Communication method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication method and device, electronic equipment and a storage medium, and relates to the technical field of communication. According to the invention, the media access layer management unit in the existing equipment is divided into the upper layer media access layer management unit and the lower layer media access layer management unit, so that the upper layer media access layer management unit in one piece of equipment can communicate with the lower layer media access layer management unit of the equipment; the access points can communicate with the lower media access layer management unit of one device and can also communicate with the lower media access layer management unit of another device, so that the access points can allocate resources for the terminal together and can be compatible with a traditional network architecture to perform data transmission with a traditional service and a traditional device, the resource allocation efficiency for the terminal is improved, the transmission delay of the terminal is reduced, and the user experience is improved. The data loss in the terminal moving process is avoided, and the service continuity of the terminal is guaranteed.

Description

Communication method, device, electronic device and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a communication method, device, electronic equipment, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In the 802.11 system, both access point devices (AP STA) and terminal devices (non-AP STA) are internally deployed with the media access layer (MAC layer) and physical layer (PHY layer). The main functions of the MAC layer include channel management, connection management, quality of service management, power control, and time synchronization. The main functions of the PHY layer include modulation, coding, and transmission.

[0003] Conceptually, both the MAC layer and the PHY layer include management units called the MAC sublayer management entity (MLME) and the physical layer management entity (PLME). These units provide low-layer management service interfaces through which low-layer management functions can be invoked.

[0004] To provide correct MAC operation, each STA (including non-AP STA and AP STA) has a high-level management unit, such as SME (station management entity, equipment management unit). SME represents a high-level management unit above the MAC layer. It is a layer-independent unit that is located in a separate management plane.

[0005] Role of the SME: Typically, this unit is responsible for functions such as collecting layer-related status from various layer management units (MLME and PLME). Similarly, it also sets layer-specific parameter values. The SME typically performs these functions on behalf of the general system management entity. Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between management units.

[0006] 802.11 networks, also known as wireless local area networks (WLANs), are enhanced through a range of system features and multiple mechanisms to achieve high wireless LAN throughput. As the use of wireless local area networks (WLANs) continues to grow, they are becoming increasingly important for delivering wireless data services in many environments, such as homes, enterprises, and hotspots. In particular, video traffic will continue to be the dominant type of traffic in many WLAN deployments. With the emergence of 4k and 8k video (uncompressed rates of 20Gbps), the throughput requirements of these applications are continuing to evolve. New high-throughput, low-latency applications such as virtual or augmented reality, gaming, remote offices, and cloud computing will proliferate (for example, latency below 5ms for real-time gaming).

[0007] Given the high throughput and stringent real-time latency requirements of these applications, users expect higher throughput, greater reliability, reduced latency, and improved power efficiency when supporting their applications over WLAN. The 802.11be system is designed to ensure the competitiveness of WLAN by further increasing overall throughput and reducing latency, while ensuring backward compatibility and coexistence with older technology standards.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] When a terminal device in a wireless local area network moves from the coverage area of ​​one access point to the coverage area of ​​another access point, it usually disconnects and then reconnects, resulting in service interruption. At the same time, when a terminal device in a wireless local area network has a large amount of delay-sensitive data to transmit, if an access point cannot meet the resource requirements for data transmission, it will cause the transmission delay to increase. After the data validity period expires, the terminal will discard the data that has not been transmitted, resulting in service failure or reduced service performance, such as reduced resolution or frame rate of real-time video or transmission failure. In view of this, the present invention provides a communication method, device, electronic device and storage medium.

[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a communication method, comprising:

[0011] The second upper media access layer management unit of the second electronic device sends the first data to at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device and the first lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, so that at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit and the first lower media access layer management unit sends the first data to a third electronic device; or

[0012] The second upper media access layer management unit of the second electronic device receives second data sent by at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device and the first lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, where the second data is data sent by the third electronic device.

