Channel access method and device, equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses a channel access method and device, equipment and a storage medium, and relates to the field of wireless communication. The method is executed by an access point (AP) supporting a time delay sensitive business service period, and comprises the following steps: sending a channel protection threshold to a station (STA), the channel protection threshold is used for a scheduling AP of a time delay sensitive business service period and / or a member STA of the time delay sensitive business service period to preferentially acquire a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate transmission of time delay sensitive business data in the time delay sensitive business service period. And the access point supporting the time delay sensitive business service period sends a channel protection threshold, so that the time delay sensitive business service period member site and / or the time delay sensitive business service period access point preferentially acquires the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiates the transmission of time delay sensitive business data in the time delay sensitive business service period.

Description

Channel access method, device, equipment and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless communications, and in particular to a channel access method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] The target wake time (TWT) is negotiated between the access point (AP) and the station (STA). During the TWT service period (SP), the STA wakes up and transmits data to the AP. After the data transmission is completed, the STA returns to sleep. Restricted TWT is used to provide higher reliability for the transmission of latency-sensitive services.

[0003] However, there is no clear solution for how the AP and STA obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP) and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within or outside a limited TWT service period.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a channel access method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. The technical solutions are as follows:

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access method is provided. The method is performed by an AP that supports a delay-sensitive service service period. The method includes:

[0007] Send a channel protection threshold to the STA, where the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access method is provided. The method is performed by a STA that supports a delay-sensitive service service period. The method includes:

[0009] Receive the channel protection threshold sent by the AP, where the channel protection threshold is used to schedule the AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access method is provided, where the method is performed by a first wireless device, and the method includes:

[0011] When the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, the first wireless device preferentially obtains the TXOP and / or initiates transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0012] Among them, the first wireless device supports the delay-sensitive service period, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member site STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access method is provided, where the method is performed by a second wireless device, and the method includes:

[0014] When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restarts the backoff process;

[0015] In which, the second wireless device supports the delay-sensitive service service period, the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service period and / or the member site STA of the delay-sensitive service service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access device is provided, the device supporting a delay-sensitive service service period, the device comprising:

[0017] The first sending module is used to send a channel protection threshold to the STA, and the channel protection threshold is used to schedule the AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access device is provided, the device supporting a delay-sensitive service service period, the device comprising:

[0019] The second receiving module is used to receive the channel protection threshold sent by the AP, and the channel protection threshold is used to schedule the AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access device is provided, the device comprising:

[0021] A third processing module is configured to preferentially acquire the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period when the channel is in an idle state within a channel protection threshold;

[0022] In which, the device supports the delay-sensitive service period, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0023] According to one aspect of the present application, a channel access device is provided, the device comprising:

[0024] a fourth processing module, configured to postpone transmission within a delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart a backoff process when the target time interval is less than or equal to a channel protection threshold;

[0025] In which, the device supports the delay-sensitive service service period, the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present application, a wireless device is provided, which includes: a processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; and a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the channel access method as described in the above aspect.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which executable instructions are stored. The executable instructions are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the channel access method as described in the above aspect.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present application, a computer program product is provided, which includes computer instructions, the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium, a processor of a computer device reads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executes the computer instructions, so that the computer device executes to implement the channel access method as described in the above aspects.

[0029] According to one aspect of the present application, a chip is provided, which includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, and when the chip is running, is used to implement the channel access method described in the above aspects.

[0030] According to one aspect of the present application, a computer program is provided, which includes computer instructions. A processor of a computer device executes the computer instructions, so that the computer device executes the channel access method as described in the above aspect.

[0031] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application include at least the following beneficial effects:

[0032] The access point that supports the delay-sensitive service period sends a channel protection threshold, so that the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period can give priority to obtaining transmission opportunities and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby giving priority to ensuring the data transmission of delay-sensitive services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0034] FIG1 shows a schematic diagram of an EDCA method in the related art;

[0035] FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of an EDCA method in the related art;

[0036] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of a Wi-Fi system provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0037] FIG4 is a schematic flow chart showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0038] FIG5 is a schematic diagram showing a flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0039] FIG6 shows a schematic flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0040] FIG7 shows a schematic diagram of a format of an information control field provided in some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0041] FIG8 is a schematic flow chart showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0042] FIG9 is a schematic flow chart showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0043] FIG10 is a schematic diagram showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0044] FIG11 is a schematic diagram showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0045] FIG12 is a schematic diagram showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0046] FIG13 is a schematic diagram showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0047] FIG14 is a schematic diagram showing a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG15 shows a structural block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG16 shows a structural block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0050] FIG17 shows a structural block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0051] FIG18 shows a structural block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application;

[0052] FIG19 shows a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application more clear, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, with examples shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0054] The terms used in this disclosure are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0055] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determining."

[0056] First, the relevant technologies involved in the embodiments of this application are introduced:

[0057] (1) Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)

[0058] As Internet services become more diverse and complex, the demands on network performance are also increasing. To provide a certain degree of Quality of Service (QoS) support for Internet service transmission at the Medium-Access Control (MAC) layer, EDCA is used in related technologies to provide priority support and avoid channel access conflicts. EDCA can provide prioritized channel access and transmission services for different services, providing different channel access priorities for different services.

[0059] Figure 1 shows the basic channel access method related to EDCA. When a station (STA) detects a channel transition from busy to idle during Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), it continues to check whether the channel remains idle within the Distributed Coordination Function Interframe Space (DIFS). If the channel remains idle within the DIFS, the station can backoff. To enter the backoff process, the station first selects a random number from the Contention Window (CW), called the Random Backoff Counter. During the backoff process, the station checks the channel in each slot. If the channel is idle, the corresponding Random Backoff Counter is decremented by 1. If the current Random Backoff Counter reaches 0, the station gains channel access, immediately transmits, and resets the Random Backoff Counter. If the current random backoff counter value is not 0, the station will continue to check whether the channel remains idle until the random backoff counter value of the station becomes 0. The station obtains channel access, immediately transmits, and resets the random backoff counter value. If during the backoff process, other stations compete for the channel first, that is, the random backoff counter value of other stations is reduced to 0 first, then the random backoff counter value of the station that did not compete for the channel remains unchanged. The next time the CCA detects that the channel changes from busy to idle, the random backoff counter value of the station that did not compete for the channel will be reduced by 1 from the previous value until it becomes 0. This design is intended to ensure fairness in network transmission.

[0060] Furthermore, the improved channel access method associated with EDCA, in simple terms, provides prioritized channel access transmission services for different services. Specifically, each station determines the corresponding CW[AC] based on the access category (AC) of the service to be transmitted. The initial value of CW[AC] is the corresponding CWmin[AC] value. EDCA defines four access categories for services, ranked from highest to lowest priority: voice (AC_VO), video (AC_VI), best effort (AC_BE), and background traffic (AC_BK). Each access category uses an improved EDCA to compete for transmission opportunities. Frames with the highest priority access category have the smallest CW value and are therefore more likely to be transmitted.

[0061] For example, as shown in Figure 2, station A's transmission on the channel is about to end. Stations B, C, and D need to transmit data, and the CCA detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle. Stations B, C, and D continue to check whether the channel remains idle for a period of DIFS. The detection result indicates that the channel is idle within the period of DIFS. Stations B, C, and D each randomly select a random backoff counter value: station B's random backoff counter backs off to 4, station C's random backoff counter backs off to 1, and station D's random backoff counter backs off to 2. During the backoff process, stations B, C, and D check whether the channel is idle in time slots. If the first time slot is idle, the random backoff counters of stations B, C, and D are decremented by 1: station B's random backoff counter value becomes 3, station C's random backoff counter value becomes 0, and station D's random backoff counter value becomes 1. When station C's random backoff counter backs off to 0, station C gains channel access, immediately transmits data, and resets its random backoff counter value (not shown). When sites B and D learn that site C has won the channel, they keep the random backoff counter value unchanged. Site C's transmission on the channel is about to end, and sites B, D, and E need to transmit data. The CCA detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle. Sites B, D, and E continue to check whether the channel remains idle for the DIFS period. The detection result indicates that the channel is idle for the DIFS period. Sites B and D use the previous random backoff counter value. That is, site B's random backoff counter value remains 3, site D's random backoff counter value remains 1, and site E randomly selects a random backoff counter value of 2. During the backoff process, sites B, D, and E check for channel idleness in time slots. If the first time slot is idle, the random backoff counter values ​​of sites B, D, and E are decremented by 1, with site B's random backoff counter value becoming 2, site D's random backoff counter value becoming 0, and site E's random backoff counter value becoming 1. When the random backoff counter of station D reaches 0, station D obtains channel access, immediately transmits data, and resets the random backoff counter (not shown). When stations B and E learn that station D has won the channel, they keep the random backoff counter unchanged. The next time CCA detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle, the backoff process repeats until station E and station B both win the channel.

[0062] (2) Basic Service Set (BSS)

[0063] The BSS is the basic topology of wireless local area networks (WLANs). The communication devices that make up a BSS include an access point (AP) and several stations. After joining the AP's wireless domain, each station establishes an association with the AP, allowing stations to exchange data through the AP. The AP assigns an associated identifier (AID) to each station that joins the BSS. An AID value of 0 indicates that the device is an access point.

[0064] (3) Target Wake Time (TWT)

[0065] TWT is used to support energy conservation in large-scale IoT environments. In related technologies, the TWT mechanism supports triggered uplink transmission, thereby expanding the scope of TWT operation.

[0066] In the TWT mechanism, a schedule is established between the STA and the AP (this schedule is agreed upon by the STA and the AP). This schedule consists of TWT service cycles. When the service cycle negotiated by the STA and the AP arrives, the STA wakes up, waits for the trigger frame sent by the AP, and exchanges data. After the data transmission is completed, the STA returns to sleep. Each STA can independently negotiate a service cycle with the AP and each STA can have a unique TWT service cycle.

