-AP MLD continues to receive the second frame on the first link in multiple spatial streams.

[0374] It can be seen that this implementation simplifies the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR by adding a new meaning (which can be implicit indication) to the more data subfield, which is clear and explicit, and is beneficial to the station side analysis.

[0375] In another implementation, the first frame carries one or more second time lengths, which can be referred to in the foregoing Figure 12The corresponding description in the illustrated embodiment is not repeated here. For ease of description, an example of a second duration is given below, and the second duration can be used by the first non-AP MLD, that is, the second duration is the total duration allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR, or the second duration is the duration allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone. The starting time of the second duration is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame. The first non-AP MLD receives the first frame on the first link, and the first non-AP MLD starts timing. Before the timing reaches the second duration, if the value of the more data subfield in the second frame received by the first non-AP MLD on the first link is 0, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the multiple links for listening operation; if the value of the more data subfield in the second frame received by the first non-AP MLD on the first link is 1, the first non-AP MLD continues to maintain multiple spatial stream reception on the first link. If the timing reaches the second duration, regardless of whether the value of the more data subfield in the second frame received by the first non-AP MLD on the first link is 1 or 0, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the multiple spatial streams for listening operation.

[0376] For example, see Figure 19 , Figure 19 is an exemplary EMLSR working schematic diagram of the more data subfield combined with the duration provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 19As shown, taking a fixed time length T as an example, the AP carries a fixed time length T in the MU-RTS frame, and the non-AP MLD (which can be multiple) supporting EMLSR completes spatial stream / antenna switching on the link 1 after receiving the MU-RTS frame, and performs frame interaction with the AP within the time length T from the time of successful sending / receiving of the MU-RTS frame. Before the time length T expires, each STA (here referring to the STA 11 working on the link 1 in the non-AP MLD 1, or the STA 21 working on the link 1 in the non-AP MLD 2) in the process of receiving the data packet of the AP, if it is found that the value of the more data subfield is 0, after completing the sending of the response frame, the non-AP MLD to which the STA belongs switches the spatial stream / antenna on the link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation. Conversely, if the value of the more data subfield is 1, the STA continues to work in multiple spatial streams / multiple antennas on the link (i.e. the link 1). At the time when the time length T expires, regardless of the value of the most recent more data subfield, the non-AP MLD to which the STA belongs needs to switch the spatial stream / antenna on the link 1 back to each link to perform the listening operation.

[0377] It should be understood that the above Figure 19 Only the working process of EMLSR is exemplarily described by way of example, and the working process of EMLMR is the same as that of EMLSR, only replacing “MU-RTS frame” with “initial frame” and “EMLSR” with “EMLMR”. In addition, the above Figure 19 Only the fixed time length T is exemplarily described by way of example, and in some embodiments, the fixed time length T can also be replaced by the time length T1 allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD.

[0378] It can be seen that in this implementation mode, the non-AP MLD is judged whether to switch by the more data subfield in combination with the time length, which can solve the problem that the non-AP MLD incorrectly interprets the value of the more data subfield as 1 when the value of the more data subfield is 0, so that it cannot switch back to the listening operation.

[0379] It should be understood that the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application do not limit whether the STA working on the first link in the non-AP MLD is in the power saving (PS) mode or the active (Active) mode. In other words, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to both the STA in the PS mode and the STA in the active mode.

[0380] It should also be understood that the technical solutions proposed in the embodiments of the present application are still applicable to the SM PS of multiple users, and only the non-AP MLD is replaced by the STA, the first frame is replaced by the initial frame, and the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for the listening operation is replaced by the STA immediately switching back to the single-receiving-channel mode. Optionally, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented alone or together with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0381] It can be seen that the embodiments of the present application use existing signaling to indicate and / or constrain the behavior of the non-AP MLD, without the need to maintain a timer, thereby simplifying the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR, reducing the logical operation complexity, and reducing the implementation complexity.

[0382] Referring to Figure 20 , Figure 20 is the eighth schematic flowchart of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR is simplified by using the indication of the existing End of Service Period (EOSP) subfield. The first AP can be a single-link AP or one of the APs in the AP MLD, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. As shown in Figure 20 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0383] S801, the first AP sends a first frame on the first link, and the first frame is used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP through frames.

[0384] S802, the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link, and switches the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP through frames, and the first non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0385] Optionally, the implementation manner of steps S801 and S802 in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the implementation manner of steps S701 and S702 in the foregoing seventh embodiment, which will not be described here.

[0386] S803, the first AP sends a third frame on the first link, and the third frame includes an EOSP subfield, and the EOSP subfield is set to 1.

[0387] S804, the first non-AP MLD receives the third frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams, and the third frame includes an EOSP subfield, and the EOSP subfield is set to 1.

[0388] S805, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation.

[0389] Optionally, the third frame can be a Quality of Service (QoS) data frame or a Quality of Service Null (QoS Null) frame. The third frame carries an EOSP subfield, and the EOSP subfield is set to 1. The value and meaning of the EOSP subfield are described in the standard document 802.11REVmd section 9.2.4.5.3, which will not be described here.

[0390] In an implementation manner, if the first AP wants to end the frame interaction with the first non-AP MLD, a third frame can be sent on the first link, and the third frame includes an EOSP subfield, and the EOSP subfield is set to 1. After the first non-AP MLD receives the third frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams / multiple antennas, the first non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the links for listening operation. In other words, the first AP can send a frame, such as a QoS data frame or a QoS Null frame, to the STA in the first non-AP MLD working on the first link, and the frame carries an EOSP subfield and is set to 1. After the STA receives the frame, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the links for listening operation. The first AP sends the third frame in a unicast manner, or in a groupcast or broadcast manner, which is not limited by the embodiments of the application. If the first AP still needs to interact with the first non-AP MLD, the third frame can not be sent.

[0391] It can be seen that in this implementation manner, the switching of the non-AP MLD is controlled by the EOSP subfield sent by the AP, and the station in the non-AP MLD does not need to maintain a timer, thereby simplifying the operation of the station. In addition, this implementation manner can completely reuse the signaling indication of the existing EOSP subfield, and does not change the value and meaning of the EOSP subfield.

[0392] In another implementation, if the first AP wants to end the interaction with the first non-AP MLD, a third frame can be sent on the first link, the third frame including an EOSP subfield set to 1, indicating that the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream / antenna on the first link back to the individual links for listening operation. After the first non-AP MLD receives the third frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams / multiple antennas, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream / antenna on the first link back to the individual links for listening operation according to the indication of the EOSP subfield in the third frame. The first AP can send the third frame in a unicast manner, or in a groupcast or broadcast manner, which is not limited in the embodiments of the application. If the first AP still needs to interact with the first non-AP MLD, the third frame can not be sent.