[0013] The logical entities managed by the first lower-layer media access layer management unit and the second lower-layer media access layer management unit operate on different links.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a communication device, comprising a second upper-layer media access layer management unit and a second lower-layer media access layer management unit, wherein the second upper-layer media access layer management unit and the second lower-layer media access layer management unit are communicatively connected and both belong to a second electronic device, and the second electronic device can communicate with a first electronic device, wherein:

[0015] The second upper-layer media access layer management unit is configured to send the first data to at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, so that at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit sends the first data to a third electronic device; or

[0016] The second upper-layer media access layer management unit is configured to receive second data sent by at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, where the second data is data sent by a third electronic device;

[0017] The logical entities managed by the first lower-layer media access layer management unit and the second lower-layer media access layer management unit operate on different links.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a message transceiver unit configured to perform the following steps:

[0019] Receiving, by the second electronic device, a first message sent by the first electronic device, or sending the first message to the first electronic device, where the first message is used to establish an association relationship, and the first message includes at least one of an identifier of the first lower-layer media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit, and an identifier of a third electronic device;

[0020] The association relationship between the first lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device is saved by the second electronic device.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the message transceiver unit is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0022] A second message is sent to the first electronic device by the second electronic device, or a third message is received from the first electronic device. Both the second message and the third message are used to respond to establishing an association relationship. The second message includes an identifier of the second lower media access layer management unit, which is used to indicate the lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device connected to the third electronic device, or the second message includes an identifier of the second upper media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower media access layer management unit, which are used to indicate the upper media access layer management unit and the lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device connected to the third electronic device; the third message includes an identifier of the first lower media access layer management unit, which is used to indicate the lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device connected to the third electronic device, or the third message includes an identifier of the first upper media access layer management unit and an identifier of the first lower media access layer management unit, which are used to indicate the upper media access layer management unit and the lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device connected to the third electronic device.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the message transceiver unit is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0024] Receiving, by the second electronic device, a fourth message sent by the first electronic device, or sending a fourth message to the first electronic device, wherein the fourth message is used to delete the association relationship, and the fourth message includes at least one of an identifier of the first lower-layer media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit, and an identifier of the third electronic device;

[0025] The association relationship between the first lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device is deleted through the second electronic device.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the message transceiver unit is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0027] A fifth message is sent to the fourth electronic device through the second electronic device, where the fifth message is used to notify the update of associated information. The fifth message includes an identifier of the second electronic device and an identifier of the third electronic device, and is used to indicate that data of the fourth electronic device is sent to the third electronic device through the second electronic device.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the message transceiver unit is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0029] receiving, through the second electronic device, a sixth message sent by the third electronic device, where the sixth message is used to request adding a link operated by the logical entity managed by the second lower-layer media access layer management unit;

[0030] The association relationship between the second lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device is saved by the second electronic device.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the message transceiver unit is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0032] A seventh message sent by the third electronic device is received through the second electronic device, where the seventh message indicates a request to add a link operated by the logical entity managed by the first lower layer media access layer management unit.

[0033] In a third aspect, the present invention provides an electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the method described in the first aspect.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program implements the method described in the first aspect when executed by a processor.

[0035] In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product comprising a computer-readable code, or a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium carrying a computer-readable code, wherein when the computer-readable code runs in an electronic device, the processor in the electronic device executes the method described in the first aspect.

[0036] It should be noted that the device described in the second aspect, the electronic device described in the third aspect, the storage medium described in the fourth aspect, and the computer program product described in the fifth aspect are used to execute the method provided in the first aspect above, and therefore can achieve the same beneficial effects as the method described in the first aspect, and the present invention will not go into details one by one.

[0037] The present invention divides the media access layer management unit in existing devices into an upper-layer media access layer management unit and a lower-layer media access layer management unit. The upper-layer media access layer management unit in one device can communicate with the lower-layer media access layer management unit of the device itself, and can also communicate with the lower-layer media access layer management unit of another device. This allows multiple access points to jointly allocate resources to terminals while being compatible with traditional network architectures, traditional services, and traditional devices for data transmission. This improves the efficiency of resource allocation to terminals, reduces transmission delays in terminals, avoids data loss during terminal mobility, and ensures service continuity for terminals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between management units in an existing device;

[0039] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the embodiments described are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the disclosure in the present invention is introduced according to one or more exemplary examples, it should be understood that each aspect of these disclosures can also constitute a complete technical solution independently. In the absence of conflict, the features in the following embodiments and embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0044] In the embodiments of the present invention, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more" refers to two or more. In order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, in the embodiments of the present invention, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical items or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and order of execution. They are only used to illustrate and distinguish the objects being described. There is no order, nor does it represent a special limitation on the number of devices or messages in the embodiments of the present invention, and it does not constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. The term "including" is used to indicate the existence of the features declared thereafter, but does not exclude the addition of other features.

