Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method and device. First information of a second network device is received, the first information is used for indicating the number of proxy terminals needed by the first terminal during WLAN sensing and communication state information corresponding to multiple terminals associated with the second network device, and the multiple terminals comprise the first terminal and at least one second terminal; each piece of communication state information is used for determining the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal; and sending second information to a second network device, the second information being used for indicating a terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal when the first terminal performs WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal is selected from a plurality of third terminals based on the number and the communication state information corresponding to the plurality of terminals, and the plurality of third terminals comprise at least one second terminal; in this way, the proxy terminal with a good sensing effect can be determined so as to improve the WLAN sensing effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, initiating devices (such as non-access point stations, Non-APSTAs) can request multiple proxy devices (such as proxy STAs) to participate in wireless local area network (WLAN) sensing through access devices (such as APs or AP STAs) to extend the sensing range. The access devices can determine the proxy devices based on the order in which they receive coordination frames.

[0003] However, the WLAN sensing performance of proxy devices determined using the above method may be poor. Therefore, determining which proxy devices offer better sensing performance is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed to improve WLAN sensing capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for identifying proxy devices with better sensing performance, thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0005] Firstly, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network device (e.g., a network management device such as a domain controller in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network), or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module, the chip system or functional module being capable of implementing the functions of the first network device, and the chip system or functional module being, for example, disposed in the first network device. In the following description, the method is described as being executed by the first network device. The method includes: receiving first information from a second network device, the first information indicating the number of proxy terminals required by a first terminal for WLAN sensing, and communication status information corresponding to multiple terminals associated with the second network device, the multiple terminals including the first terminal and at least one second terminal, each communication status information being used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal; sending second information to the second network device, the second information indicating the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal of the first terminal for WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal being selected from multiple third terminals based on the number and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals, the multiple third terminals including the at least one second terminal.

[0006] In this embodiment, the first network device selects at least one suitable target terminal from the multiple terminals associated with the second network device or from the multiple terminals associated with other network devices as a proxy terminal for the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, based on the number of proxy terminals required for the first terminal to perform WLAN sensing and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device for determining the WLAN sensing capability of the terminal. In this way, the first network device can select proxy terminals for the first terminal within a larger WLAN sensing range, thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0007] In one optional implementation, the communication state information may include a terminal identifier (e.g., a medium access control (MAC) address) and the terminal's channel state information (SCI). The terminal identifier can be used to accurately identify or recognize the terminal, while the terminal's CCI can be used to determine the terminal's WLAN sensing quality and the vectors relied upon during WLAN sensing, thereby determining the terminal's WLAN sensing capability. Using this approach, after obtaining the communication state information corresponding to multiple terminals, the first network device can accurately identify each terminal based on the terminal identifier contained in each of the multiple communication state information entries, and determine the WLAN sensing capability corresponding to each of the multiple terminals based on the CCI contained in each of the multiple communication state information entries, ensuring that a target terminal with better WLAN sensing performance can be selected subsequently.

[0008] In another optional implementation, the communication status information may further include the terminal's operating frequency band (or data transmission frequency band, i.e., the frequency range used by the terminal for communication) and / or signal reception quality (e.g., received signal strength indication (RSSI)). The terminal's operating frequency band can be used to determine the extent of interference the terminal is experiencing (e.g., the intensity or magnitude of the interference), while the terminal's signal reception quality can be used to determine the terminal's location. In this implementation, the first network device, when subsequently selecting a proxy terminal, considers not only the terminal's WLAN sensing capability but also the terminal's location and / or the extent of interference. This improves upon the problems of low or no WLAN sensing gain due to the selected proxy terminal being too close, and poor WLAN sensing performance of the selected proxy terminal due to strong interference.

[0009] In one optional implementation, the at least one target terminal may be selected by the first network device from at least one candidate terminal based on the operating frequency band and / or signal reception quality corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. The at least one candidate terminal may also be selected by the first network device from the plurality of third terminals based on the quantity, and the terminal identifier and CSI corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. In this implementation, the first network device first selects at least one candidate terminal from the plurality of third terminals based on the aforementioned quantity, and the terminal identifier and CSI corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. The aforementioned plurality of third terminals may include multiple terminals associated with the second network device, and may further include multiple terminals associated with other network devices. The first network device then selects at least one target terminal from the aforementioned at least one candidate terminal based on the operating frequency band and / or signal reception quality corresponding to the aforementioned at least one candidate terminal. That is, when selecting a target terminal (or proxy terminal), the first network device considers not only the terminal's WLAN sensing capability, but also the terminal's location and / or interference conditions, to ensure that a target terminal with better sensing performance can be selected, thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the first information may further be used to indicate a first parameter, which is used to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is used to instruct the first network device to determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which may be a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals. The method may further include: when the number of first-part target terminals selected by the first network device from the at least one second terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter; sending fourth information to the at least one third network device, which is used to instruct the at least one third network device to determine a second part of target terminals from the at least one fourth terminal; and receiving fifth information sent by the at least one third network device, which is used to indicate the terminal identifiers corresponding to the second part of target terminals.

[0011] In this implementation, since the WLAN sensing range (assumed to be the first sensing range) of at least one second terminal associated with the second network device is limited, when the first parameter is used to determine the sensing area (assumed to be the second sensing range) required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the first network device can determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting a target terminal from multiple third terminals according to the indication of the first parameter. For example, if the second sensing range is completely contained within the first sensing range, the first network device can determine that at least one third network device is not needed to assist in selecting a target terminal from multiple third terminals. In this case, the aforementioned multiple third terminals may only include at least one second terminal associated with the second network device. Conversely, if the second sensing range is not completely contained within the first sensing range, the first network device can determine that at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting a target terminal from multiple third terminals. In this case, the aforementioned multiple third terminals may include not only at least one second terminal associated with the second network device, but also at least one fourth terminal associated with the aforementioned at least one third network device, to ensure that a suitable proxy terminal can be selected within a larger sensing range to meet the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal, that is, to meet the number of proxy terminals and the required sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0012] In one alternative implementation, the number of the second set of target terminals is greater than or equal to the difference between the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing and the number of the first set of target terminals; thus, a sufficient number of target terminals can be selected to ensure that the WLAN sensing needs of the first terminal can be met.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the method may further include: receiving third information sent by any one of the at least one third network device, the third information being used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals; and sending the third information to the second network device. In this implementation, the first network device can receive the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals and send the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals to the first terminal via the second network device.

[0014] In an optional implementation, before receiving the third information sent by any one of the at least one third network device, the process may further include: sending sixth information to any one of the third network devices, the sixth information being used to instruct at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals to perform WLAN sensing respectively. In this way, at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals can perform WLAN sensing respectively, thereby obtaining WLAN sensing results and subsequently obtaining the aforementioned third information.

[0015] In one optional implementation, the number of the at least one target terminal can be greater than or equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing. Specifically, if the number of the at least one target terminal is equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing, then the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal can be met. If the number of the at least one target terminal is greater than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing, then the possibility of any of the at least one target terminal subsequently experiencing abnormalities or not responding during WLAN sensing can be avoided, thus preventing the problem that the number of proxy terminals capable of normally responding to WLAN sensing among the at least one target terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing.

