Power saving method and device applied to multi-link communication

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a power saving method and device applied to multi-link communication. The power consumption of multi-link equipment is reduced. The specific scheme is as follows: a first multi-link device sends a notification frame to a second device on one of a plurality of links to indicate whether a plurality of stations in the first multi-link device are in a waking state or not; according to the embodiment of the invention, one link of the multi-link equipment reports whether one or more stations included in the first multi-link equipment are in the wake-up state or not, so that a plurality of other STAs working on a plurality of links are prevented from reporting the wake-up states of the STAs respectively, the power consumption of the multi-link equipment is reduced, the signaling overhead is saved, and the transmission efficiency is improved.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The application number of the original application is 202010168105.3, and the original application date is March 11, 2020. The entire contents of the original application are incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a power saving method and device applied in multi-link communication. Background Art

[0003] In order to significantly improve the service transmission rate of the WLAN system, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard further adopts the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology based on the existing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology. OFDMA technology supports multiple nodes to send and receive data at the same time, thereby achieving multi-site diversity gain. In 2017, when 802.11ax was finalized, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States opened a new free frequency band of 5925-7125MHz, which is referred to as 6GHz below. Therefore, the 802.11ax standard workers expanded the operating range of 802.11ax devices from 2.4GHz and 5GHz to 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz in the 802.11ax Project Authorization Requests (PAR).

[0004] IEEE 802.11 next generation WiFi protocol (EHT, extremely high throughput) devices need to be forward compatible, so they will also support the working spectrum of 802.11ax devices, that is, they will support 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands. According to the latest free 6GHz band, based on the frequency band, the supported bandwidth can exceed the maximum bandwidth of 160MHz supported in 5GHz, such as 320MHz. In addition to ultra-large bandwidth, IEEE 802.11ax next generation WiFi-extremely high throughput can also improve peak throughput through more streams, such as increasing the number of streams to 16 streams, and multiple frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz) cooperation. On the same frequency band, peak throughput can also be improved and service transmission latency can be reduced by cooperating with multiple channels. Multi-band or multi-channel is collectively referred to as multi-link below.

[0005] Although 802.11ax and previous WiFi networks with the same operating frequency band are configured with multiple links, generally speaking, each multi-link establishes a different BSS (Basic Service Set), and only one link can communicate with sites in the BSS to which the link belongs at a time.

[0006] In addition to using the continuous ultra-large bandwidth of the new 6GHz frequency band, the IEEE 802.11 next-generation WiFi extremely high throughput (EHT) protocol can also use multi-link cooperation technology to aggregate discontinuous multiple links to form ultra-large bandwidth. In addition to aggregating larger bandwidth, multi-link cooperation technology can also use multi-link cooperation technology to send data packets to the same station at the same time.

[0007] Obviously, multi-link devices use multiple links to communicate in parallel to greatly improve the transmission rate, but because multiple links need to be in working state at the same time, more energy is consumed and the power consumption overhead will be greater. Therefore, how to reduce the power of multi-link devices is crucial. Summary of the invention

[0008] The embodiments of the present application provide a power saving method and device applied in multi-link communication, which can reduce the power consumption of multi-link stations.

[0009] In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] In a first aspect, a power saving method for multi-link communication is provided, which is applied to a first multi-link device, wherein a station in the first multi-link device works on one of multiple links, and a station in the first multi-link device sends a notification frame to a second device on one link, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in a wake-up state. It can be understood that in this solution, one or more stations included in a multi-link device can be reported on a link of the multi-link device to be in a wake-up state, thereby avoiding multiple other STAs working on multiple links from reporting their wake-up states one by one, reducing the power consumption of the multi-link device and improving the transmission efficiency.

[0011] In a second aspect, another power saving method applied to multi-link communication is provided, the method comprising: a second device receives a notification frame sent from a station of a first multi-link device on a link, the notification frame being used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state; a station in the first multi-link device works on a link; and the second device determines the station in the first multi-link device that is in an awake state based on the notification frame.

[0012] According to a third aspect, a cache service notification method is provided, the method comprising: a second device generates a medium access control layer (MAC) frame, the MAC frame comprising a link identification bit map and more data bits, the link identification bit map comprising multiple bits, one bit corresponding to a station on one of multiple links, the more data bits comprising 1 bit, the link identification bit map and the more data bits are combined to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a buffer cache service to be received, and sends a MAC frame.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, a cache service notification method is provided, the method comprising: a first device receives a media access control layer (MAC) frame, the MAC frame comprising a link identification bit map and more data bits, the link identification bit map comprising multiple bits, one bit corresponding to a station on a link among multiple links, the more data bits comprising 1 bit, the link identification bit map and the more data bits being combined to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has cache services to be received; the first device determines which stations in the first device have cache services to be received based on the link identification bit map and the more data bits.

[0014] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is applied to a first multi-link device, comprising a processing unit, configured to generate a notification frame, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state; a station in the first multi-link device works on a link; and a transceiver unit, configured to send the notification frame to a second device on a link.

[0015] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is applied to a second device, including:

[0016] A transceiver unit is used to receive a notification frame sent by a station of a first multi-link device on a link, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state; one station in the first multi-link device works on one link; and a processing unit is used to determine the station in the first multi-link device that is in an awake state according to the notification frame.

[0017] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which is applied to a first device, including: a transceiver unit, used to receive a media access control layer (MAC) frame, the MAC frame including a link identification bit map and more data bits, the link identification bit map including multiple bits, one bit corresponding to a station on a link among multiple links, the more data bits including 1 bit, the link identification bit map and the more data bits are combined to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has cached services to be received; a processing unit, used to determine which stations in the first device have cached services to be received based on the link identification bit map and the more data bits.

[0018] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is applied to a second device, and includes: a processing unit, which is used to generate a medium access control layer (MAC) frame, and the MAC frame includes a link identification bit map and more data bits. The link identification bit map includes multiple bits, one bit corresponds to a station on a link among multiple links, and the more data bits include 1 bit. The link identification bit map is combined with the more data bits to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a buffer cache service to be received, and the transceiver unit is used to send the MAC frame.

[0019] The communication devices of the fifth to eighth aspects mentioned above may be chips, wherein the processing unit may be a processing circuit of the chip, the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface circuit, the processing circuit may be used to process signaling or data information provided by the input / output, and the input / output interface circuit may be used to input / output data or signaling information for the chip.

[0020] According to a ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein a computer program code is stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program code runs on a processor, the processor executes any one of the methods described above.

[0021] In a tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a computer program product is provided, which stores computer software instructions executed by the above-mentioned processor, and the computer software instructions include a program for executing the solutions described in the above-mentioned aspects.

[0022] In the eleventh aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a communication device is provided, which includes a processor and may also include a transceiver and a memory, wherein the transceiver is used to send and receive information, or to communicate with other network elements; the memory is used to store computer-executable instructions; and the processor is used to execute the computer-executable instructions to support the communication device to implement the method described in any of the above aspects.

[0023] In the twelfth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a communication device is provided. The device can exist in the form of a chip product. The structure of the device includes a processor and can also include a memory. The memory is used to couple with the processor to store program instructions and data necessary for the device. The processor is used to execute the program instructions stored in the memory to support the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the above aspects.

[0024] In the thirteenth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a communication device is provided. The device can exist in the form of a chip product. The structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is used to communicate with other devices through a receiving circuit, so that the device executes the method described in any one of the above aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG3( a) is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG3( b) is a schematic diagram of another multi-link communication provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 4 An interactive schematic diagram of a power saving method applied to multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a PS-Poll frame structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of communication between multi-link devices provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 7 An interactive schematic diagram of a cache service notification method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another type of communication between multi-link devices provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Fig. 9 An interactive schematic diagram of another power saving method applied to multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the composition of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0038] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applied to a wireless communication system, which can achieve the effect of reducing the power consumption of a multi-link device. The wireless communication system can be a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular network. The method can be implemented by a communication device in the wireless communication system or a chip or processor in the communication device. The communication device can be a wireless communication device that supports multiple links for transmission in parallel, for example, a multi-link device or a multi-band device. Compared with a device that only supports single-link transmission, a multi-link device has higher transmission efficiency and higher throughput.

[0039] The multi-link device includes one or more affiliated stations STA (affiliated STA), and the affiliated STA is a logical station that can work on a link. Among them, the affiliated station can be an access point (Access Point, AP) or a non-access point station (non-Access Point Station, non-AP STA). For the convenience of description, this application will refer to the multi-link device whose affiliated station is AP as a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device or an AP multi-link device (APmulti-link device), and the multi-link device whose affiliated station is a non-AP STA can be called a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or a STA multi-link device (STA multi-link device). For the convenience of description, "the multi-link device includes affiliated STAs" is also briefly described as "the multi-link device includes STAs" in the embodiments of the present application.

[0040] It is worth noting that a multi-link device includes multiple logical sites, each of which works on a link, but multiple logical sites are allowed to work on the same link. The link identifier mentioned below represents a site working on a link, that is, if there are more than one site on a link, more than one link identifier is required to represent them. The link mentioned below sometimes also refers to the site working on the link.

[0041] When transmitting data, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA can use the link identifier to identify a link or a station on a link. Before communication, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA device can first negotiate or communicate the corresponding relationship between the link identifier and a link or a station on a link. Therefore, in data transmission, there is no need to transmit a large amount of signaling information to indicate the link or the station on the link, and only the link identifier can be carried, which reduces the signaling overhead and improves the transmission efficiency.

