Multi-link communication method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-link communication method and a multi-link communication device, which are applied to a wireless local area network system supporting 1EEE 802.11 ax next-generation Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) protocols, such as 802.11 be, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) 7 or EHT, 802.11 be next-generation, Wi-Fi 8, UHR (Ultra High Ratio), Wi-Fi AI (Wireless Fidelity) and other 802.11 series protocols, and can also be applied to an ultra-bandwidth-based wireless personal local area network system and a sensing system. A sending end sends a wireless frame, and correspondingly, a receiving end receives the wireless frame and analyzes the wireless frame. The wireless frame includes a first element and a second element, the first element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field may be determined based on a latest TBTT or TU boundary prior to a transmission time of the wireless frame or based on a TSF timer, it can be ensured that the expected end time of the mapping relation of the first element is the same as the time when the mapping relation of the second element is established.

Description

Multi-link communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application with application number 202211582012.0 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on December 9, 2022, and priority to the Chinese patent application with the invention name “Multi-link communication method and device”, all contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a multi-link communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] With the advancement of wireless technology, more and more wireless devices support multi-link communication. For example, they can communicate simultaneously in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, or simultaneously communicate on different channels in the same band, thereby increasing the communication rate between devices. Such devices are commonly called multi-link devices (MLDs). Multi-link devices can be either access points or station devices. Station devices can communicate with access points after establishing (or associating) a multi-link.

[0004] During the multi-link establishment (or multi-link association) process, a site in a multi-link site device can send an association request frame to an access point in a multi-link access point device. The association request frame carries a multi-link element (MLE) (or multi-link information unit) to carry information about the multi-link site device and other sites in the device. Similarly, the association response frame that the access point replies to the site can also carry an MLE to carry information about the multi-link access point device and other access points in the device. At the same time, in order to better manage services, service identifiers (traffic IDs, TIDs) and links can be mapped between multi-link devices to achieve the purpose of providing different services for different services. For example, non-important services can be mapped to some links, while important services can be mapped to all links; or different services can be mapped to corresponding links based on the rate and latency characteristics of different links.

[0005] However, in the process of switching the mapping mode between the service identifier and the link, there often occurs a problem that the effective time of the new mapping mode does not match the end time of the old mapping mode.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a multi-link communication method and apparatus, which can effectively ensure that the effective time of a new mapping mode matches the end time of an old mapping mode.

[0008] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0009] Generate a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and a link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, the expected duration field being determined based on the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the most recent beacon before the sending time of the wireless frame, or based on a time synchronization function (TSF) timer; the second service identifier and a link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; send the wireless frame.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present application, the mapping switching time field in the second service identifier and the link mapping element can be determined based on the TBTT of a certain beacon frame in the future (relative to the radio frame). Since the time difference between any two TBTTs on a link is in units of TU, ​​when the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field is calculated based on the most recent TBTT before the sending time of the radio frame, it can be effectively guaranteed that the expected end time can accurately indicate the time indicated by the second service identifier and the mapping switching time field in the link mapping element.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present application, the time indicated by the expected duration field is modified to an absolute time, such as being set to the system time when the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element ends. This can effectively ensure that the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field in the first service identifier and the link mapping element can indicate the time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second service identifier and the link mapping element to be established.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the value carried by the expected duration field is the same as any one of the following: bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer; bits 11 to 34 of the TSF timer; bits 11 to 50 of the TSF timer.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the expected duration field in the second service identifier and link mapping element can be determined based on the TBTT of a future beacon frame, such as being set to bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer. Thus, by setting the expected duration field in the first service identifier and link mapping element to bits 11 to 26, or bits 11 to 34, etc. of the TSF timer, it can be effectively ensured that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element in the radio frame.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present application, after the order of the first service identifier and the link mapping element and the second service identifier and the link mapping element is fixed, the receiving end can parse different elements based on the order of these two elements, thereby quickly knowing the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0016] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0017] Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and a link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, the expected duration field being determined based on the most recent beacon target transmission time TBTT before the transmission time of the wireless frame, or being determined based on the time synchronization function TSF timer; the second service identifier and a link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; parse the wireless frame.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the parsing the radio frame includes:

[0019] Taking the most recent TBTT before the sending time of the wireless frame as the starting point and the numerical value carried by the expected duration field as the duration, determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element; or, use the numerical value carried by the expected duration field as the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the value carried by the expected duration field is the same as any of the following:

[0021] Bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer; bits 11 to 34 of the TSF timer; bits 11 to 50 of the TSF timer.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element in the radio frame.

[0023] It can be understood that reference can be made to the first aspect for the beneficial effects of the second aspect.

[0024] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0025] Generate a wireless frame, which includes a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and a link mapping element does not include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and a link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, and the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element; or, the first service identifier and the link mapping element includes an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, and the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; send the wireless frame.

[0026] In an embodiment of the present application, the first service identifier and the link mapping element do not include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element include a mapping switching time field, whereby the mapping switching time field can indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and can also indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element. For example, the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element can be equal to the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established by default, thereby effectively ensuring that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0027] In an embodiment of the present application, the first service identifier and the link mapping element include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element do not include a mapping switching time field, so that the expected duration field can indicate both the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established. For example, the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established can be equal to the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element by default, thereby effectively ensuring that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element in the radio frame.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0030] Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and a link mapping element does not include an expected duration field, the second service identifier and a link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element; or, the first service identifier and the link mapping element includes an expected duration field, the second service identifier and the link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, the expected duration field is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, and the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; parse the wireless frame.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the parsing the radio frame includes:

[0032] In a case where the first service identifier and link mapping element does not include an expected duration field and the second service identifier and link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is determined based on the mapping switching time field; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established; or,

[0033] When the first service identifier and link mapping element includes an expected duration field and the second service identifier and link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established is determined based on the expected duration field; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element in the radio frame.

[0035] It is understandable that reference may be made to the third aspect for the beneficial effects of the fourth aspect.

[0036] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0037] Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element, the first service identifier and a link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, the second service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; determine the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established based on the expected duration field; or determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element based on the mapping switching time field.

[0038] In the embodiment of the present application, although the first service identifier and the link mapping element include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element include a mapping switching time field, if the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field does not match the established time indicated by the mapping switching time field, the receiving end can use one of the expected duration field or the mapping switching time field as the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established. Thus, it is effectively ensured that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0039] In a possible implementation, determining the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element based on the mapping switching time field includes:

[0040] When the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is later than the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is determined based on the mapping switching time field, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is equal to the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element in the radio frame.

[0042] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0043] Generate a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field and a first field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the time is determined based on the first beacon target time TBTT on the first link, the first field is used to indicate the time difference between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link, the time point is not later than the first TBTT and is the time point on the second link closest to the first TBTT, the lower 10 bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer at the time point are 0, or the time point is the TBTT on the second link; send the wireless frame through the second link.

[0044] In an embodiment of the present application, by including the time difference between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the second link in the wireless frame, when the time when the mapping relationship is established is determined based on the TBTT on the first link, the receiving end on the second link can still accurately determine the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second link is established based on the wireless frame.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the service identifier and link mapping element further includes a second field, where the second field is used to indicate the existence of the first field.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the value carried by the first field is the first to tenth bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer of the basic service set BSS corresponding to the second link.

[0047] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0048] A wireless frame is received through a second link, the wireless frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field and a first field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the time is determined based on the first beacon target time TBTT on the first link, the first field is used to indicate the time difference between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link, the time point is not later than the first TBTT and is the time point on the second link closest to the first TBTT, the lower 10 bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer at the time point are 0, or the time point is the TBTT on the second link; and the wireless frame is parsed.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the parsing the radio frame includes:

[0050] The time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier corresponding to the second link and the link is established is determined based on the time indicated by the mapping switching time field and the first field.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the service identifier and link mapping element further includes a second field, where the second field is used to indicate the existence of the first field.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the value carried by the first field is the first to tenth bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer of the basic service set BSS corresponding to the second link.

[0053] It can be understood that reference can be made to the sixth aspect for the beneficial effects of the seventh aspect.

[0054] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0055] Generate a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and the time accuracy of the time is microseconds; send the wireless frame.

[0056] In an embodiment of the present application, when the time accuracy of the establishment time indicated by the mapping switching time field is modified to us, even if the time when the mapping relationship is established is determined based on the TBTT on the first link, the receiving end on the second link can still accurately determine the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second link is established based on the wireless frame.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the service identifier and link mapping element further includes a length field, which is used to indicate the length of the mapping switching time field. When the value carried by the length field is a first value, the time accuracy of the time is microseconds.

[0058] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0059] Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when a mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and the time accuracy of the time is microseconds; parse the wireless frame.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the parsing the radio frame includes:

[0061] The time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link is established is determined based on the value carried by the mapping switching time field.

[0062] In a possible implementation, the service identifier and link mapping element further includes a length field, which is used to indicate the length of the mapping switching time field. When the value carried by the length field is a first value, the time accuracy of the time is microseconds.

[0063] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0064] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The communication device includes a unit having the function of executing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0065] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0066] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0067] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

[0068] In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect.

[0069] In a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the seventh aspect or any possible implementation of the seventh aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the seventh aspect or any possible implementation of the seventh aspect.

[0070] In a seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the eighth aspect or any possible implementation of the eighth aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the eighth aspect or any possible implementation of the eighth aspect.

