Communication method, communication device, and computer program product

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a communication method, a communication device and a computer program product. The communication method comprises allocating a first subset of data streams to be transmitted to a station to a first access point participating in a multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, the first subset of data streams being transmitted via a first communication path between the first access point and the station; and allocating a second subset of data streams different from the first subset to a second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, the second subset of data streams being transmitted via a second communication path between the second access point and the station. The amount of data of the first subset and the second subset is determined according to the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path. By adjusting the amount of data of each transmission according to the throughput of the multiple communication paths between the multiple access points and the station, the efficiency of data transmission to the station can be improved and the throughput can be increased.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application filed on April 10, 2025, with application number 202580000532.1 (international application number PCT / CN2025 / 088293) and entitled "Communication Method, Communication Equipment and Computer Program Product". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method, communication device, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0003] With the continuous development of wireless communication technology, Wi-Fi technology is also constantly evolving. Up to Wi-Fi 7, IEEE 802.11 technology emphasized high throughput, while Wi-Fi 8 focuses more on high reliability. Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAP-Co) is a technology that enables multiple access points (APs) to work together to provide high reliability for stations (STAs) within a coverage area. Within the MAP-Co framework, there are various cooperation modes, which are classified according to different levels of cooperation complexity. These mainly include coordinated orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (C-OFDMA), coordinated beamforming (CBF), coordinated spatial reuse (CSR), and joint transmission (JTX). Through these various technologies, interference between access points can be reduced and efficient cooperation can be achieved.

[0004] Joint transmission, as a method of multi-access point collaboration, allows multiple access points to transmit data to a site via multiple different paths. Although joint transmission originally emphasized high reliability, there is still room for improvement in terms of speed when a site receives multi-access point multi-path services. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, comprising: allocating a first subset of a data stream to be sent to a site to a first access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, the first subset of the data stream being transmitted via a first communication path between the first access point and the site; and allocating a second subset of the data stream, different from the first subset, to a second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, the second subset of the data stream being transmitted via a second communication path between the second access point and the site, wherein the data amounts of the first subset and the second subset are determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0006] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined proportionally to the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0007] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path is predicted using a machine learning model based on the link parameters of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0008] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the link parameter includes an instantaneous link parameter value; or the link parameter includes both historical link parameter values ​​and instantaneous link parameter values.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the link parameters include one or more of the following: Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), interference value, Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), and Overlapping Basic Service Set Preamble Detection Value (OBSS_PD). ​​The link parameters may also include collision rate and / or retry rate.

[0010] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the data amounts of the first subset and the second subset are further determined based on the amount of data remaining in the buffers of the first access point and the second access point and / or further based on the load of the first access point and the second access point.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the first communication path includes a plurality of sub-paths relayed by an additional access point, the plurality of sub-paths including at least a first sub-path between the first access point and the additional access point and a second sub-path between the additional access point and the station, and the throughput of the first communication path is determined based on the throughput of the first sub-path and the second sub-path. For example, the throughput of the first communication path is determined to be the minimum of the throughput of the first sub-path and the throughput of the second sub-path.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the communication method is performed by one of the first access point and the second access point; or the communication method is performed by another device different from the first access point and the second access point.

[0013] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, performed by an access point and comprising: receiving a first subset of a data stream to be sent to a site; and during a multi-access point cooperative joint transmission for the site between the access point and another access point different from the access point, transmitting the first subset of the data stream to the site, wherein the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission comprises at least: the access point transmitting the first subset of the data stream via a first communication path between itself and the site and the other access point transmitting a second subset of the data stream via a second communication path between itself and the site, and wherein the data amounts of the first subset and the second subset are determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0014] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, performed by a station and comprising: receiving a first subset of a data stream of the station from a first access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a first communication path between the station and the first access point; and receiving a second subset of the data stream from a second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a second communication path between the station and the second access point, wherein the first subset of the data stream is different from the second subset of the data stream, wherein the data amounts of the first subset and the second subset are determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0015] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a transceiver; a memory storing computer-readable instructions thereon; and a processor coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein when the computer-readable instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described above.

[0016] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a computer program product is provided, which includes computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method as described above.

[0017] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication method is provided, comprising: dividing a data stream to be sent to a site into multiple subsets, and distributing them to multiple access points participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission; and transmitting the multiple subsets via multiple communication paths between the multiple access points and the site, wherein the multiple communication paths correspond to the multiple access points, and the access point corresponding to the communication path with the larger throughput is assigned to the subset with the larger data volume.

[0018] According to various aspects of this disclosure, transmission data allocation under a multi-access point cooperative joint transmission framework is realized. By adjusting the amount of data transmitted on different communication paths according to the throughput of multiple communication paths between multiple access points and sites, the data transmission efficiency of sites can be improved and the throughput can be increased. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 An exemplary schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 An exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Figure 3 Another exemplary schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] Figure 4 A further exemplary schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0024] Figure 5 Another exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Figure 6 Another exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A further exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0027] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating throughput calculation for a communication path in a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 9 An exemplary schematic diagram of another variation of the communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0029] Figure 10 An exemplary schematic diagram is shown of a communication architecture for a multi-link device (MLD) between an access point and a site based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 11 A hardware block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Features of the various described embodiments can be combined or substituted with each other, unless explicitly excluded or should be excluded based on the context.

