A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device, relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and aims to provide a scheme in which a non-access point communication device detects information of other network devices through a currently accessed network device. A first network device receives a first frame, the first frame is used for requesting to detect information of a second network device, and the first network device and the second network device belong to the same extended service set (ESS). The first network device sends a second frame, and the second frame comprises information of affiliated nodes in the second network device. The first network device can indicate the information of the affiliated nodes in the second network device to the communication device through the second frame, so that when the communication device roams (or switches) to the second network device, accurate switching can be performed based on the information of the affiliated nodes in the second network device.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510581255.X, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on April 30, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] In current Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology standards, the multi-link operation (MLO) mechanism can significantly improve data throughput, reduce latency, and enhance network connectivity reliability by aggregating multiple physical links. Based on the MLO mechanism, multi-link devices (MLDs) can utilize multiple links simultaneously for communication, rather than relying on a single link.

[0005] For example, a multi-link device may include an access point (AP) MLD and a non-AP MLD. The non-AP MLD can communicate with its associated AP MLD. During the connection establishment process between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, if the communication quality of the communication link between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD degrades and cannot meet normal communication requirements, the non-AP MLD can switch to another AP MLD. However, there is currently no scheme for a non-AP MLD to probe the information of other AP MLDs through its associated AP MLD. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for providing a scheme for a non-access point communication device to detect information of other network devices through associated network devices.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a first network device, a module (e.g., a circuit, chip, or chip system) within the first network device, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network device. Taking the application to a first network device as an example, the method includes: the first network device receiving a first frame, the first frame being used to request information about a second network device, the first network device and the second network device belonging to the same Extended Service Set (ESS); the first network device sending a second frame, the second frame including information about subordinate nodes within the second network device.

[0008] Using the above method, after receiving the first frame sent by the communication device, the first network device can determine that the communication device needs to probe the information of the second network device. The first network device can obtain the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device and send a second frame to the communication device, carrying the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device. Thus, the first network device can indicate the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device to the communication device, so that when the communication device roams (or switches) to the second network device, it can make an accurate switch based on the information of the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes a subordinate node; wherein the first part of the second frame includes first information about the subordinate node.

[0010] Using the above method, when the second network device includes an auxiliary node, the first network device can carry the first information of the auxiliary node in the first part of the second frame. For example, the first part can be the frame body of the second frame, thereby notifying the communication device of the information of the auxiliary node of the second network device.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes multiple subordinate nodes; the first part of the second frame includes first information of a first subordinate node among the multiple subordinate nodes; the second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry first information of other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node.

[0012] Using the above method, when the second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes, the first network device can carry the first information of multiple auxiliary nodes at different information carrying positions in the second frame. Optionally, the first information of the first auxiliary node can be carried in the first part of the second frame, and at least one per-site configuration sub-element in the second part of the second frame can carry the first information of other auxiliary nodes, thereby notifying the communication device of the information of multiple auxiliary nodes of the second network device through the second frame.

[0013] Optionally, the first information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, the channel information of the subordinate node, the multi-link device MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset of the subordinate node.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes at least one subordinate node; the third portion of the second frame is used to carry first information of the at least one subordinate node.

[0015] Optionally, the first information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, the channel information of the subordinate node, the MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and the TBTToffset of the subordinate node.

[0016] Using the above method, the first network device can carry first information of at least one subordinate node in the third part of the second frame; for example, the third part can be a simplified neighbor reporting RNR element, through which the first information of at least one subordinate node can be carried, thereby notifying the communication device of the information of at least one subordinate node of the second network device through the second frame.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the third part of the second frame is used to carry the second information of the plurality of subordinate nodes.

[0018] Optionally, the second information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0019] Using the above method, the first network device can carry the second information of the subordinate node in the third part of the second frame. For example, the third part can be a simplified neighbor reporting RNR element. The second information can be more concise than the first information, so that the second information of the subordinate node of the second network device can be notified to the communication device through the third part of the second frame.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the second frame also includes device information of the second network device; Optionally, the device information of the second network device includes at least one of the following: seamless mobility domain element, simplified neighbor report element, multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID) element, mobility domain element, channel usage element, service identifier, and link mapping element.

[0021] Using the above method, the second frame sent by the first network device to the communication device can also carry the device information of the second network device. The device information of the second network device can be device-level information. Based on this, the first network device can notify the communication device of the device-level information of the second network device.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the device information of the second network device is carried in the per-site configuration sub-element in the second part of the second frame; or the device information of the second network device is carried in the first part of the second frame.

[0023] Using the above method, the first network device can flexibly carry the device information of the second device at different information carrying positions in the second frame.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the second frame also includes information about the first network device.

[0025] Optionally, the information of the first network device includes at least one of the following: the address information of the first network device, and the link identification information of the transmission link of the first network device; wherein, the transmission link is the link through which the first network device receives the first frame.

[0026] Using the above method, the first network device can notify the communication device of relevant information through the second frame.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first frame includes at least one of a device identifier field and a device address field; when the information carried by the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried by the device address field is a broadcast address, the second frame includes information about at least one second network device; wherein the at least one second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device. Alternatively, when the information carried by the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried by the device address field is a broadcast address, the first network device sends at least one second frame, each second frame including information about one second network device; wherein the second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device.

[0028] Using the above method, when the device identifier field in the first frame carries a set value and / or the device address field carries a broadcast address, the first network device can indicate the information of at least one neighboring network device to the communication device. The at least one neighboring network device can be all the neighboring network devices obtained by the first network device, so that the communication device can obtain the information of at least one neighboring network device of the first network device.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first network device receives a third frame, which is used to query information of the neighboring network devices of the first network device; the first network device sends a fourth frame, which includes a neighbor report element corresponding to the subordinate node of at least one neighboring network device, the neighbor report element being used to carry third information of the corresponding subordinate node, and the at least one neighboring network device including the second network device; Optionally, the third information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0030] Using the above method, after the first network device receives the third frame sent by the communication device, the first network device can determine that the communication device has queried the neighboring network devices of the first network device. After the first network device obtains the neighboring network devices of the first network device, it can carry the third information of the subordinate nodes of the neighboring network devices through one or more neighbor report elements in the fourth step, so that the second network device can notify the communication device of the information of the subordinate nodes of the neighboring network devices of the first network device.

[0031] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a communication device, a module (e.g., a circuit, chip, or chip system) within the communication device, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device. Taking an application to a communication device as an example, the method includes: the communication device sending a first frame to a first network device, the first frame being used to request the detection of information about a second network device, the first network device and the second network device belonging to the same Extended Service Set (ESS); the communication device receiving a second frame, the second frame including information about subordinate nodes in the second network device.

[0032] Using the above method, the communication device sends a first frame to the first network device to request information about the second network device. After receiving the second frame sent by the first network device, the communication device can obtain information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device from the second frame. In this way, when the communication device roams (or switches) to the second network device, it can make an accurate switch based on the information of the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes a subordinate node; the first portion of the second frame includes first information about the subordinate node.

[0034] Using the above method, after receiving the second frame, the communication device can obtain the first information of the subordinate node from the first part of the second frame, such as the frame body of the second frame; the communication device can accurately roam (or switch) to the second network device based on the first information of the subordinate node in the second network device.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes multiple subordinate nodes; the first part of the second frame includes first information of a first subordinate node among the multiple subordinate nodes; the second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry first information of other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node.

[0036] Using the above method, after receiving the second frame, the communication device can obtain the first information of the first auxiliary node of the second network device from the first part of the second frame, and obtain the first information of other auxiliary nodes of the second network device from the second part of the second frame. The communication device can accurately roam (or switch) to the second network device based on the first information of the auxiliary nodes in the second network device.

[0037] Optionally, the first information of the auxiliary node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the auxiliary node, the channel information of the auxiliary node, the multi-link device MLD parameters of the auxiliary node, and the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset of the auxiliary node.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the second network device includes at least one auxiliary node; the third portion of the second frame is used to carry first information of the at least one auxiliary node.

[0039] Optionally, the first information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, the channel information of the subordinate node, the MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and the TBTToffset of the subordinate node.

[0040] Using the above method, after receiving the second frame, the communication device can obtain the first information of at least one subordinate node from the third part of the second frame. For example, the third part can be a simplified neighbor reporting RNR element. The communication device can accurately roam (or switch) to the second network device based on the first information of the subordinate node in the second network device.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the third portion of the second frame is used to carry the second information of the plurality of subsidiary nodes.

[0042] Optionally, the second information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0043] Using the above method, after receiving the second frame, the communication device can obtain the second information of the subordinate node from the third part of the second frame. For example, the third part can be a simplified neighbor reporting RNR element. The second information can be more concise than the first information. The communication device can accurately roam (or switch) to the second network device based on the second information of the subordinate node in the second network device.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the second frame also includes device information of the second network device.

[0045] Optionally, the device information of the second network device includes at least one of the following: Seamless mobile domain element, streamlined neighbor report element, multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID) element, mobile domain element, channel usage element, service identifier, and link mapping element.

[0046] Using the above method, the communication device can obtain the device information of the second network device from the second frame sent by the first network device. The device information of the second network device can be device-level information, and based on this, the communication device can obtain the device-level information of the second network device.

[0047] Optionally, the device information of the second network device is carried in the per-site configuration sub-element in the second part of the second frame; or the device information of the second network device is carried in the first part of the second frame.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the second frame also includes information about the first network device.

