Communication method and device, and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to the technical field of communication, and provides a communication method, equipment and a storage medium. The method comprises: a first AP receiving at least one first radio frame; wherein each first wireless frame is sent by one neighbor AP, and each first wireless frame is used for indicating whether the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP in the first TXOP; and the first AP simultaneously shares the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP according to each first wireless frame, or does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP. The embodiment of the invention can provide a TXOP sharing mechanism.

Description

Communication method, device and storage medium Technical Field

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

[0002] In order to achieve reasonable allocation of communication resources, improve communication quality and access efficiency, and achieve better network performance, relevant researchers have proposed a transmission opportunity sharing (TXOP Sharing, TXS) mechanism.

[0003] The TXOP holder (AP) can act as a Sharing AP to allocate its reserved TXOP to other APs. Other APs, acting as Shared APs, can then transmit data with associated STAs within the TXOP shared by the Sharing AP. However, this TXOP sharing mechanism is still relatively cumbersome and can easily lead to communication interference between APs.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a device, and a storage medium, which can provide a TXOP sharing mechanism.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0007] The first AP receives at least one first radio frame, wherein each of the first radio frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first radio frames is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0008] The first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to each of the first wireless frames, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0009] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0010] The second AP determines a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the second AP is any neighbor AP of the first AP;

[0011] The second AP sends the first wireless frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighboring AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0012] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, including:

[0013] A transceiver module configured to receive at least one first radio frame, wherein each of the first radio frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first radio frames is configured to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0014] The transceiver module is configured to simultaneously share the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs according to each of the first wireless frames, or not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, including:

[0016] A processing module is configured to determine a first wireless frame, wherein the first wireless frame is configured to indicate whether a second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, the second AP being any neighboring AP of the first AP;

[0017] The transceiver module is configured to send the first wireless frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighboring AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0018] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, comprising one or more processors;

[0019] The above-mentioned AP is used to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, comprising one or more processors;

[0021] The above-mentioned AP is used to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium storing instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the communication method provided in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes a first AP and a second AP; wherein the first AP is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect, and the second AP is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0024] Based on the communication method, device, and storage medium provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, a mechanism can be provided for an AP to share TXOPs based on first wireless frames sent by neighboring APs.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be given in part in the following description, which will become apparent from the following description or be learned through practice of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0027] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG2 is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG4 is a second flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a device, and a storage medium.

[0036] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is performed by a first AP and includes:

[0037] The first AP receives at least one first radio frame, wherein each of the first radio frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first radio frames is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0038] The first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to each of the first wireless frames, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the first AP can share the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP at the same time or not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP according to the first wireless frame sent by the neighbor AP, which can effectively improve the TXOP sharing efficiency.

[0040] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first wireless frames includes a first identification bit, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a first value that the corresponding neighbor AP needs the above-mentioned first AP to share the TXOP within the above-mentioned first TXOP, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a second value that the corresponding neighbor AP does not need the above-mentioned first AP to share the TXOP within the above-mentioned first TXOP.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the first wireless frame sent by each neighbor AP can quickly indicate whether the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP through the first identification bit, which is beneficial for the first AP to quickly share the TXOP.

[0042] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the above method further includes:

[0043] The first AP sends a second wireless frame, where the second wireless frame is used to discover whether a neighboring AP of the first AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0044] The second radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0045] A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame;

[0046] The second information field is used to indicate the response timeout period of the second wireless frame.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the first AP can discover whether the neighboring AP needs to share the TXOP with the first AP through the second wireless frame, and when the first information field indicates the remaining first transmission duration of the first TXOP after sending the second wireless frame, the neighboring AP can determine whether the first AP needs to share the TXOP based on the first transmission duration. When the second wireless frame indicates the response timeout period through the second information field, the neighboring AP can quickly respond to the second wireless frame within the response timeout period, which is conducive to improving the efficiency of discovering whether the neighboring AP needs to share the TXOP with the first AP.

[0048] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first radio frame sent by each neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP further includes:

[0049] A third information field, wherein the third information field is used to indicate a second transmission duration required for the corresponding neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP; wherein the second transmission duration is less than the first duration, and the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the response timeout period of the second radio frame;

[0050] The second identification bit indicates that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP is an emergency transmission type through the third value, and indicates that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP is not an emergency transmission type through the fourth value.

[0051] In the above embodiment, when a neighboring AP needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, the neighboring AP may indicate the second transmission duration and / or data transmission type required for the neighboring AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP in the first wireless frame sent, so that the first AP can quickly determine the TXOP shared by each neighboring AP based on the above information, thereby improving the TXOP sharing efficiency.

[0052] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first AP simultaneously shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs according to each of the first radio frames, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP, including:

[0053] When it is determined according to each of the first radio frames that there is no neighboring AP with which the first AP needs to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, the first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP within the first TXOP;

[0054] When it is determined according to each of the first wireless frames that there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, determining and sending a multi-user request to transmit transmission opportunity sharing trigger (MU-RTS TXS Trigger) frame according to the communication range of each of the first neighbor APs; wherein the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with at least one of the first neighbor APs;

[0055] The above method further includes:

[0056] When the first AP does not receive the first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP within the timeout response time, the first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP within the first TXOP.

[0057] In the above embodiment, if the first AP determines that there are no neighbor APs with which it needs to share the TXOP, or if it does not receive a first radio frame from any neighbor AP within a response timeout, it does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP. If the first AP determines that at least one first neighbor AP needs to share the TXOP, it shares the TXOP with each of the first neighbor APs simultaneously based on the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, thereby improving TXOP sharing efficiency and improving the TXOP sharing mechanism.

[0058] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field;

[0059] Each of the above-mentioned user information fields includes an allocation duration field, and each of the above-mentioned allocation duration fields is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with one of the above-mentioned first neighbor APs. The third transmission duration indicated by each of the above-mentioned allocation duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the corresponding first neighbor AP, and less than the above-mentioned first duration.

[0060] In the above embodiment, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs with which the first AP needs to share a TXOP do not overlap, the first AP can simultaneously share the TXOP with each first neighbor AP using a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame. Furthermore, the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP is less than the first duration and no less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding neighbor AP. This ensures that, after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, each first neighbor AP can complete data transmission within the first TXOP, thereby ensuring communication quality.

[0061] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, and each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field and a fourth information field;

[0062] Each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with one of the first neighbor APs, the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the second neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is less than the first duration;

[0063] Each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding first neighbor AP;

[0064] The TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the first neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

[0065] In the above embodiment, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs with which the first AP needs to share a TXOP overlap, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first transmission duration, the first AP may indicate the third transmission duration and start time of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP via a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame. Furthermore, the TXOPs shared with each first neighbor AP do not overlap, allowing each first neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP without interference from other first neighbor APs, thereby effectively improving the rational utilization of communication resources and access efficiency. Furthermore, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first transmission duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each first neighbor AP is not less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding neighbor AP. This allows each first neighbor AP to complete data transmission within the first TXOP without interfering with each other after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, thereby ensuring communication quality.

[0066] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs is greater than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field and a fourth information field;

[0067] Each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP, the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the corresponding second neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each of the allocated transmission durations is less than the first duration;

[0068] Each of the second neighbor APs is determined from the first neighbor APs according to the first duration and the second transmission duration corresponding to each of the first neighbor APs;

[0069] Each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding second neighbor AP, and the start time of the TXOP shared with each of the second neighbor APs is determined based on the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each of the second neighbor APs and the data transmission type corresponding to each of the second neighbor APs;

[0070] The TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the second neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

[0071] In the above embodiment, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs with which the first AP needs to share a TXOP overlap, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is greater than the first transmission duration, the first AP may perform a TXOP for some of the second neighbor APs among the first neighbor APs using a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and indicate the third transmission duration and start time of the TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP. Furthermore, the TXOPs shared with each second neighbor AP do not overlap, ensuring that each second neighbor AP is not interfered with by other second neighbor APs when performing data transmission within the first TXOP, effectively improving the efficient use of communication resources and access efficiency. Furthermore, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to the second neighbor APs is less than the first transmission duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each second neighbor AP is no less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding neighbor AP. This ensures that, after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, each second neighbor AP can complete data transmission within the first TXOP without interfering with each other, thereby ensuring communication quality.