[0016] Secondly, another communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a second network device (e.g., an access point in a WiFi network), or by a chip system (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the second network device, such as being located within the second network device. In the following description, the method is executed by the second network device. The method includes: receiving a sensing proxy request from a first terminal, the sensing proxy request indicating the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing; sending first information to the first network device, the first information indicating the number and communication status information corresponding to multiple terminals associated with the second network device, the multiple terminals including the first terminal and at least one second terminal, each communication status information used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal; receiving second information from the first network device, the second information indicating the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal for the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal being selected from multiple third terminals based on the number and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals, the multiple third terminals including the at least one second terminal.

[0017] In one optional implementation, the communication status information may include a terminal identifier and the terminal's CSI. In yet another optional implementation, the communication status information may further include the terminal's operating frequency band and / or the terminal's signal reception quality.

[0018] In an alternative implementation, the first information may also be used to indicate a first parameter, which is used to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is used to instruct the first network device to determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which is a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the method may further include: receiving third information sent by the first network device, the third information being used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal, the third information being sent to the first network device by any one of the at least one third network device, the at least one fourth terminal being the target terminal selected by the at least one third network device from among the plurality of third terminals; and sending the WLAN sensing result of the at least one fourth terminal to the first terminal.

[0020] In one alternative implementation, the number of the at least one target terminal may be greater than or equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0021] Thirdly, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the first network device described in the first aspect above. The communication device may be a chip system (or chip) or other functional module, which can implement the functions of the first network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, disposed within the first network device. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a radio frequency device and a baseband device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module) and a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module). The transceiver unit can implement both transmitting and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit implements the transmitting function, it may be called a transmitting unit (sometimes also called a transmitting module), and when the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it may be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can implement both transmitting and receiving functions; or the transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules. For ease of description and understanding, the following description uses the example of the communication device including a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0022] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive first information from the second network device, the first information indicating the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, and communication status information corresponding to multiple terminals associated with the second network device, the multiple terminals including the first terminal and at least one second terminal, each communication status information being used by the processing unit to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal; the transceiver unit is configured to send second information to the second network device, the second information indicating the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal of the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal being selected by the processing unit from multiple third terminals based on the number and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals, the multiple third terminals including the at least one second terminal.

[0023] In one optional implementation, the at least one target terminal may be selected by the processing unit from at least one candidate terminal based on the operating frequency band and / or the signal reception quality corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. The at least one candidate terminal may be selected by the processing unit from the plurality of third terminals based on the number of third terminals and the terminal identifier and CSI corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively.

[0024] In an optional implementation, the first information may also be used to indicate a first parameter, which is used by the processing unit to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is also used to indicate to the processing unit whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which may be a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals. When the number of first-part target terminals selected by the processing unit from the at least one second terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, based on the quantity and the communication status information corresponding to the plurality of terminals, the processing unit determines the at least one third network device based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter. The transceiver unit is used to send fourth information to the at least one third network device, which is used to indicate that the at least one third network device determines a second part of target terminals from the at least one fourth terminal. The transceiver unit is used to receive fifth information sent by the at least one third network device, which is used to indicate the terminal identifiers corresponding to the second part of target terminals.

[0025] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive third information sent by any one of the at least one third network device, the third information being used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal among the second part of the target terminals; the transceiver unit is configured to send the third information to the second network device.

[0026] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit sends a sixth message to any one of the third network devices, the sixth message being used to instruct at least one of the fourth terminals in the second part of the target terminals to perform WLAN sensing, and then receives a third message sent by any one of the at least one third network devices.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the processing unit to control or execute the method described in the first aspect above via the transceiver unit described above.

[0028] Fourthly, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the second network device described in the second aspect above. The communication device may be a system-on-a-chip (or chip) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the second network device, and the system-on-a-chip or functional module may be disposed, for example, within the second network device. In one optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). For details on the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the description in the third aspect; and for ease of description and understanding, the following description also uses the example of a communication device including a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0029] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive a sensing proxy request from a first terminal, the sensing proxy request indicating the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing; the transceiver unit is configured to send first information to a first network device, the first information indicating communication status information corresponding to the number of terminals associated with the second network device, the multiple terminals including the first terminal and at least one second terminal, each communication status information used by the processing unit to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal; the transceiver unit is configured to receive second information from the first network device, the second information indicating the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal of the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal being selected by the processing unit from multiple third terminals based on the number of terminals and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals, the multiple third terminals including the at least one second terminal.

[0030] In an alternative implementation, the first information may also be used to indicate a first parameter, which is used by the processing unit to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is used to instruct the first network device to determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which is a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals.

[0031] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive third information sent by the first network device, the third information being used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal, the third information being sent to the first network device by any one of the at least one third network device, and the at least one fourth terminal being the target terminal selected by the at least one third network device from among the plurality of third terminals; the transceiver unit is configured to send the WLAN sensing result of the at least one fourth terminal to the first terminal.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the communication device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), and the processing unit is configured to couple with the storage unit and execute programs or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the processing unit to control or execute the method described in the second aspect above via the transceiver unit described above.

[0033] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, which may be a first network device, or a chip or chip system within the first network device. The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions through the communication interface, it causes the communication device to execute the method described in the first aspect, which is performed by the first network device.

[0034] Sixthly, a communication device is provided, which can be a second network device, or a chip or chip system within a second network device. The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions through the communication interface, it causes the communication device to execute the method described in the second aspect, which is performed by the second network device.

[0035] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the methods in the various possible implementations of the first or second aspect and other aspects to be implemented.

[0036] Eighthly, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, causes the methods in the various possible implementations of the first or second aspect and the other aspects to be implemented.

[0037] A ninth aspect provides a chip system including a processor and an interface, the processor being configured to call and execute instructions from the interface to enable the chip system to implement the methods in the first or second aspect and in various possible implementations thereof.

[0038] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first network device for performing the methods of the first aspect and various possible implementations thereof, and a second network device for performing the methods of the second aspect and various possible implementations thereof, and may further include at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal has WLAN sensing capability.

[0039] The technical effects that can be achieved by each aspect of the second to tenth aspects and each possible implementation scheme in each aspect can be referred to the description of the effects that can be achieved by the corresponding possible design schemes in the first aspect above. Where there is repetition, no further discussion will be given. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an optical network topology provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario where the WLAN sensing performance of a proxy STA is poor, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0042] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating yet another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 5 A method based on the embodiments of this application is provided. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of WLAN sensing application scenarios;

[0045] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to optical network architecture. (See also...) Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a possible optical network topology. Current optical network topologies typically include four domains: a customer premises network (CPN), an access network (AN), an aggregation network (AggN), and a core network (CN). These four domains can correspond to different devices or entities; that is, they can indicate physical or logical entities composed of devices within the same management scope. These devices or entities can be used to implement optical network topologies.

[0050] CPN can be used to enable network access for terminals. For example... Figure 1 As shown, terminals can access the network through devices such as edge optical network unit (E-ONU), room gate (RG), wide area network gateway (WG), customer edge (CE), or industrial edge (IE) in the CPN.

