WiFi device and communication method, system and related device thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a WiFi device and a communication method, system and related device thereof, and the method comprises the following steps: acquiring a request signal and a corresponding service priority signal of a Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to a shared medium; acquiring a delay tolerance of the Zigbee device to a permission signal for indicating permission of exclusive access to the shared medium according to the request signal and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium; and generating the permission signal for indicating permission of exclusive access to the shared medium in time to the Zigbee device according to the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device to the permission signal for indicating permission of exclusive access to the shared medium. The technical scheme can improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a WiFi device and its communication method, system and related equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The proliferation of networks, particularly in the 2.4 GHz band, has created challenges in utilizing multiple network protocols. For example, Zigbee, Thread, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) all operate in the 2.4 GHz spectrum and are considered low-power protocols. However, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), with its much higher transmission power levels, also operates in this spectrum. Therefore, these various protocols can interfere with each other, leading to decreased throughput or data loss.

[0003] Currently, with WiFi and Zigbee devices coexisting, the communication quality of Zigbee devices still needs improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The problem solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a WiFi device and its communication method, system and related equipment, which can improve the communication quality of Zigbee devices.

[0005] To address the above problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method for a WiFi device, comprising:

[0006] Obtain the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal;

[0007] Based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is obtained.

[0008] Based on the Zigbee device's latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is generated to the Zigbee device in a timely manner.

[0009] Optionally, the step of obtaining the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium, based on the request signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal, includes:

[0010] If the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device are both converted from a first-level signal to a second-level signal, then the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal for indicating that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0011] If the request signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium is converted from a first-level signal to a second-level signal and the corresponding service priority signal is a first-level signal, then the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate permission to exclusively access the shared medium.

[0012] Optionally, if the Zigbee device has a low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes:

[0013] If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after immediately terminating the data transmission to the peer WiFi device and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device.

[0014] If the WiFi device is in data receiving state, after terminating the reception of data sent by the peer WiFi device and enabling its own passive response reply special control frame mechanism, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0015] If the WiFi device is idle, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, it immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0016] Optionally, if the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes:

[0017] If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device that the data being transmitted has ended and that the data transmission has been terminated, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device.

[0018] If the WiFi device is in the data receiving state, after terminating the reception of data sent by the peer WiFi device, enabling its own passive response to reply to the special control frame mechanism, and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0019] If the WiFi device is idle, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, it immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0020] Optionally, sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission includes: sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission using a NULL frame, a CTS frame, or a Self-CTS frame.

[0021] Optionally, the special control frame includes at least one of ACK frame, CTS frame and BA frame.

[0022] Optionally, if the Zigbee device withdraws its request for exclusive access to the shared medium, the communication method of the WiFi device further includes: prohibiting the transmission of a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0023] Optionally, the Zigbee device cancels the request for exclusive access to the shared medium by: the Zigbee device converting the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium from a second-level signal to a first-level signal.

[0024] Optionally, the exclusive access request signal for the shared medium includes a GPIO signal.

[0025] Optionally, the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium includes a GPIO signal.

[0026] Optionally, the service priority signal includes a GPIO signal.

[0027] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a WiFi device, including:

[0028] The first acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal;

[0029] The second acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate permission to access the shared medium, based on the request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal.

[0030] The permission signal generation unit is adapted to promptly generate a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0031] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a communication system, including the WiFi device and Zigbee device as described above.

[0032] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer program product, including a computer program / instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0033] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a device including at least one memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores one or more computer instructions, wherein the one or more computer instructions are executed by the processor to implement the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0034] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a storage medium storing one or more computer instructions for implementing the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0035] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0036] The communication method for a WiFi device provided in this embodiment of the invention includes: acquiring a request signal from a Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to a shared medium and a corresponding service priority signal; acquiring, based on the request signal and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; and, based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal, timely generating a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium to the Zigbee device.

[0037] In the communication method of the WiFi device provided in this embodiment of the invention, based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium, the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is generated to the Zigbee device in a timely manner. This enables the Zigbee device to obtain the right to use the shared medium in a timely manner, reducing the probability that the Zigbee device will abandon data transmission due to failure to obtain the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium in a timely manner, thus improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the communication method for a WiFi device provided by the technical solution of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the coexistence of three wires between WiFi devices and Zigbee devices in the technical solution of this invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the WiFi device provided by the technical solution of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an optional hardware structure of the device provided by the technical solution of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0042] As can be seen from the background technology, when WiFi devices and Zigbee devices coexist, the communication quality of Zigbee devices still needs to be improved.

