Communication method, communication device and communication system

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a communication method, communication equipment and a communication system. The communication method comprises the following steps: a first MLD determines a first wireless frame, and sends the first wireless frame to a second MLD through a first link; wherein the first wireless frame is used for indicating that at least one first accessory device of a second MLD is switched from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of the second accessory device associated with the at least one first accessory device and attached to the first MLD; the first power state and the second power state comprise at least one identical communication parameter, the parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state, and a mechanism for further enhancing power saving and meeting communication requirements is provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, communication equipment, and communication system. Background Art

[0002] Currently, Wi-Fi technology research focuses on Ultra High Reliability (UHR), with the goal of improving the reliability of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) connections, reducing latency, improving manageability, increasing throughput at different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels, and reducing device-level power consumption.

[0003] In UHR, the power saving mechanism will be further enhanced to balance the reduction of device energy consumption and the quality of device communication services. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system to provide a further enhanced power saving mechanism.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, performed by a first MLD, the method comprising:

[0006] determining a first radio frame;

[0007] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0008] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state;

[0009] The first radio frame is sent to the second MLD via the first link.

[0010] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication method, which is performed by a second MLD. The method includes:

[0011] receiving, through the first link, a first radio frame sent by the first MLD;

[0012] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first attached device of a second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second attached device associated with at least one first attached device and attached to the first MLD; the first MLD is associated with the second MLD;

[0013] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

[0014] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a first MLD, including:

[0015] A determination module, configured to determine a first radio frame;

[0016] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0017] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state;

[0018] The first transceiver module is configured to send the first radio frame to the second MLD through a first link.

[0019] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a second MLD, including:

[0020] A second transceiver module, configured to receive a first radio frame sent by the first MLD;

[0021] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first attached device of a second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second attached device associated with at least one first attached device and attached to the first MLD; the first MLD is associated with the second MLD;

[0022] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

[0023] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a first MLD, including:

[0024] one or more processors;

[0025] The first MLD is used to implement the communication method described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a second MLD, including:

[0027] one or more processors;

[0028] The second MLD is used to implement the communication method described in the second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication system, including a first MLD and a second MLD;

[0030] The first MLD is used to determine a first radio frame, and send the first radio frame to the second MLD through a first link;

[0031] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0032] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state;

[0033] The second MLD is configured to receive the first radio frame sent by the first MLD through the first link.

[0034] In the eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the communication method described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure, or executes the communication method described in the second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] In the disclosed embodiments, on one hand, a first MLD can, through a first radio frame, instruct a first attached device in another link to switch its power state on a single link, thereby implementing cross-link low-power wake-up state indication between multi-link devices and improving the efficiency of power-saving state indication. On the other hand, the first MLD can also indicate the TXOP information of at least one second attached device in another link. In this way, a first attached device attached to a second MLD can, while minimizing its own energy consumption, communicate with its associated second attached device by combining its own power state and the TXOP information of the associated second attached device. This facilitates reducing the transmission latency of low-latency service data and improving transmission efficiency between multi-link devices.

[0036] Additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be given in part in the following description, which will become apparent from the following description or be learned through practice of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following drawings required for describing the embodiments are introduced. The following drawings are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 2 This is one of the interactive schematic diagrams of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 3 This is the second interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] Figure 4a This is the third interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] Figure 4b This is the fourth interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 4c This is the fifth interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 5 This is one of the scenario diagrams of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 6 This is the second scenario diagram of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0046] Figure 7is a schematic structural diagram of a first multi-link device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a second multi-link device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system.

[0051] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, performed by a first MLD, comprising:

[0052] determining a first radio frame;

[0053] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0054] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state;

[0055] The first radio frame is sent to the second MLD via the first link.

[0056] In the above embodiment, on the one hand, cross-link low-power wake-up state indication is implemented between multi-link devices, thereby improving the efficiency of power-saving state indication; on the other hand, it is beneficial to reduce the transmission delay of low-latency service data between multi-link devices and improve transmission efficiency.

[0057] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the TXOP information includes at least one of: whether a TXOP is held, a remaining duration of the held TXOP, and an end time of the held TXOP.

[0058] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first power state includes at least: a doze state or a first capability communication mode; the second power state includes at least: any one of an awake state, an active mode, and a second capability communication mode;

[0059] The first capability communication mode and the second capability communication mode include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first capability communication mode is smaller than that in the second capability communication mode.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first radio frame includes: at least one first identification information and at least one second identification information;

[0061] The first identification information is used to identify: identification information of the first auxiliary device;

[0062] The second identification information is used to identify: the TXOP information.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the identification information of the first accessory device may be identified by the first identification information in the first radio frame, and the identification information of the second accessory device associated with the first accessory device and attached to the first MLD may be identified by the second identification information in the first radio frame.

[0064] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second identification information includes a first identifier and / or a first identification field;

[0065] The first identifier is used to identify whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD;

[0066] The first identification field is used to identify at least one of a remaining duration of a TXOP held by the second accessory device and an end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the first identifier in the second identification information can be further used in the first radio frame to identify: whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD; and the second identifier in the second identification information can be used to identify: at least one of the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device and the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD.

[0068] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, when the first identifier is set to a first parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device holds a TXOP; or,

[0069] In a case where the first identifier is set to a second parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP;

[0070] Wherein, when the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, the first identification field is a reserved bit.

[0071] In the above embodiment, in the first radio frame, the parameter value of the first identifier in the second identification information can be further used to identify whether the second secondary device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD. If the second secondary device does not hold a TXOP, the first identification field is reserved.

[0072] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0073] Receive a second radio frame sent by the second MLD, wherein the second radio frame is used to indicate that the second MLD successfully receives the first radio frame.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the second MLD may feedback to the first MLD that it has received the first radio frame through the second radio frame.

[0075] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0076] receiving a third radio frame sent by the third accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state;

[0077] The third accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a fourth accessory device; the fourth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a first parameter value; and the third radio frame is used to indicate that the third accessory device has switched to a second power state.

[0078] In the above embodiment, if the second accessory device (i.e., the fourth accessory device) holds a TXOP, the fourth accessory device and the third accessory device can, within the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device, provide feedback to the fourth accessory device that they have completed power state switching, thereby paving the way for subsequent frame exchange between the two.