[0051] An AN can refer to a set of access connections that use or partially use optical transmission between a service node or remote module and a terminal, and share the same network-side interface. For example... Figure 1 As shown, an AN can include entities or devices such as an optical network unit (ONU) and / or customer premises equipment (CPE), which can be used to provide network access to terminals to form a WiFi network. For example, in fiber to the remote (FTTR) technology, the ONU can include a primary optical network unit (P-ONU), which is connected to the e-ONU.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, as one implementation of an AN, an AN can consist of an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical distribution network (ODN), and ONUs. The ODN mainly includes passive components such as optical fibers and splitters, which are not explicitly shown in the diagram. Figure 1As shown in the diagram. For example, an ODN can be used to connect an OLT and an ONU. The OLT provides an interface between the optical access network and service nodes or remote modules on the network side, and communicates with the ONU on the terminal side (or user side) via the ODN. The ODN provides optical transmission means between the OLT and the ONU, mainly playing the role of optical signal power distribution. The ONU provides a remote user-side interface for the optical access network. As another implementation of an AN, the AN can also include optical transport network (OTN) edge devices for handling leased line services.

[0053] AggN, also known as OTN, has network aggregation capabilities and can be used for long-distance transmission. For example, AggN can connect to a CN (Network Application Network) through AggN edge devices. Figure 1 As shown, as one implementation of AggN, AggN can include a broadband network gateway (BNG) to connect the OLT and AggN edge devices to realize an optical transport network (IP / EthAggN) based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or Ethernet (Eth) protocol. As another implementation of AggN, AggN can also include an OTN, which can connect to both OTN edge devices and AggN edge devices. The OTN edge devices and OTN can be used for leased line services of transmission terminals.

[0054] The CN (Network Provider) can be used for data storage and service support. For example, AggN edge devices can access the CN through core carrier edge (provider edge, PE) devices to support the transmission of CN data. Alternatively, AggN edge devices can access cloud / on-premises data centers through data center network elements to support the transmission of cloud / on-premises data centers.

[0055] The above four domains are managed by their respective domain controllers, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the CPN controller can be used to manage the CPN, the AN controller can be used to manage the AN, the AggN controller can be used to manage the AggN, and the CN controller can be used to manage the CN.

[0056] Furthermore, each domain controller can be used to control other network devices within its domain. For example, a domain controller can be used to monitor the operational status of other network devices within its domain and / or perform fault management on those devices. However, it should be noted that, in this embodiment, the management of the domain by each domain controller includes, but is not limited to, the management of network devices within the domain.

[0057] Taking the AN controller as an example, the AN controller can be used to manage access devices. The AN controller can communicate with access devices through an OLT, etc. The AN controller can be, for example, an optical network management module or an optical network management system. Alternatively, the AN controller can also be considered as being used to manage devices within a CPN, such as E-ONU, P-ONU, RG, WG, CE, or IE.

[0058] exist Figure 1 In some implementations other than those in the example, the ONU and CPE can also be considered as belonging to the CPN. In this case, the ONU and CPE can still be managed by the AN controller, or by the CPN controller or other management devices; this application does not limit this.

[0059] Furthermore, the aforementioned four domain controllers can be controlled by a unified controller, such as... Figure 1 The end-to-end orchestration management device shown can be a network management system or a network server.

[0060] For ease of description and understanding, in this embodiment, the device used to implement network access functionality is referred to as an access device (or access point (AP)). Terminals can access the network through the access device. The access device can be... Figure 1 The E-ONU, P-ONU, RG, WG, CE, or IE shown can also be Figure 1 Other devices not shown for implementing wireless network access functions may also be devices used for implementing wireless network access functions in scenarios other than optical network topologies, and this application embodiment does not impose any limitations on this. In some scenarios, the terminal may also be connected to an ONU or a CPE, in which case the access device may also be an ONU or a CPE.

[0061] In the following text, the access device is described as an AP. That is, AP can be replaced with other names such as access device, or device names such as ONU, CPE, RG, WG, CE or IE.

[0062] The network device in the embodiments of this application may sometimes be referred to as a wireless access network device, access network device, access network entity, or access node, etc., to help terminals achieve wireless access. All or part of the functions of the network device in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Furthermore, the network device in this application can also be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device functions.

[0063] In one possible application scenario, network devices can be base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs), access points (APs), transmission reception points (TRPs), next-generation NodeBs (gNBs), gNBs in 6th-generation (6G) mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in WiFi systems. Network devices can be macro base stations, micro base stations or indoor stations, relay nodes or donor nodes, or wireless controllers in cloud radio access networks (CRAN) scenarios. Optionally, network devices can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, network devices in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be roadside units (RSUs). In another possible application scenario, network devices can be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station; or multiple network devices can collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different network devices each performing some of the functions of a base station. For example, network devices can be centralized units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), or radio units (RUs). The functions of a CU can be implemented by a single entity or by different entities. For instance, the functions of a CU can be further divided, separating the control plane and user plane and implementing them through different entities: a control plane CU entity (i.e., CU-control plane (CP) entity) and a user plane CU entity (i.e., CU-user plane (UP) entity). These CU-CP and CU-UP entities can be coupled with DUs to jointly complete the functions of the network device. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0064] In the embodiments of this application, the means for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device itself, or it can be a means that supports the network device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components that can implement the functions of the network device. This means can be installed in the network device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or specific device form used in the network device.

[0065] The terminal in the embodiments of this application may sometimes also be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, access station, UE station, remote station, STA subscriber station, wireless communication equipment, or user device, etc. It is a device with wireless transceiver function (i.e., the terminal can send signals to network devices and receive signals from network devices). It can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a mobile phone), a wearable device, an in-vehicle device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.) built into the above devices. Terminals can be used to connect people, objects, and machines, and can be widely used in various scenarios, including but not limited to the following: sensing scenarios, cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, V2X, machine-to-machine (M2M) network / machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, and indoor commercial scenarios (such as mobile phone screen mirroring, file sharing, and mobile phone to VR glasses video transmission).

[0066] When a terminal is used in V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, such as a smart car, digital car, unmanned car, driverless car, pilotless car, autonomous car, pure electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), new energy vehicle, and RSU.

[0067] Of course, the terminal can also be a device in D2D communication, such as a smart meter, smart water meter, or other smart instruments. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal can also be a terminal in an IoT system. IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and its main technical characteristic is connecting objects to networks through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and machine-to-machine interconnection.

[0068] The various terminals described above, if located in a vehicle (e.g., placed inside or installed inside a vehicle), can all be considered vehicle-mounted terminals, also known as on-board units (OBUs). The terminal in this application can also be an on-board module, on-board unit, on-board component, on-board chip, or OBU, etc., built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through the built-in on-board module, on-board unit, on-board chip, or OBU.

[0069] In the embodiments of this application, the device for implementing the terminal's functions can be the terminal itself, or a device capable of supporting the terminal in implementing those functions, such as a chip system or a combination of devices or components capable of implementing terminal functions. This device can be installed in the terminal. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal.

[0070] In the aforementioned optical network architecture, terminals with WLAN sensing capabilities (e.g., Non-AP STAs) can request one or more proxy devices (e.g., proxy STAs) to participate in WLAN sensing to extend the sensing range through the AP. WLAN sensing refers to determining the characteristics of a target (e.g., a car or aircraft) in a specified environment (e.g., a parking lot or airport) based on the wireless signals received by the terminal with WLAN sensing capabilities. This includes, for example, the target's posture or movement.

