Signal strength measuring system, method and device

Abstract

The invention discloses a signal strength measurement system, method and device, relates to the technical field of communication, and can enable an access point (AP) to obtain more signal strength. The system comprises a first AP and one or more second APs, each second AP receives a scanning synchronization message indicating at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message indicates each second AP to switch scanning channels according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel; when it is determined that the scanning channel is the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a cooperative scanning measurement request carrying an identifier of each terminal device associated with the first AP to each second AP, and requests each second AP to initiate a measurement request to each terminal device; when the scanning channel of any second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, any second AP sends a measurement request to each terminal device; and the first AP obtains a measurement result, wherein the measurement result indicates the signal strength between each second AP in the at least one second AP and the at least one terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a signal strength measurement system, method and device. Background Art

[0002] In a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system, an access point (AP) usually implements management strategies such as radio resource management or roaming guidance. If the AP can obtain more signal strength (for example, the signal strength between other APs in the WLAN communication system and the terminal devices associated with the AP) when implementing the management strategy, the implementation effect of the management strategy can be improved. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present application provides a signal strength measurement system, method and device, which can enable an AP to obtain more signal strengths.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a signal strength measurement system, which may include multiple access points APs, the multiple APs include a first AP and one or more second APs, the one or more second APs are used to: receive a scan synchronization message, the scan synchronization message indicates at least one target scan channel, the scan synchronization message indicates that each second AP switches the scan channel in the order of at least one target scan channel; the first AP is used to: when it is determined that the scan channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a collaborative scan measurement request to one or more second APs, the collaborative scan measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, the collaborative scan measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; any second AP is also used to: when the scan channel of any second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, any second AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices; the first AP is also used to: obtain a measurement result, the measurement result indicates the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0005] Based on the first aspect, a scan synchronization message is sent to multiple APs in the WLAN system to instruct the multiple APs to switch scan channels in the order of at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message after receiving the scan synchronization message, so that multiple APs can switch to the same scan channel at the same time or as simultaneously as possible. In this way, the first AP whose working channel is the scan channel can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scan measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scan measurement effect, thereby better supporting management strategies such as radio frequency resource management and roaming strategies, and improving communication performance.

[0006] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to send a scan synchronization message, and at least one target scan channel is a working channel of the first AP.

[0007] Based on this possible design, the first AP can actively send a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs according to the detection requirements. The scan synchronization message indicates a target scan channel, which is the working channel of the first AP, that is, the scan synchronization message instructs the one or more second APs to switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP. After receiving the scan synchronization message, one or more second APs can switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP at the same time or as much as possible, and when receiving the collaborative scan measurement request sent by the first AP, send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP on the working channel of the first AP. In this way, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP in one collaborative scan measurement.

[0008] In a possible design, the coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in a scanning synchronization message.

[0009] Based on this possible design, when the scanning synchronization message is sent by the first AP to one or more second APs, the first AP can carry the collaborative scanning measurement request in the scanning synchronization message to reduce signaling overhead. It is understandable that the first AP can also send the scanning synchronization message and the collaborative scanning measurement request independently without restriction.

[0010] In one possible design, the system also includes a first device, which is used to send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs.

[0011] Based on this possible design, the first device may send a scan synchronization message to multiple APs managed by the first device. Each AP that receives the scan synchronization message may switch the scan channel to the same target scan channel in at least one target scan channel at the same time or as much as possible in the order of at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message, so as to synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of each AP for the same scan channel.

[0012] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to: switch the scanning channel of the first AP to a target scanning channel among at least one target scanning channel in a sequence of at least one target scanning channel; when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to a working channel of the first AP, determine that the system's scanning channel is the working channel of the first AP.

[0013] Based on this possible design, the first AP can synchronize the scanning timing with other APs (such as each second AP) according to the scanning synchronization message. When the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP can trigger the collaborative scanning measurement process to obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal devices associated with the first AP, improve the collaborative scanning measurement effect, and thus better support management strategies such as radio frequency resource management and roaming strategies, and improve communication performance.

[0014] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to send a first indication information to the first device, the first indication information indicates a first target scanning channel, and the first target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP; the first device is also used to generate a scanning synchronization message based on the first indication information, and at least one target scanning channel includes the first target scanning channel.

[0015] Based on this possible design, the first device can generate and send a scanning synchronization message according to the first indication information sent by the first AP, so that each AP that receives the scanning synchronization message switches the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP simultaneously or as simultaneously as possible.

[0016] In one possible design, the first device is also used to: periodically send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs; or, send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs within a preset time period; or, in response to the presence of a difference in scanning channels of at least two APs being greater than or equal to a channel difference threshold, send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs.

[0017] Based on this possible design, the first device can send a scanning synchronization message to each AP based on any of the above methods, so as to promptly discover the problem of asynchronous scanning timing, or promptly synchronize the scanning timing, so as to further improve the synchronization of scanning channels between APs.

[0018] In one possible design, the first device is also used to send a scanning synchronization query request to multiple APs, and the scanning synchronization query request is used to request the scanning channel that each AP last switched to; any AP among the multiple APs is also used to receive the scanning synchronization query request and send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device, and the scanning synchronization query response is used to indicate the scanning channel that any AP last switched to; the first device is also used to determine the difference between the scanning channels of any two APs among the multiple APs based on the scanning synchronization query responses of any two APs.

[0019] Based on this possible design, the first device can determine the difference in scanning channels of any two APs through scanning synchronization query response. When the difference is greater than or equal to the channel difference threshold, the first device can send a scanning synchronization message to multiple APs to promptly discover the problem of scanning timing asynchronization and perform global synchronization again in time.

[0020] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to: when it is determined that the system's scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP, send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices.

[0021] Based on this possible design, the first AP can send a wake-up indication to the terminal device so that when each second AP initiates a collaborative scanning measurement, the terminal device is in a wake-up state, so that the terminal device can obtain more measurement requests sent by the second AP and report the measurement results during a collaborative scanning measurement. Furthermore, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second APs and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect.

[0022] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to: send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices within a first time duration, the first time duration is greater than or equal to a scanning time duration, and the scanning time duration is a duration of scanning a channel.

[0023] Based on this possible design, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration. In order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the scanning duration, that is, the first duration can be greater than or equal to the scanning duration. Further, when the first AP sends a wake-up indication to the terminal device within the first duration, it can ensure that the terminal device can be in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration.

[0024] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0025] Based on this possible design, in order to avoid the occurrence of message collisions on the air interface when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device under strict synchronization, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device based on a random backoff mechanism within a certain time range. At the same time, in order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the random backoff mechanism on the basis of the scanning duration, that is, the start time of the first duration can be earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration can be later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0026] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0027] Based on this possible design, the first duration can be determined according to the random backoff duration, which can ensure that the terminal can remain in the awake state when each AP executes the backoff mechanism, and can also avoid the terminal being in the awake state for a long time, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0028] In one possible design, the wake-up indication is a beacon frame and / or a data message, the DTIM count field of the beacon frame's sending traffic indication message is set to 0, or the DTIM duration field of the beacon frame is set to 1.

[0029] Based on this possible design, the first AP can send normal data messages to the terminal device when there is a service transmission demand, so that the terminal device is in an awake state. If the first AP currently has no service transmission demand, the first AP can send a beacon frame and / or an empty message to the terminal device, so that the terminal device is in an awake state.

[0030] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to: receive a measurement report from a first terminal device, and obtain a measurement result based on the measurement report, wherein the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

[0031] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to: when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about the third AP from the second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0032] Based on the above two possible designs, when one or more second APs send a measurement request to a terminal device, there may be a strong signal strength between some second APs and the terminal device (such as the first terminal device), and the terminal device can receive the measurement request sent by the certain second APs, and then report the measurement result to the first AP. There may also be a weak signal strength between some second APs (such as the third AP mentioned above) and the terminal device (such as the second terminal device), and the terminal device may not be able to receive the measurement request sent by the certain second AP, and thus cannot report the measurement result to the first AP. At this time, the first AP can determine that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than the signal strength threshold.

[0033] In the second aspect, the present application provides a signal strength measurement method, which can be executed by a second AP, or by a component of the second AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the second AP function. The following takes the method being executed by the second AP as an example, and the method may include: the second AP receives a scanning synchronization message, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message indicates that the second AP switches the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the second AP obtains a collaborative scanning measurement request, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request the second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; when the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the second AP sends a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices.

[0034] Based on the second aspect, each second AP can switch the scanning channel according to the received scanning synchronization message and the sequence of at least one target scanning channel indicated by the scanning synchronization message, so that multiple second APs can switch to the same scanning channel at the same time or as much as possible at the same time to achieve scanning timing synchronization. In this way, the first AP whose working channel is the scanning channel can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect, thereby better supporting management strategies such as radio frequency resource management and roaming strategies, and improving communication performance.

[0035] In one possible design, the second AP receives a scanning synchronization message, including: the second AP receives a scanning synchronization message sent by the first AP, and at least one target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP.

[0036] Based on this possible design, the first AP can actively send a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs according to the detection requirements. The scan synchronization message indicates a target scan channel, which is the working channel of the first AP, that is, the scan synchronization message instructs the one or more second APs to switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP. After receiving the scan synchronization message, one or more second APs can switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP at the same time or as much as possible, and when receiving the collaborative scan measurement request sent by the first AP, send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP on the working channel of the first AP. In this way, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP in one collaborative scan measurement.

[0037] In a possible design, the coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in a scanning synchronization message.

[0038] Based on this possible design, when the scanning synchronization message is sent by the first AP to one or more second APs, the first AP can carry the collaborative scanning measurement request in the scanning synchronization message to reduce signaling overhead. It is understandable that the first AP can also send the scanning synchronization message and the collaborative scanning measurement request independently without restriction.

[0039] In one possible design, the second AP receives a scanning synchronization message, including: the second AP receives a scanning synchronization message sent by the first device.

[0040] Based on this possible design, the scanning synchronization message may also be sent by the first device. Each second AP that receives the scanning synchronization message may switch the scanning channel to the same target scanning channel in at least one target scanning channel at the same time or as much as possible according to the sequence of at least one target scanning channel indicated by the scanning synchronization message, so as to synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of each second AP for the same scanning channel.

[0041] In one possible design, the second AP switches the scanning channel according to the order of at least one target scanning channel.

[0042] In one possible design, the second AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, including: the second AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices within a scanning duration.

[0043] Based on this possible design, when the scanning channel is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device associated with the first AP within the scanning duration of the scanning channel to improve the success rate of sending the measurement request.

[0044] In one possible design, the second AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement response to the first AP, where the collaborative scanning measurement response indicates a measurement request record that the second AP has sent to one or more terminal devices.

[0045] Based on this possible design, the second AP may also send a coordinated scanning measurement response to the first AP, so that the first AP determines whether the coordinated scanning measurement is successfully performed according to the coordinated scanning measurement response. Alternatively, the first AP can determine to which terminal devices the second AP has sent measurement requests, etc.

[0046] In one possible design, the second AP periodically receives scanning synchronization messages.

[0047] In one possible design, the second AP receives a scanning synchronization query request from the first device, where the scanning synchronization query request is used to request the scanning channel to which the second AP last switched; the second AP sends a scanning synchronization query response to the first device, where the scanning synchronization query response indicates the scanning channel to which the second AP last switched.

[0048] Based on this possible design, the second AP can send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device in response to the scanning synchronization query request, so that the first device can determine the difference in scanning channels of any two APs based on the scanning synchronization query responses received from each AP, and then send a scanning synchronization message to multiple APs including the second AP when the difference is greater than or equal to the preset threshold of the channel difference, so as to promptly discover the problem of scanning timing asynchrony and perform global synchronization again in time, which can further improve the synchronization of scanning channels between APs.