[0079] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0080] The fourth accessory device performs frame exchange with the third accessory device.

[0081] In the above embodiment, if the second accessory (ie, the fourth accessory) holds a TXOP, then within the TXOP held by the fourth accessory, after the third accessory completes power state switching, it can perform frame exchange with the fourth accessory.

[0082] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0083] receiving a fourth radio frame sent by the fifth accessory device after the fifth accessory device switches from the first power state to the second power state and successfully competes for a channel;

[0084] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with the sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to the second parameter value; and the fourth radio frame is used for initial frame exchange with the sixth accessory device.

[0085] In the above embodiment, if the second accessory device (ie, the sixth accessory device) does not hold a TXOP, the fifth accessory device may compete for a channel, and after successfully competing for a channel, may exchange frames with the sixth accessory device.

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

[0087] The sixth accessory device performs frame exchange with the fifth accessory device.

[0088] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0089] After successfully competing for the channel, the sixth accessory device exchanges frames with the fifth accessory device;

[0090] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value.

[0091] In the above embodiment, if the second accessory device (ie, the sixth accessory device) does not hold a TXOP, the sixth accessory device may compete for a channel, and after successfully competing for a channel, may exchange frames with the fifth accessory device.

[0092] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is performed by a second MLD. The method includes:

[0093] receiving, through the first link, a first radio frame sent by the first MLD;

[0094] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first attached device of a second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second attached device associated with at least one first attached device and attached to the first MLD; the first MLD is associated with the second MLD;

[0095] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

[0096] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the TXOP information includes at least one of: whether a TXOP is held, a remaining duration of the held TXOP, and an end time of the held TXOP.

[0097] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first power state includes at least: a doze state Doze State or a first capability communication mode; the second power state includes at least: any one of an awake state AwakeState, an active mode Active Mode, and a second capability communication mode;

[0098] The first capability communication mode and the second capability communication mode include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first capability communication mode is smaller than that in the second capability communication mode.

[0099] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first radio frame includes: at least one first identification information and at least one second identification information;

[0100] The first identification information is used to identify: identification information of the first auxiliary device;

[0101] The second identification information is used to identify: the TXOP information.

[0102] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second identification information includes a first identifier and / or a first identification field;

[0103] The first identifier is used to identify whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD;

[0104] The first identification field is used to identify: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device and the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device.

[0105] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, when the first identifier is set to a first parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device holds a TXOP; or,

[0106] In a case where the first identifier is set to a second parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP;

[0107] Wherein, when the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, the first identification field is a reserved bit.

[0108] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0109] Determine a second radio frame; wherein the second radio frame is used to indicate that the second MLD successfully receives the first radio frame;

[0110] Send the second radio frame to the first MLD.

[0111] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0112] The third accessory device sends a third radio frame to the fourth accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state;

[0113] The third accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a fourth accessory device; the fourth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a first parameter value; and the third radio frame is used to indicate that the third accessory device has switched to a second power state.

[0114] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0115] The third accessory device performs frame exchange with the fourth accessory device.

[0116] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following:

[0117] After the third accessory device completes frame exchange with the fourth accessory device, the third accessory device switches to the first power state;

[0118] After the end time of the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device arrives, the third accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0119] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0120] The fifth accessory device sends a fourth radio frame to the sixth accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state and successfully competing for a channel;

[0121] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with the sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to the second parameter value; and the fourth radio frame is used for initial frame exchange with the sixth accessory device.

[0122] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0123] The fifth accessory device performs frame exchange with the sixth accessory device.

[0124] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following:

[0125] After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state;

[0126] After the end time of the TXOP held by the fifth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0127] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0128] After the sixth accessory device successfully competes for the channel, the fifth accessory device exchanges frames with the sixth accessory device;

[0129] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value.

[0130] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of the following:

[0131] After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state;

[0132] After the end time of the TXOP held by the sixth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0133] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, comprising a first MLD, the first MLD comprising at least one of a determination module and a first transceiver module; wherein the first MLD device is configured to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0134] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, comprising a second MLD, which comprises at least a second transceiver module; wherein the second MLD device is configured to execute the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0135] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a first MLD, including:

[0136] one or more processors;

[0137] The first MLD is used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0138] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication device, the communication device including a second MLD, including:

[0139] one or more processors;

[0140] The second MLD is used to execute an optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0141] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a communication system, comprising a first MLD and a second MLD; wherein the first MLD is configured to perform the optional implementation manner as described in the first aspect, and the second MLD is configured to perform the optional implementation manner as described in the second aspect.

[0142] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute an optional implementation as described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0143] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0144] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0145] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chip or a chip system, wherein the chip or chip system includes a processing circuit configured to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0146] It is understandable that the above-mentioned communication devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, or chip systems are all used to perform the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0147] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system. In some embodiments, the terms communication method, signal transmission method, wireless frame transmission method, etc. can be used interchangeably, and the terms information processing system, communication system, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0148] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0149] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0150] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0151] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0152] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0153] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0154] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0155] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0156] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0157] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0158] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0159] In some embodiments, devices and equipment can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they can also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject", etc.

[0160] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.

[0161] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0162] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0163] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0164] like Figure 1 As shown, the communication system 100 includes a first multi-link device 101 and a second multi-link device 102 .

[0165] Optionally, the first multi-link device 101 may be a station device supporting multi-link communication (Non-AccessPoint Multi-Link Device, Non-AP MLD; referred to as a multi-link station device for short) or an access point device supporting multi-link communication (Access Point Multi-Link Device, AP MLD; referred to as a multi-link access point device for short), which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The second multi-link device 102 may be an access point device supporting multi-link communication or a station device supporting multi-link communication, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0166] In some embodiments, the first multi-link device 101 may be a multi-link site device, and the second multi-link device 102 may be a multi-link access point device. In other embodiments, the first multi-link device 101 may be a multi-link access point device, and the second multi-link device 102 may be a multi-link site device.

[0167] Optionally, the embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the number of links established between the first multi-link device 101 and the second multi-link device 102, and the number can be determined according to actual conditions.

[0168] As an example, see Figure 5 , taking the example that the APs attached to the AP MLD include AP1 and AP2, the non-APs attached to the non-AP MLD include STA1 and STA2, and two links are established between the first multi-link device 101 and the second multi-link device 102, if AP1, AP2, STA1, and STA2 all support multi-link communication, then Figure 5 As shown, AP1 can communicate with STA1 through Link1, and AP2 can communicate with STA2 through Link2; multiple links are established between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD.