[0071] For example, assuming the terminal with WLAN sensing capability is the requesting STA, the requesting STA can send a proxy sensing request to the AP. This proxy sensing request can indicate the number of proxy STAs required by the requesting STA. After receiving the proxy sensing request, the AP can select at least one proxy STA from among the multiple STAs associated with the AP based on the aforementioned number. Optionally, the AP can also instruct the at least one proxy STA to perform WLAN sensing independently. Further, after performing WLAN sensing independently, the at least one proxy STA can send its respective WLAN sensing results to the requesting STA via the AP.

[0072] Currently, the AP can usually determine the proxy STA from the above multiple STAs according to the order of receiving the coordination frames. That is, the selection of proxy STAs depends on the order in which the AP receives the coordination frames. For example, if the number of proxy STAs required for the requesting STA is 3, and the AP receives coordination frames sent by 5 STAs, then the AP can select 3 STAs from the above 5 STAs as proxy STAs for the requesting STA according to the reception time of the coordination frames corresponding to the 5 coordination frames, in the order of reception from earliest to latest.

[0073] However, the WLAN sensing performance of the agent STA determined using the above method may be poor. For example, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2 As shown, if the two selected proxy STAs are located close to each other, the gain of these two close proxy STAs on WLAN sensing is small or even non-existent; furthermore, if the selected proxy STA is subject to strong interference, this will also lead to poor WLAN sensing performance of the proxy STA.

[0074] Therefore, to improve WLAN sensing performance, this application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system. The communication method provided in this application selects a proxy terminal with better sensing performance from a pool of selectable terminals in a WLAN based on the number of proxy terminals (e.g., proxy STAs) required by a first terminal (e.g., a requesting STA) during WLAN sensing, and the WLAN sensing capabilities of the first terminal and multiple candidate terminals respectively. It should be noted that the selectable terminals may include at least one terminal associated with the network device (e.g., a first AP) corresponding to the first terminal; of course, they may also include at least one terminal associated with other network devices (e.g., a second AP). This application does not limit this. The method, apparatus, and system are based on the same technical concept, and since the principles by which the method, apparatus, and system solve problems are similar, their implementations can refer to each other, and repeated details will not be elaborated further.

[0075] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0076] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, first information and second information can be the same information or different information, and such names do not indicate differences in the sending / receiving end, format, content, size, application scenario, priority, or importance of the two pieces of information. In addition, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments described in this application is sometimes only to distinguish different steps, and is not used to limit the order of steps.

[0077] In the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "when," "under the circumstances," "if," and "if" all refer to the device taking corresponding actions under certain objective circumstances, not to limiting the time, nor do they require the device (e.g., a terminal or network device) to perform a judgment action during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations. It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, "used to indicate" can include both direct indication (or explicit indication) and indirect indication (or implicit indication). When describing information as used to indicate A, it can include the information directly indicating A or indirectly indicating A, but does not necessarily mean that the information carries A. Taking first information used to indicate first content as an example, the first information can contain the first content, or a part of the first content, or the identifier or index of the first content, and can also contain algorithms, calculation parameters, etc., used to determine the first content. The embodiments of this application do not limit the manner of "indication."

[0078] See Figure 3 The diagram shown is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In the following description, this method will be applied to the above-mentioned... Figure 1 The network architecture shown is used as an example for illustration. In the following method flow, the first network device can be a network management system, and the second network device can be an access device such as an AP, or a device or chip installed in the network device, etc. This application does not limit this.

[0079] S301. The first network device receives first information from the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the first information sent by the first network device. The first information indicates the number of proxy terminals required for the first terminal to perform WLAN sensing, and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device. Each communication status information can be used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal. For example, assuming the first information can be used to indicate the communication status information corresponding to the 5 terminals associated with the second network device (e.g., STA1 to STA5), then the communication status information corresponding to STA2 can be used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of STA2.

[0080] Optionally, the aforementioned multiple terminals may include a first terminal and at least one second terminal. In other words, the aforementioned multiple terminals may be all or some of the terminals associated with the second network device. In this way, after obtaining the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device, the first network device can determine and select the proxy terminal with better sensing effect based on the multiple communication status information. Thus, the first network device can select a proxy terminal for the first terminal within a larger WLAN sensing range, thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0081] To ensure that the first network device can select proxy terminals with good WLAN sensing performance, the aforementioned communication status information may include a terminal identifier and the terminal's CSI. The terminal identifier can be used to accurately identify or recognize the terminal; that is, the first network device and / or the second network device can determine or recognize the terminal based on the terminal identifier. The terminal's CSI can be used to determine the terminal's WLAN sensing quality and the vectors it relies on during WLAN sensing, thereby determining the terminal's WLAN sensing capability. In this way, after obtaining the communication status information corresponding to multiple terminals, the first network device can accurately identify each terminal based on the terminal identifier contained in each of the multiple communication status information entries, and determine the WLAN sensing capability corresponding to each of the identified terminals based on the CSI contained in the communication status information entries of each terminal.

[0082] Optionally, the first network device can also determine the vector similarity between the WLAN perception dependency vector corresponding to at least one second terminal and the WLAN perception dependency vector of the first terminal based on the CSI contained in the communication status information of the multiple terminals, thereby determining the similarity between the WLAN perception capability corresponding to at least one second terminal and the WLAN perception capability of the first terminal.

[0083] Furthermore, the aforementioned terminal identifier can be the terminal's MAC address, or of course, other unique identifiers, as long as they can accurately identify the terminal. This application embodiment does not limit the specific type of terminal identifier.

[0084] In one optional implementation, to further ensure that the obtained proxy terminal has good WLAN sensing performance, the aforementioned communication status information may further include the terminal's operating frequency band and / or the terminal's signal reception quality. That is, the aforementioned communication status information may include: terminal identifier, terminal CSI, and terminal's operating frequency band and / or terminal's signal reception quality. The terminal's operating frequency band can be understood as the frequency range used for terminal communication, and can be used to determine the extent of interference to the terminal (e.g., the intensity or magnitude of the interference). The terminal's operating frequency band can be called the terminal's data transmission frequency band, or it may have other names; this application embodiment does not limit this. The terminal's signal reception quality can be RSSI, which can be used to determine the terminal's location. Of course, the terminal's signal reception quality can also be other parameters that can characterize the terminal's signal reception quality or be used to determine the terminal's location; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0085] By adopting the above method, the first network device will not only consider the WLAN sensing capability of the terminal when selecting the proxy terminal, but also the location of the terminal and / or the interference situation of the terminal. This improves the problem that the WLAN sensing gain is small or even non-existent due to the selected proxy terminal being too close, and the problem that the WLAN sensing effect of the selected proxy terminal is poor due to strong interference. This further improves the WLAN sensing effect.

