Data sending method, main network device, auxiliary network device and medium

Abstract

The invention provides a data sending method, which is executed by main network equipment, and comprises the following steps: completing a first back-off process in a target channel; determining waiting time; and after the waiting time, performing data cooperative transmission with the auxiliary network equipment in the target channel. The invention further provides a data sending method for the auxiliary network equipment, the main network equipment, the auxiliary network equipment and a computer readable medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of channel competition, and particularly to a method for data transmission, a main network device, a secondary network device, and a computer-readable medium. Background Art

[0002] Network devices such as access points (APs) can compete for the right to use a channel through Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA).

[0003] However, in some cases, network devices with data cooperative transmission capabilities can obtain a higher chance of using the channel, which destroys the fairness of channel access, resulting in reduced transmission rates, increased delays, and degraded quality of service for other network devices, affecting the user experience and reducing the throughput and capacity of the entire network. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a method for data transmission, a main network device, a secondary network device, and a computer-readable medium.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for data transmission, which is executed by a main network device. The method includes:

[0006] Completing a first backoff process in a target channel;

[0007] Determining a waiting time;

[0008] After the waiting time has elapsed, performing data cooperative transmission with a secondary network device in the target channel.

[0009] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for data transmission, which is executed by a secondary network device. The method includes:

[0010] Receiving synchronization information sent by a main network device during a second backoff process; the synchronization information is used to indicate a data cooperative transmission process in a target channel;

[0011] In response to the second backoff process not being completed after a waiting time has elapsed, performing data cooperative transmission with the main network device in the target channel;

[0012] In response to the second backoff process having been completed before the waiting time has elapsed, sending data.

[0013] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a main network device, which includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is configured to transmit data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program executable by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure is implemented.

[0014] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a secondary network device, which includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is configured to transmit data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program executable by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure is implemented.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure is implemented.

[0016] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the main network device competes for a channel, it starts data cooperative transmission after a waiting time. As a result, the time used by the secondary network device for data cooperative transmission will also be "delayed", which is equivalent to reducing the opportunity for the secondary network device to use the channel, improving the fairness of channel access, and can improve the transmission rate, delay, quality of service, etc. of other network devices without data cooperative transmission ability, enhancing the user experience and increasing the throughput and capacity of the entire network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure:

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method for data sending of a main network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 is a flowchart of another method for data sending of a main network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method for data sending of a secondary network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 5 is a flowchart of another method for data sending of a secondary network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a main network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 7 Block diagram of an auxiliary network device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 8 Block diagram of a computer-readable medium provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of a backoff process of CSMA / CA in a related art;

[0027] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of a data cooperative transmission process in another related art;

[0028] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of a process of another data sending method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of a process of another data sending method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of a process of another data sending method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of a process of another data sending method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of a process of another data sending method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed implementation manners

[0033] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, the data sending methods, master network devices, auxiliary network devices, and computer-readable media provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the illustrated embodiments may be embodied in different forms and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth below. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0035] The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the detailed embodiments, they are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute a limitation to the present disclosure. By describing the detailed embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0036] The present disclosure may be described with reference to plan views and / or cross-sectional views by means of ideal schematic diagrams of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the example illustrations may be modified in accordance with manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances.

[0037] In the case of no conflict, the embodiments of the present disclosure and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0038] The terms used in the present disclosure are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used in the present disclosure, the singular forms "a" and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used in the present disclosure, the terms "comprising", "made of", specify the presence of the stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present disclosure have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will also be understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning unless the present disclosure clearly so defines.

[0040] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but includes modifications to the configurations formed based on the manufacturing process. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the drawings have schematic properties, and the shapes of the regions shown in the drawings illustrate the specific shapes of the regions of the elements, but are not intended to be restrictive.

[0041] With the rapid development of computers and the Internet, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology has been paid more and more attention. WLAN, based on short-range wireless communication technology, allows terminal devices such as smart phones, personal computers, laptops, tablets, multimedia players, etc. to access wireless networks (such as home networks, company networks, the Internet in a specific service area, etc.) in a certain way.

[0042] Refer to Figure 1, a wireless network may include one or more Basic Service Sets (BSSs). Each BSS represents a group of devices that are interconnected and capable of communication. Multiple BSSs form an Extended Service Set (ESS). Different BSSs in the ESS can be distinguished by BSS identification information, which can be the BSSID (identifier) carried in the Medium Access Control (MAC) frame header, or the BSS Color carried in the port Physical Layer (PHY) frame header, etc.

[0043] Referring to Figure 1 , each BSS may include one or more network devices. A network device is a device that can be connected through a Distribution System (DS) and allows other terminal devices to access. It can be in the form of an Access Point (AP) serving as a Personal Coordination Point (PCP), such as a router, a mobile terminal with a hotspot enabled, etc.; or, the network device can also be in other forms such as a base station (e.g., eNodeB). Each BSS may also include one or more terminal devices. A terminal device is a device that can be wirelessly connected to a nearby network device (such as an AP), such as a Station (STA), specifically a smartphone, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, etc.