[0045] First, let's briefly explain the multi-link technology involved in this invention. In a multi-link scenario, a physical device can typically include multiple logical entities. The physical device here can refer to devices such as mobile phones, televisions, and projectors. The logical entity can refer to a logical unit within the physical device, which is a virtual functional module. One logical entity corresponds to a transceiver. Each logical entity can independently manage data transmission and reception, and each logical entity operates independently on a link. Such a physical device is called a multi-link device (MLD). A single-link device includes only one logical entity. In the embodiments of the present invention, the logical entity in a multi-link terminal device is called a logical terminal, and the logical entity in a multi-link access point device is called a logical access point.

[0046] In the embodiment of the present invention, the MAC layer management unit (MLME) in the existing device is divided into an upper media access layer management unit and a lower media access layer management unit. As shown in FIG2 , a device includes the following management units:

[0047] UMAC: Upper Media Access Layer Management Unit. This unit is identified by a unique address, the MAC address of a multilink device, or other identifiers, such as a Group ID. The Group ID can be the device's identifier in a management group or in a collaborative operation group. Functions of this management unit include data packet number assignment, data packet encryption, data packet decryption, duplicate data packet detection, data packet reordering, and LMAC mapping management (controlling which LMAC a data packet is sent through).

[0048] LMAC: Lower Media Access Layer Management Unit, manages the logical entity operating on the corresponding link. This unit is identified by a unique identifier, the MAC address of the logical entity belonging to a multi-link device, a link identifier, or other identifiers such as a link identifier plus a group ID. Functions of this management unit include adding headers and checksums to data packets, removing headers from data packets, and verifying checksums.

[0049] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG3 , multi-link device MLD3 is connected to multi-link device MLD1 via link link1 and to multi-link device MLD2 via link link2. Multi-link devices MLD1 and MLD2 can communicate with each other. For example, MLD1 and MLD2 belong to a mobility management group, which can be a multi-access point management group or a multi-access point cooperative operation group. This embodiment of the present invention assumes that a multi-link device includes two logical entities that can operate on two links (link 1 and link 2). MLD1 includes three management units: UMAC 1, LMAC 11, and LMAC 12. LMAC 11 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD1 that operate on link 1, and LMAC 12 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD1 that operate on link 2. MLD2 also includes three management units: UMAC 2, LMAC 21, and LMAC 22. LMAC 21 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD2 that operate on link 1, and LMAC 22 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD2 that operate on link 2. MLD3 includes two management units: MAC1 and MAC2. MAC1 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD3 that operate on link 1, and MAC2 is used to manage the logical entities in MLD3 that operate on link 2.

[0050] When MLD2 has data to send to MLD3, UMAC 2 of MLD2 can send all the data to LMAC 22 of MLD2, and send the data to MLD3 through LMAC 22. Alternatively, UMAC 2 of MLD2 can send all the data to LMAC 11 of MLD1, and send the data to MLD3 through LMAC 11. Alternatively, UMAC 2 of MLD2 can send part or all of the data to LMAC 22 of MLD2 and LMAC 11 of MLD1, and send the data to MLD3 through both LMAC 22 and LMAC 11.

[0051] When MLD3 has data to send to MLD2, MLD3 can send all the data to MLD2's LMAC 22, and then send it to MLD2's UMAC 2 through LMAC 22. It can also send all the data to MLD1's LMAC 11, and then send it to MLD2's UMAC 2 through LMAC 11. Or it can send part or all of the data to MLD2's LMAC 22 and MLD1's LMAC 11, and then send it to MLD2's UMAC 2 through LMAC 22 and LMAC 11.

