Beam forming training method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to a beam forming training method and device, and aims to avoid collision of frames on a time domain in a beam forming training process and improve the beam forming training efficiency. The method comprises: a first communication device (such as an AP) receiving first indication information from a second communication device (such as an STA), the first indication information indicating an optimal transmission sector of the first communication device; the first communication device sends second indication information to a second communication device, wherein the second indication information indicates the first communication device to receive a first time slot group of the first frame; the first communication device receives a first frame from the second communication device at the first time slot group using the optimal transmission sector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a beamforming training method and device. Background Art

[0002] Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have gone through several generations of development. The standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) include low-frequency standards below 7 GHz, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and 802.11be, as well as high-frequency standards above 28 GHz, such as 802.11ad and 802.11ay standards operating around 60 GHz.

[0003] Wireless transmission will show different characteristics according to the frequency band. For low-frequency wireless transmission, the characteristics are that the signal attenuation is relatively slow and the wall penetration effect is good, but the spectrum resources are limited and the transmission rate is slow; for high-frequency, the characteristics of wireless transmission are that the signal attenuation is relatively fast and it usually cannot penetrate walls, but the spectrum resources are rich and the transmission rate is fast. In addition, the directionality of high-frequency beams is better, and the antenna beamforming can be used to form directional transmission and increase the transmission range, but beamforming training is required.

[0004] However, in the current beamforming training process, the station (STA) selects the time slot based on the random back-off procedure and sends the sector sweep (SSW) frame to the access point (AP). The SSW frames sent by different STAs may collide in the time domain, affecting the efficiency of beamforming training. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a beamforming training method and device to avoid frame collision in the time domain during beamforming training and improve the efficiency of beamforming training.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training method, the method comprising: a first communication device receives first indication information from a second communication device, the first indication information indicating an optimal transmitting sector of the first communication device; the first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, the second indication information indicating that the first communication device receives a first time slot group of a first frame (or the second communication device sends a first frame); the first communication device uses the optimal transmitting sector in the first time slot group to receive the first frame from the second communication device.

[0007] In the above-mentioned beamforming training method, the first communication device may be a personal basic service set control point (PCP) / AP, a component of a PCP / AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device may be a STA, a component of a STA (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a STA; or the first communication device may be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device may be a PCP / AP different from the first communication device, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP; or the first communication device may also be a STA, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA, and the second communication device may be a STA different from the first communication device, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA.

[0008] Through the above method, the second communication device (such as STA) can select a time slot to send a frame based on a random back-off procedure, and the process in which different second communication devices compete for time domain resources can be optimized to a process in which the second communication device sends frames based on the scheduling of the first communication device (such as AP). This can improve the utilization of time domain resources, avoid collisions in the time domain between frames sent by different second communication devices, and improve the efficiency of beamforming training.

[0009] In a possible design, the first time slot group includes 1 time slot. Through the above design, compared with the case where the first time slot group includes multiple time slots, the training efficiency can be further improved and the waste of time domain resources can be avoided.

[0010] In a possible design, the first indication information is received by the first communication device via a low frequency, the second indication information is sent by the first communication device via a low frequency; and the first frame is received by the first communication device via a high frequency.

[0011] Through the above design, during the high-frequency beamforming training process, the information exchanged between the first communication device and the second communication device can be sent and received at low frequency, taking advantage of the relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals, thereby further improving the reliability of the beamforming training.

[0012] In one possible design, the method also includes: the first communication device receives third indication information from the second communication device, the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the first communication device sends fourth indication information to the second communication device, the fourth indication information indicates the first communication device sends a second time slot group of a second frame, the second time slot group includes P time slots, P is greater than or equal to N; the first communication device sends a second frame using the best sending sector in the second time slot group, which is used to determine the best receiving sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best receiving sector.

[0013] Through the above design, the first communication device does not need to send the second frame on all its sectors, but can send the second frame only on the best sending sector of the first communication device indicated by the second communication device, so as to complete the determination of the best receiving sector of the second communication device, which can further improve the efficiency of beamforming training.

[0014] In one possible design, before the first communication device receives the first indication information from the second communication device, the method also includes: the first communication device receives third indication information from the second communication device, the third indication information indicating the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the first communication device sends fifth indication information to the second communication device, the fifth indication information instructing the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, and Q is greater than or equal to N; the first communication device sends a third frame in the M third time slot groups for determining the optimal sending sector of the first communication device.

[0015] Optionally, the third frame sent by the first communication device in the M third time slot groups is also used to determine the best receiving sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best receiving sector.

[0016] Through the above design, during beamforming training, the first communication device can schedule the third time slot group based on the number of sectors of the second communication device, which can further improve the utilization rate of time domain resources.

[0017] In one possible design, the second indication information also includes one or more of the following: the start time of the first time slot group, a sector identifier (ID), an antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in the first time slot group.

[0018] Through the above design, the information of the first time slot group allocated by the first communication device can be accurately indicated, thereby improving the reliability of beamforming training.

[0019] In one possible design, the method further includes: the first communication device sending first trigger information to the second communication device, the first trigger information instructing the second communication device to use the best receiving sector to transmit in the first time slot group.

[0020] Through the above design, the sector used by the second communication device can be accurately indicated, and the specific transceiver mode of the second communication device can be indicated.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training method, the method comprising: a first communication device receives third indication information from a second communication device, the third indication information indicating the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the first communication device sends sixth indication information to the second communication device, the sixth indication information indicating that the first communication device receives M fourth time slot groups of a fourth frame, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, each fourth time slot group includes R time slots, R is greater than or equal to N; the first communication device receives a fourth frame from the second communication device in M ​​fourth time slot groups, for determining the best receiving sector of the first communication device and / or the best transmitting sector of the second communication device.

[0022] In the above-mentioned beamforming training method, the first communication device may be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device may be a STA, a component of a STA (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a STA; or the first communication device may be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device may be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP that is different from the first communication device; or the first communication device may also be a STA, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA, and the second communication device may be a STA, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA that is different from the first communication device.

[0023] Through the above design, the training of the best receiving sector of the first communication device and the best transmitting sector of the second communication device is supported, which can meet the beamforming training requirements when the antennas and antenna modes of the first communication device and the second communication device are not reciprocal (that is, the best transmitting sector and the best receiving sector of the communication device may be different).

[0024] In one possible design, the third indication information is received by the first communication device via a low frequency, the sixth indication information is sent by the first communication device via a low frequency; and the fourth frame is received by the first communication device via a high frequency.

[0025] Through the above design, during the high-frequency beamforming training process, the information exchanged between the first communication device and the second communication device can be sent and received at low frequency, taking advantage of the relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals, thereby further improving the reliability of the beamforming training.

[0026] In one possible design, R is determined based on the sum of the number of sectors of K second communication devices including the second communication device, where the K second communication devices are communication devices that perform beamforming training with the first communication device.

[0027] Through the above design, the requirement on the number of time slots when the AP performs beamforming training on K second communication devices simultaneously can be met.

[0028] In one possible design, the method also includes: the first communication device sends fifth indication information to the second communication device, the fifth indication information instructing the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, and Q is greater than or equal to N; the first communication device sends the third frame in the M third time slot groups, which is used to determine the optimal sending sector of the first communication device and / or the optimal receiving sector of the second communication device.

[0029] Through the above design, during beamforming training, the first communication device can schedule the third time slot group based on the number of sectors of the second communication device, which can further improve the utilization rate of time domain resources.

[0030] In one possible design, the sixth indication information also includes one or more of the following: the start time of each fourth time slot group in the M fourth time slot groups, the sector ID, the antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in each fourth time slot group.

[0031] Through the above design, the information of the fourth time slot group allocated by the first communication device can be accurately indicated, thereby improving the reliability of beamforming training.

[0032] In one possible design, the method also includes: the first communication device sends second trigger information to the second communication device, the second trigger information instructing the second communication device to send the third frame in M ​​fourth time slot groups using sector scanning, and the N time slots used in each fourth time slot group.

[0033] Through the above design, the sector and time slot used by the second communication device can be accurately indicated, and the specific transceiver mode of the second communication device can be indicated.

[0034] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training method, the method comprising: a second communication device sends first indication information to a first communication device, the first indication information indicating an optimal transmitting sector of the first communication device; the second communication device receives second indication information from the first communication device, the second indication information indicating a first time slot group in which the first communication device receives a first frame (or the second communication device sends a first frame); the second communication device sends a first frame to the first communication device in the first time slot group, wherein the first communication device uses an optimal transmitting sector in the first time slot group to receive the first frame.

[0035] In one possible design, the first time slot group includes 1 time slot.