[0072] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, when each of the first neighbor APs includes at least one third neighbor AP and multiple fourth neighbor APs, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes multiple user information fields, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field;

[0073] The communication range of each of the third neighbor APs does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, the communication ranges of each of the fourth neighbor APs overlap with each other, and each of the third neighbor APs and each of the fourth neighbor APs belongs to the first neighbor AP;

[0074] When the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs is less than the above-mentioned first duration, each of the above-mentioned allocated duration fields is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with one of the above-mentioned third neighbor APs or one of the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs, and the third transmission duration indicated by each of the above-mentioned allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or the fourth neighbor AP, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each of the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs is less than the above-mentioned first duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each of the above-mentioned third neighbor APs is less than the above-mentioned first duration;

[0075] The user information field corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs further includes a fourth information field, and each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of a TXOP shared with one of the fourth neighbor APs; the TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the fourth neighbor APs do not overlap.

[0076] When the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs is greater than the above-mentioned first duration, each of the above-mentioned allocated duration fields is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with one of the above-mentioned third neighbor APs or one of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs, and each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs is determined from the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs based on the above-mentioned first duration and the second transmission duration corresponding to each of the above-mentioned fourth neighbor APs; the third transmission duration indicated by each of the above-mentioned allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fifth neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs is less than the above-mentioned first duration;

[0077] Among them, the user information field corresponding to each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs also includes a fourth information field, and each of the above-mentioned fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with one of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs. The start time of the TXOP shared with each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs is determined based on the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs and the data transmission type of each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs; the TXOPs shared by the above-mentioned MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the above-mentioned fifth neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

[0078] In the above embodiment, when there are third neighbor APs whose communication ranges do not overlap with each other and fourth neighbor APs whose communication ranges overlap with each other among the first neighbor APs that need to share the TXOP with the first AP, if the second transmission duration corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP may share the TXOP with each third neighbor AP and each fourth neighbor AP, and indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each third neighbor AP and each fourth neighbor AP through a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP through a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame. If the second transmission duration corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP may share the TXOP with each third neighbor AP and some fifth neighbor APs among the fourth neighbor APs, and indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each third neighbor AP and each fifth neighbor AP through a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP.

[0079] The third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each third neighbor AP is less than the first duration and not less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding third neighbor AP. This allows each third neighbor AP to complete data transmission within the first TXOP after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, thereby ensuring communication quality. Furthermore, because the communication range of the third neighbor AP does not overlap with the communication range of the fourth neighbor AP or the fifth neighbor AP, each third neighbor AP will not interfere with the data transmission of the fourth neighbor AP or the fifth neighbor AP when transmitting data within the first TXOP.

[0080] The TXOPs shared with each fourth-neighbor AP do not overlap, allowing each fourth-neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP without interference from other fourth-neighbor APs, effectively improving the rational utilization of communication resources and access efficiency. Furthermore, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each fourth-neighbor AP is less than the first duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each fourth-neighbor AP is no less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding fourth-neighbor AP. This allows each fourth-neighbor AP to complete data transmission within the first TXOP without interfering with each other after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, thereby ensuring communication quality.

[0081] The TXOPs shared with each fifth-neighbor AP do not overlap, ensuring that each fifth-neighbor AP is not interfered with by other fifth-neighbor APs during data transmission within the first TXOP, effectively improving the rational utilization of communication resources and access efficiency. Furthermore, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each fifth-neighbor AP is less than the first duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each fifth-neighbor AP is no less than the second transmission duration required for data transmission by the corresponding fifth-neighbor AP. This allows each fifth-neighbor AP to complete data transmission within the first TXOP without interfering with each other after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, thereby ensuring communication quality.

[0082] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which may be performed by a second AP. The method includes:

[0083] The second AP determines a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the second AP is any neighbor AP of the first AP;

[0084] The second AP sends the first wireless frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighboring AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the second AP, as a neighbor AP of the first AP, sends the first wireless frame to the first AP, so that the first AP can share the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP at the same time or not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighbor AP, which can effectively improve the TXOP sharing efficiency.

[0086] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above method further includes:

[0087] The second AP receives a second wireless frame sent by the first AP, where the second wireless frame is used to discover whether a neighboring AP of the first AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0088] The second radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0089] A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame;

[0090] The second information field is used to indicate the response timeout period of the second wireless frame.

[0091] In the above embodiment,

[0092] In the above embodiment, a first AP can discover whether a neighboring AP needs to share a TXOP with the first AP through the second radio frame. If the first information field indicates the first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after sending the second radio frame, the second AP can determine whether it needs to share the TXOP with the first AP based on the first transmission duration. If the second radio frame indicates a response timeout through the second information field, the second AP can quickly respond to the second radio frame within the response timeout, thereby improving the efficiency of discovering whether a neighboring AP needs to share a TXOP with the first AP.

[0093] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second AP sending the first wireless frame includes:

[0094] The second AP sends a first radio frame within a response timeout period of the second radio frame; wherein the first radio frame includes a first flag, the first flag indicates, via a first value, that the second AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, and the first flag indicates, via a second value, that the second AP does not require the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0095] The above method further includes:

[0096] When data transmission is not required in the first TXOP, the second AP does not respond to the second radio frame within a response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the first wireless frame sent by the second AP can quickly indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP through the first identification bit, or not respond to the second wireless frame within the response timeout period to indicate that the first AP does not need to share the TXOP, which is beneficial for the first AP to achieve rapid sharing of TXOP.

[0098] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, when the second AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, the first radio frame further includes at least one of the following:

[0099] a third information field, the third information field being used to indicate a second transmission duration required by the second AP to transmit data within the first TXOP; wherein the second transmission duration is less than the first duration, and the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the timeout response time of the second radio frame;

[0100] The second identification bit indicates that the data transmission type of the second AP is an emergency transmission type through a third value, and indicates that the data transmission type of the second AP is not an emergency transmission type through a fourth value.

[0101] In the above embodiment, when the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, the second AP may indicate the second transmission duration and / or data transmission type required for the second AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP in the first wireless frame sent, so that the first AP can quickly determine the TXOP shared by the second AP based on the above information, thereby improving the TXOP sharing efficiency.

[0102] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second AP requires the first AP to share the AP in the first TXOP, and the method further includes:

[0103] The second AP receives the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field, each of the allocation duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with a neighboring AP, and the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocation duration fields is greater than or equal to a second transmission duration required for the corresponding neighboring AP to transmit data in the first TXOP;

[0104] When the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP, the second AP transmits data within the third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to the second AP.

[0105] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, when the user information field corresponding to the second AP further indicates the start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the fourth information field, the second AP transmits data within the third transmission duration, including:

[0106] The second AP performs data transmission within a third transmission duration after the start time.

[0107] In the above embodiment, when a first AP shares a TXOP with a second AP, if the first AP indicates the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with the second AP via a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, the second AP may transmit data within the third transmission duration. If the first AP indicates both the third transmission duration and the start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP via a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, the second AP may transmit data based on both the start time and the third transmission duration, thereby ensuring the second AP's data transmission efficiency and quality.

[0108] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, including:

[0109] A transceiver module configured to receive at least one first radio frame, wherein each of the first radio frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first radio frames is configured to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP;

[0110] The transceiver module is configured to simultaneously share the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs according to each of the first wireless frames, or not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0111] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, including:

[0112] A processing module is configured to determine a first wireless frame, wherein the first wireless frame is configured to indicate whether a second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, the second AP being any neighboring AP of the first AP;

[0113] The transceiver module is configured to send the first wireless frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighboring AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0114] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, comprising one or more processors;

[0115] The AP is used to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect and the optional implementation manner of the first aspect.