[0042] In one example, when a multi-link AP device establishes a BSS, the management frame, such as a beacon frame, sent will carry an element including multiple link identification information fields, each of which can suggest a corresponding relationship between a link identification and a station working on a link. Each link identification information field includes a link identification, and also includes: one or more of a MAC address, an operation set, and a channel number, wherein one or more of the MAC address, the operation set, and the channel number can indicate a link; in another example, during the multi-link association process, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link station device negotiate multiple link identification information fields. In subsequent communications, the multi-link AP device or the multi-link station device will use the link identification to characterize a station in the multi-link device, and the link identification can also characterize the MAC address of the station, the working operation set, and one or more attributes of the channel number. The MAC address can also be replaced with the association identification of the multi-link AP device after association.

[0043] If multiple stations work on a link, the link identifier (a digital ID) represents not only the operation set and channel number of the link, but also the station identifier working on the link, such as the station's MAC address or AID.

[0044] A multi-link device can implement wireless communication by following the 802.11 series of protocols, for example, following an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) site, or following a site based on or compatible with 802.11be to communicate with other devices. Of course, other devices may or may not be multi-link devices.

[0045] Figure 1 Taking a wireless local area network as an example, an application scenario diagram of an embodiment of the present application is introduced. Figure 1 The application scenario shown includes: a multi-link AP device 101 and a multi-link STA device 102, wherein the multi-link AP device is a multi-link device that provides services for the multi-link STA device, and the multi-link STA device can communicate with the multi-link AP device using multiple links, thereby achieving the effect of improving throughput. Of course, the wireless local area network can also include other devices, such as a multi-link STA 103 and a single-link STA 104. Figure 1 The number of multi-link APs and multi-link STAs is only exemplary.

[0046] Figure 2The 802.11 standard focuses on the 802.11 physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layer in the multi-link device. Figure 2 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , the multiple STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other at the low MAC layer and the PHY layer, and are also independent of each other at the high MAC layer. Figure 2 As shown in (b), the multiple STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other in the low MAC layer and the PHY layer, and share the high MAC layer. Of course, in the multi-link communication process, the multi-link STA device may adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is independent of each other, while the multi-link AP device adopts a structure in which the high MAC layer is shared; or the multi-link STA device may adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is shared, while the multi-link AP device may adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is independent of each other; or the multi-link STA device may adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is shared, while the multi-link AP device may also adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is shared; or the multi-link STA device may adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is independent of each other, while the multi-link AP device may also adopt a structure in which the high MAC layer is independent of each other. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the internal structure diagram of the multi-link device. Figure 2 This is merely an exemplary description. For example, the high MAC layer or the low MAC layer can be implemented by a processor in a chip system of the multi-link device, or can be implemented by different processing modules in a chip system.

[0047] Exemplarily, the multi-link device in the embodiment of the present application may be a single-antenna device or a multi-antenna device. For example, it may be a device with more than two antennas. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of antennas included in the multi-link device. In the embodiment of the present application, the multi-link device may allow services of the same access type to be transmitted on different links, and even allow the same data packet to be transmitted on different links; it may also not allow services of the same access type to be transmitted on different links, but allow services of different access types to be transmitted on different links.

[0048] The frequency bands in which the multi-link device can operate include: sub 1GHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz and high frequency 60GHz. FIG3 shows two schematic diagrams of a multi-link device communicating with other devices via multiple links in a wireless local area network.

[0049] FIG3( a) shows a schematic diagram of communication between a multi-link AP device 101 and a multi-link STA device 102. The multi-link AP device 101 includes subordinate AP101-1 and AP101-2, and the multi-link STA device 102 includes subordinate STA102-1 and STA102-2. The multi-link AP device 101 and the multi-link STA device 102 communicate using link 1 and link 2 in parallel.

[0050] 3(b) shows a schematic diagram of the communication between the multi-link AP device 101 and the multi-link STA device 102, and a schematic diagram of the communication between the multi-link STA device 103 and the STA 104. The multi-link AP device 101 includes subordinate AP101-1 to AP101-3, the multi-link STA device 102 includes two subordinate STA102-1 and STA102-2, the multi-link STA device 103 includes two subordinate STA103-1, STA103-2, and STA103-3, and STA104 is a single-link device. The multi-link AP device can respectively communicate with the multi-link STA device 102 using link 1 and link 3, communicate with the multi-link 103 using link 2 and link 3, and communicate with the STA 104 using link 1. In one example, STA104 operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band; the multi-link STA device 103 includes STA103-1 and STA103-2, STA103-1 operates in the 5 GHz frequency band, and STA103-2 operates in the 6 GHz frequency band; the multi-link STA device 102 includes STA102-1 and STA102-2, STA102-1 operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and STA102-2 operates in the 6 GHz frequency band. The AP101-1 in the multi-link AP device operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band can transmit uplink or downlink data with STA104 and STA102-2 in the multi-link STA device 102 through link 1. The AP101-2 in the multi-link AP device operating in the 5 GHz frequency band can transmit uplink or downlink data with STA103-1 in the multi-link STA device 103 operating in the 5 GHz frequency band through link 2. AP101-3 in the multi-link AP device 101 working in the 6 GHz frequency band can transmit uplink or downlink data with STA102-2 in the multi-link STA device 102 working in the 6 GHz frequency band through link 3, and can also transmit uplink or downlink data with STA103-2 in the multi-link STA device through link 3.

[0051] It should be noted that FIG3(a) only shows that the multi-link AP device supports two frequency bands, and FIG3(b) only takes the multi-link AP device supporting three frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), each frequency band corresponds to a link, and the multi-link AP device 101 can work on one or more links in link 1, link 2 or link 3 as an example for illustration. On the AP side or the STA side, the link here can also be understood as a station working on the link. In practical applications, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA device can also support more or fewer frequency bands, that is, the multi-link AP device and the multi-link STA device can work on more links or fewer links, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0052] Exemplarily, the multi-link device is a device with a wireless communication function, which can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device, etc. The device installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the method and function of the embodiment of the present application under the control of these chips or processing systems. For example, the multi-link STA in the embodiment of the present application has a wireless transceiver function, can support the 802.11 series of protocols, and can communicate with the multi-link AP or other multi-link STA or single-link device. For example, the multi-link STA is any user communication device that allows the user to communicate with the AP and then communicate with the WLAN. For example, the multi-link STA can be a tablet computer, desktop, laptop, notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computer (Ultra-mobile Personal Computer, UMPC), handheld computer, netbook, personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), mobile phone and other user devices that can be connected to the Internet, or an Internet of Things node in the Internet of Things, or a vehicle-mounted communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, etc. The multi-link STA can also be the chip and processing system in the above-mentioned terminals. The multi-link AP in the embodiment of the present application is a device that provides services for the multi-link STA, and can support the 802.11 series of protocols. For example, the multi-link AP can be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, or the multi-link AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, the multi-link AP can also be a chip and processing system in these various forms of devices, so as to realize the method and function of the embodiment of the present application. In addition, the multi-link device can support high-speed and low-latency transmission. With the continuous evolution of wireless local area network application scenarios, the multi-link device can also be applied to more scenarios, such as sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, TVs, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as AR and VR), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in Internet of Vehicles, and some infrastructure in daily life scenes (such as vending machines, self-service navigation desks in supermarkets, self-service cash registers, self-service ordering machines, etc.). In the embodiment of the present application, there is no special restriction on the specific form of multi-link STA and multi-link AP, which is only an exemplary description. The 802.11 protocol may be a protocol that supports 802.11be or is compatible with 802.11be.

[0053] Obviously, multi-link devices use multiple links to communicate in parallel to greatly improve the transmission rate. However, when using multi-link communication, multiple links need to be in working state, so more energy is consumed and the power consumption overhead will be greater. Therefore, how to reduce the power of multi-link devices is crucial.

[0054] The energy-saving technologies involved in 802.11ax include TIM (traffic indication map) energy saving, TWT (target wake up time) energy saving technology, APSD (automatic powersave delivery) energy saving technology, etc.

[0055] The following is a brief introduction to TIM energy-saving technology. In the 802.11 protocol, STA usually has two working modes, one is non-energy-saving mode and the other is energy-saving mode. When STA works in non-energy-saving mode, the STA is in awake state (also called awake state) regardless of whether there is data transmission. When STA works in energy-saving mode, when transmitting data with AP, STA can be in awake state; when there is no data transmission between AP and STA, STA can be in doze state to save power consumption. Whether STA is in energy-saving mode can be determined by sending a frame to AP, and the energy-saving bit in the frame control field in the MAC header of the frame is set to 1 to inform AP that the STA is in energy-saving mode, and the energy-saving bit in the frame control field in the MAC header of the frame is set to 0 to inform AP that the STA is in non-energy-saving mode.

[0056] In order to save the power consumption of STA, AP can cache the downlink service of STA and wait for the STA to wake up before sending the downlink service to the STA. However, due to the limited cache space of AP, AP will periodically carry TIM element in 802.11 beacon frame to inform its associated STA whether it has downlink service to receive. STA working in energy-saving mode will wake up periodically to receive beacon frames sent by AP to determine whether AP has transmitted its downlink service. If not, STA can switch to sleep state. If so, STA can choose a time point to wake up and send a power-saving polling frame (PS-poll frame) to AP to inform AP that the STA is in awake state. This time point can be the same as the time period for receiving beacon frames or different.

