Communication method, access point multi-link device, and non-access point multi-link device

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method, comprising: an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) generates a first signaling through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, the first signaling is used for indicating a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, and the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is periodically effective; and the AP MLD sends the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the affiliated AP. The mapping relationship indicated by the sent first signaling is periodically effective, so that the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link is periodically indicated, repeated multiple times of sending the signaling for indicating the mapping relationship is avoided, and signaling overhead is saved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of communication, and more particularly, to a communication method, an access point multi-link device and a non-access point multi-link device. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of mobile Internet and the popularity of smart terminals, data traffic is growing rapidly. Wireless local area network (WLAN) technology has become one of the mainstream mobile broadband access technologies due to its advantages of high speed and low cost. The protocol currently adopted by WLAN proposes the concept of multi-link device (MLD), wherein the MLD can be an access point MLD (AP MLD) or a non-AP MLD.

[0003] When a non-AP MLD is associated with an AP MLD, since there are multiple links, different TID data services can be mapped to different links according to traffic identifiers (TIDs) to provide differentiated (quality of service, QoS). For example, the AP MLD broadcasts traffic identifier to link mapping (TID-to-link mapping) for all associated non-AP MLDs.

[0004] Currently, the signaling design of TID-to-link mapping only supports aperiodicity, so how to design a periodic TID-to-link mapping becomes a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method, in a multi-link scenario, a first signaling indicating a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link sent by an AP MLD is periodically effective, so as to save signaling overhead.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) or a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the AP MLD, and no limitation is made in this regard. For ease of description, the following will be described by taking the execution by the AP MLD as an example.

[0007] The method comprises: an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) generates first signaling by a subordinate access point (AP) belonging to the AP MLD, the first signaling being used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling comprising first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; the first indication information being used to indicate a starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, the second indication information being used to indicate a time length at which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information being used to indicate an interval between a starting time or an ending time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective; and the AP MLD sends the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the subordinate AP. The service identifier is used to identify a data service, the link is a transmission link between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD, and the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicates that different data services are mapped to different links.

[0008] Based on the technical solution, the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling sent by the AP MLD is periodically effective, so as to periodically indicate the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link, support more complex application scenarios, and avoid repeatedly sending indication information indicating the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link, so as to save signaling overhead.

[0009] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first signaling further comprises fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate a number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective, and the number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective being greater than 1.

[0010] Based on the technical solution, the first signaling can further comprise information indicating the number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective, so as to enable the non-AP MLD to know the number of times at which the first signaling can be effective.

[0011] As a special case, when the fourth indication information has a value of 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is non-periodically effective. That is, when the first signaling comprises the fourth indication information and the fourth indication information has a value of 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is non-periodically effective; and when the first signaling comprises the fourth indication information and the fourth indication information has a value greater than 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is periodically effective.

[0012] As another special case, the mapping relationship of the first signaling indication can also not be indicated by the fourth indication information as being periodically effective or non-periodically effective, that is, the first signaling does not include the fourth indication information, and the mapping relationship of the first signaling indication can also be indicated by other manners as being periodically effective or non-periodically effective. For example, if the third indication information is set as a special value, such as 0 or 255, it indicates that the mapping relationship of the first signaling indication is non-periodically effective; otherwise, the mapping relationship of the first signaling indication is periodically effective.

[0013] In a special case, the mapping relationship of the first signaling indication supports both non-periodic effectiveness and periodic effectiveness, which expands the application scenarios of the first signaling.

[0014] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the AP MLD sends, through the affiliated AP, the first signaling to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD, including: the AP MLD sends, through the affiliated AP, a beacon frame to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD, and the first signaling is included in the beacon frame.

[0015] Based on the above technical solution, the first signaling can be sent through an existing frame, and the backward compatibility of the scheme is improved.

[0016] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first signaling is used to indicate the mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, including: the first signaling is used to indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any service identifier in a time period in which the mapping relationship is effective; and the method further includes: the AP MLD uses the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP and a second affiliated AP to transceive data in the first time period through the second affiliated AP.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, the first signaling can indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP belonging to the AP MLD is not mapped to any service identifier in the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, indicating that the first affiliated AP is not allowed to use the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP to transceive data in the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, and a non-AP MLD is also not allowed to send data to the first affiliated AP, so that other affiliated APs (such as a second affiliated AP) belonging to the AP MLD can use the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP to transceive data in addition to using the radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP to transceive data in the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, thereby increasing the transmission rate between the second affiliated AP and the stations associated therewith.

[0018] In some implementations of the first aspect, the first signaling is configured to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, and the first signaling is configured to indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any of the service identifiers in a time period in which the mapping relationship is valid. The method further includes: sending, by the AP MLD, second signaling to the first station via the second affiliated AP, the second signaling being configured to instruct the first station to communicate with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake; and performing, by the AP MLD, data transmission and reception using the radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP and the second affiliated AP in the time period in which the first station is awake, wherein the first station is a station associated with the second affiliated AP, the start time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than the start time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a first threshold, the end time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than the end time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a second threshold, and the number of the time period in which the first station is awake is the same as the number of the time period in which the mapping relationship is valid.

[0019] In some implementations of the first aspect, the second signaling includes information indicating the start time of the first time that the first station is awake, information indicating the length of time that the first station is awake each time, and information indicating the interval between the start time or the end time of adjacent two times that the first station is awake.

[0020] Based on the above technical solution, the first signaling can indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP of the AP MLD is not mapped to any of the service identifiers in the time period in which the mapping relationship is valid, indicating that the first affiliated AP is not allowed to use the radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in the time period in which the mapping relationship is valid, and other affiliated APs (e.g., the second affiliated AP) affiliated to the AP MLD can instruct the first station associated with the second affiliated AP to wake up and communicate with the second affiliated AP in the time period in which the first station is awake via the second signaling, wherein the time period in which the first station is awake can be the same as the time period in which the mapping relationship is valid, or the start time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than the start time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a first threshold, the end time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than the end time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a second threshold, and the second affiliated AP can use the radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in addition to using its own radio frequency transceiver to transmit and receive data in the time period in which the first station is awake, thereby increasing the transmission rate between the second affiliated AP and the station associated therewith, and the first station can be in an energy-saving mode at a time other than the time period in which the first station is awake.

[0021] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the AP MLD through the second affiliated AP, a request message from the first station, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, the request message including information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

[0022] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use long-distance transmission mode service.

[0023] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the AP MLD generates the first signaling through an affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, including: the AP MLD generates the first signaling through the affiliated AP according to the information included in the request message.

[0024] The second aspect provides a communication method, which can be executed by a non-AP MLD or a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the non-AP MLD, and is not limited in this regard. For ease of description, the following describes an example in which the communication method is executed by a non-AP MLD.

[0025] The communication method includes: receiving, by a non-AP MLD associated with an AP MLD, first signaling sent by the AP MLD through an affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, the first signaling being used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling including first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; the first indication information being used to indicate a starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, the second indication information being used to indicate a time length for which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information being used to indicate an interval between a starting time or an ending time of adjacent two times of effectiveness of the mapping relationship; and determining, by the non-AP MLD, a transmission link of a data service according to the first signaling.

[0026] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first signaling further includes fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate a number of times of effectiveness of the mapping relationship, where the number of times of effectiveness of the mapping relationship is greater than 1.

[0027] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the non-AP MLD receives the first signaling sent by the AP MLD through an access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, including that the non-AP MLD receives a beacon frame sent by the AP MLD through the AP affiliated to the AP MLD, and the first signaling is included in the beacon frame.

[0028] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first signaling is used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, including that the first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first affiliated AP is not mapped to the service identifier in a time period in which the mapping relationship is valid; and the method further includes that the non-AP MLD receives second signaling from a second affiliated AP, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first station communicates with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake, where the first station is a station associated with the second affiliated AP, a starting time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a starting time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a first threshold, an ending time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than an ending time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is valid by a second threshold, and a number of the time period in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the time period in which the mapping relationship is valid.

[0029] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes that the non-AP MLD sends a request message to the second affiliated AP, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message includes information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

[0030] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, information indicating a service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service.

[0031] The method of the second aspect and possible designs thereof has the advantages of the method of the first aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0032] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by an access point multi-link device (AP MLD), or can also be executed by a component (for example, a chip or a circuit) of the AP MLD, and the execution is not limited. For ease of description, the method is described below by taking the execution by the AP MLD as an example.

[0033] The communication method comprises: an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) receiving, through a second affiliated access point (AP), a request message from a first station, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message comprising information indicating an interval between two adjacent times of triggering scheduling; and the AP MLD performing data transmission and reception with the first station through the second affiliated AP by using a radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and a first radio frequency transceiver of a first affiliated AP, wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is all or part of the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP.

[0034] Based on the technical solution, after the second affiliated AP of the AP MLD receives the request message of the first station associated with the second affiliated AP for periodically triggering scheduling, the second affiliated AP can perform data transmission and reception with the first station by using the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP, thereby increasing the transmission rate between the second affiliated AP and the station associated with the second affiliated AP.

[0035] With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the request message further comprises at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, information indicating a service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service.

[0036] With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first radio frequency transceiver is all of the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP, and the method further comprises: the AP MLD generating, through the second affiliated AP or the first affiliated AP, first signaling according to the information comprised in the request message, the first signaling being used to indicate that a link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any traffic identifier in a first time period; and the AP MLD sending, through the first affiliated AP, the first signaling to a non-AP MLD, wherein the non-AP MLD is an non-AP MLD associated with the first affiliated AP. The first signaling can be signaling (such as TID-to-link mapping) used to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, and can also be other signaling (such as 1-bit information).

[0037] Based on the technical solution, the affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD generates first signaling indicating that the link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any service identifier in the first time period, and sends the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the first affiliated AP, to prohibit the non-AP MLD from sending data to the first affiliated AP, and meanwhile, the first affiliated AP does not allow the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP to transceive data in the first time period, so that the second affiliated AP can transceive data through the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP.

[0038] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first radio frequency transceiver chain is a partial radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, and the method further includes: the AP MLD sending, through the first affiliated AP, third signaling to a non-AP MLD, the third signaling being used to indicate that a radio frequency transceiver chain other than the first radio frequency transceiver chain is used for transmission between the non-AP MLD and the first affiliated AP in the first time period.

[0039] Based on the technical solution, the affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD generates third signaling indicating that a partial radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP cannot be used by the first affiliated AP in the first time period, and sends the third signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the first affiliated AP, so that the first affiliated AP does not allow the partial radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP to transceive data in the first time period, so that the second affiliated AP can transceive data through the partial radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, and the first affiliated AP can still use a radio frequency transceiver chain other than the first radio frequency transceiver chain to transceive data in the first time period to serve the station associated therewith.

[0040] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the AP MLD transceives data with the first station through the second affiliated AP using the radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, including: the AP MLD transceives data with the first station through the second affiliated AP using the radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP in the first time period.

[0041] Based on the technical solution, the second affiliated AP can transceive data through the first radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP in the time period in which the first affiliated AP does not use the first radio frequency transceiver chain, to avoid conflict.

