Site indication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a station indication method and device, equipment and a storage medium, and belongs to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: after a first PPDU is sent to a second station, an additional signal is sent, and the additional signal is used for indicating the identity of the first station. The second station can accurately identify which first station sends the first PPDU based on the additional signal, so that the uplink and downlink transmission between the first station and the second station can be accurately performed.

Description

Site indication method, apparatus, device and storage medium TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, in particular to a site indication method, apparatus, device and storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, in the case that a first station receives a Multi User Request-To-Send (MU-RTS) frame sent by a second station, the first station may reply a Clear-To-Send (CTS) frame to the second station.

[0003] However, in the case that multiple first stations send CTS frames, the second station cannot accurately identify which first stations send the CTS frames. In a possible case, the second station may allocate transmission resources to a first station that does not send a CTS frame, thereby causing waste of transmission resources.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a site indication method, apparatus, device and storage medium. The technical solutions are as follows:

[0006] In one aspect, the present application provides a site indication method, the method is executed by a first station, and the method comprises:

[0007] After sending a first Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) to a second station, an additional signal is sent, the additional signal being used to indicate an identity of the first station.

[0008] In another aspect, the present application provides a site indication method, the method is executed by a second station, and the method comprises:

[0009] At an ending moment of receiving a first PPDU sent by a first station, an additional signal is continued to be received, the additional signal being used to indicate an identity of the first station.

[0010] In another aspect, the present application provides a site indication apparatus, the apparatus comprises:

[0011] A sending module is configured to send an additional signal after sending a first PPDU to a second station, the additional signal being used to indicate an identity of the first station.

[0012] In another aspect, the present application provides a site indication apparatus, the apparatus comprises:

[0013] The receiving module is configured to continue receiving an additional signal at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station, the additional signal being used to indicate the identity of the first station.

[0014] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a station device, which comprises:

[0015] a processor;

[0016] a transceiver connected to the processor;

[0017] a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor;

[0018] The processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the station indication method according to the above aspects.

[0019] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, the computer program being used to be executed by a processor to implement the station indication method.

[0020] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which comprises a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, and is used to implement the station indication method when the chip is running on a terminal or a network device.

[0021] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which comprises computer instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium; a processor of a communication device reads the computer instructions from the computer readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions, so that the communication device implements the station indication method.

[0022] In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program, which is executed by a processor of a communication device to implement the station indication method.

[0023] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present application can have the following beneficial effects:

[0024] The first station transmits an additional signal used to indicate the identity of the first station after transmitting the first PPDU to the second station, so that the second station can accurately identify which first station transmits the first PPDU based on the additional signal, thereby enabling the first station and the second station to accurately perform uplink and downlink transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a structure schematic diagram of a request frame provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0033] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0034] FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of a station indication method provided by the related art;

[0035] FIG. 11 shows a structure block diagram of a station indication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG. 12 shows a structure block diagram of a station indication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG. 13 shows a structure schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] For the purpose of clarity, technical solution, and advantages of the present application, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, and examples thereof are shown in the drawings. In the following description related to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all the embodiments consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work on the basis of the embodiments in the present application belong to the scope of protection of the present application. The terms used in the present disclosure are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" used in the present disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used in the present disclosure to describe various information, these information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one type of information from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, first information can also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information can also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein can be interpreted as "when" or "upon determination" or "in response to determining".

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The communication system 10 includes terminal-to-terminal, or terminal-to-network device, or access point (AP) to station (STA), which is not limited in the present application. In the present application, the communication system 10 is taken as an example including an AP 110 and a STA 120.

[0040] In some scenarios, the AP can also be referred to as an AP STA, that is, in a certain sense, the AP is also a kind of STA. In some scenarios, the STA can also be referred to as a non-AP STA (non-AP STA).

[0041] In some embodiments, the STAs can include AP STAs and non-AP STAs. The communications in the communication system can be between an AP and a non-AP STA, between non-AP STAs, or between a STA and a peer STA, where the peer STA can refer to a device that communicates with the STA, e.g., the peer STA can be an AP or a non-AP STA. As an example, there are two communication scenarios between a STA and an AP: an uplink communication scenario and a downlink communication scenario. In the uplink communication scenario, the STA transmits signals to the AP. In the downlink communication scenario, the AP transmits signals to the STA. The AP functions as a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network, and mainly connects various wireless network clients together and then accesses the wireless network to the Ethernet. The AP device can be a terminal device (e.g., a mobile phone) or a network device (e.g., a router) with a Wi-Fi chip.