[0044] Alternatively, a network device (such as an AP) and a terminal device (such as a station) can also form an Ad-hoc Mode network, that is, they jointly form an ad-hoc wireless network and can directly communicate point-to-point or multi-point-to-multi-point.

[0045] Among them, data needs to be transmitted between a network device (such as an AP) and a terminal device (such as a station) through a channel (wireless channel). Since the carrying capacity of each channel is limited, when multiple network devices need to use the same channel (shared channel), they need to compete for the right to use the channel through a certain method.

[0046] For example, the 802.11 series of standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are about WLAN technology. The 802.11 MAC standard stipulates that the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) for channel competition can be implemented through Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA).

[0047] In some related technologies, referring to Figure 9 , according to CSMA / CA, when a network device (such as an AP) wants to send data (such as sending to a terminal device) through a channel, it needs to compete for the right to use the channel through a back-off process, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0048] (1) The network device continuously monitors the channel to determine whether its channel state is idle or busy.

[0049] For example, the network device can perform a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA). That is, the network device detects the intensity of the existing signal in the channel. If the signal intensity is greater than a predetermined intensity threshold (CCA threshold), the channel is considered busy (the channel is fully occupied). If no signal is detected or the signal intensity is less than the CCA threshold, the channel is considered idle (the channel is not fully occupied).

[0050] (2) When the channel state remains idle during the Inter Frame Space (IFS, or xIFS), the network device randomly determines an initial back-off time (or back-off value) within the contention window (CW, Contention Window).

[0051] Among them, the contention window is a time range of (0, CW), and CW is the pre-determined upper limit time of the contention window. That is, the network device generates a random value within the range of (0, CW) according to the back-off algorithm as the initial back-off time, which is the total time of its back-off process.

[0052] For example, CW can be represented by a certain number of time slots. Therefore, the selected initial back-off time is also a certain number of time slots. For example, referring to Figure 9 , CW is 8 time slots, and the selected initial back-off time is 5 time slots.

[0053] (3) The network device continuously monitors the channel. When it monitors that the channel state is idle for a certain period of time, it subtracts this time from the initial back-off time to obtain the remaining back-off time.

[0054] For example, the network device can detect the channel state in each time slot. For each time slot with an idle channel state, the number of time slots of the remaining back-off time is reduced by 1. For example, if the channel state is detected to be idle in a total of 3 time slots, the remaining back-off time is reduced from 5 time slots (i.e., the initial back-off time) to 2 time slots.

[0055] (4) When the remaining back-off time is reduced to 0 (such as 0 time slots), the network device uses the channel to send data.

[0056] (4-1) If the data is successfully sent, the network device restarts the backoff process when it is about to send the next frame of data.

[0057] (4-2) If the data is not successfully sent (such as a collision caused by other network devices starting to send data on the channel simultaneously), the network device restarts the backoff process, but its contention window is (0, 2*CW), that is, the upper limit time of the contention window is doubled.

[0058] It can be seen that according to the backoff process of CSMA / CA, the start time of each network device using the channel is randomly determined by the backoff algorithm, thus ensuring fairness among different network devices, achieving fair sharing of channel resources, and reducing the probability of collisions.

[0059] In some other related technologies, network devices can also perform data cooperative transmission.

[0060] The 802.11n standard introduces Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) implemented through multi-access point cooperative transmission technology. Among them, multiple APs in a wireless network (such as a WLAN) can form a cooperative transmission set. Multiple APs within the cooperative transmission set can cooperate and coordinate their work, thereby providing better coverage, capacity, and performance to solve problems such as heavy network load and serious network overlap.

[0061] Multiple network devices in the cooperative transmission set can be divided into a primary network device and secondary network devices.

[0062] Among them, the primary network device is responsible for scheduling the work of other network devices to avoid collisions and improve transmission efficiency. It can be in the form of a primary AP (sharing AP or master AP); while the secondary network devices work under the scheduling of the primary network device and can be in the form of secondary APs (shared APs or slave APs).

[0063] Refer to Figure 10 , after the primary network device accesses the channel through the backoff process of CSMA / CA, it can send a trigger frame (TF, Trigger Frame) to other secondary network devices that are in the backoff process. The trigger frame carries indication information for the secondary network devices, indicating how the secondary network devices perform time slot allocation, power control, transmission time adjustment, etc., to ensure the smooth progress of cooperative transmission.

[0064] Thus, when the main network device uses a channel to send data (DATA), the main network device and the secondary network device can perform cooperative data transmission in the channel together by sharing frequency, space, time, etc., and perform acknowledgment (ACK) together. Among them, the specific manner of cooperative transmission can be cooperative beamforming (C-BF), cooperative spatial multiplexing (C-SR), cooperative orthogonal frequency division multiple access (C-OFDMA), cooperative time division multiple access (C-TDMA), beamforming (J-SUMIMO), joint multi-user multiple input multiple output (J-MUMIMO), etc.