[0169] In some embodiments, an access point device (AP) can be an access point for a mobile terminal to enter a wired network. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network. Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, the AP can be a terminal device or a network device with a wireless fidelity chip. Optionally, the AP can support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a, 802.11bf, 802.11bn, and support the next generation 802.11 protocol, but is not limited to this.

[0170] In some embodiments, a station device (STA) includes, for example, a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal that supports Wi-Fi communication. Optionally, the wireless communication terminal includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device that supports Wi-Fi communication, a car with WiFi communication, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and a wireless terminal device in a smart home.

[0171] Specifically, the station device can be a terminal device or network device with a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip. Optionally, the relay device 102 and the station device 103 can support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11bf, and 802.11bn, as well as support the next generation 802.11 protocol, but are not limited thereto.

[0172] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0173] The following embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Figure 1 The communication system 100, or a portion thereof, is shown but is not limited thereto. Figure 1 The various entities shown are examples, and the communication system may include Figure 1 All or part of the subject, and may also include Figure 1The number and form of other subjects are arbitrary, each subject can be physical or virtual, the connection relationship between the subjects is illustrative, the subjects can be connected or disconnected, and the connection can be in any way, which can be direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0174] The various embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a local area network that adopts the 802.11 series of protocols. In a WLAN, a basic service set (BSS) is a basic component of a WLAN. A BSS network is composed of station devices with certain associations within a specific coverage area. One scenario of association is that stations communicate directly with each other in an ad hoc network, which is called an independent basic service set (IBSS). Another more common scenario is that in a BSS network, there is only one central station with a dedicated BSS management function, which is called an access point device, and other stations in the BSS network that are not APs are called terminals, also called non-AP STAs. APs and non-AP STAs are collectively referred to as STAs. When describing STAs, there is no need to distinguish between APs and non-AP STAs. In the same BSS network, due to distance, transmission power, etc., a STA cannot detect other STAs that are farther away from it, and the two are hidden nodes of each other.

[0175] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the interaction of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 , the above method includes:

[0176] Step 201: A first MLD determines a first radio frame.

[0177] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0178] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

[0179] To achieve higher throughput, devices supporting Multi-Link Operation (MLO) are called Multi-Link Devices (MLDs). MLO technology enables multiple links to be established across frequency bands between a Multi-Link Access Point Device (AP MLD) and a Multi-Link Station Device (Non-AP MLD). After establishing multiple links between an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD, the non-AP MLD can communicate with the AP MLD using multiple links. However, while more links provide more frequency resources and achieve higher throughput, when traffic loads are low, multiple links or RF links can waste frequency resources and increase energy consumption for non-AP MLD devices.

[0180] The next-generation Wi-Fi technology, Ultra High Reliability (UHR) 802.11bn, aims to improve the reliability of wireless LAN connections, reduce latency, and lower device-level power consumption. In UHR, most devices are MLD devices. Therefore, when UHR APs (i.e., APs attached to an AP MLD that supports the UHR protocol) and UHR STAs (i.e., STAs attached to a non-AP MLD that supports the UHR protocol) transmit data, the power-saving mechanism needs to be further enhanced. To address this, if a cross-link approach is used to indicate power-saving mode to UHR STAs, for example, a non-AP MLD can exchange frames with its associated AP MLD on a link to indicate power-saving mode to the current link and the non-AP STAs attached to other links. This approach can reduce the time required to trigger a non-AP MLD device to enter a dormant state, thereby increasing the speed of power-saving mode switching. However, each attached non-AP STA that enters power saving mode still needs to wake up periodically to check whether its associated AP has cached downlink data to send. After detecting that there is downlink cached data, it switches to the awake state and informs its associated AP to receive downlink data to meet the transmission requirements of business data.

[0181] However, in the aforementioned scenario, periodic wake-up is detrimental to non-AP MLD energy conservation. Furthermore, if a non-AP STA's associated AP experiences bursts or temporary low-latency service data transmission, the non-AP STA's failure to be promptly awakened can severely impact the timeliness of low-latency service data transmission. Therefore, a mechanism is needed that simultaneously reduces device energy consumption, wakes up devices promptly to ensure device communication service quality, and improves transmission efficiency.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first multi-link device may be a multi-link site device, and the second multi-link device may be a multi-link access point device. In other embodiments, the first multi-link device may be a multi-link access point device, and the second multi-link device may be a multi-link site device.

[0183] Optionally, the auxiliary device of the first multi-link device is a device attached to the first multi-link device, and the auxiliary device of the second multi-link device is a device attached to the second multi-link device.

[0184] Optionally, the communication processes of at least one link established between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device are independent of each other. For one of the links, the link may be in a communication state or a non-communication state. For example, to further save energy, if the device on a link is in a power saving mode or a lower communication mode, the link may be in a non-operating state.

[0185] Optionally, the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device perform data transmission under the link in the working state. For example, assuming that the first link established between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device is in the working state, the second multi-link device can receive data sent by the first multi-link device under the first link. That is, the auxiliary device attached to the second multi-link device and working under the first link can receive data sent by the auxiliary device attached to the first multi-link device and working under the first link. For example, see Figure 5 , non-AP MLD receives data sent by AP MLD on Link 1, that is, STA1 receives data sent by AP1 on Link 1.

[0186] Optionally, the “first power state” may also be referred to as the “first capability state”, and the “second power state” may also be referred to as the “second capability state”.

[0187] In some embodiments, the first power state includes at least: Doze State (also known as sleep state) or first capability communication mode; the second power state includes at least: any one of Awake State, Active Mode, and second capability communication mode;

[0188] The first capability communication mode and the second capability communication mode include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first capability communication mode is smaller than that in the second capability communication mode.

[0189] Optionally, Active Mode may be a state in which the device is sending or receiving data. In Active Mode, all radio frequency links are working, and the device consumes relatively high power.