[0032] In this disclosure, the term "access point" or "AP" is used to refer to a network infrastructure component that provides wireless access to remote terminals. The terms "site" and "STA" are used to refer to a communication device that wirelessly accesses an access point to obtain various communication services (such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasting, etc.), whether the site is a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone or smartphone) or a fixed device (e.g., a desktop computer, media player, fixed sensor, television, etc.). Depending on the network type, other well-known terms such as "router" or "gateway" may be used instead of "access point" or "AP," and other well-known terms such as "mobile station," "user station," "remote terminal," "user equipment," "wireless terminal," or "user equipment" may be used instead of "site" or "STA." Generally, a site can communicate with the network via an access point. For example, a site can communicate with the Internet via an access point according to the IEEE 802.11 standard set. In this disclosure, a site in a WLAN can function as an access point in different contexts, and vice versa. This is because communication devices in the context of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology can include site hardware components and access point hardware components. In this way, the communication device can switch between site mode and access point mode based on the actual WLAN conditions and / or requirements.

[0033] First, a brief overview of the basic ideas for data distribution under the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission framework proposed in this disclosure is provided. As mentioned earlier, multi-access point cooperative joint transmission has received widespread attention as a key technology for improving wireless network performance during the evolution of Wi-Fi technology. Although multi-access point cooperation has been discussed in Wi-Fi 7, relevant specifications have not yet been formally incorporated into the documentation. With the development of Wi-Fi 8, the IEEE 802.11 TGbn discussion group is also continuously exploring joint transmission technology in depth, hoping to provide users with a better network experience.

[0034] In view of this, this disclosure addresses the data transmission optimization problem in a multi-access-point cooperative joint transmission mode. In practical wireless communication scenarios, data transmission rates are affected by various factors, such as the characteristics of the transmission channel, bandwidth, signal obstruction caused by physical obstacles, and mutual interference between access points. These factors work together to result in differences in efficiency and throughput across multiple transmission paths from multiple access points to the site. To ensure that data streams reach the site as quickly as possible, this disclosure proposes improving overall transmission efficiency and throughput by appropriately adjusting the amount of data transmitted on different paths. For example, this disclosure can rationally allocate and balance data traffic on each path based on the real-time transmission status of each wireless transmission path, maximizing the overall transmission throughput of each path, thereby achieving efficient data transmission. This not only effectively copes with complex and changing wireless environments but also significantly enhances the performance of the wireless network and the user experience.

[0035] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 A flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. The following details the method in conjunction with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Describe the communication method.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown in the architecture 100, this exemplary multi-access point cooperative joint transmission framework 100 includes two access points (such as...). Figure 1 Access points 101a and 101b (as shown) and a site within their coverage area (as indicated by the two elliptical dashed boxes) (as shown by the two elliptical dashed boxes). Figure 1 (Site 102 shown). In this embodiment, access point 101a can be referred to as the master access point (Master AP or Primary AP), while access point 101b can be referred to as the slave access point (Slave AP) or secondary access point (Secondary AP). Access point 101a acts as a coordinator for multi-access point cooperative joint transmission and can be connected to an Ethernet network (not shown).

[0037] During data transmission, access points 101a and 101b work together, using their respective communication paths (such as...). Figure 1 The wireless communication paths L1 and L2 shown are used for joint transmission to station 102. Figure 1As shown, access point 101a acquires and buffers a data stream (labeled S) to be sent to site 102, such as voice, video, and game data streams to be sent to site 102. To achieve efficient data joint transmission, access point 101a divides the data stream S into two parts according to a preset algorithm or strategy (e.g., the throughput strategy described in detail below): one part (e.g., ... Figure 1 The first subset S1 shown will be transmitted directly to station 102 via path L1; the other part (such as...) Figure 1 The second subset S2 shown will be shared with access point 101b via the link between access point 101a and access point 101b, and then transmitted by access point 101b to site 102 via path L2. This data splitting method can effectively balance the relative load of the two paths, avoid congestion or poor transmission capacity of a single path, thereby improving the efficiency and throughput of data transmission.

[0038] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the access point corresponding to the communication path with higher throughput can be assigned to a subset with a larger amount of data, as described in more detail below.

[0039] It should be noted that, Figure 1 Thick arrows indicate connections between access points, thin arrows indicate connections between access points and stations, and dashed arrows indicate wireless connections between devices. However, it can be understood that access points 101a and 101b can also be connected via a wired backhaul link. Although... Figure 1 To more intuitively illustrate the data flow direction of multi-access point collaborative transmission, only a one-way arrow is shown, but this disclosure is not limited to one-way transmission. For example, station 102 can also upload data to access point 101a or access point 101b, and access points 101a and 101b can share control information and data bidirectionally. Furthermore, although access point 101a is used as the master access point and access point 101b as the slave access point in the example, this role allocation is flexible. Depending on the actual application scenario, access point 101b can also act as the master access point, responsible for the distribution and coordination of transmitted data.

[0040] It is worth noting that, Figure 1 The diagram shown is merely an example communication system framework; in practical applications, this connection topology can be appropriately adjusted. Although Figure 1 This disclosure only describes a scenario with one site and two access points, but the number of devices and connection methods are not limited to the described scenario. For example, there can be two or more access points jointly transmitting to the same site 102, or multiple sites can obtain joint transmission services (provided that these sites are within the coverage area of ​​multiple access points). This disclosure can adapt to diverse wireless network environments and meet data transmission needs in different scenarios.

[0041] Next, refer to Figure 1 The architecture 100 shown is described Figure 2 The communication method flowchart is as follows. It can be understood that... Figure 2 The communication method 200 shown can be derived from Figure 1 The main access point 101a is executed.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, method 200 includes: in step S210, allocating a first subset of a data stream to be sent to a site to a first access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, wherein the first subset of the data stream is sent via a first communication path between the first access point and the site.

[0043] Return to reference Figure 1 Access point 101a can serve as the first access point mentioned above, that is, it can allocate the first subset S1 of the data stream S to itself, so that the first subset S1 is sent during joint transmission via the path L1 between access point 101a and station 102.