[0036] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second communication device sends third indication information to the first communication device, the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the second communication device receives fourth indication information from the first communication device, the fourth indication information indicates that the first communication device sends a second time slot group of a second frame, the second time slot group includes P time slots, P is greater than or equal to N; the second communication device receives a second frame from the first communication device in the second time slot group, for determining the best receiving sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best receiving sector, and the second frame is sent by the first communication device using the best sending sector.

[0037] In one possible design, before the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, the method also includes: the second communication device sends third indication information to the first communication device, the third indication information indicating the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the second communication device receives fifth indication information from the first communication device, the fifth indication information indicating the first communication device sends M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, and Q is greater than or equal to N; the second communication device receives the third frame from the first communication device in the M third time slot groups, for determining the optimal sending sector of the first communication device.

[0038] In one possible design, the third frame from the first communication device received by the second communication device in the M third time slot groups is also used to determine the best reception sector of the second communication device, where the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best reception sector.

[0039] In one possible design, before the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, the method also includes: the second communication device determines to use the best receiving sector, and the signal strength of the third frame sent by the first communication device on the best sending sector is greater than or equal to a signal strength threshold.

[0040] In one possible design, the second indication information also includes one or more of the following: the start time of the first time slot group, the sector ID, the antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in the first time slot group.

[0041] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second communication device receiving first trigger information from the first communication device, the first trigger information instructing the second communication device to use the best receiving sector to transmit in the first time slot group.

[0042] In a possible design, the first indication information is sent by the second communication device through a low frequency, and the second indication information is received by the second communication device through a low frequency; and the first frame is sent by the second communication device through a high frequency.

[0043] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training method, the method comprising: a second communication device sends third indication information to a first communication device, the third indication information indicating the number N of sectors of the second communication device; the second communication device receives sixth indication information from the first communication device, the sixth indication information indicating that the first communication device receives M fourth time slot groups of a fourth frame, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, each fourth time slot group includes R time slots, R is greater than or equal to N; the second communication device sends a fourth frame to the first communication device in the M fourth time slot groups, for determining the best receiving sector of the first communication device and / or the best transmitting sector of the second communication device.

[0044] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second communication device receives fifth indication information from the first communication device, the fifth indication information instructing the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, and Q is greater than or equal to N; the second communication device receives the third frame from the first communication device in the M third time slot groups, for determining the optimal sending sector of the first communication device and / or the optimal receiving sector of the second communication device.

[0045] In one possible design, the sixth indication information also includes one or more of the following: the start time of each fourth time slot group in the M fourth time slot groups, the sector ID, the antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in each fourth time slot group.

[0046] In one possible design, the method also includes: the second communication device receives second trigger information from the first communication device, the second trigger information instructing the second communication device to send a third frame in M ​​fourth time slot groups using sector scanning, and the N time slots used in each fourth time slot group.

[0047] In one possible design, the third indication information is sent by the second communication device via a low frequency, the sixth indication information is received by the second communication device via a low frequency; and the fourth frame is sent by the second communication device via a high frequency.

[0048] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which has the function of implementing the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above, and the function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions, such as an interface unit and a processing unit.

[0049] In one possible design, the device may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0050] In one possible design, the device includes a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store instructions executed by the processor, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the device can execute the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0051] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes an interface circuit and a processor, and the processor and the interface circuit are coupled to each other. The processor is used to implement the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above through a logic circuit or an execution instruction. The interface circuit is used to receive a signal from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit it to the processor or send a signal from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. It is understandable that the interface circuit can be a transceiver or a transceiver or a transceiver or an input-output interface.

[0052] Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory for storing instructions executed by the processor or storing input data required by the processor to execute the instructions or storing data generated after the processor executes the instructions. The memory may be a physically independent unit or may be coupled to the processor, or the processor may include the memory (i.e., the processor and the memory are integrated together).

[0053] In a possible implementation, the communication device is a chip.

[0054] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device can be used to implement the method of the first aspect, and the second communication device can be used to implement the method of the third aspect; or, the first communication device can be used to implement the method of the second aspect, and the second communication device can be used to implement the method of the fourth aspect.

[0055] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instructions are stored. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above can be implemented.

[0056] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, including a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above can be implemented.

[0057] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes a processor, the processor is used to couple with a memory, the memory is used to store programs or instructions, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above can be implemented.

[0058] The technical effects that can be achieved in the third to tenth aspects mentioned above can refer to the technical effects that can be achieved in the first or second aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a network architecture provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a beamforming training process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a high-frequency channel access process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a beacon frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of channel configuration in a data transmission interval phase provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a beamforming training configuration provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] Figure 7 One of the schematic diagrams of the beamforming training method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a process for determining an optimal transmission sector provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Fig. 9 One of the schematic diagrams of the second indication information format provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0068] Fig.10 A second schematic diagram of the second indication information format provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the first trigger information format provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the optimal sector determination process provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] Fig.13 This is one of the beamforming training process examples provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0072] Fig.14 This is the second example of the beamforming training process provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0073] Fig.15 A second schematic diagram of a beamforming training method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of the second trigger information format provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] Fig.17 This is the third example of the beamforming training process provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0076] Fig.18 One of the structural schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0077] Fig.19 The second structural diagram of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The embodiments of the present application may be applicable to local area networks (LANs), in particular wireless local area networks (WLANs), for example, WLANs that adopt any one of the 802.11 series standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). For example: WLANs that adopt 802.11a, 802.11ab, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, Wi-Fi 8 or a later generation standard. Among them, the WLAN may include one or more basic service sets (BSSs), and the network nodes in the basic service set include a personal basic service set control point (PCP) / access point (AP), and a station (STA).

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present application are mainly described by deploying a WLAN network, especially a network using the IEEE 802.11 system standard, it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the various aspects involved in the present application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as BLUETOOTH (Bluetooth), high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard, mainly used in Europe) and a wide area network (WAN), a personal area network (PAN) or other networks known now or developed later. Therefore, regardless of the coverage range and wireless access protocol used, the various aspects provided in the present application can be applied to any suitable wireless network.

[0080] The embodiments of the present application may also be applicable to wireless local area networks such as the Internet of Things (IoT) network or the Vehicle to X (V2X) network. Of course, the embodiments of the present application may also be applicable to other possible communication systems, such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, the fifth generation (5G) communication system, the sixth generation (6G) communication system or a future evolved communication system.

[0081] The above-mentioned communication system applicable to the present application is only an example for illustration, and the communication system applicable to the present application is not limited to this. A unified description is given here and no further elaboration is given below.

[0082] The following takes the application of the present application embodiment to WLAN as an example. Figure 1 , which is a network architecture diagram of a WLAN applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 Take the example that the WLAN includes 1 AP and 2 STAs, and the STA is a mobile phone. Among them, the STA associated with the AP can receive data sent by the AP and can also send data to the AP. The embodiment of the present application will be described by taking the communication between AP and STA as an example. It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the communication between AP and AP, for example, each AP can communicate with each other through a distributed system (DS); or the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the communication between STA and STA, for example, STA communicates directly without going through AP.

[0083] AP can be an access point for terminal devices to enter a wired (or wireless) network. AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network. Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to Ethernet. For example, AP can be a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router, switch, bridge, communication server, etc.) with a mobile hotspot (WiFi) chip. Optionally, AP can be a device that supports WLAN standards of the 802.11 family such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11be Wi-Fi7, Wi-Fi 8 or its next generation. The AP in this application can be a high-efficiency (HE) AP or an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP, or it can be an AP applicable to a future generation of Wi-Fi standards.

[0084] STA can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal, etc., and can also be called a user. For example, STA can be a mobile phone supporting WiFi communication function, a tablet supporting WiFi communication function, a set-top box supporting WiFi communication function, a smart TV supporting WiFi communication function, a smart wearable device supporting WiFi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication device supporting WiFi communication function, or a computer supporting WiFi communication function. Optionally, the site can also support WLAN standards of the 802.11 family such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 or its next generation.

[0085] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, some terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained below.

[0086] 1) Sector: A transmit or receive antenna pattern corresponding to a sector identifier (ID).

[0087] 2) Best sending sector: The sending sector with the strongest signal received by the receiving end.

[0088] Best receiving sector: The receiving sector where the signal received by the receiving end is the strongest.

[0089] 3) Timeslot group: A timeslot group containing at least one timeslot. Optionally, within a timeslot group, the AP uses the same sector to send or receive.

[0090] 4) Beamforming training (BFT), also known as beamforming training. In order to achieve data transmission and reception, the transmission beam direction of the data sender must be able to cover the receiving beam direction of the data receiver, that is, the transmission beam and the receiving beam can be aligned. In the IEEE 802.11ad / ay standard, the process of aligning the beams of the PCP / AP and STA is called the beamforming training process. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the beamforming training process can be divided into the following two processes:

[0091] 1. Sector-level sweep (SLS) process, which completes the transmission beam training and obtains the transmission beam by sending directional multi-gigabit (DMG) beacon frames / sector sweep (SSW) frames (specified in the IEEE 802.11ad standard) / short SSW frames (specified in the IEEE 802.11ay standard) through directional scanning. Figure 2 As shown, the SLS process may include:

[0092] (1) Initiator-transmit sector sweep (I-TXSS) phase.