[0049] Optionally, the information of the first network device includes at least one of the following: the address information of the first network device, and the link identification information of the transmission link of the first network device; wherein, the transmission link is the link through which the first network device receives the first frame.

[0050] Using the above method, the communication device can obtain information about the first network device from the second frame sent by the first network device.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the first frame includes at least one of a device identifier field and a device address field; when the information carried by the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried by the device address field is a broadcast address, the second frame includes information about at least one second network device; wherein the at least one second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device. Alternatively, when the information carried by the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried by the device address field is a broadcast address, the communication device receives at least one second frame, each second frame including information about one second network device; wherein the second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device.

[0052] Using the above method, when the device identifier field in the first frame sent by the communication device to the first network device carries a set value and / or the device address field carries a broadcast address, the communication device can obtain information about at least one neighboring network device of the first network device from the second frame sent by the first network device.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the communication device sends a third frame, which is used to query information of neighboring network devices of the first network device; the communication device receives a fourth frame, which includes a neighbor report element corresponding to the subordinate node of at least one neighboring network device, the neighbor report element being used to carry third information of the corresponding subordinate node, and the at least one neighboring network device including the second network device.

[0054] Optionally, the third information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0055] Using the above method, the communication device sends a third frame to the first network device to query information about the neighboring network devices of the first network device. After receiving the fourth frame sent by the first network device, the communication device can obtain the third information of the subordinate nodes of at least one neighboring network device of the first network device from the fourth frame. Based on the third information of the subordinate nodes of at least one neighboring network device of the first network device, the communication device can select the probed second network device from at least one neighboring network device, so that when the communication device determines that roaming or handover is required, it can accurately roam or handover to the second network device.

[0056] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device that has the functions of the first aspect described above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means that perform the operations involved in the first aspect. These modules, units, or means can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0057] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device that has the functions of the second aspect above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units or means corresponding to the operations involved in the second aspect above. The modules, units or means can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

[0058] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device including an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory stores part or all of the necessary computer program or instructions for implementing the functions described in the first aspect. The one or more processors can execute the computer program or instructions, causing the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect. The interface circuit is used to implement the communication functions within the communication device and / or the communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0059] The aforementioned communication device may be a first network device, a module (e.g., a circuit, chip, or chip system) in the first network device, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network device.

[0060] Sixthly, this application provides a communication device including an interface circuit and one or more processors. The one or more processors are coupled to a memory. The memory stores part or all of the necessary computer program or instructions for implementing the functions described in the second aspect above. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, causing the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect above. The interface circuit is used to implement the communication functions within the communication device and / or the communication functions between the communication device and other devices or components.

[0061] The aforementioned communication device may be a communication device, a module (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system) in the communication device, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0062] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the method in any of the possible designs of the first or second aspect described above.

[0063] Eighthly, this application provides a computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the method in any of the possible designs of the first or second aspect described above.

[0064] Ninthly, this application provides a communication system, including a first network device for performing any possible implementation of the first aspect above, and a communication device for performing any possible implementation of the second aspect above.

[0065] For the various aspects from the third to the ninth aspect mentioned above, and the technical effects that each aspect may achieve, please refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved by various possible solutions for any aspect of the first or second aspect, which will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0066] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating communication between an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD is provided as an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a network architecture provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 3This application provides a schematic diagram of a network architecture in a seamless mobile domain roaming scenario. Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the communication process between a first network device and a second network device is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 12A This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 12B This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the elemental structure of an RNR element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the field structure of a TBTT information field provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 18 A schematic diagram of the element structure of a sub-element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of a second frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 21 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 22 A schematic diagram of the frame format of a BTM interrogation frame provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 23 A schematic diagram of the frame format of a BTM request frame provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 24 A schematic diagram illustrating the format of a neighbor report element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 25 A schematic diagram illustrating the format of a BSS termination duration sub-element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 26 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0067] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the following describes the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0068] 1) Basic Service Set (BSS): A BSS is a fundamental component of a network, describing a group of communicating mobile devices. There are two types of BSSs: Independent BSSs (IBSSs) and Infrastructure BSSs (IBSSs). IBSs are temporary networks consisting of a few workstations for a specific purpose. Due to their short duration, small size, and specific objectives, they are sometimes called ad hoc BSSs or ad hoc networks. In an IBSS, workstations can communicate directly with each other, but the distance between them must be within a direct communication range. Infrastructure BSSs consist of one access point (AP) and several mobile stations. Each BSS has a unique identifier called the BSS identifier (BSSID).

[0069] 2) Extended Service Set (ESS): An ESS is a collection of one or more basic service sets (BSS). These BSSs are interconnected through a distributed system (DS). Different BSSs under the same ESS must have the same service set identifier (SSID), commonly known as the network name.

[0070] 3) Distributed System (DS): A system used to interconnect multiple BSSs and integrate them into a local area network to build an ESS. The DS system delivers downlink data from stations (STAs) (or non-AP MLDs) to the corresponding associated APs (or AP MLDs); similarly, APs transmit uplink data from STAs (or non-AP MLDs) through the DS onto the network.

[0071] 4) Multi-link device (MLD): This refers to a device that simultaneously has one or more affiliated nodes. When there are multiple affiliated nodes, each affiliated node operates on a different frequency band, channel, or link; for example, the frequency bands that an MLD operates on can be all or part of sub-1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and the high-frequency 60 GHz band, without any restrictions. When the channel spacing between affiliated nodes within a device is large enough, they can operate independently without interfering with each other. If any two links support simultaneous transmission on one link and reception on the other, then the two links can be considered to support simultaneous transmit and receive (STR); otherwise, the two links are not simultaneously transmit and receive (NSTR). In addition to each affiliated node having its own media access control (MAC) address, each MLD also has an MLD MAC address. Depending on the device type, MLDs are divided into AP MLDs and non-AP MLDs (or STA MLDs).

[0072] Taking MLD as an example, which is divided into AP MLD and non-AP MLD, the communication diagram between AP MLD and non-AP MLD can be shown as follows: Figure 1 As shown. For example, an AP MLD may include three subordinate nodes, such as subordinate AP1, subordinate AP2, and subordinate AP3; a non-AP MLD may include three subordinate nodes, such as subordinate STA1, subordinate STA2, and subordinate STA3. Figure 1In the communication diagram shown, auxiliary AP1 and auxiliary STA1 can operate in the 2.4GHz band and communicate with each other via link 1; auxiliary AP2 and auxiliary STA2 can operate in the 5GHz band and communicate with each other via link 2; auxiliary AP3 and auxiliary STA3 can operate in the 6GHz band and communicate with each other via link 3. The MAC sublayer of the AP MLD further includes an upper MLD MAC sublayer and a lower MLD MAC sublayer; the MAC sublayer of the non-AP MLD further includes an upper MLD MAC sublayer and a lower MLD MAC sublayer. At the AP MLD end, the AP MLD can communicate with the DS system through the MAC service access point (SAP) interface and the logical link control (LLC) layer; at the non-AP MLD end, the non-AP MLD can communicate with other devices (such as other non-AP MLDs or STAs) through the MAC SAP interface and the LLC layer.

[0073] In this application's embodiments, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where each of a, b, and c can be an element itself or a set containing one or more elements.

[0074] In this application, terms such as "exemplary," "in some embodiments," and "in other embodiments" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the term "exemplary" is used to present the concept in a specific manner.

[0075] In this application, the terms "of," "corresponding (relevant)," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that, unless a distinction is emphasized, their meanings are consistent. Similarly, in the embodiments of this application, "communication" and "transmission" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that, unless a distinction is emphasized, their meanings are consistent. For example, transmission can include sending and / or receiving, and can be a noun or a verb.

[0076] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" used in the embodiments of this application are used only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or order.

[0077] This application's embodiments can be applied to local area networks (LANs), such as WLANs. A WLAN may include one or more basic service sets (BSSs), and network nodes within a BSS include access points (APs) and stations (STAs). This application supports any protocol from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) protocols, such as IEEE 802.11be / Wi-Fi 7 / EHT, IEEE 802.11bn / Ultra High Reliability (UHR) / Wi-Fi 8, IEEE Integrated mmWave / IMMW, IEEE 802.15 / UWB, or IEEE 802.11bf / sensing. Alternatively, this application may also support Spark Link / NearLink standard protocols.

[0078] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to wireless local area networks such as Internet of Things (IoT) networks or vehicle-to-X (V2X) networks. Of course, the embodiments of this application can also be applied to other possible communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) communication systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) communication systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) communication systems, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, and future evolution communication systems.

[0079] For example, embodiments of this application can be applied to WLAN systems, and embodiments of this application can be applied to any of the IEEE 802.11 series protocols used by WLANs, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bf, and future 802.11 protocols. The method provided in this application can be implemented by a communication device in a wireless communication system or a chip or processor in a communication device, and correspondingly, the communication device supports communication using the IEEE 802.11 series protocols. Although the embodiments of this application are primarily illustrated using a network deploying IEEE 802.11 as an example, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the various aspects of this application can be extended to other networks employing various standards or protocols, such as BLUETOOTH, high-performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to IEEE 802.11, primarily used in Europe), wide area network (WAN), WLAN, personal area network (PAN), or other networks now known or to be developed in the future. Therefore, regardless of the coverage area and wireless access protocol used, the various aspects provided in this application can be applied to any suitable wireless network.