[0049] In a third aspect, the present application provides a signal strength measurement method, which can be executed by a first AP, or by a component of the first AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first AP. The following takes the method executed by the first AP as an example, and the method may include: the first AP receives a scanning synchronization message, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message indicates that the first AP switches the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a cooperative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, the cooperative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the cooperative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the first AP obtains a measurement result, and the measurement result indicates the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0050] Based on the third aspect, the first AP can switch the scanning channel according to the received scanning synchronization message and the sequence of at least one target scanning channel indicated by the scanning synchronization message, so that the first AP can switch to the same scanning channel at the same time or as much as possible with other APs (such as one or more second APs) to achieve scanning timing synchronization. In this way, the first AP whose working channel is the scanning channel can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect, thereby better supporting management strategies such as radio frequency resource management and roaming strategies, and improving communication performance.

[0051] In one possible design, the first AP switches the scanning channel of the first AP to a target scanning channel among the at least one target scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel.

[0052] In one possible design, the first AP sends a first indication message to the first device, where the first indication message indicates a first target scanning channel, where the first target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP, and at least one target scanning channel includes the first target scanning channel.

[0053] Based on this possible design, by sending the first indication information to the first device, the first device can generate and send a scanning synchronization message according to the first indication information, so that each AP that receives the scanning synchronization message switches the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP simultaneously or as simultaneously as possible.

[0054] In one possible design, the first AP periodically receives scanning synchronization messages.

[0055] In one possible design, the first AP is also used to receive a scanning synchronization query request and send a scanning synchronization query response, where the scanning synchronization query response is used to indicate the scanning channel to which the first AP last switched.

[0056] Based on this possible design, the first AP can send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device in response to the scanning synchronization query request, so that the first device can determine the difference in scanning channels of any two APs based on the scanning synchronization query responses received from each AP, and then when the difference is greater than or equal to the channel difference threshold, send a scanning synchronization message to multiple APs including the first AP, so as to promptly discover the problem of scanning timing asynchrony and perform global synchronization again in time.

[0057] In one possible design, when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices.

[0058] Based on this possible design, the first AP can send a wake-up indication to the terminal device so that when each second AP initiates a collaborative scanning measurement, the terminal device is in a wake-up state, so that the terminal device can obtain more measurement requests sent by the second AP and report the measurement results during a collaborative scanning measurement. Furthermore, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second APs and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect.

[0059] In one possible design, a first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices within a first duration, where the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is the duration of scanning a channel.

[0060] Based on this possible design, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration. In order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the scanning duration, that is, the first duration can be greater than or equal to the scanning duration. Further, when the first AP sends a wake-up indication to the terminal device within the first duration, it can ensure that the terminal device can be in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration.

[0061] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0062] Based on this possible design, in order to avoid the occurrence of message collisions on the air interface when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device under strict synchronization, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device based on a random backoff mechanism within a certain time range. At the same time, in order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the random backoff mechanism on the basis of the scanning duration, that is, the start time of the first duration can be earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration can be later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0063] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0064] Based on this possible design, the first duration can be determined according to the random backoff duration, providing a feasible solution for the design of the first duration.

[0065] In one possible design, a first AP receives a measurement report from a first terminal device and obtains a measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

[0066] In one possible design, when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about a third AP from a second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, and one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0067] Based on the above two possible designs, when one or more second APs send a measurement request to a terminal device, there may be a strong signal strength between some second APs and the terminal device (such as the first terminal device), and the terminal device can receive the measurement request sent by the certain second APs, and then report the measurement result to the first AP. There may also be a weak signal strength between some second APs (such as the third AP mentioned above) and the terminal device (such as the second terminal device), and the terminal device may not be able to receive the measurement request sent by the certain second AP, and thus cannot report the measurement result to the first AP. At this time, the first AP can determine that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than the signal strength threshold.

[0068] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a signal strength measurement method, which can be executed by a first AP, or by a component of the first AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first AP. The following takes the method executed by the first AP as an example, and the method may include: the first AP sends a scanning synchronization message to one or more second APs, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message indicates that each first AP switches the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the first AP sends a cooperative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, the cooperative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the cooperative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the first AP obtains a measurement result, and the measurement result indicates the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0069] Based on the fourth aspect, the first AP can actively send a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs according to the detection requirements. The scan synchronization message indicates a target scan channel, and the target scan channel is the working channel of the first AP, that is, the scan synchronization message instructs the one or more second APs to switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP. After receiving the scan synchronization message, one or more second APs can switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP at the same time or as much as possible, and when receiving the collaborative scan measurement request sent by the first AP, the first AP's working channel sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP. In this way, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP in one collaborative scan measurement.

[0070] In a possible design, the coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in a scanning synchronization message.

[0071] Based on this possible design, when the scanning synchronization message is sent by the first AP to one or more second APs, the first AP can carry the collaborative scanning measurement request in the scanning synchronization message to reduce signaling overhead. It is understandable that the first AP can also send the scanning synchronization message and the collaborative scanning measurement request independently without restriction.

[0072] In one possible design, when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices.

[0073] In one possible design, a first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices within a first duration, where the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is the duration of scanning a channel.

[0074] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0075] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0076] In one possible design, a first AP receives a measurement report from a first terminal device and obtains a measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

[0077] In one possible design, when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about the third AP from the second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, and the one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and the one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0078] Among them, the technical effects that can be brought about by the above six possible designs can refer to the technical effects that can be brought about by the relevant designs in the above third aspect, and will not be elaborated on here.

[0079] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a signal strength measurement method, which can be executed by a first terminal device, or by a component of the first terminal device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first terminal device. The following takes the method being executed by the first terminal device as an example, and the method may include: receiving a wake-up indication from a first AP within a first duration, the first terminal device is a terminal device associated with the first AP, the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is the duration of scanning the channel; within the first duration, receiving one or more measurement requests, and sending a measurement report to the first AP based on the one or more measurement requests, the measurement report indicating the signal strength between the first terminal device and the corresponding one or more second APs that sent the one or more measurement requests.

[0080] Based on the fifth aspect, the first AP sends a wake-up indication to the terminal device, so that when each second AP initiates a collaborative scanning measurement, the terminal device is in a wake-up state, so that the terminal device can obtain more measurement requests sent by the second AP and report the measurement results during a collaborative scanning measurement. Further, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect.

[0081] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0082] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0083] Among them, the technical effects that can be brought about by the above two possible designs can refer to the technical effects that can be brought about by the relevant designs in the above third aspect, and will not be elaborated on here.

[0084] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the second AP of the second aspect to implement the functions performed by the second AP. The communication device can be a second AP, or a chip or chip system or system on chip of the second AP, etc. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the second AP through hardware, or can perform corresponding software implementations through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0085] Among them, the transceiver module can be used to receive a scanning synchronization message, which indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs the second AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module can also be used to obtain a collaborative scanning measurement request, which carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request the second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module can also be used to send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices when the processing module determines that the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP.

[0086] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the sixth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in any possible design of the second aspect mentioned above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be referred to the aforementioned related content.

[0087] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be applied to the first AP of the third aspect to implement the functions performed by the first AP. The communication device can be the first AP, or it can be a chip or chip system or system on chip of the first AP, etc. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the first AP through hardware, or it can perform the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or it can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or it can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0088] Among them, the transceiver module can be used to receive a scanning synchronization message, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs the first AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module can also be used to send a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs when the processing module determines that the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module and the processing module can also be used to obtain measurement results, and the measurement results indicate the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0089] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the seventh aspect can also perform corresponding functions in any possible design of the third aspect mentioned above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be referred to the aforementioned related content.

[0090] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The present application provides a communication device. The communication device can be applied to the first AP of the fourth aspect to implement the functions performed by the first AP. The communication device can be the first AP, or it can be the chip or chip system or system on chip of the first AP, etc. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the first AP through hardware, or it can perform the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or it can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or it can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0091] Among them, the transceiver module can be used to send a scanning synchronization message to one or more second APs, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs each first AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module can also be used to send a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module and the processing module can also be used to obtain measurement results, and the measurement results indicate the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0092] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the eighth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in any possible design of the fourth aspect mentioned above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be referred to the aforementioned related content.

[0093] In the ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The present application provides a communication device. The communication device can be applied to the first terminal device of the fifth aspect to implement the functions performed by the first terminal device. The communication device can be the first terminal device, or it can be the chip or chip system or system on chip of the first terminal device. The communication device can perform the functions performed by the first terminal device through hardware, or it can perform the corresponding software implementation through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module can independently complete the following transceiver operations, or it can cooperate with the processing module to complete the following transceiver operations; accordingly, the processing module can also independently complete the following processing operations, or it can cooperate with the transceiver module to complete the following processing operations, without limitation.

[0094] Among them, the transceiver module can be used to receive a wake-up indication from the first AP within a first time period, the first terminal device is a terminal device associated with the first AP, the first time period is greater than or equal to the scanning time period, and the scanning time period is the duration of scanning the channel; the transceiver module can also be used to receive one or more measurement requests within the first time period, and send a measurement report to the first AP based on the one or more measurement requests, and the measurement report indicates the signal strength between one or more second APs corresponding to the sending of the one or more measurement requests and the first terminal device.

[0095] Optionally, the transceiver module and processing module of the communication device in the eighth aspect can also perform the corresponding functions in any possible design of the fifth aspect mentioned above. Please refer to the detailed description in the method example for details. The beneficial effects that can be achieved can also be referred to the aforementioned related content.

[0096] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising one or more processors; one or more processors, used to run computer programs or instructions, when the one or more processors execute the computer instructions or instructions, the communication device executes the signal strength measurement method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect.

[0097] In one possible design, the communication device further includes one or more memories, one or more memories are coupled to one or more processors, and the one or more memories are used to store the above-mentioned computer programs or instructions. In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device. In another possible implementation, the memory is located inside the communication device. In an embodiment of the present application, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device, that is, the processor and the memory may also be integrated together. In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver, and the transceiver is used to receive information and / or send information.

[0098] In one possible design, the communication device also includes one or more communication interfaces, the one or more communication interfaces are coupled to the one or more processors, and the one or more communication interfaces are used to communicate with other modules outside the communication device.

[0099] In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes an input and output interface and a logic circuit; the input and output interface is used to input and / or output information; the logic circuit is used to execute the signal strength measurement method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or execute the signal strength measurement method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or execute the signal strength measurement method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, or execute the signal strength measurement method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, and process and / or generate information based on the information.

[0100] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions or programs. When the computer instructions or programs are executed on a computer, the signal strength measurement method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect is executed, or the signal strength measurement method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect is executed, or the signal strength measurement method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect is executed, or the signal strength measurement method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect is executed.

[0101] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect to be executed.

[0102] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect to be executed, or causes the signal strength measurement method as described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect to be executed.

[0103] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip, comprising: a processor, the processor being coupled to a memory, the memory being used to store programs or instructions, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the chip executes the signal strength measurement method described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect.

[0104] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the tenth to fifteenth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design in the first aspect, or refer to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design in the second aspect, or refer to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design in the third aspect, or refer to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible design in the fourth aspect, or refer to the technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any possible design in the fifth aspect, and no further details will be given. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0105] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a signal strength measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0106] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a signal strength measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the sequence of at least one target scanning channel provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of sending a measurement request to a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of sending a measurement request to a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a signal strength measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of a beacon frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of a random backoff mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of a first duration provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of a process of sending a wake-up indication provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of a collaborative scanning measurement mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] Fig.14 A schematic diagram for comparing verification results provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] Fig.15 A schematic diagram for comparing verification results provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0121] Fig.17 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0122] The WLAN communication system is a communication system based on the 802.11 series of standards. The relevant standards started with the 802.11a / b / g standards and have gone through multiple generations, including the 802.11n standard, the 802.11ac standard, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, and the next generation 802.11 standard.