[0071] In an eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device for executing the method in the ninth aspect or any possible implementation of the ninth aspect. The communication device includes a unit having a function of executing the method in the ninth aspect or any possible implementation of the ninth aspect.

[0072] In the tenth aspect to the eighteenth aspect, the above-mentioned communication device and communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. For a detailed description of the transceiver unit and the processing unit, reference may be made to the device embodiment shown below.

[0073] In a nineteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to ninth aspects or any possible implementation thereof. Alternatively, the processor is configured to execute a program stored in a memory, and when the program is executed, the method described in any one of the first to ninth aspects or any possible implementation thereof is executed.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

[0075] In a possible implementation, the memory is located within the above-mentioned communication device.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present application, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device, that is, the processor and the memory may also be integrated together.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver, where the transceiver is configured to receive a signal or send a signal.

[0078] In aspect 20, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the logic circuit is used to generate a wireless frame; and the interface is used to output the wireless frame.

[0079] In aspect 21, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to input a wireless frame; and the logic circuit is used to process the wireless frame.

[0080] For detailed descriptions of the twentieth and twenty-first aspects, please refer to the method embodiments shown below.

[0081] In aspect 22, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when run on a computer, enables the method shown in any one of aspects 1 to 9 or any possible implementation to be executed.

[0082] In aspect 23, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the method shown in any aspect of the above-mentioned first to ninth aspects or any possible implementation method is executed.

[0083] In aspect 24, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, the method shown in any aspect from aspect 1 to aspect 9 or any possible implementation is executed.

[0084] In aspect 25, an embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication system, which includes a transmitting end and a receiving end, wherein the transmitting end is used to execute the method shown in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, and the receiving end is used to execute the method shown in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method shown in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, and the receiving end is used to execute the method shown in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect; or, the receiving end is used to execute the method shown in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method shown in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect, and the receiving end is used to execute the method shown in the seventh aspect or any possible implementation of the seventh aspect; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method shown in the eighth aspect or any possible implementation of the eighth aspect, and the receiving end is used to execute the method shown in the ninth aspect or any possible implementation of the ninth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG2a is a schematic diagram of a connection method between a multi-link AP and a multi-link STA provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] FIG2b is a schematic diagram of a connection method between a multi-link AP and a multi-link STA provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG2c is a schematic diagram of an antenna of a multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG3a is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG3b is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG4a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG4 b is a schematic diagram of a time axis provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a multi-link communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG6a is a schematic diagram of a time axis provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG6c is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG6 d is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG6e is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a time axis provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] FIG8a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] FIG8b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a service identifier and link mapping element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0105] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present application, the present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0106] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used only to distinguish different objects and are not used to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units that are inherent to the process, method, product, or device.

[0107] References to "embodiments" herein mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it refer to independent or alternative embodiments that are mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It will be understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0108] In this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "more than one" means two or more, "at least two (items)" means two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" means that two relationships can exist, such as only A exists, only B exists; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that three relationships exist, such as only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".

[0109] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to WLAN systems, such as Wi-Fi, etc. For example, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the IEEE 802.11 series of protocols, such as the 802.11a / b / g protocols, the 802.11n protocols, the 802.11ac protocols, the 802.11ax protocols, the 802.11be protocols or the next generation of protocols, etc., which are not listed here one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to wireless personal area networks (WPANs) based on UWB technology. For example, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the IEEE 802.15 series of protocols, such as the 802.15.4a protocols, the 802.15.4z protocols or the 802.15.4ab protocols, or a future generation of UWB WPAN protocols, etc., which are not listed here one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to various other types of communication systems, for example, the Internet of Things (IoT) system, the Vehicle to X (V2X) system, the Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system, devices in the Internet of Vehicles, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras in smart homes, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters, and sensors in smart cities, etc., or can also be applied to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the fifth-generation (5G) communication system, and new communication systems that will emerge in the future development of communications.

[0110] WLAN systems can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission. As WLAN application scenarios continue to evolve, WLAN systems will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry, the banking industry, corporate offices, sports stadiums and exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, production workshops and warehouses, etc. Of course, devices supporting WLAN communication or perception (such as access points or stations) can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, and smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, televisions, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, speakers, and speakers, etc.), Internet of Vehicles (IoV) devices, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation kiosks in supermarkets, self-service checkout devices, self-service ordering machines, etc.), and equipment in large sports and music venues. For example, access points and stations can be devices used in the IoV, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things, smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0111] Although the embodiments of the present application mainly take WLAN as an example, especially networks applied to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, such as systems that support Wi-Fi 7, which can also be called extremely high-throughput (EHT), and systems that support Wi-Fi 8, which can also be called ultra-high reliability (UHR) or ultra-high reliability and throughput (UHRT). It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the various aspects involved in the embodiments of the present application can be extended to other networks that adopt various standards or protocols. For example, Bluetooth, high-performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard, mainly used in Europe) and wide area networks (WANs) or other networks now known or developed later. Therefore, regardless of the coverage range and wireless access protocol used, the various aspects provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to any suitable wireless network.

[0112] A multi-link device includes one or more subordinate sites, and a subordinate site is a logical site that can operate on a link, a frequency band, or a channel, etc. The subordinate site can be an AP or a non-AP STA. For the convenience of description, the embodiment of the present application can refer to a multi-link device whose subordinate site is an AP as a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device or an AP multi-link device (AP multi-link device, AP MLD). A multi-link device whose subordinate site is a non-AP STA is referred to as a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or a STA multi-link device (STA multi-link device), or a multi-link device whose subordinate site is a non-AP STA is referred to as a multi-link non-AP or a multi-link non-AP device or a non-AP multi-link device (non-AP multi-link device, non-AP MLD). A multi-link device (which can be either a non-AP MLD or an AP MLD here) is a communication device with wireless communication function. The communication device can be a complete device, or it can be a chip or processing system installed in the complete device. The devices installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of these chips or processing systems.

[0113] The multi-link device (MLD) can implement wireless communications using 802.11 protocols, such as Extremely High Throughput (EHT), or protocols based on or compatible with 802.11be, thereby enabling communication with other devices, which may or may not be multi-link devices.

[0114] Each logical site can work on a link, allowing multiple logical sites to work on the same link. The link identifier can represent a site working on a link, that is, if there is more than one logical site on a link, more than one link identifier can be used to represent them. The link identifier sometimes also represents the site working on the link. When a multi-link device transmits data with another multi-link device, before communication, the multi-link device and the other multi-link device can first negotiate or communicate the correspondence between the link identifier and a link or a site on a link, or the AP multi-link device indicates the correspondence between the link identifier and a link or a site on a link through a broadcast management frame, such as a beacon frame. Therefore, during data transmission, a large amount of signaling is not required to be transmitted to indicate the link or the site on the link. Only the link identifier needs to be carried, which reduces signaling overhead and improves transmission efficiency.

[0115] The following uses an example in which one of the multi-link devices is an AP multi-link device and the other multi-link device is a STA multi-link device. In one example, when establishing a basic service set (BSS), the AP multi-link device sends a management frame, such as a multi-link probe response frame, that carries one or more multi-link elements. The link information field included in the multi-link element can be used to establish a correspondence between a link identifier and a station operating on the link.

[0116] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, AP MLD includes AP1, AP2, ..., APn, and non-AP MLD includes STA1, STA2, ..., STAn. Here, n is a positive integer. AP MLD and non-AP MLD can communicate in parallel using link 1, link 2, ..., link n. STA1 in the non-AP MLD establishes an association with AP1 in the AP MLD, STA2 in the non-AP MLD establishes an association with AP2 in the AP MLD, and STAn in the non-AP MLD establishes an association with APn in the AP MLD, etc. Thus, after establishing an association between one or more STAs in the non-AP MLD and one or more APs in the AP MLD, communication can be carried out. The operating frequency bands of multi-link devices (including AP MLD and non-AP MLD) may include, but are not limited to, sub 1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and high frequency 60 GHz. For example, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to, but not limited to, single-user uplink / downlink transmission, multi-user uplink / downlink transmission, vehicle-to-everything (V2X, where X can represent anything), and device-to-device (D2D). For example, V2X may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications.

[0117] Figures 2a and 2b are schematic diagrams of a connection between a multi-link AP and a multi-link STA, according to an embodiment of the present application. The 802.11 standard focuses on the 802.11 physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layer in multi-link devices, so Figures 2a and 2b only illustrate the PHY and MAC layers.

[0118] As shown in Figures 2a and 2b, multi-link devices (such as multi-link APs and multi-link STAs) may include physical layer (PHY) processing circuitry (PHY#1, PHY#2, and PHY#n as shown in Figure 2a) and medium access control (MAC) layer processing circuitry. The physical layer processing circuitry may be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuitry may be used to process MAC layer signals. Furthermore, the MAC layer may be divided into a high-MAC layer (high-MAC as shown in Figure 2a, and high-MAC#1 to high-MAC#n as shown in Figure 2b) and multiple low-MAC layers (low-MAC#1, low-MAC#2 to low-MAC#n as shown in Figures 2a and 2b). As shown in Figure 2a, the multiple APs included in a multi-link AP are independent of each other in the low-MAC layer and PHY layer, but share the high-MAC layer. The multiple STAs included in a multi-link STA are independent of each other in the low-MAC layer and PHY layer, but share the high-MAC layer. The high-MAC layer is connected to each of the multiple low-MAC layers, meaning that the high-MAC layer is shared by multiple links. As shown in Figure 2b, the multiple APs included in the multi-link AP are independent of each other at the low MAC layer and PHY layer, and are also independent of each other at the high MAC layer. The multiple STAs of the multi-link STA device are independent of each other at the low MAC layer and PHY layer, and are also independent of each other at the high MAC layer. Exemplarily, the high MAC layer mainly completes the allocation of sequence numbers (SN) and packet numbers (PN) of MAC service data units (MSDUs) and encryption and decryption operations. Exemplarily, the low MAC layer mainly completes the assembly of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) of each link, channel access, packet transmission and reception confirmation, and other operations.