[0065] It can be seen that the secondary network device can compete for the channel usage right through its own backoff process, and after other main network devices compete for the channel, the secondary network device directly uses the channel through cooperative data transmission.

[0066] Thus, compared with other traditional network devices, a network device with the ability of cooperative data transmission obtains more opportunities to use the channel, thus destroying the fairness of channel access, resulting in a reduction in the transmission rate, an increase in delay, a decline in service quality of other network devices, affecting the user experience, and reducing the throughput and capacity of the entire network.

[0067] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for data transmission, which is executed by a main network device.

[0068] The embodiment of the present disclosure is used for the main network device (such as a sharing AP) and the secondary network device (such as a shared AP) to transmit data together in a wireless network (such as a WLAN), and is specifically executed by the main network device.

[0069] Referring to Figure 1 , the wireless network applicable to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include multiple network devices (such as APs), different network devices are interconnected with each other (such as through a DS), and each network device may also be connected to one or more terminal devices (such as stations).

[0070] As a manner of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the roles of the main network device and the secondary network device can be determined according to the initialization negotiation of the cooperative transmission set, or can be determined according to factors such as network topology, network device processing capacity, network device location, and network device coverage; according to this manner, relative to the network life cycle, the main network device and the secondary network device are permanent or semi-permanent.

[0071] Alternatively, as another implementation manner of the present disclosure, the primary network device may also be the network device that first completes the CSMA / CA backoff process each time (i.e., first obtains the channel usage right). Correspondingly, other network devices in the cooperative transmission set are secondary network devices. According to this manner, the primary network device and the secondary network device change dynamically. For example, a network device may be the primary network device in one data transmission and become the secondary network device in the next data transmission.

[0072] It can be seen that "the method of the embodiment of the present disclosure is executed by the primary network device" only means that the network device acts as the primary network device role when executing the method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, rather than meaning that the primary network device and the secondary network device are two different devices.

[0073] Refer to Figure 2 , the data sending method of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes:

[0074] S101. Complete the first backoff process in the target channel.

[0075] S102. Determine the waiting time.

[0076] S103. After the waiting time, perform data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel.

[0077] When a network device wants to send data in a channel (the target channel, such as the wireless channel with the terminal device), it needs to compete for the channel usage right through the CSMA / CA backoff process (the first backoff process). When the network device first completes the first backoff process and competes for the usage right of the target channel, it can execute the method of the embodiment of the present disclosure as the primary network device.

[0078] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, after the primary network device completes the first backoff process, it does not immediately transmit data, but first determines a "waiting time".

[0079] Among them, the specific form of the waiting time is diverse. For example, it can be a certain number of time slots or a specific duration, etc.

[0080] Refer to Figure 11 , after the primary network device completes the backoff process, it enters the "Wait" state. It does not send data in the waiting state, and the waiting state needs to last for the waiting time. Thus, after the waiting state ends (that is, after the waiting time), the primary network device starts to perform data cooperative transmission (DATA) with the secondary network device in the target channel through channel sharing.

[0081] It should be understood that when the master network device is in the waiting state, in addition to not using the target channel to send data by itself, it should not set the Network Allocation Vector (NAV) or perform other behaviors that occupy the target channel, so as to allow other network devices, terminal devices, etc. to compete for the target channel.

[0082] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the master network device competes for the channel, it starts data cooperative transmission after a waiting time. As a result, the time used by the slave network device for data cooperative transmission will also be "delayed", which is equivalent to reducing the opportunity for the slave network device to use the channel, improving the fairness of channel access, and can improve the transmission rate, delay, quality of service, etc. of other network devices without data cooperative transmission capabilities, enhance the user experience, and increase the throughput and capacity of the entire network.

[0083] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 3 , between "completing the first backoff process (S101) in the target channel" and "determining the waiting time (S102)", it further includes:

[0084] S101A1: Send synchronization information to the preset candidate network devices.

[0085] Among them, the synchronization information is used to indicate the data cooperative transmission process in the target channel.

[0086] S101A2: Receive response information sent by at least some of the candidate network devices.

[0087] S101A3: Determine at least some of the candidate network devices as slave network devices according to the response information.

[0088] To complete the data cooperative transmission process, the master network device and the slave network device need to be "synchronized" in advance, including determining which network devices need to be used as slave network devices (for example, some network devices do not need to send data, so there is naturally no need to be used as network devices), and indicating how the slave network devices perform time slot allocation, power control, transmission time adjustment, etc.