[0123] With the rapid development of WLAN communication systems, the deployment of access points (APs) in enterprise-level WLAN networks is becoming more and more intensive to meet the indoor coverage business needs of campus networks, enterprise parks, automatic production workshops, hospitals, etc.

[0124] The WLAN system can implement centralized management of APs. Centralized management strategies can include radio resource management (RRM), roaming strategies, etc. Among them, the implementation effect of radio resource management and roaming strategies depends on the perceived downlink signal strength.

[0125] For example, when an AP makes a roaming decision for a terminal device associated with the AP (for example, whether to guide the terminal device to roam, or to which destination AP to guide the terminal device to roam), the AP needs to obtain the signal strength between as many neighboring APs as possible and the terminal device. Here, the AP can be called the associated AP of the terminal device. That is, the associated AP is an AP that establishes a connection relationship with the terminal device, and the terminal device goes online on the associated AP and connects to the network through the associated AP. Accordingly, the terminal device can be called the associated terminal device of the AP.

[0126] For another example, when an associated AP detects that a downlink signal of a terminal device associated with the associated AP is weak, the associated AP may decide whether to adjust the transmit power of the associated AP based on the downlink signal strengths between as many neighboring APs as possible and the terminal device.

[0127] In a possible implementation, an associated AP may send a collaborative scanning measurement request to a neighboring AP in the hope that the neighboring AP can initiate measurement of the associated terminal device of the associated AP, thereby obtaining the signal strength between the neighboring AP and the associated terminal device of the associated AP. Based on the collaborative scanning measurement request, the neighboring AP may initiate an active, deceptive, fake measurement request to the terminal device when the scanning channel switches to the working channel of the associated AP. After the terminal device obtains the measurement request from the neighboring AP, it thinks that it is a measurement request initiated by the associated AP, and therefore sends the measurement result (the measurement result is actually the measurement result of the neighboring AP, not the measurement result of the associated AP) to the associated AP, thereby the associated AP can obtain the downlink signal strength from the neighboring AP to the terminal device.

[0128] For example, Figure 1As shown, taking the working channel of the associated AP as channel (channel, ch) 36 as an example, the associated AP can send a collaborative scanning measurement request to the neighbor AP. The neighbor AP can initiate an active, deceptive, fake measurement request to the terminal device when the scanning channel is switched to ch36. The associated AP can also send a measurement request to the terminal device. The terminal device performs measurement according to the received measurement request and sends the measurement results to the associated AP (such as the measurement results of the associated AP1, the measurement results of the neighbor AP2, and the measurement results of the neighbor AP3).

[0129] for Figure 1 The collaborative scanning measurement method shown in the figure can achieve better collaborative scanning measurement results if the neighboring APs can use independent radio frequencies to perform collaborative scanning measurements. For example, taking a three-radio AP with two radio frequencies working at 5GHz and one radio frequency working at 2.4GHz as an example, the three-radio AP can use a 5GHz radio frequency to perform collaborative scanning measurements. In a single collaborative scanning measurement, the associated AP can obtain the measurement results of 5-6 neighboring APs.

[0130] If the radio frequency resources in the neighbor AP are limited, the neighbor AP cannot use an independent radio frequency to perform cooperative scanning measurement. The neighbor AP can switch to each scanning channel in the gap between the working channels (for example, if the working channel has a period of 10 seconds, the neighbor AP can switch to a scanning channel after working on the working channel for 10 seconds, and switch to the working channel again after a scan is completed). When the scanning channel of the neighbor AP switches to the working channel of the associated AP, the neighbor AP can measure the signal strength of the associated terminal device of the associated AP on the working channel. However, the starting working time of each neighbor AP in the WLAN system may be inconsistent, or some neighbor APs do not strictly perform periodic switching of the scanning channel according to the duration of the working channel due to special event processing. Various reasons may lead to the following phenomenon: when the associated AP wants to obtain the signal strength between each neighbor AP and the associated terminal device of the associated AP, the scanning channel of some neighbor APs just switches to the working channel of the associated AP, and the scanning channel of some neighbor APs needs to wait for a long time before switching to the working channel of the associated AP.

[0131] For example, the associated AP works on ch36, the current scanning channel of neighbor AP1 is ch36, the current scanning channel of neighbor AP2 is ch44, the current scanning channel of neighbor AP3 is ch48, the current scanning channel of neighbor AP4 is ch149, and the current scanning channel of neighbor AP5 is ch36. At this time, the scanning channels of neighbor AP2 to neighbor AP4 are different from the working channel of the associated AP, and the associated terminal device of the associated AP can only receive the message / frame sent based on the working channel of the associated AP. Therefore, neighbor AP2 to neighbor AP4 cannot initiate measurement for the associated terminal device of the associated AP, and the associated AP can only obtain the signal strength between neighbor AP1 and neighbor AP5 and the associated terminal device of the associated AP. That is, this implementation method may cause the associated AP to only obtain a small amount of signal strength between the neighbor AP and the associated terminal device of the associated AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, or even fail to obtain the signal strength between the neighbor AP and the associated terminal device of the associated AP.

[0132] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a signal strength measurement system, method and related device. The method sends a scan synchronization message to multiple APs in a WLAN system to instruct the multiple APs to switch scan channels in the order of at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message after receiving the scan synchronization message, so that multiple APs can switch to the same scan channel at the same time or as much as possible at the same time, so that the associated AP whose working channel is the scan channel can obtain the signal strength between multiple neighbor APs and the associated terminal devices of the associated AP in a collaborative scan measurement.

[0133] Optionally, the scanning synchronization message may be sent by the first device to multiple APs in the WLAN system. The first device is, for example, a control device of the WLAN system (e.g., an access controller (AC)), and the first device is, for example, an AP in the WLAN system. For example, the AC sends a scanning synchronization message to multiple APs in the WLAN system, the scanning synchronization message indicating three target scanning channels, the three target scanning channels are ch36, ch44, and ch48, the multiple APs include AP1 to AP5, the working channels of AP1 to AP5 are ch36, ch149, ch44, ch48, and ch52, respectively. After receiving the scanning synchronization message, the five APs switch scanning channels in the order of the three target scanning channels indicated by the scanning synchronization message, that is, AP1 to AP5 first switch scanning channels to ch36, and switch scanning channels to ch44 when switching scanning channels next time, and switch scanning channels to ch48 when switching scanning channels next time, and switch scanning channels to ch36 when switching scanning channels after ch48. When the scanning channel of the WLAN system is the working channel of a certain AP, the AP can send a collaborative scanning measurement request to other APs. The collaborative scanning measurement request can carry the identifiers of one or more associated terminal devices of the AP, thereby requesting other APs to perform measurements on the one or more associated terminal devices.

[0134] For example, when it is determined that the scanning channel of the WLAN system is ch36 based on the scanning synchronization message, AP1 whose working channel is ch36 sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to AP2~AP5. The collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of the terminal device 1 associated with AP1, and AP2~AP5 sends a measurement request to the terminal device 1. In this way, AP1 can obtain the signal strength between the other four APs (AP2~AP5) and the terminal device 1 during a collaborative scanning measurement process.

[0135] For another example, according to the order of target scanning channels in the scanning synchronization message (ch36, ch44, ch48), AP1~AP5 will switch the scanning channel to ch44 when switching the scanning channel next time. At this time, AP3 whose working channel is ch44 can send a collaborative scanning measurement request to AP1, AP2, AP4 and AP5. The collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifiers of terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 associated with AP3. AP1, AP2, AP4 and AP5 send measurement requests to terminal device 2 and terminal device 3. In this way, AP3 can obtain the signal strength between the other four APs (AP1, AP2, AP4, AP5) and terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 during one collaborative scanning measurement.

[0136] Optionally, the scanning synchronization message can be sent by one of the multiple APs to other APs in the multiple APs. For example, the multiple APs include AP1~AP5, and AP1 can actively send a scanning synchronization message to AP2~AP5 according to the detection requirements. The scanning synchronization message indicates a target scanning channel, and the target scanning channel is the working channel of AP1, that is, AP1 instructs AP2~AP5 to switch the scanning channel to the working channel of AP1 by sending the scanning synchronization message. After that, AP2~AP5 can simultaneously initiate measurement of the associated terminal device of AP1 on the working channel of AP1. In this way, AP1 can obtain the signal strength between multiple APs and the associated terminal device of AP1 in one collaborative scanning measurement. AP1 can carry the identifier of the associated terminal device of AP1 (for example, terminal device 1) in the scanning synchronization message to instruct AP2~AP5 to initiate measurement of terminal device 1 when the scanning channel is switched to the working channel of AP1. AP1 may also first send a scanning synchronization message, and then send a collaborative scanning measurement request to AP2~AP5. The collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of AP1's associated terminal device (for example, terminal device 1) to instruct AP2~AP5 to initiate measurement on terminal device 1 when the scanning channel is switched to AP1's working channel.

[0137] The AP1 may determine the detection requirement based on implementation needs. For example, when the AP1 detects that the signal of the terminal device 1 is weak and needs to decide whether to guide the terminal device 1 to roam, or determine the destination AP for the terminal device 1 to roam, the AP1 determines the detection requirement.

[0138] In the collaborative scanning measurement process described above, each AP indicating the terminal device identifier requests other APs to measure the signal strength between other APs and the terminal device. Accordingly, in a collaborative scanning measurement process, the AP indicating the terminal device identifier is the associated AP of the terminal device. Optionally, in a collaborative scanning measurement process, the associated AP may also send a wake-up indication to the terminal device to prompt the terminal device to be in a non-sleep state during the collaborative scanning measurement process, thereby avoiding the phenomenon that some terminal devices in a sleep state cannot receive the measurement request and thus cannot feedback the measurement results, which may further improve the number of measurement results obtained by the associated AP or the accuracy of the measurement results.

[0139] The implementation of the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0140] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application, the communication system may be a system using the 802.11 standard. Exemplarily, the 802.11 standard includes, but is not limited to, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, or a later generation of the 802.11 standard, etc., without limitation.

[0141] like Figure 2 As shown, the communication system may include multiple access point devices and one or more terminal devices (or may also be called site devices).

[0142] Among them, the above-mentioned access point device can be an AP, or a chip or processing system installed in an AP, and the above-mentioned terminal device can be a station (STA), or a chip or processing system installed in a STA, etc., without limitation.

[0143] Among them, the access point device can be a device with wireless communication function, supports communication using WLAN protocol, and has the function of communicating with other devices in the WLAN network (such as terminal devices or other access point devices). The device with wireless communication function 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 methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system. The access point device in the embodiment of the present application is a device that provides services for terminal devices, and can support multiple 802.11 series protocols such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, 802.11be standards or the next generation 802.11 standards.

[0144] For example, the access point device can be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, a computer, a mobile phone, etc. The access point device can also be various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. The access point device can also be a chip and processing system in these various forms of devices. The access point device can also be a network device with a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip. The access point device can also be an access point for mobile users to enter the wired network. It is mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and parks. The typical coverage radius is tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. The access point device is equivalent to a bridge connecting the wired network and the wireless network. Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet.

[0145] Among them, the terminal device can be a device with wireless communication function, supports communication using WLAN protocol, and has the ability to communicate with other terminal devices or access point devices in the WLAN network. The device with wireless communication function 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 methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system, and can support multiple 802.11 series protocols such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, 802.11be standards or the next generation 802.11 standards.

[0146] For example, the terminal device may be a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, a computer, a tablet computer, a desktop, a laptop, a notebook computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a handheld computer, a netbook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a set-top box, a smart TV, a smart wearable device, or other user devices that can be connected to the Internet, or an Internet of Things node in the Internet of Things, or an in-vehicle communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, or an entertainment device, a gaming device or system, a global positioning system device, etc. The terminal device may also be a chip and a processing system in the above-mentioned terminal devices. The terminal device may also be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal.