[0119] In Figure 2a, the PHY#1, lower MAC#1, and upper MAC layers of a multi-link AP are considered AP#1, the PHY#2, lower MAC#2, and upper MAC layers are considered AP#2, and so on. The PHY#n, lower MAC#n, and upper MAC layers are considered AP#n, meaning that a multi-link AP includes n AP entities. A similar situation exists for a multi-link STA, where the upper MAC layer is also shared by multiple links. The PHY#1, lower MAC#1, and upper MAC layers are considered STA#1, the PHY#2, lower MAC#2, and upper MAC layers are considered STA#2, and so on. The PHY#n, lower MAC#n, and upper MAC layers are considered STA#n, meaning that a multi-link STA includes n STA entities. As shown in Figure 2a, PHY#1 of AP#1 in a multi-link AP is connected to PHY#1 of STA#1 in a multi-link STA, and AP#1 in the multi-link AP and STA#1 in the multi-link STA communicate via a link (link #1 as shown in Figure 2a). PHY#2 of AP#2 in a multi-link AP is connected to PHY#2 of STA#2 in a multi-link STA, and AP#2 in the multi-link AP and STA#2 in the multi-link STA communicate via a link (link #2 as shown in Figure 2a). PHY#n of AP#n in a multi-link AP is connected to PHY#n of STA#n in a multi-link STA, and AP#n in the multi-link AP and STA#n in the multi-link STA communicate via a link (link #n as shown in Figure 2a). For an explanation of Figure 2b, please refer to Figure 2a and will not be described in detail here.

[0120] Exemplarily, the high MAC layer or the low MAC layer can be implemented by a processor in a chip system of a multi-link device, or can be implemented by different processing modules in a chip system, etc., which will not be listed in the embodiments of the present application. It can be understood that Figures 2a and 2b can be understood as the division of functional modules of a multi-link device. The modules shown in Figures 2a and 2b can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. The PHY and MAC layers shown in Figures 2a and 2b can be understood as a division of logical functions, and there can be other division methods in actual implementation. The n shown in Figures 2a and 2b can be equal to 0, or equal to 1, or n is an integer greater than 1, etc.

[0121] For example, the multi-link device in the embodiments of the present application can be a single-antenna device or a multi-antenna device. For example, it can be a device with more than two antennas. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of antennas included in the multi-link device. Figure 2c is a schematic diagram of antennas for the multi-link device provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 2c uses an example in which an AP MLD has multiple antennas and a non-AP MLD has a single antenna, but this should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0122] The frequency bands in which the multi-link device operates may include but are not limited to: sub 1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz and high frequency 60 GHz. Figures 3a and 3b show two schematic diagrams of a multi-link device communicating with other devices via multiple links in a wireless local area network.

[0123] FIG3 a shows a communication scenario between an AP MLD 101 and a non-AP MLD 102 . The AP MLD 101 includes subordinate APs 101 - 1 and 101 - 2 , and the non-AP MLD 102 includes subordinate STAs 102 - 1 and 102 - 2 . The AP MLD 101 and the non-AP MLD 102 communicate in parallel using links 1 and 2 .

[0124] For example, Figure 3b illustrates a scenario in which AP MLD 101 communicates with non-AP MLD 102, non-AP MLD 103, and STA 104. AP MLD 101 includes subordinate APs 101-1 to 101-3; non-AP MLD 102 includes three subordinate STAs: 102-1, 102-2, and 102-3; non-AP MLD 103 includes two subordinate STAs: 103-1 and 103-2; and STA 104 is a single-link device, including STA 104-1. AP MLD 101 can communicate with non-AP MLD 102 using links 1, 2, and 3, respectively; communicate with non-AP MLD 103 using links 2 and 3; and communicate with STA 104 using link 1. In one example, STA 104 operates in the 2.4 GHz band; in non-AP MLD 103, STA 103-1 operates in the 5 GHz band, and STA 103-2 operates in the 6 GHz band; in non-AP MLD 102, STA 102-1 operates in the 2.4 GHz band, STA 102-2 operates in the 5 GHz band, and STA 102-3 operates in the 6 GHz band. AP 101-1 in AP MLD 101, operating in the 2.4 GHz band, can transmit uplink or downlink data to STA 104 and STA 102-1 in non-AP MLD 102 over link 1. AP 101-2 operating in the 5 GHz band in AP MLD 101 can transmit uplink or downlink data with STA 103-1 operating in the 5 GHz band in non-AP MLD 103 via link 2, and can also transmit uplink or downlink data with STA 102-2 operating in the 5 GHz band in non-AP MLD 102 via link 2. AP 101-3 operating in the 6 GHz band in AP MLD 101 can transmit uplink or downlink data with STA 102-3 operating in the 6 GHz band in non-AP MLD 102 via link 3, and can also transmit uplink or downlink data with STA 103-2 in the non-AP MLD via link 3.

[0125] Figure 3a shows only two frequency bands supported by the AP MLD. Figure 3b illustrates only three frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) supported by AP MLD 101. Each frequency band corresponds to a link, and AP MLD 101 can operate on one or more of Link 1, Link 2, or Link 3. On the AP side or STA side, a link can also be understood as a station operating on that link. In practical applications, the AP MLD and non-AP MLD can also support more or fewer frequency bands, that is, the AP MLD and non-AP MLD can operate on more or fewer links. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Figures 3a and 3b are merely schematic diagrams and do not limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0126] The following is a detailed description of the relevant terms involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0127] 1. Business identification and link mapping elements

[0128] During the multi-link establishment process, if no service identifier and link mapping operation is performed between the multi-link devices, all service identifiers are mapped to each established link by default, that is, each established link can transmit all service types.

[0129] During the multi-link establishment process, service identifiers and links can be mapped between multi-link devices. For example, the AP can carry this mapping information in beacon frames or probe response frames, allowing all stations to adopt the corresponding mapping method after receiving this mapping information. Carrying this mapping information in beacon frames or probe response frames is also called broadcast TID-link mapping, which can effectively improve signaling transmission efficiency.

[0130] Exemplarily, the mapping information between the service identifier and the link can be carried in a TID-to-link mapping element. The TID-to-link mapping element may include at least one of the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension (or element ID extension), TID-to-link mapping control, mapping switch time, expected duration (or expected duration, expected duration, expected duration, required duration, etc.). Optionally, the TID-to-link mapping element may also include at least one of the following fields: link mapping of TID 0, ..., link mapping of TID 7. For the structure of the TID-to-link mapping element, please refer to Figure 4a. Exemplarily, the mapping switching time field can be used to indicate the effective start time (or effective time) of the service identifier and link mapping, or to indicate the effective start time (or effective time) of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link, or to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link is established. The mapping switching time field exists when the service identifier and link mapping element is carried in a beacon frame or a probe response frame. When the above-mentioned mapping relationship has taken effect, the mapping switching time field may not be carried in the beacon frame or the probe response frame. The expected duration field can be used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link, or to indicate the expected end time of the service identifier and the link mapping. For example, the expected duration field is used to indicate the effective duration of the service identifier and link mapping (when the service identifier and link mapping element carries the mapping switching time field), or the remaining time (when the service identifier and link mapping element does not carry the mapping switching time field). The expected duration field exists when the service identifier and link mapping element is carried in a beacon frame or a probe response frame. The Link Mapping field for TID 0 is used to indicate which links TID 0 is mapped to. For example, this field can carry a bitmap, where each bit in the bitmap corresponds to a link. If a bit value is 1, it indicates that TID 0 is mapped to the link corresponding to that bit. If a bit value is 0, it indicates that TID 0 is not mapped to the link corresponding to that bit.Exemplarily, the length of the bitmap can be equal to the maximum number of links that can be associated between multi-link devices; alternatively, the length of the bitmap can be a fixed value, such as 16 bits; alternatively, the length of the bitmap can be equal to the number of associated links established between multi-link devices, etc. The present embodiment of the application does not limit the manner in which the length of the bitmap is set. For descriptions of the link mapping fields of other ITDs, reference can be made to the link mapping field of TID 0 and will not be described in detail here. TID0 to TID7 shown in the present embodiment of the application are merely examples. As the standard evolves, more service types, such as TID0 to TID15, may be added. Therefore, the present embodiment of the application does not limit the number of link mapping fields for the TID in the service identification and link mapping element. Exemplarily, the number of link mapping fields for the TID in the service identification and link mapping element can be the same as the type of TID. For example, when the TID is expanded from TID0 to TID7 to TID0 to TID15, the number of link mapping fields for the TID can be equal to 16.