[0089] Thus, referring to Figure 12 , after a certain network device completes the backoff process and determines that it can be used as the master network device, it sends synchronization information to the candidate network devices that may be used as slave network devices (such as other network devices in the same cooperative transmission set), and determines which candidate network devices should be used as slave network devices according to the response information replied by each candidate network device.

[0090] Among them, the specific forms of the synchronization information and the response information are diverse. For example, the synchronization information can be in the form of a trigger frame (TF) or a synchronization frame, while the response information can be in the form of a response frame (RESP).

[0091] When there are multiple candidate network devices, to avoid conflicts between response messages, the synchronization information may further include transmission parameters of the response messages. For example, in the synchronization information sent to each candidate network device, the RU (resource unit) position of its response message (such as a response frame) may be included, and the candidate network device uses a PPDU (protocol data unit) of the OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) system to send a response message at the indicated RU position.

[0092] It should be understood that the synchronization information can exist alone, that is, with reference to Figure 11 , after the master network device sends the synchronization information, the slave network device may not send a response message.

[0093] In some embodiments, with reference to Figure 3 , determining the waiting time (S102) includes:

[0094] S1021. Obtain the remaining backoff time of the slave device of the slave network device.

[0095] Wherein, the remaining backoff time of the slave device is the remaining backoff time in the second backoff process being performed by the slave network device.

[0096] S1022. Determine the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the slave device.

[0097] As a way of the embodiments of the present disclosure, before data cooperative transmission, the slave network devices are also respectively performing their own CSMA / CA backoff processes (second backoff processes), and each slave network device's backoff process has its own remaining backoff time (remaining backoff time of the slave device); thus, after the master network device competes for the channel, it can obtain the remaining backoff time of the slave network device and determine the waiting time according to this time, that is, determine the waiting time according to the time that the slave network device "originally (assuming there is no master network device)" still needs to use the channel, to more accurately ensure the fairness of channel access.

[0098] It should be understood that it is also possible to use a preset time as the waiting time, or generate the waiting time through a random algorithm, etc.

[0099] In some embodiments, obtaining the remaining backoff time of the slave device of the slave network device (S1021) includes:

[0100] S1021A. Obtain the remaining backoff time of the slave device of the slave network device with an idle channel state.

[0101] As a way of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the master network device can also obtain the channel state of the slave network device, and only when the channel state of the slave network device is idle, obtain its remaining backoff time (remaining backoff time of the slave device).

[0102] In some embodiments, obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device (S1021) includes at least one of the following:

[0103] S1021BA. Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device through a wired backhaul.

[0104] S1021BB. Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device through clear channel assessment.

[0105] S1021BC. Sending backoff query information to the secondary network device, and determining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device according to the backoff feedback information sent by the secondary network device.

[0106] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the specific manners for the primary network device to obtain the channel state and the remaining backoff time of the secondary network device are diverse.

[0107] For example, the primary network device may obtain the channel state of the secondary network device through a wired backhaul manner.

[0108] For another example, if the working channels of the primary network device and the secondary network device include each other, the primary network device may also indirectly obtain the channel state of the secondary network device by checking the CCA of the working channel of the secondary network device. Among them, the channel state being busy or idle may be indicated by the local CCA and NAV of the secondary network device, and in the idle state, the channel state may further include the remaining backoff time of the secondary network device (remaining backoff time of the secondary device).

[0109] For another example, the primary network device may also send (such as through the air interface) backoff query information, and the secondary network device adds its own remaining backoff time to the backoff feedback information according to the backoff query information, and sends it to (such as through the air interface) the primary network device for the primary network device to obtain the remaining backoff time of the secondary device.

[0110] It should be understood that the above backoff query information and backoff feedback information may be separate information, or may also be other information at the same time; for example, the synchronization information (such as TF) sent by the primary network device may also serve as the backoff query information at the same time, and the response information (such as RESP) sent by the secondary network device may carry the remaining backoff time and serve as the backoff feedback information at the same time.

[0111] In some embodiments, the secondary network device includes multiple ports, and each port has a remaining backoff time of the port; obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device (S1021) includes:

[0112] S1021C. Obtaining the minimum remaining backoff time of the ports of the secondary network device as the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device.

[0113] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, each secondary network device may have multiple ports, and each port independently competes for a channel through the backoff process of CSMA / CA. Thus, each port has its own backoff counter, that is, its own remaining backoff time (port remaining backoff time). Therefore, the master network device may use the minimum value of the remaining backoff times of the ports of the secondary network device as the overall remaining backoff time of the secondary network device, and then perform data cooperative transmission with this port of the secondary network device later.

[0114] For example, according to EDCA, each secondary network device includes 4 access categories (AC, Access Category), which can be used as 4 ports respectively, and each AC has its own backoff counter to record the port remaining backoff time. Thus, the master network device can only obtain the minimum value among the 4 backoff counters as the remaining backoff time of the secondary network device.

[0115] It should be understood that it is also feasible for the master network device to obtain the remaining backoff times of multiple ports of the secondary network device at the same time.