[0042] In some implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the AP MLD sending, by the second affiliated AP, second signaling to the first station, the second signaling indicating that the first station communicates with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake, wherein a start time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a first threshold of a start time of the corresponding first time period, an end time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a first threshold of an end time of the corresponding first time period, and a number of the time period in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the first time period.

[0043] In some implementations of the third aspect, the AP MLD transmits and receives data with the first station by the second affiliated AP using the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP, including: the AP MLD transmits and receives data with the first station by the second affiliated AP in the time period in which the first station is awake using the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP.

[0044] Based on the above technical solutions, the second affiliated AP can indicate, through the second signaling, the first station associated with the second affiliated AP to wake up to communicate with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake, wherein the time period in which the first station is awake can be the same as the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, or a start time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a first threshold of a start time of the corresponding first time period, an end time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a first threshold of an end time of the corresponding first time period, and the second affiliated AP can use the radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in addition to using the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in the time period in which the first station is awake, thereby increasing the transmission rate between the second affiliated AP and the station associated therewith, and the first station can be in the energy saving mode at a time other than the time period in which the first station is awake.

[0045] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first station or a component (such as a chip or a circuit) of the first station, and the application does not make any limitation in this regard. For ease of description, the following describes the execution of the method by the first station.

[0046] The communication method comprises: a first station associated with a second affiliated access point (AP) to which an AP multi-link device (AP MLD) belongs, sending a request message to the second affiliated AP, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message comprising information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling; and the first station and the second affiliated AP performing data transmission and reception through a radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and a first radio frequency transceiver of a first affiliated AP.

[0047] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the request message further comprises at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, information indicating a service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service.

[0048] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first station and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP, comprising: the first station and the second affiliated AP performing data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP in a first time period, wherein the first affiliated AP does not use the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP to perform data transmission and reception in the first time period.

[0049] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises: the first station receiving second signaling from the second affiliated AP, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first station communicates with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake, wherein a starting time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a first threshold value of a starting time of a corresponding first time period, an ending time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a first threshold value of an ending time of the corresponding first time period, and a number of the time period in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the first time period.

[0050] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first station and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP, comprising: the first station and the second affiliated AP performing data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake.

[0051] The method shown in the above fourth aspect and possible designs thereof has the advantages of the method shown in the third aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0052] In a fifth aspect, an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) is provided, and the AP MLD is configured to perform the method provided in the first aspect.

[0053] The AP MLD comprises a processing unit configured to generate, by an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, a first signaling, the first signaling being configured to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling comprising first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information.

[0054] The first indication information is configured to indicate a starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for a first time, the second indication information is configured to indicate a time length at which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information is configured to indicate an interval between a starting time or an ending time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0055] The AP MLD further comprises a sending unit configured to send, by the affiliated AP, the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD.

[0056] In combination with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the first signaling further comprises fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being configured to indicate a number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective, wherein the number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective is greater than 1.

[0057] In combination with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the sending unit sends, by the affiliated AP, the first signaling to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD, comprising: the sending unit sends, by the affiliated AP, a beacon frame to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD, the beacon frame comprising the first signaling.

[0058] In combination with the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the first signaling is configured to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, comprising: the first signaling is configured to indicate that a link of a first affiliated AP is not mapped to any of the traffic identifiers in a time period in which the mapping relationship is effective; and the processing unit is further configured to use, by a second affiliated AP, a radio frequency transceiver of the first affiliated AP and the second affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0059] In some implementations of the fifth aspect, in conjunction with the fifth aspect, the first signaling is configured to indicate a mapping relationship between the service identifiers and the links, and the first signaling is configured to indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any of the service identifiers in a time period in which the mapping relationship is valid.

[0060] In some implementations of the fifth aspect, in conjunction with the fifth aspect, the AP MLD further includes a receiving unit configured to receive a request message from the first station via the second affiliated AP, the request message being configured to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message including information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

[0061] In some implementations of the fifth aspect, in conjunction with the fifth aspect, the request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service.

[0062] In some implementations of the fifth aspect, in conjunction with the fifth aspect, the processing unit generates the first signaling via an affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, and the processing unit generates the first signaling via the affiliated AP according to the information included in the request message.

[0063] The method of the above fifth aspect and possible designs thereof has the advantages of the first aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0064] A sixth aspect provides a non-AP multi-link device (non-AP MLD), which is configured to execute the method of the second aspect.

[0065] The non-AP MLD comprises: a receiving unit, configured to receive first signaling sent by an AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, the first signaling being used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling comprising first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate a starting moment at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, the second indication information is used to indicate a time length at which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information is used to indicate an interval between a starting moment or an ending moment of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective; and a processing unit, configured to determine a transmission link of a data service according to the first signaling.

[0066] With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the first signaling further comprises fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate a number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective, and the number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective is greater than 1.

[0067] With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the receiving unit receives the first signaling sent by the AP MLD through the affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, and the receiving unit receives a beacon frame sent by the AP MLD through the affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, and the beacon frame comprises the first signaling.

[0068] With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the first signaling is used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, and the first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first affiliated AP is not mapped to the service identifier in a time period in which the mapping relationship is effective; and the receiving unit is further configured to receive second signaling from a second affiliated AP, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first station communicates with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station wakes up, the first station being a station associated with the second affiliated AP, a starting moment of the time period in which the first station wakes up being later than a first threshold value of a starting moment of a corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, an ending moment of the time period in which the first station wakes up being earlier than a first threshold value of an ending moment of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, and a number of the time period in which the first station wakes up being the same as a number of the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0069] With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the non-AP MLD further comprises a sending unit, configured to send a request message to the second affiliated AP, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message comprises information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

[0070] In some implementations of the sixth aspect, the request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of the trigger scheduling, information indicating a service time of each trigger scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each trigger scheduling, information indicating an access policy, information requesting a long distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long distance transmission mode service.

[0071] The method of the sixth aspect and possible designs thereof has the advantages of the second aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0072] In a seventh aspect, an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) is provided, which is configured to perform the method of the third aspect.

[0073] The AP MLD includes: a receiving unit configured to receive, by a second affiliated access point (AP), a request message from a first station, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, the request message including information indicating an interval between adjacent two trigger scheduling; and a processing unit configured to perform, by the second affiliated AP, data transmission and reception with the first station using a radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and a first radio frequency transceiver of a first affiliated AP, wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is all or part of radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP.

[0074] In some implementations of the seventh aspect, the request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of the trigger scheduling, information indicating a service time of each trigger scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each trigger scheduling, information indicating an access policy, information requesting a long distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long distance transmission mode service.

[0075] In some implementations of the seventh aspect, the first radio frequency transceiver is all radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP, and the processing unit is further configured to generate, by the second affiliated AP or the first affiliated AP, a first signaling according to the information included in the request message, the first signaling being used to indicate that a link of the first affiliated AP is not mapped to any traffic identifier in a first time period; and the AP MLD is configured to send the first signaling to a non-AP MLD through the first affiliated AP, wherein the non-AP MLD is an associated non-AP MLD of the first affiliated AP. The first signaling can be a signaling (e.g., TID-to-link mapping) used to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, or other signaling (e.g., 1-bit information).

[0076] In a seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the first radio transceiver chain is a partial radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, and the AP MLD further includes a sending unit configured to send, through the first affiliated AP, third signaling to a non-AP MLD, the third signaling being used to instruct the non-AP MLD to perform transmission using a radio transceiver chain other than the first radio transceiver chain within a first time period.

[0077] In a seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the processing unit performs data transceiving with the first station through the second affiliated AP using the radio transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, including that the processing unit performs data transceiving with the first station through the second affiliated AP within a first time period using the radio transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP.

[0078] In a seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the sending unit is further configured to send, through the second affiliated AP, second signaling to the first station, the second signaling being used to instruct the first station to perform communication with the second affiliated AP within a time period in which the first station is awake, wherein a start time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a first threshold of a start time of a corresponding first time period, an end time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a first threshold of an end time of the corresponding first time period, and a number of the time periods in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the first time periods.

[0079] In a seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, the processing unit performs data transceiving with the first station through the second affiliated AP using the radio transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP, including that the processing unit performs data transceiving with the first station through the second affiliated AP within a time period in which the first station is awake using the radio transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP.

[0080] The method of the above seventh aspect and possible designs thereof has the beneficial effects as described with reference to the third aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0081] An eighth aspect provides a first station configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect.

[0082] The first station comprises: a sending unit configured to send a request message to a second affiliated AP associated with the first station, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message comprising information indicating interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling; and a processing unit configured to perform data transmission and reception with the second affiliated AP through a radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and a first radio frequency transceiver of the first station.

[0083] With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the request message further comprises at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, information indicating service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use long-distance transmission mode service.

[0084] With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the processing unit and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first station, comprising: the processing unit and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first station in a first time period, and the first station does not use the first radio frequency transceiver of the first station to perform data transmission and reception in the first time period.

[0085] With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the first station further comprises: a receiving unit configured to receive second signaling from the second affiliated AP, the second signaling being used to instruct the first station to communicate with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station is awake, wherein a starting time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a first threshold of a starting time of a corresponding first time period, an ending time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a first threshold of an ending time of the corresponding first time period, and a number of the time period in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the first time period.

[0086] With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, the processing unit and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first station, comprising: the processing unit and the second affiliated AP perform data transmission and reception through the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and the first radio frequency transceiver of the first station in a time period in which the first station is awake.

[0087] The method shown in the above eighth aspect and possible designs thereof has the beneficial effects as described in the fourth aspect and possible designs thereof.

[0088] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which is configured to execute the method provided in the first aspect or the third aspect. Specifically, the communication apparatus can include units and / or modules for performing the method provided in any one of the implementation manners of the first aspect or the third aspect, such as a processing unit and an obtaining unit.

[0089] In an implementation manner, when the communication apparatus is an AP MLD, the transceiving unit can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface; and the processing unit can be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiving circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0090] In another implementation manner, when the communication apparatus is a chip, a chip system or a circuit in an AP MLD, the transceiving unit can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuit on the chip, the chip system or the circuit; and the processing unit can be at least one processor, a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0091] In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which is configured to execute the method provided in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. Specifically, the communication apparatus can include units and / or modules for performing the method provided in the second aspect or the fourth aspect, such as a processing unit and an obtaining unit.

[0092] In an implementation manner, when the communication apparatus is a non-AP MLD, the transceiving unit can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface; and the processing unit can be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiving circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0093] In another implementation manner, when the communication apparatus is a chip, a chip system or a circuit in a non-AP MLD, the transceiving unit can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuit on the chip, the chip system or the circuit; and the processing unit can be at least one processor, a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0094] In an eleventh aspect, a processor is provided, which is configured to execute the method provided in the aspects.

[0095] For the sending and obtaining / receiving operations of the processor, if no special description is made, or if it is not contrary to the actual role or inherent logic in the related description, it can be understood as the processor output and receive, input and other operations, and can also be understood as the sending and receiving operations performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna, which are not limited in the present application.

[0096] In a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium storing program code for execution by an apparatus is provided, the program code comprising instructions for performing the method provided in any of the implementations of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0097] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method provided in any of the implementations of the first aspect to the fourth aspect is provided.