[0131] It is understood that for unicast, when the communicating parties negotiate the mapping information between the service identifier and the link, the mapping information generally takes effect immediately. Because the mapping switch time field and the expected duration field need to be sent multiple times in the beacon frame or probe response frame to ensure that one or more STAs can receive the service identifier and link mapping element, the mapping switch time field and the expected duration field are usually present when the service identifier and link mapping element are carried in the beacon frame or probe response frame.

[0132] Exemplarily, the service identification and link mapping control field may include at least one of the following fields: direction, default link mapping (or default link mapping), mapping switch time present, expected duration present, and reserved (or reserved). Optionally, the service identification and link mapping control field also includes a link mapping presence indicator field. For the structure of the service identification and link mapping control field, please refer to Figure 4a. The service identification and link mapping control field can be used to carry control information related to the service identification and link mapping. Exemplarily, the service identification and link mapping control field is described as follows: the direction field can be used to indicate whether the direction of the service is uplink, downlink, or uplink and downlink; the default link mapping field can be used to indicate whether the default mapping method is used; the mapping switch time present field can be used to indicate whether the mapping switch time field exists; the expected duration present field is used to indicate whether the expected duration field exists; and the link mapping presence indicator field is used to indicate which fields in the link mapping field of TID 0 to the link mapping field of TID 7 are present and which fields are absent.

[0133] It can be understood that when the default link mapping field is used to indicate the use of the default mapping method, it means that by default all service identifiers can be mapped to each established link, the service identifier and link mapping control field may not include a link mapping existence indication, and the service identifier and link mapping element may not include the link mapping field of TID 0 to the link mapping field of TID 7.

[0134] It is understandable that the mapping information of the service identifier and the link, the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link (or simply the mapping relationship), the mapping of the service identifier and the link, etc. involved in the embodiments of the present application can be replaced with each other. The mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and link mapping element involved in the embodiments of the present application can be simply referred to as the mapping relationship (or mapping information) indicated by the service identifier and link mapping element, or the mapping relationship indicated by the element (such as the description of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element shown below, or the description of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element shown below).

[0135] 2. Mapping switch time field

[0136] For example, the value carried by the mapping switching time field can be determined based on the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of a future delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) beacon frame. The time accuracy of the TBTT is time unit (TU), where 1TU = 1024us. For example, the difference between the TBTTs of two beacon frames can be 100TU (for example only).

[0137] Generally speaking, the AP broadcasts the value of the time synchronization function (TSF) timer in the beacon frame. After receiving the value of the TSF timer, the STA can update its locally maintained system time to the value of the TSF timer, so that the time of all STAs in the BSS is the same as that of the AP (i.e., time synchronization). For example, the value carried by the mapping switching time field can be set to bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer, i.e., TSF[10:25] (bits 10 to 25 of the TSF). The TSF timer can be understood as a time value with a length of 64 bits and a unit of microseconds (us). For example, the TSF timer corresponding to all STAs on a link can be the same, and the TSF timers corresponding to STAs on different links can be different. As shown in Figure 3b, the TSF timers corresponding to STA 104 and STA 102-1 of link 1 are the same. In other words, the TSF timer can synchronize the time of all STAs in a BSS, and all STAs maintain a local TSF timer. Exemplarily, the value of the TSF timer may be carried in a timestamp field in a beacon frame.

[0138] It is understood that the configuration of the value carried by the mapping switching time field shown here is only an example. For a description of the value carried by the mapping switching time field, please refer to the following text. The length of the mapping switching time field and the length of the TSF timer shown above are only examples and should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application. For a description of the length of the mapping switching time field, please refer to the following text.

[0139] 3. Expected duration field

[0140] The Expected Duration field indicates how long the mapping between service identifiers and links will continue, measured in TUs. For example, the duration indicated by the Expected Duration field is calculated from the end of the beacon frame. This means that the duration indicated by the Expected Duration field can be understood as a relative time from the end of the beacon frame.

[0141] It is understandable that the setting method of the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field shown here is only an example, and the description of other setting methods of the expected duration field can be found below.

[0142] When switching mapping modes, the AP can carry two service identifier and link mapping elements in the beacon frame, such as the first service identifier and link mapping element (hereinafter referred to as the first element) and the second service identifier and link mapping element (hereinafter referred to as the second element). The expected duration field in the first element can be used to indicate how long the old mapping relationship (or old mapping mode or old mapping information) will last, and the mapping switching time field in the second element can be used to indicate the time when the new mapping relationship is established. Generally speaking, the expected end time of the old mapping relationship and the time when the new mapping relationship is established must be the same.

[0143] For example, the value carried by the mapping switch time field can be set to the 11th to 26th bits of the TSF timer. Therefore, the value carried by the mapping switch time field can be understood as an integer multiple of TU, ​​or as an integer TU on the time axis as shown in Figure 4b. As shown in Figure 4b, the black dot in Figure 4b can represent the TBTT of the beacon frame, and the lower 10 bits of the TSF timer corresponding to the TBTT of the beacon frame can be 0, that is, TSF[0:9] = 0. Generally speaking, the actual transmission time of the beacon frame may be equal to or later than the TBTT of the beacon frame, and thus the actual end time of the beacon frame may be later than the TBTT. When the end time of the beacon frame is between two TUs, the time indicated by the expected duration field cannot be calculated from an integer multiple of TU. However, the time accuracy of the time indicated by the expected duration field is TU, resulting in the time length between the end time point of the beacon frame and the time point when the new mapping relationship begins to take effect may not be an integer multiple of TU. Therefore, the end time indicated by the expected duration field may not be exactly equal to the effective start time indicated by the mapping switch time field. As a result, the following problems will arise:

[0144] For example, if the expected end time indicated by the Expected Duration field is earlier than the establishment time indicated by the Mapping Switch Time field, the old mapping may have already ended while the new mapping has not yet begun. In this case, the non-AP MLD may temporarily switch to the third mapping method, resulting in unnecessary switching overhead. In particular, the AP MLD may believe that the non-AP MLD has already switched to the new mapping, while the non-AP MLD is actually using the third mapping method, resulting in asymmetric mapping between the two sides. For example, if the expected end time indicated by the Expected Duration field is later than the establishment time indicated by the Mapping Switch Time field, the old mapping may not have ended while the new mapping has already begun. In this case, the AP MLD and non-AP MLD may use different mapping methods, resulting in asymmetric mapping between the two sides. Asymmetric mapping may significantly impact site performance. For example, if the non-AP MLD determines a link is disabled (or down) based on its own mapping, while the AP MLD determines the link is up based on its own mapping, and repeatedly attempts to initiate transmission on the link but fails to receive a response from the non-AP MLD, the AP MLD may believe the channel is busy and increase its contention window, significantly increasing channel access latency.

[0145] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a multi-link communication method and apparatus, which can effectively improve the asymmetric mapping mode between the communicating parties and ensure that the expected end time of the old mapping relationship is the same as the time when the new mapping relationship is established.

[0146] FIG5 is a flow chart of a multi-link communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method can be applied to the systems shown in FIG1 , FIG2a , and FIG2b , or the method can be applied to the multi-link devices shown in FIG3a and FIG3b . For ease of description, the method provided in an embodiment of the present application is described below using a transmitter and a receiver as examples. The transmitter can be understood as a communication device that sends wireless frames, such as an AP MLD or an AP in a multi-link device, or an AP subordinate to an AP MLD, and the receiver can be understood as a communication device that receives wireless frames, such as a non-AP MLD or an STA in a multi-link device, or an STA subordinate to a non-AP MLD, etc. For example, the multi-link devices involved in the communication on both sides of the embodiment of the present application can be both AP MLDs, or both STA MLDs, or one multi-link device can be an AP MLD and the other multi-link device can be a STA MLD, etc., and these are not listed one by one here. It is understood that the embodiment of the present application describes the method provided in an embodiment of the present application based on both the transmitter and the receiver. However, other devices may also exist during the information transmission process between the transmitter and the receiver, such as a forwarding device to forward information between the transmitter and the receiver. Therefore, the mutual transmission of information in the embodiments of the present application can be achieved by technical means that can be completed by those skilled in the art, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit other devices other than the sending end and the receiving end.

[0147] As shown in FIG5 , the multi-link communication method includes:

[0148] 501. A transmitting end sends a wireless frame, and correspondingly, a receiving end receives the wireless frame.

[0149] Exemplarily, the transmitting end may generate the radio frame before sending the radio frame.

[0150] 502. The receiving end parses the wireless frame.

[0151] The following describes in detail the wireless frames involved in the embodiments of the present application and the way in which the receiving end parses the wireless frames.

[0152] In an embodiment of the present application, a wireless frame may include at least two service identifiers and link mapping elements. For example, if the wireless frame includes four elements, the first two can be used to indicate the mapping switch of the BSS corresponding to the transmitted BSSID (these two elements are carried outside the Multiple BSSID element), and the last two can be used to indicate the mapping switch of the BSS corresponding to the nontransmitted BSSID (these two elements are carried within the Multiple BSSID element). For another example, the wireless frame includes two service identifiers and link mapping elements such as the first service identifier and link mapping element (old mapping relationship) and the second service identifier and link mapping element (new mapping relationship). For example, when the first element and the second element in the wireless frame are outside the Multiple BSSID element, the switching of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and the mapping relationship indicated by the second element can be applied to the MLD where the transmitted BSSID is located; when the first element and the second element in the wireless frame are located in the Nontransmitted BSSID Profile in the Multiple BSSID element, the switching of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is applied to the MLD where the nontransmitted BSSID corresponding to the Nontransmitted BSSID Profile is located.