[0067] The TWT mechanism allows the AP to manage the behavior of the BSS to reduce contention between STAs and reduce the awake time of STAs in power management mode. This is achieved by STAs operating in non-overlapping time and / or frequency domains and concentrating frame exchanges on predefined service periods. Therefore, in order to ensure the application effect of the TWT mechanism, the AP generally requires that all associated STAs in the BSS can join the TWT mechanism so that the AP can schedule them. The TWT protocol in the relevant technology stipulates that the High-Efficiency (HE) AP will request all associated STAs that claim to support TWT to participate in TWT. After receiving the indication from the AP to join TWT, the non-AP station should conduct individual customized TWT (Individual TWT) protocol negotiation or join the broadcast TWT (Broadcast TWT). Moreover, the service period (SP) of TWT includes trigger-enabled SPs and non-trigger-enabled SPs. The TWT scheduling AP schedules by sending trigger frames in the trigger-enabled SP. At the same time, the TWT protocol in the relevant technology stipulates that, outside the SP that broadcasts TWT, TWT member stations cannot transmit frames to the TWT scheduling AP. Moreover, in a trigger-enabled broadcast TWT, the TWT member site cannot transmit frames that do not carry the HE-based triggered physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the TWT scheduling AP. That is, if the TWT member site sends a frame to the TWT scheduling AP, the frame must carry the HE TB PPDU.

[0068] Among them, TWT member sites / TWT scheduling sites refer to sites that support TWT and have negotiated the TWT service cycle with the AP. Non-TWT member sites / non-TWT scheduling sites (Non-Scheduled STA) refer to sites that support TWT but are not TWT members. That is, although non-TWT member sites / non-TWT scheduling sites support TWT, they have not negotiated the TWT service cycle with the AP. TWT scheduling AP refers to an AP that supports TWT and schedules sites based on the TWT service cycle.

[0069] (4) Restricted-TWT (R-TWT)

[0070] Related technologies propose restricted TWT operations to allow APs to utilize enhanced medium access protection and resource reservation mechanisms to provide more predictable, lower worst-case delay and jitter, and higher reliability for the transmission of delay-sensitive services. Currently, restricted TWT mainly adds two channel access rules in terms of channel access: extremely high throughput (EHT) non-AP stations serve as transmission opportunity (TXOP) owners. When the TXOP is obtained outside the restricted TWT service period, it should ensure that the TXOP ends before the start of any restricted TWT service period; the EHT AP will schedule a quiet interval (Quiet Interval) overlapping with the restricted TWT service period to shield the legacy STAs that support the Quiet Element (Quiet Element) from operating within the TWT SP, but the shielding operation within the quiet interval is invalid for non-AP EHT STAs.

[0071] The quiet interval is a period of time during which all stations within a BSS temporarily stop transmitting. This helps measure whether there is interference in the system. The quiet interval is scheduled by the quiet element in the Beacon and Probe Response frames, specifying when to stop transmitting and how long it lasts.

[0072] Restricted TWT member sites / restricted TWT scheduling sites refer to sites that support restricted TWT and have negotiated a restricted TWT service period with the AP. Restricted TWT non-member sites / restricted TWT non-scheduled STAs refer to sites that support restricted TWT but are not members of restricted TWT, that is, restricted TWT non-member sites / restricted TWT non-scheduled sites support restricted TWT but have not negotiated the restricted TWT service period with the AP. Restricted TWT scheduling AP refers to an AP that supports restricted TWT and schedules sites based on the restricted TWT service period.

[0073] However, the application of the above-mentioned limited TWT still has the following problems:

[0074] 1. The goal of restricted TWT is to provide a protected and reliable service period for the transmission of delay-sensitive services. The current operating rules of restricted TWT do not stipulate that stations outside the TWT SP should be in doze state or unable to transmit frames to the AP. There is also no requirement that non-member stations / non-scheduled stations of restricted TWT must be in doze state during the service period of restricted TWT. Therefore, there is a lack of clear channel access rules for each station within the service period of restricted TWT and outside the service period of restricted TWT.

[0075] 2. Currently, the protection of the restricted TWT service period is not sufficient, and the following issues have not been resolved: the quiet time interval protection method overlapping with the restricted TWT service period is not applied to some EHT STAs. How to restrict the channel access of restricted TWT non-member stations and non-restricted TWT stations (i.e., stations that do not support restricted TWT) within the restricted TWT service period; for non-EHT STAs that do not support quiet elements, how to prevent the STA from competing for channels to obtain transmission opportunities during the restricted TWT period.

[0076] Based on the above-mentioned problems, the present application proposes a channel access method that helps to solve the above-mentioned problems, and defines channel access rules related to the service period of delay-sensitive services of sites and / or access points.

[0077] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a Wi-Fi system provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The Wi-Fi system includes terminal devices, terminal devices, network devices, or APs and STAs, which are not limited in this application. This application uses the example of a Wi-Fi system including AP 310 and STA 320 for illustration.

[0078] In some scenarios, an AP can be referred to as an AP STA, meaning that in a sense, an AP is also a type of STA. In some scenarios, a STA can be referred to as a non-AP STA.

[0079] In some embodiments, STAs may include AP STAs and non-AP STAs.

[0080] Communication in a Wi-Fi system can be between an AP and a non-AP STA, between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA, or between a STA and a peer STA. A peer STA refers to a device that communicates with a STA. For example, a peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0081] An AP acts as a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network. Its primary function is to connect wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. An AP device can be a terminal device or a network device equipped with a Wi-Fi chip.

[0082] It should be understood that the role of STA in the communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a non-AP STA. When the mobile phone serves as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone plays the role of AP.

[0083] APs and non-AP STAs can be devices used in the Internet of Vehicles, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0084] In some embodiments, non-AP STA can support 802.11be standard. Non-AP STA can also support a variety of current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a. Non-AP STA can also be used in a network environment that supports the next-generation WLAN system. The next-generation WLAN system is a WLAN system evolved from the 802.11ax system and can meet backward compatibility with the 802.11ax system. The next-generation Wi-Fi communication is any new generation of Wi-Fi communication after Wi-Fi 7 based on the IEEE 802.11be specification, such as EHT communication and Ultra High Reliability (UHR) communication. For example, non-AP STA is EHT STA and / or UHR STA.

[0085] In some embodiments, the AP may be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. The AP may also be a device supporting various current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. The AP may also be used in a network environment supporting a next-generation WLAN system, which is a WLAN system evolved from the 802.11ax system and can meet backward compatibility with the 802.11ax system. The next-generation Wi-Fi communication refers to any new generation of Wi-Fi communication after Wi-Fi 7 based on the IEEE 802.11be specification, such as EHT communication and UHR communication.

[0086] In the embodiment of the present application, the STA may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, e-book reader, laptop computer, desktop computer, television, virtual reality (VR) device, augmented reality (AR) device, mixed reality (MR) device, extended reality (XR) device, baffle reality (BR) device, cinematic reality (CR) device, deceived reality (DR) device, wireless device in industrial control, set-top box, wireless device in self-driving, in-vehicle communication device, wireless device in remote medical care, wireless device in smart grid, wireless device in transportation safety, wireless device in smart city or wireless device in smart home, wireless communication chip, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Circuit, ASIC), System on Chip (SoC), etc.

[0087] The Wi-Fi system in the embodiment of the present application can support frequency bands including but not limited to: low frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and high frequency bands (45 GHz, 60 GHz).

[0088] There are one or more links between the STA and the AP.

[0089] In some embodiments, STAs and APs support multi-band communication, for example, simultaneously communicating on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands, or simultaneously communicating on different channels within the same frequency band (or different frequency bands), thereby improving the communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such devices are generally referred to as multi-band devices, or multi-link devices (MLDs), and are sometimes also referred to as multi-link entities or multi-band entities. A multi-link device can be either an AP or a STA. If the multi-link device is an AP, it includes one or more APs; if the multi-link device is a STA, it includes one or more non-AP STAs.

[0090] A multi-link device including one or more APs is called an AP, and a multi-link device including one or more non-AP STAs is called a Non-AP. In the embodiment of the application, the Non-AP can be called a STA.

[0091] In some embodiments, a STA exists in the form of one or more BSSs, which are a collection of STAs that can successfully synchronize to communicate with each other. A BSS may or may not include an AP.

[0092] In some embodiments, the AP may include multiple APs, the Non-AP may include multiple STAs, multiple links may be formed between the APs in the AP and the STAs in the Non-AP, and the APs in the AP and the corresponding STAs in the Non-AP may communicate through the corresponding links.

[0093] In some embodiments, an AP is a device deployed in a WLAN / Wi-Fi system to provide wireless communication capabilities for STAs. STAs may be: User Equipment (UE), Access Terminal, Subscriber Unit, Subscriber Station, Mobile Station, Mobile Station, Remote Station, Remote Terminal, Mobile Device, Wireless Communication Device, User Agent, or User Equipment. STAs may also be cellular phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted devices, or wearable devices, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0094] In some embodiments, both the AP and the STA support the IEEE 802.11 standard, but are not limited to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0095] FIG4 is a flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. Taking the method executed by an access point supporting a delay-sensitive service period as an example, the method includes at least some of the following steps:

[0096] Step 420: Send the channel protection threshold to the station.

[0097] The site is a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle, including a delay-sensitive business service cycle member site and / or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site. Among them, a delay-sensitive business service cycle member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle and has negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the access point, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduled site, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling site. A delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but is not a member of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, that is, a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the AP, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled site, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled site.