[0116] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP, comprising one or more processors;

[0117] The AP is used to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect and the optional implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0118] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, comprising one or more processors;

[0119] The above-mentioned communication device can act as a first AP to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect and the optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or act as a second AP to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect and the optional implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0120] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0121] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0122] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0123] In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a chip or a chip system, wherein the chip or chip system includes a processing circuit configured to execute the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the optional embodiment of the first aspect, and the optional embodiment of the second aspect.

[0124] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes a first AP and a second AP; wherein the first AP is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and the optional implementation method of the first aspect, and the second AP is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and the optional implementation method of the second aspect.

[0125] It is understandable that the above-mentioned AP, communication system, communication device, storage medium, program product, computer program, chip, or chip system is used to perform the method proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding method and will not be repeated here.

[0126] The present disclosure provides a communication method, device, and storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "information processing method" are interchangeable, the terms "communication device" and "information processing device" are interchangeable, and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system" are interchangeable.

[0127] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0128] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0129] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0130] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "above", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0132] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0133] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0134] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0135] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0136] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0137] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0138] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0139] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0140] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0141] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0142] In Wi-Fi systems, devices that successfully contend for a channel reserve a period of time for data transmission. This period is called a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The device that successfully contends for and reserves a TXOP is called the TXOP holder. Within a TXOP, the TXOP holder can actively transmit data, while other devices can only receive data or send response frames indicating their receipt. When an AP is the TXOP holder, it can allocate a portion of its reserved TXOP time to its associated STAs. During the allocated TXOP time, STAs can send uplink data to the AP or to other STAs with which it has established a peer-to-peer (P2P) link.

[0143] A TXOP holder AP can act as a Sharing AP to distribute its reserved TXOP to other APs. However, during a TXOP sharing process, a Sharing AP can only allocate a reserved TXOP to one AP. If a Sharing AP intends to allocate TXOPs to multiple APs, it must repeatedly send MU-RTS TXS Trigger frames to share the TXOP, resulting in inefficient TXOP sharing. On the other hand, if the transmission duration of the TXOP shared by a Sharing AP for different APs is a predicted value, then when TXOP Sharing shares the reserved TXOP with multiple APs, it is also necessary to solve the problem of how to avoid transmission interference between APs.

[0144] To address the above issues, the following will further describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure in a clear and complete manner with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure and do not constitute all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0145] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 1 , a communication system 100 includes an AP 101 and at least one AP 102 .

[0147] The AP101 and AP102 may be independent devices, or may be devices supporting the Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology. For example, the AP101 and AP102 may be AP MLDs.

[0148] In some embodiments, AP 101 and AP 102 may be terminal devices or network devices with Wi-Fi chips.

[0149] Among them, AP101 can serve as a Sharing AP to share TXOP with each Shared AP (AP102), and AP102 is a neighbor AP of AP101.

[0150] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0151] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or a portion of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities outside of FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary, and the entities may be physical or virtual. The link relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be linked or unlinked, and the links may be of any type, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0152] The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to wireless local area networks (WLANs), such as IEEE 802.11 system standards, such as 802.11a / b / g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax, or their successors, such as 802.11bn, 802.11bf, and 802.11be. The 802.11be standard is also known as Wi-Fi 7 or the extremely high-throughput (EHT) standard, or even a later generation standard. Alternatively, the various embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to wireless local area network systems, such as Internet of Things (IoT) networks or Vehicle to X (V2X) networks. Of course, the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to other possible communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, and future fifth generation (5G) communication system.

[0153] FIG2 is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method shown in FIG2 includes:

[0154] In step S201 , a first AP sends a second radio frame, where the second radio frame is used to discover whether a neighboring AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within a first TXOP.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first AP is an AP that successfully competes for a channel to obtain a TXOP, for example, the first AP may be referred to as a Sharing AP. The first TXOP is a TXOP reserved by the first AP.

[0156] In some embodiments, the second radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0157] A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame;

[0158] The second information field is used to indicate the response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0159] When the second radio frame includes the first information field, the first AP can inform the neighboring AP of the first transmission duration through the second radio frame, and find out whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0160] When the second wireless frame includes the second information field, the first AP can use the second wireless frame to discover whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and at the same time inform the response timeout of the second wireless frame, so that the neighboring AP can respond to the second wireless frame within the response timeout.

[0161] In step S202 , the second AP sends a first radio frame, where the first radio frame is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0162] In some embodiments, the second AP is any neighbor AP of the first AP.

[0163] In some embodiments, after receiving the second radio frame, the second AP may respond to the second radio frame via the first radio frame.

[0164] The first wireless frame sent by the second AP is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0165] Optionally, the first wireless frame sent by the second AP includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and through a second value that the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0166] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 1 and the second value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0167] Among them, the first identification bit can be a TXS (TXOP Sharing Required) identifier.

[0168] In some embodiments, when the second radio frame includes a second information field for indicating a response timeout period of the second radio frame, the second AP may send the first radio frame to the first AP within the response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0169] As an example, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as needing to transmit data within the first TXOP, the second AP sends the first wireless frame to the first AP (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame), and the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the first value that the first AP needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0170] As an example, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as not needing to transmit data within the first TXOP, then the second AP sends the first wireless frame to the first AP (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame), and the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the second value that the first AP does not need to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0171] In some embodiments, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as not needing to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the second AP may not respond to the second wireless frame (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame).

[0172] In some embodiments, when the second AP needs the first AP to share the first TXOP, that is, the second AP needs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the first radio frame sent by the second AP further includes at least one of the following:

[0173] A third information field, the third information field is used to indicate a second transmission duration required by the second AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP;

[0174] The second identification bit indicates through the third value that the data transmission type of the data transmission performed by the second AP in the first TXOP is an emergency transmission type, and through the fourth value that the data transmission type of the data transmission performed by the second AP in the first TXOP is not an emergency transmission type.

[0175] The second transmission duration required by the second AP for data transmission within the first TXOP is less than the first duration, where the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the timeout response time of the second radio frame. That is, the remaining duration of the first TXOP can satisfy the second transmission duration required by the second AP indicated by the third information field.

[0176] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0177] That is to say, for the first AP, when receiving the first wireless frames sent by multiple neighboring APs, for the neighboring APs that need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, the first wireless frame sent by the neighboring AP, in addition to indicating through the first identification bit with the identification value of the first value that the first AP needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, can also indicate through the third information field the second transmission duration required for the neighboring AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, and / or indicate through the second identification bit whether the data transmission type for data transmission within the first TXOP is an emergency transmission type.

[0178] Step S203 : The first AP determines whether there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0179] In some embodiments, after receiving a first radio frame sent by at least one neighboring AP, the first AP may determine whether the neighboring AP corresponding to each first radio frame requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0180] Among them, for each first wireless frame, if the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the first value that the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, the first AP can determine the neighbor AP corresponding to the first wireless frame as the first neighbor AP.

[0181] That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first neighbor AP is a neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, that is, a neighbor AP that needs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP.

[0182] In some embodiments, if the first AP does not receive the first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP within the response timeout period, the first AP may determine that there is no neighboring AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0183] In some embodiments, if the first AP determines that there is no first neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, step S204 is performed. If the first AP determines that there is at least one first neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, step S205 is performed.

[0184] The first AP determining that there is no first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP may include at least one of the following:

[0185] The first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP is not received within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame;

[0186] The identification value of the first identification bit in each first radio frame received within the response timeout period of the second radio frame is the second value.

[0187] S204: The first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP within the first TXOP.

[0188] S205: The first AP determines whether the communication ranges of the first neighboring APs do not overlap with each other.

[0189] In some embodiments, when it is determined that there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, the first AP may determine whether communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

[0190] If the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, step S206 is executed. The non-overlapping communication ranges of the first neighbor APs include the case where the first AP receives only one first wireless frame with the first identification bit being the first value, i.e., there is only one first neighbor AP that needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0191] If the communication ranges of at least two neighboring APs among the first neighboring APs overlap with each other, step S207 is executed.