[0093] Specifically, the I-TXSS phase is used to train the initiator's transmission sector. For example, the initiator (I) sends beacon frames on its sectors to discover the responder (R), and the responder receives the beacon frames in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0094] (2) Responder-transmit sector sweep (R-TXSS) phase.

[0095] Specifically, the I-TXSS phase is used to train the responder's transmission sectors. For example, the responder sends SSW frames on each of its sectors and feeds back the best transmission sector of the initiator in the previous phase. The initiator receives SSW frames in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0096] (3) Sector sweep feedback (SSW-feedback) stage.

[0097] Specifically, the SSW-feedback phase is used by the initiator to provide feedback on the best transmission sector of the responder. For example, the initiator sends an SSW-feedback frame on the best transmission sector specified in the previous step, and the SSW-feedback frame indicates the best transmission sector of the responder. The responder then receives the SSW-feedback frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0098] (4) Sector sweep ACK (SSW-ACK) stage.

[0099] Specifically, the SSW-ACK stage is used by the responder to provide feedback on the best transmission sector of the initiator. For example, the responder sends an SSW-ACK frame on the best transmission sector specified in the previous step, and the SSW-ACK frame indicates the best transmission sector of the initiator. The initiator receives the SSW-ACK frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0100] 2. Optional beam refinement protocol (BRP) process, which includes two sub-processes: multiple sector identifier (MID) and beam combining (BC). This process completes the receiving beam training through the interaction of BRP frames, obtains the receiving beam, and determines the best transmitting and receiving beams of the sender and receiver through the BC process. Figure 2 As shown, the BRP process may include:

[0101] (5) Beam fine-tuning establishment (BRP-setup) phase.

[0102] Specifically, the BRP-setup phase can exchange some necessary information for the next BRP phase or beam refinement transactions. For example, the initiator and the responder respectively send a beam refinement (BRP) frame through the best transmission sector determined in the previous phase, and correspondingly, the responder and the initiator receive the beam refinement frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, and the beam refinement frame is used by the other party to obtain their respective beam training capability information.

[0103] (6) Responder-multiple sector identifier (R-MID) stage

[0104] Specifically, the R-MID phase is used to train the receiving sectors of the initiator. For example, the responder sends BRP frames in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, and the initiator receives BRP frames in each of its sectors.

[0105] (7) Initiator-multiple sector identifier (I-MID) stage.

[0106] Specifically, the I-MID stage is used to train the receiving sectors of the responder. For example, the initiator sends BRP frames in a quasi-omnidirectional mode and feeds back the best receiving sector of the initiator in the previous stage through BPR frames. The responder receives BRP frames on its various sectors.

[0107] (8) BRP-feedback stage.

[0108] Specifically, the BRP-feedback stage is used for the responder to feed back the responder's best receiving sector. For example, the responder sends a BRP-feedback frame on its previously designated best sending sector. The BRP-feedback frame indicates the responder's best receiving sector. The initiator then receives the BRP-feedback frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0109] (9) BRP-feedback stage.

[0110] Specifically, the BRP-Feedback phase is used by the initiator to feed back the best receiving sector of the initiator. For example, the initiator sends a BRP-feedback frame on the best sending sector previously specified by it, and the BRP-feedback frame indicates the best receiving sector of the initiator. The responder receives the BRP-feedback frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode at this time.

[0111] (10) Responder-beam combining (R-BC) stage.

[0112] Specifically, the R-BC phase is used to train and obtain a list of beam pairs from the responder to the initiator (i.e., uplink) sorted by quality. For example, the responder sends BRP frames one by one in the list of sending sectors obtained in the SLS phase, and the initiator receives them one by one in the list of receiving sectors obtained in the MID phase.

[0113] (11) Initiator-beam combining (I-BC) stage.

[0114] Specifically, the I-BC stage is used to train and obtain a list of beam pairs from the initiator to the responder (i.e., downlink) sorted by quality. For example, the initiator sends BRP frames one by one in the list of sending sectors obtained in the SLS stage, and the responder receives them one by one in the list of receiving sectors obtained in the MID stage.

[0115] (12) BRP-feedback stage.

[0116] Specifically, the BRP-feedback stage is used for the responder to feedback the best downlink beam pair list. The responder sends a BRP-feedback frame on the best sector it previously specified. The BRP-feedback frame indicates the best downlink beam pair. The initiator then receives the BRP-feedback frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0117] (13) BRP-feedback stage.

[0118] Specifically, the BRP-feedback stage is used for the initiator to feedback the best uplink beam pair list. The initiator sends a BRP-feedback frame on the best sector it previously specified. The BRP-feedback frame indicates the best uplink beam pair. The responder then receives the BRP-feedback frame in a quasi-omnidirectional mode.

[0119] Among them, if the PCP / AP and STA only complete the above process one, the PCP / AP and STA can establish a directional transmission and omnidirectional reception link (downlink). If the PCP / AP and STA complete the above processes one and two, the PCP / AP and STA can establish a directional transmission and directional reception link (downlink and uplink).

[0120] However, there is obvious asymmetry in the high-frequency link, that is, the transmit power of the PCP / AP is greater than the transmit power of the STA. When the PCP / AP sends data in a directional sector, the STA can receive it in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, but when the STA sends data in a directional sector, the PCP / AP cannot receive the data in a quasi-omnidirectional mode. Figure 2 In the conventional beam training process shown in FIG. 1 , the STA transmits in a directional manner and the PCP / AP receives in a quasi-omnidirectional mode (as described above). Figure 2 Therefore, the high-frequency link cannot use the traditional beamforming training process. Based on this, the IEEE 802.11ay standard proposes a method for BFT for asymmetric links. The corresponding high-frequency channel access process and the asymmetric link BFT based on the high-frequency channel access process are described in the following high-frequency channel access process and asymmetric link BFT.

[0121] 5) High frequency channel access process. Figure 3The high-frequency channel access process shown in the figure is based on the beacon interval as a cycle, which is divided into beacon header indication (BHI) and data transmission interval (DTI). The BHI includes: beacon transmission interval (BTI), PCP / AP will send multiple DMG beacon frames according to the sector number in BTI for downlink sector scanning; association-beamforming training (A-BFT), used for STA association and uplink sector scanning; announcement transmission interval (ATI), used by PCP / AP to poll STA for cached data information and allocate resources in the data transmission interval (DTI) to STA. The entire DTI will be divided into several sub-intervals, and the sub-intervals will be divided into contention based access period (CBAP) and service period (SP) according to the access form, where SP is for scheduling transmission without contention.

[0122] 6) Asymmetric link beamforming training. Asymmetric link beamforming training (asymmetric link BFT) requires the antenna and antenna pattern to have reciprocity, that is, whether it is the initiator or the responder, the best sending sector and the best receiving sector are the same. Asymmetric link BFT is mainly divided into two steps:

[0123] Step 1: Scheduling of the BTI phase:

[0124] Asymmetric link BFT is initiated by the PCP / AP and must meet the following two requirements: (1) If a sector (i.e., a combination of a sector and a DMG antenna) needs to perform asymmetric link BFT, the physical layer protocol data unit (PHY protocol data unit, PPDU) of the DMG beacon frame corresponding to the sector must include a training-responder (TRN-R) subfield or field. (2) If a sector needs to perform asymmetric link BFT, the PPDU of the DMG beacon frame corresponding to the sector must also include an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) extended schedule element, each element of which must contain at least one channel allocation field, and the asymmetric beamforming training subfield must be set to 1. The channel allocation field of the EDMG extended scheduling element also includes the number of space-time slots field, which indicates the number of space-time slots configured for the sector. STS express.

[0125] Refer to Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the DMG beacon frame shown in the figure shows that the initiator is EDMG PCP / AP and the responder is EDMG STA. If a sector needs to perform asymmetric link BFT, the EDMG PCP / AP sends a DMG beacon frame that meets the above requirements on the sector ( Figure 4In the example, the DMG beacon frame sent on the sector with sector ID = 1 is taken as an example). The EDMG STA first receives in quasi-omni mode (STA inquasi-omni receive mode), and then the EDMG STA receives TRN-R in directional mode (STA indirecitional receive mode). By comparing the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of all quasi-omni reception stages, the EDMG STA can know which sector of the EDMG PCP / AP has the strongest transmission signal for itself and determine the best transmission sector of the EDMG PCP / AP. By comparing the RSSI of all directional receptions in the PPDU, the EDMG STA can know which sector it receives the strongest signal on and determine the best reception sector of the EDMG STA. Among them, the PPDU carrying the DMG beacon frame may include a short training field (STF) field, a channel estimation (CE) field, a physical layer header (PHY header) field, a data field, an automatic gain control (AGC) field, and a TRN-R field.