[0153] The following describes in detail a method for ensuring that the end time of the old mapping relationship is the same as the effective time of the new mapping relationship when the wireless frame includes two service identifiers and link mapping elements.

[0154] Method 1

[0155] The first element includes an expected duration field, which is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element. The expected duration field can be determined based on the most recent TBTT before the transmission time of the radio frame. The second element includes a mapping switching time field, which is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established.

[0156] It can be understood that the most recent TBTT before the transmission time of the wireless frame shown in the embodiment of the present application can be understood as: a TBTT that is earlier than the transmission time of the wireless frame, and this TBTT is closest to the transmission time of the wireless frame relative to other TBTTs (TBTTs other than the most recent TBTT mentioned above). As shown in Figure 6a, the black dot in Figure 6a can represent the TBTT, and the dotted line portion can represent the transmission time of the wireless frame. The TBTT (or TU boundary) that is before the transmission time of the wireless frame and closest to the transmission time of the wireless frame is the second black dot in Figure 6a.

[0157] It can be understood that the situation shown in the embodiment of the present application when the transmission time of the radio frame is exactly on the TBTT (or TU boundary) can be a special case of the most recent TBTT (or TU boundary) before the transmission time of the radio frame. If the transmission time of the radio frame is exactly at the TBTT (or TU boundary), the expected duration field can be determined based on the transmission time of the radio frame, such as determining the duration (or remaining duration) of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element with the transmission time of the radio frame as the starting point.

[0158] Exemplarily, the expected duration field can be determined based on the nearest TU boundary before the transmission time of the wireless frame, and the TU boundary can be understood as the time corresponding to the lower 10 bits of the TSF timer being 0, or the TU boundary can be understood as TSF[0:9]=0.

[0159] Exemplarily, the time accuracy of the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field can be TU. Since the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field is calculated from the most recent TBTT before the transmission time of the radio frame (or the most recent TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame), and the time indicated by the expected duration field is in units of TU, ​​the time indicated by the expected duration field is determined based on the end time of the beacon frame, so it can be effectively guaranteed that the expected end time of the mapping relationship determined by the expected duration field is an integer multiple of TU, ​​and it is guaranteed that the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field is the same as the established time indicated by the mapping switching time field.

[0160] Exemplarily, the structure of the service identifier and link mapping element can be as shown in Figure 6b, where the expected duration field in the first element is determined based on the TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame, and the mapping switching time field in the second element is determined based on the TBTT of a future beacon frame. Optionally, the expected duration field in the second element shown in Figure 6b can also be determined based on the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame. For an explanation of other fields in the element shown in Figure 6b, please refer to Figure 4a, etc. The mapping switching time field in the second element shown in Figure 6b can be determined based on the TBTT of a future beacon frame, such as being set to TSF[10:25].

[0161] With respect to the first approach, after receiving the radio frame, the receiving end determines the first element and the second element based on their positions in the radio frame. For example, the first element may be positioned before the second element in the radio frame. Of course, the positional relationship between the first element and the second element shown here is merely an example. For ease of description, the radio frame involved in the embodiments of the present application will be described below using the example of the first element being positioned before the second element.

[0162] For method one, after receiving the wireless frame, the receiving end can determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element based on the expected duration field in the first element, and determine the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established based on the mapping switching time field in the second element. For example, the receiving end can use the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the sending time of the wireless frame as the starting point, and use the value carried by the expected duration field in the first element as the duration (or continuous duration or remaining duration, etc.) to determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier indicated by the first element and the link. As for the way in which the receiving end parses other fields in the wireless frame, the embodiments of the present application do not limit it.

[0163] In an embodiment of the present application, since the difference between any two TBTTs on a link is in units of TU, ​​when the time indicated by the expected duration field is calculated based on the most recent TBTT moment before the sending time of the wireless frame, the effective time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second element can be accurately indicated.

[0164] Method 2

[0165] The first element includes an expected duration field, which is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element, and the time indicated by the expected duration field is determined based on the TSF timer. The second element includes a mapping switching time field, which is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established.

[0166] The time indicated by the Expected Duration field is determined based on the TSF timer. This can also be understood as follows: the expected end time indicated by the Expected Duration field is determined based on the value of the TSF timer of the BSS of the transmitting link used to transmit the radio frame. When the time indicated by the Expected Duration field is determined based on the end time of the beacon frame, the time indicated by the Expected Duration field is a relative time. However, when the Expected Duration field is determined by the TSF timer, the time indicated by the Expected Duration field can be understood as an absolute time.

[0167] For example, the value carried by the expected duration field can be the same as any of the following:

[0168] Bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer, such as TSF[10:25], are set in the same manner as the time indicated by the mapping switching time field. In this case, the length of the expected duration field can be 2 bytes.

[0169] Bits 11 to 34 of the TSF timer, such as TSF[10:33], can indicate a time greater than the time indicated by the mapping switching time field, effectively ensuring that the end time of the service identifier-link mapping relationship is greater than the effective time. In this case, the expected duration field can be 3 bytes long.

[0170] Bits 11 to 50 of the TSF timer, such as TSF[10:49], indicate that the time indicated by the Expected Duration field can be greater than the time indicated by the Mapping Switching Time field, effectively ensuring that the end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link can be greater than the effective time. In this case, the Expected Duration field can be 4 bytes long.

[0171] It can be understood that the value carried by the expected duration field starts from the 11th bit of the TSF timer because the time indicated by bits 1 to 10 of the TSF timer is less than 1TU. Therefore, starting from the 11th bit of the TSF timer can effectively ensure that the time indicated by the expected duration field is greater than or equal to 1TU. The relationship between the value carried by the expected duration field and the TSF timer shown above is only an example. For example, the value carried by the expected duration field can also be bits 11 to 40 of the TSF timer, etc., which will not be listed one by one in the embodiments of the present application.

[0172] Exemplarily, the structure of the service identifier and link mapping element can be shown in Figure 6c. Modifying the time indicated by the expected duration field to an absolute time, such as setting it to the system time when the mapping relationship indicated by the first element ends, can effectively ensure that the time indicated by the expected duration field in the first element can indicate the effective time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second element. Optionally, the expected duration field in the second element shown in Figure 6c can also be determined based on the TSF timer. Exemplarily, the value carried by the mapping switching time field in the second element can be determined based on the TBTT of a DTIM beacon frame in the future (such as the time after the radio frame). Exemplarily, the time accuracy of the effective time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second element can be TU or us. For the description of other fields in the elements shown in Figure 6c, please refer to Figure 4a, etc.

[0173] With respect to the second approach, after receiving the radio frame, the receiving end determines the first element and the second element based on positions of the first element and the second element in the radio frame.

[0174] For the second method, after receiving the radio frame, the receiving end can determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element based on the expected duration field in the first element, and determine the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established based on the mapping switching time field in the second element. For example, the receiving end can use the value carried in the expected duration field in the first element as the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first element. As for the way in which the receiving end parses other fields in the radio frame, the embodiment of the present application does not limit it.

[0175] In an embodiment of the present application, the time indicated by the expected duration field is modified to an absolute time, such as being set to the system time when the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element ends. This can effectively ensure that the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field in the first service identifier and the link mapping element can indicate the time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second service identifier and the link mapping element to be established.

[0176] Method 3

[0177] For example, as shown in FIG6d, the first element does not include an expected duration field, and the second element includes a mapping switching time field. The mapping switching time field in the second element is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established and the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element. The expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element can be defaulted to the time when the mapping relationship is established as indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second element. For a description of the other fields in the element shown in FIG6d, please refer to FIG4a.

[0178] Optionally, the expected duration field in the second element can be determined based on the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame, such as calculating the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element with the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame as the starting point. Optionally, the expected duration field in the second element can be determined based on the TSF timer. Optionally, the expected duration field in the second element can be determined based on the end time of the beacon frame, such as calculating the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element with the end time of the beacon frame as the starting point. Optionally, the mapping switch time field in the second element and / or the first element can be determined based on the TBTT of a future beacon frame, such as the time accuracy of the effective time indicated by the mapping switch time field is TU. Optionally, the time accuracy of the effective time indicated by the mapping switch time field in the second element and / or the first element is us. Optionally, the length of the mapping switch time field is 2 bytes, or 4 bytes, etc. For the description of the mapping switch time field, please refer to the terms above, or refer to the description of the mapping switch time field below.

[0179] With respect to the third approach, after receiving a radio frame, the receiving end may determine the first element and the second element based on their positions in the radio frame. For example, after receiving the radio frame, if the receiving end finds that the first element does not include the expected duration field and the second element includes the mapping switching time field, the receiving end may use the established time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the second element as the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element.

[0180] In an embodiment of the present application, the first service identifier and the link mapping element do not include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element include a mapping switching time field, whereby the mapping switching time field can indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and can also indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element. For example, the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element can be equal to the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established by default, thereby effectively ensuring that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0181] Method 4

[0182] For example, as shown in FIG6e, the first element includes an expected duration field, and the second element does not include a mapping switching time field. The expected duration field in the first element is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established. The time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established can be set by default to be equal to the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field in the first element. For a description of other fields in the elements shown in FIG6e, please refer to FIG4a.