[0044] Method 200 further includes: in step S220, allocating a second subset of the data stream, different from the first subset, to a second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, wherein the second subset of the data stream is transmitted via a second communication path between the second access point and the site.

[0045] Return to reference Figure 1 Access point 101a can allocate a second subset S2 of data stream S to access point 101b, such that the second subset S2 is transmitted via path L2 between access point 101b and site 102 during joint transmission. It is worth noting that the data stream subsets S1 and S2 transmitted along different paths in this disclosure contain different data, rather than the same data being transmitted twice along two different paths, which effectively improves the overall throughput of data transmission to site 102.

[0046] In embodiments of this disclosure, the data volume of the first subset and the second subset needs to be determined according to an appropriate algorithm or strategy, such as based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path. As an exemplary implementation, the data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined proportionally to the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path, so that the access point corresponding to the communication path with higher throughput is allocated to a subset with a larger data volume (e.g., more frames). Furthermore, since the aforementioned first and second communication paths are wireless communication paths, their link status is more likely to be affected by various factors, such as signal strength, interference, and obstacles, which may lead to link instability or changes. This disclosure also supports dynamically optimizing the data allocation ratio, for example, flexibly adjusting the data volume of each data stream subset based on real-time network conditions, the load of each access point, and other factors, thereby maintaining efficient data transmission performance and throughput under constantly changing network conditions. To make reasonable data allocation decisions, the master access point can collect information about the entire communication environment, including the status information of each slave access point, buffer data volume, current load, channel quality, and the path status between the station and the access point.

[0047] In short, the embodiments of this disclosure propose a multi-access point cooperative transmission scheme based on throughput allocation data, which allocates the amount of data to be transmitted for each path according to the throughput of different paths, and the path with higher throughput will be allocated more data.

[0048] Return to reference Figure 1 When a data stream S, divided into multiple frames, needs to be jointly transmitted to station 102 by access points 101a and 101b, access point 101a will obtain the throughput TP1 (not shown in the figure) of path L1 and the throughput TP2 (also not shown in the figure) of path L2. Based on the relative values ​​of throughput TP1 and TP2, access point 101a will comprehensively allocate the number of frames contained in the data subsets S1 and S2 required for transmission through paths L1 and L2. For example, when the throughput TP1 of path L1 is 700 Mbps and the throughput TP2 of path L2 is 300 Mbps, access point 101a will allocate 70% of the total data volume of the data stream to be sent to station 102 (i.e., data stream subset S1) to itself, and then transmit it to station 102 through path L1; at the same time, it will allocate 30% of the total data volume of the data stream (i.e., data stream subset S2) to access point 101b, and then transmit it to station 102 through path L2. This approach ensures high efficiency and reliability of data transmission, fully utilizes and balances the transmission capacity of each path, and maximizes transmission capacity and throughput.

[0049] In this embodiment, throughput parameters are used to optimize the allocation of collaborative data transmission across multiple access points. Throughput, as the average amount of data successfully transmitted along a path, reflects in real-time changes in the overall communication environment and the transmission efficiency of each path. Based on this, the system can dynamically adjust data allocation, flexibly adapting to network changes. Compared to methods such as allocating data based on the cumulative amount of data transmitted on each path, this approach can capture dynamic changes in communication paths in real time, effectively avoiding wasting resources on inefficient paths, ensuring that more data is allocated to high-efficiency paths, thereby maximizing the overall system's transmission efficiency, reducing data transmission latency, and providing users with a better communication experience.

[0050] It is understood that, in this disclosure, the throughput of each path can be calculated based on various link parameters in the network environment, and various algorithms and strategies can be used to calculate the amount of data that should be allocated to each path accordingly, as described in detail below.

[0051] Figure 3 Another exemplary schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 4 A further exemplary schematic diagram of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. It will be understood that... Figure 3 and Figure 4 and Figure 1 They are basically the same, the only difference is Figure 1 This illustrates that the access point responsible for data allocation also participates in the multi-access point collaborative transmission, while Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this context, the access point responsible for data allocation is not involved in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, and similar elements are indicated using similar reference numerals. In short, data allocation in this disclosure can be performed by one of the access points participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, or by another device different from the access points participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission. The following will combine... Figure 3 and Figure 4 To further describe the latter situation.

[0052] In a typical multi-access point collaboration scenario, there are multiple adjacent overlapping access points and multiple sites distributed under each access point. In multi-access point collaboration, there is a master controller (MC) or master access point (MA) acting as a coordinator connected to the Ethernet, and adjacent access points called slave access points, which can connect to the master controller or master access point via wired or wireless links. Each site can wirelessly connect to a slave access point, and unless directly connected to the master controller or master access point, no site can directly receive information from the master controller or master access point. Correspondingly, the master controller or master access point can obtain information from each slave access point, and can also obtain information from the sites under its control through the slave access points. This information is maintained and used by the master controller or master access point for various decisions (e.g., throughput-based data allocation as described above). For example, the master controller or master access point can obtain channel state information (CSI) from access points and sites by sending control commands, such as sending specific query or control frames to trigger feedback of channel state data from access points. However, this disclosure does not limit the specific method of obtaining information.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, in the multi-access point collaboration architecture 300 based on the master access point (MA), access point 301a is selected as the coordinator, i.e., the master access point, which can connect multiple slave access points (such as...). Figure 3 Access points 301b and 301c are shown, and they are responsible for coordinating data transmission between these access points. Furthermore, site 302 is within the coverage area of ​​access points 301b and 301c but not within the coverage area of ​​access point 301a. In this case, access points 301b and 301c participate in the joint transmission to site 302 via paths L1 and L2, respectively. (Refer to the above reference...) Figure 1 Similarly, access point 301a obtains and buffers the data stream S to be sent to site 302, and divides it into two data stream subsets S1 and S2 according to the algorithm or strategy described throughout this document. Accordingly, access point 301a assigns data stream subset S1 to access point 301b, so that access point 301b sends it to site 302 via path L1; similarly, access point 301a assigns data stream subset S2 to access point 301c, so that access point 301c sends it to site 302 via path L2.