[0086] S302. The first network device can select at least one target terminal from multiple target candidate terminals based on the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal during WLAN sensing and the communication status information corresponding to each of the multiple terminals. In other words, the aforementioned at least one target terminal can be a proxy terminal selected by the first network device from multiple target candidate terminals based on the aforementioned number and the communication status information corresponding to each of the multiple terminals. The aforementioned multiple target candidate terminals may include multiple terminals associated with the second network device, such as at least one second terminal associated with the second network device. The aforementioned multiple target candidate terminals may also include multiple terminals associated with the second network device and multiple terminals associated with other network devices (such as a third network device). In addition, the aforementioned multiple target candidate terminals may also be referred to as multiple third terminals, and of course, other names are also possible; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0087] The number of the aforementioned at least one target terminal can be equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, so as to meet the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal. Optionally, in order to avoid the problem that any of the aforementioned at least one target terminal may subsequently malfunction or fail to respond when performing WLAN sensing, resulting in the number of proxy terminals that can respond normally to WLAN sensing being less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the number of the aforementioned at least one target terminal can also be greater than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0088] For example, if the communication status information includes the terminal identifier and the terminal's CSI, then the first network device can select at least one target terminal from the plurality of target candidate terminals based on the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, and the terminal identifiers and CSIs corresponding to the plurality of target candidate terminals respectively.

[0089] For example, if the aforementioned communication status information includes a terminal identifier, the terminal's CSI, the terminal's operating frequency band, and / or the terminal's signal reception quality, then the first network device can select at least one target terminal from the plurality of target candidate terminals based on the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal during WLAN sensing, and the terminal identifiers, CSIs, operating frequency bands, and / or signal reception qualities corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. In an optional implementation, the first network device can select at least one candidate terminal from the plurality of target candidate terminals based on the aforementioned number, and the terminal identifiers and CSIs corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively, and then select at least one target terminal from the at least one candidate terminal based on the operating frequency bands and / or signal reception qualities corresponding to the at least one candidate terminal respectively.

[0090] In another optional implementation, the first network device can comprehensively consider the CSI, operating frequency band, and / or signal reception quality of the multiple target candidate terminals respectively, and conduct comparative analysis on the multiple target candidate terminals. For example, it can use a weighted scoring mechanism or reinforcement learning to determine the WLAN sensing capabilities of the multiple target candidate terminals. Then, after determining the WLAN sensing capabilities of the multiple target candidate terminals, it can select at least one target terminal from the multiple target candidate terminals based on the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0091] S303, the first network device sends second information to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the second information sent by the first network device, the second information being used to indicate the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal.

[0092] Based on the communication method described in S301 to S303 above, after receiving the first information from the second network device, the first network device can select at least one target terminal with better WLAN sensing performance from among the multiple terminals associated with the second network device or further from among the multiple terminals associated with other network devices, according to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing as indicated by the first information, and the communication status information for determining the WLAN sensing capability of the multiple terminals associated with the second network device. In this way, the first network device can select proxy terminals for the first terminal within a larger WLAN sensing range, thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0093] See Figure 4 The diagram shown is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4The terminal shown can be a terminal that communicates directly with a terrestrial base station, such as the first terminal being a STA (Standard Station), also known as a requesting STA. It can also be a terminal that communicates directly with a non-terrestrial base station (e.g., satellite), or a device or chip installed within the terminal. The network device can be an access device such as an AP (Access Point), for example, the second network device and at least one third network device can both be APs. It can also be a network management device, such as the first network device being a network management device, or a device or chip installed within the network device. In the following description, for ease of understanding and description, it is described from the perspective of information interaction between the first terminal, the first network device, the second network device, and at least one third network device. The dashed lines represent optional steps, i.e., steps that can be selected to achieve further (or better) technical effects. The numbering of steps in the following description is sometimes only to distinguish different steps and is not intended to strictly define the order of steps.

[0094] S401, the first terminal sends a sensing proxy request to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the sensing proxy request sent by the first terminal, which indicates the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0095] S402. After determining the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing based on the sensing proxy request, the second network device can send first information to the first network device. The first information can indicate not only the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device, but also instruct the first network device to determine whether other network devices (e.g., at least one third network device) are needed to assist in selecting the target terminal.

[0096] In one alternative implementation, since the WLAN sensing range (assumed to be the first sensing range) of at least one second terminal associated with the second network device is limited, the aforementioned first information can also be used to indicate a first parameter. When the first parameter is used to determine the sensing area (assumed to be the second sensing range) required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the first network device can also determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal based on the indication of the first parameter. For example, if the second sensing range is completely contained within the first sensing range, the first network device can determine that at least one third network device is not needed to assist in selecting the target terminal. In this case, the aforementioned... Figure 3The described plurality of target candidate terminals may include only at least one second terminal associated with the second network device; conversely, if the second sensing range is not entirely contained within the first sensing range, the first network device may determine that at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal, in which case the aforementioned Figure 3 The described multiple target candidate terminals include not only at least one second terminal associated with the second network device, but also multiple terminals (e.g., multiple fourth terminals) associated with at least one third network device, to ensure that a suitable proxy terminal can be selected within a larger sensing range to meet the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal, that is, to meet the number of proxy terminals and the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

[0097] It should be understood that the aforementioned determination by the first network device that at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal can also be understood as the first terminal needing cross-domain proxy sensing when performing WLAN sensing, that is, needing one or more terminals associated with other network devices besides the second network device as proxy terminals to perform WLAN sensing in order to meet the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal.

[0098] S403. When the number of target terminals selected from at least one second terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, based on the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device, the first network device may further determine at least one third network device based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter.

[0099] For example, when executing S403, the first network device can select at least one third network device from a plurality of third network devices that has a sensing range overlapping with the aforementioned sensing area based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter. That is, among any one or more fourth terminals associated with any of the at least one third network device, there is a terminal whose sensing range is within the aforementioned sensing area.

[0100] For example, to expand the WLAN sensing range, the first network device can select a third network device from among multiple third network devices that is adjacent to or has no overlapping sensing range with the aforementioned sensing area, based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter. That is, none of the one or more fourth terminals associated with the third network device have a sensing range within the aforementioned sensing area. Of course, if the first network device determines that the number of target terminals selected from at least one second terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing, it can also use other methods to select third network devices based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter; this application does not limit this selection.

[0101] S404. After determining at least one third network device based on the sensing area determined by the first parameter, the first network device may also send fourth information to the at least one third network device. Accordingly, the at least one third network device receives the fourth information sent by the first network device. The fourth information is used to instruct the at least one third network device to determine a second set of target terminals from at least one fourth terminal (i.e., a terminal associated with at least one third network device). It can be seen that the at least one target terminal may include the first set of target terminals and the second set of target terminals.

[0102] S405. At least one third network device determines the second part of the target terminal from at least one fourth terminal.

[0103] Specifically, when executing S405, at least one third network device can determine the second part of the target terminals from at least one fourth terminal in the same way as the first network device determines the first part of the target terminals. Alternatively, it can determine the second part of the target terminals from at least one fourth terminal by combining the sensing area determined by the first parameter. In this embodiment, no specific limitation is made.

[0104] Optionally, in order to ensure that the WLAN sensing requirements of the first terminal can be met, that is, to select a sufficient number of target terminals, the number of the second part of target terminals can be greater than or equal to the difference between the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing and the number of the first part of target terminals.

[0105] S406. At least one third network device sends fifth information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fifth information from at least one third network device, the fifth information being used to indicate the terminal identifiers corresponding to the aforementioned second part of the target terminals; thus, the first network device can determine the second part of the target terminals determined by at least one third network device from at least one fourth terminal.