[0098] In a fourteenth aspect, a chip is provided, the chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, the processor reading instructions stored on a memory through the communication interface and performing the method provided in any of the implementations of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0099] Optionally, as an implementation, the chip further comprises a memory, the memory storing a computer program or instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program or instructions stored on the memory, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the processor is configured to perform the method provided in any of the implementations of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0100] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising the AP MLD of the fifth aspect and the non-AP MLD of the sixth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0101] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system suitable for the communication method of the embodiments of the present application;

[0102] Figure 2 is an internal structure diagram of an access point;

[0103] Figure 3 is an internal structure diagram of a station;

[0104] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an MLD;

[0105] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD establishing a link;

[0106] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a TWT service phase provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0107] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast TWT provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0108] Figure 8is a schematic diagram of a TID-to-link mapping element provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a SCS Request frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a SCS descriptor provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of an intra-access category priority element provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a QoS Characteristics element provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a SCS Response Frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] Figure 14 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] Figure 15 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of a long distance transmission scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of a rTWT and link Disablement correspondence provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of a rTWT and TWT #1 correspondence provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] Figure 19 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1900 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] Figure 20 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 2000 provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0122] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system or a future communication system.

[0123] The application scenarios of the embodiments of the present application and the methods of the embodiments of the present application are described below by taking a WLAN system as an example.

[0124] Specifically, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a WLAN, and the embodiments of the present application can be applied to any one of the IEEE 802.11 series protocols currently adopted by the WLAN. The WLAN can include one or more basic service sets (BSSs), and the network nodes of the BSSs include APs and STAs. Each BSS can include one AP and multiple STAs associated with the AP.

[0125] The transmitting end and / or the receiving end in the embodiments of the present application can be a user station (STA) in a WLAN, which can also be referred to as a system, a user unit, an access terminal, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, a user apparatus, or a user equipment (UE). The STA can be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless local area network (for example, WiFi) communication function, a wearable device, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem.

[0126] In addition, the transmitting end and / or the receiving end in the embodiments of the present application can also be an AP in a WLAN, which can be used for communicating with an access terminal through a wireless local area network and transmitting data of the access terminal to a network side or transmitting data from the network side to the access terminal.

[0127] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first, a communication system shown in Figure 1 is taken as an example to describe in detail a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in the scenario system shown in Figure 1 , the scenario system can be a WLAN system, Figure 1 , the WLAN system can include one or more APs and one or more STAs, Figure 1 , an AP (for example, the AP shown in Figure 1 ) and three STAs (for example, the three STAs shown in Figure 1For example, the communication between STA#1, STA#2 and STA#3 shown in FIG. 1.

[0128] The AP and the STA can communicate wirelessly through various standards. For example, the uplink transmission mode between the AP and the STA includes, but is not limited to, an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) mode, a multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) mode, or a hybrid transmission mode of OFDMA and MU-MIMO, or a single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) technology.

[0129] The AP is also referred to as a wireless access access point or a hotspot, etc. The AP is an access point for mobile users to enter a wired network, and is mainly deployed in homes, buildings and campuses, and can also be deployed outdoors. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting the wired network and the wireless network, and its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then access the Ethernet network. Specifically, the AP can be a terminal device or a network device with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip. Alternatively, the AP can be a device supporting multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11.

[0130] Figure 2 The internal structure of the AP is shown, where the AP can be multi-antenna or single-antenna. Figure 2 In the AP, the AP includes a physical layer (PHY) processing circuit and a media access control (MAC) processing circuit, the physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals.

[0131] In the STA, the STA product is usually a terminal product supporting the 802.11 series standards, such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, etc. Figure 3 The structure diagram of the STA with a single antenna is shown, and in the actual scene, the STA can also be multi-antenna, and can be a device with more than two antennas. Figure 3 In the STA, the STA can include a PHY processing circuit and a MAC processing circuit, the physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals.

[0132] It should be noted that, Figure 2 andFigure 3 Just a simple schematic diagram, the scope of protection of the present application does not constitute any limitation, the internal structure of AP and STA can refer to the introduction of prior art or can refer to the internal structure of AP and STA after future technical development, the internal structure of AP and STA is not limited in the present application, and will not be described again.

[0133] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, several basic concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application are simply explained. It should be understood that the basic concepts introduced below are simply explained by taking the basic concepts defined in the WLAN protocol as an example, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited to only being applied to the WLAN system. Therefore, when described by taking the WLAN system as an example, the standard name appearing is a functional description, the specific name is not limited, only indicates the function of the device, which can be extended to other systems, such as NR or future communication systems.

[0134] 1、Multi link.

[0135] As users have higher and higher requirements for the quality of communication services, the IEEE 802.11ax standard has been difficult to meet the user's demand in terms of large throughput, low jitter and low delay, etc., so it is urgent to develop the next generation of IEEE technology, for example, the IEEE 802.11be standard.

[0136] The device in the IEEE 802.11 next generation standard needs to be backward compatible, that is, compatible with the IEEE 802.11ax standard and previous standards, so the device in the IEEE 802.11 next generation standard will also support the operating frequency band of the device in the IEEE 802.11ax, for example, the device in the IEEE 802.11 next generation standard will support 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands.

[0137] Specifically, the channel division can be performed according to the newly opened free 6GHz frequency band, so that the supportable bandwidth can exceed the maximum bandwidth 160MHz (such as 320MHz) supported in 5GHz, and on the same frequency band, the peak throughput can be improved and the delay of service transmission can be reduced through multiple channel cooperation and the like; in addition to through the super large bandwidth, the device in the IEEE 802.11ax next generation standard can also improve the peak throughput through multiple frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz) cooperation, and the multiple frequency bands or multiple channels are collectively referred to as multi-link in the present application.

[0138] 2、Multi link device (MLD).

[0139] The device of the next generation IEEE 802.11 standard supporting multiple links at the same time in the embodiments of the present application is referred to as a multi-link device.

[0140] MLD refers to a device that has multiple radio frequency modules, which respectively work on different frequency bands (or channels). In addition to each affiliated device (such as an affiliated AP or an affiliated STA) having a MAC address (Address), the MLD also has an MLD MAC Address. In order to distinguish the MAC addresses of the affiliated devices, the low MAC address can be referred to as the low MAC address, and the MLD MAC address can be referred to as the high MAC address.

[0141] In order to facilitate understanding, the following will be described in combination with Figure 4 The structure of the MLD is briefly introduced. Figure 4 Taking a station MLD (STA MLD) including two STAs as an example, Figure 4 An illustrative diagram of an MLD is shown.

[0142] Optionally, the multi-link device can be an access point multi-link device (AP MLD), or can also be a non-AP MLD (non-AP MLD), for example, a station multi-link device (STA MLD). It should be noted that the name of the multi-link device described above is only an example, and does not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present application. For example, the AP MLD can also be referred to as a multi-link AP, or as the communication technology develops, the AP MLD can also have other names, which are not illustrated one by one here.

[0143] Exemplarily, two multi-link devices (such as two non-AP MLDs) respectively include a plurality of STAs, wherein each STA in one multi-link device can establish a link with one STA in another multi-link device for communication; or,

[0144] Exemplarily, two multi-link devices (such as two AP MLDs) respectively include a plurality of APs, wherein each AP in one multi-link device can establish a link with one AP in another multi-link device for communication; or,

[0145] Exemplarily, one of the two multi-link devices (such as a non-AP MLD) includes a plurality of STAs, and the other multi-link device (such as an AP MLD) includes a plurality of APs, wherein each STA in one multi-link device can establish a link with one AP in another multi-link device for communication.

[0146] The multi-link device works in all or part of the frequency bands of 1GHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz and high frequency 60GHz. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD establishing a link is shown.

[0147] As can be seen from Figure 5 , the AP MLD includes N AP entities (such as AP#1, AP#2 and AP#N shown in Figure 5 ), and the non-AP MLD includes N STA entities (such as STA#1, STA#2 and STA#N shown in Figure 5 ), wherein the N STA entities can share the MAC layer.

[0148] Further, AP#1 in the AP MLD and STA#1 in the non-AP MLD implement communication through a link (such as link#1 shown in Figure 5 ), AP#2 in the AP MLD and STA#2 in the non-AP MLD implement communication through a link (such as link#2 shown in Figure 5 ), and AP#N in the AP MLD and STA#N in the non-AP MLD implement communication through a link (such as link#N shown in Figure 5 ).

[0149] 3, Enhanced multi-link single radio (eMLSR) and enhanced multi-link multiple radio (eMLMR) operation modes.

[0150] IEEE 802.11be defines two operation modes for non-AP MLD: eMLSR and eMLMR. For a non-AP MLD supporting eMLSR, it transmits data on one link while listening on multiple links. When a certain non-AP MLD supporting eMLSR receives a specific trigger frame sent by an AP MLD on a certain link, the non-AP MLD switches the radio frequency transceiver chain (Tx / Rx Chain) on other links to the channel of the link on which the specific trigger frame is received to perform data transmission and reception, so as to increase the throughput and reliability of reception, and prevent a certain link from being busy, resulting in downlink data transmission being blocked.

[0151] For non-AP MLDs supporting eMLMR, it can transmit data on multiple links simultaneously. For links working in eMLMR mode, if a specific trigger frame is received from AP MLD on a certain link, non-AP MLD can switch the Tx / Rx Chain of the link working in eMLMR mode to the channel of the link on which the specific trigger frame is received, so as to increase the throughput and reliability of reception, and prevent a certain link from being busy, resulting in blocking of downlink data transmission.

[0152] The AP MLD involved in the embodiments of the present application can support eMLMR mode. For example, after receiving a request message on a certain link, the AP MLD can switch the Tx / Rx Chain of the unused link to the channel of the link on which the request message is received, so as to increase the throughput and reliability of reception, and prevent a certain link from being busy, resulting in blocking of uplink data transmission. How the AP MLD supports eMLMR mode will be described below in conjunction with specific embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0153] 4, target wake time (TWT).

[0154] TWT is a technology defined by WiFi for energy saving. The core idea is to set some periodic time periods (service period, TWT SP) so that some devices only need to be active in these time periods and can sleep in other time periods, thereby achieving the purpose of energy saving. TWT is divided into individual TWT and broadcast TWT. In individual TWT, each STA can establish a TWT protocol with the AP individually, so each STA can have its own active time period and sleep time period. In broadcast TWT, the AP can establish a common TWT protocol for a group of STAs, and multiple STAs work in the same active time period and sleep in other time periods.

[0155] Generally, the STA sends a TWT protocol establishment request to the AP, that is, the STA is a TWT requesting STA (for ease of description, the TWT requesting STA can be referred to as the requesting station hereinafter), and the AP is a TWT responding STA (for ease of description, the TWT responding STA can be referred to as the responding station hereinafter). Of course, the AP can also initiate a TWT protocol establishment request to the station. For ease of description, the STA is the requesting station and the AP is the responding station hereinafter

[0156] After the TWT protocol is established, the agreed active time period is called TWT service period (SP). Each TWT protocol can contain multiple periodic TWT service periods of equal length, as shown in Figure 6 Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a TWT service period provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0157] 5. Unicast TWT.