[0393] It can be seen that, in this implementation, the working mechanism of EMLSR / EMLMR is simplified by adding a new meaning (which can be implicit indication) to the EOSP subfield, which is clear and beneficial to the station side.

[0394] In another implementation, the first frame carries one or more second durations, which can be referred to the corresponding description in the foregoing Figure 12 For ease of description, one second duration is taken as an example in the following, and the second duration can be used by the first non-AP MLD, that is, the second duration is a total duration allocated by the first AP to all non-AP MLDs (including the first non-AP MLD) supporting EMLSR / EMLMR, or the second duration is a duration allocated by the first AP to the first non-AP MLD alone. The start time of the second duration is the end time of the first non-AP MLD receiving the first frame. After the first non-AP MLD receives the first frame on the first link, the first non-AP MLD starts timing. Before the timing reaches the second duration, if the first non-AP MLD receives a third frame on the first link, and the third frame includes an EOSP subfield set to 1, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the individual links for listening operation. If the timing reaches the second duration, regardless of whether the first non-AP MLD receives a third frame on the first link, the first non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the individual spatial streams for listening operation.

[0395] It can be seen that in this implementation, whether the non-AP MLD switches is determined by the EOSP subfield and the time length, which can solve the problem that the non-AP MLD cannot switch back to the listening operation due to the fact that the non-AP MLD does not receive the EOSP subfield because of the channel quality and the like.

[0396] It should be understood that the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application do not limit whether the STA working in the first link in the non-AP MLD is in a power saving (PS) mode or an active mode. In other words, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to both the STA in the PS mode and the STA in the active mode.

[0397] It should also be understood that the technical solutions proposed by the embodiments of the present application are still applicable to multi-user SM PS, and only need to replace the non-AP MLD with a STA, replace the "first frame" with an "initial frame", and replace "the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the first link back to the links for listening operation" with "the STA immediately switches back to the single receive channel mode". Optionally, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented alone or together with any one or more of the foregoing embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0398] It can be seen that in the present application, when the AP wants to end the frame interaction with the non-AP MLD, the AP sends a frame, carries the EOSP subfield in the frame and sets it to 1, so that the non-AP MLD switches back to the listening operation after receiving the frame, without the need to maintain a timer, thereby simplifying the working mechanism of the EMLSR and / or the EMLMR, reducing the logical operation complexity and reducing the implementation complexity.

[0399] Referring to Figure 21 , Figure 21 is a schematic flowchart of the information interaction method provided by the embodiments of the present application. How to indicate whether the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR is introduced. Wherein, the first AP can be a single-link AP or an AP in the AP MLD, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. As shown in Figure 21 , the information interaction method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0400] S901, the non-AP MLD generates a MAC frame, which carries first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate whether the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR.

[0401] S902, the non-AP MLD sends the MAC frame.

[0402] S903, the first AP receives the MAC frame.

[0403] S904, the first AP determines whether the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR based on the indication of the first indication information in the MAC frame.

[0404] Optionally, the MAC frame includes an enhanced multi-link (EMLCapability field, EML) capability field of a multi-link element (Multi-Link element), and the first indication information is located in the EML capability field of the MAC frame.

[0405] Optionally, the MAC frame is an enhanced multi-link operating mode notification / negotiation frame (EML Operating Mode Notification / Negotiation frame). The enhanced multi-link operating mode notification / negotiation frame is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD is about to change the EML operation, such as turning on or off the EML operation. The frame can be for notification or for negotiation. For example, the frame is an EHT action frame (EHT Action frame), which corresponds to the value of the action field in the EHT action frame as shown in Table 1 below. When the value of the action field is 1, it indicates that the EHT action frame is an enhanced multi-link operating mode notification / negotiation frame.

[0406] Table 1: EHT action field value

[0407]

[0408] Optionally, the length of the first indication information is 1 bit. For example, when the bit is 0, it indicates that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR; when the bit is 1, it indicates that the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR. Alternatively, when the bit is 1, it indicates that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR; when the bit is 0, it indicates that the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR. The present application embodiment does not limit the correspondence between the value and the meaning of the first indication information.

[0409] Optionally, the length of the first indication information is 2 bits. One bit is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR, and the other bit is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLMR. For example, when the 2 bits are 00, it indicates that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR and EMLMR; when the 2 bits are 01, it indicates that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR and supports participating in multi-user EMLMR. Alternatively, when the 2 bits are 10, it indicates that the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR and does not support participating in multi-user EMLMR; and when the 2 bits are 11, it indicates that it is reserved. It should be understood that the above correspondence between the values and the meanings is only an example, and in actual implementation, other correspondence between the values and the meanings can be used, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the correspondence between the values and the meanings of the first indication information.

[0410] Optionally, if the first indication information indicates that the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, the first AP and the non-AP MLD can communicate according to the technical solutions provided in any of the preceding embodiments. If the first indication information indicates that the non-AP MLD does not support participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, the first AP and the non-AP MLD can communicate according to the rules of the existing SM PS.

[0411] Optionally, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented alone or together with any one or more of the preceding embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0412] As can be seen, the embodiments of the present application provide a signaling for indicating whether the non-AP MLD supports participating in multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR, which can lay a foundation for multi-user EMLSR / EMLMR communication.

[0413] Referring to Figure 22 , Figure 22 is another schematic flowchart of the information interaction method provided by the embodiments of the present application. How to indicate whether the STA (here, a single-link station, or a station of the 802.11ax standard and before) supports participating in multi-user SM PS is introduced. In this method, Figure 22 The AP and the STA in the method are single-link devices. As shown in Figure 22 The information interaction method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0414] S1, the STA generates a MAC frame, and the MAC frame carries second indication information, which is used to indicate whether the STA supports participating in multi-user SM PS.

[0415] S2, the STA sends the MAC frame.

[0416] S3, the AP receives the MAC frame.

[0417] S4, the AP determines whether the STA supports participating in the SM PS of the multi-user based on the indication of the second indication information in the MAC frame.

[0418] Optionally, the MAC frame includes an EHT Capabilities element, and the second indication information is located in the EML Capabilities element of the MAC frame.

[0419] Optionally, the MAC frame includes a LinkInfo field of a Multi-Link Element, and the second indication information is located in the LinkInfo field of the MAC frame.