[0098] Similarly, a delay-sensitive service period scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive service period and has negotiated the delay-sensitive service period with the site. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service period scheduled access point or a delay-sensitive service period scheduling access point. A delay-sensitive service period non-scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive service period but is not a member of the delay-sensitive service period. In other words, a delay-sensitive service period non-scheduling access point supports the delay-sensitive service period but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive service period with the site. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service period non-scheduled access point or a delay-sensitive service period non-scheduling access point.

[0099] In this application, the delay-sensitive service service period includes the R-TWT service period. Similarly, the delay-sensitive service service period member sites include the R-TWT service period member sites, the delay-sensitive service service period scheduling access points include the R-TWT service period scheduling access points, the delay-sensitive service service period non-member sites include the R-TWT service period non-member sites, and the delay-sensitive service service period non-scheduled access points include the R-TWT service period non-scheduled access points.

[0100] In this application, a non-delay-sensitive service period site refers to a site that does not support a delay-sensitive service period, and a non-delay-sensitive service period access point refers to an access point that does not support a delay-sensitive service period. Non-delay-sensitive service period sites include non-R-TWT service period sites, and non-R-TWT service period sites refer to sites that do not support an R-TWT service period. Non-delay-sensitive service period access points include non-R-TWT service period access points, and non-R-TWT service period access points refer to access points that do not support an R-TWT service period.

[0101] In the present application, the first member site includes at least one of a non-member site in a delay-sensitive service period, a site not in a delay-sensitive service period, and a site that initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period. The first scheduling access point includes at least one of a non-scheduling access point in a delay-sensitive service period, an access point not in a delay-sensitive service period, and an access point that initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0102] Among them, the site that initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier includes: a site that is a member site of the delay-sensitive service cycle but initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier, or a site that is not a member site of the delay-sensitive service cycle and initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier. The access point that initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier includes: an access point that is a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduling access point but initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier, or an access point that is not a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduling access point and initiates the backoff process for the access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service cycle flow identifier.

[0103] The channel protection threshold is used to enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0104] In some embodiments, a delay-sensitive service service period member site may be understood as a site related to a delay-sensitive service, and a delay-sensitive service service period scheduling access point may be understood as an access point related to the delay-sensitive service. The first member site may be understood as a site unrelated to the delay-sensitive service, and the first scheduling access point may be understood as an access point unrelated to the delay-sensitive service.

[0105] The sites related to delay-sensitive services refer to sites that are about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, sites that need to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or sites that are preparing to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0106] The access point related to the delay-sensitive service refers to an access point that is about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that needs to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that is ready to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0107] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period, and the length is one frame interval, or the sum of one frame interval and the backoff time of the access point, or is obtained by negotiation between the access point and the station.

[0108] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the delay-sensitive service period is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the delay-sensitive service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the delay-sensitive service period is declared.

[0109] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the restricted TWT is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the restricted TWT service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the restricted TWT service period is declared.

[0110] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment is that the access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service period sends a channel protection threshold, so that the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period give priority to obtaining TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, and avoids the stations that do not support quiet elements from giving priority to obtaining TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, thereby giving priority to guaranteeing the data transmission of the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period within the delay-sensitive business service period, and supporting the scheduling AP and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period give priority to transmitting data related to delay-sensitive business within the delay-sensitive business service period.

[0111] FIG5 is a flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. Taking the method executed by a station supporting a delay-sensitive service service period as an example, the method includes at least some of the following steps:

[0112] Step 520: Receive the channel protection threshold sent by the access point.

[0113] The access point is an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle, including a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point and / or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point. Among them, the delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle and has negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the site, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduled access point, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point. The delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but is not a member of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, that is, the delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the site, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled access point, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point.

[0114] Similarly, a delay-sensitive service cycle member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive service cycle and has negotiated the delay-sensitive service cycle with the access point. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduled site or a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduled site. A delay-sensitive service cycle non-member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive service cycle but is not a member of the delay-sensitive service cycle. In other words, a delay-sensitive service cycle non-member site supports the delay-sensitive service cycle but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive service cycle with the AP. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service cycle non-scheduled site or a delay-sensitive service cycle non-scheduled site.

[0115] The channel protection threshold is used to enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0116] In some embodiments, the delay-sensitive service service period member sites may be understood as sites related to the delay-sensitive service, and the delay-sensitive service service period scheduling access points may be understood as access points related to the delay-sensitive service.

[0117] The sites related to delay-sensitive services refer to sites that are about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, sites that need to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or sites that are preparing to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0118] The access point related to the delay-sensitive service refers to an access point that is about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that needs to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that is ready to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0119] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the starting time of the restricted TWT service period, the length is a frame interval, or the sum of a frame interval and the backoff time of the access point, or is negotiated between the access point and the site.

[0120] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the delay-sensitive service period is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the delay-sensitive service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the delay-sensitive service period is declared.

[0121] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the restricted TWT is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the restricted TWT service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the restricted TWT service period is declared.

[0122] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment is that the access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service period sends a channel protection threshold, so that the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period give priority to obtaining TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, and avoids the stations that do not support quiet elements from giving priority to obtaining TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, thereby giving priority to guaranteeing the data transmission of the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period within the delay-sensitive business service period, and supporting the scheduling AP and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service period give priority to transmitting data related to delay-sensitive business within the delay-sensitive business service period.

[0123] FIG6 is a flow chart illustrating a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. Taking the method as an example, the method is performed by an access point supporting a delay-sensitive service period and a station supporting a delay-sensitive service period, and the method includes at least some of the following steps:

[0124] Step 620: The access point sends a channel protection threshold to the station;

[0125] The access point is an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle, including a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point and / or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point. Among them, the delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle and has negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the site, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduled access point, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling access point. The delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but is not a member of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, that is, the delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the site, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled access point, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduling access point.

[0126] The channel protection threshold is used to enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0127] In some embodiments, the delay-sensitive service service period member sites may be understood as sites related to the delay-sensitive service, and the delay-sensitive service service period scheduling access points may be understood as access points related to the delay-sensitive service.

[0128] The sites related to delay-sensitive services refer to sites that are about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, sites that need to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or sites that are preparing to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0129] The access point related to the delay-sensitive service refers to an access point that is about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that needs to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or an access point that is ready to transmit delay-sensitive service data.

[0130] Step 640: The station receives the channel protection threshold sent by the access point.

[0131] The site is a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle, including a delay-sensitive business service cycle member site and / or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site. Among them, a delay-sensitive business service cycle member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle and has negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the access point, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduled site, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle scheduling site. A delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but is not a member of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, that is, a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-member site supports the delay-sensitive business service cycle but has not negotiated the delay-sensitive business service cycle with the AP, and can also be called a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled site, or a delay-sensitive business service cycle non-scheduled site.

[0132] The channel protection threshold is carried in the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield. The channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield is carried in the broadcast TWT element. The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame for broadcast. The management frame includes at least one of the following: Probe Response frame, Association Response frame, ReAssociation Response frame, Beacon frame, Action frame.

[0133] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period, and the length is one frame interval, or the sum of one frame interval and the backoff time of the access point, or is obtained by negotiation between the access point and the station.

[0134] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the delay-sensitive service period is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the delay-sensitive service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the delay-sensitive service period is declared.

[0135] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined when the restricted TWT is established, and / or the channel protection threshold is configured when the restricted TWT service period is declared, and / or the channel protection threshold is sent when the restricted TWT service period is declared.

[0136] In some embodiments, the unit of the channel protection threshold is microseconds (μs) or slots. For example, referring to the setting of EDCA parameters, one slot is equal to 9 μs.

[0137] In some embodiments, the broadcast channel protection threshold subfield is located in the traffic information control field of the restricted TWT traffic information field (Restricted TWT Traffic Info field) in the broadcast TWT parameter set field (Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field) of the broadcast TWT element. The format of the traffic information control field is shown in Figure 7. The number of bits (Bits) of the downlink traffic identity bitmap valid value (Downlink Traffic Identity Bitmap Valid, DL TID Bitmap Valid) is 1, occupying the B0 bit; the number of bits of the uplink bitmap valid value (Uplink Bitmap Valid, UL TID Bitmap Valid) is 1, occupying the B1 bit; the number of channel protection threshold bits is 5, occupying bits B2 to B6; B7 is a reserved bit, and the number of bits is 1. Among them, B1 represents the first bit, B2 represents the second bit, and so on, which will not be repeated.

[0138] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is further used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service period, which includes a delay-sensitive service period based on triggering and / or a delay-sensitive service period based on non-triggering.

[0139] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0140] In some embodiments, a delay-sensitive service period member STA initiates a backoff process for an access category corresponding to a delay-sensitive service period flow identifier. The delay-sensitive service period flow identifier includes a delay-sensitive service period upstream flow identifier and / or a delay-sensitive service period downstream flow identifier. The delay-sensitive service period upstream flow identifier includes an R-TWT service period upstream flow identifier, and the delay-sensitive service period downstream flow identifier includes an R-TWT service period downstream flow identifier.

[0141] In some embodiments, the delay-sensitive service period scheduling AP initiates a backoff process for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive service period flow identifier, or initiates the TXOP of the competing channel to obtain the TXOP and prioritizes trigger-based uplink transmission of the delay-sensitive service data of the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period. The delay-sensitive service period flow identifier includes the delay-sensitive service period upstream flow identifier and / or the delay-sensitive service period downstream flow identifier. The delay-sensitive service period upstream flow identifier includes the R-TWT service period upstream flow identifier, and the delay-sensitive service period downstream flow identifier includes the R-TWT service period downstream flow identifier.

[0142] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is further used to, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, cause the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart the backoff process;

[0143] The target time interval is the time interval between a first moment and a second moment. The first moment is the start moment of the delay-sensitive service period, and the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process reaches 0 or is about to initiate data transmission. The second moment is within the delay-sensitive service period. The channel access method corresponding to the second moment is the channel access method used by the scheduling AP and / or member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0144] Postponing transmission may be understood as pausing transmission or delaying transmission. The data may be, for example, a PPDU.