[0192] If the basic service sets of the two first neighbor APs overlap, it means that the communication ranges of the two first neighbor APs overlap.

[0193] S206 : The first AP sends a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to indicate a third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP.

[0194] In some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, the first AP may send a multi-user request to transmit transmission opportunity sharing trigger MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share TXOP with each first neighbor AP.

[0195] When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a first neighbor AP, and each user information field includes an allocation duration field (Allocation Duration field), and each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP.

[0196] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required by the corresponding first neighbor AP for data transmission within the first TXOP.

[0197] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is smaller than the first duration, that is, smaller than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame and the response timeout interval.

[0198] S207: The first AP determines whether the communication ranges of the first neighboring APs overlap with each other.

[0199] In some embodiments, if the first AP determines that the communication ranges of at least two neighbor APs among the first neighbor APs overlap with each other, the first AP can determine whether the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other, that is, determine whether the communication range of each first neighbor AP overlaps with the communication range of other first neighbor APs.

[0200] If the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other, step S208 is executed; otherwise, step S212 is executed.

[0201] S208: The first AP determines whether the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighboring APs is less than the first duration.

[0202] In some embodiments, if the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first duration, step S209 is performed. If the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is greater than (or equal to) the first duration, step S210 is performed.

[0203] S209 : The first AP sends a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to indicate a third transmission duration and a start time of a TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP.

[0204] In some embodiments, when the communication ranges of each first neighbor AP overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each first neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each first neighbor AP.

[0205] When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a first neighbor AP, each user information field includes a duration allocation field (Allocation Duration field) and a fourth information field, each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP, and each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP.

[0206] Among them, the third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required for the corresponding first neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each allocated duration field is less than the first duration, that is, less than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second wireless frame and the response timeout time interval.

[0207] The start time of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP may be determined according to the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each first neighbor AP and / or the data transmission type of each first neighbor AP.

[0208] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP is positively correlated with the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each first neighbor AP. The earlier the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each first neighbor AP, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the first neighbor AP; and the later the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each first neighbor AP, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the first neighbor AP.

[0209] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each first neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a first neighbor AP of the same data transmission type can be determined based on actual needs.

[0210] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each first neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each first neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with first neighbor APs with the same data transmission type is positively correlated with the reception time of the corresponding first radio frame. For first neighbor APs with the same data transmission type, the earlier the reception time of the first radio frame, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding first neighbor AP, and the later the reception time of the first radio frame, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding first neighbor AP.

[0211] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each first neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0212] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each first neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each first neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0213] S210: The first AP determines at least one second neighbor AP from the first neighbor APs according to the second transmission duration corresponding to each first neighbor AP.

[0214] In some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is greater than or equal to the first duration, it means that the first AP cannot share the first TXOP with all first neighbor APs for data transmission.

[0215] In this case, in order to enable as many first neighbor APs as possible to transmit data within the first TXOP, the first AP may determine at least one second neighbor AP from the first neighbor APs according to the second transmission duration corresponding to each first neighbor AP.

[0216] The second neighbor AP is a neighbor AP with which the first AP will perform TXOP sharing.

[0217] Specifically, the first AP may determine multiple second durations, each second duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one first neighboring AP, and the first neighboring APs corresponding to each second duration are not completely the same.

[0218] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one first neighbor AP, and the first neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all first neighbor APs in each AP combination as a second duration.

[0219] Each second duration is shorter than the first duration.

[0220] Based on this, the first AP may determine all first neighbor APs corresponding to the second durations having the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as second neighbor APs.

[0221] Optionally, the first AP may further determine at least one second neighbor AP from the first neighbor APs according to the data transmission type corresponding to each first neighbor AP. The specific determination method is not limited herein.

[0222] For example, if the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is determined as the second neighbor AP. If the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first AP may determine multiple third durations, each third duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type, and the first neighbor APs corresponding to each third duration are not exactly the same.

[0223] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission, and the first neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all first neighbor APs in each AP combination as a third duration.

[0224] Each third duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0225] Based on this, the first AP may determine all first neighbor APs corresponding to the third durations having the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as second neighbor APs.

[0226] S211 : The first AP sends a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to indicate a third transmission duration and a start time of a TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP.

[0227] In some embodiments, when the communication ranges of each first neighbor AP overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each first neighbor AP is greater than (or equal to) the first duration, after the first AP determines at least one second neighbor AP from each first neighbor AP, the first AP can send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each second neighbor AP.

[0228] When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is greater than (or equal to) the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a second neighbor AP, each user information field includes a duration allocation field (Allocation Duration field) and a fourth information field, each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a second neighbor AP, and each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a second neighbor AP.

[0229] Among them, the third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required for the corresponding second neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each allocated duration field is less than the first duration, that is, less than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second wireless frame and the response timeout time interval.

[0230] The start time of the TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP may be determined according to the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each second neighbor AP and / or the data transmission type of each second neighbor AP.

[0231] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP is positively correlated with the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each second neighbor AP. The earlier the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each second neighbor AP, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the second neighbor AP; and the later the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each second neighbor AP, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the second neighbor AP.

[0232] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each second neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP of the same data transmission type can be determined based on actual needs.

[0233] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each second neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each second neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP of the same data transmission type is positively correlated with the reception time of the corresponding first radio frame. For a second neighbor AP of the same data transmission type, the earlier the reception time of the first radio frame, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding second neighbor AP, and the later the reception time of the first radio frame, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding second neighbor AP.

[0234] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each second neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0235] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each second neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each second neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0236] S212 : The first AP determines, from among the first neighbor APs, a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other.

[0237] In some embodiments, when there are at least two neighbor APs among each first neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, and when there is at least one neighbor AP among each first neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, the first AP may determine the first neighbor AP among each corresponding neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP as the third neighbor AP, and determine the first neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other as the fourth neighbor AP.

[0238] S213: The first AP determines whether the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the fourth neighbor APs is less than the first duration.

[0239] In some embodiments, after the first AP determines from each first neighbor AP a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, it can determine whether the second transmission duration corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration.

[0240] If the second transmission duration corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, step S214 is executed; otherwise, step S215 is executed.

[0241] S214 , the first AP sends a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to indicate a third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each third neighbor AP, and a third transmission duration and start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP.

[0242] In some embodiments, among each first neighbor AP, there is a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP can send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share TXOP with each third neighbor AP and each fourth neighbor AP.

[0243] When there is a third neighbor AP among each first neighbor AP, whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), and each user information field corresponds to a third neighbor AP or a fourth neighbor AP.

[0244] Each user information field includes an Allocation Duration field, and each Allocation Duration field is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared by the first AP with a third neighbor AP or a fourth neighbor AP.

[0245] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fourth neighbor AP.

[0246] The sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0247] The third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to each third neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0248] The user information field corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP further includes a fourth information field, and each fourth information field is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP.

[0249] The start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP may be determined according to the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each fourth neighbor AP and / or the data transmission type of each fourth neighbor AP.

[0250] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP is positively correlated with the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP. The earlier the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the fourth neighbor AP is; and the later the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the fourth neighbor AP is.

[0251] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each fourth neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP of the same data transmission type can be determined based on actual needs.

[0252] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fourth neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each fourth neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP with the same data transmission type is positively correlated with the reception time of the corresponding first radio frame. For fourth neighbor APs with the same data transmission type, the earlier the reception time of the first radio frame, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding fourth neighbor AP, and the later the reception time of the first radio frame, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding fourth neighbor AP.

[0253] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each fourth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0254] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each fourth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0255] S215: The first AP determines at least one fifth neighbor AP from each of the fourth neighbor APs according to the second transmission duration corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs.

[0256] In some embodiments, when the communication ranges of the fourth neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the fourth neighbor APs is greater than or equal to the first duration, it means that the first AP cannot share the first TXOP with all fourth neighbor APs for data transmission.