[0158] It refers to a request station sending a TWT request message to a response station, requesting to set a wake-up time, and the response station sending a TWT response message to the request station after receiving the TWT request message. After the interaction is successful, a TWT protocol is established between the request station and the response station.

[0159] After the TWT protocol is reached, the request station and the response station should be active at the agreed time period in order to perform data transmission and reception. Outside the above-mentioned time period, the station can sleep to achieve the purpose of energy saving.

[0160] 6. Broadcast TWT.

[0161] Broadcast TWT provides a "batch management" mechanism. The AP can establish a series of periodic TWT service periods with multiple STAs. In the service period, the multiple STAs need to be active to communicate with the AP.

[0162] The AP can carry one or more broadcast TWT information in the beacon (Beacon) frame. Each broadcast TWT is represented by a broadcast TWT identifier and the MAC address of the AP. For ease of understanding, a broadcast TWT is briefly introduced in combination with Figure 7 Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a broadcast TWT provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0163] As can be seen from Figure 7 , the broadcast TWT can be called a TWT element (TWT element). The TWT element includes the following information:

[0164] Element ID, length, control, and TWT parameter information (TWT parameter information).

[0165] Further, the control field includes the following fields:

[0166] ​​NDP paging indicator, responder PM mode, negotiation type, TWT information frame disable, wakeduration unit, and reserved.

[0167] The TWT parameter information includes the following fields:

[0168] Request type, target wake time, norminal minimum TWT wake duration, TWT wake interval mantissa, and broadcast TWT information. The request type includes TWT request, TWT setup command TWT, trigger, last broadcast parameter set, flow type, broadcast TWT recommendation, TWT wake interval exponent, and reserved. The broadcast TWT information includes reserved, broadcast TWT ID, and broadcast TWT persistence.

[0169] It should be noted that the meanings of the fields included in the TWT element in the embodiments of the present application are not described in detail, and can be referred to the definitions in the current protocol, which will not be described herein.

[0170] STA, after receiving the Beacon frame, if it has the intention to join the broadcast TWT, can send a broadcast TWT setup request message to the AP, thereby joining the broadcast TWT. When the broadcast TWT is set up, a broadcast TWT identifier needs to be specified to request to join a certain specific broadcast TWT. After joining the broadcast TWT, the STA can wake up according to the service period indicated by the TWT parameter set, thereby communicating with the AP. It should be noted that if the STA supports the broadcast TWT but does not explicitly join a certain broadcast TWT ID, it will participate in the broadcast TWT with broadcast TWT ID = 0 by default.

[0171] Similar to the unicast TWT, the parameter set of the broadcast TWT also specifies the period of occurrence of the TWT service period and the duration of each TWT service period. In addition, the broadcast TWT parameter also includes the lifetime of the broadcast TWT, which is in units of Beacon frame intervals, indicating the duration of the established broadcast TWT.

[0172] 7、restricted TWT (rTWT).

[0173] In IEEE 802.11be, the protocol defines a new type of broadcast TWT based on broadcast TWT for low-latency traffic, called rTWT. STA channel access during TWT SP, the protocol defines that the Trgigger field is included in the TWT element, when the Trgigger field is set to 1, the STA cannot initiate enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) channel access, and can only wait for the AP to send a Trigger frame to schedule the access mode.

[0174] 8、Traffic identifier to link mapping (TID-to-link mapping).

[0175] When the non-AP MLD is associated with the AP MLD, because there are multiple links, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD negotiate to map different TID data traffic to different links according to the traffic identifier (TID), and provide differentiated quality of service (QoS); or,

[0176] The TID-to-link mapping element can also be broadcasted by the AP MLD for all associated non-AP MLDs. When a certain link of a non-AP MLD is not mapped to any TID, the link is disabled, i.e. the non-AP MLD is not allowed to transmit any frames (including data frames, management frames and control frames) on the link.

[0177] If the TID-to-link mapping element is broadcasted by the AP and a certain link is disabled, all non-AP MLDs that have established the link are not allowed to transmit any frames (including data frames, management frames and control frames) on the link, and the AP MLD is also not allowed to transmit any frames (including data frames, management frames and control frames) on the link.

[0178] For the convenience of understanding, the TID-to-link mapping element is described in combination with the following Figure 8 The TID-to-link mapping element is introduced. Figure 8 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a TID-to-link mapping element provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0179] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the TID-to-link mapping element includes the following information: Figure 8

[0180] The element ID, the length, the element ID extension, the TID-to-link mapping control, and optionally the link mapping of TID 0 and the link mapping of TID 7. The TID-to-link mapping control includes the direction, the default link mapping, the reserved and the link mapping presence indicator.

[0181] Specifically, the field meanings included in the TID-to-link mapping control are as follows:

[0182] The direction field: 0 indicates downlink; 1 indicates uplink; 2 indicates uplink and downlink; and 3 is reserved;

[0183] ​Default link mapping: set to 1 indicates default mapping, i.e. each TID is mapped to all links respectively;

[0184] Link Mapping Presence Indicator: the nth bit indicates whether the Link mapping of TID#n field of the corresponding TID#n appears.

[0185] Link Mapping of TID#n indicates whether TID#n is mapped to the corresponding link, and when the corresponding bit is set to 1, it indicates that the TID#n is mapped to the corresponding Link.

[0186] 9、Stream Classification service (SCS) mechanism.

[0187] Low latency is an important feature of IEEE 802.11be, and the STA end can report low-latency service streams to the AP through the SCS mechanism. Specifically, the STA can report low-latency service streams by sending an SCS request (Request) frame to the associated AP and indicating the corresponding QoS parameters.

[0188] For ease of understanding, in combination with Figure 9 Brief introduction of SCS Request frame, Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an SCS Request frame provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0189] From Figure 9 It can be seen that the SCS Request frame includes the following fields:

[0190] Category, robust action, dialog token, and SCS descriptor list.

[0191] Specifically, the meanings of the fields included in the SCS Request frame are as follows:

[0192] Category indicates the category to which the action frame belongs;

[0193] Robust Action indicates which frame in the category;

[0194] Dialog Token dialog token;

[0195] SCS Descriptor List contains one or more SCS descriptors.

[0196] The format of the SCS descriptor is as shown in Figure 10 Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an SCS descriptor provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0197] As can be seen from Figure 10 , the SCS descriptor comprises the following fields:

[0198] element ID, length, SCS ID, request type, intra-access category priority element, TCLAS elements, TCLAS processing element, QoS characteristics element, and optional subelements, wherein the intra-access category priority element, the TCLAS elements, the TCLAS processing element, and the QoS characteristics element are optional.

[0199] Specifically, the meanings of the fields included in the SCS descriptor are as follows:

[0200] SCS ID (1 byte) indicates the identifier allocated to the SCS flow;

[0201] Request Type (1 byte) indicates the type of the request, which can be ADD (0, add), Remove (1, remove), or Change (2, change);

[0202] The specific format of the Intra-Access Category Priority element is as shown in Figure 11 , which will be introduced below Figure 11 without further elaboration.

[0203] The TCLAS element indicates how to identify the SCS flow, and carries the criteria for determining the SCS flow.

[0204] The TCLAS Processing element indicates how to process multiple TCLAS elements when there are multiple TCLAS elements. ​

[0205] The QoS Characteristics element is used to indicate the TID (Traffic Identifier) to which the corresponding SCS flow is mapped, and the corresponding QoS parameters and other information. Among them, the two most important QoS parameters are: Delay Bound and Packet Delivery Ratio. Delay Bound indicates the maximum delay allowed for low-delay packets, and Packet Delivery Ratio indicates the required packet delivery rate under the given Delay Bound requirement. The specific format of the QoS Characteristics element is as shown in Figure 12 The QoS Characteristics element will be introduced below in conjunction with Figure 12 the description of the QoS Characteristics element, which will not be repeated here.

[0206] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of an intra-access category priority element provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0207] As can be seen from Figure 11 , the SCS descriptor includes the following fields:

[0208] element ID, length, intra-access priority. Among them, the intra-access priority includes user priority, alternate queue, drop eligibility and reserved.

[0209] Specifically, the meanings of the various subfields in the Intra-Access Priority field (1 byte) are as follows:

[0210] User Priority (3 bits) indicates the priority of the user;

[0211] Alternate Queue (1 bit) indicates whether to newly establish an alternate queue for the SCS flow;

[0212] Drop Eligibility (1 bit) indicates whether the data packets of the SCS flow can be discarded when there is not enough resource.

[0213] Figure 12Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a QoS Characteristics element provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0214] As can be seen from Figure 12 The QoS Characteristics element includes the following fields:

[0215] element ID, length, element ID extension, control information, minimum service interval, maximum service interval, minimum data rate, Delay Bound, maximum MSDU size, service start time, mean data rate, burst size, MSDU lifetime, MSDU delivery ratio, MSDU count exponent, medium time, and bandwidth. The control information includes the following information:

[0216] direction, TID, user priority, Presence Bitmap of Additional Parameters, link ID, and reserved.

[0217] Specifically, the meanings of the various subfields in the control information are as follows:

[0218] direction: 00 indicates uplink; 10 indicates downlink; 01 indicates P2P (Peer-to-peer) direct link; and 11 is reserved;

[0219] TID (Traffic Identifier): 0 to 7. 8-15 are reserved values;

[0220] User Priority (User Priority): 0 to 7. Same value as the TID field is set to;

[0221] Presence Bitmap of Additional Parameters (Presence Bitmap of Additional Parameters);

[0222] Link ID (Link ID) is used to indicate the link identifier corresponding to the direct link transmission.

[0223] Further, the AP can reply to the SCS Request frame with a SCS Response Frame after receiving the SCS Request frame. For ease of understanding, the format of the SCS Response Frame is introduced as follows, Figure 13 the format of the SCS Response Frame is introduced as follows, Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the SCS Response Frame provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0224] As can be seen from Figure 13 , the SCS Response Frame includes the following fields:

[0225] Category, robust action, dialog token, count, SCS status list, and SCS descriptor list. Among them, the SCS status list includes SCS identifier (SCS ID) and status code.

[0226] Specifically, the meanings of the fields included in the SCS Response Frame are as follows:

[0227] Category indicates the category to which the action frame belongs;

[0228] Robust Action indicates which frame in the category;

[0229] Dialog Token, which needs to be consistent with the Dialog Token in the corresponding SCS Request frame;

[0230] Count is used to indicate the number of (SCS ID, Status Code) in the SCS Status List;

[0231] The SCS Status List field contains one or more SCS status groups, carrying an SCS ID and a Status Code field, wherein the SCS ID indicates an identifier of the SCS, and the Status Code indicates whether the requested SCS ID is accepted.

[0232] In addition, in order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are first explained.

[0233] Firstly, in the present application, "for indicating" can include direct indication and indirect indication. When describing that certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, and it does not mean that A must be carried in the indication information.