[0420] Optionally, the second indication information has a length of 1 bit. For example, when the bit is 0, it indicates that the STA does not support participating in the SM PS of the multi-user; when the bit is 1, it indicates that the STA supports participating in the SM PS of the multi-user. Alternatively, when the bit is 1, it indicates that the STA does not support participating in the SM PS of the multi-user; when the bit is 0, it indicates that the STA supports participating in the SM PS of the multi-user. The present embodiment does not limit the correspondence between the value and the meaning of the second indication information.

[0421] Optionally, if the second indication information indicates that the STA supports participating in the SM PS of the multi-user, the AP can include the STA in the SM PS operation of the multi-user. If the second indication information indicates that the STA does not support participating in the SM PS of the multi-user, the AP and the STA can communicate according to the existing SM PS rule.

[0422] Optionally, the present embodiment can be implemented alone or together with any one or more of the preceding embodiments, and the present application does not limit this.

[0423] As can be seen, the present embodiment provides a signaling for indicating whether a single-link STA supports participating in the SM PS of a multi-user, which can lay a foundation for the SM PS communication of the multi-user.

[0424] The non-AP MLD supporting EMLSR in this application can also be referred to as an EMLSR non-AP MLD. If all or part of the stations in the non-AP MLD support EMLSR / are in EMLSR mode, this non-AP MLD is an EMLSR non-AP MLD. For ease of description, the non-AP STA in the non-AP MLD in EMLSR mode is referred to as an EMLSR station below.

[0425] In some scenarios (including but not limited to scenario 1 described below), when the AP communicates with one or more stations (including at least one station in EMLSR mode, referred to as an EMLSR station), problems may occur in the frame transmission or frame reception of the AP, causing the AP to be unable to determine whether the EMLSR station has switched back to the listening mode, thereby possibly causing the AP to be unable to continue to communicate with the EMLSR station.

[0426] Scenario 1: The AP transmits a downlink frame requiring a reply from one or more stations (including an EMLSR station), such as a unicast downlink data frame, a trigger frame, etc., and any of the following occurs: the AP fails to transmit the downlink frame, or the AP does not receive a reply (such as not receiving a reply from all stations or not receiving a reply from part of the stations), or the AP receives a reply but the reception is erroneous (such as frame reception errors from all stations or frame reception errors from part of the stations).

[0427] Therefore, in order to solve the problem that the AP cannot determine whether one or more EMLSR stations have switched back to the listening mode as described above, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which includes: if the AP cannot determine whether an EMLSR station (or an EMLSR non-AP MLD) with which it communicates has switched back to the listening mode, the AP re-sends an initial control frame to the EMLSR station (EMLSR non-AP MLD) with which it is associated. Optionally, the next frame sent by the AP to the EMLSR station is the initial control frame. Thus, the communication can continue without interruption.

[0428] It can be understood that there are many cases in which the AP cannot determine whether an EMLSR station (or an EMLSR non-AP MLD) with which it communicates has switched back to the listening mode, which are described below by way of example. It should be understood that the examples below do not limit the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. That is, the cases in which the AP cannot determine whether an EMLSR station (or an EMLSR non-AP MLD) with which it communicates has switched back to the listening mode in the embodiments of the present application include but are not limited to the examples below.

[0429] For example, referring to Figure 23, Figure 23 This is the ninth schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in this application embodiment. It describes how to maintain uninterrupted communication between the AP and one or more EMLSR sites when the AP cannot determine whether one or more EMLSR sites it is communicating with have switched back to listening mode. The first AP can be either a single-link AP or an AP in an AP MLD; this application embodiment does not impose any limitations. An EMLSR site is a non-AP STA in EMLSR mode within an EMLSR non-AP MLD. Figure 23 As shown, the communication method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0430] S11, during frame interaction with the EMLSR non-AP MLD, the first AP sends a downlink frame requesting a reply to the EMLSR non-AP MLD.

[0431] S12, when the first AP meets at least one condition in the preset condition set, the first AP sends an initial control frame to the EMLSR non-APMLD.

[0432] Among them, the non-AP STA associated with the first AP in the EMLSR non-AP MLD is the EMLSR site.

[0433] Optionally, during frame interaction with the EMLSR non-AP MLD, the first AP sends a downlink frame requesting a response, such as a downlink data frame or a trigger frame, to the EMLSR non-AP MLD. When the first AP meets at least one condition in a preset set of conditions, the first AP sends an initial control frame to the EMLSR non-AP MLD. Optionally, the next frame that the first AP sends to the EMLSR non-AP MLD on the first link is the initial control frame.

[0434] The preset condition set includes: downlink frame transmission failure of the first AP, no reply received by the first AP, and a reception error occurring when the first AP receives a reply. In other words, if the first AP sends a downlink frame requesting a reply to the EMLSR non-AP MLD during frame interaction, but the downlink frame transmission fails, or the first AP does not receive a reply, or the first AP receives a reply but a reception error occurs, then the first AP sends an initial control frame (e.g., a MU-RTS frame or a BSRP frame) to the EMLSR non-AP MLD.

[0435] Because the EMLSR station in the EMLSR non-AP MLD receives an initial control frame from the AP when performing the listening operation, the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream / antenna on other links to the link on which the EMLSR station operates to interact with the AP. After switching, there are multiple spatial streams on the link on which the EMLSR station operates. Because when the AP sends a downlink frame requiring a reply to the EMLSR non-AP MLD, the downlink frame fails to be sent, or the AP does not receive the reply, or the AP receives the reply but the reception occurs with errors, the AP cannot determine whether the EMLSR non-AP MLD (the EMLSR station therein) is switched back to the listening mode. Therefore, in this case, the AP sends an initial control frame to the EMLSR non-AP MLD again. If the EMLSR non-AP MLD (the EMLSR station therein) has been switched back to the listening mode at this time, when the EMLSR non-AP MLD (the EMLSR station therein) receives the initial control frame again, the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream / antenna on other links to the link on which the EMLSR station operates to interact with the AP again. If the EMLSR non-AP MLD (the EMLSR station therein) has not been switched back to the listening mode at this time, when the EMLSR non-AP MLD (the EMLSR station therein) receives the initial control frame again, the EMLSR non-AP MLD maintains the multiple spatial streams on the link on which the EMLSR station operates, that is, prevents the EMLSR non-AP MLD from being switched back to the listening mode.

[0436] Therefore, in the scenario in which one or more EMLSR stations cannot be determined by some APs whether the EMLSR stations have been switched back to the listening mode, the AP is constrained to send an initial control frame again, so that the communication can continue without being interrupted.