[0080] The embodiments of this application can be applied to, for example... Figure 2 The network architecture shown is a network architecture that includes one or more network devices and one or more communication devices. The communication devices can access the network devices within this architecture, and the network devices can provide network services to their associated communication devices. For example, this network architecture includes network device 21, network device 22, and communication device 20. Network device 21 and network device 22 can belong to the same ESS or different ESSs. Figure 2 In the network architecture shown, communication device 20 can be connected to network device 21.

[0081] The network devices in the above network architecture can be various types of access points (such as APs); for example, the network devices in the above network architecture can be multi-link access point devices, such as AP MLD; or, the network devices can also be integrated millimeter wave (IMMW) APs (or may be called IMMW APs). Alternatively, the network devices can also be personal basic service set control points (PCPs); for example, the network devices in the above network architecture can be multi-link PCPs, such as PCP MLDs (or MLD PCPs); or, the network devices can also be integrated millimeter wave PCPs, such as IMMW PCPs.

[0082] Optionally, the network device can be an access point for communication devices (such as mobile phones) to access wired (or wireless) networks. The network device acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, primarily connecting various wireless network clients together and then connecting the wireless network to an Ethernet network. For example, the network device can be a device with a WiFi chip (such as a mobile phone or router). In this embodiment, the network device can be a device supporting one or more protocols in the IEEE 802.11 series, such as devices supporting one or more of 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bf, and future 802.11 protocols.

[0083] The communication devices in the above network architecture can be various types of non-access points (non-APs); for example, the communication devices in the above network architecture can be multi-link non-access point devices, such as non-AP MLDs. Alternatively, the communication devices in the network architecture can be various types of stations (STAs); for example, the communication devices in the above network architecture can be multi-link STAs, such as STA MLDs.

[0084] Optionally, the communication device can be a wireless communication chip, wireless sensor, or wireless communication terminal, and can also be referred to as a user. For example, the communication device can be a mobile phone supporting WiFi communication, a tablet computer supporting WiFi communication, a set-top box supporting WiFi communication, a smart TV supporting WiFi communication, a smart wearable device supporting WiFi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting WiFi communication, and a computer supporting WiFi communication, etc. In this embodiment of the application, the communication device can be a device that supports one or more protocols in the IEEE 802.11 series, such as devices that support one or more protocols in the 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bf, and future 802.11 protocols.

[0085] Combination such as Figure 2 In the network architecture shown, communication device 20 is connected to network device 21. During the establishment of a communication connection between communication device 20 and network device 21, if communication device 20 detects a decline in communication quality with network device 21 (e.g., excessively high packet loss rate in the communication link between communication device 20 and network device 21), and normal communication requirements cannot be met, communication device 20 can switch to another network device; for example, communication device 20 can switch to network device 22. Before switching to network device 22, communication device 20 needs to detect information about network device 22; for example, communication device 20 needs to detect address information, link identification information, etc., related to network device 22.

[0086] Take, for example, a seamless mobility domain (SMD) roaming scenario applied to multi-link devices. An example is... Figure 3The network architecture shown includes AP MLD1, AP MLD2, and non-AP MLDs. AP MLD1 includes auxiliary nodes AP1 and AP2, AP MLD2 includes auxiliary nodes AP1 and AP2, and the non-AP MLD includes auxiliary nodes STA1 and STA2. AP MLD1 and AP MLD2 can belong to the same ESS. The non-AP MLD can establish a communication connection with AP MLD1, for example... Figure 3 As shown, STA1, a subordinate node in the non-AP MLD, establishes communication link 1 with AP1, a subordinate node in AP MLD1, and STA2, a subordinate node in the non-AP MLD, establishes communication link 2 with AP2, a subordinate node in AP MLD1. If the communication quality between the non-AP MLD and AP MLD1 degrades and cannot meet normal communication requirements, the non-AP MLD can roam to AP MLD2. To establish a communication connection between the non-AP MLD and AP MLD2, the non-AP MLD needs to probe relevant information about AP MLD2. However, there is currently no scheme for the non-AP MLD to probe relevant information about AP MLD2.

[0087] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method in which a communication device can detect relevant information of a target network device through the currently accessed network device. Through the communication method provided in this application, in SMD roaming scenarios, the communication device can detect relevant information of the target network device, thereby ensuring that the communication device can accurately switch to the target network device.

[0088] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication method mainly includes the following steps 400-401. It can be understood that... Figure 4 The steps and execution order illustrated are merely examples. In actual implementation, some of the steps may be executed, or the remaining steps may also be executed. Similarly, the execution order of the steps may also be adjusted, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0089] In the communication method flow of this application embodiment, the communication device can request the first network device to probe information related to the second network device. For the communication device side, this method can be applied to the communication device, modules within the communication device (e.g., circuits, chips, or chip systems), or logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the communication device's functions. For the first network device side, this method can be applied to the first network device, modules within the first network device (e.g., circuits, chips, or chip systems), or logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the first network device's functions.

[0090] For example, the communication device can be a non-AP MLD, the first network device can be a current AP MLD, and the second network device can be a target AP MLD.

[0091] Step 400: The communication device sends the first frame.

[0092] Accordingly, the first network device receives the first frame. This first frame is used to request information from the second network device.

[0093] Optionally, the first network device can be the network device currently connected to by the communication device.

[0094] For example, the first frame can be a probe request frame; or, the first frame can be a tunneled probe request action frame.

[0095] Step 401: The first network device sends the second frame.

[0096] Accordingly, the communication device receives the second frame. The second frame may include information about the second network device.

[0097] Optionally, the second network device can be a multi-link device (exemplary, the second network device is the target APMLD), and the information of the second network device includes information about the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

[0098] For example, the second frame can be a probe response frame; or the second frame can be a tunneled probe response action frame.

[0099] In some embodiments, when the first frame is a probe request frame, the second frame can be a probe response frame; when the first frame is a transparent probe request action frame, the second frame can be a transparent probe response action frame.

[0100] In some embodiments, the second frame may include information about one or more subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0101] For example, when the second network device includes a subordinate node, the information of the second network device may include the information of the subordinate node; when the second network device includes multiple subordinate nodes, the information of the second network device may include the information of the multiple subordinate nodes.

[0102] Optionally, the information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: Address information of the auxiliary node, channel information of the auxiliary node, MLD parameters of the multi-link device of the auxiliary node, and target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset of the auxiliary node.

[0103] For example, the address information of a subordinate node can be the MAC address of the subordinate node; the channel information of a subordinate node can be the channel number of the corresponding channel of the subordinate node. The MLD parameters of a subordinate node may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: the identification information of the subordinate node (AP MLD ID), the link identification information corresponding to the subordinate node (link ID), the BSS parameter change count, the indicator parameter indicating whether the updated element is included (All Updates Included, used to indicate whether all updated elements are included in the current frame), and the disabled link indicator information (Disabled LinkIndication, used to indicate whether the link corresponding to the subordinate node is disabled).

[0104] The TBTT offset of a subordinate node is used to indicate the time offset of the target beacon frame for that subordinate node.

[0105] In one possible implementation, the MAC header of the second frame includes a transmit address field, which can carry a transmit address (TA). The TA can be the address of a subordinate node of the first network device that sent the second frame. For example, the TA can be the MAC address of a subordinate node of the first network device that sent the second frame.

[0106] In this embodiment of the application, the communication device can send a first frame to the first network device currently connected to request the detection of information of the second network device; after receiving the first frame, the first network device sends a second frame to the communication device, carrying the information of the second network device in the second frame; thus, the communication device can detect the information of the second network device, and based on the information of the second network device, the communication device can accurately access the second network device, ensuring the communication reliability of the communication device.

[0107] In this embodiment of the application, after receiving a first frame sent by a communication device, the first network device determines that the communication device needs to probe the information of the second network device. The first network device can obtain the information of the second network device and send a second frame to the first network device, carrying the information of the second network device in the second frame.

[0108] The first network device can obtain information about the second network device in several different ways. Several examples are provided below to illustrate this.

[0109] Example 1: The first network device can obtain information about the second network device from the second network device.

[0110] like Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the communication process between the first network device and the second network device. Taking the first frame sent by the communication device to the first network device as a transparent probe request action frame as an example.

[0111] After receiving the transparent probe request action frame sent by the communication device, the first network device processes the transparent probe request action frame to determine the information of the second network device that needs to be probed.

[0112] The first network device sends first information to the second network device. The first information may include the address information of the first network device and relevant information in the transparent probe request action frame. The relevant information in the transparent probe request action frame may be information carried by some or all fields in the transparent probe request action frame of the first network device.

[0113] The second network device sends second information to the first network device. The second information may include the address information of the first network device and probe response information, wherein the probe response information may include information about the second network device.

[0114] After receiving the second information, the first network device can process the second information and send a transparent probe response action frame to the communication device. The second frame includes information about the second network device.

[0115] Example 2: The first network device can obtain information about the second network device locally.

[0116] The first network device may store information about one or more neighboring network devices, which may be network devices belonging to the same ESS as the first network device; for example, the one or more neighboring network devices may be a one-hop network device of the first network device in the same ESS.

[0117] After receiving the first frame sent by the communication device, the first network device determines that the communication device needs to probe the information of the second network device. The first network device obtains the information of the second network device from the stored information of one or more neighboring network devices.