[0126] Step 2: Beamforming training allocation or configuration in the DTI stage:

[0127] Through the first step, EDMG STA already knows the best transmission sector of EDMG PCP / AP and the best reception sector of EDMG STA, but EDMA PCP / AP does not know. Next, use the best reception sector of EDMG STA as the transmission sector and the best transmission sector of EDMGPCP / AP as the reception sector to verify whether the uplink is feasible and inform EDMGPCP / AP of the established sector pair. Figure 5 The schematic diagram of channel configuration in the DTI phase is shown in FIG. 1 . The EDMG PCP / AP can perform channel configuration in the DTI phase in the BTI phase. Each channel configuration can correspond to a sector of the EDMG PCP / AP. The EDMG PCP / AP configures the corresponding sector in each channel to listen to N STS A space-time slot.

[0128] Reference Figure 6FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a beamforming training allocation shown in FIG. 1 , wherein each square corresponding to an EDMG PCP / AP represents a channel allocation. The EDMG PCP / AP listens to N channels in the same sector on each channel allocation. STS In the space-time slots, the EDMG STA selects the channel configuration corresponding to the sector with the strongest signal in the previous step (the best transmitting sector of the EDMG PCP / AP), initiates a random backoff procedure, and STS -1. When backoff reaches 0, EDMG STA uses the space-time slot corresponding to backoff to 0 to send SSW frames on the best receiving sector obtained in the previous step. If multiple EDMG STA backoff values ​​are the same, multiple EDMG STAs use the same space-time slot to send SSW frames. The sent SSWs will collide in the time domain, and EDMG STA needs to wait for the next asymmetric link BFT. After EDMG STA sends, it switches to directional receiving mode and waits for EDMG PCP / AP to send sector ACK frames on the last channel configuration. Once EDMG STA receives the ACK frame, it means that the link is established successfully.

[0129] However, from the introduction of the above asymmetric link beamforming training, it can be seen that the current beamforming training scheme applicable to asymmetric links is that STA selects time slots based on a random backoff procedure and sends SSW frames to PCP / AP. SSW frames sent by different STAs may collide in the time domain, affecting the efficiency of beamforming training.

[0130] Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming training method and device to avoid frame collision in the time domain during beamforming training and improve the efficiency of beamforming training. The embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0131] In addition, it should be understood that the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects. For example, the first frame and the second frame do not mean that the priority or importance of the two frames is different.

[0132] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions 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 means: 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.

[0133] The beamforming training method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be executed by a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device can be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device can be a STA, a component of a STA (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.), or a device used in conjunction with a STA; or the first communication device can be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP, and the second communication device can be a PCP / AP, a component of a PCP / AP, or a device used in conjunction with a PCP / AP that is different from the first communication device; or the first communication device can also be a STA, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA, and the second communication device can be a STA, a component of a STA, or a device used in conjunction with a STA that is different from the first communication device. The beamforming training method provided in the present application is introduced below by taking the first communication device and the second communication device as an example, respectively being an AP and a STA.

[0134] Figure 7 One of the beamforming training methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, the method comprising:

[0135] S701: STA sends first indication information to AP, and AP receives the first indication information accordingly, wherein the first indication information indicates the best transmission sector of AP.

[0136] In an embodiment of the present application, the STA can determine the best sending sector of the AP by comparing the signal strength (such as RSSI) of the signals sent by the AP in each sector, and after determining the best sending sector of the AP, report the determined best sending sector to the AP through the first indication information.

[0137] As an example: See Figure 8 As shown in the schematic diagram of the optimal transmission sector determination process, the AP can adopt a directional sector scanning method to scan the M sectors of the AP ( Figure 8 In the example of M equal to 3, the STA sends null data packets (NDP) frames on each sector. The STA can receive the NDP frames sent by the AP on each sector in a quasi-omnidirectional mode and determine the RSSI of the NDP frames sent by the AP on each sector. By comparing the RSSI of the NDP frames sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI as the best sending sector for the AP. For example, if the RSSI of the NDP frames sent by the AP on sector 2 is the largest, the STA can determine that the best sending sector for the AP is sector 2.

[0138] In one possible implementation, before the STA sends the first indication information to the AP, it can also determine that the signal strength (such as RSSI) of the NDP frame sent by the receiving AP on the optimal sending sector is greater than or equal to the signal strength threshold (such as RSSI threshold) to avoid continuing beamforming training when the downlink between the AP and the STA does not meet the communication requirements, thereby wasting signaling and other resources.

[0139] It should be understood that the above-mentioned M sectors may refer to all sectors of the AP. In some implementations, if some sectors of the AP are not enabled, the sectors that need to perform beamforming training are only some sectors of the AP, and the above-mentioned M sectors may also refer to some sectors of the AP for beamforming training. In addition, the above-mentioned AP sending NDP frames on M sectors separately is only an example. The AP may also send beacon frames, SSW frames, etc. on the M sectors. The STA may also determine the best sending sector of the AP based on the beacon frames, SSW frames, etc. sent by the AP on the M sectors.

[0140] S702: The AP sends second indication information to the STA, and accordingly, the STA receives the second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates that the AP receives the first time slot group of the first frame (or the STA sends the first frame).

[0141] The first time slot group may include one or more time slots.

[0142] S703: The STA sends a first frame to the AP in the first time slot group. Accordingly, the AP uses the best transmission sector in the first time slot group to receive the first frame from the STA.

[0143] After receiving the first indication information from the STA, the AP may allocate a first time slot group corresponding to the STA, and may send a second indication information indicating the first time slot group to the STA. After receiving the second indication information, the STA may send a first frame to the AP on the first time slot group. The AP is in receiving mode on the first time slot group and uses the best transmission sector indicated by the first indication information to receive the first frame from the STA. If the AP receives the first frame from the STA, it can be said that the uplink between the STA and the AP can communicate. The AP can also send link confirmation information to the STA to indicate (or inform) that the uplink between the STA and the AP can communicate.

[0144] The first frame may be any of the following frames: NDP frame, beacon frame, SSW frame, etc. The link confirmation information may be carried in an ACK frame, etc., and the present application does not limit the specific implementation of sending the first frame and the link confirmation information.

[0145] In some implementations, the first time slot group may include multiple time slots, and the STA may send the first frame to the AP in some or all of the time slots in the first time slot group. In some implementations, in order to avoid waste of time domain resources and improve training efficiency, the first time slot group may also include only one time slot, that is, the STA sends the first frame to the AP only in one time slot, and the AP receives the first frame from the STA only in one time slot.

[0146] In one possible implementation, the second indication information may not include information about the first time slot group. The STA can use the next time slot of the time slot occupied by the second indication information as the starting time slot (or starting time) of the first time slot group, and can determine that the number of time slots included in the first time slot group is a preset value, such as 1.

[0147] In another possible implementation, the second indication information may also include information about the first time slot group, for example, information about the start time of the first time slot group and / or the number of time slots included in the first time slot group, and may also include one or more of the information such as the sector ID of the first time slot group, the antenna ID, and whether the AP is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in the first time slot group.

[0148] Refer to Fig. 9As shown in the schematic diagram of the second indication information format, the second indication information may include one or more of a start slot field, a transmit / receive (TX / RX) field, a sector ID and an antenna ID field, and a number of space-time slots field, wherein the start slot field may be used to indicate the start time of the first time slot group, the transmit / receive field may be used to indicate whether the AP is in a receive mode or a transmit mode within the first time slot group, the sector ID and the antenna ID field may be used to jointly indicate the sector currently used by the AP, and the number of space-time slots field may be used to indicate the number of time slots included in the first time slot group.

[0149] In some implementations, if the AP performs beamforming training with multiple STAs simultaneously, the AP may indicate multiple first time slot groups through the second indication information, and may also indicate the time slot group corresponding to each STA by sending the first trigger information to the multiple STAs.

[0150] As an example: refer to Fig.10 The second indication information format diagram shown in FIG. 1 may include K time slot allocation information (also referred to as channel allocation information), and the K time slot configuration information corresponds to the K first time slot groups one by one. The fields that each time slot configuration information may include and the information indicated by the fields refer to the above Fig. 9 In addition, in some implementations, the second indication information may further include a configuration number (number of allocations) field for indicating the number of the first time slot groups.