[0054] like Figure 4As shown, in the MC-based multi-access point collaboration architecture 400, there is a master controller (e.g., master controller 401a) that acts as a multi-access point coordinator, connected to each slave access point (i.e., access point 401b and access point 401c) via wired links. Furthermore, station 402 is within the coverage area of ​​access points 401b and 401c, and in this case, access points 401b and 401c participate in the joint transmission to station 402 via paths L1 and L2, respectively. (Referring to the above reference...) Figure 1 and Figure 3 Similarly, the main controller 401a acquires and buffers the data stream S to be sent to the station 402, and divides it into two data stream subsets S1 and S2 according to the algorithm or strategy described herein. Accordingly, the main controller 401a distributes the data stream subset S1 to the access point 401b via a wired link, so that the access point 401b wirelessly transmits the data to the station 402 via path L1; similarly, the main controller 401a distributes the data stream subset S2 to the access point 401c via a wired link, so that the access point 401c wirelessly transmits the data to the station 402 via path L2.

[0055] It is worth noting that, Figure 3 The dashed arrows in the image indicate the wireless connection between access points, while... Figure 4 The solid arrows in the diagram indicate the wired connection between the main controller and the access point. However, it is understandable that... Figure 3 The access points in the process can also be connected by wires, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0056] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, the throughput-based data allocation scheme proposed in this disclosure is applicable to various multi-access point cooperative architectures, fully adapts to different network environments and needs, and has wide applicability.

[0057] Figure 5 Another exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. This method can be implemented by access points participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission that can or cannot make data allocation decisions (e.g., ...). Figure 1 and Figures 3-4 (Execute at each access point shown in the diagram).

[0058] Method 500 includes: in step S510, receiving a first subset of a data stream to be sent to a site. It is understood that if method 500 is performed by an access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission and making data allocation decisions, that access point can receive the first subset from itself; if the method is performed by an access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission but not making data allocation decisions, that access point can receive the first subset from the access point making data allocation decisions.

[0059] Method 500 further includes: in step S520, during multi-access point cooperative joint transmission of the data stream to the site by the access point and another access point different from the access point for the site, sending the first subset of the data stream to the site.

[0060] In the method 500, the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission includes at least: the access point transmitting a first subset of the data stream via a first communication path between itself and the site, and the other access point transmitting a second subset of the data stream via a second communication path between itself and the site, wherein the data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0061] Figure 6 This illustration shows another exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method can be implemented by a station receiving data from multiple access points (e.g., in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission) in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission. Figure 1 and Figures 3-4 (The site shown in the image) is executed.

[0062] Method 600 includes: in step S610, receiving a first subset of the data stream of the site from the first access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a first communication path between the site and the first access point.

[0063] Method 600 further includes: in step S620, receiving a second subset of the data stream from the second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a second communication path between the site and the second access point, wherein the first subset of the data stream is different from the second subset of the data stream.

[0064] In method 600, the data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

[0065] Due to the combination Figures 1-4 In the multi-access point cooperative joint transport architectures 100, 300 and 400, the operation of access points and sites has been described in detail, and will not be repeated here for methods 500 and 600.

[0066] Figure 7 A further exemplary flowchart of a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that the above-described combination of the present disclosure... Figures 1-6 The described embodiment uses the example of two access points jointly transmitting data to a single site to illustrate the data allocation concept in a two-path scenario. However, this disclosure is not limited to the two-path scenario alone. For example, there can be two or more access points collaboratively transmitting data to a site. The following will combine... Figure 7 Describe it.

[0067] Method 700 includes: in step S710, dividing the data stream to be sent to the site into multiple subsets, and distributing them to multiple access points participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission.

[0068] Method 700 further includes: in step S720, sending the plurality of subsets respectively via a plurality of communication paths between the plurality of access points and the site.

[0069] In method 700, the multiple communication paths correspond to multiple access points, and the access point corresponding to the communication path with the larger throughput is assigned to the subset with the larger data volume.

[0070] Understandable. Figure 7 The described throughput-based data allocation concept is combined with the above. Figures 1-6 The basic idea described in the two-path scenario is essentially the same, and the same principles can be applied to [other scenarios]. Figure 1 , Figures 3-4 In various architectures. For example, suppose in Figure 4 In the medium architecture, there are three access points (e.g., access point 401b, access point 401c, and...). Figure 4 Another slave access point (not shown) is connected to the main controller 401a, and the station 402 is within the coverage area of ​​these three slave access points, enabling the three slave access points to perform multi-access point cooperative joint transmission to the station 402 via their respective paths. In this case, the main controller 401a can divide the entire data stream S to be sent to the station into three data stream subsets of appropriate size according to the throughput of each path. The access point corresponding to the communication path with higher throughput is assigned to the subset with more data, thereby improving the overall throughput of data transmission to the station.

[0071] It should be noted that in the above embodiments of this disclosure, it is assumed that there is a connection between the master and slave access points (e.g., Figure 1 and Figure 3 (as shown) or between the main controller and the slave access point (such as...) Figure 4As shown, the connection is made via a low-latency wired link, wireless backhaul, or backbone, so the transmission performance on these links does not create a bottleneck for data transmission. Therefore, for data allocation, only the throughput of the wireless communication path between the access point and the site needs to be considered, and the amount of data to be allocated to each communication path (i.e., each access point) is calculated accordingly.