[0052] In some embodiments, before MLD2 sends data to MLD3 through MLD1, MLD2 may negotiate with MLD1, as shown in the following example:

[0053] 1) MLD2 sends an association establishment message to MLD1, indicating a request to establish an association between MLD1's LMAC 11 and MLD3. For example, the association establishment message may include the following parameters:

[0054] LMAC ID: the identifier of the lower-layer media access layer management unit. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of LMAC 11 of MLD1.

[0055] STA ID: the identifier of the device receiving data. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of MLD3.

[0056] MLD2 stores the association between LMAC 11 of MLD1 and MLD3. For example, MLD2 can add the following record to UMAC 2:

[0057] LMAC: LMAC 11 identifier;

[0058] STA: MLD3 identifier.

[0059] Optionally, after receiving the association establishment message, MLD1 may send an association establishment response message to MLD2. The response message may indicate whether the association establishment is approved. For example, the response message may include a status parameter. For example, a status parameter value of 1 indicates approval, while a status parameter value of 0 indicates disapproval. Alternatively, the response message may include an LMAC ID parameter set to LMAC 11, indicating that the lower-layer media access layer management unit in MLD1 connected to MLD3 agrees to establish the association. After receiving the response message from MLD1, MLD2 saves the association between MLD1's LMAC 11 and MLD3.

[0060] Optionally, the above-mentioned association establishment message may also be sent by MLD1 to MLD2, and correspondingly, the above-mentioned association establishment response message may be sent by MLD2 to MLD1. In this case, the response message may include a parameter LMAC ID, which is set to the identifier of LMAC 22, indicating that the lower-layer media access layer management unit in MLD2 connected to MLD3 agrees to establish the association relationship.

[0061] 2) MLD2 sends an association establishment message to MLD1, indicating the association between MLD2's LMAC 22 and MLD3, that is, requesting to establish the association between MLD1's LMAC 11 and MLD3. For example, the association establishment message may include the following parameters:

[0062] LMAC ID: the identifier of the lower-layer media access layer management unit. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of LMAC 22 of MLD2;

[0063] STA ID: the identifier of the device receiving data. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of MLD3.

[0064] MLD2 stores the association between LMAC 11 of MLD1 and MLD3.

[0065] After receiving the Association Establishment message, MLD1 confirms the need to establish an association between LMAC 11 and MLD3 based on the association between MLD2's LMAC 22 and MLD3 indicated in the message. Optionally, MLD1 may send an Association Establishment Response message to MLD2. The message may include the following parameter: LMAC ID, set to the identifier of LMAC 11, indicating that the lower-layer media access layer management unit in MLD1 connected to MLD3 agrees to establish the association. Furthermore, the response message may also include the parameter STA ID, set to the identifier of MLD3, which, together with the LMAC ID, indicates the association between LMAC 11 and MLD3.

[0066] The communication between MLD1 and MLD3 can be referred to the communication between MLD2 and MLD3, and is not described in detail here.

[0067] The present invention is further described below with reference to a specific embodiment. In this embodiment, MLD1 is a multi-link access point device AP MLD1, MLD2 is a multi-link access point device AP MLD2, and MLD3 is a multi-link terminal device STA MLD1. STA MLD1 and AP MLD1 establish a connection on at least one link, and may establish a connection on only one link or on both links. This embodiment uses the establishment of a connection on one link as an example. STA MLD1 and AP MLD1 establish a connection on link1, as shown in Figure 4. In other embodiments, if STA MLD1 and AP MLD1 establish connections on both links, the connection on one link may be disconnected first, and then the same operation as establishing a connection on only one link may be performed.

[0068] Referring to Figure 4 , the communication system includes multi-link access point devices (AP MLD1 and AP MLD2) and a multi-link terminal device (STA MLD1). AP MLD1 and AP MLD2 can form a multi-access point (AP) network via wired or wireless backhaul, thereby exchanging data as well as network control and / or management commands and / or parameters. AP MLD1 and AP MLD2 belong to the same non-co-located device group, which can be set to the group identifier NC-MLD01.