[0147] Optionally, the communication system may also include one or more access control devices, each of which may manage one or more access point devices. The access control device may be an AC, or a chip or processing system installed in the AC. Among them, the access control device may be a device with wireless or wired communication function, supporting communication using the WLAN protocol, and having the function of communicating with other devices (such as access point devices) in the WLAN network. The device with wireless communication function may be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device, etc. The devices in which these chips or processing systems are installed may implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system. The access control device in the embodiments of the present application is a device that provides services for one or more access point devices, and may support a variety of 802.11 series protocols such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, 802.11be standards, or the next generation 802.11 standards.

[0148] Based on the above description of the communication system, the access point devices can be divided into associated access point devices and neighbor access point devices according to the connection between the terminal device and the access point device.

[0149] The associated access point device may be responsible for downlink signal measurement of the terminal device, and may also initiate a collaborative scanning measurement request to a neighboring access point device. The neighboring access point device may be responsible for responding to the collaborative scanning measurement request initiated by the associated access point device, switching to a designated scanning channel, and initiating a spoofed downlink signal measurement request to the terminal device associated with the associated access point device on the scanning channel.

[0150] The access control device may be responsible for centrally managing all APs to perform global scanning timing synchronization, or the AC may designate an AP as a central AP (leader AP) to manage all APs to perform global scanning timing synchronization.

[0151] It should be noted that the access point device, terminal device, and access control device in the embodiments of the present application may be one or more chips, or a system on chip (SOC), etc. Figure 2 This is only an exemplary figure, and the number of devices included is not limited. Figure 2 In addition to the devices shown, the communication system may also include other devices, such as wireless backhaul equipment, etc. Figure 2 The names of the devices and links in the Figure 2 In addition to the names shown, each device and each link can also be named with other names without limitation.

[0152] When implementing it specifically, Figure 2 As shown in the figure, each access point device, terminal device, and access control device can use Figure 3 The structure shown, or including Figure 3 Parts shown. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 300 may be an access point device or a chip or system on chip in an access point device; it may also be a terminal device or a chip or system on chip in a terminal device; it may also be an access control device or a chip or system on chip in an access control device. Figure 3 As shown, the communication device 300 includes a processor 301 , a transceiver 302 and a communication line 303 .

[0153] Furthermore, the communication device 300 may further include a memory 304 . The processor 301 , the memory 304 and the transceiver 302 may be connected via a communication line 303 .

[0154] The processor 301 is a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 301 may also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0155] The transceiver 302 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. The other communication networks may be Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), etc. The transceiver 302 may be a module, a circuit, a transceiver or any device capable of achieving communication.

[0156] The communication line 303 is used to transmit information between the components included in the communication device 300.

[0157] The memory 304 is used to store instructions, where the instructions may be computer programs.

[0158] The memory 304 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (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.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0159] It should be noted that the memory 304 can exist independently of the processor 301, or can be integrated with the processor 301. The memory 304 can be used to store instructions or program codes or some data, etc. The memory 304 can be located in the communication device 300, or can be located outside the communication device 300, without limitation. The processor 301 is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory 304 to implement the signal strength measurement method provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0160] In one example, the processor 301 may include one or more CPUs, such as Figure 3 CPU0 and CPU1 in.

[0161] As an optional implementation, the communication device 300 includes multiple processors, for example, Figure 3 In addition to the processor 301, a processor 307 may also be included.

[0162] As an optional implementation, the communication device 300 further includes an output device 305 and an input device 306. Exemplarily, the input device 306 is a device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone or a joystick, and the output device 305 is a device such as a display screen and a speaker.

[0163] It should be noted that the communication device 300 can be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system or a Figure 3 In addition, Figure 3 The structure shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, except Figure 3 In addition to the components shown, the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0164] In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0165] In addition, the actions, terms, etc. involved in the various embodiments of the present application can refer to each other without limitation. The message name or parameter name in the message exchanged between the various devices in the embodiments of the present application is only an example, and other names can also be used in the specific implementation without limitation.

[0166] Combination Figure 2 The communication system shown, referring to the following Figure 4 , the signal strength measurement method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described, wherein the terminal device may be Figure 2 In any terminal device of the communication system shown, the first AP can be Figure 2The access point device associated with the terminal device in the communication system shown in the figure, the second AP can be Figure 2 The neighbor access point device of the first AP in the communication system shown in the figure can be used to manage Figure 2 The first AP, the second AP, the terminal device, and the access control device described in the following embodiments may all have Figure 3 The processing performed by a single execution subject (such as a first AP, a second AP, a terminal device, or an access control device) shown in the embodiments of the present application may also be divided into multiple execution subjects, which may be logically and / or physically separated without limitation.

[0167] Figure 4 A flow chart of a signal strength measurement method provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the method may include steps 401 to 404.

[0168] Step 401: One or more second APs receive a scan synchronization message.

[0169] The scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs each second AP to switch the scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel.

[0170] In a first possible design, the scanning synchronization message may be sent by the first AP to one or more second APs.

[0171] Among them, the first AP can actively send a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs according to the detection requirements, and the scan synchronization message indicates a target scan channel, and the target scan channel is the working channel of the first AP, that is, the scan synchronization message instructs the one or more second APs to switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP. After receiving the scan synchronization message, one or more second APs can switch the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP at the same time or as much as possible, and based on the following steps 402 and 403, when receiving the collaborative scan measurement request sent by the first AP, the working channel of the first AP (that is, the switched scan channel) sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP. In this way, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP in one collaborative scan measurement.

[0172] Optionally, the first AP may determine the detection requirement based on implementation needs. For example, when the first AP detects that the signal of a terminal device associated with itself is weak and needs to decide whether to guide the terminal device to roam, or determine the destination AP for the terminal device to roam, the first AP determines the detection requirement and then sends a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs to obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and the terminal device during a collaborative scan measurement.

[0173] Optionally, the scanning synchronization message sent by the first AP may also include the identifiers of one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP. The second AP that receives the scanning synchronization message may immediately switch the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP and send a measurement request to the corresponding terminal device to the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices.

[0174] In a second possible design, the scanning synchronization message may also be sent by the first device to one or more second APs.

[0175] The first device may be a control device of the WLAN system (eg, AC), or the first device may be an AP in the WLAN system (eg, a central AP designated by the AC, or any AP in the WLAN system, etc.), without limitation.

[0176] Among them, the first device can send a scan synchronization message to multiple APs managed by the first device, and the multiple APs may include one or more second APs and may also include the first AP. Each AP that receives the scan synchronization message can switch the scan channel to the same target scan channel in at least one target scan channel at the same time or as much as possible in the order of at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message, so as to synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of each AP for the same scan channel. When each AP switches the scan channel to the working channel of the first AP, based on the following steps 402 and 403, each second AP can send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP on the working channel of the first AP when receiving the collaborative scan measurement request sent by the first AP. In this way, the first AP can obtain more signal strengths between the second AP and one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP in one collaborative scan measurement.

[0177] For example, Figure 5As shown, taking the case where the multiple APs include a first AP, a second AP1, a second AP2, a second AP3, ..., a second AP12 and the scanning synchronization message indicates thirteen target scanning channels (such as ch36, ch40, ch44, ch48, ..., ch161, ch165) as an example, the first AP, the second AP1, the second AP2, the second AP3, ... the second AP12 can switch the scanning channel according to the sequence of the thirteen target scanning channels indicated by the scanning synchronization message after receiving the scanning synchronization message, that is, the first AP, the second AP1, the second AP2, the second AP3. ... The second AP12 can first switch the scanning channel to ch36, and switch the scanning channel to ch40 when switching the scanning channel next time, and switch the scanning channel to ch44 when switching the scanning channel after ch40, ..., switch the scanning channel to ch165 when switching the scanning channel after ch161, and switch the scanning channel to ch36 when switching the scanning channel after ch165. In this way, after receiving the scan synchronization message, each AP can switch the scan channel to ch36 simultaneously or almost simultaneously, and each subsequent scan channel switching can switch the scan channel to the same target scan channel in the order of the target scan channels carried in the scan synchronization message.

[0178] Optionally, the order of at least one target scanning channel may be predefined by a protocol or determined by the first device, without limitation.

[0179] Optionally, the first AP may also send first indication information to the first device, and the first device generates a scan synchronization message according to the first indication information. The first indication information may indicate a first target scan channel, which is a working channel of the first AP. The at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message generated by the first device according to the first indication information may include the first target scan channel.

[0180] In a first possible example, the first device may periodically send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs.

[0181] For example, considering that network events may affect the switching of scanning channels of each AP, resulting in deviations in the subsequent scanning timing of each AP for the same scanning channel, the first device can periodically send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs to synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of each AP for the same scanning channel.

[0182] In a second possible example, the first device may send scanning synchronization messages to multiple APs within a preset time period.

[0183] For example, the first device may send scan synchronization messages to multiple APs when the network is idle (eg, a certain period in the early morning) to synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of each AP for the same scan channel, and may also reduce the impact of the scan synchronization messages on network communications.

[0184] In a third possible example, when there are at least two APs whose scan channels have a difference greater than or equal to a channel difference threshold, the first device may send a scan synchronization message to multiple APs. The first device may request each AP to send the scan channel that each AP has switched to most recently, or each AP may actively send the scan channel that it has switched to most recently to the first device. If there are at least two APs whose scan channels have a difference greater than or equal to a channel difference threshold, the first device may send a scan synchronization message to multiple APs to synchronize the scan channels of each AP again.

[0185] For example, the order of at least one target scanning channel is Figure 5 Assume that the channel difference threshold is 3, and the last scan channel switched by AP1 is ch36, the last scan channel switched by AP2 is ch36, and the last scan channel switched by AP3 is ch52. Figure 5 The order shown can determine that ch36 is ranked 1 and ch52 is ranked 5, then it can be determined that the difference between ch52 and ch36 is 4, and the difference is greater than the channel difference threshold. The first device can send a scan synchronization message to each AP to assist each AP to synchronize or synchronize the scanning timing of the same scan channel as much as possible.

[0186] Optionally, the first device may send a scanning synchronization query request to each AP, the scanning synchronization query request is used to request to obtain the scanning channel that each AP has switched to most recently, and each AP may send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device according to the scanning synchronization query request, and the scanning synchronization query response may indicate the scanning channel that each AP has switched to most recently. The first device may determine the difference between the scanning channels of any two APs according to the received scanning synchronization query responses of each AP, and then determine whether to send a scanning synchronization message according to the difference and the channel difference threshold. For example, the first device may send a scanning synchronization query request to the first AP, the scanning synchronization query request may be used to request to obtain the scanning channel that the first AP has switched to most recently. The first AP may send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device according to the scanning synchronization query request, and the scanning synchronization query response may indicate the scanning channel that the first AP has switched to most recently. For another example, the first device may send a scanning synchronization query request to the second AP, the scanning synchronization query request may be used to request to obtain the scanning channel that the second AP has switched to most recently. The second AP may send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device according to the scanning synchronization query request, and the scanning synchronization query response may indicate the scanning channel that the second AP has switched to most recently.

[0187] Exemplarily, the scanning synchronization message may include the content shown in the following Table 1:

[0188] Table 1

[0189] ac_token ap_token type radio_id action

[0190] Among them, ac_token is the identifier of the first device; ap_token is the identifier of the AP; type is the type, specifying the collaborative scanning function; radio_id is the radio frequency identification number (ie, at least one target scanning channel); action is the action field, and its value can be as shown in Table 2 below.