[0118] It should be understood that the above example of the first network device obtaining information from the second network device is merely an illustrative example of how the first network device obtains information from the second network device, and this application does not limit it.

[0119] The information content carried by the first and second frames in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0120] I. Information content carried by the first frame.

[0121] In one possible implementation, the first frame may include identification information of the second network device; wherein, the identification information of the second network device can be used to uniquely identify the second network device.

[0122] For example, the second network device is the target AP MLD, and the identification information of the second network device can be the target AP MLD ID.

[0123] Optionally, the first frame may include a first multi-link element. The first multi-link element may be used to carry the identification information of the second network device; for example, the first multi-link element may include a common information field, which may be used to carry the identification information of the second network device.

[0124] Taking the first multi-link element as a probe request multi-link element as an example, the common info field in the probe request multi-link element can be used to carry the identification information of the second network device.

[0125] For example, such as Figure 6The diagram shows the frame structure of the first frame, which includes part 1 and part 2. Part 1 can be a set of elements for the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. In this embodiment, the transmission link can be a communication link between the communication device and the first network device for transmitting the first frame. Part 2 can be a first multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field can further include a device identifier field, which can be used to carry the identification information of the second network device. For example, if the second network device is the target AP MLD, the device identifier field in the common information field can be used to carry the target AP MLD ID.

[0126] Taking the first frame as an example, which is either a probe request frame or a transparent probe request action frame. Figure 6 Part 1 of the first frame shown can be an element set of link x between the non-AP MLD and the current AP MLD, where link x is the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. Part 2 of the first frame can be a probe request multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field may further include a device identifier field, which can be used to carry the identification information of the second network device.

[0127] Based on this implementation, after receiving the first frame and obtaining the identification information of the second network device included in the first frame, the first network device sends the information of the second network device to the communication device through the second frame.

[0128] Additionally, in some embodiments, the first frame may only carry the first multi-link element and the request element; for example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the first multi-link element can be a probe request multi-link element, and the request element can be a request element. The probe request multi-link element includes a common information field, which may further include a device identifier field. The device identifier field can be used to carry the identification information of the second network device. The request element may indicate the element ID of the basic multi-link element, which is used to indicate that the communication device only requests the basic multi-link element.

[0129] In another possible implementation, the first frame includes at least one of a device identifier field and a device address field; wherein the device identifier field carries a set value and / or the device address field carries a broadcast address.

[0130] The following explanation addresses different scenarios.

[0131] Scenario 1: The first frame includes a device identifier field, and the information carried by the device identifier field is a set value.

[0132] For example, if the first network device and the second network device are network devices of type AP MLD, the device identification field can be the AP MLD ID field.

[0133] Optionally, the first frame may include a first multi-link element; the first multi-link element may include a device identification field. For example, the first multi-link element may include a common information field, which may further include a device identification field.

[0134] Taking the first multi-link element as a probe request multi-link element as an example, the common info field in the probe request multi-link element can further include a device identifier field.

[0135] For example, such as Figure 8 The diagram shows the frame structure of the first frame, which includes part 1 and part 2. Part 1 can be a set of elements of the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. In this embodiment, the transmission link can be a communication link between the communication device and the first network device for transmitting the first frame. Part 2 can be a first multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field can further include a device identifier field. The information content carried by the device identifier field can be a set value, for example, the set value can be 255.

[0136] like Figure 8The first frame shown can be a probe request frame or a transparent probe request action frame. Part 1 of the first frame can be an element set of link x of non-AP MLD with current AP MLD, where link x is the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. Part 2 of the first frame can be a probe request multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field may further include a device identification field (AP MLD ID field), and the information content carried by the device identification field can be a set value.

[0137] Scenario 2: The first frame includes a device address field, which carries either a broadcast address or the MAC address of a second network device.

[0138] For example, if the first network device and the second network device are both AP MLD type network devices, the device address field can be an MLD MAC address field, used to carry the MAC address of the MLD. Specifically, the device address field in the first frame can be used to carry the MAC address of the second network device.

[0139] In some embodiments, the communication device can obtain the MAC address of the second network device from a BTM request frame sent by the first network device. For example, the BTM request frame includes a multi-link subelement (e.g., a BasicMulti-link subelement), which includes an MLD MAC address field that can carry the MAC address of the second network device.

[0140] In other embodiments, the device address field may carry a broadcast address.

[0141] When the device address field carries a broadcast address, the first network device can identify at least one second network device; for example, the first network device can identify the at least one second network device based on a recommended target network device. The first network device transparently transmits the first frame to the at least one second network device, and after receiving the information carried in the multi-link probe response frame body returned by the at least one second network device, sends a second frame to the communication device.

[0142] In some embodiments, the first frame may include a first multi-link element; the first multi-link element may include a device address field. For example, the first multi-link element may include a common information field, which may further include a device address field.

[0143] Taking the first multi-link element as a probe request multi-link element as an example, the common info field in the probe request multi-link element can further include the device address field.

[0144] For example, such as Figure 9 The diagram shows the frame structure of the first frame, which includes part 1 and part 2. Part 1 can be a set of elements of the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. In this embodiment, the transmission link can be a communication link between the communication device and the first network device for transmitting the first frame. Part 2 can be a first multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field can further include a device address field, and the information content carried by the device address field can be a broadcast address.

[0145] like Figure 9 The first frame shown can be a probe request frame or a transparent probe request action frame. Part 1 of the first frame can be an element set of link x of non-AP MLD with current AP MLD, where link x is the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. Part 2 of the first frame can be a probe request multi-link element, which includes a common info field. The common info field may further include a device address field (MLD MAC address field), and the information carried by the device address field can be a broadcast address.

[0146] Scenario 3: The first frame includes a device identifier field and a device address field. The device identifier field carries a set value, and the device address field carries a broadcast address.

[0147] For example, if the first network device and the second network device are network devices of type AP MLD, the device identification field can be the AP MLD ID field, the device address field can be the MLD MAC address field, and the MLD MAC address field can be used to carry the MAC address of the MLD.

[0148] Optionally, the first frame may include a first multi-link element; the first multi-link element may include a device identifier field and a device address field. For example, the first multi-link element may include a common information field, which may further include a device identifier field and a device address field.

[0149] Taking the first multi-link element as the probe request multi-link element as an example, the common info field in the probe request multi-link element can further include a device identifier field and a device address field.

[0150] For example, such as Figure 10 The diagram shows the frame structure of the first frame, which includes part 1 and part 2. Part 1 can be a set of elements for the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. In this embodiment, the transmission link can be a communication link between the communication device and the first network device for transmitting the first frame. Part 2 can be a first multi-link element, which includes a common information field. The common information field can further include a device identifier field and a device address field. The information content carried by the device identifier field can be a set value, such as 255. The information content carried by the device address field can be a broadcast address.

[0151] like Figure 10 The first frame shown can be a probe request frame or a transparent probe request action frame. Part 1 of the first frame can be an element set of link x of non-AP MLD with current AP MLD, where link x is the transmission link between the communication device and the first network device. Part 2 of the first frame can be a probe request multi-link element, which includes a common info field. The common info field can further include a device identifier field (AP MLD ID field) and a device address field (MLD MAC address field). The information carried by the device identifier field can be a set value, and the information carried by the device address field can be a broadcast address.

[0152] Based on the frame structure design of the first frame in any of the above scenarios, after receiving the first frame and obtaining the identification information of the second network device included in the first frame, the first network device can feed back the information of the second network device to the communication device; for example, the first network device can feed back the information of one or more second network devices to the communication device.

[0153] In this embodiment of the application, the information of one or more second network devices fed back by the first network device to the communication device can be neighboring network devices of the first network device. For example, the one or more second network devices can be neighboring network devices known to the first network device and belonging to the same ESS as the first network device.

[0154] In this implementation, if the first network device includes at least one neighboring network device, the first network device can send information about at least one second network device to the communication device in various ways. These will be described below.

[0155] Method 1 for sending information from at least one second network device: A first network device sends a second frame to a communication device, the second frame including information about at least one second network device. This at least one second network device can be a neighboring network device of the first network device.

[0156] In this embodiment of the application, when the first network device obtains a neighboring network device, the neighboring network device is a second network device, and the second frame sent by the first network device to the communication device includes information of the second network device; when the first network device obtains multiple neighboring network devices, all of the multiple neighboring network devices are second network devices, and the second frame sent by the first network device to the communication device includes information of the multiple second network devices.

[0157] Method 2 for sending information from at least one second network device: A first network device sends at least one second frame to a communication device, each second frame including information about a second network device. This second network device can be a neighboring network device of the first network device.

[0158] In this embodiment of the application, when the first network device obtains a neighboring network device, the neighboring network device is a second network device, and the first network device sends a second frame to the communication device, the second frame including information of the second network device; when the first network device obtains multiple neighboring network devices, the multiple neighboring network devices are all second network devices, and the first network device sends multiple second frames to the communication device, each second frame including information of the second network device.

[0159] Optionally, the first frame may also include at least one of the following information: Service Set Identifier (SSID) element, supported rates and BSS membership selectors element, request element, and extended support rates and BSS membership selectors.

[0160] It should be noted that the above information is merely an example of the information content contained in the first frame of the embodiments of this application. The first frame of the embodiments of this application may also include other information, and this application does not limit it.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first frame is a transparent probe request action frame, which may include at least one of the following fields: category, action field, address information of the communication device (non-AP MLD address), address information of the second network device (target AP MLD address), and probe request frame body.