[0183] Optionally, the expected duration field in the first element and / or the second element can be determined based on the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame, such as calculating the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and / or the second element with the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the radio frame as the starting point. Optionally, the expected duration field in the first element and / or the second element can be determined based on the TSF timer. Optionally, the expected duration field in the first element and / or the second element can be determined based on the end time of the beacon frame, such as calculating the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and / or the second element with the end time of the beacon frame as the starting point. Optionally, the time accuracy of the effective time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the first element is TU or us. Optionally, the length of the mapping switching time field in the first element is 2 bytes or 4 bytes, etc. For the description of the mapping switching time field, please refer to the terms above, or refer to the description of the mapping switching time field below.

[0184] With respect to mode 4, after receiving a radio frame, the receiving end may determine the first element and the second element based on their positions in the radio frame. For example, after receiving the radio frame, if the receiving end finds that the first element includes an expected duration field and the second element does not include a mapping switching time field, the receiving end may use the expected end time indicated by the expected duration field in the first element as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element was established.

[0185] In an embodiment of the present application, the first service identifier and the link mapping element include an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and the link mapping element do not include a mapping switching time field, so that the expected duration field can indicate both the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established. For example, the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established can be equal to the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element by default, thereby effectively ensuring that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

[0186] Method 5

[0187] The first element includes an expected duration field, which is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element. The second element includes a mapping switch time field, which is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established.

[0188] As an example, the expected duration field in the first element can also be used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established. That is, the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established can be determined by the expected duration field in the first element. If the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element overlaps with the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established, the receiving end can determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element and the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established based on the expected duration field in the first element. That is, the receiving end can ignore the mapping switching time field in the second element.

[0189] As another example, the mapping switching time field in the second element can also be used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship of the first element. That is, the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element can be determined by the mapping switching time field in the second element. If the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element overlaps with the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established, the receiving end can determine the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established and the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element based on the mapping switching time field in the second element. That is, the receiving end can ignore the expected duration field in the first element.

[0190] As another example, when the end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is later than the effective time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element, the end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element can be equal to the effective time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element. That is, when the end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element is later than the start time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element, there will be a situation where the effective time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element overlaps with the effective time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element. Thus, when the effective times of the two mapping information overlap in time, the mapping relationship corresponding to the later time of the start time (such as the time when the new mapping relationship is established) and the end time (such as the expected end time of the old mapping relationship) can be used as the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link. After the receiving end receives the radio frame, it can determine the first element and the second element based on their positions in the radio frame. For example, after the receiving end receives the wireless frame, if it is found that the end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element is later than the effective time of the mapping relationship of the second element, the effective time of the mapping information of the second element can be used as the end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element.

[0191] As another example, when the effective time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element overlaps with the effective time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element, the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established can be fixedly adopted as the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element; or, the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element can be fixedly adopted as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established.

[0192] Optionally, for the fifth approach, the second element may further include an expected duration field, where the expected duration field is used for the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the second element.

[0193] The radio frames involved in the embodiments of the present application may include beacon frames, probe response frames, etc. For example, in addition to the service identifier and link mapping elements, the radio frame may also include a capability information element and a timestamp field. The timestamp field may be used to carry the value of a TSF timer (or a TSF timer).

[0194] In the embodiment of the present application, through the above-mentioned methods 1 to 5, it can be effectively ensured that the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element is the same as the time when the mapping relationship indicated by the second element is established, effectively improving the asymmetric mapping method between the communicating parties.

[0195] Generally speaking, different links between multi-link devices may correspond to different mapping relationships, such as the service identifier on the first link and the service identifier on the second link in the multi-link device may be different. Although different links between multi-link devices may correspond to different service identifiers, the effective time of the mapping relationship indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is the same. In this case, if the mapping relationship may be determined based on the TBTT on other links, the time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the service identifier and the link mapping element sent on this link may not be accurately synchronized to the TBTT on other links. In other words, the mapping relationship is determined based on the TBTT on other links, but when the service identifier and the link mapping element are received through this link, if the receiving end still uses the TBTT of this link as the criterion, it will cause the time when the mapping relationship of this link is established to be inconsistent with the time when the mapping relationship of other links is established. As shown in Figure 7, the time indicated by the mapping switching time field in the service identifier and link mapping element is determined based on the first TBTT of the first link. However, when the receiving end corresponding to the second link receives the service identifier and link mapping element, the time indicated by the obtained mapping switching time field is different from the first TBTT on the first link. Therefore, the receiving end corresponding to the second link cannot accurately know the time when the mapping relationship is established based on the above-mentioned mapping switching time field.

[0196] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application also provides a multi-link communication method and device, which can accurately indicate the time when the mapping relationship of the current link is established when the effective time of the mapping relationship is determined based on the TBTT on other links.

[0197] The process of the multi-link communication method involved in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to Figure 5, which will not be described in detail here. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application is different from Figure 5 in that the transmitting end in the embodiment of the present application can send wireless frames based on the second link, and correspondingly, the receiving end can receive wireless frames based on the second link.

[0198] The following will describe in detail the wireless frame and mapping switching time field involved in the embodiment of the present application. Exemplarily, the wireless frame involved in the embodiment of the present application includes a service identifier and a link mapping element, and the service identifier and link mapping element include a mapping switching time field, which is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link is established, and the time of establishment is determined based on the TBTT on the first link. For the description of other elements, beacon frames, and probe response frames in the wireless frame, please refer to the above.

[0199] Method 6

[0200] The service identifier and link mapping element also includes a first field, which is used to indicate the time difference (or time difference, offset difference, offset, etc.) between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link. This time point may be no later than the first TBTT and is the time point on the second link closest to the first TBTT. Taking Figure 7 as an example, the time point on the second link that is no later than the first TBTT and closest to the first TBTT and the lower 10 bits of the TSF timer (such as the first to the tenth bit, or TSF[0:9]) are equal to 0 can be understood as the position of the second black dot of the second link shown in Figure 7 (i.e., the TU boundary). Exemplarily, the time accuracy of the time difference indicated by the above-mentioned first field is us. Exemplarily, when the time point is the time point closest to the first TBTT and the lower 10 bits of the TSF timer are equal to 0, the value carried by the first field can be the lower 10 bits of the value of the TSF timer of the BSS of the second link, such as TSF[0:9]. When the time point is the TBTT on the second link, since the time difference between the TBTT on the first link and the TBTT on the second link may be long, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific length of the first field.

[0201] Based on the time indicated by the mapping switch time field and the first field, the receiving end on the second link can be informed of how many us are required for the mapping relationship to be established after the time indicated by the mapping switch time field (the time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link). Exemplarily, after receiving the wireless frame, the receiving end can determine the time when the mapping relationship is established based on the time difference between the time indicated by the mapping switch time field and the time indicated by the first field, so that the time when the mapping relationship on the second link is established can be consistent with the time when the mapping relationship on the first link is established. For example, when the mapping switch time field is determined based on the first TBTT, the mapping switch time field may be the 11th to 26th bits of the TSF timer corresponding to the first TBTT on the first link (only as an example). When the receiving end receives the mapping switch time field, what is determined based on the TSF timer indicated by the mapping switch time field is the first TBTT on the first link, not the second link. Therefore, the receiving end can determine the time when the mapping relationship is established based on the time indicated by the mapping switch time field and the first field.

[0202] Exemplarily, the structure of the service identification and link mapping element can be as shown in Figure 8a, such as the first field can be called a mapping switch time extension field (mapping switch time extension) or an offset field, etc., and the specific name of the first field is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the service identification and link mapping element can also include a second field, which can be used to indicate whether the first field exists in the service identification and link mapping element. Exemplarily, the second field can be called a mapping switch time extension existence field or an offset existence field, etc., and the specific name of the second field is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the length of the second field can be 1 bit. If the value of the second field is 1, it can indicate that the first field exists in the service identification and link mapping element; if the value of the second field is 0, it can indicate that the first field does not exist in the service identification and link mapping element. Of course, the values ​​and meanings of the fields shown here are only examples and should not be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present application. The description of the service identification and link mapping element shown in Figure 8a can refer to Figure 4a.

[0203] It can be understood that the method shown in mode six can be applied to the case where the wireless frame includes one service identifier and link mapping element, and can also be applied to the case where the wireless frame includes at least two service identifiers and link mapping elements, such as including a first element and a second element. In the case of including two elements, combined with mode one shown above, such as the first element including the expected duration field and the first field, the expected duration field is determined based on the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the wireless frame, and the TBTT or TU boundary is determined based on the first link. The first field is used to indicate the time difference between the time point corresponding to the second link and the above-mentioned TBTT or the TU boundary. After receiving the wireless frame, the receiving end can use the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the wireless frame as the starting point, and use the value carried by the expected duration field and the time difference indicated by the first field as the duration to determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element. As shown in Figure 7, the expected end time determined based on the most recent TBTT or TU boundary before the transmission time of the wireless frame and the expected duration field in the first element is the time point corresponding to the first TBT shown in Figure 7. However, in order to be consistent with the expected end time of the mapping relationship of the first link, the receiving end also needs to determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship indicated by the first element based on the first field, that is, the time corresponding to the first TBTT shown in Figure 7. Exemplarily, the second element may include a mapping switching time field and the first field. For the description of the mapping switching time field and the first field, please refer to the above-mentioned method six.