[0072] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating the throughput calculation for a communication path in a communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. As described above, in this disclosure, the throughput of each path can be calculated based on various link parameters in the network environment, and various algorithms and strategies can be used to calculate the amount of data that should be allocated to each path accordingly.

[0073] The following describes a method for rapidly inferring throughput values ​​using machine learning (ML) and weight parameters, and dynamically adjusting the amount of data allocated to different paths in an adaptive manner based on the obtained throughput, thereby optimizing overall data transmission efficiency and throughput. Specifically, by using a neural network model, the throughput of a path can be quickly predicted by finding vector similarity relationships based on the current input parameters (e.g., various link parameters of a path). Even when a site moves or network conditions change dynamically, the model can still update the transmission throughput in real time, thus helping to optimize and dynamically adjust data transmission in real time. In this disclosure, a machine learning model (e.g., a neural network model) is established, and the relevant link parameters and throughput between the access point and the site are used as training data to train the machine learning model. After the training phase is completed, the model can quickly infer the predicted throughput values ​​of each communication path based on the link parameters of each path in the current communication environment as model input, and then calculate the most suitable data transmission allocation scheme for different paths in the multi-access point collaborative joint transmission process. In the following, for simplicity, the example of two access points jointly transmitting to a site through two corresponding communication paths will be used for illustration. Those skilled in the art will understand that the same idea applies to situations with more paths.

[0074] In embodiments of this disclosure, to determine the size of the data subset to be transmitted to the station via the first and second communication paths based on their throughput, the throughput of the first and second communication paths is predicted using a machine learning model based on the link parameters of the first and second communication paths. According to the throughput prediction scheme using a machine learning model in embodiments of this disclosure, it can accurately predict the throughput under current network conditions by learning patterns and regularities in historical data, thereby providing an accurate basis for data allocation. In contrast, traditional throughput calculation methods based on theoretical calculations and formulas are not only complex and time-consuming, but may also lead to deviations in results due to inaccurate model assumptions or inapplicable formulas. The machine learning model of this disclosure can analyze and make decisions based on the current network state in real time and quickly, avoiding lengthy theoretical derivations and more efficiently determining the throughput of each path, thereby accurately allocating the size of the data subset to be transmitted on each path. In this way, data transmission strategies can be adjusted more dynamically and promptly according to dynamically changing network conditions to improve overall transmission efficiency.

[0075] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the link parameters used in the machine learning model can be divided into two categories.

[0076] The first type of link parameters are physical layer (PHY) parameters, which include one or more of the following: Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), interference value, signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), and Overlapping Basic Service Set Preamble Detection (OBSS_PD). ​​These parameters directly reflect the physical characteristics of the wireless channel, such as signal strength and interference level, and have a direct impact on the throughput of the transmission path.

[0077] The second type of link parameters is the Medium Access Control (MAC) parameters, which include one or more of the following: collision rate and retry rate. These parameters reflect the network's access and control characteristics, such as the frequency of packet collisions and the number of retry transmissions, and also affect throughput.

[0078] It is understood that, in the embodiments of this disclosure, the various link parameters described above can be calculated using appropriate methods, and this disclosure does not limit the specific calculation method.

[0079] According to embodiments of this disclosure, by combining the parameters of the PHY and MAC layers as inputs into the neural network, the performance of each path can be analyzed more comprehensively. This integration of cross-layer information helps improve the accuracy of throughput prediction, thereby making the data allocation strategy more consistent with the actual transmission capacity of each path. For example, PHY layer parameters can directly reflect the physical characteristics of the wireless channel, such as signal strength and interference level, but they focus more on characterizing the path conditions under ideal circumstances. In real network environments, there are a large number of devices contending for the wireless medium, the hidden node problem is also quite common, and the access conflicts of multiple devices to the wireless communication medium are random, which may affect the collision rate and retry rate of data packets transmitted on the corresponding path. These factors also have a significant impact on the throughput of the communication path. In view of this, relying solely on physical layer parameters may not yield the most accurate throughput value that best reflects reality, while MAC layer parameters can reflect these throughput-affecting parameters, such as collision rate and retry rate, from another dimension. Therefore, by combining PHY and MAC layer parameters, the network environment can be more comprehensively characterized, providing richer feature information for model training and prediction.

[0080] In the first example of this disclosure, the link parameters used in the training and / or prediction phases of the machine learning model include instantaneous link parameter values, i.e., the link parameters measured at the current moment. As an illustrative example, a feed-forward neural network (FFNN) model can be used for instantaneous decision-making.

[0081] like Figure 8 As shown, the model 800 may include an input layer 802, hidden layers 803a and 803b, and an output layer 804. Furthermore, Figure 8 The input 801 and output 805 to model 800 are also shown. Input 801 of model 800 includes various link parameters for each communication path, which may include various MAC layer and / or PHY layer parameters as described above. Input layer 802 receives these link parameters as input features and then passes the received parameters to the next layer. Hidden layers 803a and 803b are located between input layer 802 and output layer 804. In model 800, there may be one or more hidden layers (…). Figure 8The diagram shows two hidden layers 803a and 803b (but not limited to these), used to transform the input data into a higher-level feature representation. Each hidden layer 803a and 803b can contain a ReLU activation function, enabling model 800 to learn non-linear relationships in the data. Output layer 804 is the last layer of the model, responsible for outputting the neural network's processing results on the input data. The output 805 of model 800 includes the predicted throughput value. Accordingly, this example can choose an appropriate loss function to measure the error between the true and predicted values, continuously updating and iterating the model's weight parameters. It is understood that the number of neurons in each layer of model 800 and the connections between layers are merely examples and can be flexibly designed depending on the specific neural network architecture.