[0151] Refer to Fig.11The first trigger information format diagram shown in the figure, the first trigger information may include K STA information (STA info), each STA information may include one or more of the STAID field, the slot allocation ID used field, and may also include one or more of the transmit / receive (TX / RX) field and the single / multiple sectors (single / multisector) field, wherein the STAID field indicates the STA corresponding to the STA information, the slot allocation ID field indicates the first slot group used by the STA, the transmit / receive field indicates whether the AP is in the transmit mode or the receive mode, when the AP is in the transmit mode, the single / multiple sectors field indicates whether the STA uses the best receiving sector as the transmit sector, or sends in a sector scanning manner; when the AP is in the receive mode, the single / multiple sectors field indicates whether the STA uses the best transmitting sector as the receiving sector, or receives in a sector scanning manner. In addition, in some implementations, the first trigger information may also include a slot start position field and a number of slots used (number of slots usd) field, which are used to indicate the slot position of the first slot used by the STA in the first slot group and the number of slots used, respectively.

[0152] It is important to understand that the above Fig.10 and Fig.11 This is only an example of the format of the second indication information and the second trigger information. The second indication information and the second trigger information in other formats may also be used. As long as the AP can perform beamforming training with multiple STAs at the same time, the AP can indicate multiple first time slot groups through the second indication information and can indicate the first time slot group corresponding to each STA by sending the first trigger information to multiple STAs.

[0153] Through the above-mentioned beamforming training method, if the STA has not determined the best receiving sector, the first frame is sent to the AP in a quasi-omnidirectional mode. This can complete the beamforming training of the downlink received by the AP in a directional manner (sending in the best transmitting sector) and the STA in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, and the uplink received by the STA in a quasi-omnidirectional mode and the AP in a directional manner (receiving in the best transmitting sector).

[0154] If the STA determines that there is a best receiving sector, it sends the first frame to the AP with the best receiving sector, and can complete the beamforming training of the downlink of AP directional transmission (best transmitting sector transmission) and STA directional reception (best receiving sector reception) and the uplink of STA directional transmission (best receiving sector transmission) and AP directional reception (best transmitting sector reception). The best receiving sector of the STA can be determined in the following ways:

[0155] Method 1: The AP can use a directional sector scanning method to send NDP frames on the M sectors of the AP respectively, wherein the PPDU carrying the NDP frame contains a TRN-R field. For the PPDU carrying the NDP frame sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can first receive the non-TRN-R field in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, and then receive the TRN-R field in a directional manner by sector scanning. By comparing the RSSI of the PPDU sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI corresponding to the AP as the best sending sector of the AP. By comparing the RSSI of the PPDU (TRN-R field of the PPDU) sent by the AP through the best sending sector, the STA receives the PPDU through each sector, and the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI corresponding to itself as the best receiving sector. For example: when the RSSI of the NDP frame sent by AP on sector 2 is the largest, STA can determine that the best sending sector of AP is sector 2; for the NDP frame sent by AP on sector 2, the RSSI of STA using its own sector 3 is the largest when receiving it, STA can determine its own sector 3 as the best receiving sector.

[0156] Method 2: STA can also send third indication information to AP, the third indication information indicates the number of sectors N of STA. After receiving the third indication information from STA, AP can also send fourth indication information to STA, the fourth indication information can instruct AP to send the second time slot group of the second frame, wherein the second time slot group includes P time slots, P is greater than or equal to N, AP is in the sending mode in the second time slot group, and the sector used for sending is the best sending sector indicated by the first indication information from STA. AP sends the second frame in the second time slot group using the best sending sector indicated by the first indication information, and STA receives the second frame using sector scanning to determine the best receiving sector. As an example, STA can use sector scanning to receive the second frame in N time slots in the second time slot group in a directional mode on its own N sectors in turn, and can determine the sector with the largest RSSI for receiving the second frame among the N sectors as the best receiving sector.

[0157] Method 3: Reference Fig.12 As shown, the STA can send third indication information to the AP, the third indication information indicates the number of sectors N of the STA, and after receiving the third indication information from the STA, the AP can also send fifth indication information to the STA, the fifth indication information instructing the AP to send M ( Fig.12The third time slot groups are each composed of Q time slots, where M is the number of sectors of the AP, and Q is greater than or equal to N. The AP may send a third frame in the M third time slot groups, and the STA may receive the third frame by sector scanning to determine the best sending sector of the AP and / or the best receiving sector of the STA.

[0158] As an example: the AP may use sector scanning to send the third frame using one sector in each third time slot group, where Fig.12 Taking the example that the AP uses sector 1 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 1, uses sector 2 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 2, and uses sector 3 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 3, the STA can use sector scanning to receive the third frame in its own N sectors in turn in the N time slots in each third time slot group in a directional mode, determine the RSSI of receiving the third frame, and by comparing all determined RSSIs, the STA can determine the best sending sector of the AP and / or the best receiving sector of the STA. For example: the RSSI of the third frame sent by the AP on the AP's sector 2 received by the STA using its own sector 3 is the largest, and the STA can determine that the best sending sector of the AP is the AP's sector 2, and the best receiving sector of the STA is the STA's sector 3.

[0159] The above-mentioned methods 1 to 3 are only examples of determining the best receiving sector of the STA. Other methods can also be used to determine the best receiving sector of the STA. The present application does not limit the method of determining the best receiving sector of the STA.

[0160] In some implementations, unlike the existing beamforming training process in which the AP and STA generally work at high frequencies, in order to improve the reliability of the transmission of indication information (such as the first indication information, the second indication information, the third indication information, etc.) between the AP and the STA, in an embodiment of the present application, the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals can be utilized. The AP and the STA can send and receive indication information (such as the first indication information, the second indication information, the third indication information, etc.) through a low frequency, and frames (such as the first frame, the second frame, the third frame) used for the best sending sector, the best receiving sector or link testing or feedback are still sent and received through a high frequency.

[0161] pass Figure 7 The beamforming training method shown enables the STA to send the first frame based on the first time slot group scheduled by the AP, avoiding the problem that the STA selects the time slot based on the random backoff procedure to send the frame to the AP, and the frames sent by different STAs collide in the time domain, affecting the efficiency of the beamforming training.

[0162] as follows Fig.13 and Fig.14This is an example of an AP and multiple STAs performing beamforming training based on the beamforming training method of the present application under the multicast listener discovery protocol (MLD). Fig.13 and Fig.14 The beamforming training process can be divided into four stages according to whether the AP and STA operate at a low frequency or a high frequency. The high frequency means that the AP and STA transmit or receive at a high frequency, and the low frequency means that the AP and STA transmit or receive at a low frequency.

[0163] Fig.13 One of the beamforming training process examples provided for this application includes:

[0164] Phase A1: The AP can use directional sector scanning to scan the M sectors of the AP ( Fig.13 In the example where M is 3, NDP frames are sent separately on the STA, wherein the PPDU carrying the NDP frames contains a TRN-R field. For the PPDU carrying NDP frames sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can first receive the non-TRN-R field in a quasi-omnidirectional mode, and then receive the TRN-R field in a directional mode by sector scanning. By comparing the RSSI of the PPDUs sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI corresponding to the AP as the best sending sector for the AP. By comparing the RSSI of the PPDU (TRN-R field of the PPDU) sent by the AP through the best sending sector, the STA receives the PPDU through each sector, and the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI corresponding to itself as the best receiving sector. Fig.13 For example, when STA1 receives the PPDU sent by AP on sector 2 in quasi-omnidirectional mode, the RSSI is the largest. STA1 can determine that the best sending sector for AP to send data to itself is sector 2 of AP. When AP sends in sector 2, the RSSI of STA1 on its own sector 3 can determine that the third sector of STA1 (such as sector 3) is the best receiving sector. Similarly, when STA2 and STA3 receive the PPDU sent by AP on sector 3 in quasi-omnidirectional mode, the RSSI is the largest. It can be determined that the best sending sector of AP is sector 3. When AP sends in sector 3, STA2 and STA3 have the largest RSSI on their own third sector (such as sector 3) and second sector (such as sector 2) respectively, and can respectively determine that their own third sector (such as sector 3) and second sector (such as sector 2) are the best sending sectors.

[0165] In some implementations, the A1 phase may be performed at a high frequency so that the STA determines the best receiving sector of the STA and the best transmitting sector of the AP at a high frequency and performs beamforming training.

[0166] Phase A2: 3 STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3) send first indication information (first indication information 1, first indication information 2, first indication information 3) to the AP respectively, wherein the first indication information sent by each STA indicates the best transmission sector of the AP determined by the STA. For example: Fig.13 The first indication information 1, first indication information 2, and first indication information 3 sent by STA1, STA2, and STA3 to the AP indicate that the best sectors of the AP are sectors 2, 3, and 3 of the AP, respectively. After receiving the first indication information from the three STAs, the AP can allocate a first time slot group to each STA. Fig.13 For example, the AP can allocate the first time slot group 1, the first time slot group 2 and the first time slot group 3 to STA1, STA2 and STR3 at high frequencies respectively. The AP is in receiving mode in the first time slot group 1, the first time slot group 2 and the first time slot group 3. The receiving sectors are sector 2, sector 3 and sector 3 of the AP respectively, and each first time slot group contains 1 time slot.