[0437] Reference is made to Figure 24 , Figure 24 is a tenth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first AP can be a single-link AP or an AP in an AP MLD, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. The EMLSR station is a non-AP STA in an EMLSR non-AP MLD in an EMLSR mode. As shown in Figure 24 , the communication method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0438] S21, when the EMLSR non-AP MLD receives the initial control frame sent by the AP after performing the listening operation on the first link, the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the links to the first link to interact with the AP.

[0439] S22, when the EMLSR non-AP MLD meets any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set, the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams on the first link back to the listening operation on the links.

[0440] Optionally, taking an EMLSR non-AP MLD with two links as an example, the first link and the second link, and the station in the EMLSR non-AP MLD working on the first link is an EMLSR station. When the EMLSR non-AP MLD (or the non-AP MLD in the EMLSR mode) performs the listening operation on the first link and the second link respectively, an initial control frame (such as a MU-RTS frame or a BSRP frame) from the AP is received on the first link, and the EMLSR non-AP MLD supporting the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches the spatial streams / antennas on the other link (here, the second link) to the first link to interact with the AP. After switching, there are multiple spatial streams on the first link. When the EMLSR non-AP MLD determines that any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set is met, the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches part of the spatial streams / antennas on the first link back to the second link, and performs the listening operation on the first link and the second link respectively. Optionally, when the non-AP MLD determines that any one of the preset conditions in the preset condition set is met, the non-AP MLD shall switch back to the listening operation after the EMLSR transition delay time length. In other words, if any of the following conditions is met, the non-AP MLD in the EMLSR mode (or the EMLSR station) switches back to the listening mode:

[0441] • The station that receives the initial control frame on the non-AP MLD does not receive a PHY-RXSTART.indication primitive within aSIFSTime + aSlotTime + aRxPHYStartDelay time. The time calculation starts from the end of the PPDU sent by the station to reply to the most recently received frame of the AP on the associated AP MLD; or, the time calculation starts from the end of the PPDU received by the station sent by the AP, which does not require an immediate reply.

[0442] • The station that receives the initial control frame on the non-AP MLD receives a PHY-RXSTART.indication primitive within aSIFSTime + aSlotTime + aRxPHYStartDelay time. The time calculation is the same as the time calculation rule of the previous condition, which is not repeated here; and the PPDU is not: a frame unicast to the station, or a trigger frame indicated by the User Info field to the station, or a CTS-to-self frame sent by the associated AP, or a Multi-STA BlockAck frame indicated by the Per AID TID Info to the station, or a VHT / HE / EHT null data packet (NDP) announcement frame indicated by the STA Info field to the station, or a BA frame sent to the AP by (other stations), or a unicast BAR frame sent by the AP.

[0443] • The station that receives the initial control frame on the non-AP MLD does not reply to the most recently received frame sent by the AP on the associated AP MLD, which requires an immediate reply after SIFS.

[0444] It can be understood that the preset condition set in the embodiments of the application includes one or more of the above conditions.

[0445] The embodiments of the present application provide some constraints for the EMLSR non-AP MLD switching back to the listening mode, which is beneficial to save the power consumption of the EMLSR non-AP MLD and avoid repeated switching due to unclear switching conditions. In addition, it is beneficial to improve the scheduling flexibility of the AP, and can prevent the AP from continuously sending packets to the EMLSR non-AP MLD for testing due to uncertainty of whether the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches back to the listening mode. In other words, it is beneficial to continue scheduling the EMLSR non-AP MLD by the AP and eliminate the uncertainty.

[0446] However, there may be problems under the switching rules of the EMLSR non-AP MLD (i.e., the constraints for the EMLSR non-AP MLD switching back to the listening mode). For example, under the third condition (i.e., "the station receiving the initial control frame on the non-AP MLD does not reply to the most recently received frame, which is sent by the AP on the associated AP MLD, and requires an immediate reply after SIFS"), if the AP on the AP MLD associated with the EMLSR non-AP MLD does not receive the reply of the EMLSR non-AP MLD, one possibility is that the AP assumes that the EMLSR non-AP MLD does not reply and has switched back to the listening mode. Another possibility is that the EMLSR non-AP MLD replies to the most recently received frame, but the reply fails (for example, collision occurs so that the AP does not receive it), at which time the EMLSR non-AP MLD does not switch back to the listening mode. Therefore, under the third condition, the AP side may not be able to determine whether the EMLSR non-AP MLD switches back to the listening mode, which may cause the problem that the AP cannot continue to communicate with the EMLSR station in the EMLSR non-AP MLD.

[0447] In addition, in some other scenarios, the AP may not be able to determine whether one or more EMLSR stations switch back to the listening mode due to problems in frame sending or frame receiving of the AP.

[0448] For example, the AP sends a downlink frame, such as a downlink data frame, a trigger frame, etc., which requires one or more stations (including EMLSR stations) to reply, and any of the following occurs: the AP's downlink frame sending fails, or the AP does not receive the reply, or the AP receives the reply but the receiving occurs with errors (such as all station reply frame receiving errors or part of the station reply frame receiving errors).

[0449] For example, the AP sends a unicast BAR frame to a station. This is because there can be a hidden node issue when the AP communicates with one or more stations, including at least one EMLSR station, so when the AP sends a unicast BAR frame to a station (e.g., the first station), the AP can not be able to determine whether the EMLSR station has switched back to listen mode regardless of whether the BA reply from the station is successful. The reasons why the AP cannot determine include, but are not limited to:

[0450] The BA reply from the station fails, which can be that the first station does not reply the BA, then the EMLSR station (not the first station) switches back to listen mode. It can also be that the first station replies the BA but the AP fails to receive it, in which case there are two cases: the EMLSR station (not the first station) hears the BA, then does not switch back to listen mode; or the first station is a hidden node of the EMLSR station (not the first station) and does not hear the BA, then switches back to listen mode.

[0451] The BA reply from the station succeeds, the EMLSR station (not the first station) hears the BA, then does not switch back to listen mode; or the first station is a hidden node of the EMLSR station (not the first station) and does not hear the BA, then switches back to listen mode.