[0145] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is used to determine whether the target time interval is greater than the channel protection threshold when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process initiated by the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA backs off to 0 during the delay-sensitive service service period, or when the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA is ready to initiate data transmission.

[0146] In this application, the term "channel access method" refers to a backoff-based channel access method, or a contention-based channel access method, for providing prioritized channel access transmission services. The term "backoff procedure" and "backoff process" are synonymous, referring to the process or procedure by which a station or access point performs a backoff based on the channel access method.

[0147] In some embodiments, the channel access method includes at least one of: Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA), Distributed Coordination Function (DCF), and Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF).

[0148] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment enables the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period through the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the station, thereby ensuring that the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period can preferentially transmit delay-sensitive services. Furthermore, it prevents stations that do not support quiet elements from preferentially obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby preferentially guaranteeing the data transmission of the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period within the delay-sensitive service period, and supporting the scheduling AP and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially transmit data related to delay-sensitive services within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0149] Next, the channel access methods of stations and access points in different types of delay-sensitive service cycles are described in detail.

[0150] 1) Delay-sensitive service cycle based on trigger enablement

[0151] For trigger-enabled delay-sensitive service periods, such as R-TWT service periods (Trigger-Enabled R-TWT SPs), the access point begins competing for the channel's TXOP at the start of the delay-sensitive service period to obtain a TXOP and prioritizes trigger-based uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data from member stations in the delay-sensitive service period. The access point sends a trigger frame in the BSS upon determining that the wireless medium is idle within the channel protection threshold.

[0152] The delay-sensitive service service period refers to the TWT period for transmitting delay-sensitive service data, such as the R-TWT service period. The following description uses the restricted TWT service period as an example.

[0153] The access point may transmit a trigger frame without backoff in the BSS by determining that the wireless medium is idle within a predetermined IFS. The predetermined channel protection threshold time is the predetermined IFS. For example, the IFS is at least one of the Priority Interframe Space (PIFS), the Distributed Coordination Function Interframe Space (DIFS), the Short Interframe Space (SIFS), and the Arbitration Interframe Space (AIFS).

[0154] When an access point can back off in the BSS and not send a trigger frame until the transmission conditions specified by the channel access method are met, the predetermined channel protection threshold time is the sum of an IFS and the access point backoff time. For example, the IFS is at least one of AIFS, PIFS, DIFS, and SIFS. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0155] To prioritize ensuring that the access point can successfully compete for the channel's TXOP after the start of the delay-sensitive service period, the following methods can be used:

[0156] (1) The access point notifies non-AP STAs of the channel protection threshold. Specifically, the access point allows non-AP STAs supporting delay-sensitive service periods (e.g., R-TWT SPs) to obtain the channel idle time corresponding to the predetermined channel protection threshold required by the access point to send trigger frames. Alternatively, for channel access during delay-sensitive service periods, a rule is defined to require STAs supporting delay-sensitive service periods to comply with the channel protection threshold when accessing the channel. The access point can adjust the channel idle time required before initiating the transmission of a trigger frame based on the channel protection threshold.

[0157] (2) When a non-AP station that supports a delay-sensitive service period arrives at and / or passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period, if there is a backoff procedure in progress, if it falls back to 0 during the delay-sensitive service period (i.e., the value of the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff procedure is 0), or when it is about to initiate a transmission (start to initiate a frame exchange sequence), it is necessary to check whether the time interval between this time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period exceeds the channel protection threshold provided by the access point, and perform the following actions:

[0158] When the time interval between this point in time (i.e., the point in time when the backoff process passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period and rolls back to 0 or prepares to initiate transmission during the delay-sensitive service period) and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the station supporting the delay-sensitive service period postpones transmission / delays sending and restarts the backoff process;

[0159] When the time interval between the time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service service period is greater than the channel protection threshold, the transmission is performed normally if the transmission conditions determined by the channel access method are met. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0160] 2) Delay-sensitive service cycle based on non-trigger enablement

[0161] For non-trigger-enabled delay-sensitive service periods, such as R-TWT service periods (Non-Trigger-Enabled R-TWT SPs), the following method can be used to prioritize ensuring that member stations of the delay-sensitive service period can successfully compete for the channel TXOP after the delay-sensitive service period starts to transmit delay-sensitive service data (i.e., service data corresponding to the R-TWT UL TID):

[0162] (1) The access point notifies non-AP stations of the channel protection threshold. Specifically, the access point allows non-AP stations that support the delay-sensitive service period to obtain the predetermined channel protection threshold information. Alternatively, for channel access during the delay-sensitive service period, a rule is defined to ensure that non-AP stations that support the delay-sensitive service period comply with the channel protection threshold when accessing the channel.

[0163] In which case, when the access point does not have an access category corresponding to the R-TWT downlink flow identifier in the competing channel, the access point starts an EDCA backoff process before the start time of the upcoming delay-sensitive service period, at the start time of the delay-sensitive service period, or after the start time of the delay-sensitive service period. The EDCA backoff process falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission during the delay-sensitive service period. At this time, the access point verifies the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period. When it is confirmed that the time interval is less than the predetermined channel protection threshold, the transmission is postponed or suspended, and a backoff process is restarted. The channel protection threshold used by the access point for time interval verification and the channel protection threshold used by the non-AP site for time interval verification can be consistent or take different values.

[0164] Exemplarily, the channel protection threshold used by the access point for time interval verification is IFS, or the sum of IFS and the access point backoff time. IFS is, for example, at least one of AIFS, PIFS, DIFS, and SIFS.

[0165] In another exemplary embodiment, the station negotiates with the access point on a channel protection threshold. For example, when establishing an R-TWT, the station negotiates with the access point to determine a channel protection threshold used by both parties for time interval verification.

[0166] In the case where the access point has an access category corresponding to the R-TWT downlink identifier (R-TWT DL TID) competing for a channel, the access point starts an EDCA backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to the R-TWT downlink identifier before the start time of the upcoming delay-sensitive service period, at the start time of the delay-sensitive service period, or after the start time of the delay-sensitive service period. The EDCA backoff process falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission during the delay-sensitive service period. At this time, the access point checks the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period. When it is confirmed that the time interval is less than the predetermined channel protection threshold, the transmission is postponed or suspended, and a backoff process is restarted. In particular, when the access point is in the upcoming delay-sensitive service period, Before the start time of the service cycle, or at the start time of the delay-sensitive service cycle, or after the start time of the delay-sensitive service cycle, an EDCA backoff process for the access category corresponding to the R-TWT downlink flow identifier is started. During the delay-sensitive service cycle, when the EDCA backoff process falls back to 0 or is ready to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission, the access point does not need to verify the time interval between the time point when it falls back to 0 or is ready to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the delay-sensitive service cycle, and can directly initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data (such as service data corresponding to the R-TWT downlink flow identifier). Among them, the channel protection threshold time used by the access point for time interval verification and the channel protection threshold time used by the non-AP site for time interval verification can be consistent, or take different values.

[0167] (2) When a non-AP station that supports the delay-sensitive service period but is not a member station reaches and / or passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period, if there is a backoff process in progress, when it falls back to 0 (i.e., the value of the backoff counter is 0) at a certain time point during the delay-sensitive service period or is ready to initiate a transmission (start to initiate a frame exchange sequence), it is necessary to check whether the time interval between this time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period exceeds the channel protection threshold provided by the access point, and perform the following actions:

[0168] When the time interval between this point in time (i.e., the point in time when the backoff process passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period and rolls back to 0 or prepares to initiate transmission during the delay-sensitive service period) and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the non-AP station postpones transmission / delays sending and restarts the backoff process;

[0169] When the time interval between the time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service service period is greater than the channel protection threshold, the transmission is performed normally if the transmission conditions determined by the channel access method are met. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0170] (3) For a member station of a delay-sensitive service period, when it reaches and / or passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period, if there is a backoff process being executed, and the backoff process is a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to delay-sensitive service data (such as R-TWT UL TID), then when it falls back to 0 (i.e., the value of the backoff counter is 0) or is ready to initiate a transmission (start to initiate a frame exchange sequence) at a certain time point during the delay-sensitive service period, it is necessary to determine whether the time interval between this time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period exceeds the channel protection threshold provided by the access point, and perform the following actions:

[0171] When the time interval between this point in time (i.e., the point in time when the backoff process passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service period and rolls back to 0 or prepares to initiate transmission during the delay-sensitive service period) and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the station supporting the delay-sensitive service period postpones transmission and restarts the backoff process;

[0172] When the time interval between the time point and the start time of the delay-sensitive service period is greater than the channel protection threshold, transmission is performed when the transmission conditions determined by the channel access method are met. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0173] For a member site in a delay-sensitive service service period, if a backoff procedure is in progress when the site reaches and / or passes the start time of the delay-sensitive service service period, and the backoff procedure is for the AC corresponding to the delay-sensitive service data (such as the R-TWT UL TID), then there is no need to verify the time interval between the time point at which the site falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate transmission during the delay-sensitive service service period and the start time of the delay-sensitive service service period. Transmission is performed normally when the transmission conditions determined by the channel access method are met. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0174] FIG8 is a flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. Taking the method executed by the first wireless device as an example, the method includes at least some of the following steps:

[0175] Step 820: Send channel protection threshold or receive channel protection threshold;

[0176] The channel protection threshold is used by the scheduling AP and / or its member STAs to prioritize obtaining transmission opportunities (TXOPs) and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive service data during the delay-sensitive service period. The channel protection threshold is determined by the access point.

[0177] The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0178] The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

[0179] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is the IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of the IFS and the backoff time of the access point.