[0116] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 3 , determining the waiting time (S1022) according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device includes:

[0117] S1022A. Determine the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary device as the waiting time.

[0118] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the "maximum value" of the remaining backoff time of the secondary network device can be used as the waiting time.

[0119] For example, referring to Figure 11 , when the backoff process (the first backoff process) of the master network device ends, the remaining backoff time of the secondary network device is 4 time slots. Since there is only one secondary network device at this time, the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary network device is also 4 time slots. Therefore, the waiting time can be determined to be 4 time slots.

[0120] Referring to Figure 11 , according to the above method, for the secondary network device with the maximum remaining backoff time, the moment when it starts data cooperative transmission is the moment when its backoff process is completed, that is, the moment when it can use the channel through the normal backoff process. Therefore, it is equivalent that the secondary network device does not obtain an extra opportunity in channel occupancy, which can best ensure the fairness of channel access.

[0121] It should be understood that if the waiting time is not the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary device, when the secondary network device starts data cooperative transmission, its backoff process may not be completed yet or has been completed for a certain time, and such a method is also feasible.

[0122] In some embodiments, after the waiting time, performing data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel (S1031) includes:

[0123] S103A. Sending backoff adjustment information to the secondary network device.

[0124] The backoff adjustment information is used to instruct the secondary network device to set its remaining backoff time of the secondary device equal to the waiting time.

[0125] As a way in the embodiments of the present disclosure, for the secondary network device participating in data cooperative transmission, it is desired that its backoff process is completed simultaneously with the waiting time, rather than in advance or delay, so as to reduce unnecessary channel usage.

[0126] For this purpose, the primary network device may send backoff adjustment information to the secondary network device to "inform" the waiting time, so that the secondary network device can adjust the remaining backoff time of its own backoff process (the second backoff process) to this waiting time, making the second backoff process end exactly simultaneously with the waiting time.

[0127] It should be understood that if the secondary network device obtains the waiting time by other means such as a wired backhaul (for example, when selecting the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary device as the waiting time, the secondary network device can obtain the remaining backoff times of all secondary devices through the wired backhaul and set its own remaining waiting time to the maximum value among them), it is also feasible.

[0128] In some embodiments, obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device (S1021) includes:

[0129] S1021D. Obtaining the remaining backoff times of multiple secondary network devices.

[0130] Determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device (S1022) includes:

[0131] S1022B. Determining at least some of the secondary network devices as target secondary network devices according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device, and determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the target secondary network devices.

[0132] Performing data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel (S103) includes:

[0133] S103B. Performing data cooperative transmission with the target secondary network device in the target channel.

[0134] As a way in the embodiments of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 12When there are multiple secondary network devices, the primary network device can select some or all of them as "target secondary network devices" according to their remaining backoff times; subsequently, the waiting time is determined only according to the remaining backoff times of these target secondary network devices, and data cooperative transmission is only performed with the target secondary network devices; while other secondary network devices that are not selected as target network devices (if not all are selected) still continue to independently perform data transmission through the conventional CSMA / CA backoff process.

[0135] It should be understood that the process of selecting the target secondary network devices above can be combined with other processes.

[0136] For example, after the primary network device sends synchronization information to multiple candidate network devices and receives response information, it can directly select some of the candidate network devices as secondary network devices and also as target secondary network devices according to the remaining backoff times of the secondary devices in each response information, and then determine the waiting time according to the remaining backoff times of these target secondary network devices, and perform data cooperative transmission.

[0137] In some embodiments, determining at least some of the secondary network devices as target secondary network devices according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device, and determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the target secondary network device (S1022B1) includes:

[0138] S1022B11. Determine the secondary network device with the smallest remaining backoff time of the secondary device as the target secondary network device, and determine the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the target secondary network device as the waiting time.

[0139] As a way of the embodiment of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 12 , it can be to select "one" secondary network device with the smallest remaining backoff time (such as 4 time slots) as the target secondary network device, and directly use its remaining backoff time as the waiting time.

[0140] Thus, on the basis of avoiding unfair channel access opportunities for secondary network devices, the waiting time can be minimized as much as possible, the probability of conflict caused by the target channel being occupied during the waiting time can be reduced, and the channel access opportunities of the primary network device and the secondary network device can be prevented from being at a disadvantage.

[0141] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 3 , after the waiting time, perform data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel (S103), including:

[0142] S103C1. Start the third backoff process.

[0143] Among them, the initial backoff time of the third backoff process is equal to the waiting time.

[0144] S103C2. After the third backoff process is completed, perform data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel.

[0145] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 13 , after determining the waiting time (such as being equal to the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary device), the primary network device can start a new backoff process (the third backoff process), and the initial backoff time of this third backoff process is equal to the waiting time. Therefore, when the third backoff process ends, that is, when the waiting time is completed, data cooperative transmission can be directly started.