[0452] Referring to Figure 25 , Figure 25 is a schematic diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application when the AP communicates with multiple stations. It is assumed that STA1 and STA2 are EMLSR stations and STA3 is a hidden node (it is assumed here that STA3 is a legacy station, such as a VHT station), and STA1 cannot listen to the transmission of STA3. As shown in Figure 25 , the AP sends a BSRP frame to STA1 and STA2, and STA1 and STA2 reply the BSR frame. Because STA1 and STA2 are EMLSR stations, when STA1 receives the BSRP frame, the EMLSR non-AP MLD to which STA1 belongs switches the spatial stream / antenna on other links to the link on which the STA1 works to interact with the AP. Similarly, when STA2 receives the BSRP frame, the EMLSR non-AP MLD to which STA2 belongs also switches the spatial stream / antenna on other links to the link on which the STA2 works to interact with the AP. In the first multi-user transmission process, the AP sends a DL MU PPDU to STA1, STA2 and STA3, and then sends a MU BAR frame to STA1 and STA2, and STA1 and STA2 reply BA frames to the AP respectively after receiving the MU BAR frame Figure 25(BA1 and BA2 in the diagram). Because STA3 is a legacy site, it cannot respond to MU BAR frames. Therefore, the AP sends a unicast BAR frame to STA3, and STA3, upon receiving the BAR frame, replies with BA3. Since STA3 is a hidden node, STA1 cannot hear its transmissions. Therefore, when STA3 transmits BA3, STA1 cannot hear BA3 and may switch back to listen mode (this is because STA1 considers the channel idle, and after a period of idle time, STA1 will switch back to listen mode). However, because the AP does not know whether STA1 can hear STA3's transmissions, that is, the AP does not know whether STA1 has switched back to listen mode, during the AP's second multi-user transmission, the AP sends a DLMU PPDU to STA1, STA2, and other sites. However, STA1 may have already switched back to listen mode, so STA1 cannot receive the DLMU PPDU, and communication between the AP and STA1 cannot continue.

[0453] Therefore, based on the problem that the AP cannot determine whether one or more EMLSR sites have switched back to listening mode, this application proposes the following solution:

[0454] If the AP cannot determine whether the EMLSR site (or EMLSR non-AP MLD) it is communicating with has switched back to listen mode, the AP resends the initial control frame to that EMLSR site (EMLSR non-AP MLD). Alternatively, if the AP cannot determine whether the EMLSR site operating on the first link within the EMLSR non-AP MLD has switched back to listen mode, the AP resends the initial control frame to that EMLSR site on that first link. Or, if the AP cannot determine whether the EMLSR site (or EMLSR non-AP MLD) it is communicating with has switched back to listen mode, and the AP wants to continue communicating with that EMLSR site, the AP resends the initial control frame to that EMLSR site (EMLSR non-AP MLD).

[0455] See Figure 26 , Figure 26 This is a schematic diagram illustrating how the AP and EMLSR site maintain communication even when a hidden node exists, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Assume STA1 and STA2 are EMLSR sites, and STA3 is a hidden node (here, STA3 is assumed to be a traditional site, such as a VHT site). STA1 cannot hear STA3's transmissions. Figure 26As shown, the AP sends a BSR frame to STA1 and STA2, and STA1 and STA2 reply the BSR frame. The AP sends a DL MU PPDU to STA1, STA2 and STA3, and the AP sends a MU BAR frame to STA1 and STA2. After receiving the MU BAR frame, STA1 and STA2 reply BA1 and BA2 to the AP respectively. Figure 26 Because STA3 is a legacy station, it cannot respond to the MU BAR frame. Therefore, the AP sends a unicast BAR frame to STA3 again. After receiving the BAR frame, STA3 replies BA3. Because STA3 is a hidden node, STA1 cannot hear the transmission of STA3. Therefore, when STA3 transmits BA3, STA1 cannot hear BA3, and STA1 can switch back to the listening mode (because STA1 considers that the channel is idle, and STA1 switches back to the listening mode after a period of time). If the AP wants to continue to communicate with STA1 or has data to send to STA1, the AP can send the initial control frame to STA1 and STA2 again.

[0456] In this way, if the EMLSR station has switched back to the listening mode, when the EMLSR station receives the initial control frame again, the EMLSR non-AP MLD to which the EMLSR station belongs switches the spatial streams / antennas on other links to the link on which the EMLSR station works again to interact with the AP. If the EMLSR station has not switched back to the listening mode, when the EMLSR station receives the initial control frame again, the EMLSR non-AP MLD to which the EMLSR station belongs keeps the multiple spatial streams on the link on which the EMLSR station works, that is, prevents the EMLSR non-AP MLD from switching back to the listening mode. Thus, the communication can continue without interruption.

[0457] The above describes the method provided by the present application in detail. In order to implement the above scheme of the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide a corresponding device or equipment.

[0458] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functions of the access point and the non-AP MLD according to the above method examples, for example, can divide each function module corresponding to each function, or can integrate two or more functions in one processing module. The above integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software function module. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. When actually implemented, another division mode can be used. The following will be described in combination with the embodiments of the present application. Figures 27 to 29The communication device of the embodiments of the present application is described in detail. The communication device is an access point or a non-AP MLD, and further, the communication device can be a device in the AP; or the communication device is a device in the non-AP MLD.

[0459] In the case of using an integrated unit, refer to Figure 27 , Figure 27 is a structural schematic diagram of the communication device 1 provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 27 , the communication device 1 includes a switching unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12.

[0460] In the first design, the communication device 1 can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip and the like. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link back to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first AP when the first frame sent by the first AP is received when performing the listening operation on the first link, and the non-AP MLD supports EML; the switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link to perform the listening operation when the non-AP MLD meets any one of a set of preset conditions. The set of preset conditions includes a first preset condition, and the first preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the TA of the wireless frame is different from the TA of the frame initiating the current TXOP, and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not the uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame includes a BA frame.

[0461] Optionally, if the non-AP MLD supports enhanced multi-link single radio EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; or, if the non-AP MLD supports enhanced multi-link multi-radio EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0462] In the second design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in a non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; and the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP in frame when the first frame sent by the first AP is received when performing the listening operation on the first link, and the non-AP MLD supports EML. The switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the listening operation on each link when the non-AP MLD satisfies any one of a set of preset conditions. The set of preset conditions includes a second preset condition, the second preset condition being that the non-AP MLD receives a unicast frame on the first link, the destination address of the unicast frame being another station, and the unicast frame not being a unicast control frame, and the other station being a station other than a station in the non-AP MLD operating on the first link.

[0463] In the third design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in a non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP when performing a listening operation on a first link; and the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP in frame when the first frame sent by the first AP is received when performing the listening operation on the first link, and the non-AP MLD supports EML. The switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the listening operation on each link when the non-AP MLD satisfies any one of a set of preset conditions. The third preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame sent by a TXOP holder on the first link, and there is no user information field of the non-AP MLD in the trigger frame or there is no association identifier indicating uplink OFDMA random access in the trigger frame.