[0057] Exemplarily, the above-mentioned 802.11 beacon frames (beacon) can be divided into two categories, one is the traffic indication map (TIM) beacon frame, and the other is the delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) beacon frame. Compared with the TIM beacon frame, the DTIM beacon frame not only indicates the cached unicast information, but also indicates the multicast information cached by the AP. Each beacon frame (beacon) contains a TIM element field, which is used to indicate which STA managed by the AP has downlink data cached in the AP. The frame format of the TIM element field is shown in Table 1 below.

[0058] Table 1

[0059]

[0060] As shown in Table 1, the element ID (identifier) ​​field is used to identify the element as a TIM element. The length field is used to indicate the length of the TIM element. The DTIM period (DTIM Period) field indicates the period duration of the DTIM beacon frame, that is, the arrival interval, in units of the beacon frame period. The DTIM count (DTIM count) field is used to indicate how many TIM beacon frames appear before the next DTIM beacon frame arrives. The DTIM count field is a count value, which is variable. When the value of the DTIMcount field is 0, it indicates that the beacon frame is a DTIM beacon frame, otherwise the beacon frame is a TIM beacon frame, that is, when the value of the DTIMcount field is not 0, it indicates that the beacon frame is a TIM beacon frame. For example, if the DTIM Period is set to 1, then in each TIM element field, the DTIM count is equal to 0, so each beacon frame is a DTIM beacon frame.

[0061] The first bit (bit 0) in the bitmap control field in Table 1 indicates whether the AP sends a DTIM beacon frame with downlink multicast service. Bits 1 to 7 in the bitmap control field indicate the offset of the partial virtual bitmap, which is in bytes, that is, 8 bits. Each bit in the partial virtual bitmap field maps a STA. When the value of the bit is 1, it means that the STA corresponding to the bit has downlink data cached in the AP. For example, if the offset is 0, the partial virtual bitmap starts from association identifier (AID) 1. If the offset is 1, the partial virtual bitmap starts from AID9. The end bit of the partial virtual bitmap is determined by the length field. Therefore, the maximum length of the partial virtual bitmap is 251 bytes, that is, 2008 bits.

[0062] For example, taking the length field as 4 bytes, bits 1 to 7 in the bitmap control field indicating that the offset of the partial virtual bitmap is 0 as an example, when the partial virtual bitmap field is 01100110, the TIM element field indicates that the STAs corresponding to AID2, AID3, AID6, and AID7 have downlink data cached in the AP. For another example, taking the length field as 4 bytes, bits 1 to 7 in the bitmap control field indicating that the offset of the partial virtual bitmap is 1 as an example, when the partial virtual bitmap field is 01100110, the TIM element field indicates that the STAs corresponding to AID10, AID11, AID14, and AID15 have downlink data cached in the AP.

[0063] For example, if the AP is working in a multiple Basic Service Set identifier (BSSID) mode, that is, the AP includes a Basic Service Set (BSS) of a transmission BSSID and a plurality of BSSs of a non-transmission BSSID. The maximum number of sets of multiple BSSIDs allowed is 2. n where n is the value indicated by the MaxBSSID Indicator field in the Multiple BSSID element. In this case, bits 1 to 2 of the Partial Virtual Bitmap field n -1, used to indicate the downlink multicast service corresponding to the BSS of the non-transmitting BSSID. Bit 2 n In combination with the indication of the offset of the virtual bitmap, it is indicated whether the STA corresponding to each AID has a downlink unicast service.

[0064] The 802.11-2016 protocol further optimizes the length of some virtual bitmaps, such as using method A recorded in the 802.11-2016 protocol.

[0065] And method B. And method C specified in the subsequent 802.11ah protocol draft. These methods are applicable to the embodiments of the present application. If the AP is working in multi-BSSID mode, that is, the AP includes a plurality of BSSs with non-transmission BSSIDs in addition to the BSS with transmission BSSID. The maximum allowed number of BSSs in the set of multiple BSSIDs is 2n, where n is indicated by the MaxBSSID Indicator field in the multi-BSSID element. At this time, bits 1 to 2n-1 of the partial virtual bitmap field are used to indicate the corresponding multicast data service of the BSS with non-transmission BSSID. Bit 2n is combined with the indication of the offset of the partial virtual bitmap to indicate whether the STA corresponding to each AID has a downlink unicast data service.

[0066] It can be seen that the energy-saving technology involved in 802.11ax is only applicable to single-link devices and cannot be adapted to multi-link devices. The embodiment of the present application provides a power saving method applicable to multi-link devices, which can allow the subordinate STA in the multi-link device to report on a link that one or more stations included in it are in a wake-up state, thereby avoiding other STAs from reporting their wake-up states one by one, thereby achieving the effect of reducing the power consumption of multi-link devices and improving spectrum utilization. In addition, the embodiment of the present application also provides another power saving method for multi-link devices, which adopts a new cache service notification method to inform the stations in the multi-link site whether there is a cache service, thereby avoiding the stations in the multi-link site device from waking up periodically to receive the beacon frames sent by the AP, thereby achieving the effect of power saving.

[0067] Embodiment 1 provides a power saving method, which is applied to multi-link communication. The method is a power saving method applicable to multi-link devices, and the subordinate STA in the multi-link device reports that multiple stations included in it are in a wake-up state on one link, thereby avoiding one or more stations from reporting their wake-up states separately, thereby achieving the effect of reducing the power consumption of the multi-link device and improving the spectrum utilization. Figure 4 A schematic flow chart of a power saving method applied to multi-link communication provided in Embodiment 1 is shown, and the method includes:

[0068] S101. A station in a first multi-link device generates a notification frame, where the notification frame is used to inform a second device whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

[0069] The first multi-link device includes multiple sites, each of which works on one link. Optionally, the notification frame can be generated by one site, or multiple sites, or by a processing unit in the first multi-link device, which is shared by multiple sites. The second device can be a second multi-link device, or it can be a single-link device instead of a multi-link device. In one scenario, the first multi-link device is a multi-link STA device, and the second device is a multi-link AP device, for example Figure 1 As shown, the first multi-link device is a multi-link STA device 102 , and the second device is a multi-link AP device 101 .

[0070] S102: The first multi-link device sends the notification frame to the second device on a link, where the notification frame is used to inform the second device whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

[0071] One or more stations in the first multi-link device may send a notification frame on one or more links to indicate that the multiple stations are already in the awake state. For example, the station that sends the notification frame may be the main station in the first multi-link device, which sends the notification frame on the main link. In this way, multiple stations do not need to send notification frames on multiple links respectively, but only need one station to report whether the multiple stations in the multi-link device are in the awake state, and multiple stations do not need to send notification frames separately, thereby reducing the power consumption of the multi-link device. Correspondingly, after receiving the notification frame, the second device can determine which stations in the first multi-link device are in the awake state.

[0072] Of course, the notification frame can also only inform whether one station in the first multi-link device is in the awake state, and the station that is informed of the state may not be the station that sends the notification frame, but other stations in the first multi-link device. For example, when STA102-1 in the first multi-link device sends a notification frame, indicating that STA102-2 is in the awake state. Then, the second device can communicate with STA102-2 in the future, and the switching of the communication station can be realized, which also means that the switching of the communication link can be realized, making the communication between the first multi-link device and the second device more flexible.

[0073] In one example, the first multi-link device can actively send the notification frame to the second device to indicate which sites in the first multi-link device are in the awake state. In another example, the first multi-link device can determine which sites have cached services to be received (such as downlink services) based on other frames or signaling information before step S101, and then send the notification frame. In addition to downlink services, the sites of the multi-link site device can also be in the awake state for other reasons, such as uplink services to be sent to other devices, in which case the first multi-link device can also report that it is in the awake state through a notification frame.

[0074] Exemplarily, the site that sends the notification frame may be one of the multiple sites that have cached services to be received or to be sent, or may be other sites, such as a master site, where the master site may be one or more. In this way, the multiple sites that have cached services to be received or to be sent do not need to send notification frames on multiple links respectively, but only one site needs to send the notification frame, which reduces the power consumption of the multi-link device. After receiving the notification frame, the second device can determine which sites in the first multi-link device are in the awake state. The multiple sites that have cached services to be received or to be sent may be part or all of the multiple sites included in the first multi-link device. For example, the first multi-link device is a multi-link STA device, including 3 STA2s, 2 of which have cached services to be received, or all of the 3 STA2s have cached services to be received, and of course, one STA2 may have cached services to be received.

[0075] There are cached services to be received, which can also be understood as cached services that other devices (such as the second device) have to send to the multiple sites, and there are cached services to be sent, which can be understood as cached services that are sent to other devices (such as the second device). Taking the first multi-link device as a multi-link STA device and the second device as a multi-link AP device as an example, the cached services to be received can be called downlink cached services, downlink data services or downlink services, etc.; the cached services to be sent can be called uplink cached services, uplink data services or uplink services, etc.

[0076] Optionally, before step S101, the method further includes S103 and S104,

[0077] S103, receiving a MAC frame from a second device, where the MAC frame is used to indicate whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device have cached services to be received;

[0078] S104. The first multi-link device determines, according to the MAC frame, a station having buffered traffic to be received in the first multi-link device;

[0079] Optionally, after step S102, the method further includes: S105, the second device sends the cache service to one or more sites in the awake state, or the first multi-link device sends the cache service to the second device.