[0106] S407. The first network device sends sixth information to any one of the at least one third network device. Correspondingly, the aforementioned third network device receives the sixth information from the first network device. The sixth information instructs at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals to perform WLAN sensing respectively. Thus, by sending the sixth information to each terminal in the second group of target terminals, at least one fourth terminal in the second group of target terminals can perform WLAN sensing after receiving the sixth information, and can send its respective WLAN sensing result to the aforementioned third network device, thereby obtaining the third information mentioned in S408 below.

[0107] S408. At least one of the at least three third network devices sends third information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the third information sent by any one of the at least three third network devices. The third information is used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal among the target terminals in the second part.

[0108] S409. The first network device sends third information to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the third information sent by the first network device.

[0109] S410. The second network device sends the WLAN sensing results of at least one fourth terminal among the second part of the target terminals to the first terminal according to the third information. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the WLAN sensing results of at least one fourth terminal among the second part of the target terminals sent by the second network device; in this way, the first terminal can obtain the WLAN sensing results of the cross-domain proxy terminal (i.e., at least one fourth terminal among the second part of the target terminals).

[0110] S411. After determining the first group of target terminals from at least one second terminal associated with the second network device, the first network device may send seventh information to the second network device. Correspondingly, the second network device receives the seventh information sent by the first network device, which instructs at least one second terminal in the first group of target terminals to perform WLAN sensing respectively. Thus, the second network device notifies all or some of the terminals in the first group of target terminals to perform WLAN sensing according to the seventh information, and all or some of the terminals in the first group of target terminals can send their respective WLAN sensing results to the second network device.

[0111] S412, the second network device sends the WLAN sensing results of at least one second terminal among the first batch of target terminals to the first terminal. Correspondingly, the first terminal receives the WLAN sensing results of at least one second terminal among the first batch of target terminals sent by the second network device.

[0112] Obviously, based on the above S410 and S412, when the first terminal performs WLAN sensing, it can not only obtain the WLAN sensing results of the multiple terminals associated with the local network device (i.e., the second network device) as proxy terminals (i.e., at least one second terminal in the first part of the target terminals), but also obtain the WLAN sensing results of the multiple terminals associated with the cross-domain network device (i.e., at least one third network device) as proxy terminals (i.e., at least one fourth terminal in the second part of the target terminals), thereby improving the WLAN sensing effect.

[0113] For example, see Figure 5As shown, this is a schematic diagram of a WLAN sensing scenario provided in an embodiment of this application, wherein it is assumed that... Figure 4 The first terminal in the process is the one requesting Non-AP STA. Figure 4 The second network device in the system is AP STA. Figure 4 The first network device in the system is the network management system. Figure 4 The example is a cross-domain AP STA, where at least one third network device is used.

[0114] This description will focus on two examples: an AP STA associated with five STAs (i.e., requesting a Non-AP STA and STA1 to STA4), and a cross-domain AP STA associated with five STAs (STA5 to STA9). The process is as follows:

[0115] 1. A Non-STA can send a Sensing Agent Request to an AP STA to indicate the number (e.g., 5) of Agent STAs required for the Non-AP STA to perform WLAN sensing.

[0116] 2. After receiving the sensing agent request, the AP STA can send the number of agent STAs required for the Non-AP STA to perform WLAN sensing and the communication status information (i.e., the first information) of the 5 STAs associated with the AP STA to the network management.

[0117] 3. Based on the above request, the network management selects the first set of target STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, and STA4) from the five STAs associated with the AP STA when the Non-AP STA is performing WLAN sensing, and selects the second set of target STAs (e.g., STA7 and STA9) from the five STAs associated with the cross-domain AP STA through the cross-domain AP STA.

[0118] 4. After determining the first part of the target STAs and the second part of the target STAs, the network management can send the first instruction information to the AP STA, instructing the first part of the target STAs to perform WLAN sensing.

[0119] 5. The AP STA notifies the three STAs (STA1, STA2 and STA4) in the first part of the target STAs to perform WLAN sensing according to the first instruction information.

[0120] 6. After receiving the notification from the AP STA mentioned in 5 above, STA1, STA2 and STA4 can perform WLAN sensing respectively, and STA1, STA2 and STA4 can send their respective WLAN sensing results to the AP STA.

[0121] 7. After determining the first part of the target STAs and the second part of the target STAs, the network management can also send a second instruction message to the cross-domain APSTA, instructing the second part of the target STAs to perform WLAN awareness.

[0122] 8. The cross-domain AP STA notifies two STAs (i.e., STA7 and STA9) in the second part of the target STA to perform WLAN sensing according to the second instruction information.

[0123] 9. After receiving the notification from the cross-domain AP STA mentioned in 8 above, STA7 and STA9 can perform WLAN sensing respectively, and STA7 and STA9 can send their respective WLAN sensing results to the cross-domain AP STA.

[0124] 10. Cross-domain AP STAs send the WLAN sensing results corresponding to STA7 and STA9 to the network management system.

[0125] 11. The network management system can further send the WLAN sensing results corresponding to STA7 and STA9 to the AP STA.

[0126] 12. The AP STA can send the WLAN sensing results of the first part of the target STA and the WLAN sensing results of the second part of the target STA to the requesting Non-AP STA. That is, the AP STA can send the WLAN sensing results corresponding to STA1, STA2, STA4, STA7 and STA9 to the requesting Non-AP STA to meet the WLAN sensing requirements of the requesting Non-AP STA.

[0127] See Figure 6 The diagram shown illustrates another communication method provided in this application, using the example of a first terminal being a Non-AP STA or a first STA, a second network device being an AP STA and a first ONU, an AN controller, and a third network device being a cross-domain ONU. The dashed lines represent optional steps, i.e., steps that can be selected to achieve further (or better) technical effects. The step numbering described below is sometimes only to distinguish different steps and is not intended to strictly define the order of steps.

[0128] S601a, the first STA sends a sensing proxy request to the AP STA. The sensing proxy request indicates the number of STAs required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing, i.e., the number of proxy STAs required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing.

[0129] S601b, AP STA sends a sensing agent request to the first ONU. Correspondingly, AP STA receives the sensing agent request sent by the first ONU.

[0130] S602, the first ONU sends to the AN controller the number of STAs required for the first STA when performing WLAN sensing and the communication status information of the multiple STAs associated with the APSTA.

[0131] The aforementioned communication status information may include the STA's STA identifier (such as MAC address), the STA's operating frequency band, the STA's signal reception quality (such as RSSI), the STA's CSI, and a first parameter. The first parameter can be used to determine the sensing area required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing. Furthermore, the first parameter can also be used to indicate whether cross-domain ONUs are needed for WLAN proxy sensing. That is, the first ONU can determine whether cross-domain ONUs are needed to assist in selecting a proxy STA based on the first parameter.

[0132] Optionally, if the AP STA has the function of a first ONU, then the AP STA can directly send the required number of STAs and the communication status information of the multiple STAs associated with the AP STA to the AN controller.

[0133] S603, the AN controller, based on the number of STAs required and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple STAs associated with the AP STA, can select at least one target STA from multiple target candidate STAs. The multiple STAs associated with the AP STA may include a first STA and at least one second STA; that is, the multiple STAs associated with the AP STA can be all or some of the STAs associated with the AP STA. The multiple target candidate STAs may include multiple STAs associated with the AP STA, such as at least one second STA associated with the AP STA, or multiple STAs associated with cross-domain ONUs. In this embodiment, the multiple target candidate STAs are not specifically limited. Furthermore, the multiple target candidate STAs may also be referred to as multiple third STAs, or of course, other names are possible; this embodiment does not limit their use.