[0191] Table 2

[0192] action value Functional Description 0 Scan synchronous messages (async request) 1 Scan synchronous query response (async report) 2 Scan synchronous inquiry request (async inquiry)

[0193] When the action value is 0, it indicates that the message is a scan synchronization message. When the action value is 1, it indicates that the message is a scan synchronization query response. When the action value is 2, it indicates that the message is a scan synchronization query request.

[0194] It can be understood that the above three possible examples can be used independently or in combination with each other without limitation.

[0195] Based on the above description of the scanning synchronization message, when each AP receives the scanning synchronization message from the first device, it can switch the scanning channel (or reset the state machine) according to the sequence of at least one target scanning channel to achieve scanning timing synchronization.

[0196] The time difference between the scan synchronization messages reaching different APs may be less than or equal to a third threshold, and the time difference between the APs switching to the same scan channel may be less than or equal to the third threshold.

[0197] In a possible design, when the first device sends a scan synchronization message to each AP, the scan synchronization message can be sent from the configuration command main core of the first device to the same secondary core, and the scan synchronization message is sent to each AP through the same secondary core to ensure that the time difference between the scan synchronization message reaching different APs can be less than or equal to the third threshold. Exemplarily, the first device can ensure that the time difference between the scan synchronization message reaching different APs is controlled at the ms level by controlling the time for the secondary core to process the scan synchronization message.

[0198] In another possible design, the first device may also use multi-core processing (such as multi-CPU core processing) to send scan synchronization messages to each AP, that is, send scan synchronization messages to different APs through different CPU cores to ensure that the time difference between the scan synchronization messages reaching different APs can be less than or equal to the third threshold. Exemplarily, each CPU core of the first device may send scan synchronization messages to each AP through a millisecond (ms) level timer to ensure that the time difference between the scan synchronization messages reaching different APs is controlled at the ms level.

[0199] Step 402: When it is determined that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a cooperative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs; correspondingly, the one or more second APs receive the cooperative scanning measurement request from the first AP.

[0200] If the first AP and one or more second APs receive a scan synchronization message from the first device, the first AP can switch the scan channel of the first AP to a target scan channel among at least one target scan channel in the order of at least one target scan channel; when the scan channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP can determine that the scan channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP. Alternatively, step 402 can also be described as when the scan channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a collaborative scan measurement request to one or more second APs. The collaborative scan measurement request can carry the identifiers of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scan measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, where the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP.

[0201] If the first AP sends a scanning synchronization message to one or more second APs, the first AP can directly determine that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP when sending the scanning synchronization message, and the first AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs. At this time, the first AP can send a scanning synchronization message and a collaborative scanning measurement request respectively, or the first AP can only send one type of message. If the first AP only sends one type of message, the message carries both the scanning synchronization message and the collaborative scanning measurement request, or in other words, the message is a scanning synchronization message, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is carried on the scanning synchronization message, or in other words, the message is a collaborative scanning measurement request, and the scanning synchronization message is carried on the collaborative scanning measurement request. Optionally, the collaborative scanning measurement request can also carry indication information, which indicates that one or more second APs initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices on a specified channel, and the specified channel is the working channel of the first AP. Exemplarily, the indication information may include an identifier of the working channel of the first AP, or the indication information may also include an identifier of the first AP, and the second AP determines the working channel of the first AP based on the identifier of the first AP.

[0202] Optionally, the first AP may send a cooperative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs in any of the following ways:

[0203] Method 1: The first AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs by broadcasting, wherein the collaborative scanning measurement request may not specify an AP, and all APs that receive the collaborative scanning measurement request may be the second AP in the embodiment of the present application, and may send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP based on the received collaborative scanning measurement request.

[0204] Method 2: The first AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs by broadcasting, wherein the collaborative scanning measurement request may carry the identifier of the second AP, and the second AP specified by the collaborative scanning measurement request sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP.

[0205] Method three: the first AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs in a unicast manner, and the second APs that receive the collaborative scanning measurement request send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP.

[0206] Optionally, when the scanning synchronization message is sent by the first AP to one or more second APs, the first AP can carry the coordinated scanning measurement request in the scanning synchronization message to reduce signaling overhead. It is understandable that the first AP can also send the scanning synchronization message and the coordinated scanning measurement request independently without limitation.

[0207] Step 403: When the scanning channel of any second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, any second AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices; correspondingly, at least one first terminal device receives the one or more measurement requests.

[0208] Among them, the second AP can switch the scanning channel of the second AP to the target scanning channel among at least one target scanning channel according to the scanning synchronization message and the order of at least one target scanning channel. When the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the second AP can impersonate the first AP and send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP.

[0209] In a first possible implementation, working channel information of each AP (including its own working channel and working channels of other APs) may be preconfigured for each AP. The second AP may determine the working channel of the first AP according to the preconfigured working channel information.

[0210] In a second possible implementation, the first AP may also send indication information that may indicate the working channel of the first AP to the second AP, and the second AP may determine the working channel of the first AP based on the indication information. The frame in which the indication information is located may not be the same frame as the collaborative scanning measurement request, without limitation.

[0211] In a third possible implementation, the first AP may also carry indication information that may indicate the working channel of the first AP in the cooperative scanning measurement request, and the second AP may determine the working channel of the first AP according to the indication information.

[0212] In the above-mentioned second possible design and third possible design, the indication information may include the identifier of the working channel of the first AP, or the indication information may also include the identifier of the first AP, and the second AP determines the working channel of the first AP based on the identifier of the first AP.

[0213] Optionally, the measurement request may include an identifier of the first AP, such as a media access control (MAC) address, a basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the first AP, etc., without limitation.

[0214] When the second AP impersonates the first AP to send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP, the source address of the message to which the measurement request belongs can be set to the identifier of the first AP. When the terminal device receives the measurement request, it determines that the measurement request is a measurement request sent by the first AP based on the identifier of the first AP, and then the terminal device can send the measurement result to the first AP.

[0215] Optionally, the measurement request may also include the identifier of the second AP. When the terminal device subsequently sends the measurement result to the first AP according to the measurement request, the measurement result may carry the identifier of the second AP in the measurement request, so that the first AP can determine the second AP corresponding to the measurement result based on the identifier of the second AP.

[0216] For example, the second AP can set the source MAC address in the measurement request to the MAC address of the first AP, and other fields in the measurement request that can carry the AP identifier (such as ap_token) are set to the identifier of the second AP. In this way, when the terminal device receives the measurement request, it can determine that the measurement request is a measurement request sent by the first AP based on the source MAC address, and then send the measurement result to the first AP, and the measurement result can carry the identifier of the second AP in the measurement request, so that the first AP can determine the second AP corresponding to the measurement result.

[0217] Optionally, the second AP may send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP within the scanning duration when the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP. The scanning duration may be the duration for which the AP switches to the scanning channel, or may be described as the duration for which the AP is in the scanning channel, or may be described as the duration for which the AP stays in the scanning channel, without limitation. The scanning duration of the scanning channel may be configured by the first device or may be predefined by the protocol, without limitation. Exemplarily, the scanning duration may be 60ms.

[0218] Based on the above description of the measurement request, the second AP may send the measurement request to the terminal device in multiple ways, for example, by referring to any one of the following two examples:

[0219] In a first example, the second AP may send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP by using a transmission power control (TPC) method.

[0220] The second AP may measure the downlink signal strength of one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP by sending a TPC request (ie, a measurement request) to the terminal device based on the 802.11h TPC report protocol.

[0221] For example, Figure 6 As shown, the second AP can send a TPC request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP. The terminal device can return a TPC report (TPC report) to the first AP based on the TPC request. The TPC report can also be called a measurement report. The TPC report can include a power field and a link margin field. The power field is used to indicate the transmission power used by the terminal device to send the TPC report. The link margin field is used to indicate the difference between the signal quality (such as signal strength) of the TPC request received by the terminal device and the worst signal quality that the terminal device can tolerate. When the first AP receives the TPC report, it can determine the signal strength of the TPC request received by the terminal device based on the difference indicated by the link margin field and the worst signal quality that the terminal device can tolerate. The signal strength is the downlink signal strength between the second AP and the terminal device corresponding to the TPC report. Alternatively, the first AP may also determine the difference indicated by multiple TPC reports based on multiple TPC reports reported by the terminal device. The larger the difference, the stronger the downlink signal strength between the second AP corresponding to the difference and the terminal device. When the first AP makes a roaming decision for the terminal device (for example, whether to guide the terminal device to roam, or to which destination AP to guide the terminal device to roam), it can determine whether to guide the terminal device to roam based on the difference indicated by multiple TPC reports. If the terminal device is guided to roam, a suitable second AP is selected as the destination AP for the terminal device. For example, the second AP corresponding to the largest difference is selected as the destination AP.

[0222] The TPC request may include the content shown in the following Table 3:

[0223] Table 3

[0224]

[0225] In the second example, the second AP may also send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP by using a link measure (LM) method.

[0226] The first AP and the second AP may measure the downlink signal strength of one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP by sending an LM request (ie, a measurement request) to the terminal device based on the 802.11k LM protocol.

[0227] For example, Figure 7 As shown, the second AP can send an LM request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP. The terminal device can return an LM report (LM report) to the first AP based on the LM request. The LM report can also be called a measurement report. The LM report can include a power field and a received channel power indication (RCPI) field. The power field is used to indicate the transmit power used by the terminal device to send the TPC report, and the RCPI field is used to indicate the downlink signal strength obtained by the terminal device.

[0228] The LM request may include the content shown in Table 4 below:

[0229] Table 4

[0230]

[0231] In the above two examples, the Dialog token field is originally used to match each measurement request with the measurement report. In the embodiment of the present application, the purpose of distinguishing neighbor APs can be achieved by setting the ID number of the Dialog token field to the identifier of the second AP. For example, when each second AP sends a measurement request (such as a TPC request or a LM request) to a terminal device, each second AP can set the Dialog token field in the measurement request to its own identifier. When the terminal device sends a measurement report to the first AP, the Dialog token field in the measurement request can be carried in the measurement report. When the first AP receives the measurement report sent by the terminal device, the second AP corresponding to the measurement report can be determined according to the Dialog token field in the measurement report.

[0232] Optionally, the first AP may also send a measurement request to the terminal device. The measurement request may include an identifier of the first AP. For example, the source MAC address in the measurement request may be the identifier of the first AP, and other fields in the measurement request that may carry the identifier of the AP (such as ap_token) may be filled with the identifier of the first AP. In this way, when the terminal device receives the measurement request, based on the source MAC address, it may be considered that the measurement request is a measurement request sent by the first AP, and then the measurement result may be sent to the first AP, and the measurement result may carry the identifier of the first AP in the measurement request, so that the first AP determines that the measurement result corresponds to the first AP.

[0233] Optionally, the first AP may send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with itself within the scanning duration when it determines that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP. For example, when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with itself within the scanning duration. For another example, when the first AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, it sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with itself within the scanning duration.

[0234] Optionally, the first AP may also send a measurement request to the terminal device with reference to the above-mentioned TPC method or LM method. The relevant description may refer to the above-mentioned specific description of the TPC method and the LM method, and will not be repeated here.

[0235] Optionally, when the first AP and each second AP send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP, the measurement request may be encrypted to prevent non-AP devices from impersonating an AP to perform collaborative scanning and measurement interference.

[0236] Optionally, after each second AP sends a measurement request to one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP, each second AP may also send a coordinated scanning measurement response to the first AP, wherein the coordinated scanning measurement response may indicate a measurement request record sent by the second AP.

[0237] Exemplarily, the collaborative scanning measurement response may carry one or more of the following information: the number of measurement requests sent by the second AP, the identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the sent measurement request, the number of times the measurement request is sent to each terminal device, etc., without limitation.