[0069] Both multi-link access point devices AP MLD1 and AP MLD2 include two logical access points. AP MLD1 includes logical access points AP1 and AP2, and AP MLD2 includes logical access points AP3 and AP4. They can operate on two links, which are expressed as link link1 and link link2 for convenience. Multi-link terminal device STA MLD1 includes two logical terminals STA1 and STA2, which can operate on the two links corresponding to the multi-link access point devices.

[0070] In this embodiment of the present invention, a link identifier can be used to uniquely identify a logical access point within a multi-link access point device. Different multi-link access point devices can set different values ​​for link identifiers. For example, the link identifiers within AP MLD2 can be link3 and link4, corresponding to link1 and link2 of AP MLD1 on the physical channel, respectively. That is, link1 and link3 use the same channel configuration, and link2 and link4 use the same channel configuration. For ease of description and correspondence, this embodiment of the present invention uses the same set of link identifiers within different multi-link access point devices.

[0071] In the embodiments of the present invention, an access point (AP) refers to a wireless access point device that supports the 802.11 protocol and has wireless transceiver capabilities, such as a router or wireless switch. A terminal refers to a device that supports the 802.11 protocol and has wireless transceiver capabilities, such as a mobile phone, computer, television, projector, etc. It should be understood that Figure 4 is only a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system. In the embodiments of the present invention, the number and type of devices in the communication system are not limited. For example, the communication system may include multiple terminals or access points. Terminals and access points can be multi-link devices or single-link devices, and the number of logical entities in different multi-link devices can also vary. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that, in accordance with the principles and functions described herein, the term "access point (AP)" in this application can also be used to describe an access port or any other access point capable of receiving and transmitting wireless signals within a network architecture. Therefore, the use of access point is merely exemplary.

[0072] S201: STA MLD1 measures the access point device AP MLD1 to which it is currently connected. If the signal strength of AP1 measured by STA MLD1 is less than or equal to the threshold value T1 and this condition is met for a duration of Duration1, STA MLD1 measures the neighboring access points and selects the access point that meets the roaming conditions as the target access point. For example, the roaming conditions may include:

[0073] 1) The signal strength of AP1 is less than or equal to threshold T1, and the signal strength of the target access point is greater than or equal to threshold T2, and this condition is met for Duration 2.

[0074] or,

[0075] 2) The signal strength of the target access point is greater than or equal to (the signal strength of AP1 + the threshold value T3), and this condition is met for Duration 3.

[0076] It should be noted that the neighboring access points measured here are read from the broadcast message sent by AP1, or obtained from the connection response message sent by AP1 when establishing a connection with AP1. For example, the information provided about the neighboring access points in the broadcast message or connection response message includes the following parameters:

[0077] UMAC ID: the identifier of the upper-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of UMAC2 of AP MLD2;

[0078] Link 1info: information about the logical access point operating on link link1;

[0079] Link 2info: Information about the logical access point operating on link link2.

[0080] Link 1info can include the following parameters:

[0081] Link ID: link identifier, which is set to link1 in this embodiment;

[0082] LMAC ID: the identifier of the lower-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC 21.

[0083] Link2info can contain the following parameters:

[0084] Link ID: link identifier, which is set to link2 in this embodiment;

[0085] LMAC ID: the identifier of the lower-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC 22.

[0086] S202: After determining the target access point, STA MLD1 sends a roaming request message (or a multi-link reconfiguration request message, or other control message, the following description uses the roaming request message as an example) to AP MLD1, where the message indicates the target access point for roaming. In this embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the target access point for roaming is AP4 in AP MLD2. For example, the roaming request message may include the following parameters:

[0087] UMAC ID: the identifier of the upper-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of UMAC 2 of AP MLD2;

[0088] Link ID: link ID, which is set to link2 in this embodiment.

[0089] Optionally, the parameter Link ID in the roaming request message may also be replaced by a parameter LMAC ID for indicating the identifier of the media access layer management unit under the access point, such as being set to the address of LMAC 22, which may also indicate the target access point of roaming.

