Chip time synchronization method, device, system and storage medium for multi-link equipment

Abstract

The present application provides a chip time synchronization method, device, system and storage medium for a multi-link device, which includes the following steps: the hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface, and obtains the information frame of the target hotspot. According to the different listening signals, different communication layers are applied to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset during the listening process; the timestamp carrying the target hotspot is obtained according to the information frame; the deviation from the local maintenance timestamp is calculated according to the timestamp of the target hotspot, and the locally maintained timestamp is updated. The embodiments of this specification implement cross-chip time synchronization within a co-located AP MLD physical device by listening to a common target AP and utilizing the collaboration between the layers of the communication model, thereby avoiding the need for the prior art to add additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and a control module responsible for time synchronization. There is no need for communication between chips, which reduces the complexity and cost of implementation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a chip time synchronization method, device, system and storage medium for a multi-link device. Background Art

[0002] Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology that allows mobile devices (such as smartphones, laptops, embedded devices, etc.) to obtain wireless services in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6Gz or 60GHz frequency bands.

[0003] With the continuous development of wireless technology, Wi-Fi multi-link operation (MLO) has been introduced, in which access points (APs) and non-AP stations (STAs) have their own chips. The operation of each link is supported by one or more chips (groups). As the total number of links in multi-link operation increases, co-located AP MLD is adopted. Here, "co-location" means that the access points supporting each link are deployed together in one physical device.

[0004] Based on this, cooperation between wireless links is required, that is, cooperation between multiple links requires time synchronization between links. Based on the implementation of co-located AP MLD and the time synchronization requirements between multiple links, time synchronization needs to be achieved between chips responsible for different links to meet the relevant provisions of the 802.11be standard. The existing technology is to complete time synchronization through cross-chip software and hardware interaction within the AP MLD physical device. However, additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and control modules responsible for time synchronization are required, which makes the implementation more complicated and requires the installation of hardware modules to increase costs.

[0005] Therefore, a new solution for cross-chip time synchronization of multi-link devices is needed. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of this, embodiments of the present specification provide a chip time synchronization method, apparatus, system and storage medium for a multi-link device.

[0007] The embodiments of this specification provide the following technical solutions:

[0008] The embodiment of this specification provides a chip time synchronization method for a multi-link device, including:

[0009] The hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface and obtains the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset;

[0010] Obtain the timestamp of the target hotspot according to the information frame;

[0011] The deviation between the timestamp of the target hotspot and the locally maintained timestamp is calculated, and the locally maintained timestamp is updated; wherein different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links, and different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the locally maintained timestamp to achieve time synchronization.

[0012] The embodiment of the present specification also provides a chip time synchronization device of a multi-link device, including:

[0013] The listening module is used for the hotspot to be synchronized to listen to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface and obtain the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset;

[0014] An acquisition module, used to acquire the timestamp carrying the target hotspot according to the information frame;

[0015] The maintenance module is used to calculate the deviation between the timestamp of the target hotspot and the local maintenance timestamp, and update the local maintenance timestamp; wherein different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links, and different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the local maintenance timestamp to achieve time synchronization.

[0016] An embodiment of the present specification also provides a chip time synchronization system for a multi-link device, comprising: a memory, a processor, and a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored in the memory, and the processor runs the computer program to execute the chip time synchronization method for the multi-link device in the above technical solution.