[0134] It should be noted that the AN controller selects at least one target STA in a manner similar to... Figure 3 or Figure 4 The method by which the first network device in the illustrated embodiment selects at least one target terminal is the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0135] If the S604a AN controller determines, based on the indication of the first parameter, that a cross-domain ONU needs to perform WLAN proxy sensing, it can send first indication information to the first ONU after identifying the first group of target STAs from at least one second STA associated with the AP STA. Correspondingly, the first ONU receives the first indication information sent by the AN controller, which instructs at least one target STA in the first group to perform WLAN sensing respectively. Thus, the first ONU can notify all or some of the STAs in the first group to perform WLAN sensing according to the first indication information, and all or some of the aforementioned first group of target STAs can send their respective WLAN sensing results to the first ONU (not included in the original text). Figure 6 (as shown in the image).

[0136] If the S604b AN controller determines that WLAN proxy sensing is required across domain ONUs according to the indication of the first parameter, it can receive the STA identifier of at least one fourth STA in the second part of the target STAs sent by the cross-domain ONU.

[0137] Optionally, after receiving the STA identifier of at least one fourth STA among the target STAs in the second part, the cross-domain ONU can also instruct at least one fourth STA among the target STAs in the second part to perform WLAN sensing respectively, and receive the WLAN sensing results obtained by at least one fourth STA among the target STAs in the second part through WLAN sensing respectively, and then send the WLAN sensing results of at least one fourth STA among the target STAs in the second part to the AN controller (not in Figure 6 (as shown in the image).

[0138] As shown in S604a and S604b, the AN controller requires the assistance of cross-domain ONUs to select a target STA from multiple target candidate STAs. These multiple target candidate STAs may include, for example, at least one second STA associated with the AP STA and multiple fourth STAs associated with the cross-domain ONUs. The at least one target STA selected by the AN controller from these multiple target candidate STAs may include at least one second STA from the first group of target STAs and at least one fourth STA from the second group of target STAs.

[0139] S605, the AN controller sends the WLAN sensing results of at least one fourth STA in the second part of the target STAs to the first ONU.

[0140] S606, the first ONU sends the WLAN sensing results of at least one target STA to the first STA. Correspondingly, the first STA receives the WLAN sensing results of at least one target STA sent by the first ONU. Specifically, the aforementioned WLAN sensing results of at least one target STA may include the WLAN sensing results of at least one second STA among the first group of target STAs, and the WLAN sensing results of at least one fourth STA among the second group of target STAs.

[0141] See Figure 7 The diagram shown is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, in which the communication method is applied... Figure 1 Taking the FTTR scenario as an example, specifically, the first terminal is the first STA, the second network device is the E-ONU, and the first network device is the P-ONU, the description will be carried out.

[0142] S701, the first STA sends a sensing proxy request to the E-ONU. The sensing proxy request indicates the number of STAs required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing, i.e., the number of proxy STAs required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing.

[0143] S702, the E-ONU sends the required number of STAs and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple STAs associated with the E-ONU to the P-ONU. The communication status information may include the STA's STA identifier (e.g., MAC address), the STA's operating frequency band, the STA's signal reception quality (e.g., RSSI), the STA's CSI, and a first parameter, which can be used to determine the sensing area required by the first STA when performing WLAN sensing.

[0144] S703, P-ONU can select at least one target STA from multiple target candidate STAs based on the number of STAs required and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple STAs associated with E-ONU. The multiple STAs associated with E-ONU may include a first STA and at least one second STA, and the multiple target candidate STAs may include the aforementioned at least one second STA.

[0145] It should be noted that the P-ONU selects at least one target STA in a manner similar to... Figure 3 or Figure 4 The method by which the first network device in the illustrated embodiment selects at least one target terminal is the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0146] S704, the P-ONU sends a first instruction message to the E-ONU. Correspondingly, the E-ONU receives the first instruction message sent by the P-ONU, which instructs the aforementioned at least one target STA to perform WLAN sensing respectively. Thus, the E-ONU can notify all or some of the aforementioned at least one target STA to perform WLAN sensing according to the first instruction message, and all or some of the aforementioned at least one target STA can send their respective WLAN sensing results to the E-ONU.

[0147] S705, the E-ONU sends the WLAN sensing results of at least one target STA to the first STA. Correspondingly, the first STA receives the WLAN sensing results of at least one target STA sent by the E-ONU.

[0148] In summary, based on the communication method described above, the first network device, according to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, and the communication status information corresponding to the multiple terminals associated with the second network device, can select at least one suitable (i.e., with good WLAN sensing performance) target terminal from the multiple terminals associated with the second network device or further from the multiple terminals associated with other network devices, as a proxy terminal for the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. Using this method, since the communication status information can be used to determine the terminal's WLAN sensing capability, the target terminal selected by the first network device has a better WLAN sensing performance. Furthermore, it can select proxy terminals for the first terminal within a larger WLAN sensing range, thereby improving the WLAN sensing performance.

[0149] See Figure 8 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 800 can be... Figure 3 or Figure 4 The system architecture of the first network device shown in the embodiment is used to implement the method corresponding to the first network device in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the communication device 800 may be... Figure 3 or Figure 4 The system architecture of the second network device shown in the embodiment is used to implement the method corresponding to the second network device in the above method embodiment.

[0150] The communication device 800 includes at least one processor 801. The processor 801 can be used for internal processing within the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, the processor 801 includes instructions. Optionally, the processor 801 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or located on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated on one or more integrated circuits.

[0151] Optionally, the communication device 800 may include one or more memories 803 for storing instructions. The memories 803 may also store data. The processor 801 and the memories 803 may be separate or integrated. The communication device 800 also includes a communication line 802 and at least one communication interface 804. Because the memories 803, communication line 802, and communication interface 804 are all optional, therefore... Figure 8 All are represented by dashed lines.

[0152] Optionally, the communication device 800 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver can be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver circuit, input / output interface, etc., and is used to realize the transmission and reception functions of the communication device 800 via the antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter can be used to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver can be used to convert the RF signal back into a baseband signal.

[0153] The processor 801 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present application.

[0154] Communication line 802 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0155] The communication interface 804 can be a transceiver or similar device used to communicate with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), WLAN, wired access network, etc.

[0156] The memory 803 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto. The memory 803 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 801 via communication line 802. Alternatively, the memory 803 may be integrated with the processor 801.

[0157] The memory 803 stores computer execution instructions for implementing the scheme of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 801. The processor 801 executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 803, thereby realizing... Figure 3 or Figure 4 The steps performed by the first or second network device in the illustrated embodiments.

[0158] Optionally, the computer execution instructions in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as application code, and the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0159] In a specific implementation, as one example, the processor 801 may include one or more CPUs, for example... Figure 8 CPU0 and CPU1 in the example. In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, the communication device 800 may include multiple processors, such as... Figure 8 Processors 801 and 805 are mentioned. Each of these processors can be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor here can refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores used to process data (such as computer program instructions).