[0090] S203: After receiving the roaming request message, AP MLD1 sends a MAC layer configuration change request message to AP MLD2. The message indicates the association between AP MLD1's LMAC 11 and STA MLD1, and requests to establish an association between AP MLD2's LMAC 22 and STA MLD1. For example, the MAC layer configuration change request message may include the following parameters:

[0091] Type: MAC configuration type. In this embodiment, it is set to add, indicating that the configuration is established.

[0092] LMAC ID: the identifier of the media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC 11 of AP MLD1.

[0093] UMAC ID: the identifier of the upper-layer media access layer management unit of the access point, which is the same as the setting in the roaming request message. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of UMAC 2 of AP MLD2;

[0094] Link ID: Link ID, which is the same as that in the roaming request message. In this embodiment, it is set to link2.

[0095] STA info: terminal information, which in this embodiment may include the identifier of STA MLD1, the capabilities and / or operating parameters of STA MLD1, and is used to establish a connection between STA MLD1 and AP MLD2.

[0096] S204. After receiving the MAC layer configuration change request message, AP MLD2 adds an association relationship between LMAC 11 of AP MLD1 and STA MLD1 in UMAC 2, such as adding the following record:

[0097] LMAC: set to the address of LMAC 11;

[0098] STA: Set to the STA MLD1 identifier.

[0099] This record is used to send data corresponding to the terminal identifier to the LMAC 11 when there is data, and then sent to the terminal through the LMAC 11.

[0100] S205. AP MLD2 sends a MAC layer configuration change response message to AP MLD1. The message indicates whether the change is approved. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the change is approved. For example, the MAC layer configuration change response message may include the following parameters:

[0101] UMAC ID for STA: indicates the upper media access layer management unit of the access point connected to the terminal. In this embodiment, it is set to the UMAC 2 address of AP2.

[0102] LMAC ID for STA: indicates the lower media access layer management unit of the access point connected to the terminal. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC 22 of AP2.

[0103] S206. After receiving the MAC layer configuration change response message, AP MLD1 sends a roaming response message to STA MLD1. The message indicates whether the request is approved. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the request is approved. For example, the roaming response message may include the following parameters:

[0104] LMAC ID: the identifier of the media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC22 of AP MLD2.

[0105] UMAC ID: the identifier of the upper-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of UMAC2 of AP MLD2;

[0106] Link ID: link ID, which is set to link2 in this embodiment.

[0107] S207. After receiving the roaming response message, STA MLD1 sends a reconfiguration request message to AP MLD2 on link link2. The reconfiguration request message indicates that the reconfiguration type is to add a link. At this time, STA MLD1 is connected to both AP MLD1 and AP MLD2. It should be noted that the adding a link involved in the embodiment of the present invention means that the terminal requests to establish a connection on a link other than the current link.

[0108] S208. After receiving the MAC layer configuration change request message, AP MLD2 adds an association relationship between LMAC 22 of AP MLD2 and STA MLD1 in UMAC 2, such as adding the following record:

[0109] LMAC: Set to the address of LMAC 22;

[0110] STA: Set to the STA MLD1 identifier.

[0111] This record is used to send data corresponding to the terminal identifier to the LMAC 22 when there is data, and then send it to the terminal through the LMAC 22.

[0112] 209. AP MLD2 sends a DS STA notify message to the server DS, which is used to notify the DS to update the association information between the terminal and the access point and instruct the DS data to be sent to the terminal via AP MLD2. For example, the message may include the following parameters:

[0113] Type: Notification type. In this embodiment, it is set to update, indicating that the associated information is updated.

[0114] STA ID: terminal identifier. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of STA MLD1.

[0115] AP ID: the identifier of the access point, which is set to the address of UMAC2 in this embodiment.

[0116] S210 , after receiving the notification message, DS sends the downlink data of STA MLD1 to UMAC2 of AP MLD2 . UMAC2 can send the data to STA MLD1 through LMAC11 of AP MLD1 or LMAC22 of AP MLD2 or both LMAC11 and LMAC22 according to the record query.