[0234] The information indicated by the indication information is referred to as to-be-indicated information. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or an index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be only indicated in part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can also be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, defined by a protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common part of each information can be identified and uniformly indicated, so as to reduce the indication overhead caused by separately indicating the same information.

[0235] Secondly, the first, second and various numbers (for example, "#1", "#2", etc.) shown in the present application are only convenient for description, used for distinguishing objects, and do not limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, different information is distinguished, or different STAs are distinguished. Instead of being used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the objects thus described can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so as to be able to describe schemes other than the embodiments of the present application.

[0236] Thirdly, in the embodiments of the present application, "predefined" can include signaling indication or predefinition, for example, protocol definition. The "predefinition" can be realized by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables or other ways that can be used to indicate related information in the device (for example, including stations and access points), and the present application does not limit the specific implementation manner thereof. For example, the predefinition can refer to the definition in the protocol.

[0237] Fourthly, the "saving" in the embodiments of the present application can refer to saving in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be separately arranged or integrated in the encoder or decoder, processor, or communication device. The one or more memories can be partially separately arranged and partially integrated in the decoder, processor, or communication device. The type of the memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited in the present application.

[0238] Fifthly, in the embodiments of the present application, the "protocol" can refer to a standard protocol in the communication field, which can include a WLAN protocol and a related protocol applied to a future communication system, which is not limited in the present application.

[0239] Sixthly, in the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding", "relevant", "corresponding", and "associated" can be used interchangeably at times. It should be pointed out that when the distinction is not emphasized, the meanings expressed are consistent.

[0240] As described above, the AP MLD can broadcast the TID-to-link Mapping to all associated non-AP MLDs, map different TID data traffic to different links, provide differentiated QoS, and additionally disable a certain link.

[0241] A possible implementation can improve (e.g., add a field) the TID-to-link Mapping element to indicate the related performance of the TID-to-link Mapping.

[0242] For example, a mapping switch count field is added in the TID-to-link Mapping element to indicate how many target beacon transmission time (TBTT) the TID-to-link mapping takes effect.

[0243] For another example, a duration field is added in the TID-to-link Mapping element to indicate how long the TID-to-link mapping takes effect.

[0244] It should be understood that this improved TID-to-link Mapping method only supports non-periodic and cannot support the establishment of a periodic TID-to-link mapping.

[0245] To solve the problems in the above-mentioned improved TID-to-link Mapping manner, the present application proposes a communication method, and defines the signaling design of periodic TID-to-link Mapping. The technical solutions provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present application can be applied in multiple different scenarios, including Figure 1 The scenario shown in the figure, but is not limited to this scenario. It should be understood that the embodiments shown below do not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, as long as the execution subject can communicate according to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application by running the program in which the code of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is recorded. For example, the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be a receiving end device or a sending end device, or a functional module in the receiving end device or the sending end device that can call and execute the program.

[0246] In the following, without loss of generality, the method of data transmission provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail taking the interaction between the sending end device and the receiving end device as an example. The sending end device involved in the embodiments of the present application is an access point multi-link device AP MLD, and the receiving end device is a non-access point multi-link device non-AP MLD (such as a STA MLD), wherein the data transmission manner between the multi-link devices is as shown in Figure 5 , which will not be described here again.

[0247] Figure 14 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, which includes the following steps:

[0248] S1410, the AP MLD generates a first signaling.

[0249] Specifically, the first signaling is used to indicate the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link. The service identifier is used to identify the data service, and the link is the transmission link between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD. The mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link represents that different data services are mapped to different links. Exemplarily, the first signaling can be an improved TID-to-link Mapping. Alternatively, the first signaling can still be called TID-to-link Mapping. The name of the signaling in the embodiments of the present application is not limited in any way, as long as the function of the signaling can be realized.

[0250] Specifically, the AP MLD generates the first signaling through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD. For example, the affiliated APs affiliated to the AP MLD include but are not limited to a first affiliated AP and a second affiliated AP, the first signaling can be generated through the first affiliated AP, and / or the first signaling can also be generated through the second affiliated AP.

[0251] It should be understood that the specific manner in which the AP MLD generates the first signaling in the embodiments of the present application is not limited, and can refer to the manner in which the AP MLD generates the TID-to-link Mapping specified in the current protocol.

[0252] Specifically, the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling can be made to be periodically effective, or in other words, the first signaling can be made to be periodically effective, through the following design.

[0253] The first signaling includes first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information in the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the "indication information" in the present application can also be understood as a "field". For example, the first indication information can be referred to as a "first field", the second indication information can be referred to as a "second field", and the third indication information can be referred to as a "third field". Alternatively, the functions implemented by the first indication information and the second indication information are implemented by one field, which is not limited in the present application. Take the function of one indication information as an example for description.

[0254] The first indication information is used to indicate the starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, or in other words, the first indication information is used to indicate the starting time at which the mapping relationship starts to be effective.

[0255] The second indication information is used to indicate the duration of each time at which the mapping relationship is effective, and the third indication information is used to indicate the interval between the starting time and the ending time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0256] For ease of description, the time period of each time at which the mapping relationship is effective can be collectively referred to as a first time period, and the mapping relationship is effective within a plurality of first time periods. The interval between the starting time and the ending time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective can be understood as the interval between adjacent two first time periods.

[0257] As a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is used to indicate the starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective, including that the first indication information is used to indicate the relative time of the starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective with respect to a received target beacon. In this implementation manner, the first indication information can be referred to as Mapping Switch Count.

[0258] For example, the first signaling is carried in a beacon, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling takes effect after how many target beacon transmission time (TBTT) periods.

[0259] As another possible implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate a start time at which the mapping relationship takes effect, including that the first indication information is used to indicate that the start time at which the mapping relationship takes effect is an absolute time. In this implementation, the first indication information can be referred to as a start time at which the mapping relationship takes effect.

[0260] For example, the first indication information can be the last four bytes of a time synchronization function (TSF), which is used to indicate a start time at which the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling takes effect.

[0261] It should be noted that in the case where the AP MLD broadcasts the first signaling through multiple links, the TSFs corresponding to different links are different. In order to make the start time at which the first signaling takes effect indicated by the TSFs through different links the same, the following methods can be used:

[0262] Method one: considering an offset, taking the TSF of a certain link as a reference, the TSFs of different links are considered under the premise of different offsets, so as to achieve the purpose of indicating the same start time.

[0263] Method two: taking the TSF of a certain link to indicate the start time at which the first signaling takes effect.

[0264] Exemplarily, the first indication information described above can include a Mapping Switch Count and / or a start time. In the case where the Mapping Switch Count and the start time are included at the same time, any one of them can be selected as the start time at which the mapping relationship takes effect.

[0265] Exemplarily, the second indication information is used to indicate the length of the first time period, and the mapping relationship takes effect in multiple first time periods. It can be understood that the second indication information is used to indicate the duration of each time the mapping relationship takes effect. The second indication information can be referred to as the duration of each time the mapping relationship takes effect.

[0266] Exemplarily, the third indication information is used for indicating an interval between two adjacent first time periods, and the mapping relationship is effective within a plurality of first time periods. It can be understood that the third indication information is used for indicating an interval between two adjacent first time periods in which the mapping relationship is effective. The third indication information can be referred to as an interval between two adjacent times of the first signaling.

[0267] For example, the mapping relationship is effective within 3 first time periods, which are first time period #1, first time period #2 and first time period #3 in sequence. An interval between a starting time of the first time period #1 and a starting time of the first time period #2 is interval #1, an interval between a starting time of the first time period #2 and a starting time of the first time period #3 is interval #2, and interval #1 and interval #2 are equal, which are collectively referred to as an interval between two adjacent first time periods. The third indication information described above is used for indicating the interval between two adjacent first time periods (such as interval #1 or interval #2).

[0268] For another example, the mapping relationship is effective within 3 first time periods, which are first time period #1, first time period #2 and first time period #3 in sequence. An interval between a termination time of the first time period #1 and a termination time of the first time period #2 is interval #1, an interval between a termination time of the first time period #2 and a termination time of the first time period #3 is interval #2, and interval #1 and interval #2 are equal, which are collectively referred to as an interval between two adjacent first time periods. The third indication information described above is used for indicating the interval between two adjacent first time periods (such as interval #1 or interval #2).

[0269] As can be seen from the above, the first indication information, the second indication information and the third indication information can be used to indicate that the mapping relationship is effective within a plurality of first time periods, and indicate an interval between two adjacent first time periods. In other words, the mapping relationship can be periodically effective, so as to periodically indicate the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link, and avoid repeatedly generating information indicating the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link.

[0270] Further, the first signaling can further include fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used for indicating a number of times that the mapping relationship is effective, or in other words, the fourth indication information is used for indicating a number of the first time periods, wherein the number of the first time periods is greater than 1. The fourth indication information can be referred to as a number of the first time periods in which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0271] As a special case, when the fourth indication information is set to 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship is non-periodic (e.g., effective within a first time period). That is, when the first signaling includes the fourth indication information and the value of the fourth indication information is 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship is non-periodically effective; when the first signaling includes the fourth indication information and the value of the fourth indication information is greater than 1, it indicates that the mapping relationship is periodically effective. Optionally, 0 is a reserved value and is prohibited to be used.

[0272] In addition, when the value of the fourth indication information is set to 255, it indicates that the mapping relationship is periodically effective until it is canceled.

[0273] As another special case, the fourth indication information can not be used to indicate whether the mapping relationship is periodically effective or non-periodically effective, that is, the first signaling can not include the fourth indication information, and other ways can be used to indicate whether the mapping relationship is periodically effective or non-periodically effective.

[0274] For example, if the third indication information is set to a special value, such as 0 or 255, it indicates that the mapping relationship is non-periodically effective; otherwise, the mapping relationship is periodically effective.

[0275] In the above special case, the mapping relationship can be non-periodically effective or periodically effective. Compared with the improved TID-to-link Mapping element scheme introduced in the foregoing, in the case of the first signaling being the improved TID-to-link Mapping element, the improved scheme in this embodiment can expand the application scenario of TID-to-link Mapping.

[0276] As an example, the first signaling generated by the AP MLD in this embodiment can be the TID-to-link mapping element (e.g., TID-to-link mapping element) defined in the current protocol, which adds the first indication information, the second indication information, and the third indication information described above, or can also add the fourth indication information. Figure 8 ) in the current protocol, which adds the first indication information, the second indication information, and the third indication information described above, or can also add the fourth indication information.

[0277] Further, after the AP MLD generates the first signaling, the AP MLD can send the first signaling to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD, Figure 14 The method flowchart also includes:

[0278] S1420, the AP MLD sends the first signaling to the non-AP MLD.

[0279] Specifically, the AP MLD sends the first signaling to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the affiliated APs belonging to the AP MLD.

[0280] It should be noted that the AP MLD can send the above-mentioned first signaling to the non-AP MLD through the multiple affiliated APs belonging to the AP MLD respectively.

[0281] For example, if the communication mode between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD is as shown in FIG. 3, the AP MLD can send the above-mentioned first signaling to the non-AP MLD through AP#1, AP#2 and AP#3 respectively via link#1, link#2 and link#3. Figure 5

[0282] For example, the AP MLD broadcasts the first signaling to all associated non-AP MLDs. As an example but not limitation: the AP MLD sends the first signaling to the non-AP MLD, including: the AP MLD sends a beacon frame to the non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the affiliated APs, wherein the first signaling is included in the beacon frame.