[0080] In steps S101 and S103, the notification frame may carry information indicating whether one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state. Optionally, the duration / ID field in the notification frame may be used to indicate that one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state, or other fields of the MAC header in the notification frame, such as the HT-control field, may be used to inform that one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state. The notification frame may be a PS-Poll frame, or other frames, such as a data frame (including an empty data frame), a trigger frame-empty data frame in automatic power save delivery APSD (automatic power save delivery, APSD), wherein APSD is further divided into unscheduled and scheduled, etc.

[0081] The following takes the PS-Poll frame as an example to describe in detail how to indicate through the PS-Poll frame whether one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in the awake state (also called the awake state).

[0082] The PS-Poll frame includes a duration / ID (identifier) ​​field, which can be used to indicate that one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state. The duration / ID field includes 2 bytes (16 bits), where these 16 bits are recorded as B0 to B15 (B0-B15). The B0 bit included in B0-B15 takes a value of 0, indicating that the PS-Poll frame is a BDT PS-Poll frame (BDT, bidirectional TXOP, bidirectional transmission opportunity), then the bits after the B0B1 bit in the duration / ID field (B2-B15) indicate the duration. Optionally, the PS-Poll frame also includes: a frame control field, a BSSID (RA) field (Basic service set identifier, receiver address), a TA field (transmitter address) and a FCS field (Frame check sequence), etc. The specific frame structure diagram can be shown as follows. Figure 5 shown.

[0083] Exemplary methods of using the duration / ID field bit to indicate that one or more stations are in an awake state include, but are not limited to:

[0084] Method 1: All or part of the bits after the Duration / ID field are used to indicate that one or more stations are in the awake state. Optionally, the B0B1 value in the Duration / ID field is 10, and the B0B1 value is 10, which also indicates that the PS-Poll frame is a new PS-Poll frame. Optionally, the frame structure of the new PS-Poll frame can be as follows: Figure 5 As shown, the interpretation of its duration / ID field is different from that of the existing PS-Poll frame in 802.11.

[0085] In one example, B2-B15 of the duration / ID field carries a link identification bitmap. The link identification bitmap includes multiple bits, one of which corresponds to one link among multiple links supported by the first multi-link device, or one bit corresponds to a station in the first multi-link device working on a link. A station in the first multi-link device works on a link, and multiple stations may also work on the same link. Optionally, one bit corresponds to one link identification, so that one bit indicates whether the station indicated by the link identification is in an awake state. Therefore, one bit in the link identification bitmap indicates whether a station in the first multi-link device working on the corresponding link is in an awake state, for example, the nth bit takes a first value, indicating that the station on the corresponding link is awake, and takes a second value, indicating that the station on the corresponding link is not awake. Optionally, the duration / ID field may also include a length field for indicating the length of the link identification bitmap. After receiving the link identification bitmap, the second device can determine which stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state, and can also determine which stations are not awake.

[0086] In another example, the duration / ID field B2-B15 carries a link identification number field. The link identification number field carries link information for indicating a link, and the link identification number field may indicate that the station on the link corresponding to the link information is in an awake state. The link information may include a link identifier (ID), or the link information includes an operating class and a channel number corresponding to the link, or the link information includes a MAC address of the link, or a combination thereof. In this way, the duration / ID field B2-B15 may not carry the identification number of the link on which the station that is not in the awake state works, thereby reducing overhead. It should be noted that the link identifier can be negotiated or communicated before communication, and the specific negotiation or communication method has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0087] In another example: B2-B15 of the duration / ID field carries a control field and a site status indication field. The control field contains indication information to indicate whether the site status indication field includes a link identification bit map or a link identification number field. The definitions of the link identification bit map and the link identification number field can refer to the above two examples.

[0088] Of course, in the first method, B0B1 in the duration / ID field can also be other values.

[0089] Second method: Bits B2-B15 in the duration / ID field carry a special AID value, such as an AID value greater than 2007, indicating that one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in the awake state. Optionally, B0B1 also indicates that the PS-Poll frame is a non-BDT PS-Poll frame.

[0090] In one example, the special AID value is used to indicate that all stations operating on multiple links are in an awake state. Exemplarily, the multiple links are links included when a multi-link association is established. In another example, the special AID value is used to indicate that all stations that have cached services to be received or sent are in an awake state. Which stations have cached services to be received or sent can be determined by a variety of methods. For example, the TIM element in the beacon frame broadcast by the second device can be used to determine which stations have cached services, and can also be determined by other methods.

[0091] In 802.11ax, when the value of B0B1 is 11, it means that the PS-Poll frame is a non-BDT PS-Poll frame, in which the bits (B2-B15) after the duration / ID field indicate the association identifier AID of the sender of the PS-Poll frame. Therefore, the second method is adopted, and its indication method is simpler. When B0B1=11 in the duration / ID field is reused, B2-B15 carries AID, which is a special AID, so as to achieve the effect of indicating that multiple sites in the first multi-link device are in the awake state, with low signaling overhead and simple indication method. In addition, since the sites of the first multi-link have only two states: awake and not awake, the indication can be completed by using a special AID or two special AID values, and the implementation method is simple.

[0092] Of course, the special AID may include one or more of the following four special values. For example, B2-B15 takes the first special value, indicating that all sites working on multiple links are in the awake state. The second special value of B2-B15 indicates that the sites working on multiple links with cached services to be received or cached services to be sent are in the awake state. Optionally, B2-B15 can also take the third special value to indicate that all sites on the first multi-link are not awake, and the fourth special value of B2-B15 indicates that the sites working on multiple links with cached services to be received or cached services to be sent are not in the awake state.

[0093] According to the description in the previous paragraph, a special AID value can correspond to at least four functions. Of course, one special AID value can be used to indicate one of the functions, two special AID values ​​can be used to indicate two of the functions, and four special AID values ​​can be used to indicate four functions. Of course, the correspondence between the special AID value and the function can be changed, and the specific function corresponding to a special AID value is not limited here.

[0094] In the second method, the duration / ID field starts with 11, that is, the values ​​of bits 0 and 1 (B0B1) of the duration / ID field are 11, indicating that B2-B15 are AID values.

[0095] The third method: the notification frame includes an aggregated frame of multiple PS-Poll frames, one of which includes a duration / ID field, and the bits (B2-B15) after the duration / ID field indicate an association identifier AID, which is used to indicate that the site corresponding to this AID is in a wake-up state. Then the multiple duration / ID fields of multiple PS-Poll frames can include multiple AIDs, thereby indicating that multiple sites in the first multi-link site are in a wake-up state. Optionally, the B0B1 value of the duration / ID field is 11, indicating that the PS-Poll frame is a non-BDT PS-Poll frame. Optionally, the sites corresponding to the AIDs included in the above multiple PS-Poll frames belong to the same multi-link site device, then the TA address of PS-Poll is the MAC address of the site in the multi-link site device that works on the link where the PS-Poll frame is located, or the address of the MAC SAP (service access point) of the multi-link site, that is, an address shared by multiple sites.

[0096] The fourth method: Exemplarily, the duration / ID field carries: a starting AID field and an AID bitmap field. Optionally, the last 14 bits include a starting AID field and an AID bitmap field. The starting AID field carries a starting AID, which can be a short AID. The AID bitmap field is used to indicate whether a station corresponding to a sequential AID larger or smaller than the starting AID is in an awake state, and can also be used to indicate whether a station corresponding to a sequential link identifier larger or smaller than the link identifier corresponding to the station indicated by the starting AID is in an awake state, wherein the sequential AID, or the sequential link identifier, It is not necessary for the AID value and the link identifier value to be continuous, but rather a sequential sequence. For example, if the corresponding link identifiers of the three sites included in the multi-link device are 1, 3, and 5, then the link identifiers of 1, 3, and 5 are in ascending order; the value of bits 0 and 1 (B0B1) of the duration / ID field is 10, and the start AID field of bits B2-B15 carries a short AID (or partial AID) value. The number of bits occupied by the short AID value is less than 14 bits, such as 11 bits. The AID bitmap field in B2-B15 occupies the remaining bits, which is used to indicate whether the sites working on other links are in the awake state. For example, the first 11 bits in B2-B15 are the short AID of a station in the first multi-link device, and the remaining 3 bits indicate whether the stations corresponding to the 3 AIDs that are larger or smaller than the AID in a cyclic order are in the awake state, and the corresponding bits are set to the first value, indicating that the station is in the awake state, and the corresponding bits are set to the second value, indicating that the station is in the sleep state, for example, the first value is 1, and the second value is 0. Assuming that the first multi-link device has a total of 4 stations (AIDs are AID1 to AID4 respectively), for example, the AID indicated by the first 11 bits in B2-B15 is 1, corresponding to station 1 (AID is 1) in the first multi-link device, and the value of the last 3 bits is 101, then the corresponding indication is that the station with AID 2 is in the awake state, the station with AID 3 is in the sleep state, and the station with AID 4 is in the awake state. For another example, the AID indicated by the first 11 bits in B2-B15 is 2, corresponding to site 2 (AID is 2) in the first multi-link device, and the value of the last 3 bits is 101, which indicates that the site with AID 3 is in the awake state, the site with AID 4 is in the sleep state, and the site with AID 1 is in the awake state. Optionally, the short AID field can also indicate that the site corresponding to the short AID field is in the awake state, or it can indicate that it is in the sleep state, or it can have no meaning. If the site corresponding to the starting AID is indicated to be in the awake state, the number of indicated sites can be increased, and the indication efficiency is higher.Of course, the AID bitmap can also indicate the status of the site starting from the starting AID. For example, the AID indicated by the first 11 bits in B2-B15 is 2, corresponding to site 2 (AID is 2) in the first multi-link device, and the value of the last 3 bits is 101, which indicates that the site with AID 2 is in the awake state, the site with AID 3 is in the sleep state, and the site with AID 4 is in the awake state.