[0043] To address the aforementioned technical problem, the communication method for a WiFi device provided in this embodiment of the invention includes: acquiring a request signal from a Zigbee device requesting exclusive access to a shared medium and a corresponding service priority signal; acquiring, based on the request signal and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; and, based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium, promptly generating a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium to the Zigbee device.

[0044] In the communication method of the WiFi device provided in this embodiment of the invention, based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium, the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is generated to the Zigbee device in a timely manner. This enables the Zigbee device to obtain the right to use the shared medium in a timely manner, reducing the probability that the Zigbee device will abandon data transmission due to failure to obtain the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium in a timely manner, thus improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0045] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of the communication method for a WiFi device provided by the present invention. (See reference...) Figure 1 A communication method for a WiFi device may specifically include the following steps:

[0047] Step S110: Obtain the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal;

[0048] Step S120: Based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, obtain the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0049] Step S130: Based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, promptly generate a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device.

[0050] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 1 Execute step S110 to obtain the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal.

[0051] The request signal and corresponding service priority signal of the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium are obtained, which provides a basis for subsequently obtaining the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate permission to access the shared medium based on the request signal and corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0052] Zigbee devices are terminal devices that communicate using the Zigbee communication protocol. Specifically, a terminal device that includes a Zigbee module is called a Zigbee device. Of course, Zigbee devices can also use other communication protocols in addition to the Zigbee communication protocol.

[0053] In this embodiment, the Zigbee device and the WiFi device work together in the 2.4 GHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band.

[0054] See Figure 2 In this embodiment, the WiFi device 100 and the Zigbee device 200 coexist in the ISM band through three signals. Specifically, the WiFi device 100 and the Zigbee device 200 coexist in the ISM band through a Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium, a Priority signal for service priority, and a Grant signal for indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium.

[0055] Specifically, the Request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium, the Priority signal, and the Grant signal for granting exclusive access to the shared medium are generated by their respective interfaces. Therefore, the interfaces that generate the Request signal, the Priority signal, and the Grant signal are collectively referred to as the three-line coexistence interface.

[0056] In this embodiment, the interface that generates the Request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium, the interface that generates the Priority signal, and the interface that generates the Grant signal for granting exclusive access to the shared medium are all General-Purpose Input / Output (GPIO) interfaces.

[0057] It is understood that at least some of the interfaces that generate the Request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium, the interface that generates the Priority signal, and the interface that generates the Grant signal for granting exclusive access to the shared medium can also be other types of interfaces besides GPIO interfaces. Those skilled in the art can set them according to actual needs, and no limitation is made here.

[0058] In other embodiments, Zigbee devices and WiFi devices can also coexist in the ISM band via four or even more signals.

[0059] In other embodiments, Zigbee devices and WiFi devices can also coexist on frequency bands other than the ISM band, which is not limited here.

[0060] In this embodiment, Zigbee devices and WiFi devices compete for the right to use the shared medium through a Packet Traffic Arbitration (PTA) mechanism.

[0061] In this embodiment, a PTA module located inside the WiFi device uses the PTA mechanism to arbitrate the right to use the shared medium. Accordingly, when data transmission is required, the Zigbee device generates a Request signal to the PTA module within the WiFi device, requesting exclusive access to the shared medium. Upon receiving this Request signal, the PTA module in the WiFi device then uses the PTA mechanism to arbitrate the right to use the shared medium.

[0062] In this embodiment, the Request signal used to request exclusive access to the shared medium is defaulted to a first-level signal. When data transmission is required, the Zigbee device converts the Request signal from the first-level signal to a second-level signal to generate the Request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium to the PTA module within the WiFi device.

[0063] In this embodiment, the first level signal is a low level signal, and the second level signal is a high level signal. In other words, the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium is a low level signal by default. Accordingly, when data transmission is required, the Zigbee device changes the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium from a low level signal to a high level signal to generate the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium to the PTA module in the WiFi device.

[0064] In other embodiments, the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium can also be defaulted to a high-level signal. Accordingly, when data transmission is required, the Zigbee device will convert the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium from a high-level signal to a low-level signal to generate the Request signal for requesting exclusive access to the shared medium to the PTA module in the WiFi device. Those skilled in the art know how to perform level signal conversion, and it will not be described in detail here.

[0065] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 1 In step S120, based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is obtained.

[0066] Based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to the shared medium is obtained. This provides a basis for subsequently generating a permission signal for exclusive access to the shared medium in a timely manner based on the delay tolerance of the permission signal indicating permission to the shared medium.