[0257] In this case, in order to enable as many fourth neighbor APs as possible to transmit data within the first TXOP, the first AP may determine at least one fifth neighbor AP from the fourth neighbor APs according to the second transmission duration corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP.

[0258] The fifth neighbor AP is the fourth neighbor AP with which the first AP will perform TXOP sharing.

[0259] Specifically, the first AP may determine multiple fourth durations, each fourth duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one fourth neighbor AP, and the fourth neighbor APs corresponding to each fourth duration are not exactly the same.

[0260] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one fourth neighbor AP, and the fourth neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all fourth neighbor APs in each AP combination as a fourth duration.

[0261] Wherein, each fourth duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0262] Based on this, the first AP may determine all fourth neighbor APs corresponding to the fourth duration that has the longest duration and includes the largest number of second transmission durations as fifth neighbor APs.

[0263] Optionally, the first AP may further determine at least one fifth neighbor AP from the fourth neighbor APs according to the data transmission type corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP. The specific determination method is not limited herein.

[0264] For example, if the sum of the second transmission durations of the fourth neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is determined as the fifth neighbor AP. If the sum of the second transmission durations of the fourth neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first AP may determine multiple third durations, each third duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type, and the fourth neighbor APs corresponding to each third duration are not exactly the same.

[0265] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is an emergency transmission type, and the fourth neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all fourth neighbor APs in each AP combination as a fifth duration.

[0266] Wherein, each fifth duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0267] Based on this, the first AP may determine all fourth neighbor APs corresponding to the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as fifth neighbor APs.

[0268] S216 , the first AP sends a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with each third neighbor AP, and the third transmission duration and start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP.

[0269] In some embodiments, among each first neighbor AP, there is a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is greater than or equal to the first duration, the first AP can send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share TXOP with each third neighbor AP and each fifth neighbor AP.

[0270] When there is a third neighbor AP among each first neighbor AP, whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is greater than or equal to the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), and each user information field corresponds to a third neighbor AP or a fifth neighbor AP.

[0271] Each user information field includes an Allocation Duration field, and each Allocation Duration field is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared by the first AP with a third neighbor AP or a fifth neighbor AP.

[0272] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fifth neighbor AP.

[0273] The sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0274] The third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to each third neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0275] The user information field corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP further includes a fourth information field, and each fourth information field is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP.

[0276] The start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP may be determined according to the reception time of the first radio frame sent by each fifth neighbor AP and / or the data transmission type of each fifth neighbor AP.

[0277] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP is positively correlated with the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP. The earlier the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the fifth neighbor AP; and the later the reception time of the first radio frame corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the fifth neighbor AP.

[0278] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each fifth neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP of the same data transmission type can be determined based on actual needs.

[0279] As an example, the start time of the TXOP shared with each fifth neighbor AP is associated with the data transmission type used by each fifth neighbor AP in the first TXOP. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission type is earlier than the start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is not emergency transmission type. The start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP with the same data transmission type is positively correlated with the reception time of the corresponding first radio frame. For a fifth neighbor AP with the same data transmission type, the earlier the reception time of the first radio frame, the earlier the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding fifth neighbor AP, and the later the reception time of the first radio frame, the later the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding fifth neighbor AP.

[0280] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each fifth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0281] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each fifth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period consisting of the start time corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0282] S217, when the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame indicates the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with the second AP, the second AP transmits data within the corresponding third transmission duration; when the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame indicates the third transmission duration and start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP, the second AP transmits data within the corresponding third transmission duration after the corresponding start time.

[0283] In some embodiments, after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP, the second AP may determine whether the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes a user information field corresponding to the second AP.

[0284] When the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes a user information field corresponding to the second AP, and the user information field corresponding to the second AP only indicates the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the allocated duration field, the second AP may transmit data within the corresponding third transmission duration after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and refrain from transmitting data beyond the third transmission duration. Alternatively, after receiving a trigger frame sent by the first AP instructing the second AP to transmit data, the second AP may transmit data within the third transmission duration after receiving the trigger frame, and cease transmitting data after the third transmission duration expires.

[0285] When the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP, and the user information field corresponding to the second AP also indicates the start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the fourth information field, the second AP performs data transmission within the third transmission duration (allocated by the first AP to the second AP) after the start time, and stops data transmission after the third transmission duration ends.

[0286] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the aforementioned steps and embodiments. For example, any one of steps S201 to S217 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of steps S201 to S217 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0287] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3 , the method is executed by a first AP and includes:

[0288] Step S31 : receiving at least one first radio frame, where each first radio frame is sent by a neighboring AP, and each first radio frame is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within a first TXOP.

[0289] In some embodiments, the first AP is an AP that successfully competes for a channel to obtain a TXOP, for example, the first AP may be referred to as a Sharing AP. The first TXOP is a TXOP reserved by the first AP.

[0290] In some embodiments, the first radio frame sent by each neighbor AP is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighbor AP requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0291] Among them, the first wireless frame sent by each neighbor AP includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share TXOP within the first TXOP, and through a second value that the corresponding neighbor AP does not need the first AP to share TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0292] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 1 and the second value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0293] Among them, the first identification bit can be a TXS (TXOP Sharing Required) identifier.

[0294] In some embodiments, before receiving the first radio frame, the first AP may send a second radio frame to each neighboring AP, where the second radio frame is used to find out whether the neighboring APs of the first AP need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0295] The second radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0296] A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame;

[0297] The second information field is used to indicate the response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0298] When the second radio frame includes the first information field, the first AP can inform the neighboring AP of the first transmission duration through the second radio frame, and find out whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0299] When the second wireless frame includes the second information field, the first AP can use the second wireless frame to discover whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and at the same time inform the response timeout of the second wireless frame, so that the neighboring AP can respond to the second wireless frame within the response timeout.

[0300] In some embodiments, after the first AP sends the second radio frame, it may receive a first radio frame sent by a neighboring AP in response to the second radio frame within a response timeout period.

[0301] As an example, after the first AP receives the first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP, the first identification bit in the first wireless frame can indicate through a first value that the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, that is, indicating that the neighboring AP needs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, and the first identification bit in the first wireless frame can indicate through a second value that the neighboring AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, that is, indicating that the neighboring AP does not need to perform data transmission within the first TXOP.

[0302] In some embodiments, for any neighboring AP, if the first AP does not receive the first wireless frame sent by the neighboring AP within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame, the first AP can determine that the neighboring AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, that is, the neighboring AP does not need to transmit data within the first TXOP.

[0303] In some embodiments, the first radio frame sent by each neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP further includes at least one of the following:

[0304] A third information field, the third information field is used to indicate a second transmission duration required for the corresponding neighbor AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP;

[0305] The second identification bit indicates through the third value that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP performing data transmission in the first TXOP is the emergency transmission type, and indicates through the fourth value that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP performing data transmission in the first TXOP is not the emergency transmission type.

[0306] The second transmission duration required by each neighbor AP for data transmission within the first TXOP is less than the first duration, where the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the timeout response time of the second radio frame. In other words, the remaining duration of the first TXOP can satisfy the second transmission duration requirement indicated by the corresponding neighbor AP via the third information field.

[0307] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0308] Step S32: Sharing the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP simultaneously according to each first wireless frame, or not sharing the TXOP with any neighbor AP.

[0309] In some embodiments, the first AP may determine whether there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0310] In some embodiments, after receiving a first radio frame sent by at least one neighboring AP, the first AP may determine whether the neighboring AP corresponding to each first radio frame requires the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0311] Among them, for each first wireless frame, if the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the first value that the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, the first AP can determine the neighbor AP corresponding to the first wireless frame as the first neighbor AP.

[0312] That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first neighbor AP is a neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, that is, a neighbor AP that needs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP.

[0313] In some embodiments, if the first AP does not receive the first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP within the response timeout period, the first AP may determine that there is no neighboring AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0314] In some embodiments, when there is no first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP in the first TXOP, the first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP in the first TXOP.