[0167] The AP can indicate three first time slot groups (first time slot group 1, first time slot group 2 and first time slot group 3) by sending second indication information to three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3), and can indicate STA1 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 1, STA2 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 2, and STA3 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 3 by sending first trigger information to the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3).

[0168] In a possible implementation, the AP may also use a directional sector scanning method at high frequency to scan the M sectors ( Fig.13 After sending NDP frames respectively on the AP (taking M as 3 as an example), or after sending the NDP frame for a set duration, a third trigger information (such as a trigger frame) is sent to STA (such as STA1, STA2 and STA3) via low frequency to trigger the STA to report the best sending sector of the AP. After receiving the third trigger information from the AP, the STA sends a first indication information to the AP.

[0169] In some implementations, the interaction process of the above-mentioned low-frequency information (such as the first indication information, the second indication information, the third trigger information, etc.) can be completed within a transmission opportunity (TXOP).

[0170] In some implementations, the A2 phase may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0171] Phase A3: Each STA sends the first frame to the AP in the first time slot group corresponding to the STA, wherein the sending sector adopted by each STA is the best sending sector determined by the STA in phase A1.

[0172] In a possible implementation, the PPDU carrying the first frame may include an identifier of a sending sector adopted by the STA that sends the first frame, wherein the identifier of the sector may be a sectorID and an antennaID corresponding to the sector.

[0173] In some implementations, the A3 stage may be performed at a high frequency to accurately verify whether the uplink between the AP and the STA meets the communication requirements at a high frequency.

[0174] Phase A4: AP sends link confirmation information.

[0175] In a possible implementation, for each STA, if the AP receives a message from the STA in the first time slot group corresponding to the STA, the AP may send link confirmation information to the STA.

[0176] In some implementations, the A4 stage may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0177] Fig.14 The second example of the beamforming training process provided for this application includes:

[0178] Phase B1: The AP can use directional sector scanning to scan the M sectors of the AP ( Fig.14 The STA sends NDP frames on each sector (taking M as 3 as an example), wherein the PPDU carrying the first NDP frame may contain the TRN-R field or may not contain the TRN-R field. For the PPDU carrying the NDP frame sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can receive it in a quasi-omnidirectional mode. By comparing the RSSI of the PPDU sent by the AP on each sector, the STA can determine the sector with the largest RSSI corresponding to the AP as the best sending sector for the AP. Fig.14For example, when STA1 receives the PPDU sent by AP on sector 2 in quasi-omnidirectional mode, the RSSI is the largest. STA1 can determine that the best sending sector for AP to send data to itself is sector 2 of AP. Similarly, when STA2 and STA3 receive the PPDU sent by AP on sector 3 in quasi-omnidirectional mode, the RSSI is the largest. It can be determined that the best sending sector for AP is sector 3.

[0179] In some implementations, the B1 phase may be performed in a high frequency to support the STA in determining the best transmission sector of the AP in a high frequency and perform beamforming training.

[0180] B2 stage: 3 STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3) send first indication information (first indication information 1, first indication information 2, first indication information 3) and third indication information (third indication information 1, third indication information 2, third indication information 3) to the AP respectively, wherein the first indication information sent by each STA indicates the best transmission sector of the AP determined by the STA, and the third indication information sent indicates the number of sectors N of the STA. For example: Fig.14 The best sectors of the AP indicated by the first indication information 1, first indication information 2, and first indication information 3 sent by STA1, STA2, and STA3 to the AP are sectors 2, 3, and 3 of the AP respectively; the number of sectors indicated by the third indication information 1, third indication information 2, and third indication information 3 sent to the AP are N1, N2, and N3 respectively. It can be understood that the first indication information and the second indication information sent by each STA can be sent through the same message (or frame) or through different messages (or frames), and this application does not limit this.

[0181] After receiving the first indication information and the third indication information from three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3), the AP can allocate S second time slot groups at a high frequency, wherein the S second time slot groups correspond one-to-one to the S transmission sectors of the AP, and the number of time slots included in each second time slot group can be determined according to the maximum number of sectors N of one or more STAs that use the transmission sector corresponding to the second time slot group as the best transmission sector, and the S transmission sectors are the S sectors in the AP that are determined as the best transmission sectors by the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3). Fig.14For example, the best transmitting sectors of the AP determined by STA1, STA2 and STA3 are sectors 2, 3 and 3 of the AP respectively. The AP can allocate two second time slot groups at high frequency, such as the second time slot group 1 and the second time slot group 2. The AP is in transmitting mode in the second time slot group 1 and the second time slot group 2, and the transmitting sectors are sectors 2 and 3 respectively. The number of time slots included in the second time slot group 1 can be determined according to the number of sectors N1 of STA1, which can be an integer greater than or equal to N1; the number of time slots included in the second time slot group 2 can be determined according to the number of sectors N2 and N3 of STA2 and STA3, which can be an integer greater than or equal to max(N2, N3).

[0182] The AP can indicate two second time slot groups (second time slot group 1 and second time slot group 2) by sending the fourth indication information to three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3), and can indicate that STA1 receives the second frame from the AP in the second time slot group 1, and STA2 and STA3 receive the second frame from the AP in the second time slot group 2 by sending the fourth trigger information to the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3).

[0183] In addition, the AP can also allocate the first time slot group 1, the first time slot group 2 and the first time slot group 3 to STA1, STA2 and STA3 respectively at high frequency, and indicate the three first time slot groups (first time slot group 1, first time slot group 2 and first time slot group 3) by sending the second indication information to the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3), and can send the first trigger information to the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3) to indicate STA1 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 1, STA2 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 2, and STA3 to send the first frame in the first time slot group 3. Its implementation can refer to the implementation at the above-mentioned A2 stage and will not be repeated here.

[0184] In a possible implementation, the AP may also use a directional sector scanning method at high frequency to scan the M sectors ( Fig.14 The third trigger information (such as a trigger frame) is sent to the STA (such as STA1, STA2 and STA3) via a low frequency to trigger the STA to report the best sending sector and the number of sectors of the AP. After receiving the third trigger information from the AP, the STA sends the first indication information and the third indication information to the AP.

[0185] In a possible implementation, the low-frequency information exchange process in the B2 phase can be completed within one TXOP.

[0186] In some implementations, the B2 phase may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0187] Phase B3: Each STA receives the second frame from the AP in the second time slot group corresponding to the STA and determines the optimal transmitting sector of the STA; and sends the first frame to the AP in the first time slot group corresponding to the STA, wherein the transmitting sector adopted by each STA is the optimal transmitting sector determined by the STA in phase B1.

[0188] In a possible implementation, the PPDU carrying the first frame may include an identifier of a sending sector adopted by the STA that sends the first frame, wherein the identifier of the sector may be a sectorID and an antennaID corresponding to the sector.

[0189] In some implementations, the B3 phase may be performed in a high frequency to support the STA in determining the best receiving sector in the high frequency and verifying whether the uplink between the AP and the STA in the high frequency meets the communication requirements.

[0190] Phase B4: AP sends link confirmation information.

[0191] In a possible implementation, for each STA, if the AP receives a message from the STA in the first time slot group corresponding to the STA, the AP may send link confirmation information to the STA.

[0192] In some implementations, the B4 phase may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance characteristics of low-frequency signals.

[0193] In some implementations, for the case where the antennas and antenna patterns of AP and STA are not reciprocal, the best receiving sector of STA corresponding to AP may be different from the best transmitting sector, and the best transmitting sector of AP corresponding to STA may also be different from the best receiving sector. In order to further improve the accuracy of beamforming training, for the case where the antennas and antenna patterns of AP and STA are not reciprocal, Fig.15 The beamforming training method shown is used to determine the best transmission sector of the STA and / or the best reception sector of the AP, and the method includes:

[0194] S1501: STA sends third indication information to AP, and AP receives the third indication information accordingly, wherein the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of STA.

[0195] S1502: The AP sends sixth indication information to the STA, and accordingly, the STA receives the sixth indication information, wherein the sixth indication information indicates that the AP receives M fourth time slot groups of the fourth frame (or the STA sends the fourth frame), M is the number of sectors of the AP, each fourth time slot group includes R time slots, and R is greater than or equal to N.

[0196] S1503: The STA sends a fourth frame in M ​​fourth time slot groups, and accordingly, the AP receives a fourth frame in M ​​fourth time slot groups, wherein the fourth frame is used to determine the best transmitting sector of the STA and / or the best receiving sector of the AP.