[0097] The fifth method: Exemplarily, the duration / ID field carries: a starting link identification field and a link identification bitmap field, and optionally, the last 14 bits include a starting link identification field and a link identification bitmap field, the starting link identification field carries a link identification, and the link identification bitmap field is used to indicate whether the station corresponding to the sequential link identification that is larger or smaller than the link identification corresponding to the station indicated by the starting link identification field is in a wake-up state. For example, the starting link identification field carries a link identification 1 to indicate the station on link 1; the link identification bitmap includes 3 bits, which respectively indicates whether the stations on link identifications 2 to 4 are in a wake-up state. Of course, the link identification bitmap can also start to indicate from the starting link identification field, for example, the link identification indicated by the first 11 bits in B2-B15 is 2, corresponding to station 2 (AID is 2) in the first multi-link device, and the last 3 bits are 101, then the corresponding indication link identification is 2 corresponding to the station in the wake-up state, the station with link identification 3 is in the sleep state, and the station with link identification 4 is in the wake-up state.

[0098] Of course, it should be noted that the first to fifth methods are not limited to being implemented in the duration / ID field of the notification frame, nor are they limited to being implemented in the duration / ID field of the PS-Poll frame. Of course, the same or similar indication methods can also be used in other fields of the notification frame, such as other fields of the MAC header in the notification frame, such as the HT-control field to inform that one or more stations in the first multi-link device are in the awake state. The use of the duration / ID field can be compatible with the frame structure defined by the 802.11 protocol, has low complexity, and has low signaling overhead.

[0099] The following describes in detail how the first multi-link device determines a plurality of sites having buffered traffic to be received in the first multi-link device in steps S103 and S104.

[0100] The first method: before S101, the first multi-link device receives a beacon frame carrying a TIM element from the second device, and the TIM element informs the first multi-link device which stations have buffered traffic to be received. The first multi-link device can determine which stations have buffered traffic to be received based on the TIM element in the beacon frame.

[0101] Optionally, the second device sends a beacon frame on a link, and the beacon frame carries information on whether stations on multiple links have cached services to be received. Specific implementation methods include but are not limited to:

[0102] Method 1: Reuse the existing TIM elements. The multi-link AP device assigns one or more association identifiers AIDs (association identifiers) to each station in the multi-link STA. Each bit in the partial virtual bitmap field of the TIM element corresponds to an AID. If each station of the multi-link STA is assigned an AID, each bit in the partial virtual bitmap field of the TIM element is used to indicate whether the corresponding station has a corresponding downlink service indication; if each station of the multi-link STA is assigned 2 AIDs, the 2 bits in the partial virtual bitmap field of the TIM element are used to indicate whether the corresponding station has a corresponding downlink broadcast service indication and a downlink unicast service indication.

[0103] Method 2: Add a new multi-link TIM element, the multi-link TIM element includes multiple new TIM sub-elements, each of which includes a link identification number and a TIM element. Each new TIM sub-element is used to indicate whether the station working on the link identified by the link identification number has a downlink service indication, wherein the bit map control field bit 0 in the new TIM sub-element indicates whether there is a downlink multicast data service when the AP sends a DTIM beacon frame, and the corresponding bits in the partial virtual bit map field in the new TIM sub-element are used to indicate whether the station working on the link identified by the link identification number has a downlink unicast service. The link identification number may include the link identification number (or the link number), or the operation set and channel number, or the MAC address, etc.

[0104] The multi-link site device receives the beacon frame on one or more links, and learns whether multiple sites in the multi-link site device have cached services (or called downlink services) to receive, including downlink unicast services and downlink broadcast services.

[0105] For example Figure 6 As shown, a multi-link site device (a first multi-link device, such as Figure 1 The multi-link STA102 in the STA102-1 selects the station STA102-1 to wake up periodically to receive the beacon frame. Figure 6 After receiving the first beacon frame (beacon1, denoted as B in the figure), it is learned that station 102-1 has downlink service, while station 102-2 has no downlink service. Therefore, station 102-1 wakes up and sends a PS-Poll frame ( Figure 6 The station STA102-1 in the multi-link station device is in the awake state, and the station STA102-2 is in the sleep state; then, the station STA102-1 and the AP101-1 in the multi-link AP101 perform data communication, such as sending a data frame ( Figure 6 Optionally, STA102-1 and STA102-2 may also reply with a confirmation frame ( Figure 6 In the figure, it is denoted as a);

[0106] After receiving the second beacon frame (beacon2) in the figure, the multi-link site device site 102-1 learns that both site 102-1 and site 102-2 have downlink services, and then sends a PS-Poll frame to AP101-1 to inform that both site 102-1 and site 102-2 in the multi-link site device are in the awake state. Figure 6 As shown, AP 101 - 2 may also send a beacon frame on link 2 (link 2 ).

[0107] The second method: using the link identification bit map and more data bit in the MAC frame (e.g., data frame) to indicate that multiple stations in the first multi-link device have buffered traffic to be received, or using the downlink service bit map in the MAC frame to indicate that multiple stations in the first multi-link device have buffered traffic to be received. The specific implementation method can be referred to in Example 2, which will not be described here. Therefore, the first multi-link device can determine the station with buffered traffic to be received.

[0108] The third method: the notification method defined in the 802.11ax protocol can also be used. For example, the second device can send a beacon frame on multiple links respectively, and the beacon frame on each link carries a TIM element to inform the site on the link whether there is a cached service. The first multi-link device determines multiple sites with buffered traffic to be received in the first multi-link device based on the multiple beacon frames.

[0109] An embodiment of the present application provides a method applicable to a multi-link site, in which a site can report whether one or more sites in a multi-link device are in a wake-up state, thereby saving signaling overhead and power.

[0110] Embodiment 2 provides a cache service notification method to inform each station in the multi-link station whether there is a cache service to be received, thereby avoiding each station in the multi-link station device from waking up periodically to receive the beacon frame sent by the AP, thereby achieving the effect of power saving. Figure 7 As shown, the method includes:

[0111] S201: The second device generates a medium access control layer (MAC) frame, wherein the MAC frame includes a link identification bit map and more data bits, wherein the link identification bit map includes multiple bits, one bit corresponds to a station on one of the multiple links, and the more data bits include 1 bit, and the link identification bit map is combined with the more data bits to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a cached service to be received.

[0112] Optionally, the MAC frame is a data frame. The second device may be a multi-link device or a single-link device. Optionally, the link identification bitmap is carried in the HT-Control field and more data bits are carried in the frame control field.

[0113] S202: The second device sends the MAC frame to the first device.

[0114] Exemplarily, in an embodiment of the present application, the second device is a multi-link AP, and the first device is a multi-link STA.

[0115] Exemplarily, the nth bit of the link identification bitmap corresponds to link n, and the nth bit is set to a first value, such as 1, and the value of the more data bits is applicable to the site operating on the nth link among the multi-link sites receiving the frame. Optionally, the nth bit of the link identification bitmap is set to a second value, such as 0, and the value of the more data bits is applicable to other sites except the sites operating on the nth link among the multi-link sites receiving the frame. Optionally, a bit in the link identification bitmap can correspond to a link identifier, and thus can correspond to a site on the link. How the specific link identifier corresponds to the site has been described above and will not be repeated here.

[0116] For example, the More data bit can be XORed with the bit value in the link identification bit map, and the XOR result is the first value, indicating that there is a cached service to be received, and the result is the second value, indicating that there is no cached service to be received. The More data bit takes 1 / 0 to indicate that the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 1 in the link identification bit map has / does not have a cached service to be received; optionally, the More data bit takes 1 / 0 to indicate that the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 0 in the link identification bit map has / does not have a cached service to be received.

[0117] An example is shown in Table 2:

[0118] Table 2

[0119]

[0120] Correspondingly, the first device, for example, a multi-link STA, receives the MAC frame and determines which stations have cached services to be received according to the MAC frame. For example, one station in the multi-link STA wakes up to receive the MAC frame in S202, so that all stations do not need to wake up, which reduces power consumption to a certain extent. The first device can be a multi-link device.

[0121] Optionally, after step S202, the method further includes S203: the second device receives a notification frame sent by the first device, where the notification frame is used to indicate that the site with cached services to be received is in a wake-up state.

[0122] Of course, there are many ways to implement the notification frame, including but not limited to the following methods:

[0123] Method 1: After the first device receives the MAC frame, all stations with cached services to be received can be in the awake state. Using the PS-Poll frame defined in 802.11ax, the stations with cached services to be received in the first device are assigned to send PS-Poll frames to the second device to inform themselves that they are in the awake state.

[0124] Method 2: After the first device receives the MAC frame, the solution in embodiment 1 can be adopted, and a station in the first device sends a notification frame on a link to inform the second device that multiple stations in the first device that have cached services to be received are in a wake-up state. Using method 2, multiple stations in the first device can wake up to receive cached services only after sending the notification frame, which further reduces energy consumption and saves signaling overhead.