[0315] The first AP determining that there is no first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP may include at least one of the following:

[0316] The first wireless frame sent by any neighboring AP is not received within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame;

[0317] The identification value of the first identification bit in each first radio frame received within the response timeout period of the second radio frame is the second value.

[0318] In some embodiments, when there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap with each other, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each first neighbor AP.

[0319] In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a first neighbor AP, each user information field includes an allocation duration field (Allocation Duration field), and each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP.

[0320] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required by the corresponding first neighbor AP for data transmission within the first TXOP.

[0321] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is smaller than the first duration, that is, smaller than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame and the response timeout interval.

[0322] The communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, including the case where the first AP only receives a first wireless frame with the first identification bit being the first value, that is, there is only one first neighbor AP that needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0323] In some embodiments, when there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first neighbor AP, and the communication ranges of each first neighbor AP overlap with each other, if the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each first neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each first neighbor AP.

[0324] In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a first neighbor AP, each user information field includes a duration allocation field (Allocation Duration field) and a fourth information field, each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP, and each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a first neighbor AP.

[0325] Among them, the third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required for the corresponding first neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each allocated duration field is less than the first duration, that is, less than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second wireless frame and the response timeout time interval.

[0326] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each first neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0327] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each first neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each first neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0328] In some embodiments, when there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap, if the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is greater than or equal to the first duration, it indicates that the first AP cannot share the first TXOP with all first neighbor APs for data transmission. To enable the maximum number of first neighbor APs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the first AP may determine at least one second neighbor AP from the first neighbor APs based on the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs.

[0329] The second neighbor AP is a neighbor AP with which the first AP will perform TXOP sharing.

[0330] Specifically, the first AP may determine multiple second durations, each second duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one first neighboring AP, and the first neighboring APs corresponding to each second duration are not completely the same.

[0331] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one first neighbor AP, and the first neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all first neighbor APs in each AP combination as a second duration.

[0332] Each second duration is shorter than the first duration.

[0333] Based on this, the first AP may determine all first neighbor APs corresponding to the second durations having the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as second neighbor APs.

[0334] Optionally, the first AP may further determine at least one second neighbor AP from the first neighbor APs according to the data transmission type corresponding to each first neighbor AP. The specific determination method is not limited herein.

[0335] For example, if the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is determined as the second neighbor AP. If the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first AP may determine multiple third durations, each third duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type, and the first neighbor APs corresponding to each third duration are not exactly the same.

[0336] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one first neighbor AP whose data transmission type is emergency transmission, and the first neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all first neighbor APs in each AP combination as a third duration.

[0337] Each third duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0338] Based on this, the first AP may determine all first neighbor APs corresponding to the third durations having the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as second neighbor APs.

[0339] Furthermore, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each second neighbor AP.

[0340] In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), each user information field corresponds to a second neighbor AP, each user information field includes a duration allocation field (Allocation Duration field) and a fourth information field, each duration allocation field is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a second neighbor AP, and each fourth information field is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a second neighbor AP.

[0341] Among them, the third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration required for the corresponding second neighbor AP to transmit data within the first TXOP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each allocated duration field is less than the first duration, that is, less than the difference between the third transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second wireless frame and the response timeout time interval.

[0342] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each second neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0343] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each second neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each second neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0344] In some embodiments, when there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and among each first neighbor AP there is a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap with each other, if the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is less than the first duration, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each third neighbor AP and each fourth neighbor AP.

[0345] In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), and each user information field corresponds to a third neighbor AP or a fourth neighbor AP.

[0346] Each user information field includes an Allocation Duration field, and each Allocation Duration field is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared by the first AP with a third neighbor AP or a fourth neighbor AP.

[0347] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fourth neighbor AP.

[0348] The sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0349] The third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to each third neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0350] The user information field corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP further includes a fourth information field, and each fourth information field is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with a fourth neighbor AP.

[0351] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each fourth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0352] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each fourth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period composed of the start time corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0353] In some embodiments, when there is at least one first neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and among each first neighbor AP there is a third neighbor AP whose communication range does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, and a fourth neighbor AP whose communication ranges overlap, if the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP is greater than or equal to the first duration, it indicates that the first AP cannot share the first TXOP with all fourth neighbor APs for data transmission. To enable the maximum number of fourth neighbor APs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the first AP may determine at least one fifth neighbor AP from the fourth neighbor APs based on the second transmission durations corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP.

[0354] The fifth neighbor AP is the fourth neighbor AP with which the first AP will perform TXOP sharing.

[0355] Specifically, the first AP may determine multiple fourth durations, each fourth duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one fourth neighbor AP, and the fourth neighbor APs corresponding to each fourth duration are not exactly the same.

[0356] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one fourth neighbor AP, and the fourth neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all fourth neighbor APs in each AP combination as a fourth duration.

[0357] Wherein, each fourth duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0358] Based on this, the first AP may determine all fourth neighbor APs corresponding to the fourth duration that has the longest duration and includes the largest number of second transmission durations as fifth neighbor APs.

[0359] Optionally, the first AP may further determine at least one fifth neighbor AP from the fourth neighbor APs according to the data transmission type corresponding to each fourth neighbor AP. The specific determination method is not limited herein.

[0360] For example, if the sum of the second transmission durations of the fourth neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is determined as the fifth neighbor AP. If the sum of the second transmission durations of the fourth neighbor APs whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type is less than the first duration, the first AP may determine multiple third durations, each third duration being equal to the sum of the second transmission durations of at least one fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is the emergency transmission type, and the fourth neighbor APs corresponding to each third duration are not exactly the same.

[0361] That is, the first AP may determine multiple AP combinations, each of which includes at least one fourth neighbor AP whose data transmission type is an emergency transmission type, and the fourth neighbor APs included in different AP combinations are not identical. The first AP then determines the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to all fourth neighbor APs in each AP combination as a fifth duration.

[0362] Wherein, each fifth duration is smaller than the first duration.

[0363] Based on this, the first AP may determine all fourth neighbor APs corresponding to the longest duration and including the largest number of second transmission durations as fifth neighbor APs.

[0364] Furthermore, the first AP may send a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with each third neighbor AP and each fifth neighbor AP.

[0365] In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field (User Info field), and each user information field corresponds to a third neighbor AP or a fifth neighbor AP.

[0366] Each user information field includes an Allocation Duration field, and each Allocation Duration field is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared by the first AP with a third neighbor AP or a fifth neighbor AP.

[0367] The third transmission duration indicated by each allocated duration field is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fifth neighbor AP.

[0368] The sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0369] The third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to each third neighbor AP is smaller than the first duration.

[0370] The user information field corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP further includes a fourth information field, and each fourth information field is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with a fifth neighbor AP.

[0371] The TXOPs shared by the first AP for each fifth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame do not overlap.

[0372] That is, the start time of the TXOP shared by the first AP to each fifth neighbor AP through the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is different, and the time period consisting of the start time corresponding to each fifth neighbor AP and the third transmission duration is a different time period in the first TXOP that does not overlap with each other.

[0373] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the aforementioned steps and embodiments. For example, any one of steps S31 and S32 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S31 and S32 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0374] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 , the method is executed by the second AP and includes:

[0375] Step S41 : determining a first radio frame, where the first radio frame is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0376] In some embodiments, the first AP is an AP that successfully competes for a channel to obtain a TXOP, for example, the first AP may be referred to as a Sharing AP. The first TXOP is a TXOP reserved by the first AP.

[0377] In some embodiments, the second AP is any neighbor AP of the first AP.

[0378] In some embodiments, the first wireless frame sent by the second AP includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and through a second value that the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0379] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 1 and the second value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0380] Among them, the first identification bit can be a TXS (TXOP Sharing Required) identifier.

[0381] In some embodiments, after receiving the second radio frame sent by the first AP, the second AP may respond to the second radio frame through the first radio frame.