[0146] In the above way, the primary network device realizes "waiting" through a conventional CSMA / CA backoff process, so its compatibility with related technologies is good.

[0147] It should be understood that it is also feasible to make the primary network device start data cooperative transmission only after the waiting time through a separate control process; for example, in the waiting state, the backoff counter of the primary network device can be temporarily set to 0.

[0148] In some embodiments, the inter-frame space before the third backoff process satisfies at least one of the following:

[0149] Equal to the arbitration inter-frame space;

[0150] Less than the arbitration inter-frame space;

[0151] Equal to the distributed coordination inter-frame space;

[0152] Less than the distributed coordination inter-frame space.

[0153] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 13 , there is an inter-frame space (xIFS) before the backoff process, and the specific length of the inter-frame space before the third backoff process performed by the primary network device can be the arbitration inter-frame space (AIFS) or the distributed coordination inter-frame space (DIFS, DCF IFS). Since both AIFS and DIFS are optional ways of xIFS specified in the 802.11 standard, using them can ensure good compatibility.

[0154] Alternatively, the xIFS of the third backoff process can also be shorter than AIFS or DIFS to shorten the overall waiting process.

[0155] It should be understood that as long as the primary network device and the secondary network device actually implement the method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is feasible, and the specific steps they execute can have different understanding methods from different perspectives.

[0156] For example, since the master network device and the slave network device are necessarily synchronized, when the master network device executes the third backoff process, it can be considered that the slave network device also starts a new backoff process after xIFS.

[0157] Alternatively, if the waiting time is equal to the remaining backoff time of the slave network device, it can also be understood that the slave network device "continues" the original backoff process (the second backoff process) after xIFS.

[0158] Alternatively, the third backoff process can also be understood as that after xIFS, the master network device "increases" the originally zero remaining backoff time to the waiting time and "continues" the original backoff process (the first backoff process).

[0159] In some embodiments, after determining the waiting time (S102), it further includes:

[0160] S102A. In response to the channel state of the master network device and / or the slave network device changing to busy before the waiting time elapses, start the fourth backoff process.

[0161] Wherein, the upper limit time of the contention window of the fourth backoff process is equal to the upper limit time of the contention window of the first backoff process.

[0162] As a way of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the channel of the master network device or the slave network device may become busy again during the waiting time. At this time, even if the waiting process continues, the cooperative data transmission cannot be completed. Therefore, the master network device can restart the backoff process (the fourth backoff process), but the upper limit time (CW) of the contention window of the fourth backoff process should not change.

[0163] For example, referring to Figure 14 , if the channel (the target channel) of the master network device becomes busy during the waiting time, the master network device can no longer use the target channel. Therefore, it should restart the fourth backoff process, and the initial backoff time of the fourth backoff process is still selected within the range of (0, CW); correspondingly, the slave network device continues its own backoff process (the second backoff process).

[0164] Again, for example, referring to Figure 15 , if the channel of the slave network device becomes busy during the waiting time, the master network device loses the "object" of cooperative data transmission. Therefore, it should restart the fourth backoff process, and the initial backoff time of the fourth backoff process is still selected within the range of (0, CW); correspondingly, the slave network device can continue the second backoff process after the busy state of the channel ends.

[0165] Wherein, the channel states of the master network device and the slave network device can be obtained through the wired backhaul method or indirectly through local CCA / NAV, which will not be described in detail here.

[0166] It should be understood that after the new backoff process (the fourth backoff process) of the above main network device and the backoff process of the secondary network device (the second backoff process) are completed, since there is no longer collaborative data transmission, both the main network device and the secondary network device can independently send data in the same manner as when the conventional backoff process is completed; or, the original main network device and secondary network device can also become the "new" main network device after the backoff process is completed; or, if other network devices complete the backoff process and become the "new" main network device during the above backoff process, the original main network device and secondary network device may also become the "new" secondary network device.

[0167] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for data transmission, which is executed by a secondary network device.

[0168] The embodiments of the present disclosure are used for the main network device (such as a sharing AP) and the secondary network device (such as a shared AP) to transmit data together in a wireless network (such as a WLAN), and specifically, it is executed by the main network device.

[0169] Referring to Figure 1 , the wireless network applicable to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include multiple network devices (such as APs), different network devices are interconnected (such as through a DS), and each network device can also be connected to one or more terminal devices (such as stations).

[0170] As a way of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the roles of the main network device and the secondary network device can be determined according to the initialization negotiation of the collaborative transmission set, or can also be determined according to factors such as network topology, network device processing capabilities, network device location, and network device coverage range; according to this way, relative to the network life cycle, the main network device and the secondary network device are permanent or semi-permanent.