[0125] Figure 8 An example of communication between a multi-link AP 101 and a multi-link STA 102 is shown. Figure 8As shown, the multi-link AP101 includes two APs, AP101-1 works on link 1 (link1) and AP101-2 works on link 2 (link2). Similarly, the multi-link STA device includes two STAs, STA102-1 works on link 1 and STA102-2 works on link 2. In the initial stage, the two STAs in the multi-link STA are in a sleep state. STA102-1 in the multi-link station receives a beacon frame and finds that STA102-1 has downlink data. STA102-1 sends a PS-Poll frame to inform the multi-link AP101 that it is in a wake-up state. At this time, AP101-1 sends a confirmation frame or directly sends downlink data to station 102-1.

[0126] The first data packet sent by AP101-1 (of course, it can also be other MAC frames) carries a link identification bitmap field (for example, the link identification bitmap field includes 2 bits, recorded as B0B1), the value of B0B1 is 10, and the value of more data bits is 1, indicating that the multi-link AP101 still has data for STA102-1 working on link 1, and optionally, no data for STA102-2 working on link 2. Therefore, STA102-2 continues to be in a dormant state and does not need to wake up, thereby saving power consumption.

[0127] The second data packet sent by AP101-1 carries a link identification bitmap field (including 2 bits, denoted as B0B1), the value of B0B1 is 11, and the value of more data bits is 1, which means that the multi-link AP101 still has data for STA102-1 working on link 1. Optionally, it also means that the multi-link AP still has data for STA102-2 working on link 2. Afterwards, STA102-2 can wake up and receive the data sent by multi-link AP101. STA102-2 in the multi-link site sends a PS-Poll frame to inform the multi-link AP101 device that it is in the awake state. Of course, site 102-1 can also inform the multi-link AP that site 102-2 is in the awake state by sending a notification frame (the specific implementation method can refer to the implementation method of the aforementioned embodiment one). Of course, more data bits can also only act on the link where the data packet is located. For example, the link identification bit map field in the second data packet sent by AP101-1 includes 2 bits, B0B1 takes a value of 11, and the more data bit takes a value of 1, indicating that the multi-link AP has data for STA102-1 working on link 1, but does not indicate whether there is data for STA102-2 working on link 2.

[0128] The first data packet sent by AP101-2 carries a link identification bitmap field (including 2 bits, denoted as B0B1), the value of B0B1 is 11, and the value of more data bits is 0, indicating that the multi-link AP device has no data for STA102-2 working on link 2, and optionally, it can also indicate that there is no data for STA102-1 working on link 1. Afterwards, STA102-1 and STA102-2 of the multi-link STA device transition to a sleep state.

[0129] Optionally, the MAC frame may also include other information, such as an end of service period (EOSP) bit and / or a power save management (PM) bit. Optionally, the EOSP bit is carried in a quality of service QoS (quality of service, QoS) control field in a MAC header of the MAC frame, and the PM bit is carried in a frame control field in a MAC header.

[0130] In one example, the link identification bitmap and the EOSP bit are used together to indicate whether the existing service time of the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bitmap has ended. For example, illustratively, the nth bit of the link identification bitmap corresponds to link n, and the nth bit is set to a first value, such as 1, then the EOSP bit includes 1 bit, and the value of this 1 bit is applicable to the station working on the nth link in the multi-link station receiving the frame. Optionally, the nth bit of the link identification bitmap is set to a second value, such as 0, and the value of the EOSP bit is applicable to other stations working on the nth link in the multi-link station receiving the frame. For example, the EOSP bit takes 1 / 0 to inform the receiving end (multi-link STA) that the existing service time of the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 1 in the link identification bitmap is ended / not ended; optionally, the EOSP bit takes 1 / 0 to indicate that the existing service time of the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 0 in the link identification bitmap is not ended / ended.

[0131] In another example, the link identification bit map and the PM bit are used jointly to indicate whether the station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map is in power saving mode. For example, illustratively, the nth bit of the link identification bit map corresponds to link n, and the nth bit is set to a first value, such as 1, then the PM bit includes 1 bit, and the value of this 1 bit is applicable to the station working on the nth link among the multi-link stations that receive the frame. Optionally, the nth bit of the link identification bit map is set to a second value, such as 0, and the value of the PM bit is applicable to other stations except those working on the nth link among the multi-link stations that receive the frame. For example, the PM bit takes 1 / 0 to indicate that the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 1 in the link identification bit map is in / not in power saving mode; optionally, PM takes 1 / 0 to indicate that the station on the link corresponding to the bit with a value of 0 in the link identification bit map is not in / is in power saving mode.

[0132] Of course, optionally, the MAC frame may include a link identification bitmap, and one or more of the three bits: more data bit, EOSP bit, and PM bit. That is to say, the MAC frame may also include: more data bit combined with link identification bitmap, EOSP bit combined with link identification bitmap, and PM bit combined with link identification bitmap. The three mechanisms of more data bit combined with link identification bitmap, EOSP bit combined with link identification bitmap, and PM bit combined with link identification bitmap can be applied to frames sent from a multi-link AP device to a multi-link site device, and can also be applied to frames sent from a multi-link site device to a multi-link AP device, and can also be applied to frames sent from one multi-link device to another multi-link device.

[0133] In another implementation, the MAC frame may also not include a link identification bitmap. The link identification bitmap is not carried in every data frame. In one example, the data frame does not include a link identification bitmap. For example, more data bits are used to inform the first device (e.g., a multi-link STA device) whether the currently sending site has a downlink service (or cached service), the EOSP bit is used to indicate whether the service time of the currently sending second device to the currently receiving site has ended, and the PM bit is used to indicate whether the currently sending site is in power saving mode. It can be understood that for this situation where a link identification bitmap is not included, the MAC frame may include: more data bits, a PM bit, or a combination of one or more of the EOSP bits.

[0134] In addition to the above-mentioned schemes of combining more data bits with link identification bit map fields, link identification bit map with EOSP (end of service period) bit, and link identification bit map with PM (power save management) bit, the embodiments of the present application also propose a scheme of carrying one or more of downlink service bit map, PM bit map and EOSP bit map in a MAC frame.

[0135] That is to say, the MAC frame involved in steps S201 and S202 may not include a link identification bit map field, but include one or more of a downlink service bit map, a PM bit map and an EOSP bit map. Among them, the downlink service bit map is used to inform multiple sites in the multi-link STA whether there are cached services to be received; the EOSP bit map is used to inform multiple sites in the multi-link STA whether the service time has ended; the PM bit map is used to inform multiple sites in the multi-link STA whether they are in power saving mode. Optionally, in any of the above bit maps, one bit may correspond to a site working on a link in a multi-link device. Taking the downlink service bit map as an example, the multi-link AP device sends a data frame, and carries a downlink service bit map field in the MAC header of the data frame, which is used to inform the multi-link STA device which sites have downlink services to receive. For example, Figure 8 In the communication process between the multi-link AP and the multi-link station shown, the downlink data service bitmap field carried in the data packet sent by AP101-1 in the multi-link AP to STA102-1 in the multi-link station includes 2 bits (B0B1), and B0B1=01, which means that station 102-1 of the multi-link station has no downlink service reception, and station 102-2 has downlink service reception. Similarly, the data packet 1 sent by AP101-1 in the multi-link AP carries a PM bitmap, and the EOSP bitmap includes 2 bits with a value of 10, which means that the service time of the currently sent second device to STA102-1 working on link 1 in the multi-link station has ended, and the service time of the currently sent second device to STA102-2 working on link 2 in the multi-link station has not ended. The PM bitmap includes 2 bits with a value of 10, which means that STA102-1 working on link 1 in the multi-link station is in power saving mode, and STA102-2 working on link 2 in the multi-link station is not in power saving mode.

[0136] Based on the downlink service bitmap, the multi-link STA can determine which stations have cached services to be received, and its signaling overhead is smaller.

[0137] In order to distinguish whether the indicated site has downlink multicast (or broadcast) services and unicast services, the downlink service bitmap field can optionally indicate downlink multicast services and unicast services respectively. In one example, the downlink service bitmap field includes a downlink multicast service bitmap field and a downlink unicast service bitmap field, wherein the downlink multicast bitmap field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of a multi-link site have downlink multicast or broadcast services, wherein the multicast or broadcast service is usually sent after the DTIM beacon frame sent by the AP; the downlink unicast bitmap field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of a multi-link site have downlink unicast services. In another example, the downlink service bitmap field corresponds to a site on a link in units of 2 bits, indicating whether there is a downlink multicast service and unicast service for the site on this link, and 1 of the 2 bits corresponds to a unicast service, and 1 bit corresponds to a multicast or broadcast service.

[0138] Optionally, one or more of these bitmap fields may be carried in a MAC header of a MAC frame, such as an HT control field (high throughput), which may also be referred to as an Aggregated Control Field.

[0139] The embodiment of the present application proposes to use the link identification bit map field in combination with the existing more data bit fields or use the downlink service bit map field carried in the data frame to inform multiple sites in the multi-link site whether there is downlink service, thereby avoiding each site in the multi-link site from waking up periodically to receive the beacon frame sent by the AP, thereby achieving power saving effect. Furthermore, the data frame sent by the AP can also carry information such as the PM bit map and the EOSP bit map. When one site in the multi-link site wakes up, it can obtain the information of all sites on the link, further reducing power consumption, improving transmission efficiency, and reducing transmission delay.