[0190] Optionally, Doze State can be relative to Awake State, both of which are states in Power Saving Mode (PS Mode). When a device enters Doze State, its power consumption is very low and it cannot perform send and receive operations. When a device enters Awake State, its power consumption is the same as when it is in Active State, and it can receive or send data. As an example, when a device enters Doze State, if a device associated with the device (hereinafter referred to as the associated device) needs to send data to the device in Doze State, the associated device will cache its data. When the device is in Doze State, the device will wake up periodically (DTIM period) to receive Beacon frames sent by the associated device. The device can determine whether the associated device has cached data to send to it by monitoring the TIM (Traffic Indication Map) field of the Beacon frame sent by the associated device. If it is determined that the associated device has cached data to send to the device, the device will switch to Awake State and send frames such as PS-Poll (Power Saving-Poll) to inform the associated device that the device is in Awake State. After receiving the PS-Poll frame, the associated device sends its buffered data to the device.

[0191] Optionally, taking the device as a STA as an example, the STA can indicate the power mode after completing the current frame exchange through the power management subfield carried in the frame control field in the wireless frame. When Power Management is set to 0, it indicates that the STA is in active mode (Active Mode) after completing the current frame exchange. In this state, data can be sent or received, all radio frequency links are working, and power consumption is relatively high; when Power Management is set to 1, it indicates that the STA enters power saving mode (Power Saving Mode, PS Mode) after completing the current frame exchange.

[0192] Optionally, the first capability communication mode may also be referred to as a low-energy communication mode, a low-capability communication mode, a low-capability mode, a low-power communication mode, a lower-capability communication mode, a listening mode, or a low-power communication phase, etc., and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit these names. The second capability communication mode may also be referred to as a high-power mode, a high-energy communication mode, a high-capability communication mode, a high-capability mode, a high-power communication mode, a higher-capability communication mode, or a high-power communication phase, etc., and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit these names.

[0193] Optionally, the communication parameters corresponding to the first capability communication mode or the second capability communication mode may include but are not limited to channel bandwidth (Channel BandWidth; BandWidth, abbreviated as BW), supported MCS mode, NSS (number of Spatial Stream, number of spatial streams), transmission rate, etc.

[0194] Optionally, a parameter value of a device in the first capability communication mode is smaller than a parameter value in the second capability communication mode, which may mean that the communication capability of the device in the first capability communication mode is weaker than the communication capability in the second capability communication mode.

[0195] Optionally, in the first capability communication mode, the channel bandwidth supported by the device is 20 MHz (Mega Hertz) (i.e., BW = 20 MHz), the number of SSs is 1 (i.e., NSS = 1, single spatial stream), and the value of the MCS index is up to 5, that is, the value of the MCS index can be any value from 0 to 5, for example, the value of the MCS index is 5, etc. In the second capability communication mode, the channel bandwidth supported by the device can be greater than or equal to 20 MHz, for example, it can be any one or more of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz or 320 MHz, the number of SSs can be greater than or equal to 2, the MCS index can be greater than or equal to 5, etc. The specific parameter values ​​can be determined according to actual conditions.

[0196] Optionally, in a communication mode, the MCS information supported by the device is associated with multiple communication parameters. For example, the communication parameters associated with the MCS information may include but are not limited to: NSS, modulation mode supported by each spatial stream, coding rate, BW, device transmission resource type [for example, resource unit RU, multiple resource unit (MRU), distributed resource unit (dRU), UEQM, etc.], whether the device supports BW punctured channel mode (punctured pattern) and at least one of the punctured channel density supported by the device.

[0197] For example, for each communication parameter, the device may determine whether it supports each specific parameter value. For example, for NSS, the maximum NSS supported by the device may be 4, 8, or 16. Taking modulation as an example, the modulation mode supported by a spatial stream supported by the device may be at least one of binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 64-QAM, 256-QAM, 1024-QAM, and 4096-QAM. Taking coding rate as an example, the coding rate supported by a spatial stream supported by the device may be 1 / 2, 2 / 3, 3 / 4, or 5 / 6. Taking bandwidth as an example, the bandwidth supported by the device may be at least one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz. When the device supports the BW puncturing channel mode, the puncturing channel density supported by the device may be at least one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz.

[0198] For a device, the MCS information supported by the device can be found in Table 1.

[0199] Table 1:

[0200]

[0201] As shown in Table 1, n, n+1, n+2, n+3, and n+4 are examples used to identify differences between rows. Specific values ​​should be adjusted based on actual conditions. Within each row, the device's corresponding NSS, modulation, coding rate, transmission resource type, bandwidth, puncturing support, and punctured channel density can be combined arbitrarily, and different combinations result in different MCS index values. For example, in the second row, different combinations may have MCS index values ​​of t, t+1, t+2, and so on.

[0202] Optionally, the device switches from the first power state to the second power state, which may include but is not limited to: the device switches from Doze State to Awake State, the device switches from Doze State to Active Mode, the device switches from the first capability communication mode to the second capability communication mode, the device switches from Doze State to the second capability communication mode, and the device switches from Doze State to the second capability communication mode. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not list them one by one. As long as the device switches from a mode with a lower parameter value of the communication parameter to a mode with a higher parameter value of the communication parameter, it can be regarded as "the device switches from the first power state to the second power state".

[0203] Optionally, the number of first accessory devices may include one or more, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the case where the number of first accessory devices includes multiple, the specific form of switching from the first power state to the second power state may be different for different first accessory devices. For example, in the case where the number of first accessory devices includes two, one of the first accessory devices switches from the Doze State to the Awake State, and the other first accessory device switches from the first capability communication mode to the second capability communication mode.

[0204] In some embodiments, the TXOP information includes at least one of: whether a TXOP is held, a remaining duration of the held TXOP, and an end time of the held TXOP.

[0205] Optionally, when the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP, the TXOP information of the second accessory device includes: the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP; when the second accessory device holds a TXOP, the TXOP information of the second accessory device may include: the second accessory device holds a TXOP, the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device, and at least one of the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device.

[0206] Optionally, in the case that no second secondary device holds a TXOP, the first radio frame may be used to instruct at least one first secondary device of the second MLD to switch from the first power state to the second power state.

[0207] Optionally, in the case where there are multiple first secondary devices, the TXOP information of the second secondary devices corresponding to all or part of the first secondary devices may be indicated in the first radio frame.

[0208] In some embodiments, the first radio frame includes: at least one first identification information and at least one second identification information;

[0209] The first identification information is used to identify: identification information of the first auxiliary device;

[0210] The second identification information is used to identify: the TXOP information.