[0082] In the second example of this disclosure, the link parameters used in the training and / or prediction phases of the machine learning model include both historical link parameter values ​​and current link parameter values, i.e., a time series composed of link parameters. As an illustrative example, models such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks or Dilated Temporal Convolutional Networks (dilated TCNs) can be used. This disclosure recognizes that in throughput prediction tasks, the throughput of a communication path is typically time-dependent; that is, the throughput at the current moment depends not only on the current link parameters but also on the link state and throughput at previous moments. The aforementioned model learns how the changing trends of these link parameters affect throughput by capturing such long-term dependencies in the time series and makes predictions based on the currently obtained real-time link parameters and historical parameters.

[0083] In the LSTM model example, the parameters input to the model include time series consisting of historical link parameter values ​​and current link parameter values. Taking the PHY layer parameters as an example, the input parameters can include RSSI(t), interference(t), SINR(t), OBSS_PD(t), etc., at various times t within a certain time period. The model also includes an LSTM layer to capture the temporal correlation of link parameters in the communication path and a fully connected layer to output throughput values. During the training phase of this model, supervised learning can be performed using historical data, and the loss function can be either mean square error (MSE) or mean absolute error (MAE), but this disclosure is not limited to these.

[0084] This embodiment describes a method for throughput prediction based on a machine learning model, using the two examples described above, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. In practical applications, the machine learning model can be selected and its structure adapted according to specific needs. If it is necessary to determine the throughput of each communication path in real time, such as in an adaptive scheduling scenario, using a model that only depends on the current parameters is simpler and more efficient, providing rapid throughput prediction and timely adjustment of data transmission strategies. Conversely, if it is necessary to consider the impact of link parameters changing over time on throughput, using a model that considers historical parameters is more advantageous. By analyzing the time series data of the parameters, the trend of throughput changes can be captured, thereby achieving more accurate predictions.

[0085] According to another example of this disclosure, various link parameters, such as the various MAC and PHY parameters mentioned above, can be used in the training and / or prediction phases of a machine learning model. However, it is important to note that more parameters input into a machine learning model do not necessarily lead to better performance after training. Inappropriate feature selection, such as choosing parameters with minimal impact on throughput, can result in the curse of dimensionality, overfitting, or a significant increase in computational complexity, leading to poor model training and consequently affecting prediction performance.

[0086] In view of this, in the embodiments of this disclosure, when multiple link parameters are available, a subset of these parameters can be selected for model training and prediction. The selection of parameters is based on the correlation between each link parameter and throughput. Taking PHY layer parameters as an example, RSSI, SINR, and interference have a significant impact on throughput. Therefore, only these parameters can be used in model training and prediction, or, if all parameters are used, these parameters can be given greater weight. This ensures that the model can be trained and predicted based on the most critical features, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the model's throughput prediction. Furthermore, OBSS_PD has a relatively small impact on throughput, so this parameter can be omitted from the model or given a smaller weight.

[0087] The above description illustrates how the size of the subset of data streams allocated to the site via each communication path is determined based on the throughput of each path. However, it is understood that in the disclosed embodiments, data allocation may consider not only the throughput of each path but also additional factors. For simplicity, the example of two access points jointly transmitting data to the site via two corresponding communication paths will be used for illustration. For example, referencing the following... Figure 1 Please provide an explanation.

[0088] In one example of an embodiment of this disclosure, the data size of the first subset and the second subset is further determined based on the amount of data remaining in the buffers of the first access point and the second access point. For example, as Figure 1 As shown, the amount of data stream subsets S1 and S2 that will be jointly transmitted from access points 101a and 101b to station 102 via paths L1 and L2 can be determined based on the throughputs TP1 and TP2 of paths L1 and L2, and further based on the remaining data amounts BUF1 and BUF2 (not shown in the figure) in the buffers of access points 101a and 101b.

[0089] For example, the total amount of data streams to be sent to the station obtained by access point 101a can be represented as N, and the amount of data allocated to the subsets of data streams of paths L1 and L2 can be represented as n1 and n2, satisfying N = n1 + n2. Following the principle that the amount of data allocated to a path is proportional to its throughput (i.e., the path with higher throughput receives more data frames), the calculation can be performed based on the ratio of n1 and n2 corresponding to the ratio of throughput TP1 and TP2. Furthermore, if the amount of remaining data in the access point's buffer is considered, the calculation method can be adjusted to TP1 / TP2 = (n1 + BUF1) / (n2 + BUF2) satisfying N = n1 + n2, but this invention is not limited to this formula. By taking into account the amount of remaining data in the buffer, data allocation can be adjusted more precisely, avoiding situations where some paths cannot effectively process allocated data due to access point buffer capacity limitations, or where a large amount of untransmitted data remains in the buffer due to the access point prioritizing other transmission tasks, thus improving the overall system's data processing efficiency.

[0090] In another example of an embodiment of this disclosure, the data volume of the first subset and the second subset is further determined based on the load of the first access point and the second access point. For example, as Figure 1 As shown, the amounts of data stream subsets S1 and S2 that will be jointly transmitted from access points 101a and 101b to station 102 via paths L1 and L2 can be determined based on the throughputs TP1 and TP2 of paths L1 and L2, and further according to the number of stations connected to and served by each access point 101a and 101b, for example, by weighting according to the number of devices connected to each access point. This ensures that data allocation matches the actual load capacity of the access points. For example, if an access point has a large number of connected devices and a high load, the amount of data allocated to that access point can be appropriately reduced to prevent it from being overloaded or having too many data transmission tasks to handle, thus affecting the timeliness of data transmission. In this case, the data transmission pressure can be distributed among the access points.