[0017] The embodiment of the present specification also provides a readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it is used to implement the chip time synchronization method of the multi-link device in the above technical solution.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the at least one technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this specification can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0019] The embodiment of this specification provides a cross-chip time synchronization method for a multi-link device. The multi-link device is used for multi-link operation and is composed of multiple chips. The operation of each link is supported by one or more chips (groups) to achieve time synchronization between multiple chips to meet the time synchronization requirements of multi-link operation. The embodiment of this specification implements cross-chip time synchronization within a co-located AP MLD physical device by listening to a common target AP and utilizing the collaboration between the layers of the communication model, avoiding the need for the prior art to add additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and a control module responsible for time synchronization. There is no need for communication between chips, reducing the complexity and cost of implementation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a co-located AP MLD implementation model of an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 is a flow chart of inter-AP air interface time synchronization according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a chip time synchronization method for a multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The following describes the implementation methods of the present application through specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application from the contents disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The present application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific implementation methods, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present application. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in the field without making creative work belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0026] It should be noted that various aspects of the embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It should be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any specific structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on the present application, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that an aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number and aspect described herein can be used to implement the device and / or practice the method. In addition, other structures and / or functionalities other than one or more of the aspects described herein can be used to implement this device and / or practice this method.

[0027] It should also be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present application. The illustrations only show the components related to the present application rather than being drawn according to the number, shape and size of the components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity and proportion of each component may be changed at will, and the component layout may also be more complicated.

[0028] Additionally, in the following description, specific details are provided to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the examples can be practiced without these specific details.

[0029] With the continuous development of various wireless technologies, including Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), which is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology, mobile devices (such as smartphones, laptops, embedded devices, etc.) can obtain wireless services in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6Gz or 60GHz frequency bands.

[0030] In Wi-Fi multi-link operation (MLO) introduced in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11be technical standard, there are multiple links between two Wi-Fi multi-link devices (MLD), including an access point (AP) and a non-AP station (STA), which occupy different radio-frequency (RF) bands. A Wi-Fi MLD can independently perform channel access (e.g., enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA)) on multiple wireless links. Specifically, these wireless links can operate independently to increase overall throughput and / or improve connection stability.

[0031] As mentioned above, a multi-link device should be able to support multi-link operations on at least two links. As the technology develops, it can be expected that the total number of links that high-end non-AP site multi-link devices (non-AP MLDs) can support multi-link operations will increase, such as multi-link devices that support 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. Correspondingly, the demand for supporting various combinations of links is increasing. Co-located AP MLD is the current mainstream MLD implementation form. Here, "co-location" means that the access points supporting each link are deployed together in one physical device. In order to support multi-link operations more efficiently and flexibly and achieve a balance between performance and cost, an AP MLD consists of multiple chips, and each link operation in the multi-link is supported by one or more chips.

[0032] like Figure 1 Example A possible implementation model of a co-located AP MLD is shown in the diagram. An AP MLD physical device includes a shared network processor and three wireless modules (connected to the network processor through a high-speed serial computer expansion bus (peripheral component interconnect express, PCIe)). Each wireless module is responsible for the related operations of a link.

[0033] In order to improve the management and use efficiency of these wireless links, cooperation between wireless links is required, such as transmitting control commands or management information related to other links on one link. This cooperation between multiple links requires time synchronization between links so that the MLDs participating in the communication can synchronize the timeliness of related commands or information when cooperating between multiple links.

[0034] In this regard, the 802.11be standard stipulates that the access point multi-link device (AP MLD) needs to notify the non-AP site multi-link device (non-AP MLD) of the timestamp offset between each link in the form of the timing synchronization function (Timing Synchronization Function) timestamp offset (TSF offset). The AP MLD should correct the clock drift to ensure that the TSF offset between these multi-links does not vary by more than 30 microseconds.

[0035] Based on the above-mentioned co-location of AP MLD and the time synchronization requirements between multiple links, it is necessary to implement time synchronization between chips responsible for different links to meet the relevant provisions of the 802.11be standard. In the existing AP MLD physical device, time synchronization is completed through cross-chip software and hardware interaction, which requires additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and a control module responsible for time synchronization.

[0036] Based on this, the embodiments of this specification provide a new chip time synchronization solution for multi-link devices: by listening to a common target AP and utilizing the collaboration between the various layers of the communication model, cross-chip time synchronization within a co-located AP MLD physical device is achieved, avoiding the need for additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and a control module responsible for time synchronization in the prior art. There is no need for communication between chips, reducing the complexity and cost of implementation.