[0067] In this embodiment, when data needs to be received, the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium; when data needs to be transmitted, the Zigbee device has high latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0068] Accordingly, based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, it is possible to determine whether the Zigbee device needs to send or receive data, thereby determining the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0069] Specifically, when both the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device are converted from a first-level signal to a second-level signal, the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; when the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device is converted from a first-level signal to a second-level signal and the corresponding service priority signal is a first-level signal, the Zigbee device has high latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium.

[0070] For details regarding the corresponding business priority signals, please refer to the aforementioned content on request signals for requesting exclusive access to shared media; further details will not be provided here.

[0071] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 1 In step S130, based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is generated to the Zigbee device in a timely manner.

[0072] Based on the Zigbee device's latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium, timely generation of the permission signal to the Zigbee device enables the Zigbee device to obtain the right to use the shared medium in a timely manner. This reduces the probability that the Zigbee device will abandon data transmission due to failure to obtain the permission signal in a timely manner, thus improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0073] In this embodiment, when the Zigbee device has a low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes the following three cases:

[0074] (I) If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after immediately terminating the data transmission to the peer WiFi device and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device.

[0075] (II) If the WiFi device is in the data receiving state, after terminating the sending of data to the peer WiFi device and enabling its own passive response reply special control frame mechanism, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0076] (III) If the WiFi device is in an idle state, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, immediately transmit a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0077] In the case of (I) above, if the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in the data transmission state, the WiFi device immediately stops sending data to the peer WiFi device and sends a notification message to the peer WiFi device to stop sending data. This allows the peer WiFi device to obtain the information that the WiFi device has stopped sending data, thereby avoiding the peer WiFi device from being in the data receiving state and helping to save power consumption.

[0078] Depending on actual needs, the WiFi device may send a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission via a null frame, a Clear to Send (CTS) frame, or a CTS-to-Self frame, without any restrictions.

[0079] After terminating data transmission to the peer WiFi device and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, the WiFi device immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium. This enables the Zigbee device to quickly obtain the right to use the shared medium and avoids the Zigbee device abandoning the data transmission due to excessive delay in obtaining the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium. Therefore, it helps to improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0080] In the case of scenario (II) above, when the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in data receiving state, the WiFi device immediately terminates sending data to the peer WiFi device and enables its own passive response reply special control frame mechanism. This can avoid the increased link overhead of the communication channel caused by the peer WiFi device retransmitting data, which is beneficial to further improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0081] The passive response and special control frame mechanism refers to the WiFi device only enabling its own data receiving function, and when it receives data sent by the peer WiFi device, sending a corresponding special control frame to the peer WiFi device as a response to receiving the data sent by the peer WiFi device.

[0082] WiFi devices can send corresponding special control frames to peer WiFi devices according to different application scenarios, such as ACK frames, CTS frames, and Block Ack (BA) frames.

[0083] After terminating data transmission to the peer WiFi device and enabling its own passive response reply special control frame mechanism, the WiFi device immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that the exclusive Zigbee device is permitted to access the shared medium with good communication quality. This allows the Zigbee device to quickly obtain the right to use the shared medium and avoids the Zigbee device abandoning the data transmission due to excessive delay in obtaining the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0084] In the case of scenario (III) above, when the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in an idle state where it neither sends nor receives data, the WiFi device sends a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission. This allows the peer WiFi device to stop sending data to the WiFi device after receiving the notification message, thereby avoiding interference to the communication signal of the Zigbee device and thus further improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0085] After sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, the WiFi device immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted. This enables the Zigbee device to quickly obtain the right to use the shared medium, thus improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0086] In this embodiment, when the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes the following three cases:

[0087] (A) If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device that the data currently being transmitted has ended and to the peer WiFi device that the data transmission has been terminated, immediately transmit a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0088] (B) If the WiFi device is in the data receiving state, after terminating the reception of data sent by the peer WiFi device, enabling its own passive response to reply special control frames mechanism, and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0089] (C) If the WiFi device is in an idle state, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, it immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0090] In scenario (A) above, when the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in data transmission mode, the WiFi device does not immediately stop sending data to the peer WiFi device. Instead, it first completes the currently transmitted data, thus helping to maintain the communication quality of the WiFi device. Simultaneously, when the WiFi device completes the transmission of its currently transmitted data, it sends a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission. This allows the peer WiFi device to obtain information that the WiFi device has terminated data transmission, thereby preventing the peer WiFi device from remaining in a data receiving state and saving power.