[0091] Figure 9 An exemplary schematic diagram of another variation of the communication method based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0092] In some scenarios, users may want to use the client in areas beyond the range of the wireless access device. For example, signal strength may decrease with increasing distance between the access device and the client device, interference may degrade the wireless connection quality in certain areas, or the user may lose wireless network access as they move the client further out of the access device's coverage area. To solve these problems, users can add additional wireless access points to the network, such as repeaters or relays, or Wi-Fi range extenders, to extend the coverage of the existing access points. The following section will combine... Figure 9 This situation is described.

[0093] Understandable. Figure 9 Architecture 900 and Figure 3 The architecture is basically the same as that of the 300 series, with similar elements marked using similar diagram labels. The only difference is... Figure 3 Access point 301c, participating in multi-access point collaborative transmission, directly transmits data to site 302 along L2 because site 302 is within the coverage area of ​​access point 301c; while Figure 9 In this case, since site 902 is not within the coverage area of ​​access point 901c, an additional access point (e.g., ...) is used. Figure 9 Repeater 903 (as shown) is used to amplify the signal transmitted from access point 901c to repeater 903, extending the signal's range and thus the network's coverage. In this mode, station 902 establishes a connection with access point 901c via repeater 903 and obtains data from it.

[0094] like Figure 9 As shown, the total communication path L2 from access point 901c to site 902 includes multiple sub-paths L21 and L22 relayed by repeater 903, namely, a first sub-path L21 between access point 901c and repeater 903 and a second sub-path L22 between repeater 903 and site 902. Accordingly, the throughput of path L2 from access point 901c to site 902 is determined by combining the throughputs of the first sub-path L21 and the second sub-path L22. For example, the throughput of this communication path L2 is determined to be the minimum of the throughputs of the first sub-path L21 and the second sub-path L22. Correspondingly, with... Figure 3 Similarly, access point 901a receives and buffers the data stream S to be sent to station 902, dividing it into two data stream subsets S1 and S2. Then, access point 901a allocates data stream subset S1 to access point 901b, causing access point 901b to send it to station 902 via path L1. Figure 3The difference is that access point 901a allocates data stream subset S2 to access point 901c. The path L2 from access point 901c to site 902 can be viewed as two sub-paths L21 and L22. Specifically, access point 901c sends data stream subset S2 to repeater 903 via sub-path L21, so repeater 903 forwards data stream subset S2 to site 902 via sub-path L22. It can be understood that the data volume calculation for data stream subsets S1 and S2, as described above, takes the one with the lower throughput between sub-paths L21 and L22 as the bottleneck.

[0095] Understandable, although Figure 9 The diagram shows access point 901c transmitting data to site 902 via repeater 903 as an additional access point, but this is not the only possibility. Access point 901b can also extend its coverage via another additional access point, as can other access point devices not shown in the entire communication network.

[0096] According to the above embodiments, the throughput-based data allocation concept proposed in this disclosure can be widely adapted to network topologies with added relay devices or extenders, taking into account the communication bottlenecks that may exist in multiple sub-paths. By comprehensively evaluating the throughput of each sub-path, the amount of data to be transmitted by each access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission can be accurately determined, thereby identifying and mitigating the impact of these bottlenecks.

[0097] Figure 10 An exemplary schematic diagram of a multi-link device (MLD) communication architecture between access points and sites based on multi-access point cooperative joint transmission according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. It will be understood that the MLD architecture was introduced during the standardization process of WLAN, which allows multiple links to be established between access points and sites to enable simultaneous data transmission or reception.

[0098] As described above, as part of multi-access point cooperative joint transmission, a specific subset of data streams can be sent from the access point to the site. In this embodiment, by adopting an MLD architecture, it is possible to establish multiple links in different frequency bands between the access point and the site. For example, Figure 10 The diagram shows the connection established between access point 1001 and site 1002, where access point 1001 can be a reference point. Figure 1 , Figures 3-4 and Figure 9 Any access point that performs collaborative data transmission with the central station, and station 1002 can be a reference point. Figure 1 , Figures 3-4 and Figure 9 This corresponds to any station that receives data from the access point. For example... Figure 10As shown, three links 1003-1, 1003-2, and 1003-3 can be established between access point 1001 and site 1002. For example, it is possible to... Figure 1 Three links can be established between access point 101a and site 102. Similarly, three links can be established between access point 101b and site 102, for example, these three links can operate in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands respectively. These links can be established using different chips in different frequency bands, or they can be established using the same chip in the same frequency band. The specific frequency band selection can be determined according to actual needs and is not limited to the frequency bands mentioned above.

[0099] like Figure 10 As shown, to support the three corresponding links, access point 1001 includes three access point entities: access point entity 1001-1, entity 1001-2, and entity 1001-3, each corresponding to a different frequency band. Similarly, site 1002 also includes three site entities: site entity 1002-1, entity 1002-2, and entity 1002-3, also corresponding to different frequency bands. As an illustrative example, link 1003-1 is established between access point entity 1001-1 and site entity 1002-1, which can operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band; link 1003-2 is established between access point entity 1001-2 and site entity 1002-2, which can operate in the 5 GHz frequency band; and link 1003-3 is established between access point entity 1001-3 and site entity 1002-3, which can operate in the 6 GHz frequency band. It is understood that the above three links are merely illustrative examples, and there may be more or fewer links; this disclosure is not limited to this. According to embodiments of this disclosure, data can be transmitted or received simultaneously on these links, thereby achieving efficient data communication.