[0464] The switching unit 11 can also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0465] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the first to third designs can correspond to perform the first embodiment, and the above operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operation of the non-AP MLD in the foregoing first embodiment, and for brevity, will not be described here.

[0466] In the fourth design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in a non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive the first frame when performing the listening operation on the first link; and the transceiver 12 is further configured to, after successfully receiving the first frame when performing the listening operation on the first link, and before the end of the frame interaction between the non-AP MLD and the first AP associated with the first station in the non-AP MLD, receive the first type of PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams, the first type of PPDU being a MU PPDU, or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame; and the switching unit 11 is configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for the listening operation when the non-AP MLD satisfies any one of the preset condition set. The broadcast frame carries a broadcast address as a receiving address, and the groupcast frame carries a groupcast address as a receiving address. The first type of PPDU carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the station on the first link is a receiver. The non-AP MLD supports EML, and the first frame is used to instruct the non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction. The preset condition set includes a first preset condition, and the first preset condition is that the non-AP MLD receives a wireless frame on the first link, the sending address of the wireless frame is different from the sending address of the frame initiating the current TXOP, and the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame, or the wireless frame is not an uplink unicast control frame and a frame for reporting, and the uplink unicast control frame includes a BA frame.

[0467] Optionally, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; or, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0468] Optionally, the first type of PPDU includes a frame for triggering, and the frame for triggering is used to schedule the non-AP MLD to send a triggered TB PPDU of a physical layer protocol data unit. The transceiver 12 is further configured to send the TB PPDU on the first link using multiple spatial streams.

[0469] Optionally, the switching unit 11 can also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0470] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the fourth design can correspond to the implementation example three, and the operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively used to implement the corresponding operations of the non-AP MLD in the foregoing implementation example three, and for brevity, will not be described here.

[0471] In the fifth design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a non-AP MLD or a chip in the non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link; after receiving the first frame sent by the first AP on the first link and switching the spatial streams on each link to the first link, the switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation if the non-AP MLD determines that the first frame interaction fails. The non-AP MLD supports EML.

[0472] Optionally, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; or, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0473] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1 can further include a determination unit 13. The determination unit 13 is configured to determine that the first frame interaction fails when any one of a set of preset conditions is met within a first time duration starting from a time when the non-AP MLD receives the first frame.

[0474] Optionally, the switching unit 11 and the determination unit 13 can be integrated on one module, such as a processing module.

[0475] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the fifth design can correspondingly execute the fourth embodiment, and the above operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operations of the non-AP MLD in the fourth embodiment, which will not be described herein for brevity.

[0476] In the sixth design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link, the first frame carrying a second time duration, a start time of the second time duration being an end time of receiving the first frame by the first non-AP MLD, the first non-AP MLD supporting EML, and the first frame being used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; the switching unit 11 is configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation after the second time duration.

[0477] Optionally, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; or, if the non-AP MLD supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0478] The switching unit 11 can also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0479] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the sixth design can correspondingly implement the fifth embodiment, and the above operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operations of the first non-AP MLD in the aforementioned fifth embodiment, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0480] In the seventh design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP in frames, and the first non-AP MLD supports EML; the transceiver 12 is further configured to receive a second frame on the first link using multiple spatial streams, the second frame including a more data subfield; and the switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation when the more data subfield in the second frame is 0.

[0481] The switching unit 11 can also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0482] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the seventh design can correspondingly implement the seventh embodiment, and the above operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operations of the first non-AP MLD in the aforementioned seventh embodiment, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0483] In the eighth design, the communication apparatus 1 can be a first non-AP MLD or a chip in the first non-AP MLD, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. The transceiver 12 is configured to receive a first frame sent by a first AP on a first link; the switching unit 11 is configured to switch spatial streams on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP in frames, and the first non-AP MLD supports EML; the transceiver 12 is further configured to receive a third frame on the first link, the third frame including an end of service period (EOSP) subfield set to 1; and the switching unit 11 is further configured to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the each link for listening operation.

[0484] The switching unit 11 can also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0485] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 1 in the eighth design can correspond to perform the eighth embodiment, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 1 are respectively to realize the corresponding operations of the first non-AP MLD in the eighth embodiment, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0486] Referring to Figure 28 , Figure 28 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 2 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus 2 can be a first AP or a chip in the first AP, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. As shown in Figure 28 , the communication apparatus 2 includes a first unit 21, and optionally a processing unit 22.

[0487] In the first design, the first unit 21 is configured to, after successfully sending a first frame on a first link and before frame interaction with N stations associated with the first AP ends, perform frame interaction with the N stations on the first link by using a first type of PPDU, the first type of PPDU being a MU PPDU or a PPDU containing a broadcast frame or a groupcast frame, and a non-AP MLD to which at least one station in the N stations belongs supporting EML; the broadcast frame carrying a broadcast address as a receiving address, the groupcast frame carrying a groupcast address as a receiving address, and the first type of PPDU carrying indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that a station on the first link is a receiver. It should be understood that the first unit 21 is configured to realize the transceiving function, and the first unit 21 can also be referred to as a transceiving unit.

[0488] Optionally, the processing unit 22 is configured to generate the first type of PPDU.

[0489] Optionally, if the non-AP MLD to which the at least one station belongs supports EMLSR, the first frame is an initial control frame; or, if the non-AP MLD to which the at least one station belongs supports EMLMR, the first frame is an initial frame.

[0490] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 2 in the first design can correspond to perform the second or third embodiment, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 2 are respectively to realize the corresponding operations of the first AP in the second or third embodiment, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0491] In the second design, the first unit 21 is configured to send a first frame on the first link, the first frame being used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; and the first unit 21 is further configured to send a second frame on the first link, the second frame including a more data subfield; when the more data subfield is set to 0, the first non-AP MLD is instructed to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation.

[0492] Optionally, the processing unit 22 is configured to generate the first frame and the data frame.

[0493] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 2 in the second design can correspond to the implementation example seven, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 2 are respectively used to realize the corresponding operations of the first AP in the above-mentioned implementation example seven, which will not be described herein again for the sake of brevity.

[0494] In the third design, the first unit 21 is configured to send a first frame on the first link, the first frame being used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the links to the first link for frame interaction with the first AP; and the first unit 21 is further configured to send a third frame on the first link, the third frame including an EOSP subfield, the EOSP subfield being set to 1, and being used to instruct the first non-AP MLD to switch the spatial streams on the first link back to the links for listening operation.