[0091] Therefore, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device that the currently transmitted data has ended and that the transmission of data has been terminated, the WiFi device immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted. This can improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device while also ensuring the communication quality of the WiFi device.

[0092] In scenario (B) above, when the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in data receiving mode, the WiFi device does not immediately stop receiving data sent by the peer WiFi device. Instead, it completes receiving the currently being received data first, thus ensuring the communication quality of the WiFi device. Furthermore, when the currently being received data is completed, the WiFi device enables its passive response mechanism to reply with a special control frame and sends a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission. This avoids the peer WiFi device retransmitting data, which would increase the link overhead of the communication channel and help reduce interference between communication signals, thereby further improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0093] After terminating the reception of data sent by the peer WiFi device, enabling its own passive response mechanism to reply with a special control frame, and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, the WiFi device immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that it is authorized to exclusively access the shared medium with high communication quality. Compared to the method where the WiFi device sends all data to the peer WiFi device first, and then sends the permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that it is authorized to exclusively access the shared medium with high communication quality, this method can shorten the time for the Zigbee device to obtain the permission signal indicating that it is authorized to exclusively access the shared medium. This allows the Zigbee device to quickly obtain the right to use the shared medium and avoids the Zigbee device abandoning data transmission due to excessive delay in the permission signal indicating that it is authorized to exclusively access the shared medium. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0094] In the case of scenario (C) above, when the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium and the WiFi device is in an idle state where it neither sends nor receives data, the WiFi device sends a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission. This allows the peer WiFi device to stop sending data to the WiFi device after receiving the notification message, thereby avoiding interference to the communication signal of the Zigbee device and thus further improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0095] After sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, a permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device. This enables the Zigbee device to quickly obtain the right to use the shared medium, thus improving the communication quality of the Zigbee device.

[0096] In this embodiment, after the Zigbee device withdraws its request for exclusive access to the shared medium, the communication method of the WiFi device further includes: prohibiting the transmission of a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

[0097] In this embodiment, when the Zigbee device changes its request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium from a high level to a low level, it means that the Zigbee device has withdrawn its request for exclusive access to the shared medium. At this time, the WiFi device no longer needs to transmit a permission signal to the Zigbee device indicating permission for exclusive access to the shared medium. Therefore, the WiFi device prohibits the transmission of permission signals to the Zigbee device indicating permission for exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0098] In other embodiments, if the Zigbee device defaults to a high level for the request signal used to request exclusive access to the shared medium, then when the Zigbee device changes the request signal from a low level to a high level, it means that the Zigbee device has withdrawn the request for exclusive access to the shared medium.

[0099] Accordingly, this invention also provides a WiFi device.

[0100] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the WiFi device provided by the technical solution of the present invention is shown. (Reference) Figure 3 A WiFi device 30 may include: a first acquisition unit 301, adapted to acquire a request signal from a Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to a shared medium and a corresponding service priority signal; a second acquisition unit 302, adapted to acquire, based on the request signal and the corresponding service priority signal transmitted by the Zigbee device for requesting exclusive access to a shared medium, the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; and a permission signal generation unit 303, adapted to promptly generate a permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium.

[0101] The WiFi device in this embodiment of the invention can be used to execute the aforementioned WiFi device communication method, or other functional modules can be used to execute the aforementioned WiFi device communication method. For a detailed description of the WiFi device communication method, please refer to the foregoing section; it will not be repeated here.

[0102] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a communication system, including the WiFi device and Zigbee device provided in the foregoing embodiments. For details regarding the WiFi device, please refer to the description in the foregoing section; further elaboration will not be repeated here.

[0103] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a device that can implement the communication method of the WiFi device provided in the embodiments of the present invention by loading a program in the form of the above-described communication method of the WiFi device.

[0104] refer to Figure 4 The diagram illustrates an optional hardware structure of a device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The device in this embodiment includes: at least one processor 01, at least one communication interface 02, at least one memory 03, and at least one communication bus 04.

[0105] In this embodiment, the number of processor 01, communication interface 02, memory 03 and communication bus 04 is at least one, and processor 01, communication interface 02 and memory 03 communicate with each other through communication bus 04.

[0106] Communication interface 02 can be an interface for a communication module used for network communication, such as the interface for a GSM module.

[0107] Processor 01 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the communication method of the WiFi device of this embodiment.

[0108] The memory 03 may include high-speed RAM, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device. The memory 03 stores one or more computer instructions, which are executed by the processor 01 to implement the communication method of the WiFi device provided in the foregoing embodiments.