[0037] The technical solutions provided by various embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present specification provides a chip time synchronization method for a multi-link device, specifically including steps S301-303. Step S301, the hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the virtual logical port (AP air port), and obtains the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, it is applied to different communication layers during the listening process to cooperate with the timestamp offset calculation. Step S302, according to the information frame, obtain the timestamp (TSF, timestamp) carrying the target hotspot. Step S303, calculate the deviation from the locally maintained timestamp based on the timestamp of the target hotspot, and update the locally maintained timestamp; wherein, different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links, and different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the locally maintained timestamp to complete time synchronization. wherein, the information frame is not used to transmit frames of actual data.

[0039] For Wi-Fi, co-location of AP MLD supports the deployment of access points of multiple links in one physical device to realize multi-link operation. In order to improve the management and utilization efficiency of wireless links, cooperation between wireless links is required, and cooperation between multiple links requires time synchronization between links. In the prior art, in order to realize time synchronization between links, time synchronization needs to be completed through cross-chip software and hardware interaction in the AP MLD physical device, which requires additional software and hardware modules for communication between chips and control modules responsible for time synchronization.

[0040] The embodiment of this specification implements cross-chip time synchronization in a co-located AP MLD physical device by listening to a common target AP, and the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of timestamp offset. The AP to be synchronized and the listening target AP are affiliated to the same AP MLD, and the two APs work on different links.

[0041] Specifically, in step S301, an air interface signal is obtained, and the hotspot to be synchronized applies different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset according to different listening signals, and different information frames are set corresponding to different listening signals.

[0042] The AP to be synchronized can obtain the information frame corresponding to the target AP by listening to the listening signal sent by the target AP on the air interface, so as to update the locally maintained TSF timestamp to achieve time synchronization.

[0043] In some embodiments, before monitoring the wireless signal of the air interface, the AP to be synchronized needs to adjust its radio frequency receiving frequency to the working frequency of the target AP. In other embodiments, monitoring is performed according to a fixed time period.

[0044] In step S302, the timestamp carrying the target hotspot is obtained according to the information frame.

[0045] Specifically, the signal and the information frame are intercepted according to the interception technology, and the communication regulations of different communication layers are obtained from the information frame. In some embodiments, the communication layer includes a physical layer or a data link layer.

[0046] In step S303, the offset (TSFoffset) between the intercepted TSF timestamp and the locally maintained TSF timestamp is calculated, and when the offset exceeds a specified threshold, the locally maintained TSF is updated.

[0047] The time synchronization between multi-link APs belonging to an AP MLD adopts the listening mode. The AP to be synchronized obtains the TSF timestamp of other APs by listening to the information frames sent by the APs belonging to this AP MLD working on other links, and updates the locally maintained TSF accordingly to achieve time synchronization.

[0048] The embodiments of the present specification do not require additional hardware modules for setting up communication between chips, nor do they require setting up a control module for time synchronization. Instead, a new synchronization method is used to achieve this.

[0049] Mechanism for setting the listening time: In some embodiments, the listening signal includes a wireless signal or a looped intermediate frequency / baseband signal; the information frame includes a beacon frame and a detection response frame; the hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot virtual logical port, including: when the listening time arrives, adjusting the local RF receiving operating frequency to the main channel operating frequency of the target hotspot, and turning on the RF receiving function to obtain the information frame of the target hotspot from the air interface; or, starting the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback from the target hotspot to the hotspot to be synchronized, and receiving the information frame of the hotspot to be synchronized.

[0050] Specifically, according to the different listening signals, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset. The listening period setting of the AP to be synchronized needs to comprehensively consider factors such as the local AP clock drift rate and synchronization accuracy requirements to set the listening time mechanism.

[0051] In an air interface listening method, the listening signal includes a wireless signal, and correspondingly, the information frame includes a beacon frame and a detection response frame. Specifically, when the hotspot to be synchronized arrives at the listening time, the local RF receiving working frequency is adjusted to the main channel working frequency of the target hotspot, and after the adjustment is completed, the RF receiving function is turned on to obtain the information frame of the target hotspot from the air interface.