[0204] In an embodiment of the present application, by including the time difference between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the second link in the wireless frame, when the time when the mapping relationship is established is determined based on the TBTT on the first link, the receiving end on the second link can still accurately determine the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second link is established based on the wireless frame.

[0205] It can be understood that the sixth method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be combined with any one or more of the above methods one to five.

[0206] Method 7

[0207] The time precision of the effective time indicated by the Mapping Switch Time field is us. Exemplarily, the length of the Mapping Switch Time field can be 4 bytes. Since the TSF timers of all STAs on a link in a multi-link device are synchronized with the AP, when the time precision of the effective time indicated by the Mapping Switch Time field is us, the Mapping Switch Time field can be determined based on the TSF timer (or determined based on the value of the TSF timer). For example, the value carried by the Mapping Switch Time field can start from bit 0 of the TSF timer value. For example, if a radio frame includes a service identifier and link mapping element, and the element includes a Mapping Switch Time field, the Mapping Switch Time field can be determined based on the TSF timer of the BSS on the second link. For another example, if a radio frame includes two elements, at least one of the two elements can include the Mapping Switch Time field. For the description of a radio frame including two elements, refer to the above-mentioned Methods 1 to 5. Optionally, when the time precision of the effective time indicated by the Mapping Switch Time field is us, the time precision of the effective time indicated by the Expected Duration field can also be us (e.g., starting from bit 0 of the TSF timer value). For example, the service identifier and link mapping element may further include a third field, which is used to indicate the time accuracy of the expected duration field. For the description of the third field, please refer to the description of the length field below, which will not be described in detail here.

[0208] In an embodiment of the present application, when the time accuracy of the establishment time indicated by the mapping switching time field is modified to us, even if the time when the mapping relationship is established is determined based on the TBTT on the first link, the receiving end on the second link can still accurately determine the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second link is established based on the wireless frame.

[0209] Method 8

[0210] The service identifier and link mapping element also includes a length field, which is used to indicate the length of the mapping switching time field. When the value carried by the length field is a first value (such as 2), the time precision of the time indicated by the mapping switching time field is microseconds, such as the length is 4 bytes; when the value carried by the length field is a second value (such as 1), the time precision of the time indicated by the mapping switching time field is TU, such as the length is 2 bytes; when the value carried by the length field is a third value (such as 0), the length of the mapping switching time field may be 0 or may not exist.

[0211] It can be understood that when the time accuracy of the established time indicated by the mapping switching time field is us, the above-mentioned method seven can be referred to.

[0212] As shown in Figure 8b, the length field can also be referred to as the mapping switching time size field. That is, the mapping switching time existence field in Figure 4a is multiplexed into the mapping switching time size field. For descriptions of other fields in Figure 8b, please refer to Figure 4a and other figures, and will not be described in detail here. For example, the service identifier and link mapping element may also include a third field, which is used to indicate the time accuracy of the expected duration field. For descriptions of the third field, please refer to the description of the length field, and will not be described in detail here.

[0213] The method shown in Mode 8 can be applied to the case where the wireless frame includes one service identifier and link mapping element, and can also be applied to the case where the wireless frame includes at least two service identifiers and link mapping elements, such as including a first element and a second element. If the first element includes an expected duration field, the expected duration field is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship corresponding to the first element, and the expected end time is determined based on the first link. The second element includes a mapping switching time field and a length field, and the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second element is established, and the time of establishment is determined based on the first link. Exemplarily, when the time accuracy of the mapping switching time field is us, the time accuracy of the expected duration field may also be us.

[0214] It can be understood that the first link and the second link shown in the embodiment of the present application are only examples. For example, the second link can be understood as any link between multi-link devices except the first link.

[0215] In an embodiment of the present application, the time accuracy of the established time indicated by the mapping switching time field can be modified based on different scenario requirements. For example, when the mapping relationship is established based on other links, the time accuracy can be us; if the mapping relationship is established based on this link, the time accuracy can be TU.

[0216] Method 9

[0217] The difference between the TSF timers on different links is set to an integer multiple of the TU. When the TSF timer values ​​of the BSSs on different links are integer multiples of the TU, the Mapping Switch Time field can indicate the first TBTT of the first link. As a result, the receiving end can effectively know the time when the mapping relationship corresponding to the second link is established based on the Mapping Switch Time field.

[0218] It is understood that the methods shown in Modes 6 to 9 can be applied to situations where a radio frame includes one service identifier and link mapping element, or can be applied to situations where a radio frame includes at least two service identifiers and link mapping elements, such as a first element and a second element. In the case of two elements, Modes 6 to 9 can also be combined with Modes 1 to 5. The specific combination is not detailed here.

[0219] Through the above-mentioned methods 6 to 9, it can be ensured that when the mapping relationship is determined based on the TBTT time of other links, the time when the mapping relationship of the current link is established can also be accurately indicated.

[0220] The following describes a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0221] The present application divides the functional modules of the communication device according to the above-mentioned method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in this application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The communication device of the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 9 to 11.

[0222] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, the communication device includes a processing unit 901 and a transceiver unit 902. The transceiver unit 902 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing unit 901 is used to process data. For example, the transceiver unit 902 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0223] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the actions performed by the sending end in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be a sending end or a component that can be configured at the sending end (such as a chip or system, etc.), and the transceiver unit 902 is used to execute the sending and receiving related operations of the sending end in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 901 is used to execute the sending end processing related operations in the above method embodiments.

[0224] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device may be the transmitting end or chip shown above, and the chip may be provided in the transmitting end. That is, the communication device may be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the transmitting end in the above method embodiments (including Modes 1 to 9).

[0225] The processing unit 901 is used to generate a wireless frame; the transceiver unit 902 is used to output the wireless frame.

[0226] Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage unit, which may be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 901 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit so that the communication device implements the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0227] In other embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the receiving end in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be the receiving end or a component that can be configured at the receiving end, the transceiver unit 902 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the receiving end in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 901 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the receiving end in the above method embodiments. That is, the communication device can be used to perform the steps or functions performed by the receiving end in the above method embodiments (including Modes 1 to 9).

[0228] The transceiver unit 902 is used to input wireless frames; the processing unit 901 is used to parse wireless frames.

[0229] It is understandable that the specific description of the processing unit 901 parsing the wireless frame can be referred to the method embodiment shown above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0230] Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage unit, which may be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 901 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit so that the communication device implements the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0231] It can be understood that the specific description of the transceiver unit and the processing unit shown in the embodiment of the present application is only an example. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver unit and the processing unit, please refer to the above-mentioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0232] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the wireless frame, mapping switching time field, expected duration field, first element, second element, etc. can also be referred to the introduction in the above method embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0233] The above describes the communication device according to the embodiment of the present application. The following describes possible product forms of the communication device. It should be understood that any product having the functions of the communication device described in FIG. 9 falls within the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application. It should also be understood that the following description is merely illustrative and does not limit the product forms of the communication device according to the embodiment of the present application to this description.

[0234] In one possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG9 , the processing unit 901 may be one or more processors, the transceiver unit 902 may be a transceiver, or the transceiver unit 902 may be a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, the transmitting unit may be a transmitter, the receiving unit may be a receiver, and the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are integrated into a single device, such as a transceiver. In the embodiment of the present application, the processor and the transceiver may be coupled, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the connection method between the processor and the transceiver. During the execution of the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be understood as the process of the processor outputting the above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver so that the transceiver can transmit it. After being output by the processor, the above information may also need to undergo other processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be understood as the process of the processor receiving the input information. When the processor receives the input information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to be processed further before being input into the processor.

[0235] As shown in FIG. 10 , the communication device 100 includes one or more processors 1020 and a transceiver 1010 .

[0236] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the sending end in the above method embodiments (including methods 1 to 9).

[0237] The processor 1020 is configured to generate a wireless frame; and the transceiver 1010 is configured to send a wireless frame.

[0238] Illustratively, the transceiver 1010 is further configured to receive an acknowledgment frame.

[0239] In other embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the receiving end in the above method embodiments (including methods 1 to 9).

[0240] The transceiver 1010 is configured to receive wireless frames; and the processor 1020 is configured to parse wireless frames.

[0241] It will be understood that the specific descriptions of the transceiver and processor shown in the embodiments of the present application are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver and processor, reference may be made to the above-mentioned method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0242] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the wireless frame, mapping switching time field, expected duration field, first element, second element, etc. can also be referred to the introduction in the above method embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0243] In various implementations of the communication device shown in FIG10 , the transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the receiver is configured to perform a receiving function (or operation) and the transmitter is configured to perform a transmitting function (or operation). The transceiver is configured to communicate with other devices / apparatuses via a transmission medium.

[0244] Optionally, the communication device 100 may further include one or more memories 1030 for storing program instructions and / or data, etc. The memory 1030 is coupled to the processor 1020. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units or modules. The processor 1020 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1030. The processor 1020 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1030. Optionally, at least one of the one or more memories may be included in the processor.

[0245] The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1010, processor 1020, and memory 1030 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In Figure 10, the memory 1030, processor 1020, and transceiver 1010 are connected via a bus 1040. The bus is represented by a bold line in Figure 10. The connection methods between other components are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 10 only uses a single bold line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0246] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc., and may implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented as being executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor, etc.