[0109] It should be noted that the above-described implementing electronic device may also include other devices (not shown) that may not be essential to understanding the content disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention; given that these other devices may not be essential to understanding the content disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention will not describe them one by one.

[0110] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer program product, including a computer program / instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the communication method of the WiFi device described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0111] This invention also provides a storage medium storing one or more computer instructions for implementing the communication method of the WiFi device provided in the foregoing embodiments.

[0112] The embodiments of the present invention described above are combinations of elements and features of the present invention. Unless otherwise stated, elements or features may be considered optional. Individual elements or features may be practiced without combination with other elements or features. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be constructed by combining some elements and / or features. The order of operations described in the embodiments of the present invention may be rearranged. Some constructions of any embodiment may be included in another embodiment and may be replaced by corresponding constructions of another embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that claims in the appended claims that are not expressly referenced in each other may be combined to form embodiments of the present invention, or may be included as new claims in amendments made after the filing of this application.

[0113] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In a hardware configuration, the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, etc.

[0114] In firmware or software configuration, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in the form of modules, processes, functions, etc. Software code can be stored in a memory unit and executed by a processor. The memory unit is located inside or outside the processor and can send data to and receive data from the processor via various known means.

[0115] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0116] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method for a WiFi device, characterized in that, include: Obtain the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal; Based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium is obtained, including: if both the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal are converted from a first level signal to a second level signal, then the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; if the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device is converted from a first level signal to a second level signal and the corresponding service priority signal is a first level signal, then the Zigbee device has high latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium. Based on the Zigbee device's latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is generated to the Zigbee device in a timely manner.

2. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, If the Zigbee device has a low latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes: If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after immediately terminating the data transmission to the peer WiFi device and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device. If the WiFi device is in data receiving state, after terminating the sending of data to the peer WiFi device and enabling its own passive response reply special control frame mechanism, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted. If the WiFi device is idle, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, it immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

3. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, If the Zigbee device has a high latency tolerance for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium, the step of timely generating the permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes: If the WiFi device is in a data transmission state, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device that the data being transmitted has ended and that the data transmission has been terminated, a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium is immediately transmitted to the Zigbee device. If the WiFi device is in the data receiving state, after terminating the reception of data sent by the peer WiFi device, enabling its own passive response to reply to the special control frame mechanism, and sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate the data transmission, it immediately sends a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted. If the WiFi device is idle, after sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission, it immediately transmits a permission signal to the Zigbee device to indicate that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

4. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission includes sending a notification message to the peer WiFi device to terminate data transmission using a NULL frame, a CTS frame, or a Self-CTS frame.

5. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The special control frames include at least one of ACK frames, CTS frames, and BA frames.

6. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, If the Zigbee device withdraws its request for exclusive access to the shared medium, the method further includes: prohibiting the transmission of a permission signal to the Zigbee device indicating that exclusive access to the shared medium is permitted.

7. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The Zigbee device cancels the request for exclusive access to the shared medium by: the Zigbee device converting the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium from a second level signal to a first level signal.

8. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The exclusive access request signal for the shared medium includes GPIO signals.

9. The communication method of the WiFi device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The permission signal used to indicate exclusive access to the shared medium includes a GPIO signal.

10. The communication method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The service priority signals include GPIO signals.

11. A WiFi device, characterized in that, include: The first acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the request signal from the Zigbee device for exclusive access to the shared medium and the corresponding service priority signal; The second acquisition unit is adapted to acquire, based on the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal, the latency tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium, including: if both the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device and the corresponding service priority signal are converted from a first level signal to a second level signal, then the Zigbee device has low latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium; if the request signal for exclusive access to the shared medium transmitted by the Zigbee device is converted from a first level signal to a second level signal and the corresponding service priority signal is a first level signal, then the Zigbee device has high latency tolerance for the permission signal indicating permission to exclusively access the shared medium. The permission signal generation unit is adapted to promptly generate a permission signal for indicating exclusive access to the shared medium to the Zigbee device based on the delay tolerance of the Zigbee device for the permission signal indicating exclusive access to the shared medium.

12. A communication system, characterized in that, This includes the WiFi device and Zigbee device as described in claim 11.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer program / instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program / instructions are executed by the processor, they are used to implement the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any one of claims 1-10.

14. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes at least one memory and at least one processor, the memory storing one or more computer instructions, wherein the one or more computer instructions are executed by the processor to implement the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any one of claims 1-10.

15. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores one or more computer instructions, which are executed by a processor to implement the communication method of the WiFi device as described in any one of claims 1-10.

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