[0238] For example, when the collaborative scanning measurement response sent by the second AP carries the number of measurement requests sent by the second AP, the first AP can determine whether the collaborative scanning measurement is successfully executed based on the number. For example, if the number is less than or equal to a threshold (for example, 0), it can be determined that the collaborative scanning measurement of the second AP is not successfully executed; otherwise, it is determined that the collaborative scanning measurement of the second AP is successfully executed.

[0239] For another example, when the collaborative scanning measurement response sent by the second AP carries the identifier of the terminal device corresponding to the measurement request sent by the second AP, the first AP can determine to which terminal devices the second AP has sent the measurement request. Alternatively, the first AP can also compare the identifier with the terminal device corresponding to the measurement result to determine to which terminal devices the second AP has sent the measurement request and the first AP has received the measurement results reported by these terminal devices, or to which terminal devices the second AP has sent the measurement request but the first AP has not received the measurement results reported by these terminal devices, and then determine the signal strength between each second AP and each terminal device (for example, if a second AP sends a measurement request to a terminal device, but the first AP does not receive the measurement result corresponding to the second AP reported by the terminal device, the first AP can determine that the signal strength between the terminal device and the second AP is weak).

[0240] For another example, when the second AP sends a measurement request to each terminal device, it can send multiple measurement requests to each terminal device to improve the success rate of the collaborative scanning measurement. When the second AP sends a collaborative scanning measurement response to the first AP, it can carry the number of times the second AP sends the measurement request to each terminal device. The first AP can determine that the second AP has sent multiple measurement requests to each terminal device based on the collaborative scanning measurement response. If the first AP subsequently does not receive the measurement result corresponding to the second AP reported by a terminal device, it can be determined that the signal strength between the terminal device and the second AP is weak.

[0241] Step 404: The first AP obtains a measurement result.

[0242] The measurement result may indicate the signal strength between each of the at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include the at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP include the at least one terminal device.

[0243] In one possible design, one or more first terminal devices may send a measurement report to the first AP based on the received one or more measurement requests, and the measurement report may include measurement results.

[0244] Among them, the one or more first terminal devices may be one or more terminal devices among the at least one terminal device mentioned above.

[0245] Optionally, when the first terminal device sends a measurement report to the first AP, each measurement report may be sent separately through different signaling, or measurement reports within a period of time may be aggregated in one signaling and sent to the first AP to reduce signaling overhead.

[0246] Optionally, the first AP may also send the received measurement reports to the first device separately through different signaling, or may aggregate the measurement reports within a period of time into one signaling and send it to the first device, so as to reduce signaling overhead.

[0247] In another possible design, when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about the third AP from the second terminal device within the second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold. The one or more terminal devices associated with the first AP include the second terminal device, and the one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0248] When one or more second APs send measurement requests to a terminal device, the signal strength between some second APs and the terminal device may be strong, and the terminal device (such as the first terminal device mentioned above) may receive the measurement request sent by the second APs, and then send the measurement result to the first AP. The signal strength between some second APs and the terminal device may also be weak, and the terminal device (such as the second terminal device mentioned above) may not be able to receive the measurement request sent by the second APs (such as the third AP mentioned above), and thus cannot send the measurement result to the first AP. At this time, the first AP can determine that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than the signal strength threshold.

[0249] Based on the above Figure 4 The method shown sends a scan synchronization message to multiple second APs in the WLAN system to instruct the multiple second APs to switch scan channels in the order of at least one target scan channel indicated by the scan synchronization message after receiving the scan synchronization message, so that the multiple second APs can switch to the same scan channel simultaneously or as simultaneously as possible. In this way, the associated AP whose working channel is the scan channel can obtain more signal strengths between neighboring APs and the associated terminal devices of the associated AP in a collaborative scan measurement, thereby improving the collaborative scan measurement effect, thereby better supporting management strategies such as radio frequency resource management and roaming strategies, and improving communication performance.

[0250] Based on the above Figure 4 The method shown, optional, such as Figure 8As shown in step 402a in , the first AP can also send a wake-up instruction to one or more terminal devices associated with itself when determining that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP; accordingly, at least one terminal device receives the wake-up instruction from the first AP. Alternatively, step 402a can also be described as when the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a wake-up instruction to one or more terminal devices. The wake-up instruction is used to wake up the terminal device, or is described as the wake-up instruction is used to put the terminal device in an awake state (or described as being in a non-sleep state).

[0251] In a first possible implementation, the wake-up indication may be a beacon frame.

[0252] For example, Fig. 9 As shown, the delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) count field (i.e., the DTIM count field) of the beacon frame can be set to 0 to indicate that the beacon frame is a wake-up indication, or the DTIM period field (i.e., the DTIM period field) of the beacon frame can be set to 1 to indicate that the beacon frame is a wake-up indication.

[0253] Optional, such as Fig. 9 As shown, the beacon frame can also carry the identifier (Association ID) of the terminal device associated with the beacon frame to indicate the terminal device that needs to be awakened. For example, by setting the Association ID to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, it can be indicated that the terminal devices that need to be awakened are terminal devices 1 to 8.

[0254] Optional, such as Fig. 9 As shown, the beacon frame may also include the following contents: a traffic indication message (TIM) field, a tag number field, a tag length field, a bitmap control field, a partial virtual bitmap field, etc. Exemplarily, the tag number field may be TIM (5), the tag length field may be 5, the bitmap control field may be 0x00, and the partial virtual bitmap field may be 7e01.

[0255] In a second possible implementation, the wake-up indication may also be a data message.

[0256] Exemplarily, the data message may be a service message, or the data message may be a null message (whose message type is no data), without limitation. For example, the message type (i.e., the type field) in the message header may be set to quality of service null data (QoS Null data), indicating that the data message is a No data message.

[0257] Among them, the first AP can send normal business messages to the terminal device when there is a business transmission demand, so that the terminal device is in an awake state. If the first AP currently has no business transmission demand, the first AP can send an empty message to the terminal device, so that the terminal device is in an awake state.

[0258] In a third possible implementation, the above two possible designs may be used in combination, that is, the wake-up indication may include the above beacon frame and the above data message.

[0259] Exemplarily, the first AP may send a normal service message to the terminal device when there is a service transmission demand, so that the terminal device is in an awake state. If the first AP currently has no service transmission demand, the first AP may send a beacon frame and / or an empty message to the terminal device, so that the terminal device is in an awake state.

[0260] Based on the description of the wake-up indication in the above three possible implementations, when the first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices associated with itself, it can adopt a multicast method to ensure that all associated terminal devices can be awakened, or it can adopt a unicast method to wake up one or some terminal devices on demand without restriction.

[0261] For example, taking the example of sending a beacon frame with a wake-up function in a multicast manner, the DTIM period field of the beacon frame can be set to 1, and the first bit position of the TIM bitmap control field can be set to 1, so that each beacon frame can indicate the multicast cache status. The More Data bit of the Frame Control field of the multicast data frame is set to 1, so that the terminal device remains in the state of receiving subsequent multicast frames to avoid sleep.

[0262] In another example, taking the example of sending a beacon frame with a wake-up function in unicast mode, the Bitmap Control field and the Partial VitualBitmap field of the TIM domain in the beacon frame can be set so that the Bitmap bit corresponding to the target terminal device is 1, so that each beacon frame can indicate the cache status of the target terminal device. The More Data bit of the Frame Control field of the data frame of the target terminal device is set to 1, so that the terminal device remains in the state of receiving subsequent unicast frames to avoid sleep.

[0263] Optionally, in the above two examples, in addition to sending the data frame, the more data field in the data frame can also be set to 1, which can also avoid sleep.

[0264] Optionally, when the first AP sends a wake-up indication to the terminal device, the wake-up indication may be sent to the terminal device within a first duration, so that the terminal device remains in an awake state within the first duration.

[0265] In a first possible design, the first duration may be equal to the scanning duration.

[0266] Among them, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration. In order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the scanning duration, that is, the first duration is equal to the scanning duration. The first AP sends a wake-up indication to the terminal device within the scanning duration, thereby ensuring that the terminal device can be in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device within the scanning duration.

[0267] In a second possible design, the first duration may be greater than the scanning duration.

[0268] Among them, in order to avoid that each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device under strict synchronization, which will cause a message collision on the air interface, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device based on a random backoff mechanism within a certain time range. At the same time, in order to ensure that the terminal device is in an awake state when each second AP sends a measurement request to the terminal device, the first AP can determine the first duration based on the random backoff mechanism on the basis of the scanning duration, that is, the start time of the first duration can be earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration can be later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0269] For example, Fig.10As shown, each second AP (such as AP1, AP2, ..., APn, etc.) can switch to the scanning channel in the gap of the working channel. If the switched scanning channel is the working channel of the first AP, each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device associated with the first AP based on the random backoff mechanism within the scanning duration of the scanning channel to reduce the probability of message collision.

[0270] The duration of the working channel may be configured by the first device or may be predefined by the protocol, and is not limited. For example, the duration of the working channel may be 10 seconds.

[0271] Optionally, the random backoff range does not exceed 1s. For example, the random backoff range may be (-60ms, 60ms), (-120ms, 120ms), etc., without limitation.

[0272] Based on the above-mentioned random backoff mechanism, optionally, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration can be a first threshold, and the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration can be a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0273] Among them, on the basis that the first AP and each second AP synchronize or synchronize as much as possible the scanning timing of the same scanning channel based on the scanning synchronization message, the first AP can obtain the timing when each second AP switches the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP by observing the timing when it switches the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP.

[0274] For example, Fig.11 As shown, the first threshold and the second threshold are both T Δ For example, the first AP and each second AP can scan the synchronization message according to the following Figure 5 The sequence of at least one target scanning channel in the scanning channel (such as ch36, ch40, ch44, ch48, ..., ch165) is determined, and the scanning channel is switched every 10s. When each second AP switches the scanning channel to the working channel of the first AP (such as ch44), each second AP can send a measurement request to the terminal device associated with the first AP within the scanning time Ts of the scanning channel. The first AP can send a measurement request in advance Ts. Δ Send a wake-up instruction to the terminal device and last for 2*T Δ +Ts (i.e. the first duration mentioned above), so that the terminal device is at 2*T Δ +Ts and remain in the awake state, so as to receive the measurement requests sent by each second AP.

[0275] In another example, Fig.12 As shown, the first AP is based on Fig.11 As an example, assuming that the first AP and each second AP synchronize the scanning timing according to the scanning synchronization message or synchronize the scanning timing as much as possible, and trigger the collaborative scanning according to the collaborative scanning timer t1, the first AP can initialize the timer t0, and the timing state of the timer t0 is T ahead of the collaborative scanning timer t1. Δ If timer t0 is triggered, the first AP can generate a wake-up indication, T Δ Send a wake-up instruction to each terminal device and last for 2*T Δ +Ts, so that the terminal equipment is at 2*T Δ +Ts, so as to receive the measurement requests sent by each second AP. If the timer t0 has not been triggered, the first AP may not generate a wake-up indication.

[0276] Optionally, before the first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices, the first AP may obtain a measurement requirement and send a wake-up indication to the terminal device according to the measurement requirement. Exemplarily, when the first AP detects that the signal quality of one or more terminal devices associated with itself is poor, it may determine that there is a measurement requirement, and then send a wake-up indication to the terminal device and trigger the signal strength measurement method.

[0277] In another example, when other devices other than the first AP (such as a second AP, a terminal device, etc.) detect that the signal quality or service quality of the terminal device is poor, the other device can send a measurement request to the first AP. Based on the measurement request, the first AP can send a wake-up indication to the terminal device and trigger a signal strength measurement method.

[0278] Optionally, different from the above-mentioned first AP sending a wake-up indication to the terminal device according to the measurement requirements, before the first AP sends a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices, the first AP can send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices in response to the scanning channel being switched to the working channel of the first AP.