[0180] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is obtained through negotiation between the access point and the station.

[0181] The first wireless device supports a delay-sensitive service service period. The first wireless device is an access point or a station.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first wireless device is a member site of a delay-sensitive traffic service period and / or a scheduling access point of the delay-sensitive traffic service period.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first wireless device is associated with a delay-sensitive service, that is, the first wireless device is associated with a delay-sensitive service service period, or the first wireless device is associated with delay-sensitive service data.

[0184] If the first wireless device is an access point, the first wireless device determines a channel protection threshold and sends the channel protection threshold to the station. The first wireless device includes at least one of the following: an access point that schedules a delay-sensitive service period; an access point that initiates a backoff process for an access category corresponding to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period; or an access point that initiates a TXOP of a contention channel to obtain a TXOP and preferentially performs triggered uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data of member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0185] A scheduling access point for a delay-sensitive service period refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive service period and negotiates the delay-sensitive service period with the site. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service period reservation access point or a delay-sensitive service period scheduling access point. Scheduling access points for delay-sensitive service periods include scheduling access points for R-TWT service periods.

[0186] The access point that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive business service cycle flow identifier can be understood as the access point where the backoff procedure is initiated and is related to the delay-sensitive business data, also known as the access point related to the delay-sensitive business, which refers to the access point that is about to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or the access point that needs to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or the access point that is ready to transmit delay-sensitive business data. The access point that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive business service cycle flow identifier can be a scheduled access point for the delay-sensitive business service cycle, or a non-scheduled access point for the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0187] If the first wireless device is a station, the first wireless device receives the channel protection threshold sent by the access point. The first wireless device includes at least one of the following: a member station of the delay-sensitive service period; and a station that initiates a backoff process for an access category corresponding to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0188] A member site of a delay-sensitive service cycle refers to a site that supports the delay-sensitive service cycle and negotiates the delay-sensitive service cycle with the access point. It can also be called a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduled site or a delay-sensitive service cycle scheduling site. Member sites of a delay-sensitive service cycle include member sites of the R-TWT service cycle.

[0189] The site that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive business service cycle flow identifier can be understood as a site whose backoff procedure is initiated and is related to delay-sensitive business data, also known as a delay-sensitive business-related site, which refers to a site that is about to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or a site that needs to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or a site that is preparing to transmit delay-sensitive business data. The site that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive business service cycle flow identifier can be a member site of the delay-sensitive business service cycle or a non-member site of the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0190] The channel protection threshold is carried in the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield. The channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield is carried in the broadcast TWT element. The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame. The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of restricted TWT service period.

[0191] Step 840: When the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, preferentially obtain TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data.

[0192] A channel is detected. If the detection result shows that the channel is in an idle state within a channel protection threshold, the first wireless device directly obtains a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiates transmission of delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period, or obtains a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiates transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period if transmission conditions of a channel access method are met. The channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0193] The start time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the start time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0194] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment enables the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period through the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the station, thereby ensuring that the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period can preferentially transmit delay-sensitive services. Furthermore, it prevents stations that do not support quiet elements from preferentially obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby preferentially guaranteeing the data transmission of the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period within the delay-sensitive service period, and supporting the scheduling AP and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially transmit data related to delay-sensitive services within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0195] FIG9 shows a flow chart of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. Taking the method performed by the second wireless device as an example, the method includes at least some of the following steps:

[0196] Step 920: Send channel protection threshold or receive channel protection threshold;

[0197] The channel protection threshold is used by the scheduling AP and / or its member STAs to prioritize obtaining transmission opportunities (TXOPs) and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive service data during the delay-sensitive service period. The channel protection threshold is determined by the access point.

[0198] The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0199] The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

[0200] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is the IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of the IFS and the backoff time of the access point.

[0201] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is obtained through negotiation between the access point and the station.

[0202] The second wireless device supports a delay-sensitive service service period. The second wireless device is an access point or a station.

[0203] In some embodiments, the second wireless device is a restricted TWT non-member site and / or a restricted TWT non-scheduled access point.

[0204] In some embodiments, the second wireless device is a non-member station of the delay-sensitive traffic service period and / or a non-scheduled access point of the delay-sensitive traffic service period.

[0205] In some embodiments, the second wireless device is a member site of a delay-sensitive service period but initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period. Alternatively, the second wireless device is a scheduling access point of the delay-sensitive service period but initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0206] In some embodiments, the second wireless device is irrelevant to the delay-sensitive service, that is, the second wireless device is irrelevant to the delay-sensitive service service period, or the second wireless device is irrelevant to the delay-sensitive service data.

[0207] If the second wireless device is an access point, the second wireless device determines a channel protection threshold and sends the channel protection threshold to the station. The second wireless device includes at least one of the following: a non-scheduled access point for a delay-sensitive service period; and an access point that initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of a delay-sensitive service period.

[0208] A non-scheduled access point for a delay-sensitive service period refers to an access point that supports the delay-sensitive service period but has not negotiated this delay-sensitive service period with the site. These points may also be referred to as non-scheduled access points for the delay-sensitive service period or non-scheduled access points for the delay-sensitive service period. These non-scheduled access points for the delay-sensitive service period include non-scheduled access points for the R-TWT service period.

[0209] The access point that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category that does not correspond to the flow identifier of the delay-sensitive business service cycle can be understood as an access point where the backoff procedure initiated is unrelated to the delay-sensitive business data, also known as an access point unrelated to the delay-sensitive business, which refers to an access point that is not about to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or an access point that does not need to transmit delay-sensitive business data, or an access point that is not prepared to transmit delay-sensitive business data. The access point that initiates the backoff procedure for the access category that does not correspond to the flow identifier of the delay-sensitive business service cycle can be a scheduled access point of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, or a non-scheduled access point of the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0210] If the second wireless device is a station, the second wireless device receives the channel protection threshold sent by the access point. The second wireless device includes at least one of the following: a non-member station of the delay-sensitive service period; and a station that initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0211] A non-member site of a delay-sensitive service period is a site that supports the delay-sensitive service period but has not negotiated this period with the access point. This site is also called a non-scheduled site or a non-scheduled site. This includes sites that are not members of the R-TWT service period.

[0212] A site that initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier can be understood as a site whose initiated backoff procedure is unrelated to delay-sensitive service data, also known as a delay-sensitive service-independent site, which refers to a site that is not about to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or a site that does not need to transmit delay-sensitive service data, or a site that is not prepared to transmit delay-sensitive service data. A site that initiates a backoff procedure for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier can be a member site of the delay-sensitive service service cycle or a non-member site of the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

[0213] The channel protection threshold is carried in the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield. The channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold subfield is carried in the broadcast TWT element. The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame. The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of restricted TWT service period.

[0214] Step 940: When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, postpone the transmission and / or restart the backoff process of the channel access method.

[0215] The channel is detected. If the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restarts a backoff procedure. The backoff procedure is a backoff procedure of a channel access method, wherein the channel access method includes at least one of EDCA, DCF, and HCF.

[0216] The target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment. The first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service period, and the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission. The second moment is within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0217] The starting time of the target time interval is the same as the starting time of the channel protection threshold, and both are the starting time of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0218] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment enables the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period through the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the station, thereby ensuring that the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period can preferentially transmit delay-sensitive services. Furthermore, it prevents stations that do not support quiet elements from preferentially obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby preferentially guaranteeing the data transmission of the member stations of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period within the delay-sensitive service period, and supporting the scheduling AP and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially transmit data related to delay-sensitive services within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0219] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. In Figure 10, STA1 and STA2 are both associated with the AP. STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish a delay-sensitive service service period agreement. Taking the delay-sensitive service service period as the R-TWT service period as an example, STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish an R-TWT agreement (R-TWT Agreement Setup), thereby becoming a member station of the R-TWT service period. The R-TWT service period is a trigger-enabled R-TWT service period. The AP broadcasts the R-TWT service period information by carrying a broadcast TWT element in a management frame (including at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, and an action frame). The broadcast TWT element can carry predetermined channel protection threshold information. STA2 supports R-TWT but is not a member station corresponding to the R-TWT service period (that is, it has not negotiated with the AP to establish the R-TWT protocol). Since STA2 supports R-TWT, STA2 can also obtain the R-TWT service period information.

[0220] STA2 initiates an EDCA backoff procedure before, at, or after the start of the upcoming R-TWT service cycle. The backoff procedure is performed when the R-TWT service cycle falls back to 0 or when the frame exchange sequence transmission is about to be initiated. At this time, STA2 checks the time interval between the time of falling back to 0 or when the frame exchange sequence transmission is about to be initiated and the start of the R-TWT service cycle. If the time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold predetermined by the AP, STA2 postpones or suspends transmission and restarts a backoff procedure.

[0221] The AP begins competing for channels to obtain transmission opportunities after the R-TWT service cycle begins. Although STA2 initially falls back to 0 after the start of the R-TWT service cycle, it postpones or pauses transmission due to the channel protection threshold time constraint described above, and therefore does not seize the channel. As a result, the AP successfully obtains transmission opportunities during the R-TWT service cycle and preferentially triggers the uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data for the member station (such as STA1) that initiated the R-TWT service cycle.

[0222] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment uses the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site to enable the first member site to delay obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive service data, thereby ensuring that the scheduling access point of the delay-sensitive service service period can prioritize the transmission of delay-sensitive service-related data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0223] Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. In Figure 11, STA1 and STA2 are both associated with the AP. STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish a delay-sensitive service service period protocol. Taking the delay-sensitive service service period as the R-TWT service period as an example, STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish the R-TWT protocol, thereby becoming a member station of the R-TWT service period. The R-TWT service period is based on a non-trigger-enabled R-TWT service period. The AP broadcasts information about the restricted TWT service period by carrying a broadcast TWT element in a management frame (including at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, and an action frame), wherein the broadcast TWT element may carry predetermined channel protection threshold information. STA2 supports R-TWT but is not a member station corresponding to the R-TWT service period (that is, it has not negotiated with the AP to establish the R-TWT protocol). Since STA2 supports R-TWT, STA2 can also obtain information about the R-TWT service period.