[0247] In the embodiment of the present application, memory may include but is not limited to non-volatile memories such as hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), read-only memory (ROM) or portable read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc. Memory is any storage medium that can be used to carry or store program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and can be read and / or written by a computer (such as the communication device shown in the present application), but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiment of the present application can also be a circuit or other arbitrarily capable of realizing a storage function, for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0248] Illustratively, the processor 1020 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. The memory 1030 is primarily used to store software programs and data. The transceiver 1010 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as a touch screen, display, and keyboard, are primarily used to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0249] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1020 can read the software program in the memory 1030, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1020 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1020. The processor 1020 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0250] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be provided independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be remotely arranged independent of the communication device.

[0251] It is understood that the communication device shown in the embodiment of the present application may also have more components than those in Figure 10, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. The method performed by the processor and transceiver shown above is only an example. For the specific steps performed by the processor and transceiver, please refer to the method described above.

[0252] In another possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG9 , the processing unit 901 may be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiver unit 902 may be an input / output interface, or may be called a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiver unit 902 may be a sending unit and a receiving unit, the sending unit may be an output interface, the receiving unit may be an input interface, and the sending unit and the receiving unit are integrated into one unit, such as an input / output interface. As shown in FIG11 , the communication device shown in FIG11 includes a logic circuit 1101 and an interface 1102. That is, the processing unit 901 may be implemented using a logic circuit 1101, and the transceiver unit 902 may be implemented using an interface 1102. The logic circuit 1101 may be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, or a system on chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface 1102 may be a communication interface, an input / output interface, a pin, etc. For example, FIG11 is illustrated using the communication device as a chip, and the chip includes a logic circuit 1101 and an interface 1102.

[0253] In the embodiment of the present application, the logic circuit and the interface may also be coupled to each other. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific connection method between the logic circuit and the interface.

[0254] In some embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the sending end in the above method embodiments (including methods 1 to 9).

[0255] The logic circuit 1101 is used to generate a wireless frame; the interface 1102 is used to output the wireless frame.

[0256] In some other embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps or functions performed by the receiving end in the above method embodiments (including methods 1 to 9).

[0257] The interface 1102 is used to input wireless frames; the logic circuit 1101 is used to parse wireless frames.

[0258] It can be understood that the specific description of the logic circuit and interface shown in the embodiments of the present application is only an example. For the specific functions or execution steps of the logic circuit and interface, please refer to the above-mentioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0259] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the wireless frame, mapping switching time field, expected duration field, first element, second element, etc. can also be referred to the introduction in the above method embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0260] It can be understood that the communication device shown in the embodiment of the present application can implement the method provided in the embodiment of the present application in the form of hardware, or can implement the method provided in the embodiment of the present application in the form of software, etc., and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0261] An embodiment of the present application also provides a wireless communication system, which includes a transmitting end and a receiving end. The transmitting end and the receiving end can be used to execute the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0262] In addition, the present application also provides a computer program, which is used to implement the operations and / or processing performed by the sending end in the method provided by the present application.

[0263] The present application also provides a computer program, which is used to implement the operations and / or processing performed by the receiving end in the method provided by the present application.

[0264] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer code. When the computer code runs on a computer, the computer executes the operations and / or processing performed by the sending end in the method provided by the present application.

[0265] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer code. When the computer code runs on a computer, the computer executes the operations and / or processing performed by the receiving end in the method provided by the present application.

[0266] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer code or computer program. When the computer code or computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the sending end in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0267] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer code or computer program. When the computer code or computer program runs on a computer, the operations and / or processing performed by the receiving end in the method provided by the present application are executed.

[0268] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, or can be electrical, mechanical or other forms of connection.

[0269] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0270] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0271] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk, and other media that can store program code.

[0272] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a radio frame, the radio frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and the link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, the expected duration field being determined based on the most recent beacon target transmission time TBTT before the transmission time of the radio frame, or based on the beacon target transmission time TBTT at the transmission time of the radio frame, or based on the time synchronization function TSF timer; the second service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; The radio frame is sent.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The value carried by the expected duration field is the same as any of the following: Bits 11 to 26 of the TSF timer; Bits 11 to 34 of the TSF timer; Bits 11 to 50 of the TSF timer.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that In the wireless frame, the first service identifier and link mapping element is located before the second service identifier and link mapping element.

4. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and the link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, the expected duration field being determined based on the most recent beacon target transmission time TBTT before the transmission time of the wireless frame, or based on the beacon target transmission time TBTT at which the transmission time of the wireless frame is located, or based on the time synchronization function TSF timer; the second service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is the same as the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; The radio frame is parsed.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The parsing of the wireless frame includes: Taking the most recent TBTT before the transmission time of the radio frame as the starting point and the value carried by the expected duration field as the remaining duration, determining the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element; or, The value carried by the expected duration field is used as the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element.

6. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a radio frame, the radio frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and the link mapping element does not include an expected duration field, the second service identifier and the link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element; or, the first service identifier and the link mapping element includes an expected duration field, the second service identifier and the link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, the expected duration field is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element, and the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established; The radio frame is sent.

7. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive a wireless frame, the wireless frame including a first service identifier and a link mapping element and a second service identifier and a link mapping element; the first service identifier and the link mapping element does not include an expected duration field, the second service identifier and the link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the new service identifier and link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element The time when the mapping relationship is established, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element; or, the first service identifier and link mapping element includes an expected duration field, and the second service identifier and link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, and the expected duration field is used to indicate the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element, and the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established; The radio frame is parsed.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The parsing of the wireless frame includes: In a case where the first service identifier and link mapping element does not include an expected duration field and the second service identifier and link mapping element includes a mapping switching time field, the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is determined based on the mapping switching time field; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is the same as the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established; or, When the first service identifier and link mapping element includes an expected duration field and the second service identifier and link mapping element does not include a mapping switching time field, the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established is determined based on the expected duration field; the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element is the same as the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established.

9. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive a radio frame, the radio frame including a first service identifier and link mapping element and a second service identifier and link mapping element, the first service identifier and link mapping element including an expected duration field, the expected duration field being used to indicate an expected end time of a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element, the second service identifier and link mapping element including a mapping switching time field being used to indicate a time when a new mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link indicated by the second service identifier and link mapping element is established; Determine the time when the mapping relationship between the new service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established based on the expected duration field; or, determine the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element based on the mapping switching time field.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that Determining the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and link mapping element based on the mapping switching time field includes: When the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is later than the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is determined based on the mapping switching time field, and the expected end time of the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the first service identifier and the link mapping element is equal to the time when the new mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the second service identifier and the link mapping element is established.

11. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a radio frame, the radio frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field and a first field, the mapping switching time field is used to indicate the time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the time is determined based on the first beacon target time TBTT on the first link, the first field is used to indicate the time difference between the first TBTT on the first link and the time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link, the time point is no later than the first TBTT and is the time point on the second link closest to the first TBTT, the lower 10 bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer at the time point are 0, or the time point is the TBTT on the second link; The radio frame is sent via the second link.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The service identifier and link mapping element further includes a second field, and the second field is used to indicate the existence of the first field.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The value carried by the first field is the first to tenth bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer of the basic service set BSS corresponding to the second link.

14. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A wireless frame is received via a second link, the wireless frame including a service identifier and a link mapping element, the service identifier and the link mapping element including a mapping switching time field and a first field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate the time at which a mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established, the time being determined based on a first beacon target time TBTT on the first link, the first field being used to indicate the time at which a mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and the link mapping element is established ... A field is used to indicate the time difference between a first TBTT on the first link and a time point corresponding to the first TBTT on the second link, where the time point is no later than the first TBTT and is the time point on the second link closest to the first TBTT, and the lower 10 bits of the time synchronization function TSF timer at the time point are 0, or the time point is the TBTT on the second link; The radio frame is parsed.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The parsing of the wireless frame includes: The time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier corresponding to the second link and the link is established is determined based on the time indicated by the mapping switching time field and the first field.

16. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a radio frame, the radio frame including a service identifier and link mapping element, the service identifier and link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate a time at which a mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link indicated by the service identifier and link mapping element is established, with a time precision of microseconds; The radio frame is sent.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The service identifier and link mapping element further includes a length field, which is used to indicate the length of the mapping switching time field. When the value carried by the length field is a first value, the time precision of the time is microseconds.

18. A multi-link communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive a radio frame, the radio frame including a service identifier and link mapping element, the service identifier and link mapping element including a mapping switching time field, the mapping switching time field being used to indicate a time at which a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link indicated by the service identifier and link mapping element is established, with a time precision of microseconds; The radio frame is parsed.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The parsing of the wireless frame includes: The time when the mapping relationship between the service identifier and the link is established is determined based on the value carried by the mapping switching time field.

20. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: The transmission time of the radio frame is within the TBTT, and the expected duration field is determined based on the transmission time of the radio frame.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: including processor and memory; The memory is used to store instructions; The processor is configured to execute the instructions so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is performed.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; The interface is used to input and / or output code instructions, and the logic circuit is used to execute the code instructions so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is executed.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is performed.

25. A computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is performed.

26. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a transmitting end and a receiving end, the transmitting end is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the receiving end is used to execute the method according to claim 4 or 5; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method according to claim 6, and the receiving end is used to execute the method according to claim 7 or 8; or, the receiving end is used to execute the method according to claim 9 or 10; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, and the receiving end is used to execute the method according to claim 14 or 15; or, the transmitting end is used to execute the method according to claim 16 or 17, and the receiving end is used to execute the method according to claim 18 or 19.

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