[0279] Based on the above Figures 4 to 12 The method shown, such as Fig.13 As shown, the embodiment of the present application can add scanning timing synchronization (scanning timing synchronization can be achieved by the first device sending a scanning synchronization message, or by the first AP sending a scanning synchronization message) and terminal device wake-up strategy on the basis of the collaborative scanning measurement mechanism, so as to cooperate and coordinate with each other to achieve the purpose of enhancing the collaborative scanning effect.

[0280] Among them, the scanning timing synchronization mechanism can synchronize the scanning timing of the global AP. The global AP can coordinate the scanning timing of the same scanning channel to the same or similar scanning timing to ensure the global synchronization of the scanning timing of each AP in the network. Based on this, the first AP can identify the collaborative scanning measurement timing of the second AP (that is, identify the second AP to switch the scanning timing to the scanning timing of the working channel of the first AP), and execute a short-cycle wake-up strategy that lasts for the first time period for the terminal device associated with itself (that is, periodically send a wake-up indication to the terminal device within the first time period, and the cycle can be a short cycle), to ensure that when each second AP initiates the collaborative scanning measurement process, the terminal device is in an awake state, reducing the sleep time of the terminal device during the measurement period, and promptly stop the wake-up strategy at the end of the collaborative scanning measurement to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0281] At the same time, since the scanning timing of each second AP for the working channel of the first AP is synchronized, more second APs can send measurement requests to the terminal devices associated with the first AP at a similar time. Since the terminal device is in an awake state, the terminal device can obtain more measurement requests sent by the second AP and report the measurement results during a collaborative scanning measurement. The first AP can obtain more signal strengths between neighboring APs and terminal devices associated with the first AP in a collaborative scanning measurement, effectively enhancing the collaborative scanning efficiency of the first AP and the second AP, effectively avoiding the problem of missing neighbors, and improving the accuracy of neighbor detection, thereby effectively guiding the TPC scheme to adjust power according to the measurement results (such as the first AP can determine whether to adjust the transmit power according to the measurement results reported by the terminal device), or timely select a suitable second AP as the target AP according to the measurement results reported by the terminal device when the terminal device is roaming guided, effectively supporting management strategies and improving communication performance.

[0282] The inventor of this application verified the technical solution provided by the embodiment of this application based on the following test environment, and the verification results are as follows: Fig.14 , Fig.15 , as shown in Tables 5 and 6.

[0283] Among them, the test environment is: the channel bandwidth is 40Mhz, at least one target scanning channel includes 6 target scanning channels, namely {ch36, ch44, ch52, ch60, ch149, ch157}, the scanning time interval is 10s, and the collaborative scanning duration (i.e., scanning duration) is 60ms, that is, the scanning is performed in the order of ch36, ch44, ch52, ch60, ch149, and ch157. The scanning interval between two channels is 10s, and the scanning of each channel lasts 60ms. For any channel, the interval time for scanning the same channel twice is 60s.

[0284] Reference Fig.14 , Fig.14 The horizontal axis of each sub-graph in the figure represents the number of neighboring APs whose signal strength can be obtained in a single scanning time, and the vertical axis represents the number of times the number is measured. Fig.14 The two sub-graphs in each column are the results of verification for the same terminal device, that is, the number of signal strengths obtained by the associated AP from the neighboring AP to terminal device 1, terminal device 2, terminal device 3, and terminal device 4. In the existing collaborative scanning measurement mechanism (without implementing scanning synchronization), a large number of tests have shown that a single scan time is likely to only obtain the signal strength of one neighboring AP, for example, Fig.14 In the four sub-graphs above, there are about 600 tests in which only one neighbor AP's signal strength can be obtained. In the embodiment of the present application, the number of neighbor APs whose signal strength can be obtained in a single scanning duration is mainly concentrated in 6-10. That is, the scheme of the embodiment of the present application enables more neighbor APs to complete the scanning of the same channel in a shorter time, and the number of neighbor APs whose signal strength can be obtained by the associated AP in a single scanning duration is greatly improved.

[0285] Reference Fig.15 , Fig.15 The figure shows the distribution of the time intervals at which the associated AP obtains the signal strength from the neighbor AP to a terminal device for a single neighbor AP. Fig.15 The horizontal axis of each sub-graph in the figure represents the time interval in seconds (s), and the vertical axis represents the number. For a specified associated AP (for example, AP1 with channel ch36), if the scanning channel switches to ch36 each time, other neighboring APs are also scanning ch36, then the time interval for AP1 to successively obtain the signal strength of a neighboring AP is exactly the interval time between two scans of ch36 (the scanning interval of a single channel, i.e. 60s). If there is a synchronization problem at the scanning timing, when the scan of ch36 is being performed, the neighboring AP may be on the working channel or other scanning channels, causing AP1 to be unable to obtain the signal strength of the neighboring AP. In this case, multiple scanning intervals are required to obtain the signal strength of the neighboring AP. Fig.15 The four sub-figures in the upper middle part present the measurement results of the existing collaborative scanning measurement mechanism (scanning synchronization is not implemented). The measurement results show that the time intervals for the associated AP to successively obtain the signal strength from a neighboring AP to a certain terminal device are not concentrated in the scanning interval of a single channel, but are relatively dispersed in other integer multiples of the scanning interval of a single channel (such as 120s, 240s, 360s, 480s, 600s, 720s, 840s, etc.). Fig.15The four sub-figures in the lower middle present the measurement result intervals of the embodiment of the present application. The measurement results show that the time intervals for the associated AP to successively obtain the signal strength from a neighbor AP to a certain terminal device can be concentrated in the scanning interval of a single channel, that is, the scheme of the embodiment of the present application can make the scanning timing of the associated AP and the neighbor AP more synchronized, so that the associated AP can obtain the signal strength of more neighbor APs in a collaborative scanning measurement request, which effectively improves the collaborative scanning measurement effect.

[0286] During the scan test, if there is data transmission between the associated AP and the terminal device, the terminal device may be in an awake state. If there is no data transmission between the associated AP and the terminal device, the terminal may be in a dormant state. If a wake-up strategy is executed for the terminal (such as the associated AP sending a wake-up instruction to the terminal device as shown above), the terminal device can be in an awake state during the scan duration, further improving the collaborative scanning measurement effect. The following Table 5 shows the wake-up effect of the terminal device. After testing and comparing various terminal devices, compared with the solution that does not implement the wake-up strategy, the embodiment of the present application can significantly reduce the sleep ratio of the terminal device after executing the wake-up strategy.

[0287] Table 5

[0288]

[0289] In addition, referring to the two rounds of tests in Table 6 below (i.e., Test 1 and Test 2), it can be seen that by executing different wake-up strategies, the embodiment of the present application can adjust the sleep ratio of the terminal. For example, by increasing the interval of the wake-up indication from seconds to milliseconds (such as from 1s to 100ms), the sleep time ratio of each terminal device model can be significantly reduced.

[0290] Table 6

[0291]

[0292] It should be noted that the various methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented separately or in combination without limitation.

[0293] It is understandable that in the embodiments of the present application, the execution subject may execute some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples. The embodiments of the present application may also execute other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the various steps may be executed in different orders presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be executed.

[0294] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of interaction between devices. It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, each device includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the present application.

[0295] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of each 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.

[0296] In the case of dividing each functional module into corresponding functional modules, Fig.16 A communication device 160 is shown, which can perform the above Figures 4 to 15 The actions performed by each AP in the Figures 4 to 15 The terminal device performs the action, or performs the above Figures 4 to 15 The action performed by the first device in .

[0297] Wherein, the communication device 160 may include a transceiver module 1601 and a processing module 1602. Exemplarily, the communication device 160 may be a communication device, or a chip applied to a communication device, or other combined devices, components, etc. having the functions of the above-mentioned communication device. When the communication device 160 is a communication device, the transceiver module 1601 may be a transceiver, and the transceiver may include an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, etc.; the processing module 1602 may be a processor (or a processing circuit), such as a baseband processor, and the baseband processor may include one or more CPUs. When the communication device 160 is a component having the functions of the above-mentioned communication device, the transceiver module 1601 may be a radio frequency unit; the processing module 1602 may be a processor (or a processing circuit), such as a baseband processor. When the communication device 160 is a chip system, the transceiver module 1601 may be an input and output interface of a chip (such as a baseband chip); the processing module 1602 may be a processor (or a processing circuit) of the chip system, and may include one or more central processing units. It should be understood that the transceiver module 1601 in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component; the processing module 1602 can be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component (or, referred to as a processing circuit).

[0298] For example, the transceiver module 1601 can be used to perform Figures 4 to 15 All transceiver operations performed by the communication device in the embodiment shown, and / or other processes used to support the technology described herein; the processing module 1602 can be used to perform Figures 4 to 15 All operations except the transceiver operations performed by the communication device in the illustrated embodiment, and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein.

[0299] In the first possible example, taking the example that the communication device 160 can execute the action executed by the above-mentioned second AP, the transceiver module 1601 can be used to receive a scanning synchronization message, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs the second AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to obtain a collaborative scanning measurement request, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request the second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices when the processing module 1602 determines that the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP.

[0300] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can be specifically used to receive a scan synchronization message sent by the first AP, and at least one target scan channel is a working channel of the first AP.

[0301] In a possible design, the coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in a scanning synchronization message.

[0302] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can be specifically used to receive a scanning synchronization message sent by the first device.

[0303] In one possible design, the processing module 1602 may be specifically configured to switch the scanning channel according to the order of at least one target scanning channel.

[0304] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can be specifically used to send a measurement request to one or more terminal devices within a scanning duration.

[0305] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 may also be used to send a collaborative scanning measurement response to the first AP, where the collaborative scanning measurement response indicates a measurement request record that the second AP has sent to one or more terminal devices.

[0306] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to periodically receive scan synchronization messages.

[0307] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to receive a scanning synchronization query request from the first device and send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device; the scanning synchronization query request is used to request to obtain the scanning channel to which the second AP last switched, and the scanning synchronization query response indicates the scanning channel to which the second AP last switched.

[0308] In the second possible example, taking the example that the communication device 160 can execute the action executed by the above-mentioned first AP, the transceiver module 1601 can be used to receive a scanning synchronization message, the scanning synchronization message indicates at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message indicates the first AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs when the processing module 1602 determines that the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module 1601 and the processing module 1602 can also be used to obtain measurement results, the measurement results indicate the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0309] In one possible design, the processing module 1602 may also be used to switch the scanning channel of the first AP to a target scanning channel among the at least one target scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel.

[0310] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a first indication information to the first device, where the first indication information indicates a first target scanning channel, where the first target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP, and at least one target scanning channel includes the first target scanning channel.

[0311] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to periodically receive scan synchronization messages.

[0312] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 may also be used to receive a scanning synchronization query request and send a scanning synchronization query response, where the scanning synchronization query response is used to indicate the scanning channel to which the first AP last switched.

[0313] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices when the processing module 1602 determines that the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP.

[0314] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can be specifically used to send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices within a first time duration, where the first time duration is greater than or equal to a scanning time duration, and the scanning time duration is the duration of scanning the channel.

[0315] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0316] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0317] In one possible design, a first AP receives a measurement report from a first terminal device and obtains a measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

[0318] In one possible design, when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about a third AP from a second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, and one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0319] In a third possible example, taking the example that the communication device 160 can execute the actions executed by the above-mentioned first AP, the transceiver module 1601 can be used to send a scanning synchronization message to one or more second APs, the scanning synchronization message indicating at least one target scanning channel, and the scanning synchronization message instructs each first AP to switch the scanning channel in the order of at least one target scanning channel; the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a collaborative scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, the collaborative scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the collaborative scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; the transceiver module 1601 and the processing module 1602 can also be used to obtain measurement results, the measurement results indicate the signal strength between each second AP in at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include at least one terminal device.