[0052] Another listening mode is the signal loopback mode, where the listening signal includes the looped intermediate frequency / baseband signal, and correspondingly, the information frame includes the beacon frame and the detection response frame. Specifically, when the listening time arrives, the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback from the target hotspot to the hotspot to be synchronized is started, and the information frame of the hotspot to be synchronized is received.

[0053] In combination with the above embodiment, it also includes: the hotspot to be synchronized obtains the sending period and time of the target hotspot beacon frame before the listening time arrives, sets a preset delay, adjusts the RF receiving frequency or enables the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback.

[0054] Specifically, method 1: Since both APs belong to the same AP MLD, the AP to be synchronized can learn in advance the beacon frame (Beacon) transmission cycle and time of the target AP, and complete the relevant reception preparation work (such as adjusting the RF reception frequency or enabling the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback, etc.) before the beacon frame (Beacon) is sent. This method of listening makes the service interruption time of the local AP more predictable.

[0055] Method 2: Start listening at a fixed time period until a beacon frame or a probe response frame is successfully obtained.

[0056] Based on the above listening time setting mechanism, the air interface signal is obtained, as follows Figure 2 For example, the AP to be synchronized can obtain the target AP's beacon frame or probe response frame by listening to the wireless signal sent by the target AP on the air interface or the loopback intermediate frequency / baseband signal. Before listening to the wireless signal on the air interface, the AP to be synchronized needs to adjust its RF receiving frequency to the working frequency of the above target AP.

[0057] To prevent the wireless transmission signal of the target AP from blocking the receiver of the AP to be synchronized, you can enable the IF / baseband signal loopback between APs to loop back the IF / baseband transmission signal of the target AP directly to the IF / baseband receiving port of the AP to be synchronized. After the synchronization is completed, adjust the RF receiving frequency of the AP to be synchronized to the local working frequency, or disable the IF / baseband signal loopback function between APs.

[0058] Then, the timestamp of the target hotspot is obtained according to the information frame. For example, the AP to be synchronized needs to periodically listen to the TSF timestamp carried in the Beacon frame or Probe response frame sent by the target AP, so as to calculate the TSF timestamp deviation (TSF offset) from the locally maintained TSF timestamp according to the listened TSF timestamp, and update the locally maintained TSF after the deviation exceeds the specified threshold.

[0059] In some embodiments, the timestamp calculation based on the monitored target hotspot and the timestamp deviation maintained locally include: compensating for the timestamp deviation based on the transmission delay of the monitored beacon frame or detection response frame and the processing delay of the related frame.

[0060] Specifically, the delay compensation for receiving the TSF value is performed by calculating the TSF deviation and processing the delay according to the formats of different physical layer protocol data units; accordingly, different delay compensations are performed on the timestamp value according to the different physical data packet formats corresponding to the intercepted information frame.

[0061] Since the TSF timestamp carried by the Beacon frame is located in the first 8 bytes after the end of the MAC header in the MAC Management Protocol Data Unit (MMPDU), at the transmitting end, the TSF value means the timestamp when the first symbol carrying the TSF appears on the air interface. At the receiving end, the reception of the relevant frame will experience air interface propagation, RF processing, physical layer processing and MAC layer processing delays. For physical layer protocol data units (PPDU: Physical Protocol Data Unit) of different formats, such as 802.11b and non-802.11b formats, the relevant processing delays are different. Therefore, when the receiving end of the to-be-synchronized AP3 obtains the TSF value corresponding to the Beacon frame of the target AP2, it should compensate for the delay of the TSF value according to the specific PPDU format of the frame.

[0062] In some embodiments, if the format of the physical data packet is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the timestamp of the received frame is delayed compensated according to the timestamp value carried by the received frame, the processing delays of the RF, physical layer and link layer at the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp-related fields at the air interface, and an updated value is obtained.