[0117] S211 . AP MLD2 sends a reconfiguration response message to STA MLD1 , indicating that the reconfiguration is complete.

[0118] S212 : After receiving the reconfiguration response message, STA MLD1 sends a reconfiguration request message to AP MLD1 . The reconfiguration request message indicates that the reconfiguration type is link deletion.

[0119] S213 : After receiving the reconfiguration request message, AP MLD1 may not send a response message to STA MLD1 because the type is link deletion. Alternatively, AP MLD1 may send a response message to STA MLD1 to indicate confirmation of link deletion.

[0120] S214. AP MLD1 sends a MAC layer configuration change request message to AP MLD2. The message indicates that the association between LMAC11 and STA MLD1 should be deleted. For example, the MAC layer configuration change request message may include the following parameters:

[0121] Type: MAC configuration type. In this embodiment, it is set to remove to delete the configuration.

[0122] LMAC ID: the identifier of the lower-layer media access layer management unit of the access point. In this embodiment, it is set to the address of LMAC11 of AP MLD1.

[0123] STA ID: the identifier of the terminal. In this embodiment, it is set to the identifier of STA MLD1.

[0124] S215 . After receiving the MAC layer configuration change request message, AP MLD2 deletes the association between LMAC11 and STA MLD1 .

[0125] At this point, STA MLD1 completes roaming from AP MLD1 to AP MLD2. This embodiment ensures service continuity during STA MLD1 roaming from AP MLD1 to AP MLD2 through coordinated control of AP MLD1 and AP MLD2, thereby improving user experience.

[0126] In the above embodiment, STA MLD1 may also directly send a roaming request message to AP MLD2, AP MLD2 negotiates with AP MLD1, and then AP MLD2 or AP MLD1 sends a roaming response message to STA MLD1.

[0127] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device, comprising a second upper-layer media access layer management unit and a second lower-layer media access layer management unit, wherein the second upper-layer media access layer management unit and the second lower-layer media access layer management unit are communicatively connected and both belong to a second electronic device, and the second electronic device can communicate with a first electronic device, wherein:

[0128] The second upper-layer media access layer management unit is configured to send the first data to at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, so that at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit sends the first data to a third electronic device; or

[0129] The second upper-layer media access layer management unit is configured to receive second data sent by at least one of the second lower-layer media access layer management unit and the first lower-layer media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, where the second data is data sent by a third electronic device;

[0130] The logical entities managed by the first lower-layer media access layer management unit and the second lower-layer media access layer management unit operate on different links.

[0131] In an optional example, those skilled in the art may understand that the above-mentioned device may be specifically MLD1 or MLD2 in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the device may be used to execute each process and / or step corresponding to MLD1 or MLD2 in the above-mentioned method. To avoid repetition, they will not be described here.

[0132] It should be understood that the device here is embodied in the form of a functional module. The term "unit" here may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a proprietary processor or a group processor, etc.) and a memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, a merged logic circuit and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. The above-mentioned device has the function of implementing the corresponding steps in the above-mentioned method; the above-mentioned functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing the corresponding software implementation. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device may also be a chip or a chip system, such as a system on chip (SoC). The present invention is not limited here.

[0133] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device. FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG5 , device 300 includes a processor 301, a memory 302, and a communication interface 303. The processor 301, the memory 302, and the communication interface 303 communicate with each other via a bus 304. The memory 302 stores instructions executable by the processor 301. The instructions are loaded and executed by the processor 301 to control the communication interface 303 to send and / or receive signals.

[0134] It should be understood that device 300 can be specifically MLD1 or MLD2 in the above-mentioned embodiments, or the functions of MLD1 or MLD2 in the above-mentioned embodiments can be integrated into device 300, and device 300 can be used to execute the various steps and / or processes corresponding to MLD1 or MLD2 in the above-mentioned embodiments. Optionally, the memory 302 can include read-only memory and random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor 301. A portion of the memory 302 can also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory 302 can also store device type information. The processor 301 can be used to execute instructions stored in the memory 301, and when the processor 301 executes the instructions, the processor 301 can perform the corresponding various steps and / or processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0135] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present invention, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0136] During implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor or by instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in a memory, and the processor executes the instructions in the memory, and in combination with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, a detailed description is not given here.