[0495] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 2 in the third design can correspond to the implementation example eight, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the communication apparatus 2 are respectively used to realize the corresponding operations of the first AP in the above-mentioned implementation example eight, which will not be described herein again for the sake of brevity.

[0496] The above introduces the AP and the non-AP MLD according to the embodiments of the present application, and the possible product forms of the AP and the non-AP MLD are introduced below. It should be understood that any product form of the AP and the non-AP MLD according to the embodiments of the present application, as long as it has the above-mentioned functions, falls within the protection scope of the present application. Figure 27 Any product form of the non-AP MLD having the above-mentioned functions, as long as it has the above-mentioned functions, falls within the protection scope of the present application. Figure 28 Any product form of the AP having the above-mentioned functions, as long as it has the above-mentioned functions, falls within the protection scope of the present application. It should be understood that the following introduction is only for example, and does not limit the product form of the AP and the non-AP MLD according to the embodiments of the present application.

[0497] As a possible product form, the AP and the non-AP MLD / STA according to the embodiments of the present application can be realized by a general bus architecture.

[0498] For the sake of description, refer to Figure 29 , Figure 29FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1000 can be an AP or a STA, or a chip thereof. Figure 29 Only main components of the communication apparatus 1000 are shown. In addition to the processor 1001 and the communication interface 1002, the communication apparatus can further include a memory 1003, and an input / output device (not shown in the figure).

[0499] The processor 1001 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the whole communication apparatus, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The memory 1003 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The communication interface 1002 can include a control circuit and an antenna, and the control circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals, and processing the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting 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.

[0500] When the communication apparatus is powered on, the processor 1001 can read the software programs in the memory 1003, interpret and execute the instructions of the software programs, and process the data of the software programs. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1001 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, 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 transmitted to the communication apparatus, 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 1001. The processor 1001 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0501] Optionally, the memory 1003 can be located in the processor 1001.

[0502] 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 apparatus.

[0503] The processor 1001, the communication interface 1002, and the memory 1003 can be connected through a communication bus.

[0504] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be used to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the foregoing embodiment one: the processor 1001 can be used to perform steps S101 and S102 in the method 1000, and / or other processes described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be used to receive the data transmitted by the non-AP MLD. Figure 7 Figure 7 ​the first frame in the first PPDU, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0505] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment two: the processor 1001 can be configured to generate Figure 8 the first type of PPDU transmitted in step S201 in the preceding embodiment two, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 8 step S201 in the preceding embodiment two, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0506] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment three: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 9 step S303 in the preceding embodiment three, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 9 step S302 in the preceding embodiment three, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0507] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment three: the processor 1001 can be configured to generate Figure 9 the first type of PPDU transmitted in step S301 in the preceding embodiment three, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 9 step S301 in the preceding embodiment three, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0508] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment four: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 10 steps S401 and S402 in the preceding embodiment four, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be configured to receive Figure 10 the first frame in the preceding embodiment four, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0509] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment five: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 12 step S503 in the preceding embodiment five, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the communication interface 1002 can be configured to receive Figure 12 step S502 in the preceding embodiment five, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0510] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment five: the processor 1001 can be configured to generateFigure 12 The first frame transmitted in step S501, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. Figure 12 In step S501, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0511] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment six: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment six. Figure 15 The first frame transmitted in step S601 and step S602, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. Figure 15 The first frame transmitted in step S601, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0512] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment seven: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment seven. Figure 17 The first frame transmitted in step S702 and step S705, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. Figure 17 In step S704, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0513] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment seven: the processor 1001 can be configured to generate Figure 17 The first frame transmitted in step S701 and the data frame transmitted in step S703, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. Figure 17 In step S701 and step S703, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0514] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment eight: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment eight. Figure 20 The first frame transmitted in step S802 and step S805, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein. Figure 20 In step S804, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0515] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment eight: the processor 1001 can be configured to generate Figure 20The first frame sent in step S801 and the second frame sent in step S803, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 20 In step S801 and step S803, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0516] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the preceding embodiment nine: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 21 In step S901, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 21 In step S902, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0517] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the first AP in the preceding embodiment nine: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 21 In step S904, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 21 In step S903, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0518] In one design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the STA in the preceding embodiment ten: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 22 In step S1, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 22 In step S2, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0519] In another design, the communication apparatus 1000 can be configured to perform the functions of the AP in the preceding embodiment ten: the processor 1001 can be configured to perform Figure 22 In step S4, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the communication interface 1002 can be configured to perform Figure 22 In step S3, and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0520] In any of the above designs, the processor 1001 can include a communication interface for implementing 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 receiving and sending functions can be separate or integrated together. The above transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit can be used for code / data reading and writing, or the above transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit can be used for signal transmission or transfer.

[0521] In any of the above designs, the processor 1001 can store instructions, which can be a computer program, that when run on the processor 1001 can cause the communication device 1000 to perform the methods described in any of the above embodiments. The computer program can be hard coded into the processor 1001, in which case the processor 1001 can be implemented by hardware.

[0522] In an implementation, the communication device 1000 can include circuitry that can implement the functions of transmitting or receiving or communicating described in any of the above embodiments. The processor and the 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 the communication interface can also be manufactured using various IC technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0523] The scope of the communication device described in the present application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device can not be limited by Figure 29 The communication device can be a standalone device or can be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be:

[0524] (1) a standalone integrated circuit (IC), or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem;

[0525] (2) a set of one or more ICs, optionally the set of ICs can also include storage components for storing data, computer programs;

[0526] (3) an ASIC, such as a Modem;

[0527] (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices;

[0528] (5) receivers, terminals, smart terminals, cellular phones, wireless devices, handsets, mobile units, car kits, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, and the like;

[0529] (6) others, and the like.

[0530] As a possible product form, the AP and non-AP MLD / STA described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general-purpose processor.

[0531] The general-purpose processor implementing the non-AP MLD includes a processing circuit and an input / output interface in communication with the processing circuit.

[0532] In one design, the general-purpose processor can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the first embodiment described above. Specifically, the processing circuit can be configured to perform steps S101 and S102 in Figure 7 Figure 7 and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the input / output interface can be configured to receive the first frame in

[0533] and / or other processes for the techniques described herein. Figure 9 Figure 9 In one design, the general-purpose processor can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the third embodiment described above. Specifically, the processing circuit can be configured to perform step S303 in

[0534] and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the input / output interface can be configured to perform step S302 in Figure 10 Figure 10 and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.