[0211] Optionally, the first identification information may include a LinkID field, specifically may include 4 bits, that is, each LinkID indicates the second accessory device working in the link.

[0212] In some embodiments, the second identification information includes a first identifier and / or a first identification field;

[0213] The first identifier is used to identify whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD;

[0214] The first identification field is used to identify at least one of a remaining duration of a TXOP held by the second accessory device and an end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD.

[0215] Optionally, the first identifier includes: a TXOP Obtained (TXOP held) identifier or a TXOP Holder (TXOP holder) identifier; the first identification field includes: a Remaining Duration (existing duration) field or a TXOP End Time (TXOP end time) field.

[0216] Optionally, when the first identification field only indicates the remaining duration of the TXOP (for example, the first identification field includes the TXOP EndTime field), the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device can be determined based on the duration of sending the first wireless frame from the first MLD to the second MLD (hereinafter referred to as "current duration") and the remaining duration; when the first identification field only indicates the end time of the TXOP (for example, the first identification field includes the Remaining Duration field), the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device can be determined based on the current duration and the end time.

[0217] Optionally, in the first radio frame, for each second accessory device, the formats of the first identification information and the second identification information are as shown in Table 2, that is, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the first identification information and the second identification information:

[0218] Table 2:

[0219]

[0220] Optionally, the parameter value of the first identifier may be set to a different value to identify whether the second secondary device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD.

[0221] In some embodiments, when the first identifier is set to a first parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second secondary device holds a TXOP; or

[0222] In a case where the first identifier is set to a second parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP;

[0223] Wherein, when the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, the first identification field is a reserved bit.

[0224] Optionally, the first identifier may include a bit; the first identifier is set to the first parameter value, which may include the value of the bit of the first identifier being set to "1"; the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, which may include the value of the bit of the first identifier being set to "0".

[0225] As an example, for a second accessory device, the first identifier corresponding to the second accessory device is set to "1", indicating that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device holds a TXOP; and the first identification field corresponding to the second accessory device identifies: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, at least one of the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device and the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device.

[0226] Step 202: The first MLD sends a first radio frame to the second MLD via the first link.

[0227] Optionally, the first link may be any link in a working state among multiple links established by the first MLD and the second MLD.

[0228] Optionally, the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD via the first link, that is, the attached device attached to the first MLD and working in the first link sends the first radio frame to the attached device attached to the second MLD and working in the first link.

[0229] As an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, see Figure 3 After step 202, the method further includes:

[0230] Step 301: The second MLD determines a second radio frame; wherein the second radio frame is used to indicate that the second MLD successfully receives the first radio frame.

[0231] Optionally, the second wireless frame may include but is not limited to an acknowledgment frame (ACK (acknowledgement) frame), a block acknowledgment frame (BA (block ACK) frame) or a notification frame (notification frame), and the embodiment of the present disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0232] Step 302: The second MLD sends a second radio frame to the first MLD.

[0233] Optionally, the second MLD may send the second radio frame to the first MLD via the first link; or may send the second radio frame to the first MLD via a working link other than the first link (among the multiple links established between the first MLD and the second MLD).

[0234] Step 303: After switching to the second power state, the first accessory device exchanges frames with the second accessory device.

[0235] Optionally, after the first accessory device switches from the first power state to the second power state, it may perform frame exchange with the second accessory device based on the TXOP information of the second accessory device. Figures 4a to 4c and the corresponding embodiments section.

[0236] As an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, see Figure 4a After step 302, the method further includes:

[0237] Step 411 , after switching from the first power state to the second power state, the third accessory device sends a third radio frame to the fourth accessory device;

[0238] The third accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with the fourth accessory device; the fourth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and the first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to the first parameter value; the third radio frame is used to indicate that the third accessory device has switched to the second power state.

[0239] Optionally, the third auxiliary device is a device in at least one first auxiliary device.

[0240] Optionally, the third radio frame may include but is not limited to a PS-Poll frame or a NullData frame.

[0241] In this embodiment, the first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device is set to the first parameter value, that is, when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the fourth accessory device holds the TXOP; thus, the third accessory device can exchange frames with the fourth accessory device within the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device.

[0242] Step 412: The third accessory device exchanges frames with the fourth accessory device.

[0243] Optionally, the third accessory device and the fourth accessory device perform frame exchange within a TXOP held by the fourth accessory device.

[0244] Step 413: After the third accessory device completes frame exchange with the fourth accessory device, or after the end time of the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device arrives, the third accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0245] Optionally, after the end time of the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device arrives, if the third accessory device and the fourth accessory device have not completed the frame exchange, the third accessory device can re-compete for the channel and continue to exchange frames with the fourth accessory device in the channel successfully competed; or the fourth accessory device can re-compete for the channel and continue to exchange frames with the third accessory device in the channel successfully competed.

[0246] As an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, see Figure 4b After step 302, the method further includes:

[0247] Step 421: After the fifth accessory device switches from the first power state to the second power state and successfully competes for a channel, the fifth accessory device sends a fourth radio frame to the sixth accessory device.

[0248] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with the sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to the second parameter value; the fourth radio frame is used for initial frame exchange with the sixth accessory device.

[0249] Optionally, the fifth auxiliary device is a device in the at least one first auxiliary device.

[0250] In this embodiment, the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device is set to the second parameter value. That is, when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the sixth accessory device does not hold a TXOP. At this time, the fifth accessory device can compete for a channel and, after successfully competing for a channel, perform frame exchange with the sixth accessory device within the TXOP held by the fifth accessory device.

[0251] Step 422: The fifth accessory device exchanges frames with the sixth accessory device.

[0252] Step 423: After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, or after the end time of the TXOP held by the fifth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0253] Optionally, after the end time of the TXOP held by the fifth accessory device arrives, if the fifth accessory device and the sixth accessory device have not completed the frame exchange, the fifth accessory device can re-perform channel contention and continue to perform frame exchange with the sixth accessory device in the channel successfully competed; or the sixth accessory device can re-perform channel contention and continue to perform frame exchange with the fifth accessory device in the channel successfully competed.

[0254] As an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, see Figure 4c After step 302, the method further includes:

[0255] Step 431: After successfully competing for a channel, the sixth accessory device exchanges frames with the fifth accessory device.

[0256] The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with the sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to the second parameter value; and the fifth accessory device is switched from the first power state to the second power state.