[0160] when Figure 8When the device shown is a chip, such as the chip of a first network device or a chip of a second network device, the chip includes a processor 801 (and may also include a processor 805), a communication line 802, and a communication interface 804. Optionally, it may include a memory 803. Specifically, the communication interface 804 may be an input interface, pins, or circuits, etc. The memory 803 may be a register, cache, etc. The processor 801 and processor 805 may be a general-purpose CPU, microprocessor, ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program that controls the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0161] This application embodiment can divide the device into functional modules according to the above method example. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0162] For example, when dividing functional modules according to their respective functions, refer to... Figure 9 As shown, this is a schematic diagram of an apparatus. The apparatus 900 can be the first network device or the second network device involved in the above-described method embodiments, or it can be a chip in the first network device or the second network device. The apparatus 900 includes a processing unit 902 and a transceiver unit 901.

[0163] It should be understood that the device 900 can be used to implement the steps performed by the first network device or the second network device in the communication method of the embodiments of this application, and the relevant process can be referred to above. Figure 3 or Figure 4 The embodiments shown in the examples, which are performed by the first network device or the second network device, will not be described again here.

[0164] Optional, Figure 9 The function / implementation process of the processing unit 902 in the middle can be achieved through Figure 8 The processor 801 in the memory calls computer execution instructions stored in memory 803 to implement the function. Alternatively, Figure 9 The function / implementation process of the processing unit 902 in the middle can be achieved through Figure 8 The processor 801 in the memory calls computer execution instructions stored in the memory 803 to implement this. Figure 9 The function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 901 in the middle can be obtained through Figure 8 It is implemented using the 804 communication interface.

[0165] When the device 900 is a chip or circuit, the function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 901 can also be implemented through pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 901 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, whereby the transmitting unit implements the transmitting function and the receiving unit implements the receiving function; or, the transceiver unit 901 may be an integral module capable of implementing both transmitting and / or receiving functions. Optionally, the transceiver unit 901 may be implemented using a transceiver.

[0166] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the methods performed by the first or second network device in the aforementioned method embodiments. Thus, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to it, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the communication methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0167] This application also provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the method executed by the first network device or the second network device involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0168] This application also provides a communication system that can be used to implement the methods executed by a first network device or a second network device in any possible implementation of the above-described method embodiments. Specifically, the system includes at least a first network device and a second network device for executing the above-described method embodiments. Furthermore, the communication system may also include at least one terminal, and each terminal has WLAN sensing capability. For example, the communication system may have the following characteristics: Figure 1 or Figure 5 The architecture shown.

[0169] This application also provides a chip or chip system coupled to a transceiver for implementing the methods performed by the first network device or the second network device in any of the above-described method embodiments and any possible implementations of the method embodiments. Here, "coupling" refers to two components being directly or indirectly combined with each other; this combination can be fixed or movable, and can allow communication between the two components using fluid, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals. The chip system may include this chip. Specifically, the chip or chip system can be used to perform the methods performed by the first network device or the second network device involved in any of the above-described method embodiments.

[0170] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs, DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks, SSDs), etc.

[0171] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or operate the described functions using a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; alternatively, it can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can also be implemented using a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0172] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of this application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software units can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be disposed in an ASIC, which can be disposed in a first network device or a second network device. Optionally, the processor and storage medium can also be disposed in different components of the first network device or the second network device.

[0173] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0174] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can be referenced to each other. Unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0175] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the first network device and / or the second network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of this application, other operations or variations of various operations may also be performed. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessary to perform all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first network device, including: The system receives first information from a second network device. The first information is used to indicate the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, as well as the communication status information corresponding to multiple terminals associated with the second network device. The multiple terminals include the first terminal and at least one second terminal. Each communication status information is used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal. Send second information to the second network device. The second information is used to indicate the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal. The at least one target terminal is a proxy terminal of the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The at least one target terminal is selected from a plurality of third terminals based on the number and the communication status information corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. The plurality of third terminals includes the at least one second terminal.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The communication status information includes the terminal identifier and the terminal's Channel Status Information (CSI).

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The communication status information also includes the terminal's operating frequency band and / or the terminal's signal reception quality.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The at least one target terminal is selected by the first network device from at least one candidate terminal based on the operating frequency band and / or the signal reception quality corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively. The at least one candidate terminal is selected by the first network device from the plurality of third terminals based on the quantity, and the terminal identifier and CSI corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first information is also used to indicate a first parameter, which is used to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is used to instruct the first network device to determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which is a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals. The method further includes: When the number of target terminals selected by the first network device from the at least one second terminal is less than the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the at least one third network device is determined according to the sensing area determined by the first parameter. Send fourth information to the at least one third network device, the fourth information being used to instruct the at least one third network device to determine a second portion of target terminals from the at least one fourth terminal; The system receives fifth information sent by the at least one third network device, the fifth information being used to indicate the terminal identifiers corresponding to the second part of the target terminals respectively; The at least one target terminal includes the first part of the target terminal and the second part of the target terminal.

6. The method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The number of the second part of target terminals is greater than or equal to the difference between the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal for WLAN sensing and the number of the first part of target terminals.

7. The method as described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information sent by any one of the at least one third network device, the third information being used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal in the second part of the target terminals; The third information is sent to the second network device.

8. The method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Before receiving the third information sent by any one of the at least one third network device, the method further includes: A sixth message is sent to any one of the third network devices, the sixth message being used to instruct at least one fourth terminal among the second part of the target terminals to perform WLAN sensing.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The number of at least one target terminal is greater than or equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to second network devices, including: Receive a sensing proxy request from a first terminal, the sensing proxy request being used to indicate the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing wireless local area network (WLAN) sensing; Send first information to the first network device. The first information is used to indicate the communication status information corresponding to the number of multiple terminals associated with the second network device. The multiple terminals include the first terminal and at least one second terminal. Each communication status information is used to determine the WLAN sensing capability of the corresponding terminal. The system receives second information from the first network device, the second information being used to indicate the terminal identifier of at least one target terminal, the at least one target terminal being a proxy terminal of the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing, the at least one target terminal being selected from a plurality of third terminals based on the number and the communication status information corresponding to the plurality of terminals respectively, the plurality of third terminals including the at least one second terminal.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The communication status information includes the terminal identifier and the terminal's Channel Status Information (CSI).

12. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The communication status information also includes the terminal's operating frequency band and / or the terminal's signal reception quality.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The first information is also used to indicate a first parameter, which is used to determine the sensing area required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing. The first parameter is used to instruct the first network device to determine whether at least one third network device is needed to assist in selecting the target terminal from the plurality of third terminals. The at least one third network device is associated with at least one fourth terminal, which is a terminal other than the at least one second terminal among the plurality of third terminals.

14. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: The system receives third information sent by the first network device. The third information is used to indicate the WLAN sensing result of at least one fourth terminal. The third information is sent to the first network device by any one of the at least one third network device. The at least one fourth terminal is the target terminal selected by the at least one third network device from the plurality of third terminals. Send the WLAN sensing results of the at least one fourth terminal to the first terminal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that, The number of at least one target terminal is greater than or equal to the number of proxy terminals required by the first terminal when performing WLAN sensing.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit; The transceiver unit is used for sending and receiving information; The processing unit is configured to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 15, through the transceiver unit.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program stored in the memory, causing the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or causing the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 15.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 10 to 15.

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