[0382] The second radio frame is used to find out whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0383] The second radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0384] A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame;

[0385] The second information field is used to indicate the response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0386] When the second radio frame includes the first information field, the first AP can inform the neighboring AP of the first transmission duration through the second radio frame, and find out whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0387] When the second wireless frame includes the second information field, the first AP can use the second wireless frame to discover whether the neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and at the same time inform the response timeout of the second wireless frame, so that the neighboring AP can respond to the second wireless frame within the response timeout.

[0388] In some embodiments, when the second radio frame includes a second information field for indicating a response timeout period of the second radio frame, the second AP may send the first radio frame to the first AP within the response timeout period of the second radio frame.

[0389] As an example, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as needing to transmit data within the first TXOP, the second AP sends the first wireless frame to the first AP (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame), and the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the first value that the first AP needs to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0390] As an example, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as not needing to transmit data within the first TXOP, then the second AP sends the first wireless frame to the first AP (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame), and the first identification bit in the first wireless frame indicates through the second value that the first AP does not need to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

[0391] In some embodiments, after receiving the second wireless frame, if the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, such as not needing to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the second AP may not respond to the second wireless frame (within the response timeout period of the second wireless frame).

[0392] In some embodiments, when the second AP needs the first AP to share the first TXOP, that is, the second AP needs to perform data transmission within the first TXOP, the first radio frame sent by the second AP further includes at least one of the following:

[0393] A third information field, the third information field is used to indicate a second transmission duration required by the second AP to perform data transmission within the first TXOP;

[0394] The second identification bit indicates through the third value that the data transmission type of the data transmission performed by the second AP in the first TXOP is an emergency transmission type, and through the fourth value that the data transmission type of the data transmission performed by the second AP in the first TXOP is not an emergency transmission type.

[0395] The second transmission duration required by the second AP for data transmission within the first TXOP is less than the first duration, where the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the timeout response time of the second radio frame. That is, the remaining duration of the first TXOP can satisfy the second transmission duration required by the second AP indicated by the third information field.

[0396] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0397] Step S42 : Send a first radio frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP simultaneously according to the first radio frames sent by each neighbor AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP.

[0398] In some embodiments, after the second AP sends the first wireless frame, the first AP can share the TXOP with at least one neighboring AP at the same time according to the first wireless frame sent by the neighboring AP, or not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP. The specific implementation method of the first AP can be referred to the implementation method shown in step S32 in Figure 3, and will not be repeated here.

[0399] In some embodiments, when the second AP needs to share the TXOP with the first AP within the first TXOP, that is, when data transmission is required within the first TXOP, the second AP can determine whether the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP.

[0400] The MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP includes at least one user information field, each user information field corresponds to a neighbor AP, and each user information field indicates the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared by the first AP to a neighbor AP through the allocation duration field.

[0401] In this case, when the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP, and the user information field corresponding to the second AP only indicates the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the allocated duration field, the second AP may perform data transmission within the corresponding third transmission duration after receiving the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, and not perform data transmission beyond the third transmission duration. Alternatively, after receiving a trigger frame sent by the first AP to instruct the second AP to perform data transmission, the second AP may perform data transmission within the third transmission duration after receiving the trigger frame, and stop data transmission after the third transmission duration expires.

[0402] Optionally, at least part of the user information fields of the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP further include fourth information fields, and each fourth information field is used to indicate a start time of a TXOP shared with a corresponding neighbor AP.

[0403] In this case, when the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP, and the user information field corresponding to the second AP also indicates the start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the fourth information field, the second AP performs data transmission within the third transmission duration after the start time (allocated by the first AP to the second AP), and stops data transmission after the third transmission duration ends.

[0404] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the aforementioned steps and embodiments. For example, any one of steps S41 and S42 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any number of steps in steps S41 and S42 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0405] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5 , the AP 500 may include a transceiver module 501 .

[0406] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 501 is configured to determine a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame, wherein the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes a TXOP shared by a first AP to at least one second AP, and the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is configured to receive at least one first radio frame; wherein each of the first radio frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first radio frames is configured to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP requires the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP; and according to each of the first radio frames, the TXOP is simultaneously shared with at least one of the neighboring APs, or the TXOP is not shared with any neighboring AP.

[0407] Optionally, AP500 also includes a processing module 502, which is used to execute at least one of the processing steps performed by the first AP in any of the above methods (for example, step S203-step S205, step S207-step S208, step S210, step S212-step S213, step S215, but not limited to these), which will not be repeated here.

[0408] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module 501 is used to execute at least one of the transceiver steps performed by the first AP in any of the above methods (for example, step S201, step S206, step S209, step S211, step S214, step S216, step S31-step S32, but not limited to these), which will not be repeated here.

[0409] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6 , the AP 600 may include: a processing module 601 and a transceiver module 602 .

[0410] In some embodiments, the processing module 601 is configured to determine a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is configured to indicate whether a second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, and the second AP is any neighboring AP of the first AP.

[0411] The transceiver module 602 is configured to send the first radio frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to the first radio frames sent by each neighboring AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

[0412] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is configured to execute at least one of the transceiver steps (eg, step S202 and step S42, but not limited thereto) executed by the second AP in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0413] Optionally, the processing module 601 is configured to execute at least one of the processing steps (eg, step S217 and step S41 , but not limited thereto) executed by the second AP in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0414] It should be understood that the division of the above units or modules is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, including a processor connected to a memory, the memory storing instructions, and the processor calling the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or the functions of the above units or modules, where the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory inside or outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of some or all of the above units or modules are realized by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the remaining part by the form of hardware circuits.

[0415] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capability, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP); in another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the above hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by a processor as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and implementing the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0416] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 700 can be a first AP or a second AP, or can be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the first AP or the second AP in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0417] As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 includes one or more processors 701. The processor 701 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The communication device 700 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0418] In some embodiments, the communication device 700 further includes one or more memories 702 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memory 702 may be located outside the communication device 700.

[0419] In some embodiments, the communication device 700 further includes one or more transceivers 703. When the communication device 700 includes one or more transceivers 703, the transceiver 703 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, steps S201-S202, step S206, step S209, step S211, step S214, step S216, steps S31-S32, and step S42, but not limited thereto), and the processor 701 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, steps S203-S205, steps S207-S208, step S210, steps S212-S213, step S215, step S217, and step S41, but not limited thereto).

[0420] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0421] In some embodiments, the communication device 700 may include one or more interface circuits 704. Optionally, the interface circuit 704 is connected to the memory 702. The interface circuit 704 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 702 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to the memory 702 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 704 may read instructions stored in the memory 702 and send the instructions to the processor 701.

[0422] The communication device 700 described in the above embodiment may be the first AP or the second AP, but the scope of the communication device 700 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 700 may not be limited by FIG. 7 . The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the above communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0423] 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 800 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The chip 800 includes one or more processors 801, and the chip 800 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0424] In some embodiments, chip 800 further includes one or more interface circuits 803. Optionally, interface circuit 803 is connected to memory 802. Interface circuit 803 can be used to receive signals from memory 802 or other devices, and interface circuit 803 can be used to send signals to memory 802 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 803 can read instructions stored in memory 802 and send the instructions to processor 801.

[0425] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 803 executes at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, step S201-step S202, step S206, step S209, step S211, step S214, step S216, step S31-step S32, step S42, but not limited to these), and the processor 801 executes at least one of the other steps (for example, step S203-step S205, step S207-step S208, step S210, step S212-step S213, step S215, step S217, step S41, but not limited to these).

[0426] In some embodiments, terms such as interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver may be used interchangeably.

[0427] In some embodiments, the chip 800 further includes one or more memories 802 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memory 802 may be external to the chip 800.