[0063] Or, if the format of the physical data packet is the wireless LAN standard format (802.11b), the timestamp of the received frame is delayed compensated according to the timestamp value carried by the received frame, the processing delays of the RF, physical layer and link layer of the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp-related fields at the air interface, and an updated value is obtained after delay compensation is performed on the timestamp of the received frame.

[0064] Specifically, if the PPDU format is OFDM (not 802.11b):

[0065] TSF_rx_curr=TSF_rx_mpdu+TSF_ofdm_rx_RfPhyMac_delay+Tsf_ofdm_macTsf_dur (Formula 1)

[0066] If the PPDU format is 802.11b:

[0067] TSF_rx_curr=TSF_rx_mpdu+TSF_11b_rx_RfPhyMac_delay+Tsf_11b_macTsf_dur (Formula 2)

[0068] The unit of each variable in the above formula is microsecond, and the specific meaning is shown in Table 1.

[0069] Table 1

[0070]

[0071] In some embodiments, after the update value is obtained, the update value is time-accumulated, and the timestamp deviation is obtained by subtracting the current value of the time accumulation from the current value of the timestamp of the target local module.

[0072] In combination with the above embodiment, after the synchronized AP3 obtains TSF_rx_curr according to the above method, it accumulates the value over time, that is, every 1 microsecond:

[0073] TSF_rx_curr = TSF_rx_curr + 1 (Formula 3)

[0074] TSF timestamp offset calculation:

[0075] When AP3 starts calculating the TSF timestamp offset (TSF offset), it should be calculated as follows based on the current value (TSF_rx_curr) updated by the above time accumulation and the TSF current value (TSF_local_curr) of the AP3 local module:

[0076] TSF_offset = TSF_rx_curr - TSF_local_curr (Formula 4)

[0077] The units of the above variables are microseconds.

[0078] Finally (time synchronization method):

[0079] The time synchronization between multi-link APs belonging to an AP MLD adopts the listening mode. The AP to be synchronized obtains the TSF timestamp of other APs by listening to the beacon frames or probe response frames sent by the APs belonging to the AP MLD working on other links, and updates the locally maintained TSF accordingly to achieve time synchronization.

[0080] In combination with the above embodiment, AP3 local time synchronization:

[0081] If the absolute value of TSF_offset calculated in the above manner is greater than the predefined threshold, time synchronization between AP3 and AP2 is performed as follows:

[0082] TSF_local_curr = TSF_rx_curr (Formula 5)

[0083] The units of the above variables are in microseconds. TSF_local_curr is the local current TSF timestamp maintained by AP3, and TSF_rx_curr is the current TSF timestamp of AP2 maintained by AP3 according to formula 3.

[0084] In summary, in the specific implementation example, taking FIG. 1 as an example, three APs (AP1 working frequency band 2.4 GHz, AP2 working frequency band 5 GHz, AP3 working frequency band 6 GHz) all belong to the same co-located AP MLD, and both the to-be-synchronized AP1 and the to-be-synchronized AP3 take AP2 as the target AP, and respectively enable periodic listening of the Beacon frame or Probe Response frame of AP2 to obtain the relevant TSF timestamp.

[0085] Without loss of generality, the following takes AP3 intercepting the Beacon frame of AP2 as an example to illustrate the subsequent processing.

[0086] Acquisition of target AP beacon frame or probe response frame:

[0087] An air interface monitoring method:

[0088] When the listening time (based on the beacon frame sending time of AP2, with a certain processing delay in advance) arrives, AP3 should adjust the local RF receiving working frequency to the main channel working frequency of AP2 (at 5GHz), and after the adjustment is completed, turn on the RF receiving function to obtain the relevant frame content of AP2 from the air interface.

[0089] Another signal loopback method:

[0090] When the listening time arrives, AP3 should start the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback from AP2 to AP3 and receive the relevant frame content of AP2.