[0224] STA2 starts an EDCA backoff process before, at, or after the start of the upcoming R-TWT service cycle. The backoff process passes through the start of the R-TWT service cycle and falls back to 0 during the R-TWT service cycle or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission. At this time, STA2 checks the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start of the R-TWT service cycle. If it is confirmed that the time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold predetermined by the AP, STA2 postpones or suspends transmission and restarts a backoff process.

[0225] STA1 competes for a channel transmission opportunity after the R-TWT service period begins. Although STA2 initially falls back to 0 after the R-TWT service period begins, it postpones or pauses transmission due to the channel protection threshold time constraint described above, and thus does not preempt the channel. This allows STA1 to successfully obtain a transmission opportunity during the R-TWT service period and initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data.

[0226] To summarize, the method provided in this embodiment uses the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site to enable the first member site to delay obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive service data, thereby ensuring that the scheduling access point / site of the delay-sensitive service service period can prioritize the transmission of delay-sensitive service-related data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0227] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. In Figure 12, STA1 and STA2 are both associated with the AP, and both STA1 and STA2 have negotiated with the AP to establish a delay-sensitive service service period protocol. Taking the delay-sensitive service service period as an example, STA1 and STA2 have negotiated with the AP to establish an R-TWT protocol, thereby becoming member sites of the R-TWT service period. The R-TWT service period is based on a non-trigger-enabled R-TWT service period. The AP broadcasts information about the restricted TWT service period by carrying a broadcast TWT element in a management frame (including at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, and an action frame), wherein the broadcast TWT element may carry predetermined channel protection threshold information.

[0228] Before the start time of the R-TWT service cycle, STA2 starts an EDCA backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier. The delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier is, for example, the R-TWT uplink flow identifier (R-TWT UL TID). The backoff process passes the start time of the R-TWT service cycle and falls back to 0 during the R-TWT service cycle or prepares to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission. At this time, STA2 judges (Check) the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the R-TWT service cycle, and confirms that the time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold predetermined by the AP. Then, STA2 postpones transmission or suspends transmission and restarts a backoff process.

[0229] STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process of the AC corresponding to the delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier (such as the R-TWT uplink identifier) ​​near the start time of the R-TWT service cycle to compete for the channel to obtain the transmission opportunity. Since STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process of the AC corresponding to the R-TWT uplink identifier, there is no need to check the time interval between the time point when STA1 itself falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate the frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the R-TWT service cycle. Therefore, STA1 can successfully obtain the transmission opportunity within the R-TWT service cycle and initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data (such as the service data corresponding to the R-TWT uplink identifier).

[0230] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment uses the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site to delay the sites of the access category whose backoff process does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier (such as R-TWT flow identifier) ​​from obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive service data, thereby ensuring that the sites of the access category whose backoff process corresponds to the restricted TWT flow identifier can give priority to the transmission of data related to delay-sensitive services.

[0231] Figure 13 shows a schematic diagram of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. In Figure 13, STA1 is associated with the AP and negotiates with the AP to establish a delay-sensitive service service period protocol. Taking the delay-sensitive service service period as an example, STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish an R-TWT protocol, thereby becoming a member site of the R-TWT service period. The R-TWT service period is based on a non-trigger-enabled R-TWT service period. The AP broadcasts information about the restricted TWT service period by carrying a broadcast TWT element in a management frame (including at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, and an action frame), wherein the broadcast TWT element may carry predetermined channel protection threshold information.

[0232] Before the upcoming R-TWT service cycle start time, or at the restricted TWT service cycle start time, or after the restricted TWT service cycle start time, the AP starts an EDCA backoff process of an access category that does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier, the delay-sensitive service service cycle flow identifier is, for example, the R-TWT downlink flow identifier (R-TWT DL TID), and the backoff process falls back to 0 during the R-TWT service cycle or prepares to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission. At this time, the AP checks the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate a frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the R-TWT service cycle, and confirms that the time interval is less than or equal to the predetermined channel protection threshold, then the AP postpones transmission or suspends transmission, and restarts a backoff process.

[0233] In particular, if the AP starts an EDCA backoff process of the AC corresponding to the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier (such as the R-TWT downlink flow identifier (R-TWT DL TID)) before the upcoming R-TWT service period start time, at the R-TWT service period start time, or after the R-TWT service period start time, and the backoff process falls back to 0 during the R-TWT service period or is ready to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission, the AP does not need to judge (Check) the time interval between the time point when it falls back to 0 or is ready to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the R-TWT service period, and can directly initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data (such as service data corresponding to the R-TWT downlink flow identifier). Among them, the channel protection threshold time used by the AP for time interval verification and the channel protection threshold time used by the non-AP STA for time interval verification can be consistent, or take different values.

[0234] STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process for the AC corresponding to the R-TWT upstream identifier near the start of the R-TWT service cycle to compete for the channel to obtain a transmission opportunity. Since STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process for the AC corresponding to the R-TWT upstream identifier, there is no need to check the time interval between the time when STA1 itself falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start of the R-TWT service cycle. Therefore, STA1 can successfully obtain transmission opportunities during the R-TWT service cycle and initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data (such as service data corresponding to the R-TWT upstream identifier).

[0235] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment uses the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site to enable the access point of the access category whose backoff process does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier (such as R-TWT flow identifier) ​​to delay obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data, ensuring that the site of the access category corresponding to the restricted TWT flow identifier in the backoff process can give priority to data transmission related to delay-sensitive services.

[0236] Figure 14 shows a schematic diagram of a channel access method provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. In Figure 14, STA1 is associated with the AP and negotiates with the AP to establish a delay-sensitive service service period protocol. Taking the delay-sensitive service service period as the R-TWT service period as an example, STA1 negotiates with the AP to establish the R-TWT protocol, thereby becoming a member site of the R-TWT service period. The R-TWT service period is based on a non-trigger-enabled R-TWT service period. The AP broadcasts information about the restricted TWT service period by carrying a broadcast TWT element in a management frame (including at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, and an action frame), wherein the broadcast TWT element may carry predetermined channel protection threshold information. The AP has no AC corresponding to the R-TWT DL TID competing for the channel.

[0237] The AP starts an EDCA backoff process before the upcoming R-TWT service cycle start time, at the R-TWT service cycle start time, or after the R-TWT service cycle start time. The backoff process falls back to 0 during the R-TWT service cycle or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission. At this time, the AP checks the time interval between the time point of falling back to 0 or preparing to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start time of the R-TWT service cycle. If it is confirmed that the time interval is less than or equal to the predetermined channel protection threshold, the AP postpones transmission or suspends transmission and restarts a backoff process. Among them, the channel protection threshold time used by the AP for time interval verification and the channel protection threshold time used by the non-AP STA for time interval verification can be consistent or take different values.

[0238] STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process for the AC corresponding to the R-TWT UL TID near the start of the R-TWT service cycle to compete for the channel to obtain a transmission opportunity. Since STA1 initiates the EDCA backoff process for the AC corresponding to the R-TWT UL TID, there is no need to check the time interval between the time when STA1 itself falls back to 0 or prepares to initiate frame exchange sequence transmission and the start of the R-TWT service cycle. Therefore, STA1 can successfully obtain a transmission opportunity during the R-TWT service cycle and initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data (i.e., service data corresponding to the R-TWT UL TID).

[0239] To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment uses the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site to enable the access point of the access category whose backoff process does not correspond to the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier (such as R-TWT flow identifier) ​​to delay obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data, ensuring that the site of the access category corresponding to the restricted TWT flow identifier in the backoff process can give priority to data transmission related to delay-sensitive services.

[0240] FIG15 shows a block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. The device includes at least some of the following modules: a first sending module 1320, a first processing module 1340, and a first receiving module 1360:

[0241] The first sending module 1320 is configured to send a channel protection threshold to a station STA. The channel protection threshold is used by a scheduling AP of a delay-sensitive service period and / or member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data during the delay-sensitive service period. The apparatus supports the delay-sensitive service period.

[0242] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0243] In some embodiments, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period starts a backoff process for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive service period flow identifier, or starts a TXOP of a contention channel to obtain a TXOP and preferentially performs trigger-based uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data of member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period;

[0244] The member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period initiate a backoff process corresponding to the access category of the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier.

[0245] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is further used to, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, cause the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart the backoff process;

[0246] Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0247] In some embodiments, the first scheduled AP is a non-scheduled AP for a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0248] Alternatively, the first scheduling AP is a scheduling AP for a delay-sensitive service period and the first scheduling AP initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first member STA is a non-member STA in a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0250] Alternatively, the first member STA is a member STA of a delay-sensitive service service period and the first member STA initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0251] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is an interframe distance IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of an interframe distance IFS and a backoff time of the AP.

[0252] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering enablement or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering enablement.

[0253] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

[0254] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

[0255] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

[0256] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold sub-field is carried in a broadcast TWT element.

[0257] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is carried in a management frame.

[0258] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0259] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0260] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a first processing module 1340 configured to determine or negotiate the channel protection threshold.

[0261] In some embodiments, the backoff procedure is a backoff procedure corresponding to a channel access method, and the channel access method includes: at least one of enhanced distributed channel access EDCA, distributed coordinated access DCF, and hybrid coordinated access HCF.

[0262] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a first receiving module 1360 configured to receive delay-sensitive service data sent by a station based on the channel protection threshold.