[0162] Among them, the address information field of the second network device in the transparent probe request action frame can also be called the device address field (as described above).

[0163] Optionally, the transparent probe request action frame may also include a dialog token field; the dialog token field may carry a non-zero value, which may be selected by the communication device (non-AP MLD).

[0164] The transparent probe request action frame in this application embodiment can be a protected transparent probe request action frame.

[0165] For example, the category field can be used to indicate that the transparent probe request action frame is a protected frame; for instance, the category field carries a protected UHR to indicate that the transparent probe request action frame is a protected UHR frame.

[0166] The action field can be set to a value corresponding to the transparent probe request action frame; the action field can also be called the protected UHR action field.

[0167] The address information field of the second network device can be used to carry the address information of the second network device; for example, the address information field of the second network device can be used to carry the MAC address of the second network device.

[0168] The probe request frame body field can also be called the multi-link probe request frame body field.

[0169] For example, as shown in Table 1, the transparent probe request action frame includes a category field, an action field, a password field, the address information of the second network device (target AP MLD address), and a probe request frame body.

[0170] Table 1

[0171] II. Information content carried by the second frame.

[0172] Optionally, the information of the second network device includes information about the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

[0173] In this embodiment of the application, the second network device may include one or more auxiliary nodes, which will be described below.

[0174] 1. The second network device includes a secondary node.

[0175] Optionally, if the second network device includes a subsidiary node, the first part of the second frame includes the first information of the subsidiary node.

[0176] In some embodiments, the first part may be a frame body portion of the second frame; for example, the first part may be the frame body of the second frame. The first part of the second frame may be any part of the second frame other than the second multi-link element (e.g., the basic multi-link element) and the reduced neighbor report (RNR) element.

[0177] For example, such as Figure 11The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame, which includes a first part. For example, the first part can be an element in the second frame used to carry information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device. This element can include one or more elements. Taking the second frame as a probe response frame or a transparent probe response action frame as an example, the elements used to carry information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device can be collectively referred to as the element set of link 1 of target AP MLD, where link 1 can be the communication link of the subordinate node of the second network device.

[0178] It should be understood that the first information of the subordinate node can be the information of the subordinate node in step 401.

[0179] The first information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the subordinate node's address information, the subordinate node's channel information, the subordinate node's multi-link device MLD parameters, and the subordinate node's target beacon transmission time TBTToffset.

[0180] The information in the first part can be found in the description of the information for the subordinate nodes above, and will not be repeated here.

[0181] 2. The second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes.

[0182] When the second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes, the second frame in this application embodiment can have various different frame structure designs to carry information about the multiple auxiliary nodes. The different frame structures of the second frame are described below.

[0183] Frame structure design method 1 for the second frame: Optionally, the first part of the second frame includes first information of the first subordinate node among multiple subordinate nodes, and the second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry first information of other subordinate nodes among multiple subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node.

[0184] In frame structure design method 1, the second frame may include a first part and a second part; wherein, the first part may be the frame body of the second frame; for example, the first part may be the frame body of the second frame; the second part may be the second multi-link element (e.g., a basic multi-link element) in the second frame.

[0185] It should be understood that the first part of the second frame can be any part of the second frame other than the second multi-link element (e.g., the basic multi-link element).

[0186] The first information of multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device can be carried in different parts of the second frame. The first part may include the first information of the first subordinate node among the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device, and the second part may include the first information of the other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device besides the first subordinate node. For example, the first subordinate node can be any one of the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0187] For example, such as Figure 12A The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame, which includes a first part and a second part. For example, the second part can be a second multi-link element, and the first part can be any part of the second frame other than the second multi-link element. For instance, the first part can be an element in the second frame used to carry information about the first subordinate node of the second network device. The element used to carry information about the first subordinate node of the second network device can include one or more elements. The second multi-link element can further include at least one per-site configuration sub-element(s).

[0188] Taking the second frame as a probe response frame or a transparent probe response action frame as an example, the second multi-link element can be a basic multi-link element. The basic multi-link element includes at least one per-STA profile subelement(s). The element used to carry information about the first auxiliary node of the second network device can be called the element set of link x of target AP MLD, where link x can be the communication link of the first auxiliary node in the second network device. Specifically, when the second network device contains only one auxiliary node, the basic multi-link element does not include a per-STA profile subelement.

[0189] Taking a second network device comprising three auxiliary nodes as an example, the three auxiliary nodes can be AP1, AP2, and AP3, with corresponding communication links link1, link2, and link3 respectively. The frame structure of the second frame can be as follows: Figure 12B As shown, the first part may include the first information of AP1 (e.g., ... Figure 12BThe first part is the element set of link 1 of target AP MLD, and the second part is the basic multi-link element. The basic multi-link element includes two per-STA profile sub-elements(s). One per-STA profile sub-element carries the first information of AP2, and the other per-STA profile sub-element carries the first information of AP3. Optionally, the common info field in the basic multi-link element may include a link address field (link ID), which carries the link identifier of link1, such as link ID=1.

[0190] In frame structure design method 1, the second frame includes the first information of the first subordinate node, as well as the first information of the other subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node.

[0191] That is, the information of the subordinate nodes in step 401 includes the first information of the first subordinate node and the first information of the other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node.

[0192] The first information of the first subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the address information of the first subordinate node, the channel information of the first subordinate node, the MLD parameters of the first subordinate node, and the TBTT offset of the first subordinate node.

[0193] The first information of the other auxiliary nodes among the multiple auxiliary nodes, excluding the first auxiliary node, may include at least one of the following: the address information of the auxiliary node, the channel information of the auxiliary node, the MLD parameters of the auxiliary node, and the TBTT offset of the auxiliary node.

[0194] It should be noted that the information in the first part can be found in the description of the information for the subordinate nodes above, and will not be repeated here.

[0195] Frame structure design method 2 for the second frame: The second frame includes the address information field of the subordinate node and the probe response frame body field.

[0196] Among them: the address information field of the subordinate node is used to carry the MAC address of the first subordinate node.

[0197] The probe response frame carries information about the other auxiliary nodes of the second network device besides the first auxiliary node, as well as other information about the first auxiliary node besides its MAC address.

[0198] For example, such as Figure 13 The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame, which includes the address information field of the subordinate node and the probe response frame body field.

[0199] Frame structure design method 3 for the second frame: Optionally, the third part of the second frame includes first information about at least one of the subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0200] It should be understood that this frame structure design method 2 can be applied to situations where the second network device includes one or more auxiliary nodes. When the second network device includes one auxiliary node, the first information of that auxiliary node can be carried in the third part of the second frame; when the second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes, the first information of those multiple auxiliary nodes can be carried in the third part of the second frame.

[0201] In frame structure design mode 1, the second frame may include a third part; wherein, the third part may be an RNR element in the second frame, and the RNR element may carry the first information of one or more subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0202] For example, such as Figure 14 The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame. The second frame includes a third part, which can be an RNR element. The RNR element carries the first information of at least one subordinate node of the second network device. Taking a second network device with three subordinate nodes as an example, the three subordinate nodes can be AP1, AP2, and AP3. The RNR element in the second frame includes the first information of AP1, AP2, and AP3.

[0203] The element structure of the RNR elements in the second frame is described below. Figure 15 Taking the RNR element shown as an example, the RNR element includes an element ID field, a length field, and at least one information field; wherein, each information field can be used to carry the first information of a subordinate node of the second network device.

[0204] Each information field may include a TBTT info header, an operating class field, a channel number field, and a TBTT infoset.

[0205] Among them: Operation Category field: used to indicate the operation category to which the working channel of the corresponding subordinate node to which the report belongs.

[0206] Channel Number Field: Indicates the channel number corresponding to the working channel of the reporting slave node. The specific location of the slave node's channel in the frequency band can be determined through the Operation Category field and the Channel Number field.

[0207] For TBTT information header fields, such as Figure 15 As shown, it can carry at least one of the following information: TBTT info field type: Indicates the type of TBTT info, and can be used together with the TBTT info length field to indicate the format of the TBTT info field.

[0208] The Filtered Neighbor AP field indicates whether the SSIDs of all BSSs carried in the Neighbor AP info field match the SSIDs in the first frame.

[0209] The reserved field can occupy 1 bit and is a reserved field.

[0210] The TBTT info count field indicates the number of TBTT info fields contained in the TBTT info collection.

[0211] TBTT info length field: Indicates the length of each TBTT info field.

[0212] For TBTT information fields, such as Figure 16 As shown, it can carry at least one of the following information: The TBTT offset field of the subordinate node: used to indicate the target beacon transmission time offset of the subordinate node; BSS Identifier (BSSID) field: Indicates the BSS identifier of the BSS to which this subordinate node belongs; Short SSID field: Indicates the service set identifier to which this BSS belongs; BSS Parameter field: Indicates the relevant parameters of this BSS; 20 MHz power spectral density (PSD) field: indicates the maximum transmit power spectral density; MLD parameter field: Indicates the relevant parameters of MLD.

[0213] In frame structure design method 2, the second frame includes first information of at least one subordinate node; wherein, the first information of the subordinate node can be the information of the subordinate node in step 401.

[0214] The first information of a subordinate node may include at least one of the following: Address information of the subordinate node, channel information of the subordinate node, MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and TBTT offset of the subordinate node.