[0091] Delay compensation for receiving TSF value:

[0092] Since the TSF timestamp carried by the Beacon frame is located in the first 8 bytes after the end of the media access control header (MAC header) in the media access control management protocol data unit MMPDU (MAC Management Protocol Data Unit), at the sending end, the TSF value means the timestamp when the first symbol carrying TSF appears on the air interface. At the receiving end, the reception of the relevant frame will experience air interface propagation, RF processing, physical layer processing and MAC layer processing delays. For physical layer protocol data units (PPDU: Physical Protocol Data Unit) of different formats, such as 802.11b and non-802.11b formats, the relevant processing delays are different. Therefore, when the AP3 receiving end obtains the TSF value corresponding to the AP2 Beacon frame, it should compensate for the delay of the TSF value according to the specific PPDU format of the frame:

[0093] If the PPDU format is OFDM (not 802.11b):

[0094] TSF_rx_curr=TSF_rx_mpdu+TSF_ofdm_rx_RfPhyMac_delay+Tsf_ofdm_macTsf_dur (Formula 1)

[0095] If the PPDU format is 802.11b:

[0096] TSF_rx_curr=TSF_rx_mpdu+TSF_11b_rx_RfPhyMac_delay+Tsf_11b_macTsf_dur (Formula 2)

[0097] The unit of each variable in the above formula is microsecond, and the specific meaning is shown in Table 1.

[0098] After AP3 obtains TSF_rx_curr according to the above method, it accumulates the value over time, that is, every 1 microsecond:

[0099] TSF_rx_curr = TSF_rx_curr + 1 (Formula 3)

[0100] TSF timestamp offset calculation:

[0101] When AP3 starts calculating the TSF timestamp offset (TSF offset), it should be calculated as follows based on the current value (TSF_rx_curr) updated by the above time accumulation and the TSF current value (TSF_local_curr) of the AP3 local module:

[0102] TSF_offset = TSF_rx_curr - TSF_local_curr (Formula 4)

[0103] The units of the above variables are microseconds.

[0104] AP3 local time synchronization:

[0105] If the absolute value of TSF_offset calculated in the above manner is greater than the predefined threshold, time synchronization between AP3 and AP2 is performed as follows:

[0106] TSF_local_curr = TSF_rx_curr (Formula 5)

[0107] The units of the above variables are in microseconds. TSF_local_curr is the local current TSF timestamp maintained by AP3, and TSF_rx_curr is the current TSF timestamp of AP2 maintained by AP3 according to formula 3.

[0108] In the embodiments of the present specification, each AP belonging to the same co-located AP MLD can monitor a common target AP and achieve time synchronization, thereby achieving and satisfying the time synchronization requirement between each AP.

[0109] Each AP to be synchronized does not need to communicate with the target AP during the monitoring of the target AP and the subsequent time synchronization process. This avoids the impact on the normal business of the target AP on the one hand, and avoids the cross-chip hardware and software interaction between the APs on the other hand, reducing the implementation complexity and hardware and software costs.

[0110] In combination with the above embodiments, the embodiments of this specification further provide a chip time synchronization device for a multi-link device, including:

[0111] The listening module is used for the hotspot to be synchronized to listen to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface and obtain the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset;

[0112] An acquisition module, used to acquire the timestamp carrying the target hotspot according to the information frame;

[0113] The maintenance module is used to calculate the deviation between the timestamp of the target hotspot and the local maintenance timestamp, and update the local maintenance timestamp; wherein different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links, and different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the local maintenance timestamp to achieve time synchronization.

[0114] In combination with the above embodiments, an embodiment of this specification also provides a chip time synchronization system for a multi-link device, including: a memory, a processor, and a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored in the memory, and the processor runs the computer program to execute the chip time synchronization method for the multi-link device in any of the above technical solutions.

[0115] In combination with the above embodiments, an embodiment of this specification further provides a readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it is used to implement the chip time synchronization method of the multi-link device in any of the above technical solutions.