[0263] In some embodiments, the first processing module 1340 is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, give priority to obtaining a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period; or, the first processing module 1340 is also used to, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or restart the backoff process.

[0264] To sum up, the device provided in this embodiment supports delay-sensitive business service cycles. By sending a channel protection threshold, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service cycle and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service cycle can give priority to obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service cycle, thereby avoiding sites that do not support quiet elements from giving priority to obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service cycle, thereby giving priority to ensuring the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service cycle and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive business service cycle data transmission within the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0265] FIG16 shows a block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. The device includes at least some of the following modules: a second receiving module 1420, a second sending module 1440, and a second processing module 1460:

[0266] The second receiving module 1420 is configured to receive a channel protection threshold sent by an access point (AP). The channel protection threshold is used by the scheduling AP of a delay-sensitive service period and / or member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain a transmission opportunity (TXOP) and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period. The apparatus supports delay-sensitive service periods.

[0267] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0268] In some embodiments, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period starts a backoff process for the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive service period flow identifier, or starts a TXOP of a contention channel to obtain a TXOP and preferentially performs trigger-based uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data of member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period;

[0269] The member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period initiate a backoff process corresponding to the access category of the delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier.

[0270] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is further used to, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, cause the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart the backoff process;

[0271] Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

[0272] In some embodiments, the first scheduled AP is a non-scheduled AP for a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0273] Alternatively, the first scheduling AP is a scheduling AP for a delay-sensitive service period and the first scheduling AP initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0274] In some embodiments, the first member STA is a non-member STA in a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0275] Alternatively, the first member STA is a member STA of a delay-sensitive service service period and the first member STA initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0276] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is an interframe distance IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of an interframe distance IFS and a backoff time of the AP.

[0277] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering enablement or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering enablement.

[0278] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

[0279] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

[0280] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

[0281] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold sub-field is carried in a broadcast TWT element.

[0282] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is carried in a management frame.

[0283] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0284] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0285] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a second sending module 1440, configured to send delay-sensitive service data to an access point based on the channel protection threshold.

[0286] In some embodiments, the device also includes a second processing module 1460, which is used to prioritize obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold; or, the second processing module 1460 is also used to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart the backoff process when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold.

[0287] In some embodiments, the second processing module 1460 is further configured to determine or negotiate the channel protection threshold.

[0288] To sum up, the device provided in this embodiment supports delay-sensitive business service periods. Through the received channel protection threshold, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive business service period are given priority to obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, thereby avoiding sites that do not support quiet elements from giving priority to obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiating transmission of delay-sensitive business data within the delay-sensitive business service period, thereby giving priority to ensuring the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive business service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive business service period data transmission within the delay-sensitive business service period.

[0289] FIG17 shows a block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. The device includes at least some of the following modules: a third processing module 1520, a third sending module 1540, and a third receiving module 1560:

[0290] The third processing module 1520 is configured to preferentially acquire the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period when the channel is in an idle state within a channel protection threshold;

[0291] The device supports the delay-sensitive service period, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling access point AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member station STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0292] In some embodiments, the third processing module 1520 is further configured to determine the channel protection threshold.

[0293] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a third sending module 1540, configured to send the channel protection threshold to a station.

[0294] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a third receiving module 1560, configured to receive the channel protection threshold sent by an access point.

[0295] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is an interframe distance IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of an interframe distance IFS and an AP backoff time.

[0296] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering enablement or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering enablement.

[0297] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

[0298] In some embodiments, the third processing module 1520 is further configured to negotiate with an access point or a station to determine the channel protection threshold.

[0299] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

[0300] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

[0301] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold sub-field is carried in a broadcast TWT element.

[0302] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is carried in a management frame.

[0303] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0304] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0305] In some embodiments, the first wireless device includes at least one of the following:

[0306] The first wireless device is a scheduling AP for a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0307] The first wireless device is a member STA of a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0308] The first wireless device starts the backoff process of the access category corresponding to the delay-sensitive service period flow identifier, or starts the TXOP of the competitive channel to obtain TXOP and gives priority to trigger-based uplink transmission of delay-sensitive service data of member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0309] In some embodiments, the third sending module 1540 is further configured to send delay-sensitive service data to an access point based on the channel protection threshold.

[0310] In some embodiments, the third receiving module 1560 is further configured to receive delay-sensitive service data sent by a station based on the channel protection threshold.

[0311] In summary, the device provided in this embodiment, through the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site, enables the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, ensuring that the member sites of the delay-sensitive service period and the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period can preferentially transmit delay-sensitive services. In addition, it prevents sites that do not support quiet elements from preferentially obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby preferentially guaranteeing the data transmission of the member sites of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0312] FIG18 shows a block diagram of a channel access device provided by some exemplary embodiments of the present application. The device includes at least some of the following modules: a fourth processing module 1620, a fourth sending module 1640, and a fourth receiving module 1660:

[0313] The fourth processing module 1620 is configured to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart the backoff process when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold;

[0314] The device supports the sensitive service period, the channel protection threshold is used for scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to give priority to obtaining transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0315] In some embodiments, the fourth processing module 1620 is further configured to determine the channel protection threshold.

[0316] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a fourth sending module 1640, configured to send the channel protection threshold to a station.

[0317] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a fourth receiving module 1660, configured to receive the channel protection threshold sent by an access point.

[0318] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is an interframe distance IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of an interframe distance IFS and an AP backoff time.

[0319] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering enablement or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering enablement.

[0320] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

[0321] In some embodiments, the fourth processing module 1620 is further configured to negotiate with an access point or a station to determine the channel protection threshold.

[0322] In some embodiments, the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

[0323] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

[0324] In some embodiments, the channel protection threshold field or the channel protection threshold sub-field is carried in a broadcast TWT element.

[0325] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is carried in a management frame.

[0326] In some embodiments, the broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service period.

[0327] In some embodiments, the starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

[0328] In some embodiments, the second wireless device includes at least one of the following:

[0329] The first wireless device is a non-scheduled AP in a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0330] The first wireless device is a non-member STA in a delay-sensitive service service period;

[0331] The first wireless device initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier.

[0332] In some embodiments, the fourth sending module 1640 is further configured to send delay-sensitive service data to an access point based on the channel protection threshold.

[0333] In some embodiments, the fourth receiving module 1660 is further configured to receive delay-sensitive service data sent by a station based on the channel protection threshold.

[0334] In summary, the device provided in this embodiment, through the transmission channel protection threshold between the access point and the site, enables the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, ensuring that the member sites of the delay-sensitive service period and the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period can preferentially transmit delay-sensitive services. In addition, it prevents sites that do not support quiet elements from preferentially obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiating the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period, thereby preferentially guaranteeing the data transmission of the member sites of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the scheduling access points of the delay-sensitive service period within the delay-sensitive service period.

[0335] It should be noted that the device provided in the above embodiment is only illustrated by the division of the above functional modules. In actual applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0336] Regarding the device in this embodiment, the specific manner in which each module performs operations has been described in detail in the embodiment of the method and will not be elaborated here.

[0337] Figure 19 shows a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication device (AP or STA) provided in some exemplary embodiments of the present application. The wireless communication device 1700 includes: a processor 1701, a receiver 1702, a transmitter 1703, a memory 1704 and a bus 1705.

[0338] The processor 1701 includes one or more processing cores. The processor 1701 executes various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules. In some embodiments, the processor 1701 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the first processing module 1340 and / or the second processing module 1460 and / or the third processing module 1520 and / or the fourth processing module 1620 described above.

[0339] Receiver 1702 and transmitter 1703 can be implemented as a communication component, which can be a communication chip. In some embodiments, receiver 1702 can be used to implement the functions and steps of first receiving module 1360, second receiving module 1420, third receiving module 1560, and / or fourth receiving module 1660 described above. In some embodiments, transmitter 1703 can be used to implement the functions and steps of first transmitting module 1320, second transmitting module 1440, third transmitting module 1540, and / or fourth transmitting module 1640 described above.

[0340] The memory 1704 is connected to the processor 1701 via a bus 1705. The memory 1704 may be used to store at least one instruction, and the processor 1701 may be used to execute the at least one instruction to implement each step in the above method embodiment.

[0341] In addition, the memory 1704 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof. Volatile or non-volatile storage devices include but are not limited to: magnetic disks or optical disks, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), static random-access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory, and programmable read-only memory (PROM).

[0342] In some embodiments, the receiver 1702 receives signals / data independently, or the processor 1701 controls the receiver 1702 to receive signals / data, or the processor 1701 requests the receiver 1702 to receive signals / data, or the processor 1701 cooperates with the receiver 1702 to receive signals / data.

[0343] In some embodiments, the transmitter 1703 independently sends signals / data, or the processor 1701 controls the transmitter 1703 to send signals / data, or the processor 1701 requests the transmitter 1703 to send signals / data, or the processor 1701 cooperates with the transmitter 1703 to send signals / data.

[0344] In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is also provided, in which at least one program is stored. The at least one program is loaded and executed by a processor, and the computer-readable storage medium is used to implement the channel access method provided by the above-mentioned various method embodiments.

[0345] In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a chip is also provided, which includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions. When the chip runs on a communication device, it is used to implement the channel access method provided by the above-mentioned various method embodiments.

[0346] In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a computer program product is further provided. When the computer program product is executed on a processor of a computer device, the computer device is enabled to execute the above-mentioned channel access method.

[0347] In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a computer program is further provided. The computer program includes computer instructions. A processor of a computer device executes the computer instructions, so that the computer device executes the above-mentioned channel access method.