[0283] For example, the first signaling is a TID-to-link mapping element, which is carried in a beacon frame.

[0284] It should be understood that the name of the first signaling in this embodiment is not limited, and the above-mentioned TID-to-link mapping element is only an example and does not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present application. Other signaling capable of indicating the mapping relationship between the traffic identifier and the link is within the protection scope of the present application.

[0285] In addition, how to transmit the first signaling in this embodiment is not limited, and the above-mentioned first signaling carried in the beacon frame is only an example and does not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0286] ​As can be known from the TID-to-link mapping element introduced above, when a link of the non-AP MLD is not mapped to any TID, the link is disabled, i.e., the non-AP MLD is not allowed to transmit any frame on the link. If the AP broadcasts the TID-to-link mapping element and disables a link, all non-AP MLDs that have established the link cannot transmit any frame on the link, and the AP MLD cannot transmit any frame on the link.

[0287] As a possible implementation, the first signaling involved in the embodiment can also indicate that a link is periodically disabled. For example, the first signaling used to indicate the mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link includes: the first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first affiliated AP is not mapped to any service identifier in a first time period. The first affiliated AP can be any one or more of the multiple affiliated APs affiliated to the AP MLD.

[0288] In this implementation, since the link of the first affiliated AP is disabled in the first time period, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD are not allowed to use the link of the first affiliated AP for data transmission and reception.

[0289] It can be understood that when the link of the first affiliated AP is disabled in the first time period, other affiliated APs (for example, a second affiliated AP) affiliated to the AP MLD can use the radio frequency transceiver chains of the first affiliated AP and the second affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in the first time period. The following will be described in detail how the second affiliated AP uses the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP and the radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP to transmit and receive data. Figure 15

[0290] Figure 15 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, including the following steps:

[0291] S1510, the first station sends a request message to the AP MLD.

[0292] Specifically, the AP MLD receives the request message from the first station through the second affiliated AP, and the request message is used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling uplink transmission of the first station. The request message includes information indicating the interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling. The information indicating the interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling can be referred to as a service interval. ​

[0293] Exemplarily, the first station can be a single-link non-AP (e.g., a single-link STA), or can also be a non-AP MLD, which is not limited in the present application.

[0294] Exemplarily, the request message further comprises at least one of the following information:

[0295] information indicating a start time of the triggered scheduling, service time of each triggered scheduling, information for determining service time of each triggered scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-range transmission mode service (Long Range Request), or information for determining whether to use long-range transmission mode service (received signal strength indication or path loss). Wherein, the long-range transmission mode refers to that due to the first station being far away from the AP MLD, the signal is poor, and only a lower transmission rate is supported, and the AP MLD can use certain technical means (such as increasing the number of transceiving antennas) to improve the transmission rate and transmission distance of the first station.

[0296] Optionally, the information for determining service time of each triggered scheduling includes but is not limited to the amount of data to be transmitted each time the triggered scheduling is needed and the modulation coding scheme (MCS) expected to be used by the first station, and the like, and the second affiliated AP can determine service time of each triggered scheduling according to the information for determining service time of each triggered scheduling.

[0297] Optionally, the information indicating the access strategy can be to indicate an EDCA-based access, or can also be to indicate a Trigger-based Only access, that is, the second affiliated AP needs to send a Trigger frame to trigger the uplink transmission of the first station. In this embodiment, the access mode of the first station is based on the Trigger frame sent by the second affiliated AP.

[0298] Optionally, the information for determining whether to use long-range transmission mode service includes but is not limited to the downlink Beacon received signal strength indication (RSSI) or path loss reported by the first station, and the second affiliated AP can determine whether to use long-range transmission mode to serve the first station according to the information for determining whether to use long-range transmission mode service.

[0299] As a possible implementation, the first station sends a request message to the second affiliated AP of the AP MLD, including: the first station sends an SCS Request frame to the second affiliated AP of the AP MLD, and the SCS Request frame is used to request to add a service flow. Specifically, the QoS Characteristics element carried in the SCS Request frame is used to report the characteristics of the service flow (such as the information included in the request message described above).

[0300] Further, after the second affiliated AP of the AP MLD receives the request message described above, it is determined according to the information for requesting long-distance transmission mode service that the long-distance transmission mode is used between the first station and the second affiliated AP; or, according to the information for determining whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service, it is determined that the long-distance transmission mode is used between the first station and the second affiliated AP. In order to improve the uplink transmission rate of the first station, the AP MLD can use the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP through the second affiliated AP, and use all or part of the radio frequency transceivers of other affiliated APs belonging to the AP MLD and the first station for data transmission and reception. Figure 15 The method flowchart also includes:

[0301] S1520, the AP MLD transmits and receives data through the second affiliated AP.

[0302] Specifically, the AP MLD transmits and receives data through the second affiliated AP using the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP, and using the first radio frequency transceiver of other affiliated APs (such as the first affiliated AP) belonging to the AP MLD and the first station.

[0303] Exemplarily, in this embodiment, the AP MLD can transmit and receive data through the second affiliated AP using the first radio frequency transceiver of other affiliated APs other than the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP, including the following two possible ways:

[0304] Way one: the first radio frequency transceiver is all the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP.

[0305] In the following implementation, in the case that the link of the first affiliated AP is disablement, the first affiliated AP has already been unable to use its own radio frequency transceiver chain (TX / Rx Chain), and the Tx / Rx Chain of the first affiliated AP can be switched to the channel of the second affiliated AP, that is, the second affiliated AP can use all the radio frequency transceiver chains of the first affiliated AP for data transmission. Wherein, the link of the first affiliated AP being disablement refers to that the AP sends a BSS-wide LinkDisablement indication to stop using the corresponding link, during which the first affiliated AP or the STA associated with the first affiliated AP prohibits data transmission.

[0306] As a possible implementation, the BSS-wide link disablement can be indicated by using TID-to-link mapping, that is, any traffic identifier is not mapped to the link,

[0307] As another possible implementation, the BSS-wide link disablement can be indicated by using other ways, for example, by using 1 bit to directly indicate that the link is link disablement. And the link disablement here can also be called AP absence or link unavailability, which is not limited.

[0308] For ease of understanding, the following will take the first affiliated AP link being disablement indicated by using TID-to-link mapping as an example for description. Specifically, the AP MLD can indicate the first affiliated AP link being disablement by using TID-to-link Mapping element.

[0309] The following implementation, Figure 15 The method flowchart also includes:

[0310] S1511, the AP MLD sends first signaling to the non-AP MLD.

[0311] As a possible implementation, the first signaling can be TID-to-link Mapping element, in this implementation, the description of S1420 above can be referred to, which will not be repeated here. The non-AP MLD includes the non-AP MLD associated with the first affiliated AP.

[0312] As another possible implementation, the first signaling can be a signaling other than the TID-to-link Mapping element, for example, a 1-bit field, and when the 1-bit field is set to 1, it indicates that the link of the AP is disabled, i.e., the corresponding link stops using, during which the AP or the associated STA is prohibited from data transmission.

[0313] In this embodiment, the first signaling is used to indicate that the link of the first affiliated AP is disabled. Optionally, the first signaling is periodically effective, and then the link of the first affiliated AP is periodically disabled.

[0314] For example, the link of the first affiliated AP is disabled in a plurality of first time periods, and then the second affiliated AP can use the radio frequency transceiver of the second affiliated AP and all the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP for data transmission in the plurality of first time periods. For related description of the first time period, reference can be made to the description of the embodiments shown in the above Figure 14 and will not be described here again.

[0315] As a possible implementation, the related parameters of the first signaling (such as the start time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling, the duration of each time the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is effective, the interval between the adjacent two times the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is effective, or the count of the first time period in which the mapping relationship indicated by the first signaling is effective) are determined according to the parameters carried in the request message (such as the start time of the trigger scheduling, the service time of each trigger scheduling, or the interval between the adjacent two times of trigger scheduling, etc.).

[0316] For example, the second affiliated AP of the AP MLD can determine the values of the start time, the duration of each first time period, and the interval between the adjacent two first time periods in the first signaling according to the start time of the trigger scheduling, the service time of each trigger scheduling (which can also be the amount of data to be transmitted each time the trigger scheduling is performed), and the service interval of the trigger scheduling included in the request message.

[0317] Mode two: the first radio frequency transceiver is part of the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP.

[0318] Under this implementation mode two, the first affiliated AP can only use part of the radio frequency transceivers (such as the second radio frequency transceiver) when performing data transmission, and then the other radio frequency transceivers (such as the first radio frequency transceiver) can be switched to the channel of the second affiliated AP, that is, the second affiliated AP can use part of the radio frequency transceivers of the first affiliated AP for data transmission.

[0319] Specifically, the AP MLD can indicate through the third signaling that only a part of the radio transceiver chains can be used when data transceiving is performed.

[0320] In the second way, Figure 15 The method flowchart also includes:

[0321] S1512, the AP MLD sends the third signaling to the non-AP MLD.

[0322] Specifically, the third signaling is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD and the first affiliated AP use a radio transceiver chain other than the first radio transceiver chain for transmission. The non-AP MLD includes the non-AP MLD associated with the first affiliated AP.

[0323] Optionally, the third signaling can be used to indicate that the first affiliated AP cannot use the first radio transceiver chain periodically. For example, the third signaling can be used to indicate that the first affiliated AP cannot use the first radio transceiver chain in a plurality of first time periods, wherein the related description of the first time period can refer to the above Figure 14 The description in the embodiments shown here will not be repeated.

[0324] In the second way, the first affiliated AP can use a radio transceiver chain other than the first radio transceiver chain for data transceiving to serve the station associated with the first affiliated AP.

[0325] As a possible implementation, the third signaling can be a trigger-enabled TWT (trigger-enabled TWT) signaling, which is used to indicate that data transceiving needs to be performed based on the AP MLD trigger frame scheduling in a certain time period (such as a plurality of first time periods), and the number of streams sent by the specified station when the trigger frame triggers the scheduling.

[0326] The second affiliated AP can use part or all of the radio transceiver chains of the first affiliated AP for data transceiving through the above-mentioned first way and second way. The first way and the second way mentioned above are only examples and do not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present application. The second affiliated AP can also use the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP for data transceiving through other ways. For example, the protocol predefines that the first affiliated AP cannot use the first radio transceiver chain for data transceiving in certain time periods; for another example, the management device configures the first affiliated AP to not use the first radio transceiver chain for data transceiving in certain time periods. Here, it will not be illustrated one by one.

[0327] Specifically, the first affiliated AP can periodically not use the first radio transceiver chain for data transmission and reception, for example, not use the first radio transceiver chain in a plurality of first time periods. Thus, the second affiliated AP can use the first radio transceiver chain in the plurality of first time periods. Further, considering the energy consumption of the station associated with the second affiliated AP, the station associated with the second affiliated AP can be instructed to wake up and communicate with the second affiliated AP in some time periods (e.g., a plurality of second time periods), Figure 15 The method flowchart also includes:

[0328] S1530, the AP MLD sends second signaling to the first station.