[0215] The information in the first part can be found in the description of the information for the subordinate nodes above, and will not be repeated here.

[0216] Frame structure design method 4 for the second frame: Optionally, the second part of the second frame includes first information about at least one of the subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0217] It should be understood that this frame structure design method 3 can be applied to situations where the second network device includes one or more auxiliary nodes. When the second network device includes one auxiliary node, the first information of that auxiliary node can be carried in the second part of the second frame; when the second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes, the first information of those multiple auxiliary nodes can be carried in the second part of the second frame.

[0218] One possible implementation is that the second part can be a second multi-link element (e.g., a basic multi-link element) in the second frame, which can include at least one per-site configuration sub-element (e.g., per-STA profile subelement(s)), and each per-site configuration sub-element can be used to carry the first information of a subordinate node.

[0219] For example, such as Figure 17 The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame. The second frame includes a second part, which can be a second multi-link element (e.g., a basic multi-link element). This second multi-link element can include at least one per-site configuration sub-element(s) to carry the first information of at least one subordinate node of the second network device. Taking a second network device with three subordinate nodes as an example, these three subordinate nodes can be AP1, AP2, and AP3. The second multi-link element in the second frame includes three per-site configuration sub-elements, which are used to carry the first information of AP1, AP2, and AP3, respectively.

[0220] In such Figure 17The second frame shown in the frame structure diagram may also include fixed fields (such as timestamp fields) and other elements. For example, the second frame may also include the first part described above, which can be used to carry information about an auxiliary node of the second network device, or it can be used to carry information about the transmission link of the first network device (the transmission link can be the link between the communication device and the first network device for transmitting the first frame).

[0221] Or, such as Figure 17 In the frame structure diagram of the second frame shown, the second frame may only include fixed fields (such as a timestamp field) and a second multi-link element. For example, the first frame may only carry a first multi-link element and a request element, where the request element is used to indicate that the communication device only requests the basic multi-link element. The second frame may only include fixed fields and a second multi-link element, where at least one per-site configuration sub-element in the second multi-link element is used to carry the first information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0222] Another possible implementation is that the second part can be a second multi-link element (e.g., a basic multi-link element) in the second frame. The second multi-link element can include a common info field and at least one per-STA profile subelement(s). The common info field and at least one per-STA profile subelement(s) carry the first information of multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0223] The public information field can carry the first information of the first subordinate node of the second network device, and at least one per-site configuration sub-element carries the first information of other subordinate nodes of the second network device. The first subordinate node can be any one of the multiple subordinate nodes included in the second network device.

[0224] Alternatively, the public information field may carry the link identification information of the first subordinate node of the second network device, and the second multi-link element may also include a newly defined sub-element for carrying the first information of the first subordinate node (which may not include the link identification information of the first subordinate node); at least one per-site configuration sub-element carries the first information of other subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0225] For example, the element structure of the child element used to carry the first information of the first subordinate node can be as follows: Figure 18As shown, for example, this element may include a subelement ID field, a length field, a link ID info field, and an AP MAC address field.

[0226] In frame structure design method 3, the second frame includes first information of at least one subordinate node; wherein, the first information of the subordinate node can be the information of the subordinate node in step 401.

[0227] The first information of a subordinate node may include at least one of the following: Address information of the subordinate node, channel information of the subordinate node, MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and TBTT offset of the subordinate node.

[0228] The information in the first part can be found in the description of the information for the subordinate nodes above, and will not be repeated here.

[0229] Frame structure design method 5 for the second frame: Optionally, the first part of the second frame includes the first information of the first subordinate node among the multiple subordinate nodes; the second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry the first information of the other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node; and the third part of the second frame is used to carry the second information of the multiple subordinate nodes.

[0230] In frame structure design method 4, the second frame may include a first part, a second part, and a third part; wherein, the first part may be the frame body of the second frame; for example, the first part may be the frame body of the second frame; the second part may be the second multi-link element (e.g., a basic multi-link element) in the second frame, and the third part may be the RNR element in the second frame.

[0231] It should be understood that the first part of the second frame can be any part of the second frame other than the second multi-link element (e.g., basic multi-link element) and the RNR element.

[0232] The first information of multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device can be carried in different parts of the second frame. The first part may include the first information of the first subordinate node among the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device. The second part may include the first information of the other subordinate nodes among the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device besides the first subordinate node. The third part may include the second information of the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device. For example, the first subordinate node may be any one of the multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0233] In frame structure design method 4, the second frame includes the first information of the first subordinate node, the first information of the other subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node, and the second information of the multiple subordinate nodes.

[0234] For each subordinate node of the second network device, the information of the subordinate node in step 401 above includes the first information of the subordinate node and the second information of the subordinate node.

[0235] For example, the first information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, the channel information of the subordinate node, the MLD parameters of the subordinate node, and the TBTT offset of the subordinate node; the second information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0236] For example, the first information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the MLD parameter of the subordinate node and the TBTT offset of the subordinate node; the second information of the subordinate node may include at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0237] It should be noted that the second information of the subordinate nodes included in the third part may contain more concise information compared to the first information of the subordinate nodes included in the first and second parts.

[0238] For example, such as Figure 19 The diagram shows the frame structure of the second frame, which includes a first part, a second part, and a third part. For example, the second part could be a second multi-link element, the third part could be an RNR element, and the first part could be any part of the second frame other than the second multi-link element and the RNR element. For instance, the first part could be an element in the second frame used to carry information about the first subordinate node of the second network device. This element could include one or more elements. The second multi-link element could further include at least one per-site configuration sub-element(s) (e.g., per-STA profile subelement(s)).

[0239] Taking the second frame as a probe response frame or a transparent probe response action frame as an example, the second multi-link element can be a basic multi-link element. The basic multi-link element includes at least one per-STAprofile subelement(s). The element used to carry the information of the first auxiliary node of the second network device can be called the element set of link x of target AP MLD, where link x can be the communication link of the first auxiliary node in the second network device.

[0240] Taking a second network device comprising three auxiliary nodes as an example, the three auxiliary nodes can be AP1, AP2, and AP3, with corresponding communication links link1, link2, and link3 respectively. The frame structure of the second frame can be as follows: Figure 20 As shown, the first part may include the first information of AP1 (e.g., ... Figure 20 The first part is the element set of link 1 of targetAP MLD. The second part is the basic multi-link element, which includes two per-STA profile sub-elements(s). One per-STA profile sub-element carries the first information of AP2, and the other carries the first information of AP3. Optionally, the common info field in the basic multi-link element may include a link address field (link ID), which carries the link identifier of link1, such as link ID=1. The third part is the RNR element, which includes the second information of AP1, AP2, and AP3.

[0241] For the second frame of any of the frame structures described above, optionally, the second frame may also include at least one of the following information: The elements include: timestamp, beacon interval, capability information, SSID element, support rates and BSS membership selectors, transmit power control report (TPCreport), extended support rates and BSS membership selectors, robust security network element (RSNE), mobility domain element, and RNR element.

[0242] In some embodiments, the second frame is a transparent probe response action frame, which may include at least one of the following fields: category, action field, address information of the communication device (non-AP MLD address), address information of the second network device (target AP MLD address), and probe response frame body.

[0243] Optionally, the information of the subordinate nodes in the second network device described above can be carried in the probe response frame body of the probe response action frame.

[0244] Optionally, the transparent probe response action frame may also include a password field; the password field may carry a non-zero value; for example, the non-zero value is the same as the non-zero value carried by the password field in the transparent probe request action frame.

[0245] The transparent detection response action frame in this application embodiment can be a protected transparent detection response action frame.

[0246] For example, the category field can be used to indicate that the transparent probe response action frame is a protected frame; for instance, the category field carries a protected UHR to indicate that the transparent probe response action frame is a protected UHR frame.

[0247] The action field can be set to a value corresponding to the transparent probe response action frame; the action field can also be called the protected UHR action field.

[0248] The address information of the second network device can carry the MAC address of the second network device.

[0249] The probe response frame body field can also be called the multi-link probe response frame body field. In some embodiments, the probe response frame body field is used to carry relevant information about the second network device. The simplified neighbor report (RNR) element can carry information about the neighboring network devices of the second network device; or it can be understood that the content carried by the probe response frame body field is substantially the same as the content of the probe response frame sent by the second network device over the air interface.

[0250] For example, as shown in Table 2, the transparent probe response action frame includes a category field, an action field, a password field, address information of the subordinate node, and a probe request framebody. As mentioned above, the address information field of the subordinate node is used to carry the MAC address of the first subordinate node.

[0251] Table 2

[0252] For any of the frame structures described above, as one possible implementation, the second frame may also include information about the first network device.

[0253] Optionally, the information of the first network device may include at least one of the following: the address information of the first network device, and the link identification information of the transmission link of the first network device; The transmission link can be the link through which the first network device receives the first frame.

[0254] In this application embodiment, the communication device can be a multi-link non-access point device, such as a non-AP MLD. In this case, the communication device and the currently accessed first network device may include multiple links; the transmission link is the link that transmits the first frame among the multiple links between the communication device and the first network device.

[0255] Alternatively, the information of the first network device may also include information of the subordinate nodes of the first network device; for example, the information of the subordinate nodes of the first network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate nodes, the channel information of the subordinate nodes, the MLD parameters of the subordinate nodes, and the TBTT offset of the subordinate nodes.