[0197] In an embodiment of the present application, the AP can allocate M fourth time slot groups for receiving the fourth frame according to the number of sectors N of the STA and the number of sectors M of the AP, so that the STA can use sector scanning to send the fourth frame to the AP in N time slots in each fourth time slot group in turn on its own N sectors in a directional mode. The AP can use its own M sectors to receive the fourth frame in M ​​fourth time slots respectively, and determine the RSSI of receiving the fourth frame. By comparing all the determined RSSIs, the AP can determine the best receiving sector of the AP and / or the best sending sector of the STA. For example: the RSSI of the fourth frame sent by the STA on the STA's sector 2 received by the AP using its own sector 3 is the largest, and the AP can determine that the best receiving sector of the AP is the AP's sector 3, and the best sending sector of the STA is the STA's sector 2. For the determined best sending sector of the STA, the AP can also indicate the best sending sector of the STA to the STA for sending uplink data between the STA and the AP.

[0198] In some implementations, the sixth indication information may include: the start time and the number of time slots of each fourth time slot group, and may also include one or more of the following information: the sector ID, the antenna ID, and whether the AP is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in each fourth time slot group. The format of the sixth indication information may refer to the format of the second indication information, and will not be described in detail.

[0199] In some implementations, if the AP performs beamforming training with multiple STAs simultaneously, the AP may further send second trigger information to the multiple STAs to indicate the time slot used by each STA in the fourth time slot group.

[0200] Refer to Fig.16The second trigger information format diagram shown in the figure, the second trigger information may include K STA information (STA info), each STA information may include a STAID field, one or more time slot group configuration fields, each time slot group configuration field corresponds to a fourth time slot group, each time slot group configuration field may include: a time slot configuration ID used (slotallocation ID used) field, and may also include a transmit / receive (TX / RX) field, a single / multiple sectors (single / multisector) field, a time slot start position (first slot) field, and a number of time slots used (number of slots usd) field, wherein the STAID field indicates the STA corresponding to the STA information, the time slot configuration ID field indicates the fourth time slot group used by the STA, the transmit / receive field indicates whether the AP is in a transmit mode or a receive mode, when the AP is in a transmit mode, the single / multiple sectors field indicates whether the STA uses the best receiving sector as the transmitting sector, or sends in a sector scanning manner; when the AP is in a receive mode, the single / multiple sectors field indicates whether the STA uses the best transmitting sector as the receiving sector, or receives in a sector scanning manner, the time slot start position (first slot) field and the number of time slots used (number of The slots usd) field is used to indicate the time slot position of the first time slot used by the STA in the fourth time slot group and the number of time slots used.

[0201] It should be understood that the format of the sixth indication information and the second trigger information is only an example, and the sixth indication information and the second trigger information may include fewer or more fields than the above fields.

[0202] In addition, if the AP and STA need to perform downlink beamforming training, for the best transmit sector of the AP and / or the best receive sector of the STA, refer to Figure 7 The implementation of the above-mentioned methods 1 to 3 will not be described in detail.

[0203] Fig.17 The AP and multiple STAs provided in the present application perform beamforming training based on the beamforming training method of the present application. The beamforming training process is divided into five stages according to whether the AP and STA operate at a low frequency or a high frequency, wherein the high frequency indicates that the AP and STA transmit or receive through a high frequency, and the low frequency indicates that the AP and STA transmit or receive through a low frequency.

[0204] Phase C1: 3 STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA3) send third indication information (third indication information 1, third indication information 2, third indication information 3) to the AP respectively, wherein the third indication information sent by each STA indicates the number of sectors N of the STA. For example: Fig.16 The number of sectors indicated by the third indication information 1, the third indication information 2, and the third indication information 3 sent by STA1, STA2, and STA3 to the AP are N1, N2, and N3, respectively. The AP can allocate M third time slot groups at a high frequency, wherein the AP is in a transmission mode in the M third time slot groups, and the AP uses the M sectors of the AP to transmit in the M time slot groups, respectively, and the number of time slots Q included in each third time slot group can be determined according to max(N1, N2, N3), for example, the maximum value among N1, N2, and N3.

[0205] The AP may indicate M third time slot groups by sending fifth indication information to three STAs (STA1, STA2, and STA3).

[0206] In a possible implementation, the three STAs may send the third indication information after establishing a connection with the AP, or after receiving the sixth trigger information for triggering sector number reporting from the AP, which is not limited in the present application.

[0207] In some implementations, the C1 phase may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0208] Phase C2: The AP sends the third frame in M ​​third time slot groups, and each STA (STA1, STA2 or STA3) receives the third frame to determine the best sending sector of the AP and the best receiving sector of the STA.

[0209] As an example: the AP may use sector scanning to send the third frame using one sector in each third time slot group, where Fig.16In the example, the AP uses sector No. 1 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 1, uses sector No. 2 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 2, and uses sector No. 3 to send the third frame in the third time slot group 3. STA (taking STA1 as an example) can use sector scanning to receive the third frame on its own N1 sectors in N1 time slots in each third time slot group in a directional mode, and determine the RSSI of receiving the third frame. By comparing all determined RSSIs, STA1 can determine the best sending sector of AP and / or the best receiving sector of STA1. For example: STA1 uses its own sector No. 3 to receive the third frame sent by AP on sector No. 2 of AP. The RSSI is the largest. STA1 can determine that the best sending sector of AP is sector No. 2 of AP, and the best receiving sector of STA1 is sector No. 3 of STA1.

[0210] In one possible implementation, the STA may start to execute the C2 phase operation after receiving the fifth indication information from the AP, or may start to execute the C2 phase operation after receiving the fifth trigger information from the AP, where the fifth trigger information is used to trigger the STA to determine the best transmitting sector of the AP and the best receiving sector of the STA.

[0211] In some implementations, the C2 phase may be performed at a high frequency, supporting the STA to determine the best transmitting sector of the AP and the best receiving sector of the STA at a high frequency, and perform beamforming training.

[0212] Phase C3: Two STAs (STA1 and STA2) send first indication information (first indication information 1, first indication information 2) to the AP respectively, wherein the first indication information sent by each STA indicates the best transmission sector of the AP determined by the STA. For example: Fig.16 The best sectors of the AP indicated by the first indication information 1 and the first indication information 2 sent by STA1 and STA2 to the AP are sector No. 2 and sector No. 3 of the AP respectively.

[0213] In addition, the AP can also allocate M fourth time slot groups at a high frequency, wherein the AP is in a receiving mode in the M fourth time slot groups, and the AP uses the M sectors of the AP to receive in the M fourth time slot groups respectively, and the number of time slots R included in each fourth time slot group can be determined based on the sum of N1 and N2, for example, R is equal to N1+N2.

[0214] The AP may indicate M fourth time slot groups by sending sixth indication information to two STAs (STA1 and STA2), and may send second trigger information to STA1 and STA2 to indicate the time slots used by STA1 and STA2 in each fourth time slot group.

[0215] Among them, in the C2 stage, STA3 determines that the signal strength of the third frame sent by AP on the best sending sector (sector 3 of AP) received by the best receiving sector (sector 2 of STA3) is less than the signal strength threshold, and the downlink quality between AP and STA3 is low. In the C3 stage, STA3 may not report the first indication information to save signaling and other resources and improve training efficiency.

[0216] In some implementations, the C3 stage may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0217] C4 phase: each STA (STA1 or STA2) sends the fourth frame in M ​​fourth time slot groups, the AP receives the fourth frame in M ​​fourth time slots, and determines the best transmitting sector of the AP and the best receiving sector of the STA for each STA.

[0218] Taking STA1 as an example, STA1 can use sector scanning to send the fourth frame to the AP in its own N sectors in turn in the N time slots in each fourth time slot group in a directional mode. The AP can use its own M sectors to receive the fourth frame in the M fourth time slots respectively, and determine the RSSI of the received fourth frame. By comparing all determined RSSIs, the AP can determine the best receiving sector of the AP and / or the best sending sector of STA1.

[0219] In some implementations, the C4 stage may be performed in a high frequency, supporting the AP to determine the best receiving sector of the AP and the best transmitting sector of the STA in the high frequency, and perform beamforming training.

[0220] C5 phase: The AP informs each STA of the best transmission sector and can perform link confirmation.

[0221] In some implementations, the C5 stage may be performed at a low frequency, and the reliability of information transmission between the AP and the STA may be improved by utilizing the characteristics of relatively slow attenuation and long transmission distance of low-frequency signals.

[0222] It should be understood that in some implementations, the sectors in the above embodiments may also be referred to as beams, for example, the best transmission sector may also be referred to as the best transmission beam, and the best reception sector may also be referred to as the best reception beam. In addition, the above embodiments only take the first communication device as an AP and the second communication device as an STA as an example to introduce the beamforming training method of the present application. The first communication device and the second communication device may also be different APs, or different STAs, etc. The beamforming training method of the present application may implement beamforming training between different communication devices.