[0171] Or, as another way of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the main network device can also be the network device that first completes the CSMA / CA backoff process (that is, the first to obtain the channel usage right) each time. Correspondingly, other network devices in the collaborative transmission set are the secondary network devices; according to this way, the main network device and the secondary network device change dynamically. For example, a network device may be the main network device in one data transmission and become the secondary network device in the next data transmission.

[0172] It can be seen that "the method of the embodiments of the present disclosure is executed by the secondary network device" only means that the network device is acting as the role of the secondary network device when executing the method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not mean that the main network device and the secondary network device are two different devices.

[0173] Referring to Figure 4, the method for data transmission in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes:

[0174] S201. During the second backoff process, receive the synchronization information sent by the primary network device.

[0175] The synchronization information is used to indicate the data cooperative transmission process in the target channel.

[0176] S202A. In response to the second backoff process not being completed after the waiting time, perform data cooperative transmission with the primary network device in the target channel.

[0177] S202B. In response to the second backoff process being completed before the waiting time, send data.

[0178] When the primary network device performs data transmission in the above manner, correspondingly, the secondary network device that is undergoing its own backoff process (the second backoff process) will receive the synchronization information sent by the primary network device, such as in the form of a trigger frame (TF). Thus:

[0179] (1) After the waiting time, if the backoff process of the secondary network device itself is still not completed, it will no longer continue the backoff process, but perform data cooperative transmission (channel sharing) with the primary network device in the target channel.

[0180] (2) If the backoff process of the secondary network device itself is completed before the waiting time is over, the secondary network device will directly send data in the channel (not necessarily the target channel) through the CSMA / CA backoff process, rather than performing data cooperative transmission.

[0181] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 5 , receiving the synchronization information (S201) sent by the primary network device includes:

[0182] S2011. Receive the backoff query information sent by the primary network device.

[0183] S2012. Send backoff feedback information to the primary network device.

[0184] The backoff feedback information includes the remaining backoff time of the second backoff process.

[0185] As a way in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondary network device can also send backoff feedback information (such as the above response information) according to the backoff feedback information sent by the primary network device (such as the above synchronization information at the same time), and add its own remaining backoff time to the backoff feedback information to notify the primary network device.

[0186] In some embodiments, after receiving the synchronization information (S201) sent by the primary network device, it further includes:

[0187] S201A1. Obtain the waiting time.

[0188] S201A2. Set the remaining backoff time of the second backoff process to be equal to the waiting time.

[0189] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary network device may also obtain the waiting time, set the remaining backoff time of its own backoff process (the second backoff process) to the waiting time, and then continue the second backoff process, so as to avoid the situation that the remaining backoff time of the second backoff process is short and finishes before the waiting time.

[0190] Among them, the secondary network device may obtain the waiting time according to the instruction received from the primary network device through the air interface, or may obtain the waiting time through wired backhaul and other means, which will not be described in detail here.

[0191] In a third aspect, referring to Figure 6 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a primary network device, which includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is used for transmitting data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program that can be executed by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0192] In some embodiments, the primary network device includes an access point; the target channel includes the channel between the access point and the station.

[0193] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the primary network device may be in the form of an AP (sharing AP), such as a router, a mobile terminal with a hotspot enabled, etc., and the target channel for sending data is the channel between the AP and the station.

[0194] In a fourth aspect, referring to Figure 7 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a secondary network device, which includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is used for transmitting data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program that can be executed by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0195] In some embodiments, the secondary network device includes an access point; the target channel includes the channel between the access point and the station.

[0196] As a way of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary network device may be in the form of an AP (sharing AP), such as a router, a mobile terminal with a hotspot enabled, etc., and the target channel for sending data is the channel between the AP and the station.

[0197] It should be understood that the primary network device and the secondary network device in the embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily two different devices; for example, a network device may act as the primary network device or the secondary network device under different circumstances.

[0198] It should be understood that in the primary network device and the secondary network device of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication unit, the memory, and the processor should be coupled and interconnected with each other through structures such as a bus, so as to enable information interaction.

[0199] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication unit is generally a structure capable of performing wireless communication. For example, it may include one or more communication modules for transceiving wireless signals in different frequency bands (such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, etc.), and multiple communication modules may be integrated into one device (such as a chip); in addition, the communication unit also includes a radio frequency module for processing radio frequency signals, an Ethernet interface compliant with the 802.3 standard, etc.

[0200] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a device with data processing capabilities, which may include hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc., and may also include corresponding software.

[0201] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the memory is a device with data storage capabilities, which may include hardware such as a random access memory (RAM, more specifically such as SDRAM, DDR, etc.), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory (FLASH), etc., and may also include corresponding software.

[0202] In a fifth aspect, referring to Figure 8 , the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, any one of the data sending methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure is implemented.

[0203] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or some of the steps, systems, and functional modules / units in the devices disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and appropriate combinations thereof.

[0204] In a hardware implementation, the division between the functional modules / units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, one physical component may have multiple functions, or one function or step may be executed by several physical components in cooperation.