[0256] When the second frame includes information about the first network device, the information about the first network device can be carried through elements in the second frame.

[0257] For example, the second frame includes a third multi-link element, which includes information about the first network device. For instance, the third multi-link element could be a basic multi-link element.

[0258] In the case where the second frame includes a basic multi-link element for carrying information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device, the second frame may include two basic multi-link elements. One basic multi-link element includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element for carrying information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device, as detailed above; the other basic multi-link element may include information about the first network device.

[0259] For any of the frame structures described above, as one possible implementation, the second frame may also include device information of the second network device.

[0260] It should be understood that the device information of the second network device is device-level information, which differs from the information of the second network device mentioned above, which refers to the information of the subordinate nodes within the second network device, and is subordinate node-level information. This device information of the second network device can also be referred to as MLD-level information.

[0261] Optionally, the device information of the second network device includes at least one of the following: Seamless mobile domain element (SMD element), RNR element, multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID element), mobility domain element, channel usage element, service identifier, and link mapping element (TID-to-link mapping element).

[0262] When the device information of the second network device is included in the second frame, the embodiments of this application can carry the device information of the second network device in a variety of different positions in the second frame.

[0263] For example, the device information of the second network device can be carried in the first part of the second frame. The first part of the second frame can be referred to in the above description of the frame structure of the second frame; for example, the first part can be the frame body of the second frame, or the part of the second frame excluding the second multi-link element and the RNR element. It should be noted that if the second frame includes two multi-link elements, i.e., if the second frame also includes a third multi-link element, then the first part is the part of the second frame excluding the second multi-link element, the third multi-link element, and the RNR element.

[0264] As another example, the device information of the second network device is carried in the per-site configuration sub-element in the second part of the second frame. When the per-site configuration sub-element is included in the second frame, the device information of the second network device can be carried in the per-site configuration sub-element.

[0265] To reduce signaling overhead, inheritance rules can also be defined in the second frame of this application embodiment. The inheritance rule can be that when a frame contains multiple identical elements, if the information content carried by these elements is the same, the information content can be carried in one element without needing to be carried repeatedly.

[0266] The second frame of this application embodiment may include multiple per-site configuration sub-elements, each of which carries information about a subordinate node of the second network device. If the information content corresponding to a field in multiple per-site configuration sub-elements is the same, that information content can be carried in another per-site configuration sub-element, without having to carry it repeatedly in multiple per-site configuration sub-elements.

[0267] For example, the first per-site configuration sub-element in the second frame can be used as the reference link for the inheritance rule. If the information content corresponding to a field is the same in multiple per-site configuration sub-elements, that information content can be carried only in the corresponding field of the first per-site configuration sub-element. Alternatively, if the first part of the second frame carries transmission link information related to the first network device, the transmission link of the first network device in the first part of the second frame can be used as the reference link, carrying duplicate information content in the first part of the second frame, while other fields do not need to carry that duplicate information content.

[0268] For example, each of the multiple per-site configuration sub-elements in the second frame contains a STAProfile field. Each per-site configuration sub-element is used to carry information about a subordinate node of the second network device. If the information content corresponding to the STA Profile fields of multiple subordinate nodes of the second network device is the same, the corresponding information content can be carried in the STA Profile field of the first per-site configuration sub-element in the second frame, and the STA Profile fields of other per-site configuration sub-elements do not need to carry this information content.

[0269] The frame structure of the first and second frames in the embodiments of this application has been introduced above. The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be introduced below with reference to a specific communication process.

[0270] Figure 21 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication method mainly includes the following steps 2100-2103. It can be understood that... Figure 21 The steps and execution order illustrated are merely examples. In actual implementation, some of the steps may be executed, or the remaining steps may also be executed. Similarly, the execution order of the steps may also be adjusted, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0271] Step 2100: The communication device sends the third frame.

[0272] Accordingly, the first network device receives the third frame. The third frame is used to query information about the first network device's neighboring network devices.

[0273] Optionally, after determining that the communication quality with the currently accessed first network device has deteriorated, the communication device may send a third frame to the first network device to query information about the neighboring network devices of the first network device.

[0274] This can be understood as the communication device sending a third frame to the first network device to query information about the neighboring network devices of the first network device, in preparation for the communication device to roam (or switch) to other network devices.

[0275] For example, the third frame could be a BSS transition management (BTM) query frame.

[0276] For example, such as Figure 22The frame format of the BTM query frame shown can include the following fields: category, WNM action, dialog token, BSS transition query reason, and BSS transition candidatelist; among which, the BSS transition candidatelist is an optional field.

[0277] The BSS transfer query reason field is used to indicate the reason for sending the BTM query frame; the values ​​and corresponding descriptions of the BSS transfer query reason field can be found in Table 3.

[0278] Table 3

[0279] Step 2101: The first network device sends the fourth frame.

[0280] Accordingly, the communication device receives a fourth frame. This fourth frame includes a neighbor report element corresponding to a subordinate node of at least one neighboring network device. The neighbor report element carries third information about the corresponding subordinate node, and the at least one neighboring network device includes a second network device.

[0281] In this embodiment of the application, after receiving the third frame, the first network device acquires information about its neighboring network devices. The first network device then sends information about the subordinate nodes of at least one neighboring network device to the communication device via the fourth frame.

[0282] The fourth frame may include one or more neighbor report elements, each carrying third information about a subordinate node of a neighboring network device.

[0283] Optionally, the third information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: the address information of the subordinate node, and the channel information of the subordinate node.

[0284] In some embodiments, the third information of a subordinate node may also include the subordinate node's capability information, etc.

[0285] In one possible implementation, the third information may further include the MLD parameters and TBTT offset of the subordinate nodes. In this implementation, the information carried in the third information can be the same as the information of the subordinate nodes included in the second frame above. Based on this implementation, the first network device can indicate the information of the subordinate nodes of at least one neighboring network device to the communication device through the fourth frame. Since the at least one neighboring network device includes the second network device, the communication device can obtain the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device. When the communication device switches or roams to the second network device, it can successfully establish a connection with the second network device based on the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device.

[0286] In another possible implementation, the third information of the subordinate node carried in the neighbor report element in the fourth frame is not exactly the same as the information of the subordinate node of the second network device included in the second frame described above. The information contained in the third information may be less than the information of the subordinate node of the second network device included in the second frame.

[0287] For example, the third information of the subordinate node includes the address information and channel information of the subordinate node. The first network device, through the second frame described above, indicates more information about the subordinate nodes of the second network device to the communication device; for example, the information of the subordinate node included in the second frame includes the MLD parameter and TBTT offset of the subordinate node, or the address information, channel information and information of the subordinate node included in the second frame include the MLD parameter and TBTT offset of the subordinate node.

[0288] For example, the fourth frame can be a BTM request frame.

[0289] For example, such as Figure 23 The frame format of the BTM request frame shown can include the following fields: category, radio network management operation, session token, request mode, disassociation timer, validity interval, BSS termination duration, session info URL, and BSS transfer candidate list.

[0290] The BSS transfer candidate list field can carry one or more neighbor report elements. Neighbor report elements can be used to carry third-party information about the aforementioned subordinate nodes; additionally, neighbor report elements can also carry other information, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0291] For example, such as Figure 24 The neighbor report element shown includes the following elements: element ID, length, BSSID, BSSID information (info), operating class, channel number, physical layer type (PHY type), and optional subelements. For example, the address information of the subordinate node can be carried in optional subelements, such as the basic multi-link subelement.

[0292] The BSSID field indicates the BSSID of the reported neighboring network device. The BSSID information field indicates relevant information about the reported BSSID. The Operating class and channel number fields indicate the channel to which the reported BSSID belongs. The PHY Type field indicates the physical layer type of the network device corresponding to the reported BSSID.

[0293] Optionally, the BSSID information fields may include the following fields: reachability, security, key scope, capabilities, mobility domain, high throughput, very high throughput, fine-timing measurement (FTM), high efficiency, extended range BSS (ER BSS), co-located AP, unsolicited probe response active, co-located with 2.4 / 5 GHz AP and a member of an extended service set, reporting AP supported with on-channel tunneling (OCT), co-located with 6 GHz AP, and reserved fields.

[0294] Valid Time Field: Indicates how many beacon periods the BSS transfer alternative list is valid for.

[0295] Deassociation Timer field: Indicates how long after a neighboring network device will send a deassociation frame, in TBTT units.

[0296] The BSS termination duration field carries a BSS termination duration subelement. The format of the BSS termination duration subelement can be as follows: Figure 25 As shown, the BSS termination duration sub-element can include the following fields: subelement ID, length field, BSS termination timer synchronization function (BSS termination TSF) field, and duration field. The BSS termination timer synchronization function field carries the value of the TSF timer, indicating the time of BSS termination; the duration field indicates the duration of the BSS termination, in minutes.

[0297] Request Mode Field: This field indicates the specific request mode. The Request Mode Field may include the following fields: whether a preferred candidate list is included, abridge, disassociation imminent, BSS termination included, ESS disassociation imminent, link removal, and reserved bits. The reserved bits are 2 bits.

[0298] The field indicating whether to include a preferred alternative list is used to indicate whether to include a preferred alternative list.

[0299] Bridging field: If the associated network device does not recommend or prohibits the communication device from switching to a BSS that is not in the preferred alternative list, set the bridging field to 0; if the associated network device sets the preference value of a BSS that is not in the preferred alternative list to 0, set the bridging field to 1.