[0348] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in one or more of the above examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any media that facilitates the transmission of computer programs from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0349] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A channel access method, characterized in that: The method is performed by an access point AP supporting a delay-sensitive service service period, and the method includes: A channel protection threshold is sent to the site STA, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: The scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service period starts the TXOP of the contention channel to obtain the TXOP and preferentially performs trigger-based uplink transmission of the delay-sensitive service data of the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period; and / or, The member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period initiate a backoff process corresponding to the access category of the flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is also used for, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or to restart the backoff process; Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service period, and the backoff process is initiated by the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is used to determine whether the target time interval is greater than the channel protection threshold when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process initiated by the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA backs off to 0 during the delay-sensitive service service period, or when the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA is ready to initiate data transmission; Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or prepares to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The first scheduling AP is a non-scheduled AP in the delay-sensitive service service period; Alternatively, the first scheduling AP is the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period, and the delay-sensitive service period is based on a non-triggered enabled delay-sensitive service period, and the first scheduling AP initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service period flow identifier.

7. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The first member STA is a non-member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period; Alternatively, the first member STA is a member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period, and the first member STA initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is an interframe spacing IFS, or the channel protection threshold is a sum of an interframe spacing IFS and a backoff time of the AP.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The channel protection threshold domain or the channel protection threshold subdomain is carried in the broadcast TWT element.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that: The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

19. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that: The backoff process is a backoff process corresponding to a channel access method, and the channel access method includes: at least one of enhanced distributed channel access EDCA, distributed coordinated access DCF, and hybrid coordinated access HCF.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that: The delay-sensitive service service period includes a restricted target wake-up time R-TWT service period.

21. A channel access method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a station STA that supports a delay-sensitive service service period, and the method includes: Receive a channel protection threshold sent by an access point AP, where the channel protection threshold is used to schedule the AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain transmission opportunities TXOP and / or initiate transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is also used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: The scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service period starts the TXOP of the contention channel to obtain the TXOP and preferentially performs trigger-based uplink transmission of the delay-sensitive service data of the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period; and / or, The member STAs of the delay-sensitive service service period initiate a backoff process corresponding to the access category of the flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

24. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is also used for, when the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA to postpone transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or to restart the backoff process; Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service period, and the backoff process is initiated by the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA.

25. The method according to claim 21 or 24, characterized in that During the delay-sensitive service service period, when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process initiated by the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA backs off to 0, or when the first scheduling AP and / or the first member STA is ready to initiate data transmission, it is determined whether the target time interval is greater than the channel protection threshold; Among them, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive business service cycle, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or prepares to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive business service cycle.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The first scheduling AP is a non-scheduled AP in the delay-sensitive service service period; Alternatively, the first scheduling AP is the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period, and the delay-sensitive service period is based on a non-triggered enabled delay-sensitive service period, and the first scheduling AP initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service period flow identifier.

27. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The first member STA is a non-member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period; Alternatively, the first member STA is a member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period, and the first member STA initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a flow identifier of the delay-sensitive service service period.

28. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is an interframe spacing IFS, or the channel protection threshold is a sum of an interframe spacing IFS and a backoff time of the AP.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

32. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that: The channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

34. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 33, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that The channel protection threshold domain or the channel protection threshold subdomain is carried in the broadcast TWT element.

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame.

37. The method according to claim 35 or 36, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

38. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, characterized in that The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

39. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that: The backoff process is a backoff process corresponding to a channel access method, and the channel access method includes: at least one of enhanced distributed channel access EDCA, distributed coordinated access DCF, and hybrid coordinated access HCF.

40. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 39, characterized in that: The delay-sensitive service service period includes a restricted target wake-up time R-TWT service period.

41. A channel access method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first wireless device, and the method includes: When the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, the first wireless device preferentially acquires the TXOP and / or initiates transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period; Among them, the first wireless device supports the delay-sensitive service service period, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling access point AP of the delay-sensitive service service period and / or the member site STA of the delay-sensitive service service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is determined by the first wireless device; In the case where the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, before the first wireless device preferentially obtains a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiates transmission of delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period, the method further includes: The channel protection threshold is sent to the station STA.

43. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that In the case where the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, before the first wireless device preferentially obtains a transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiates transmission of delay-sensitive service data within a delay-sensitive service service period, the method further includes: The channel protection threshold sent by the access point AP is received.

44. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 43, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is the frame spacing IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of the frame spacing IFS and the AP backoff time.

45. The method according to claim 44, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

46. ​​The method according to claim 45, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

47. The method according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

48. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 43, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

50. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 49, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

51. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that The channel protection threshold domain or the channel protection threshold subdomain is carried in the broadcast TWT element.

52. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame.

53. The method according to claim 51 or 52, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

54. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 53, characterized in that The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

55. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 54, characterized in that The first wireless device includes at least one of the following: The first wireless device is a scheduling AP for the delay-sensitive service service period; The first wireless device is a member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period; The first wireless device initiates a backoff process for an access category corresponding to a delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier.

56. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 55, characterized in that The delay-sensitive service service period includes a restricted target wake-up time R-TWT service period.

57. A channel access method, characterized in that: The method is performed by a second wireless device, and the method includes: When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or restarts the backoff process; Among them, the second wireless device supports the delay-sensitive service service period, the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service period, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service period.

58. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or before restarting the backoff process, the method further includes: During the delay-sensitive service service period, when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process initiated by the second wireless device backs off to 0, or when the second wireless device is ready to initiate data transmission, it is determined whether the target time interval is greater than the channel protection threshold.

59. The method according to claim 57 or 58, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is determined by the second wireless device; When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or before restarting the backoff process, the method further includes: The channel protection threshold is sent to the station STA.

60. The method according to claim 57 or 58, characterized in that When the target time interval is less than or equal to the channel protection threshold, the second wireless device postpones transmission within the delay-sensitive service service period, and / or before restarting the backoff process, the method further includes: The channel protection threshold sent by the access point AP is received.

61. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 60, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is the frame spacing IFS, or the channel protection threshold is the sum of the frame spacing IFS and the AP backoff time.

62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on triggering and enabling, or a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-triggering and enabling.

63. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

64. The method according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that In the case where the type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement, the channel protection threshold is used to, when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold, enable the member STAs of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

65. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 60, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is determined by negotiation between the AP and the STA.

66. The method according to claim 65, characterized in that The type of the delay-sensitive service service period is a delay-sensitive service service period based on non-trigger enablement.

67. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 66, characterized in that The channel protection threshold is carried in a channel protection threshold field or a channel protection threshold subfield.

68. The method according to claim 67, characterized in that The channel protection threshold domain or the channel protection threshold subdomain is carried in the broadcast TWT element.

69. The method according to claim 68, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is carried in the management frame.

70. The method according to claim 68 or 69, characterized in that The broadcast TWT element is also used to indicate the type of the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

71. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 70, characterized in that The starting time of the channel protection threshold is the same as the starting time of the delay-sensitive service service period.

72. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 71, characterized in that The second wireless device includes at least one of the following: The first wireless device is a non-scheduled AP for the delay-sensitive service service period; The first wireless device is a non-member STA of the delay-sensitive service service period; The first wireless device initiates a backoff process for an access category that does not correspond to a delay-sensitive service service period flow identifier.

73. The method according to any one of claims 57 to 72, characterized in that The delay-sensitive service service period includes a restricted target wake-up time R-TWT service period.

74. A channel access device, characterized in that: The device supports a delay-sensitive service service period, and the device includes: The first sending module is used to send a channel protection threshold to the site STA, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to give priority to obtaining the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

75. A channel access device, characterized in that: The device supports a delay-sensitive service service period, and the device includes: The second receiving module is used to receive the channel protection threshold sent by the access point AP, and the channel protection threshold is used to schedule the AP of the delay-sensitive service period and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service period.

76. A channel access device, characterized in that: The device comprises: A third processing module is used to preferentially obtain the TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of the delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period when the channel is in an idle state within the channel protection threshold; Among them, the device supports the delay-sensitive service service period, and the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling access point AP of the delay-sensitive service service period and / or the member site STA of the delay-sensitive service service period to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service period.

77. A channel access device, characterized in that: The device comprises: A fourth processing module, configured to postpone transmission within a delay-sensitive service service period and / or restart a backoff process when the target time interval is less than or equal to a channel protection threshold; Among them, the device supports the delay-sensitive service service cycle, the channel protection threshold is used for the scheduling AP of the delay-sensitive service service cycle and / or the member STA of the delay-sensitive service service cycle to preferentially obtain the transmission opportunity TXOP and / or initiate the transmission of delay-sensitive service data within the delay-sensitive service service cycle, the target time interval is the time interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first moment is the starting moment of the delay-sensitive service service cycle, the second moment is the moment when the backoff counter corresponding to the backoff process backs off to 0 or is ready to initiate data transmission, and the second moment is within the delay-sensitive service service cycle.

78. A wireless device, characterized in that: The wireless device comprises: processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; a memory for storing executable instructions for the processor; The processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the channel access method as described in any one of claims 1 to 20 or claims 21 to 40 or claims 41 to 56 or claims 57 to 73.

79. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The readable storage medium stores executable instructions, which are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the channel access method as described in any one of claims 1 to 20, claims 21 to 40, claims 41 to 56, or claims 57 to 73.

80. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes a programmable logic circuit or a program, and the chip is used to implement the channel access method as described in any one of claims 1 to 20 or claims 21 to 40 or claims 41 to 56 or claims 57 to 73.

81. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes computer instructions, which are stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor of a computer device reads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executes the computer instructions, so that the computer device executes the channel access method as described in any one of claims 1 to 20 or claims 21 to 40 or claims 41 to 56 or claims 57 to 73.

82. A computer program, characterized in that The computer program includes computer instructions, and the processor of the computer device executes the computer instructions, so that the computer device performs the channel access method as described in any one of claims 1 to 20 or claims 21 to 40 or claims 41 to 56 or claims 57 to 73.

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