[0257] In this embodiment, as described above, the first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device is set to the second parameter value. That is, when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the sixth accessory device does not hold a TXOP. In this case, the sixth accessory device can compete for a channel and, after successfully competing for a channel, perform frame exchange with the fifth accessory device within the TXOP held by the sixth accessory device.

[0258] Step 432: After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, or after the end time of the TXOP held by the sixth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

[0259] Optionally, after the end time of the TXOP held by the sixth accessory device arrives, if the fifth accessory device and the sixth accessory device have not completed the frame exchange, the fifth accessory device can re-perform channel contention and continue to perform frame exchange with the sixth accessory device in the channel successfully competed; or the sixth accessory device can re-perform channel contention and continue to perform frame exchange with the fifth accessory device in the channel successfully competed.

[0260] In summary, in the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the secondary device of the peer MLD (second MLD) associated with and establishing multi-links is in a dormant state or in the first capability mode (low capability mode), the first MLD can wake up the secondary devices of the second MLD corresponding to other links via a single link. Furthermore, when the first MLD wakes up the secondary device of the second MLD across links, it notifies the second MLD of the status information of the secondary device of the first MLD corresponding to the link to be woken up (i.e., the TXOP information of the second secondary device). This status information includes, but is not limited to, information on whether the second secondary device successfully competed for a channel (i.e., whether the second secondary device holds a TXOP) and / or the duration of the TXOP held by the second secondary device. In this way, the secondary device (first secondary device) targeted for wakeup by the second MLD can perform relevant operations based on the status information of the corresponding secondary device to complete power state switching and frame exchange operations. Based on this method, on the one hand, cross-link low-power state wakeup indication can be implemented between multi-link devices, improving the efficiency of power-saving state indication. On the other hand, it is beneficial for reducing the transmission delay of low-latency services between multi-link devices, thereby improving transmission efficiency.

[0261] In order to clearly illustrate the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the following Figure 6 The following example describes the communication method, taking the case where the first MLD is an AP MLD, the second MLD is a non-AP MLD, and multiple links are established between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD.

[0262] 1. The AP MLD sends a first radio frame to the non-AP MLD through a first link. The first radio frame is used to instruct at least one first affiliated STA of the second MLD to switch from a first power state to a second power state, and / or whether one or more APs associated with the first affiliated STA and affiliated with the first MLD obtain a TXOP and the TXOP information held.

[0263] The first power state includes any one of a doze state and a low capability mode; the second power state includes any one of an awake state, an active mode, and a high capability mode.

[0264] Optionally, the TXOP information includes but is not limited to the duration of the TXOP and the end time of the TXOP.

[0265] Optionally, the first radio frame includes at least one of the following:

[0266] A. One or more first identification information, each first identification information indicates a first affiliated STA.

[0267] Optionally, the first identification information may be a LinkID field, which may include 4 bits.

[0268] B. One or more second identification information, where each first identification information corresponds to one second identification information. Each second identification information includes at least one of the following:

[0269] (1) A first identifier. For example, the first identifier may be a 1-bit TXOP Obtained / Holder identifier.

[0270] Among them, if the first identifier is set to 1, it indicates that when the AP MLD sends the first radio frame to the non-AP MLD, the subordinate AP corresponding to the Link ID of the non-AP MLD successfully competes for the channel; conversely, if the first identifier is set to 0, it indicates that when the AP MLD sends the first radio frame to the non-AP MLD, the subordinate AP corresponding to the Link ID of the non-AP MLD fails to compete for the channel.

[0271] (2) A first identification field, for example, the first identification field may be Remaining Duration or TXOP EndTime.

[0272] Among them, the first identification field is used to identify: when the AP MLD sends the first wireless frame to the non-AP MLD, the remaining TXOP duration (i.e., the first identification field is RemainingDuration) of the channel for which the affiliated AP corresponding to the Link ID of the non-APMLD successfully competes or the end time of the TXOP (i.e., the first identification field is TXOP End Time).

[0273] Optionally, when the first identifier is set to 0, the corresponding first identification field is set to a reserved bit (reserved).

[0274] C. Optionally, when the first radio frame includes both the first identification information and the second identification information, the formats of the first identification information and the second identification information are shown in Table 2 and are not described in detail here.

[0275] 2. After receiving the first radio frame sent by the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD performs at least one of the following operations:

[0276] (1) The second MLD sends a second radio frame to the first MLD through the first link, where the second radio frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD successfully receives the first radio frame.

[0277] (2) Each first attached STA indicated by the first identification information in the first radio frame (ie, the first attached device (eg, the third attached device, the fifth attached device)) switches from the first power state to the second power state.

[0278] (3) If the first identifier corresponding to the first identification information is set to 1 (i.e. Figure 4a In the corresponding case, after switching to the second power state, the first subordinate STA (i.e., the third subordinate device) corresponding to the first identification information sends a third radio frame to the subordinate AP (i.e., the fourth subordinate device) associated with the first subordinate STA and subordinate to the first MLD. The third radio frame is used to indicate that the first subordinate STA has switched to the second power state. The third radio frame can be a PS-Poll frame or a NullData frame.

[0279] (4) If the first identifier corresponding to the first identification information is set to 0, the first affiliated STA corresponding to the first identification information (i.e., the fifth affiliated device) performs at least one of the following operations after switching to the second power state:

[0280] a. The first affiliated STA (ie Figure 4b corresponding situation) participates in channel competition, and after successfully competing for the channel, sends a fourth wireless frame to the subordinate AP (i.e., the sixth subordinate device) associated with it and subordinate to the first MLD, and initially exchanges frames with the subordinate AP;

[0281] b. Receive the first affiliated STA (ie Figure 4c Corresponding situation) a wireless frame sent by an auxiliary AP (ie, the sixth auxiliary device) associated with and attached to the first MLD, and performs frame exchange with the auxiliary AP.

[0282] 3. After receiving the second radio frame sent by the non-AP MLD, the AP MLD performs at least one of the following operations:

[0283] (1) Corresponding to “ Figure 4a (Situation corresponding to the above 2-(3))”, the attached AP (ie, the above-mentioned fourth attached device) that receives the third wireless frame sends the buffered data to the corresponding first attached STA (ie, the above-mentioned third attached device).