[0329] Specifically, the second signaling is used to instruct the first station to communicate with the second affiliated AP in the interval in which the first station wakes up.

[0330] For ease of description, the time period in which the first station wakes up can be collectively referred to as the second time period, and the first station wakes up periodically in a plurality of second time periods.

[0331] As a possible implementation, the second time period is the same as the first time period described above, that is, the first station wakes up in the second time period and uses the radio transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and the first radio transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP to communicate data with the second affiliated AP. In other time periods, it can be in a sleep or other energy-saving state.

[0332] In this implementation, the start time of the second time period is the same as the start time of the corresponding first time period, the duration of the second time period is the same as the duration of the first time period, and the number of the second time periods is the same as the number of the first time periods.

[0333] As another possible implementation, considering the switching time of the first Tx / Rx Chain of the first affiliated AP to the channel of the second affiliated AP. The time difference between the start time of the second time period and the start time of the first time period is a first threshold, the time difference between the end time of the second time period and the end time of the first time period is a first threshold, and the first threshold is the switching time described above.

[0334] In this implementation, the start time of the second time period is later than the start time of the corresponding first time period by a first threshold, the end time of the second time period is earlier than the end time of the corresponding first time period by a first threshold, and the number of the second time periods is the same as the number of the first time periods.

[0335] The first time period corresponding to the second time period can be understood as a first time period in which the time domain order is the same as the time domain order of the second time period in the plurality of second time periods.

[0336] For example, the time domain order of the 3 first time periods is first time period #1, first time period #2 and first time period #3 in turn, and the time domain order of the 3 second time periods is second time period #1, second time period #2 and second time period #3 in turn, wherein the first time period #1 is the first time period corresponding to the second time period #1, the first time period #2 is the first time period corresponding to the second time period #2, and the first time period #3 is the first time period corresponding to the second time period #3.

[0337] It should be understood that, in the case where the interval between two adjacent first time periods is represented as the interval between the start time of the previous first time period and the start time of the next first time period, and the interval between two adjacent second time periods is represented as the interval between the start time of the previous second time period and the start time of the next second time period, the interval between two adjacent second time periods is the same as the interval between two adjacent first time periods. Alternatively,

[0338] In the case where the interval between two adjacent first time periods is represented as the interval between the end time of the previous first time period and the end time of the next first time period, and the interval between two adjacent second time periods is represented as the interval between the end time of the previous second time period and the end time of the next second time period, the interval between two adjacent second time periods is the same as the interval between two adjacent first time periods.

[0339] However, in the case where the interval between two adjacent first time periods is represented as the interval between the end time of the previous first time period and the start time of the next first time period, and the interval between two adjacent second time periods is represented as the interval between the end time of the previous second time period and the start time of the next second time period, the interval between two adjacent second time periods is the sum of the interval between two adjacent first time periods and twice the first threshold value.

[0340] From the above, the first station sending a request message to the AP MLD can be the first station sending an SCS Request frame to a second affiliated AP of the AP MLD, and the AP MLD sending a second signaling to the first station can be the second affiliated AP sending an SCS Response frame to the first station after receiving the SCS Request frame, and the SCS Response frame can carry an unsolicit TWT element, where the unsolicit TWT element is used to instruct the second affiliated AP to establish an rTWT and let the first station join the rTWT, so that the first station wakes up to communicate with the second affiliated AP in a second time period.

[0341] For ease of understanding, the following describes how the second affiliated AP uses the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP and the radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP to transmit and receive data in combination with a specific example.

[0342] Example 1:

[0343] As Figure 16 shown in the scenario, Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of a long-distance transmission scenario provided by an embodiment of the application. The AP MLD has two affiliated APs (such as AP#1 and AP#2 shown in FIG. 13), where AP#1 is associated with a Non-AP MLD, and the Non-AP MLD has two affiliated STAs (such as STA#11 and STA#12 shown in FIG. 13); and AP#2 is associated with a single-link STA (such as STA#2 shown in FIG. 13). Figure 16 Figure 16 Figure 16

[0344] Exemplarily, STA#2 can be a doorbell and is associated with AP#2. Since STA#2 is far away from AP#2, it can only support a lower transmission rate.

[0345] Specifically, Figure 16 shown in the scenario, AP#2 uses the TX / Rx Chain of AP#2 and the TX / Rx Chain of AP#1 to serve STA#2 at the same time, including the following steps:

[0346] Step 1: STA#2 sends a request message to AP#2, requesting AP#2 to periodically trigger its uplink transmission.

[0347] For example, when a visitor arrives and presses the doorbell, STA#2 will send a request message to AP#2. The description of the request message can be referred to the description of the request message in S1510 above, which is not repeated here. ​​​

[0348] Step two: AP#2 decides to serve STA#2 in long distance transmission mode.

[0349] Exemplarily, the following step three a and step four a are performed to make AP#2 use the whole radio frequency transceiver chain of AP#1 and the radio frequency transceiver chain of AP#2 to transceive data.

[0350] Step three a: AP MLD establishes a periodic link Disablement schedule on the link of AP#1. The related parameters of the periodic link Disablement schedule can be determined according to the parameters carried in the request message sent by STA#2. The specific establishment process can refer to the description in mode one in Figure 15 , which will not be described here again. Specifically, the periodic link Disablement schedule is established through the first signaling, which can make the non-AP MLD associated with AP#1 not send data to AP#1 in the period of link Disablement; or,

[0351] AP MLD establishes a periodic quiet period on the link of AP#1 by using a Quiet element. Specifically, the periodic quiet period is established through the Quiet element, which can make the legacy STA associated with AP#1 parse the Quiet element and not send data to AP#1 in the quiet period; or

[0352] AP MLD establishes a periodic link Disablement schedule on the link of AP#1, and establishes a periodic quiet period with the starting time aligned with the link Disablement schedule by using a Quiet element. Specifically, the periodic link Disablement schedule is established, and the periodic quiet period is established through the Quiet element, which can make the stations (non-AP MLD and legacy STA) associated with AP#1 not send data in the first time period, wherein the first time period represents the scheduling time period of link Disablement and the quiet period corresponding to the Quiet element.

[0353] For the convenience of description, the establishment of the periodic link Disablement schedule is taken as an example for description.

[0354] Step four a: AP#2 establishes a trigger-enabled rTWT on AP#2's link that is time-aligned with the link disablement, and lets STA#2 join the rTWT as a member.

[0355] It is noted that the trigger-enabled rTWT time-aligned with the link disablement can be that the start time of the rTWT SP on AP#2's link and the start time of the scheduled link disablement on AP#1's link are offset by a fixed time, and the end time of the rTWT SP on AP#2's link and the end time of the scheduled link disablement on AP#1's link are offset by a fixed time. The fixed time is the time needed for the TX / Rx Chains of AP#1 to switch from the channel on which AP#1's link works to the channel on which AP#2's link works, as shown in Figure 17 Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the correspondence between the rTWT and the link disablement provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0356] Exemplarily, the following step three b and step four b are performed to make AP#2 use part of the radio frequency transceiver chains of AP#1 and the radio frequency transceiver chains of AP#2 to transmit and receive data.

[0357] Step three b: AP#1 establishes a trigger-enabled TWT#1 on AP#1's link, during which TWT#1 SP, AP#1 can only use fewer Tx / Rx Chains to transmit and receive, and the rest of the Tx / Rx Chains are switched to the channel on which AP#2's link is located to improve the transmission and reception rate of AP#2.

[0358] Step four b: AP#2 establishes a trigger-enabled rTWT on AP#2's link that is time-aligned with the TWT SP, and lets STA#2 join the rTWT as a member.

[0359] ​It should be noted that the trigger-enabled rTWT and the trigger-enabled TWT#1 time alignment can be that the start time of the rTWT SP on the link of the AP#2 and the start time of the TWT#1 SP scheduled on the link of the AP#1 are offset by a fixed time, and the end time of the rTWT SP on the link of the AP#2 and the end time of the TWT#1 SP scheduled on the link of the AP#1 are offset by a fixed time. The fixed time is the time required for the TX / Rx chain of the AP#1 to switch from the channel on which the link of the AP#1 works to the channel on which the link of the AP#2 works, as shown in Figure 18 Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the correspondence between the rTWT and the TWT#1 provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0360] Step five: During the rTWT, the AP#2 can use its own TX / Rx chain and part or all of the TX / Rx chain of the AP#1 to serve the STA#2.

[0361] It should be understood that the specific examples shown in Figure 14 and Figure 15 are only to help those skilled in the art better understand the embodiments of the present application, and do not limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. It should also be understood that the size of the serial number of each process described above does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0362] It should also be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to if there is no special description and no logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0363] It should also be understood that in some of the above embodiments, the existing network architecture is mainly exemplified by devices, and it should be understood that the specific form of the device is not limited by the embodiments of the present application. For example, devices that can achieve the same function in the future are also applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0364] It can be understood that in each of the above method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by the device (such as the access point multi-link device and the non-access point multi-link device) can also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used for the device.

[0365] Above, in conjunction with Figure 14 and Figure 15 ​The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail. The communication method is mainly introduced from the perspective of the interaction between the access point multi-link device and the non-access point multi-link device. It can be understood that the access point multi-link device and the non-access point multi-link device contain the corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing each function in order to realize the above functions.

[0366] Those skilled in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0367] In the following, the multi-link device provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail. Figure 19 and Figure 20 The device embodiments are described in correspondence with the method embodiments, and therefore, the content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiments described above, and some content is not described again for the sake of brevity.

[0368] The embodiments of the present application can divide the function modules of the sending device or the receiving device according to the above method examples, for example, each function module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or 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, and another division mode can be used in actual implementation. The following is described taking the division of each function module according to each function as an example.

[0369] Figure 19 FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of the device 1900 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The device 1900 includes a transceiver unit 1910 and a processing unit 1920. The transceiver unit 1910 can realize the corresponding communication function, and the processing unit 1920 is used for data processing. The transceiver unit 1910 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0370] Optionally, the device 1900 can also include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 1920 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit, so that the device realizes the above method embodiments.

[0371] The apparatus 1900 can be configured to perform actions performed by a multi-link device (e.g., an access point multi-link device and a non-access point multi-link device) in the above method embodiments. In this case, the apparatus 1900 can be the multi-link device or a component configurable to the multi-link device, the transceiver 1910 is configured to perform operations related to transceiving at the side of the multi-link device in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 1920 is configured to perform operations related to processing at the side of the multi-link device in the above method embodiments.

[0372] As a design, the apparatus 1900 is configured to perform actions performed by an access point multi-link device in the above method embodiments.

[0373] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1920 is configured to generate, by a belonging access point (AP) belonging to the AP MLD, first signaling used to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, the mapping relationship is periodically effective, the first signaling includes first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate a starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, the second indication information is used to indicate a time length at which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information is used to indicate an interval between a starting time or an ending time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective.

[0374] The transceiver 1910 is configured to send, by the belonging AP, the first signaling to a non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) associated with the AP MLD.