[0100] Figure 11 A hardware block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. Figure 11 As shown, the communication device 1100 includes a processor 1110, a memory 1120, and a bus 1130. For example, the communication device 1100 may be an access point (AP), station (STA), master controller (MC), repeater, or range extender (RE) as described above.

[0101] The processor 1110 may be any processing-capable device capable of implementing the functions of the various embodiments of this disclosure, such as a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.

[0102] The memory 1120 may include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory, and may also include other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer system memory, such as hard disk drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, or other optical storage media.

[0103] Bus 1130 is used to connect the processor 1110 and memory 1120, and its main function is to serve as a data transmission channel to ensure efficient exchange of data and instructions between the processor 1110 and memory 1120. It is understood that, although not shown in the figures, device 1100 may also include additional components, such as transceivers, antennas, and input / output devices like displays, keyboards, and mice, for communication. These additional components can be configured according to specific application scenarios and requirements to expand the functionality of device 1100. This disclosure does not limit the specific components included in the communication device, as long as these components can support device 1100 in implementing the functions of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0104] In this embodiment, the memory 1120 stores computer program instructions, and the processor 1110 can execute the instructions stored in the memory 1120. When the computer program instructions are executed by the processor, the processor performs the communication method of this embodiment. The communication method is the same as that described above for... Figures 1-10 The descriptions are basically the same, so I will not repeat them here to avoid repetition.

[0105] The communication technology according to this disclosure can also be implemented by providing a computer program product containing program code for implementing the method or device, or by any storage medium storing such a computer program product.

[0106] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the specific details described above. Additionally, features from one embodiment can be combined with features from one or more other embodiments to obtain more embodiments.

[0107] The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems disclosed herein are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. As those skilled in the art will recognize, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems can be connected, arranged, and configured in any manner. Words such as “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., are open-ended terms meaning “including but not limited to,” and are used interchangeably with them. The terms “or” and “and” as used herein refer to the terms “and / or,” and are used interchangeably with them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “such as” as used herein refers to the phrase “such as but not limited to,” and is used interchangeably with it.

[0108] Additionally, as used herein, the "or" used in a list of items beginning with "at least one" indicates a separate list, such that a list of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C, or AB or AC or BC, or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, the word "exemplary" does not imply that the described example is preferred or better than other examples.

[0109] It should also be noted that in the apparatus and method of this disclosure, the components or steps can be disassembled and / or recombined. These disassemblies and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.

[0110] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or any part of the methods and apparatus of this disclosure can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof in any computing device (including processors, storage media, etc.) or network of computing devices. The hardware may be a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, it may be any commercially available processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors cooperating with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. The software may reside in any form of computer-readable tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, such computer-readable tangible storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and is accessible by a computer. If used herein, the discs include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital universal discs (DVDs), floppy discs, and Blu-ray discs.

[0111] Various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made to the technology described herein without departing from the teachings defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the scope of the claims of this disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects of the processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, and actions described above. Currently existing or later-developed processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding aspects described herein can be utilized. Therefore, the appended claims include such processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions within their scope.

[0112] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be carried out within the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0113] The above description has been given for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising: A first subset of the data stream to be sent to the site is assigned to a first access point participating in Multi-Access Point Coordination Joint Transmission, and the first subset of the data stream is sent via a first communication path between the first access point and the site; as well as A second subset of the data stream, different from the first subset, is allocated to a second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission. This second subset of the data stream is transmitted via a second communication path between the second access point and the site. The data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein The throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path is predicted using a machine learning model based on the link parameters of the first communication path and the second communication path.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein The link parameters include real-time link parameter values; or The link parameters include both historical link parameter values ​​and current link parameter values. in, The link parameters include one or more of the following: Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), interference value, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), Overlapping Basic Service Set Preamble Detection (OBSS_PD), collision rate, and retry rate.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein The data size of the first subset and the second subset is further determined based on the amount of data remaining in the buffers of the first access point and the second access point; and / or The data volume of the first subset and the second subset is further determined based on the load of the first access point and the second access point.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein The first communication path includes multiple sub-paths relayed by an additional access point, the multiple sub-paths including at least a first sub-path between the first access point and the additional access point and a second sub-path between the additional access point and the site, and the throughput of the first communication path is determined based on the throughput of the first sub-path and the second sub-path.

6. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein The throughput of the first communication path is determined to be the minimum of the throughput of the first sub-path and the throughput of the second sub-path.

7. A communication method, performed by an access point and comprising: Receive the first subset of the data stream to be sent to the site; During multi-access point cooperative joint transmission for the site between the access point and another access point different from the access point, the first subset of the data stream is sent to the site, wherein The multi-access point cooperative joint transmission includes at least: the access point transmitting a first subset of the data stream via a first communication path between itself and the site, and the other access point transmitting a second subset of the data stream via a second communication path between itself and the site, wherein... The data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

8. A communication method, performed by a station and comprising: A first subset of the data stream of the site is received from the first access point participating in multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a first communication path between the site and the first access point. as well as A second subset of the data stream is received from the second access point participating in the multi-access point cooperative joint transmission via a second communication path between the site and the second access point, wherein the first subset of the data stream is different from the second subset of the data stream, wherein... The data volume of the first subset and the second subset is determined based on the throughput of the first communication path and the second communication path.

9. A communication device, comprising: transceiver; Memory on which computer-readable instructions are stored; as well as A processor, coupled to the transceiver and the memory, causes the communication device to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1-6 when the computer-readable instructions are executed by the processor.

10. A computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1-6.

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