[0300] The purpose of the "Deassociation is about to occur" field: When the "Deassociation is about to occur" field is set to 1, it means that the network device will send a deassociation frame to associate with the communication device; when the "Deassociation is about to occur" field is set to 0, it means that the network device will not send a deassociation frame to associate with the communication device.

[0301] The BSS termination field indicates whether the BSS will be shut down.

[0302] ESS Deassociation Imminent Field: Used to indicate whether the communication device will be deassociated by the entire ESS.

[0303] After step 2101, the communication device can determine the second network device from at least one neighboring network device.

[0304] Step 2102: The communication device sends the first frame. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first frame.

[0305] Step 2103: The first network device sends the second frame. Correspondingly, the communication device receives the second frame.

[0306] It should be noted that steps 2102 and 2103 can be found in the description of steps 400 and 401 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0307] If the third information in the fourth frame sent by the first network device in step 2101 includes partial information of the subordinate node of the second network device, the second frame sent by the first network device in step 2103 may not include information that is repeated in the third information.

[0308] It should be understood that if the information carried in the third information is the same as the information of the subordinate nodes included in the second frame above, for example, the third information includes the address information of the subordinate nodes, the channel information of the subordinate nodes, the MLD parameters of the subordinate nodes, and the TBTT offset of the subordinate nodes, the communication device can obtain the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device through the fourth frame. The communication method of this embodiment may not include the above-described steps 2102 and 2103. Based on the information of the subordinate nodes of the second network device obtained from the fourth frame, the communication device can switch or roam to the second network device and establish a communication connection with the second network device.

[0309] Figure 26 A possible exemplary block diagram of the communication device involved in an embodiment of this application is shown. For example... Figure 26As shown, the communication device 2600 may include modules or units for implementing the methods described in the embodiments above. In one possible design, the communication device 2600 includes a processing unit 2601 and a communication unit 2602. Optionally, the communication device 2600 may further include a storage unit 2603 for storing device program code and / or data.

[0310] The communication device 2600 can be a first network device side device in the above embodiments, such as a first network device, a module (e.g., circuit, chip or chip system) in the first network device, or a logic node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first network device.

[0311] For example, in one embodiment, communication unit 2602 is configured to receive a first frame, the first frame being used to request information about a second network device, the first network device and the second network device belonging to the same Extended Service Set (ESS); and to send a second frame, the second frame including information about subordinate nodes in the second network device. Processing unit 2601 is configured to process the received first frame and generate the second frame.

[0312] The communication device 2600 can also be a communication device-side device in the above embodiments, such as a communication device, a module (e.g., a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) in the communication device, or a logic node, logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0313] For example, in one embodiment, communication unit 2602 is configured to send a first frame to a first network device, the first frame being used to request information about a second network device, the first network device and the second network device belonging to the same Extended Service Set (ESS); and to receive a second frame, the second frame including information about subordinate nodes in the second network device. Processing unit 2601 is configured to generate the first frame and process the received second frame.

[0314] It is understood that the division of units in the above-described device is merely a logical functional division. One function can correspond to one functional unit, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional unit. In actual implementation, all or some units can be integrated onto a single physical entity, or distributed across different physical entities. Furthermore, the aforementioned functional units can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Whether a function is executed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for specific applications, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0315] In one example, the functional unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.

[0316] In one example, storage unit 2603 may include random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory and / or registers, etc.

[0317] Figure 27 A possible exemplary block diagram of the communication device involved in the embodiments of this application is shown. Figure 27 The communication device 2700 shown includes a processor 2710 and an interface circuit 2720. The processor 2710 and the interface circuit 2720 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 2720 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 2700 may also include a memory 2730 for storing instructions executed by the processor 2710, or storing input data required for the processor 2710 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 2710 executes instructions.

[0318] When the communication device 2700 is used to implement the above method embodiment, the processor 2710 is used to implement the function of the processing unit 2601, and the interface circuit 2720 is used to implement the function of the communication unit 2602.

[0319] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a CPU, or other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0320] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC can reside in a first network device or communication device. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium can exist as discrete components in the first network device or communication device.

[0321] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions for implementing the method executed by the first network device or communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0322] For example, when the computer program or instructions are executed by the computer, the computer can implement the method performed by the first network device or communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0323] This application also provides a computer program product containing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to implement the method performed by the first network device or communication device in the above method embodiments.

[0324] This application also provides a communication system, which includes the first network device and the communication device described in the above embodiments.

[0325] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a first network device, a second network device, and a communication device as described in the above embodiments.

[0326] This application also provides a chip device, including a processor, for calling computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory to cause the processor to execute the method provided in any of the above embodiments.

[0327] In one possible implementation, the input of the chip device corresponds to the receiving operation in any of the above embodiments, and the output of the chip device corresponds to the sending operation in any of the above embodiments.

[0328] Optionally, the processor is coupled to the memory via an interface.

[0329] Optionally, the chip device may also include a memory in which computer programs or instructions are stored.

[0330] The processor mentioned above can be a general-purpose central processing unit, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits used to control the execution of a program that controls the methods provided in any of the above embodiments. The memory mentioned above can be read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, such as random access memory (RAM).

[0331] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. A computer program is a set of instructions that directs each step of an action of an electronic computer or other device with message processing capabilities. It is typically written in a programming language and runs on a target architecture. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed, in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrating one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium can be volatile or non-volatile, or it can include both types of storage media.

[0332] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0333] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to this application. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0334] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0335] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0336] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a first network device, the method includes: Receive a first frame, which is used to request information about a second network device. The first network device and the second network device belong to the same Extended Service Set (ESS). A second frame is sent, which includes information about the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second network device includes a secondary node; The first part of the second frame includes the first information of the subordinate node; The first part is the portion of the second frame other than the basic multi-link element.

3. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes; The first part of the second frame includes the first information of the first subordinate node among the plurality of subordinate nodes; The second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry first information of the other subordinate nodes among the plurality of subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node; The second part is the basic multi-link element, and the first part is the other parts of the second frame besides the basic multi-link element.

4. The method as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The first information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: The address information of the auxiliary node, the channel information of the auxiliary node, the MLD parameters of the multi-link device of the auxiliary node, and the Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT) offset of the auxiliary node.

5. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second frame includes an address information field for the subordinate node, which is used to carry the MAC address of the first subordinate node.

6. The method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The second frame also includes a probe response frame body field, which carries information about the other auxiliary nodes among the multiple auxiliary nodes of the second network device, excluding the first auxiliary node, as well as other information about the first auxiliary node besides its MAC address.

7. The method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The second frame also includes at least one of the following: a category field, an action field, an address information field of the communication device, and an address information field of the second network device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, The second frame is a protected probe response frame.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The first frame includes a device address field, which is used to carry the MAC address of the second network device.

10. The method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The first frame also includes at least one of the following: a category field, an action field, an address information field of the communication device, and an address information field of the second network device.

11. The method as described in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The first frame is a protected probe request frame.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of a device identifier field and a device address field; When the information carried in the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried in the device address field is a broadcast address, the second frame includes information of at least one second network device; wherein, the at least one second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device.

13. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to communication equipment, the method includes: Send a first frame to the first network device. The first frame is used to request information about the second network device. The first network device and the second network device belong to the same Extended Service Set (ESS). Receive a second frame, which includes information about the subordinate nodes in the second network device.

14. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The second network device includes a secondary node; The first part of the second frame includes the first information of the subordinate node; The first part is the portion of the second frame other than the basic multi-link element.

15. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The second network device includes multiple auxiliary nodes; The first part of the second frame includes the first information of the first subordinate node among the plurality of subordinate nodes; The second part of the second frame includes at least one per-site configuration sub-element, which is used to carry first information of the other subordinate nodes among the plurality of subordinate nodes besides the first subordinate node; The second part is the basic multi-link element, and the first part is the other parts of the second frame besides the basic multi-link element.

16. The method as described in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The first information of the subordinate node includes at least one of the following: The address information of the auxiliary node, the channel information of the auxiliary node, the MLD parameters of the multi-link device of the auxiliary node, and the Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT) offset of the auxiliary node.

17. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The second frame includes an address information field for the subordinate node, which is used to carry the MAC address of the first subordinate node.

18. The method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The second frame also includes a probe response frame body field, which carries information about the other auxiliary nodes among the multiple auxiliary nodes of the second network device, excluding the first auxiliary node, as well as other information about the first auxiliary node besides its MAC address.

19. The method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The second frame also includes at least one of the following: a category field, an action field, an address information field of the communication device, and an address information field of the second network device.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that, The second frame is a protected probe response frame.

21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that, The first frame includes a device address field, which is used to carry the MAC address of the second network device.

22. The method as described in claim 21, characterized in that, The first frame also includes at least one of the following: a category field, an action field, an address information field of the communication device, and an address information field of the second network device.

23. The method as described in claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The first frame is a protected probe request frame.

24. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of a device identifier field and a device address field; When the information carried in the device identifier field is a set value and / or the information carried in the device address field is a broadcast address, the second frame includes information of at least one second network device; wherein, the at least one second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or includes a module for performing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor and an interface circuit, the processor being configured to communicate with other devices via the interface circuit to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or to implement the method of any one of claims 13 to 24.

27. A communication system, characterized in that, include: A first network device for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, and a communication device for implementing the method of any one of claims 13 to 24.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 24.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 24.

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