[0116] The same or similar parts between the various embodiments in this specification can be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the product embodiment described later, since it corresponds to the method, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the system embodiment.

[0117] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A chip time synchronization method for a multi-link device, characterized in that: include: The hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface and obtains the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset; Obtain the timestamp of the target hotspot according to the information frame; According to the timestamp value carried by the information frame, the processing delay of the radio frequency, physical layer and link layer of the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp-related field on the air interface, the timestamp of the information frame is delayed compensated to obtain an updated value; After obtaining the updated value, time accumulation is performed on the updated value, and a timestamp offset is obtained according to a current value of the time accumulation and a current value of the timestamp of the target local module; When the absolute value of the timestamp offset is greater than a predefined threshold, the current value is used as the timestamp maintained locally for the hotspot to be synchronized; wherein, different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links, and different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the locally maintained timestamp to achieve time synchronization.

2. The chip time synchronization method of a multi-link device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interception signal includes a wireless signal or a looped intermediate frequency / baseband signal; the information frame includes a beacon frame and a detection response frame; The hotspot to be synchronized listens to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface, including: When the listening time arrives, the local RF receiving working frequency is adjusted to the main channel working frequency of the target hotspot, and the RF receiving function is turned on to obtain the beacon frame and detection response frame of the target hotspot from the air interface; Or, start the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback from the target hotspot to the hotspot to be synchronized, and receive the beacon frame and detection response frame of the target hotspot.

3. The chip time synchronization method of a multi-link device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: The hotspot to be synchronized obtains the sending cycle and time of the target hotspot beacon frame before the listening time arrives, sets a preset delay, adjusts the RF receiving frequency or enables the intermediate frequency / baseband signal loopback.

4. The chip time synchronization method of a multi-link device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Processing delays according to the formats of different physical layer protocol data units; Accordingly, different delay compensations are performed on the timestamp value according to different physical data packet formats corresponding to the intercepted information frame.

5. The chip time synchronization method of a multi-link device according to claim 4, characterized in that: If the format of the physical data packet is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, the timestamp value carried by the information frame, the processing delay of the radio frequency, physical layer and link layer at the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp related fields at the air interface are added, and the timestamp of the information frame is delayed compensated to obtain an updated value; Or, if the format of the physical data packet is the standard format of the wireless local area network, the timestamp value carried by the information frame, the processing delay of the RF, physical layer and link layer at the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp related fields at the air interface are added together, and the timestamp of the information frame is delayed compensated to obtain an updated value.

6. A chip time synchronization device for a multi-link device, characterized in that: include: The listening module is used for the hotspot to be synchronized to listen to the listening signal sent by the target hotspot at the hotspot air interface and obtain the information frame of the target hotspot; according to the difference of the listening signal, the listening process is applied to different communication layers to cooperate with the calculation of the timestamp offset; An acquisition module, used to acquire the timestamp carrying the target hotspot according to the information frame; A maintenance module is used to obtain an updated value after delay compensation for the timestamp of the information frame based on the timestamp value carried by the information frame, the processing delay of the radio frequency, physical layer and link layer of the receiving end, and the transmission delay of the timestamp-related field at the air interface; After obtaining the updated value, time accumulation is performed on the updated value, and a timestamp offset is obtained according to a current value of the time accumulation and a current value of the timestamp of the target local module; When the absolute value of the timestamp offset is greater than a predefined threshold, the current value is used as the timestamp maintained locally by the hotspot to be synchronized; Different hotspots to be synchronized belong to the same co-located multi-link device and work on different links. Different hotspots to be synchronized synchronously update the locally maintained timestamps to achieve time synchronization.

7. A chip time synchronization system for a multi-link device, characterized in that: include: A memory, a processor and a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored in the memory, and the processor runs the computer program to execute the chip time synchronization method of the multi-link device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A readable storage medium, characterized in that: The readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program is used to implement the chip time synchronization method of the multi-link device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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