[0284] (2) The attached AP (i.e., the sixth attached device) that has not received the third wireless frame performs at least one of the following operations:

[0285] a. Corresponding to " Figure 4c (Situation corresponding to 2-(4)-c) above), the subordinate AP that has not received the third radio frame participates in channel competition and successfully competes for the channel, and sends the buffered data to its associated first subordinate STA (i.e., the fifth subordinate device above);

[0286] b. Corresponding to " Figure 4b (Situation corresponding to the above 2-(4)-b)), the subordinate AP that has not received the third wireless frame exchanges frames with the associated subordinate STA after receiving the fourth wireless frame sent by its associated first subordinate STA (i.e., the above fifth subordinate device).

[0287] 4. After steps 2 and 3, non-AP MLD can also perform at least one of the following operations:

[0288] (1) Corresponding to “ Figure 4a (2-(3) above) corresponding to the situation, Figure 4b (The case corresponding to 2-(4)-b above) or Figure 4c (Situation corresponding to 2-(4)-c) above), after the first subordinate STA (i.e., the third subordinate device) and the subordinate AP of the first MLD associated with it (i.e., the fourth subordinate device) complete the frame exchange, the first subordinate STA switches back to the first power state;

[0289] (2) Corresponding to “ Figure 4a (2-(3) above) corresponds to the situation or Figure 4c (Situation corresponding to 2-(4)-c) above), after the end time of the TXOP held by the subordinate AP (i.e., the sixth subordinate device) subordinate to the first MLD associated with the first subordinate STA (i.e., the fifth subordinate device) arrives, the first subordinate STA switches back to the first power state;

[0290] (3) Corresponding to “ Figure 4a (2-(3) above) corresponds to the situation or Figure 4b (Situation corresponding to the above 2-(4)-b)), after the TXOP time held by the first subordinate STA (ie, the fifth subordinate device) expires, the first subordinate STA switches back to the first power state.

[0291] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0292] In some embodiments, terms such as "moment", "time point", "time", and "time position" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "duration", "period", "time window", "window", and "time" can be replaced with each other.

[0293] In some embodiments, terms such as wireless access scheme and waveform may be used interchangeably.

[0294] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "preset", "setting", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be interchangeable. "Specific A", "preset A", "preset A", "setting A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-specified in a protocol, etc., or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or indication, etc., or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, etc., but not limited to this.

[0295] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be performed by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values ​​(for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0296] In some embodiments, "not expecting to receive" can be interpreted as not receiving on time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, or as not performing subsequent processing on the data after receiving it; "not expecting to send" can be interpreted as not sending, or as sending but not expecting the recipient to respond to the content sent.

[0297] The communication method involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the aforementioned steps and embodiments. For example, step 201 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 202 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 301 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 302 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 303 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 411 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 412 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 413 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 421 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 422 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 423 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 431 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 432 can be implemented as an independent embodiment; the combination of step 201 and step 202 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 301 and step 302 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 411 can be implemented as an independent embodiment. The combination of step 301, step 302 and step 303 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 201, step 202, step 301, step 302 and step 303 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 421 and step 422 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 421, step 422 and step 423 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 201, step 202, step 421 and step 422 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 201, step 202, step 421, step 422 and step 423 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 431 and step 432 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of step 201, step 202, step 431 and step 432 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0298] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 Other optional implementations recorded before or after the corresponding description.

[0299] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0300] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0301] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capability, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP); in another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the above hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by a processor as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the processor loads a configuration document to implement the process of hardware circuit configuration, which can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0302] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of the first multi-link device proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7 As shown, the first multi-link device 700 may include at least one of: a determination module 701 , a first transceiver module 702 , and the like.

[0303] In some embodiments, the determining module 701 is configured to determine a first radio frame;

[0304] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD;

[0305] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state;

[0306] In some embodiments, the first transceiver module 702 is configured to send the first radio frame to the second MLD via the first link.

[0307] Optionally, the determination module 701 is configured to execute at least one of the communication steps (e.g., step 201, but not limited thereto) performed by the first MLD in any of the above methods, which are not described in detail here. The first transceiver module 902 is configured to execute at least one of the transceiver steps (e.g., step 202, step 302, step 303, step 411, step 412, step 421, step 422, and step 431, but not limited thereto) performed by the first MLD in any of the above methods, which are not described in detail here.

[0308] Figure 8 : is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second multi-link device proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 As shown, the second multi-link device 800 may include: a second transceiver module 801.

[0309] In some embodiments, the second receiving module 801 is configured to receive a first radio frame sent by a first MLD through a first link;

[0310] The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first accessory device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second accessory device associated with at least one first accessory device and attached to the first MLD; the first MLD is associated with the second MLD;

[0311] The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

[0312] Optionally, the second transceiver module 801 is used to execute at least one of the transceiver steps (e.g., step 202, step 302, step 303, step 411, step 412, step 421, step 422, step 431, but not limited thereto) executed by the second MLD in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0313] Optionally, the second multi-link device may further include a processing module configured to execute at least one of the communication steps (eg, step 301, step 413, step 423, step 432, but not limited thereto) executed by the second MLD in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0314] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal 900 (e.g., user equipment) proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Terminal 900 can be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a network device implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a terminal implementing any of the above methods. Terminal 900 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0315] like Figure 9 As shown, terminal 900 includes one or more processors 901. Processor 901 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control communication devices (such as base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Terminal 900 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0316] In some embodiments, the terminal 900 further includes one or more memories 902 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 902 may be located outside the terminal 900.

[0317] In some embodiments, the terminal 900 further includes one or more transceivers 904. When the terminal 900 includes one or more transceivers 904, the transceiver 904 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, step 202, step 302, step 303, step 411, step 412, step 421, step 422, and step 431, but not limited thereto), and the processor 901 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, step 201, step 301, step 413, step 423, and step 432, but not limited thereto).

[0318] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0319] In some embodiments, terminal 900 may include one or more interface circuits 903. Optionally, interface circuit 903 is connected to memory 902. Interface circuit 903 may be configured to receive signals from memory 902 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to memory 902 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 903 may read instructions stored in memory 902 and send the instructions to processor 901.

[0320] The terminal 900 described in the above embodiment may be a communication device such as a user equipment, but the scope of the terminal 900 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the terminal 900 may not be limited thereto. Figure 9 The communication device may be an independent device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0321] Figure 10 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 1000 proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. For the case where the terminal 900 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to Figure 10 The structure of the chip 1000 is shown, but is not limited thereto.