[0140] Embodiment 3 provides another power saving method applied in multi-link communication, which is applied in a multi-link device. Fig. 9 The following is an interactive schematic diagram of another energy-saving method provided in Embodiment 3. The method includes:

[0141] S301. The second device generates a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a link identification bit map and more data bits, or the MAC frame includes a downlink service bit map, or the MAC frame includes a TIM element;

[0142] The MAC frame includes a link identification bit map and more data bits in combination to indicate whether a station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a cached service to be received. The downlink service bit map is used to inform which stations in the first device have downlink services to be received. The TIM element is used to inform which stations in the first device have downlink services to be received.

[0143] It should be noted that the link identification bit map and more data bits are combined to implement the indication method, and the implementation method of using the downlink service bit map to implement the indication can refer to the description of Example 2, which is not repeated here. The MAC frame includes a TIM element, and the method of using the TIM element to implement the indication can refer to the description of Example 1, which is not repeated here.

[0144] S302, the second device sends the MAC frame to the first device;

[0145] Refer to step S202 in the second embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0146] S303: The first device determines that there are multiple sites in the first device that have cached services to be received;

[0147] Refer to step S104 in Embodiment 1. For example, the first device may determine which sites in the first device have cached services based on the MAC frame including the link identification bit map and more data bits, or the downlink service bit map, or the TIM element.

[0148] S304, the first device generates a notification frame;

[0149] Refer to step S101 in the first embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0150] S305: The first device sends the notification frame on a link, where the notification frame is used to indicate that the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

[0151] Refer to step S102 in the first embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0152] Optionally, S306: The second device sends the cache service to the first device.

[0153] Refer to step S105 in the first embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0154] The embodiment of the present application can inform multiple sites in the multi-link site device whether there are downlink services by using the link identification bit map field and the existing more data bit field, thereby avoiding each site in the multi-link site device from waking up periodically to receive the beacon frame sent by the AP, thereby achieving power saving effect. Further, by feeding back on a link that multiple sites in the first multi-link device are in the awake state, signaling overhead and power saving effect are saved.

[0155] The following is a detailed description of the device provided in the embodiment of the present application, which can achieve the effect of saving power in link communication.

[0156] Fig.10 A communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. The device may be the first device (first multi-link device) or the second device in the above embodiment, or may be a chip or processing system in the first multi-link device or the second device, and may implement the method and function of any of the above embodiments. Due to differences in integration, the communication device may include: Fig.10 One or more of the components shown. Fig.10 The components shown may include at least one processor 1001 , a memory 1002 , a transceiver 1003 , and a communication bus 1004 .

[0157] Combine the following Fig.10 The components of the communication device 1000 are described in detail:

[0158] The processor 1001 is the control center of the communication device 1000, which can be a processor or a general term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 1001 is a central processing unit (CPU), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application, such as: one or more microprocessors (digital signal processors, DSP), or, one or more field programmable gate arrays (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA). The processor 1001 can perform various functions of the communication device by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 1002, and calling data stored in the memory 1002. In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1001 may include one or more CPUs, such as Fig.10 CPU0 and CPU1 are shown in the figure.

[0159] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 1000 may include multiple processors, such as Fig.10 1 and 1005. Each of these processors may be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU). The processor here may refer to one or more communication devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0160] The memory 1002 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage communication devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage communication devices that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage communication device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 1002 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 1001 via the communication bus 1004. The memory 1002 may also be integrated with the processor 1001. The memory 1002 is used to store the software program for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1001.

[0161] The transceiver 1003 is used for communication with other devices (e.g., the second device). Of course, the transceiver 1003 can also be used to communicate with a communication network, such as Ethernet, a radio access network (RAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc. The transceiver 1003 may include a receiving unit to implement a receiving function, and a sending unit to implement a sending function.

[0162] The communication bus 1004 may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Fig.10 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0163] In one example, the communication device 1000 is a complete device, and the communication device may include: a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a transceiver 1003, and a communication bus 1004. Optionally, other components may also be included, such as a display frequency, etc. Optionally, the communication device 1000 is a first multi-link device or a first device, and can be used to implement the methods and functions of the first multi-link device or the first device in the above-mentioned embodiments one to three. For example, the memory stores instructions, and when the processor calls the instructions, the above methods and functions are implemented, for example, the processor is used to generate signaling or frames, and the transceiver is used to send signaling or frames. For example, the processor is used to execute steps S104, S101, S303, S304, etc., and the transceiver is used to execute steps S102, S103, S105, S202, S203, S302, S305 or S306, etc. Optionally, the communication device 1000 is a second device, which can be used to implement the methods and functions of the second device in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 3. For example, the memory stores instructions, and when the processor calls the instructions, the above methods and functions are implemented, for example, the processor is used to generate signaling or frames, and the transceiver is used to send signaling or frames. For example, the processor is used to generate the MAC frame step S201 sent in S103, which is used to indicate S201 or S301, etc., and the transceiver is used to execute steps S103, S102, S105, S202, S203, S302, S305 or S306, etc.

[0164] In another example, the communication device 1000 is a chip system or a processing system in the first device or the first multi-link device or the second device, so that the device installed with the chip system or the processing system implements the methods and functions in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 3. Then the communication device 1000 may include the following: Fig.10Some of the components shown, such as the communication device 1000, include a processor, which can be coupled to a memory, call instructions in the memory and execute them, so as to configure the device on which the chip system or processing system is installed to implement the methods and functions in the aforementioned embodiments one to three. Optionally, the memory can be a component in the chip system or processing system, or a component coupled externally to the chip system or processing system. In one example, the chip system or processing system is installed in a first device or a first multi-link device, so that the first device or the first multi-link device can implement the corresponding methods and functions in the aforementioned embodiments. In another example, the chip system or processing system is installed in a second device, so that the second device can implement the corresponding methods and functions in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0165] The chip system or processing system can support 802.11 series protocols for communication, such as 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, etc. The chip system can be installed in various devices in scenarios supporting WLAN transmission. The devices in the WLAN transmission scenario have been introduced at the beginning of this specification and will not be repeated here.

[0166] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the first device (first multi-link device) or the second device according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation.

[0167] In the case of an integrated unit, Fig.11 A possible structural diagram of a communication device 1100 is shown, and the communication device 1100 may be a chip or a processing system in a link device or a multi-link device, and the communication device 1100 may perform the operations of the multi-link device in the above method embodiment. The communication device 1100 includes: a processing unit 1101 and a transceiver unit 1102.

[0168] In one example, the communication apparatus 1100 is a first multi-link device or a station in the first multi-link device.

[0169] The processing unit 1101 may be used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1100. For example, determining a site with a cached service in the first multi-link device. For another example, controlling the operation of the transceiver unit 1102. Optionally, if the communication device 1100 includes a storage unit, the processing unit 1101 may also execute a program or instruction stored in the storage unit, so that the communication device 1100 implements the method and function involved in any of the above embodiments.

[0170] Exemplarily, the processing unit 1101 may be used to execute, for example Figure 4 Step S101 in, or Fig. 9 Step S303 or S304 in and / or other processes for the technology described herein. Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0171] Exemplarily, the transceiver unit 1102 can transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on one link, or transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on multiple links. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1102 can be a transceiver module, or can include multiple transceiver modules. When the transceiver unit 1102 is a transceiver module, the transceiver module can transmit and receive data on multiple links. For example, if the first multi-link device works on two links, then when the transceiver unit 1102 includes two transceiver modules, one of the transceiver modules works on one link, and the other transceiver module works on the other link. Exemplarily, the transceiver unit 1102 can be used to perform, for example Figure 4 Steps S103, S102, S105, or Figure 7 Steps S202 and S203 in, or Fig. 9 Steps S302, S305, S306 in the embodiment, and / or other processes for the technology described herein. Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0172] Exemplarily, the communication device 1100 may be Fig.10 The communication device shown in FIG. 1 may include a processing unit 1101. Fig.10 The processor 1001 and the transceiver unit 1102 in the embodiment can be Fig.10 Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a memory, the memory being used to store program codes and data corresponding to the communication device 1100 executing any of the multi-link device communication methods provided above. Fig.10 The description of all relevant contents of each component involved can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding components of the communication device 1100, and will not be repeated here.

[0173] Exemplarily, the communication device 1100 may also be a chip or a processor, wherein the processing unit 1101 is a processing circuit in the chip or processor, and the transceiver unit 1102 may be an input / output circuit in the chip or processor. The input / output circuit is an interface for the chip or processor to communicate with other coupled components or exchange data, which can ensure that signaling or data information or program instructions are input into the chip or processor for processing, and the processed data or signaling is output to other coupled components, and the first multi-link device on which the chip or processor is installed is controlled to implement functions.

[0174] In another example, the communication apparatus 1100 is a second device or a chip in the second device.