[0223] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below. Fig.18 , Fig.18 The communication device may include units or modules corresponding to all or part of the steps in the above method embodiment, and may be used to execute the steps executed by the first communication device or the second communication device in the above method embodiment. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction in the above method embodiment.

[0224] like Fig.18 As shown, the communication device 1800 includes a processing unit 1810 and an interface unit 1820, wherein the processing unit 1810 can be a processor or a processing circuit, and the interface unit 1820 can also be a transceiver unit or an input / output interface. The communication device 1800 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device or the second communication device in the above embodiment.

[0225] When the communication device 1800 is used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device in the above embodiment:

[0226] The interface unit 1820 is configured to receive first indication information from the second communication device, the first indication information indicating the best transmission sector of the first communication device; and send second indication information to the second communication device, the second indication information indicating the first time slot group of the first frame received by the first communication device determined by the processing unit 1810;

[0227] The interface unit 1820 is further configured to receive a first frame from a second communication device in a first time slot group using the optimal transmission sector.

[0228] For other implementations, please refer to the related introduction of the first communication device or the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0229] like Fig.19 As shown, the present application also provides a communication device 1900, including a processor 1910, and may also include a communication interface 1920. The processor 1910 and the communication interface 1920 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the communication interface 1920 can be a transceiver, an input-output interface, an input interface, an output interface, an interface circuit, etc. Optionally, the communication device 1900 may also include a memory 1930 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1910 or storing input data required by the processor 1910 to run the instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1910 runs the instructions. Among them, the memory 1930 may be a physically independent unit, or it may be coupled to the processor 1910, or the processor 1910 may include the memory 1930.

[0230] When the communication device 1900 is used to implement the steps performed by the first communication device and the second communication device in the above embodiments, the processor 1910 can be used to implement the functions of the above processing unit 1810, and the communication interface 1920 can be used to implement the functions of the above interface unit 1820.

[0231] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), logic circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0232] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and can write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a network device or a terminal device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also be present in a network device or a terminal device as discrete components.

[0233] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one network device, terminal, computer, server or data center to another network device, terminal, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0234] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0235] In addition, it should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the word "exemplary" is used to indicate an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" in the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a specific way.

[0236] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A beamforming training method, characterized in that: include: A first communication device receives first indication information from a second communication device, wherein the first indication information indicates an optimal transmission sector of the first communication device; The first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information indicates that the first communication device receives a first time slot group of a first frame; The first communication device receives the first frame from the second communication device using the best transmission sector in the first time slot group.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device receives third indication information from the second communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The first communication device sends fourth indication information to the second communication device, where the fourth indication information instructs the first communication device to send a second time slot group of a second frame, where the second time slot group includes P time slots, where P is greater than or equal to N; The first communication device transmits the second frame using the best transmission sector in the second time slot group for determining the best reception sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is transmitted by the second communication device on the best reception sector.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before the first communication device receives the first indication information from the second communication device, the method further includes: The first communication device receives third indication information from the second communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The first communication device sends fifth indication information to the second communication device, wherein the fifth indication information instructs the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, and Q is greater than or equal to N; The first communication device sends the third frame in the M third time slot groups for determining the best transmission sector of the first communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The third frame sent by the first communication device in the M third time slot groups is also used to determine the best receiving sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best receiving sector.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The second indication information further includes one or more of the following: The start time of the first time slot group, the sector identification number ID, the antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in the first time slot group.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device sends first trigger information to the second communication device, where the first trigger information instructs the second communication device to use the best receiving sector to transmit in the first time slot group.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The first indication information is received by the first communication device via a low frequency, and the second indication information is sent by the first communication device via a low frequency; The first frame is received by the first communication device via a high frequency.

8. A beamforming training method, characterized in that: include: The first communication device receives third indication information from the second communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The first communication device sends sixth indication information to the second communication device, where the sixth indication information instructs the first communication device to receive M fourth time slot groups of a fourth frame, where M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, each fourth time slot group includes R time slots, and R is greater than or equal to N; The first communication device receives the fourth frame from the second communication device in the M fourth time slot groups for determining the best receiving sector of the first communication device and / or the best transmitting sector of the second communication device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The R is determined according to the sum of the number of sectors of K second communication devices including the second communication device, and the K second communication devices are communication devices that perform beamforming training with the first communication device.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device sends fifth indication information to the second communication device, where the fifth indication information instructs the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, where each third time slot group includes Q time slots, and Q is greater than or equal to N; The first communication device sends the third frame in the M third time slot groups for determining the best transmission sector of the first communication device and / or determining the best reception sector of the second communication device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The sixth indication information further includes one or more of the following: The start time, sector identification ID, antenna ID, number of time slots included of each of the M fourth time slot groups, and whether the first communication device is in receiving mode or transmitting mode in each fourth time slot group.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first communication device sends second trigger information to the second communication device, wherein the second trigger information instructs the second communication device to send the third frame and the N time slots used in each fourth time slot group by sector scanning in the M fourth time slot groups.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that The third indication information is received by the first communication device via a low frequency, and the sixth indication information is sent by the first communication device via a low frequency; The fourth frame is received by the first communication device via a high frequency.

14. A beamforming training method, characterized in that: include: The second communication device sends first indication information to the first communication device, where the first indication information indicates the best transmission sector of the first communication device; The second communication device receives second indication information from the first communication device, where the second indication information indicates that the first communication device receives a first time slot group of a first frame; The second communication device transmits the first frame to the first communication device in the first time slot group, wherein the first communication device receives the first frame in the first time slot group using the best transmission sector.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second communication device sends third indication information to the first communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The second communication device receives fourth indication information from the first communication device, the fourth indication information instructing the first communication device to send a second time slot group of a second frame, the second time slot group includes P time slots, and the P is greater than or equal to the N; The second communication device receives a second frame from the first communication device in the second time slot group for determining the best receiving sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best receiving sector, and the second frame is sent by the first communication device using the best sending sector.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that Before the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, the method further includes: The second communication device sends third indication information to the first communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The second communication device receives fifth indication information from the first communication device, wherein the fifth indication information instructs the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, and Q is greater than or equal to N; The second communication device receives the third frame from the first communication device in the M third time slot groups for determining the best transmission sector of the first communication device.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The third frame from the first communication device received by the second communication device in the M third time slot groups is also used for determining the best reception sector of the second communication device, wherein the first frame is sent by the second communication device on the best reception sector.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that Before the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, the method further includes: The second communication device determines to adopt the best receiving sector, and the signal strength of the third frame sent by the first communication device on the best sending sector is greater than or equal to a signal strength threshold.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that The second indication information further includes one or more of the following: The start time of the first time slot group, the sector identification number ID, the antenna ID, the number of time slots included, and whether the first communication device is in a receiving mode or a transmitting mode in the first time slot group.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second communication device receives first trigger information from the first communication device, where the first trigger information instructs the second communication device to use the best receiving sector to transmit in the first time slot group.

21. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that The first indication information is sent by the second communication device via a low frequency, and the second indication information is received by the second communication device via a low frequency; The first frame is sent by the second communication device through a high frequency.

22. A beamforming training method, characterized in that: include: The second communication device sends third indication information to the first communication device, where the third indication information indicates the number N of sectors of the second communication device; The second communication device receives sixth indication information from the first communication device, the sixth indication information instructing the first communication device to receive M fourth time slot groups of a fourth frame, where M is the number of sectors of the first communication device, each fourth time slot group includes R time slots, and R is greater than or equal to N; The second communication device sends the fourth frame to the first communication device in the M fourth time slot groups, for determining the best receiving sector of the first communication device and / or the best transmitting sector of the second communication device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The method further comprises: The second communication device receives fifth indication information from the first communication device, wherein the fifth indication information instructs the first communication device to send M third time slot groups of a third frame, wherein each third time slot group includes Q time slots, and Q is greater than or equal to N; The second communication device receives the third frame from the first communication device in the M third time slot groups for determining the best transmission sector of the first communication device and / or determining the best reception sector of the second communication device.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The sixth indication information further includes one or more of the following: The start time, sector identification ID, antenna ID, number of time slots included of each of the M fourth time slot groups, and whether the first communication device is in receiving mode or transmitting mode in each fourth time slot group.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second communication device receives second trigger information from the first communication device, wherein the second trigger information instructs the second communication device to send the third frame and the N time slots used in each fourth time slot group by sector scanning in the M fourth time slot groups.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that The third indication information is sent by the second communication device via a low frequency, and the sixth indication information is received by the second communication device via a low frequency; The fourth frame is sent by the second communication device through high frequency.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit or a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-26 through logic circuits or execution instructions.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises a computer program or an instruction, and when the computer program or the instruction is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26 is implemented.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26 is implemented.

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