[0322] The chip 1000 includes one or more processors 1001 , and the chip 1000 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0323] In some embodiments, chip 1000 further includes one or more 1003. Optionally, interface circuit 1003 is connected to memory 1002. Interface circuit 1003 can be used to receive signals from memory 1002 or other devices, and interface circuit 1003 can be used to send signals to memory 1002 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 1003 can read instructions stored in memory 1002 and send the instructions to processor 1001.

[0324] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 1003 executes at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, step 202, step 302, step 303, step 411, step 412, step 421, step 422, step 431, but not limited to these), and the processor 1001 executes at least one of the other steps (for example, step 201, step 301, step 413, step 423, step 432, but not limited to these).

[0325] In some embodiments, terms such as interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and transceiver may be used interchangeably.

[0326] In some embodiments, the chip 1000 further includes one or more memories 1002 for storing instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memory 1002 may be external to the chip 1000.

[0327] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the terminal 900, the terminal 900 executes any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0328] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the terminal 900, enables the terminal 900 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0329] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Executed by the first MLD, the method includes: determining a first radio frame; The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first subsidiary device of the second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second subsidiary device associated with at least one first subsidiary device and attached to the first MLD; The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state; The first radio frame is sent to the second MLD via the first link.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein: The first power state includes at least a doze state or a first capability communication mode; the second power state includes at least one of an awake state, an active mode, and a second capability communication mode; The first capability communication mode and the second capability communication mode include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first capability communication mode is smaller than that in the second capability communication mode.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first radio frame includes: at least one first identification information and at least one second identification information; The first identification information is used to identify: identification information of the first auxiliary device; The second identification information is used to identify: the TXOP information.

4. The communication method according to claim 3, wherein: The second identification information includes a first identifier and / or a first identification field; The first identifier is used to identify whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD; The first identification field is used to identify at least one of a remaining duration of a TXOP held by the second accessory device and an end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein: In a case where the first identifier is set to a first parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device holds a TXOP; or, In a case where the first identifier is set to a second parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP; Wherein, when the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, the first identification field is a reserved bit.

6. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Receive a second radio frame sent by the second MLD, wherein the second radio frame is used to indicate that the second MLD successfully receives the first radio frame.

7. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving a third radio frame sent by the third accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state; The third accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a fourth accessory device; the fourth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a first parameter value; and the third radio frame is used to indicate that the third accessory device has switched to a second power state; The fourth accessory device performs frame exchange with the third accessory device.

8. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving a fourth radio frame sent by the fifth accessory device after the fifth accessory device switches from the first power state to the second power state and successfully competes for a channel; The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value; and the fourth radio frame is used for an initial frame exchange with the sixth accessory device. The sixth accessory device performs frame exchange with the fifth accessory device.

9. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: After successfully competing for the channel, the sixth accessory device exchanges frames with the fifth accessory device; The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: Executed by the second MLD, the method includes: receiving, through the first link, a first radio frame sent by the first MLD; The first radio frame is used to indicate: at least one first attached device of a second MLD switches from a first power state to a second power state, and / or TXOP information of a second attached device associated with at least one first attached device and attached to the first MLD; the first MLD is associated with the second MLD; The first power state and the second power state include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first power state is smaller than that in the second power state.

11. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein: The first power state includes at least a doze state or a first capability communication mode; the second power state includes at least one of an awake state, an active mode, and a second capability communication mode; The first capability communication mode and the second capability communication mode include at least one identical communication parameter, and a parameter value of the communication parameter in the first capability communication mode is smaller than that in the second capability communication mode.

12. The communication method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: The first radio frame includes: at least one first identification information and at least one second identification information; The first identification information is used to identify: identification information of the first auxiliary device; The second identification information is used to identify: the TXOP information.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein: The second identification information includes a first identifier and / or a first identification field; The first identifier is used to identify whether the second accessory device holds a TXOP when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD; The first identification field is used to identify: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the remaining duration of the TXOP held by the second accessory device and the end time of the TXOP held by the second accessory device.

14. The communication method according to claim 13, wherein: In a case where the first identifier is set to a first parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device holds a TXOP; or, In a case where the first identifier is set to a second parameter value, the first identifier is used to identify that: when the first MLD sends the first radio frame to the second MLD, the second accessory device does not hold a TXOP; Wherein, when the first identifier is set to the second parameter value, the first identification field is a reserved bit.

15. The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Determine a second radio frame; wherein the second radio frame is used to indicate that the second MLD successfully receives the first radio frame; Send the second radio frame to the first MLD.

16. The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The third accessory device sends a third radio frame to the fourth accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state; The third accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a fourth accessory device; the fourth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the fourth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a first parameter value; and the third radio frame is used to indicate that the third accessory device has switched to a second power state; The third accessory device performs frame exchange with the fourth accessory device.

17. The communication method according to claim 16, wherein: The method further comprises at least one of the following: After the third accessory device completes frame exchange with the fourth accessory device, the third accessory device switches to the first power state; After the end time of the TXOP held by the fourth accessory device arrives, the third accessory device switches to the first power state.

18. The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The fifth accessory device sends a fourth radio frame to the sixth accessory device after switching from the first power state to the second power state and successfully competing for a channel; The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value; and the fourth radio frame is used for an initial frame exchange with the sixth accessory device. The fifth accessory device performs frame exchange with the sixth accessory device.

19. The communication method according to claim 18, wherein: The method further comprises at least one of the following: After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state; After the end time of the TXOP held by the fifth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

20. The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that: The method further comprises: After the sixth accessory device successfully competes for the channel, the fifth accessory device exchanges frames with the sixth accessory device; The fifth accessory device is attached to the second MLD and associated with a sixth accessory device; the sixth accessory device is attached to the first MLD, and a first identifier corresponding to the sixth accessory device in the first radio frame is set to a second parameter value.

21. The communication method according to claim 20, wherein: The method further comprises at least one of the following: After the fifth accessory device completes frame exchange with the sixth accessory device, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state; After the end time of the TXOP held by the sixth accessory device arrives, the fifth accessory device switches to the first power state.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or execute the communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 21.

23. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or execute the communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 21.

24. A program product, characterized in that When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or executes the communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 21.

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