[0375] In another possible implementation, the transceiver 1910 is configured to receive, by a second belonging access point (AP), a request message from a first station, the request message is used to request the second belonging AP to periodically trigger scheduling uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message includes information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling; and the processing unit 1920 is configured to perform, by the second belonging AP, data transceiving with the first station by using a radio frequency transceiver chain of the second belonging AP and a first radio frequency transceiver chain of a first belonging AP, where the first radio frequency transceiver chain is all or part of the radio frequency transceiver chain of the first belonging AP.

[0376] The apparatus 1900 can implement steps or processes performed by an access point multi-link device in method embodiments according to embodiments of the present application. The apparatus 1900 can include units for performing methods performed by an access point multi-link device in method embodiments. Also, each unit in the apparatus 1900 and other operations and / or functions described above are respectively configured to implement corresponding processes of the method embodiments in the access point multi-link device in the method embodiments.

[0377] When the apparatus 1900 is configured to perform actions performed by an access point multi-link device in the above method embodiments. Figure 14When the method is in use, the transceiver unit 1910 can be used to execute the transceiver steps in the method, such as step S1420; the processing unit 1920 can be used to execute the processing steps in the method, such as step S1410.

[0378] When the device 1900 is used to perform Figure 15 When the method is in use, the transceiver unit 1910 can be used to execute the transceiver steps in the method, such as steps S1510, S1511, S1512 and S1530; the processing unit 1920 can be used to execute the processing steps in the method, such as step S1520.

[0379] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit performing the above-mentioned corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0380] As an alternative design, the device 1900 is used to perform the actions performed by the non-access point multilink device in the above method embodiments.

[0381] The transceiver unit 1910 is used to receive a first signaling sent by an AP MLD associated with a non-AP MLD through a subordinate access point AP belonging to that AP MLD. The first signaling is used to indicate the mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link. The mapping relationship is periodically activated. The first signaling includes first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate the start time of the first activation of the mapping relationship. The second indication information is used to indicate the duration of each activation of the mapping relationship. The third indication information is used to indicate the interval between the start time or end time of two consecutive activations of the mapping relationship. The processing unit 1920 is used to determine the transmission link of the data service based on the first signaling.

[0382] The apparatus 1900 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those executed by the non-access point multilink device in the method embodiments according to the present application. The apparatus 1900 may include units for executing the methods executed by the non-access point multilink device in the method embodiments. Furthermore, each unit in the apparatus 1900 and the other operations and / or functions described above are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes of the method embodiments in the non-access point multilink device in the method embodiments.

[0383] Among them, when the device 1900 is used to perform Figure 14 When the method is in use, the transceiver unit 1910 can be used to execute the transceiver steps in the method, such as step S1420.

[0384] When the device 1900 is used to perform Figure 15 When the method is in use, the transceiver unit 1910 can be used to execute the transceiver steps in the method, such as steps S1511 and S1512.

[0385] It should be noted that the specific process of each unit performing the corresponding steps described above has been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0386] As yet another design, the apparatus 1900 is configured to perform the actions performed by the first station in the above method embodiments.

[0387] The transceiver 1910 is configured to send a request message to a second affiliated AP associated with the first station, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message including information indicating an interval between two adjacent triggering scheduling; and the processing unit 1920 is configured to perform data transmission and reception with the second affiliated AP through a radio frequency transceiver chain of the second affiliated AP and a first radio frequency transceiver chain of the first affiliated AP.

[0388] The apparatus 1900 can implement the steps or processes performed by the first station in the method embodiments according to the embodiments of the present application, and the apparatus 1900 can include units for performing the methods performed by the first station in the method embodiments. Moreover, each unit in the apparatus 1900 and the other operations and / or functions described above are respectively configured to implement the corresponding processes of the method embodiments in the first station in the method embodiments.

[0389] When the apparatus 1900 is configured to perform the method in the above method embodiments, the transceiver 1910 can be configured to perform the steps of transmitting and receiving in the method, such as steps S1510 and S1530. Figure 15

[0390] The processing unit 1920 in the above embodiments can be implemented by at least one processor or processor-related circuit. The transceiver 1910 can be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuit. The storage unit can be implemented by at least one memory.

[0391] As shown in Figure 20 The embodiments of the present application also provide an apparatus 2000. The apparatus 2000 includes a processor 2010, and can also include one or more memories 2020. The processor 2010 is coupled to the memory 2020, and the memory 2020 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data, and the processor 2010 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions and / or data stored in the memory 2020, so that the above method embodiments are performed. Optionally, the processor 2010 included in the apparatus 2000 is one or more.

[0392] Optionally, the memory 2020 can be integrated with the processor 2010, or be separately arranged.

[0393] Optionally, as shown in Figure 20 ​As shown, the apparatus 2000 can further include a transceiver 2030 for receiving and / or transmitting signals. For example, the processor 2010 is configured to control the transceiver 2030 to receive and / or transmit signals.

[0394] As an option, the apparatus 2000 is configured to implement the operations performed by a multi-link device (such as the above-mentioned access point multi-link device and non-access point multi-link device) in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0395] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium, having stored thereon computer instructions for implementing the method performed by a multi-link device (such as the above-mentioned access point multi-link device and non-access point multi-link device) in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0396] For example, the computer program, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to implement the method performed by a multi-link device (such as the above-mentioned access point multi-link device and non-access point multi-link device) in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0397] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product including instructions, which, when executed by a computer, enable the computer to implement the method performed by a multi-link device (such as the above-mentioned access point multi-link device and non-access point multi-link device) in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0398] The embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, including the access point multi-link device and the non-access point multi-link device in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0399] The explanations and beneficial effects of the related contents in any of the above-mentioned apparatuses can refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0400] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor.

[0401] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM). For example, the RAM can be used as an external cache. As an example but not limitation, the RAM can include the following various forms: static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM) and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0402] It should be noted that when the processor is a general processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated in the processor.

[0403] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0404] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and steps of the examples described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized in electronic hardware, or in a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0405] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method can be implemented in other manners. For example, the embodiments of the apparatus described above are merely schematic; for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division; there can be another division manner for the actual implementation; for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections between the units can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0406] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e., can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to implement the solutions provided in the present application.

[0407] In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into one unit, or each unit can exist physically, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0408] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. For example, the computer can be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media sets. The available media can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state disk (SSD), etc. For example, the foregoing available media can include but is not limited to: a variety of media that can store program codes such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0409] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed in the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: An access point multi-link device (AP MLD) generates first signaling through a subordinate access point (AP) belonging to the AP MLD, the first signaling being used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling comprising first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; The first indication information is used to indicate a starting time at which the mapping relationship is effective for the first time, the second indication information is used to indicate a time length at which the mapping relationship is effective each time, and the third indication information is used to indicate an interval between a starting time and a terminal time of adjacent two times at which the mapping relationship is effective; The AP MLD sends the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the subordinate AP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first signaling further comprises fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate a number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective, wherein the number of times at which the mapping relationship is effective is greater than 1.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The AP MLD sends the first signaling to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the subordinate AP, comprising: The AP MLD sends a beacon frame to a non-AP MLD associated with the AP MLD through the subordinate AP, and the beacon frame comprises the first signaling.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first signaling is used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, comprising: The first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first subordinate AP is not mapped to any service identifier in a time period of the mapping relationship. The method further comprises: The AP MLD transmits and receives data through a radio frequency transceiver chain of the first subordinate AP and a second subordinate AP in the time period in which the mapping relationship is effective.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first signaling is used to indicate a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link, comprising: The first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first subordinate AP is not mapped to any service identifier in a time period in which the mapping relationship is effective, The method further comprises: The AP MLD sends second signaling to a first station through a second subordinate AP, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first station communicates with the second subordinate AP in a time period in which the first station is awake; The AP MLD transmits and receives data through a radio frequency transceiver chain of the first subordinate AP and the second subordinate AP in the time period in which the first station is awake, wherein the first station is a station associated with the second subordinate AP, a starting time of the time period in which the first station is awake is later than a starting time of a corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is effective by a first threshold, a terminal time of the time period in which the first station is awake is earlier than a terminal time of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship is effective by a first threshold, and a number of the time periods in which the first station is awake is the same as a number of the time periods in which the mapping relationship is effective.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further comprises: The AP MLD receives a request message from the first station through the second affiliated AP, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling the first station uplink transmission, and the request message including information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a starting time of triggering scheduling, a service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use long distance transmission mode service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The AP MLD generates first signaling through an affiliated AP affiliated to the AP MLD, including: The AP MLD generates the first signaling through the affiliated AP according to the information included in the request message.

9. A communication method characterized by comprising: Including: A non-AP MLD associated with an AP MLD receives first signaling sent by the AP MLD through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, the first signaling being used to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, the mapping relationship being periodically effective, the first signaling including first indication information, second indication information, and third indication information; The first indication information is used to indicate a starting time of the first time of the mapping relationship being effective, the second indication information is used to indicate a time length of each time of the mapping relationship being effective, and the third indication information is used to indicate an interval between a starting time or an ending time of adjacent two times of the mapping relationship being effective; The non-AP MLD determines a transmission link of a data traffic according to the first signaling.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The first signaling further includes fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate a number of times of the mapping relationship being effective, wherein the number of times of the mapping relationship being effective is greater than 1.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The non-AP MLD receives first signaling sent by the AP MLD through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, including: The non-AP MLD receives a beacon frame sent by the AP MLD through an affiliated access point (AP) affiliated to the AP MLD, the beacon frame including the first signaling.

12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The first signaling is used to indicate a mapping relationship between a traffic identifier and a link, including: The first signaling is used to indicate that a link of a first affiliated AP is not mapped to the traffic identifier in a time period in which the mapping relationship is effective. The method further includes: A first station receives second signaling from a second affiliated AP, the second signaling being used to indicate that the first station communicates with the second affiliated AP in a time period in which the first station wakes up, The first station is a station associated with the second affiliated AP, a start time of a wake-up period of the first station is later than a start time of a first threshold of a corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship takes effect, an end time of the wake-up period of the first station is earlier than an end time of a first threshold of the corresponding time period in which the mapping relationship takes effect, and a number of the wake-up periods of the first station is the same as a number of the time periods in which the mapping relationship takes effect.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The method further includes: The first station sends a request message to the second affiliated AP, the request message being used to request the second affiliated AP to periodically trigger scheduling of uplink transmission of the first station, and the request message including information indicating an interval between adjacent two times of triggering scheduling.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The request message further includes at least one of the following information: information indicating a start time of triggering scheduling, information indicating a service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information used to determine the service time of each time of triggering scheduling, information indicating an access strategy, information requesting long-distance transmission mode service, or information used to determine whether to use the long-distance transmission mode service.

15. An access point multi-link device, comprising: The device includes units or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

16. A non-access point multi-link device, comprising: The device includes units or modules for performing the method of any one of claims 9 to 14.

17. A communication system, characterized by The device includes at least one access point multi-link device of claim 15 and at least one non-access point multi-link device of claim 16.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions, when the computer instructions run on a device, causing the device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 14.

19. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions, when the computer instructions run on a device, causing the device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 14.

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