[0428] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 700, the communication device 700 executes any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0429] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 700, enables the communication device 700 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0430] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the above methods. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of disclosure involved in the present disclosure is not limited to the technical solutions formed by a specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above-mentioned disclosed concepts. For example, the above-mentioned features are replaced with the technical features with similar functions disclosed in the present disclosure (but not limited to) and the technical solutions formed.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first AP receives at least one first wireless frame; wherein each of the first wireless frames is sent by a neighboring AP, and each of the first wireless frames is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighboring AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP; The first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to each of the first wireless frames, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the first wireless frames includes a first identification bit, the first identification bit indicates through a first value that the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the first identification bit indicates through a second value that the corresponding neighbor AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The first AP sends a second wireless frame, where the second wireless frame is used to find out whether a neighboring AP of the first AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP; The second radio frame includes at least one of the following: A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame; The second information field is used to indicate a response timeout period of the second wireless frame.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first wireless frame sent by each neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share TXOP in the first TXOP also includes: a third information field, the third information field being used to indicate a second transmission duration required for the corresponding neighbor AP to perform data transmission in the first TXOP; wherein the second transmission duration is less than the first duration, and the first duration is the difference between the first transmission duration and the response timeout of the second wireless frame; The second identification bit indicates that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP is an emergency transmission type through a third value, and indicates that the data transmission type of the corresponding neighbor AP is not an emergency transmission type through a fourth value.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighboring APs simultaneously according to each of the first wireless frames, or does not share the TXOP with any neighboring AP, including: When it is determined according to each of the first wireless frames that there is no neighbor AP that requires the first AP to share the TXOP in the first TXOP, the first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP in the first TXOP; When it is determined according to each of the first wireless frames that there is at least one first neighbor AP that needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, a multi-user request to send transmission opportunity sharing trigger MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is determined and sent according to the communication range of each of the first neighbor APs; wherein the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame is used to share the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP among the first neighbor APs; The method further comprises: When the first AP does not receive the first wireless frame sent by any neighbor AP within the timeout response time, the first AP does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP in the first TXOP.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs do not overlap, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field; Each of the user information fields includes an allocated duration field, each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared to one of the first neighbor APs, and the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the corresponding first neighbor AP, and less than the first duration.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the first neighbor APs is less than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field and a fourth information field; Each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with one of the first neighbor APs, the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the second neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is less than the first duration; Each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding first neighbor AP; The TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the first neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When the communication ranges of the first neighbor APs overlap with each other and the sum of the second transmission durations of the first neighbor APs is greater than the first duration, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field and a fourth information field; Each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with a second neighbor AP, the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration of the corresponding second neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by each of the allocated transmission durations is less than the first duration; Each of the second neighbor APs is determined from each of the first neighbor APs according to the first duration and the second transmission duration corresponding to each of the first neighbor APs; Each of the fourth information fields is used to indicate the start time of the TXOP shared with the corresponding second neighbor AP, and the start time of the TXOP shared with each of the second neighbor APs is determined according to the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each of the second neighbor APs and the data transmission type corresponding to each of the second neighbor APs; The TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the second neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

9. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When each of the first neighbor APs includes at least one third neighbor AP and multiple fourth neighbor APs, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes multiple user information fields, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field; The communication range of each of the third neighbor APs does not overlap with the communication range of any other first neighbor AP, the communication ranges of each of the fourth neighbor APs overlap with each other, and each of the third neighbor APs and each of the fourth neighbor APs belongs to the first neighbor AP; When the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs is less than the first duration, each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with one of the third neighbor APs or one of the fourth neighbor APs, the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fourth neighbor AP, the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs is less than the first duration, and the sum of the third transmission durations corresponding to each of the third neighbor APs is less than the first duration; The user information field corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs also includes a fourth information field, and each of the fourth information fields is used for the start time of a TXOP shared with one of the fourth neighbor APs; the TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the fourth neighbor APs do not overlap with each other; When the sum of the second transmission durations corresponding to the fourth neighbor APs is greater than the first duration, each of the allocated duration fields is used to indicate the third transmission duration of the TXOP shared with one of the third neighbor APs or one of the fifth neighbor APs, and each of the fifth neighbor APs is determined from the fourth neighbor APs based on the first duration and the second transmission duration corresponding to each of the fourth neighbor APs; the third transmission duration indicated by each of the allocated duration fields is greater than or equal to the second transmission duration corresponding to the corresponding third neighbor AP or fifth neighbor AP, and the sum of the third transmission durations indicated by the allocated duration fields corresponding to each of the fifth neighbor APs is less than the first duration; The user information field corresponding to each of the fifth neighbor APs also includes a fourth information field, each of the fourth information fields is used to share the start time of the TXOP with one of the fifth neighbor APs, and the start time of the TXOP shared with each of the fifth neighbor APs is based on the reception time of the first wireless frame sent by each of the fifth neighbor APs, and the data transmission time of each of the fifth neighbor APs. The TXOPs shared by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame to each of the fifth neighbor APs do not overlap with each other.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The second AP determines a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to indicate whether the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP, and the second AP is any neighbor AP of the first AP; The second AP sends the first wireless frame, so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one neighbor AP at the same time according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighbor AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second AP receives a second wireless frame sent by the first AP, where the second wireless frame is used to find out whether a neighboring AP of the first AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP; The second radio frame includes at least one of the following: A first information field, where the first information field is used to indicate a first transmission duration remaining in the first TXOP after the first AP sends the second radio frame; The second information field is used to indicate a response timeout period of the second wireless frame.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The second AP sending the first wireless frame includes: The second AP sends a first radio frame within a response timeout period of the second radio frame; wherein the first radio frame includes a first identification bit, the first identification bit indicates through a first value that the second AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP in the first TXOP, and the first identification bit indicates through a second value that the second AP does not need the first AP to share the TXOP in the first TXOP; The method further comprises: When data transmission is not required in the first TXOP, the second AP does not respond to the second radio frame within a response timeout period of the second radio frame.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that When the second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP in the first TXOP, the first wireless frame further includes at least one of the following: a third information field, the third information field being used to indicate a second transmission duration required by the second AP to perform data transmission in the first TXOP; wherein the second transmission duration is less than the first duration, and the first duration is a difference between the first transmission duration and a timeout response time of the second wireless frame; The second identification bit indicates that the data transmission type of the second AP is an emergency transmission type through a third value, and indicates that the data transmission type of the second AP is not an emergency transmission type through a fourth value.

14. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The second AP requires the first AP to share an AP in the first TXOP, and the method further includes: The second AP receives a MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame sent by the first AP, where the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes at least one user information field, each of the user information fields includes an allocation duration field, each of the allocation duration fields is used to indicate a third transmission duration of a TXOP shared with a neighboring AP, and the third transmission duration indicated by each allocation duration field is greater than or equal to a second transmission duration required for the corresponding neighboring AP to transmit data in the first TXOP; When the MU-RTS TXS Trigger frame includes the user information field corresponding to the second AP, the second AP performs data transmission within the third transmission duration indicated by the allocated duration field corresponding to the second AP.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that When the user information field corresponding to the second AP further indicates the start time of the TXOP shared with the second AP through the fourth information field, the second AP performs data transmission within the third transmission duration, including: The second AP performs data transmission within a third transmission duration after the start time.

16. An AP, characterized in that: include: A transceiver module, configured to receive at least one first wireless frame; wherein each of the first wireless frames is sent by a neighbor AP, and each of the first wireless frames is used to indicate whether the corresponding neighbor AP needs the first AP to share the TXOP within the first TXOP; The transceiver module is used to share the TXOP with at least one of the neighbor APs simultaneously according to each of the first wireless frames, or not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP.

17. An AP, characterized in that: include: A processing module, configured to determine a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to indicate whether a second AP needs the first AP to share a TXOP within the first TXOP, and the second AP is any neighboring AP of the first AP; The transceiver module is used to send the first wireless frame so that the first AP shares the TXOP with at least one of the neighbor APs at the same time according to the first wireless frames sent by each neighbor AP, or does not share the TXOP with any neighbor AP.

18. An AP, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The AP is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

19. An AP, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The AP is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 10-15.

20. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is enabled to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or claims 10 to 15.

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