[0175] Exemplarily, the processing unit 1101 may be used to generate a MAC frame, for example, to execute Figure 7 Step S201 in, or Fig. 9 S301 in the embodiment, and / or other processes for the technology described herein. All relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0176] Exemplarily, the transceiver unit 1102 can transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on one link, and can also transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on multiple links. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1102 can be a transceiver module, and can also include multiple transceiver modules. When the transceiver unit 1102 is a transceiver module, the transceiver module can transmit and receive data on multiple links. For example, when the second device works on two links, then when the transceiver unit 1102 includes two transceiver modules, one of the transceiver modules works on one link, and the other transceiver module works on another link. Exemplarily, the transceiver unit 1102 can be used to perform, for example Figure 4 Steps S103, S102, S105, or Figure 7 Steps S202 and S203 in, or Fig. 9 Steps S302, S305, S306 in the embodiment, and / or other processes for the technology described herein. Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

[0177] Exemplarily, the communication device 1100 may be Fig.10 The communication device shown in FIG. 1 may include a processing unit 1101. Fig.10 The processor 1001 and the transceiver unit 1102 in the embodiment can be Fig.10Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a memory, the memory being used to store program codes and data corresponding to the communication device 1100 executing any of the methods provided above. Fig.10 The description of all relevant contents of each component involved can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding components of the communication device 1100, and will not be repeated here.

[0178] Exemplarily, the communication device 1100 may also be a chip or a processor, wherein the processing unit 1101 is a processing circuit in the chip or processor, and the transceiver unit 1102 may be an input / output circuit in the chip or processor. The input / output circuit is an interface for the chip or processor to communicate with other coupled components or exchange data, which can ensure that signaling or data information or program instructions are input into the chip or processor for processing, and the processed data or signaling is output to other coupled components, and the device on which the chip or processor is installed is controlled to implement functions.

[0179] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium in which a computer program code is stored. When the processor executes the computer program code, the electronic device executes Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Fig. 9 The method of any one of the embodiments.

[0180] The present application also provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Fig. 9 The method of any one of the embodiments.

[0181] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can exist in the form of a chip product. The structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is used to communicate with other devices through a receiving circuit, so that the device executes the above Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Fig. 9 The method of any one of the embodiments.

[0182] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, including a first device and a second device, wherein the first device and the second device can execute the above Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Fig. 9 The method of any one of the embodiments.

[0183] The steps of the method or algorithm described in conjunction with the disclosure of the present application may be implemented in hardware or by executing software instructions by a processor. The software instructions may be composed of corresponding software modules, which may be stored in a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium may be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may be located in a core network interface device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may also exist in a core network interface device as discrete components.

[0184] Those skilled in the art should be aware that in one or more of the above examples, the functions described in this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer-readable storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any media that facilitates the transmission of computer programs from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by general or special-purpose computers.

[0185] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only the specific implementation methods of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication device used in multi-link communication, characterized in that: Applied in a first multi-link device, comprising: a processing unit, configured to generate a notification frame, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether a plurality of stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state or in an energy-saving mode; and a station in the first multi-link device works on a link; The transceiver unit is used to send the notification frame to the second device on a link.

2. A communication device used in multi-link communication, characterized in that: Applied in the second device, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a notification frame sent by a station of a first multi-link device on a link, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether a plurality of stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state or in an energy-saving mode; and a station in the first multi-link device works on a link; A processing unit is used to determine, according to the notification frame, a station in the first multi-link device that is in an awake state or a station that is in a power saving mode.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that The transceiver unit is further configured to receive a MAC frame from the second device, wherein the MAC frame is configured to indicate that the multiple stations in the first multi-link device have cached services to be received.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transceiver unit is further configured to send a MAC frame to the first multi-link device, where the MAC frame is used to indicate that the multiple stations in the first multi-link device have cached services to be received.

5. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The notification frame includes a duration / ID field, and the duration / ID field is used to indicate whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The duration / ID field includes 16 bits, and all or part of the last 14 bits of the 16 bits are used to indicate whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

7. The communication device according to claim 6, characterized in that: All or part of the last 14 bits include a link identification bit map, the link identification bit map includes a plurality of bits, one of which corresponds to a station on one of the plurality of links, and is used to indicate whether a station working on the corresponding link in the first multi-link device is in an awake state; or, All or part of the last 14 bits include a link identification number field, the link identification number field includes link information for indicating a link, and the link identification number field is used to indicate that a station on the link indicated by the link information is in an awake state; or, All or part of the last 14 bits include a control field and a site status indication field, wherein the control field contains indication information for indicating whether the site status indication field includes the link identification bit map or the link identification number field.

8. The communication device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The last 14 bits include a starting AID field and an AID bitmap field, the starting AID field carries a starting AID, and the AID bitmap field is used to indicate whether the station corresponding to the sequential link identifier that is larger or smaller than the link identifier corresponding to the starting AID is in an awake state.

9. The communication device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The value of the first 2 bits of the duration / ID field is 10.

10. The communication device according to claim 6, characterized in that: All or part of the last 14 bits include a special AID value, where the special AID value is used to indicate that all stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state; or, The special AID value is used to indicate that a station having a buffered service to be received in the first multi-link device is in an awake state.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The value of the first 2 bits of the duration / ID field is 11.

12. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The notification frame includes an aggregated frame of multiple PS-Poll frames, and one PS-Poll frame includes a duration / ID field, and the duration / ID field carries an association identifier AID, which is used to indicate that the station corresponding to the AID in the first multi-link device is in an awake state.

13. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The notification frame is a PS-Poll frame.

14. The communication device according to any one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that: The MAC frame includes: a link identification bit map and more data bits, wherein the link identification bit map and the more data bits are combined to indicate whether a station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a cached service to be received; or The MAC frame includes a downlink service bitmap field, and the downlink service bitmap field is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device have buffered services to be received.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The downlink service bit map field includes a downlink multicast service bit map field and a downlink unicast service bit map field, wherein the downlink multicast bit map field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of the first multi-link device have downlink multicast or broadcast services, and the downlink unicast bit map field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of the first multi-link device have downlink unicast services.

16. A power saving method applied in multi-link communication, characterized in that: include: A station of the first multi-link device generates a notification frame, the notification frame being used to indicate whether a plurality of stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state or in a power saving mode; One station in the first multi-link device works on one link; A station of the first multi-link device sends the notification frame to the second device on a link.

17. A power saving method applied in multi-link communication, characterized in that: include: The second device receives a notification frame sent by a station of the first multi-link device on a link, wherein the notification frame is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state or in an energy-saving mode; A station in the first multi-link device operates on a link; The second device determines, according to the notification frame, a station in the first multi-link device that is in an awake state or a station that is in a power saving mode.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Before generating the notification frame, the method further includes: A MAC frame is received from the second device, where the MAC frame is used to indicate that the multiple stations in the first multi-link device have cached services to be received.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: A MAC frame is sent to the first multi-link device, where the MAC frame is used to indicate that the multiple stations in the first multi-link device have cached services to be received.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that The notification frame includes a duration / ID field, and the duration / ID field is used to indicate whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The duration / ID field includes 16 bits, and all or part of the last 14 bits of the 16 bits are used to indicate whether the multiple stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that All or part of the last 14 bits include a link identification bit map, the link identification bit map includes a plurality of bits, one of which corresponds to a station on one of the plurality of links, and is used to indicate whether a station working on the corresponding link in the first multi-link device is in an awake state; or, All or part of the last 14 bits include a link identification number field, the link identification number field includes link information for indicating a link, and the link identification number field is used to indicate that a station on the link indicated by the link information is in an awake state; or, All or part of the last 14 bits include a control field and a site status indication field, wherein the control field contains indication information for indicating whether the site status indication field includes the link identification bit map or the link identification number field.

23. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The last 14 bits include a starting AID field and an AID bitmap field, the starting AID field carries a starting AID, and the AID bitmap field is used to indicate whether the station corresponding to the sequential link identifier that is larger or smaller than the link identifier corresponding to the starting AID is in an awake state.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The value of the first 2 bits of the duration / ID field is 10.

25. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that All or part of the last 14 bits include a special AID value, where the special AID value is used to indicate that all stations in the first multi-link device are in an awake state; or, The special AID value is used to indicate that a station having a buffered service to be received in the first multi-link device is in an awake state.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The value of the first 2 bits of the duration / ID field is 11.

27. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that The notification frame includes an aggregated frame of multiple PS-Poll frames, and one PS-Poll frame includes a duration / ID field, and the duration / ID field carries an association identifier AID, which is used to indicate that the station corresponding to the AID in the first multi-link device is in an awake state.

28. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that The notification frame is a PS-Poll frame.

29. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 28, characterized in that The MAC frame includes: a link identification bit map and more data bits, wherein the link identification bit map and the more data bits are combined to indicate whether a station on the link corresponding to the link identification bit map has a cached service to be received; or The MAC frame includes a downlink service bitmap field, and the downlink service bitmap field is used to indicate whether multiple stations in the first multi-link device have buffered services to be received.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that The downlink service bit map field includes a downlink multicast service bit map field and a downlink unicast service bit map field, wherein the downlink multicast bit map field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of the first multi-link device have downlink multicast or broadcast services, and the downlink unicast bit map field is used to indicate whether multiple sites of the first multi-link device have downlink unicast services.

31. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a memory; the memory is coupled to the processor, the memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor is used to run the computer program or instructions so that the method described in any one of claims 16, 18, 20-30 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 17, 19, 20-30 is executed.

32. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction runs on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 16, 18, 20-30 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 17, 19, 20-30 is executed.

33. A chip, characterized in that: include: A processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program or instruction, when the computer program or instruction is executed by the processor, the method according to any one of claims 16, 18, 20-30 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 17, 19, 20-30 is executed.

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