[0205] Some physical components or all physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor or a microprocessor, or implemented as hardware, or implemented as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which may include a computer storage medium (or non-temporary medium) and a communication medium (or temporary medium). As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the term computer storage medium includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data). Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM, more specifically SDRAM, DDR, etc.), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (FLASH) or other disk storage; read-only compact disk (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage; magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, disk storage or other magnetic storage; any other medium that can be used to store desired information and can be accessed by a computer. Furthermore, it is well known to those skilled in the art that communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media.

[0206] The present disclosure has disclosed example embodiments, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and should be interpreted only in a general illustrative sense and not for limiting purposes. In some instances, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise expressly stated, features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for data transmission, which is executed by a master network device, and the method includes: Completing a first backoff process in a target channel; Determining a waiting time; After the waiting time has elapsed, performing data cooperative transmission with a secondary network device in the target channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The determining the waiting time includes: Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device; the remaining backoff time of the secondary device is the remaining backoff time in the second backoff process that the secondary network device is undergoing; Determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device includes: Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device with the channel status being idle.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device includes at least one of the following: Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device through a wired backhaul; Obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device through an idle channel assessment; Sending backoff query information to the secondary network device, and determining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device according to the backoff feedback information sent by the secondary network device.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The secondary network device includes multiple ports, and each port has a remaining backoff time of the port; The obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device includes: Obtaining the minimum remaining backoff time of the ports of the secondary network device as the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein The determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device includes: Determining the maximum remaining backoff time of the secondary device as the waiting time.

7. According to the method of claim 2, wherein, The obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary device of the secondary network device includes: obtaining the remaining backoff time of the secondary devices of multiple secondary network devices; The determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device includes: according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device, determining at least some of the secondary network devices as target secondary network devices, and determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the target secondary network devices; The performing data cooperative transmission with a secondary network device in the target channel includes: performing data cooperative transmission with the target secondary network device in the target channel.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The according to the remaining backoff time of the secondary device, determining at least some of the secondary network devices as target secondary network devices, and determining the waiting time according to the remaining backoff time of the target secondary network devices includes: Determining the secondary network device with the minimum remaining backoff time of the secondary device as the target secondary network device, and determining the remaining backoff time of the target secondary network device as the waiting time.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein The after the waiting time has elapsed, performing data cooperative transmission with a secondary network device in the target channel includes: Starting a third backoff process; the initial backoff time of the third backoff process is equal to the waiting time; After the third backoff process is completed, performing data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the inter-frame interval before the third backoff process satisfies at least one of the following: Equal to the arbitration inter-frame interval; Less than the arbitration inter-frame interval; Equal to the distributed coordination inter-frame interval; Less than the distributed coordination inter-frame interval.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, After the waiting time, performing data cooperative transmission with the secondary network device in the target channel, including: Sending backoff adjustment information to the secondary network device; the backoff adjustment information is used to instruct the secondary network device to set its remaining backoff time of the secondary device equal to the waiting time.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein Between completing the first backoff process in the target channel and determining the waiting time, further including: Sending synchronization information to a preset candidate network device; the synchronization information is used to indicate the data cooperative transmission process in the target channel; Receiving response information sent by at least part of the candidate network devices; Determining at least part of the candidate network devices as the secondary network device according to the response information.

13. The method according to claim 1, after determining the waiting time, further including: In response to the channel state of the primary network device and / or the channel state of the secondary network device becoming busy before the waiting time, starting a fourth backoff process; The upper limit time of the contention window of the fourth backoff process is equal to the upper limit time of the contention window of the first backoff process.

14. A data sending method, executed by a secondary network device, the method including: Receiving synchronization information sent by a primary network device during a second backoff process; The synchronization information is used to indicate the data cooperative transmission process in the target channel; In response to the second backoff process not being completed after the waiting time, performing data cooperative transmission with the primary network device in the target channel; In response to the second backoff process being completed before the waiting time, sending data.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, The receiving the synchronization information sent by the primary network device includes: Receiving the backoff query information sent by the primary network device; Sending backoff feedback information to the primary network device; the backoff feedback information includes the remaining backoff time of the second backoff process.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein, After receiving the synchronization information sent by the primary network device, further including: Obtaining the waiting time; Setting the remaining backoff time of the second backoff process equal to the waiting time.

17. A primary network device, which includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is used to transmit data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program that can be executed by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the data sending method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

18. The primary network device according to claim 17, wherein The primary network device includes an access point; The target channel includes the channel between the access point and the station.

19. A secondary network device, comprising a communication unit, a memory, and a processor; the communication unit is configured to transmit data in a channel, the memory stores a computer program executable by the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the data transmission method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

20. The secondary network device according to claim 19, wherein the secondary network device includes an access point; the target channel includes the channel between the access point and the station.

21. A computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the data transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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