[0535] In one design, the general-purpose processor can be configured to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in the fourth embodiment described above. Specifically, the processing circuit can be configured to perform steps S401 and S402 in Figure 15 Figure 15 and / or other processes for the techniques described herein; and the input / output interface can be configured to receive the first frame in

[0536] and / or other processes for the techniques described herein.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the non-AP MLD in Embodiment Nine described above. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform... Figure 21 In step S901, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 21 Step S902, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0537] The general-purpose processor that implements the first non-AP MLD includes processing circuitry and input / output interfaces that are internally connected and communicate with the processing circuitry.

[0538] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the aforementioned embodiment five. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform... Figure 12 In step S503, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to receive... Figure 12 Step S502, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0539] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the aforementioned embodiment seven. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform... Figure 17 Steps S702 and S705, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 17 Step S704, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0540] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first non-AP MLD in the aforementioned embodiment eight. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform... Figure 20 Steps S802 and S805, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 20 Step S804, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0541] The general-purpose processor implementing the STA includes processing circuitry and input / output interfaces internally connected and communicating with the processing circuitry. Specifically, the general-purpose processor can be used to execute the functions of the STA in the aforementioned embodiment ten. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to execute... Figure 22 Step S1, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; input / output interfaces can be used to perform Figure 22 Step S2, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0542] A general-purpose processor for implementing an AP includes processing circuitry and input / output interfaces that are internally connected and communicate with the processing circuitry.

[0543] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first AP in the aforementioned embodiment two. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to generate... Figure 8 The first type of PPDU sent in step S201, and / or other processes used to perform the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 8 Step S201, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0544] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first AP in the aforementioned embodiment three. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to generate... Figure 9 The first type of PPDU sent in step S301, and / or other processes used to perform the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 9 Step S301, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0545] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first AP in the aforementioned embodiment seven. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to generate... Figure 17 The first frame sent in step S701 and the data frame sent in step S703, and / or other processes used to perform the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform... Figure 17 Steps S701 and S703, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0546] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first AP in the aforementioned embodiment eight. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to generate... Figure 20 The first frame sent in step S801 and the second frame sent in step S803, and / or other processes used to perform the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 20 Steps S801 and S803, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0547] In one design, a general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first AP in the aforementioned embodiment nine. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform... Figure 21 In step S904, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform Figure 21 Step S903, and / or other processes used in the techniques described herein.

[0548] In one design, a general purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the AP in the preceding embodiment ten. Specifically, the processing circuitry can be used to perform the steps S4 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform the steps S3 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for the techniques described herein. Figure 22 In step S4 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform the steps S3 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for the techniques described herein. Figure 22 In step S4 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for performing the techniques described herein; the input / output interface can be used to perform the steps S3 in the preceding embodiment ten, and / or other procedures for the techniques described herein.

[0549] It should be understood that the communication apparatuses in the various product forms described above have any of the functions of the AP or non-AP MLD in any of the embodiments described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0550] The embodiments of the present application also provide 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 preceding embodiments.

[0551] The embodiments of the present application also provide 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 preceding embodiments.

[0552] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication apparatus, which can exist in the product form of a chip, the structure of the apparatus includes a processor and an interface circuit, the processor is used to communicate with other apparatuses through the receiving circuit, so that the apparatus executes the method in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0553] The embodiments of the present application also provide a wireless communication system, which includes an AP and a non-AP MLD, the AP and the non-AP MLD can execute the method in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0554] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the present disclosure can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, 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. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium can reside as discrete components in a core network interface device. In yet another alternative, the processor and the storage medium can reside in a core network interface device that is external to the core network interface device.

[0555] Those skilled in the art can realize that the functions described in one or more examples described above can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the functions can be stored in or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer-readable storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

[0556] The specific implementation described above is for the purpose of explanation only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: When a non-AP MLD performs a listening operation on the first link and receives the first frame sent by the first access point AP, the non-AP MLD switches the spatial stream on each link to the first link to perform frame interaction with the first access point AP. The non-AP MLD supports enhanced multi-link EML. When the non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) meets the preset conditions, the non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) switches the spatial stream on the first link back to each of the links for listening operations. The preset conditions include: the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame on the first link, and the trigger frame does not contain the user information field of the non-AP MLD.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a multi-user request to send a MU-RTS frame, or a buffer status report polling BSRP frame.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The preset conditions also include one or more of the following preset conditions: The non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link; The non-AP MLD receives an Efficient Multi-User Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (HEMU PPDU) on the first link. The Basic Service Set (BSS) color carried in the HEMU PPDU is the same as the BSS color of the BSS of the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD. The HEMU PPDU does not contain any site identifier field of Resource Unit (RU) indicating that the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD is the receiver of the RU or one of the receivers. The BSS color prohibition field carried in the HE operation element most recently received by the non-AP MLD from the first access point (AP) has a value of 0. The carrier sensing mechanism indicates that the channel corresponding to the first link has been idle for a continuous period of time until the length boundary of the inter-frame interval TxPIFS of the transmission point coordination function is reached.

4. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver unit is used to receive the first frame sent by the first AP when performing a listening operation on the first link; The switching unit is used to switch the spatial stream on each link to the first link to interact with the first AP after receiving the first frame sent by the first AP when performing a listening operation on the first link. The non-AP MLD supports EML. The switching unit is also used to switch the spatial stream on the first link back to each link for listening operation when the non-AP MLD meets the preset conditions; The preset conditions include: the non-AP MLD receives a trigger frame on the first link, and the trigger frame does not contain the user information field of the non-AP MLD.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The trigger frame includes one or more of the following: a multi-user request to send a MU-RTS frame, or a buffer status report polling BSRP frame.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The preset conditions also include one or more of the following preset conditions: The non-AP MLD receives a frame of another basic service set on the first link; The non-AP MLD receives an Efficient Multi-User Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (HE MUPPDU) on the first link. The Basic Service Set (BSS) color carried in the HE MUPPDU is the same as the BSS color of the BSS of the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD. The HE MUPPDU does not contain any site identifier field of Resource Unit (RU) indicating that the station operating on the first link in the non-AP MLD is the receiver of the RU or one of the receivers. The BSS color prohibition field carried in the HE operation element most recently received by the non-AP MLD from the first AP has a value of 0. The carrier sensing mechanism indicates that the channel corresponding to the first link has been idle for a continuous period of time until the length boundary of the inter-frame interval TxPIFS of the transmission point coordination function is reached.

7. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used to send and receive information or frames, the processor being used to execute instructions, and communicating with other devices through the communication interface, causing the communication devices to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-3.

8. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes an input / output interface and a processing circuit, wherein the input / output interface is used to send and receive information or frames, and the processing circuit is used to execute instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-3.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-3.

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