[0137] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part through software, hardware, firmware, or any other combination. When implemented using software, the above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer program are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired connection (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that contains a collection of one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium can be a solid-state drive.

[0138] It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present invention, the order of execution of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a precedence in execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention. Modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0139] In the several embodiments provided by the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices, apparatuses and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the modules is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as a module or component can be divided into multiple modules or components, or multiple modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0140] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the modules and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0141] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second upper media access layer management unit of the second electronic device sends the first data to at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device and the first lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, so that at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit and the first lower media access layer management unit sends the first data to a third electronic device; or The second upper media access layer management unit of the second electronic device receives second data sent by at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device and the first lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, wherein the second data is data sent by the third electronic device; The logical entities managed by the first lower layer media access layer management unit and the second lower layer media access layer management unit operate on different links.

2. A communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device receives a first message sent by the first electronic device, or sends a first message to the first electronic device, where the first message is used to establish an association relationship, and the first message includes at least one of an identifier of the first lower media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower media access layer management unit, and an identifier of a third electronic device; The second electronic device stores the association relationship between the first lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device.

3. A communication method according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device sends a second message to the first electronic device, or receives a third message sent by the first electronic device, wherein the second message and the third message are both used to respond to establishing an association relationship, wherein the second message includes an identifier of the second lower media access layer management unit, which is used to indicate the lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device connected to the third electronic device, or the second message includes an identifier of the second upper media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower media access layer management unit, which are used to indicate the upper media access layer management unit and the lower media access layer management unit of the second electronic device connected to the third electronic device; the third message includes an identifier of the first lower media access layer management unit, which is used to indicate the lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device connected to the third electronic device, or the third message includes an identifier of the first upper media access layer management unit and an identifier of the first lower media access layer management unit, which are used to indicate the upper media access layer management unit and the lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device connected to the third electronic device.

4. A communication method according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device receives a fourth message sent by the first electronic device, or sends a fourth message to the first electronic device, wherein the fourth message is used to delete the association relationship, and the fourth message includes at least one of an identifier of the first lower layer media access layer management unit and an identifier of the second lower layer media access layer management unit, and an identifier of a third electronic device; The second electronic device deletes the association between the first lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device.

5. A communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device sends a fifth message to the fourth electronic device, where the fifth message is used to notify updating of associated information. The fifth message includes an identifier of the second electronic device and an identifier of the third electronic device, and is used to instruct sending data of the fourth electronic device to the third electronic device via the second electronic device.

6. A communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device receives a sixth message sent by the third electronic device, where the sixth message is used to request to add a link operated by the logical entity managed by the second lower layer media access layer management unit; The second electronic device saves the association relationship between the second lower media access layer management unit and the third electronic device.

7. A communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The second electronic device receives the seventh message sent by the third electronic device, wherein the seventh message indicates a request to add a link operated by the logical entity managed by the first lower layer media access layer management unit.

8. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises a second upper media access layer management unit and a second lower media access layer management unit, wherein the second upper media access layer management unit and the second lower media access layer management unit are communicatively connected and both belong to a second electronic device, and the second electronic device can communicate with the first electronic device, wherein: The second upper layer media access layer management unit is used to send the first data to at least one of the second lower layer media access layer management unit and the first lower layer media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, so that at least one of the second lower layer media access layer management unit and the first lower layer media access layer management unit sends the first data to a third electronic device; or, The second upper media access layer management unit is used to receive second data sent by at least one of the second lower media access layer management unit and the first lower media access layer management unit of the first electronic device, where the second data is data sent by a third electronic device; The logical entities managed by the first lower layer media access layer management unit and the second lower layer media access layer management unit operate on different links.

9. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored in the memory, characterized in that: The processor executes the computer program to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is implemented.

Images