[0320] In a possible design, the coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in a scanning synchronization message.

[0321] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices when the processing module 1602 determines that the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP.

[0322] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can be specifically used to send a wake-up indication to one or more terminal devices within a first time duration, where the first time duration is greater than or equal to a scanning time duration, and the scanning time duration is the duration of scanning the channel.

[0323] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0324] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0325] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to receive a measurement report of the first terminal device, and the processing module 1602 can also be used to obtain a measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

[0326] In one possible design, the processing module 1602 can also be used to determine that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold when the transceiver module 1601 does not receive a measurement report about the third AP from the second terminal device within a second time period, and one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and one or more second APs include the third AP.

[0327] In a fourth possible example, taking the example that the communication device 160 can execute the action executed by the above-mentioned first terminal device, the transceiver module 1601 can be used to receive a wake-up indication from the first AP within a first time period, the first terminal device is a terminal device associated with the first AP, the first time period is greater than or equal to the scanning time period, and the scanning time period is the duration of scanning the channel; the transceiver module 1601 can also be used to receive one or more measurement requests within the first time period, and send a measurement report to the first AP based on the one or more measurement requests, the measurement report indicating the signal strength between the one or more second APs corresponding to the sending of the one or more measurement requests and the first terminal device.

[0328] In a possible design, the first duration is greater than the scanning duration, the start time of the first duration is earlier than the start time of the scanning duration, and the end time of the first duration is later than the end time of the scanning duration.

[0329] In one possible design, the difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and both the first threshold and the second threshold are greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time between multiple second APs.

[0330] As another possible way to achieve this, Fig.16 The transceiver module 1601 in the embodiment may be replaced by a transceiver, and the transceiver may integrate the functions of the transceiver module 1601; the processing module 1602 may be replaced by a processor, and the processor may integrate the functions of the processing module 1602. Further, Fig.16 The illustrated communication device 160 may also include a memory.

[0331] Alternatively, when the processing module 1602 is replaced by a processor and the transceiver module 1601 is replaced by a transceiver, the communication device 160 involved in the embodiment of the present application can also be Fig.17 The communication device 170 shown, wherein the processor may be a logic circuit 1701, and the transceiver may be an interface circuit 1702. Further, Fig.17 The communication device 170 shown may also include a memory 1703 .

[0332] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product, which can implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0333] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program, which can implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0334] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above method embodiments can be completed by a computer program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program can be stored in the above computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it may include the processes of the above method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be an internal storage unit of a terminal (including a data sending end and / or a data receiving end) in any of the above embodiments, such as a hard disk or memory of the terminal. The above computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the above terminal, such as a plug-in hard disk equipped on the above terminal, a smart memory card (smart media card, SMC), a secure digital (secure digital, SD) card, a flash card (flash card), etc. Further, the above computer-readable storage medium can also include both an internal storage unit of the above terminal and an external storage device. The above computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above computer program and other programs and data required by the above terminal. The above computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

[0335] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. "First" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0336] In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0337] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more. "Multiple" refers to two or more. "At least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or its similar expression refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c, or at least one of a, b and c, can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c" or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple. "When" and "if" both mean that corresponding measures will be taken under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require any judgment when it is implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0338] In the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0339] Through the description of the above implementation methods, technical personnel in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the above-mentioned functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0340] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the modules or units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another device, 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 units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0341] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may be one physical unit or multiple physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in multiple different places. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0342] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0343] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can essentially or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a device (which can be a single-chip microcomputer, chip, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks or optical disks.

Claims

1. A signal strength measurement system, characterized in that: The system includes a plurality of access points (APs), wherein the plurality of APs include a first AP and one or more second APs. The one or more second APs are used to: receive a scan synchronization message, the scan synchronization message indicating at least one target scan channel, the scan synchronization message instructing each second AP to switch the scan channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scan channel; The first AP is used to: when determining that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a coordinated scanning measurement request to the one or more second APs, the coordinated scanning measurement request carries the identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the coordinated scanning measurement request is used to request each of the second APs to initiate a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices, and the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; Any second AP is further configured to: when a scanning channel of any second AP is switched to a working channel of the first AP, any second AP sends a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices; The first AP is also used to: obtain a measurement result, wherein the measurement result indicates a signal strength between each second AP of at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs include the at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices include the at least one terminal device.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The first AP is further used to send the scanning synchronization message, and the at least one target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that The coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in the scanning synchronization message.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The system also includes a first device configured to send the scanning synchronization message to the plurality of APs.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that The first AP is further configured to: Switching the scanning channel of the first AP to a target scanning channel among the at least one target scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel; When the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the scanning channel of the system is determined to be the working channel of the first AP.

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The first AP is further used to send first indication information to the first device, where the first indication information indicates a first target scanning channel, and the first target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP; The first device is further configured to generate the scanning synchronization message based on the first indication information, and the at least one target scanning channel includes the first target scanning channel.

7. The system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: The first device is also used for: periodically sending the scanning synchronization message to the multiple APs; or Sending the scanning synchronization message to the multiple APs within a preset time period; or In response to the existence of at least two APs whose scan channel difference is greater than or equal to a channel difference threshold, the scan synchronization message is sent to the multiple APs.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The first device is further used to send a scan synchronization query request to the multiple APs, where the scan synchronization query request is used to request the scan channel that each AP switched to most recently; Any AP among the multiple APs is further used to receive the scanning synchronization query request and send a scanning synchronization query response to the first device, where the scanning synchronization query response is used to indicate the scanning channel that the any AP switched to most recently; The first device is further configured to determine a difference in scan channels of any two APs among the multiple APs according to scan synchronization query responses of the any two APs.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The first AP is further used to: when it is determined that the scanning channel of the system is the working channel of the first AP, send a wake-up indication to the one or more terminal devices.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that The first AP is further used to: send the wake-up indication to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration, where the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is a duration of scanning a channel.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that The first duration is greater than the scanning duration, a start time of the first duration is earlier than a start time of the scanning duration, and an end time of the first duration is later than an end time of the scanning duration.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that The difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold are both greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time durations between the multiple second APs.

13. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The first AP is further used to: receive a measurement report from a first terminal device, and obtain the measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

14. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The first AP is also used for: when the first AP does not receive a measurement report about the third AP from the second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, the one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and the one or more second APs include the third AP.

15. A signal strength measurement method, characterized in that: Applied to a second access point AP, the method includes: The second AP receives a scan synchronization message, the scan synchronization message indicates at least one target scan channel, and the scan synchronization message instructs the second AP to switch the scan channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scan channel; The second AP obtains a coordinated scanning measurement request, where the coordinated scanning measurement request carries an identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the coordinated scanning measurement request is used to request the second AP to initiate a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices, where the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; When the scanning channel of the second AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the second AP sends a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second AP receives the scanning synchronization message, including: The second AP receives the scanning synchronization message sent by the first AP, and the at least one target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The coordinated scanning measurement request is carried in the scanning synchronization message.

18. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second AP receives the scanning synchronization message, including: The second AP receives the scanning synchronization message sent by the first device.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The second AP switches the scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that: The second AP sending a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices includes: The second AP sends a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices within the scanning duration.

21. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The second AP sends a cooperative scanning measurement response to the first AP, where the cooperative scanning measurement response indicates a measurement request record sent by the second AP.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The second AP periodically receives the scanning synchronization message.

23. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The second AP receives a scanning synchronization query request from the first device, where the scanning synchronization query request is used to request to obtain a scanning channel that the second AP switched to most recently; The second AP sends a scanning synchronization query response to the first device, where the scanning synchronization query response indicates a scanning channel that the second AP switched to most recently.

24. A signal strength measurement method, characterized in that: Applied to a first access point AP, the method includes: The first AP receives a scan synchronization message, the scan synchronization message indicates at least one target scan channel, and the scan synchronization message instructs the first AP to switch the scan channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scan channel; When the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a coordinated scanning measurement request to one or more second APs, where the coordinated scanning measurement request carries the identifiers of one or more terminal devices, and the coordinated scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices, where the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; The first AP obtains a measurement result indicating a signal strength between each of at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs including the at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices including the at least one terminal device.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first AP switches the scanning channel of the first AP to the target scanning channel among the at least one target scanning channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scanning channel.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first AP sends first indication information to the first device, where the first indication information indicates a first target scanning channel, where the first target scanning channel is a working channel of the first AP, and the at least one target scanning channel includes the first target scanning channel.

27. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first AP periodically receives the scanning synchronization message.

28. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first AP is further used to receive a scanning synchronization query request and send a scanning synchronization query response, where the scanning synchronization query response is used to indicate a scanning channel that the first AP switched to most recently.

29. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the scanning channel of the first AP is switched to the working channel of the first AP, the first AP sends a wake-up indication to the one or more terminal devices.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first AP sends the wake-up indication to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration, where the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is a duration of scanning a channel.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that The first duration is greater than the scanning duration, a start time of the first duration is earlier than a start time of the scanning duration, and an end time of the first duration is later than an end time of the scanning duration.

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that The difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold are both greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time durations between the multiple second APs.

33. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 32, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first AP receives a measurement report of a first terminal device, and obtains the measurement result based on the measurement report, and the one or more terminal devices include the first terminal device.

34. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 33, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the first AP does not receive a measurement report about a third AP from a second terminal device within a second time period, the first AP determines that the signal strength between the third AP and the second terminal device is less than a signal strength threshold, and the one or more terminal devices include the second terminal device, and the one or more second APs include the third AP.

35. A signal strength measurement method, characterized in that: Applied to a first access point AP, the method includes: The first AP sends a scan synchronization message to one or more second APs, the scan synchronization message indicating at least one target scan channel, and the scan synchronization message instructs each second AP to switch the scan channel according to the sequence of the at least one target scan channel; The first AP sends a coordinated scanning measurement request to the one or more second APs, where the coordinated scanning measurement request carries an identifier of one or more terminal devices, and the coordinated scanning measurement request is used to request each second AP to initiate a measurement request to the one or more terminal devices, where the one or more terminal devices are terminal devices associated with the first AP; The first AP obtains a measurement result indicating a signal strength between each of at least one second AP and at least one terminal device, the one or more second APs including the at least one second AP, and the one or more terminal devices including the at least one terminal device.

36. A signal strength measurement method, characterized in that: Applied to a first terminal device, the method includes: The first terminal device receives a wake-up instruction from a first access point AP within a first duration, the first terminal device is a terminal device associated with the first AP, the first duration is greater than or equal to a scanning duration, and the scanning duration is a duration of scanning a channel; The first terminal device receives one or more measurement requests within the first time period; The first terminal device sends a measurement report to the first AP based on the one or more measurement requests, where the measurement report indicates the signal strength between the first terminal device and one or more second APs that send the one or more measurement requests.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that The first duration is greater than the scanning duration, a start time of the first duration is earlier than a start time of the scanning duration, and an end time of the first duration is later than an end time of the scanning duration.

38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that The difference between the start time of the first time duration and the start time of the scanning time duration is a first threshold, the difference between the end time of the first time duration and the end time of the scanning time duration is a second threshold, and the first threshold and the second threshold are both greater than or equal to the maximum value of the random backoff time durations between the multiple second APs.

39. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor; the processor is used to run a computer program or instructions so that the communication device executes the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 15 to 23, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 24 to 34, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in claim 35, or executes the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 36 to 38.

40. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs. When the computer instructions or programs are executed on a computer, the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 15 to 23 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 24 to 34 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in claim 35 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 36 to 38 is executed.

41. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes computer instructions; when part or all of the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 15 to 23 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 24 to 34 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in claim 35 is executed, or the signal strength measurement method described in any one of claims 36 to 38 is executed.

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