[0042] It should be understood that the role of the STA in the communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone connects to a router, the mobile phone is a non-AP STA. In the case where the mobile phone acts as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone plays the role of an AP. The AP and the non-AP STA can be devices applied in the Internet of Vehicles, Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, sensors, etc., smart cameras, smart remote controllers, smart water meters, etc. in smart homes, and sensors, etc. in smart cities.

[0043] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA can support, but is not limited to, the 802.11be standard. The non-AP STA can also support the 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and other current and future WLAN standards of the 802.11 family. In some embodiments, the AP can be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. The AP can also be a device supporting the 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and other current and future WLAN standards of the 802.11 family.

[0044] In the embodiments of the present application, the STA can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a communication device in industrial control, a set-top box, a communication device in unmanned driving, a vehicle-mounted communication device, a communication device in remote medical treatment, a communication device in smart power grid, a communication device in transportation safety, a communication device in smart city, a communication device in smart home, a wireless communication chip, and the like supporting WLAN / Wi-Fi technology. The WLAN technology can support frequency bands including, but not limited to, low frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz), and high frequency bands (45 GHz, 60 GHz).

[0045] There is one or more links between the station and the access point, and in some embodiments, the station and the access point support multi-band communication, for example, simultaneously communicating on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz and 60 GHz frequency bands, or simultaneously communicating on different channels of the same frequency band (or different frequency bands), to improve the communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such devices are commonly referred to as multi-band devices, and can also be referred to as multi-link devices (MLD), and sometimes referred to as multi-link entities or multi-band entities. The multi-link device can be an access point device or a station device. If the multi-link device is an access point device, the multi-link device includes one or more APs; if the multi-link device is a station device, the multi-link device includes one or more non-AP STAs. The multi-link device including one or more APs can also be referred to as an AP, and the multi-link device including one or more non-AP STAs can also be referred to as a Non-AP, which can be referred to as a STA in the embodiments of the present application.

[0046] In the embodiments of the present application, the AP can include a plurality of APs, the Non-AP can include a plurality of STAs, and a plurality of links can be formed between the plurality of APs in the AP and the plurality of STAs in the Non-AP. The AP in the AP and the corresponding STA in the Non-AP can communicate data through the corresponding link.

[0047] The AP is a device deployed in a wireless local area network to provide wireless communication functions for STAs, which can include a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user device. Optionally, the STA can also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, and the like, without limitation.

[0048] In embodiments of the present application, the STA and the AP both support the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, but are not limited to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0049] In the related art, in a case where the second station transmits the MU-RTS frame to the plurality of first stations, the second station will receive the CTS frame replied from at least one of the first stations. The CTS frame is a response frame transmitted by the first station to respond to the MU-RTS frame. However, in a case where the plurality of first stations all transmit the CTS frame, the second station cannot accurately identify which of the first stations transmit the CTS frame. For example, assume that the second station transmits the MU-RTS frame to {first station 1, first station 2, first station 3}, wherein the first station 1 and the first station 2 reply the CTS frame to the second station and the CTS frame is received by the second station; the first station 3 does not reply the CTS frame to the second station, or the first station 3 replies the CTS frame to the second station but the CTS frame is not received by the second station. At this time, the CTS frame actually received by the second station is from the first station 1 and the first station 2, but the second station cannot accurately identify. For example, the second station can think that the received CTS frame is from the first station 1 and the first station 3. Based on this, the second station can mistakenly allocate the transmission resource to the first station 3, thereby causing waste of the transmission resource.

[0050] To reduce or avoid the above problems, embodiments of the present application provide a station indication method. The first station transmits an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, so that the second station can identify which first station transmits the first PPDU based on the additional signal, thereby enabling the first station and the second station to accurately perform uplink and downlink transmission.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a station indication method according to an example embodiment of the present application. The method is performed by a first station. The method comprises:

[0052] Step 220: The first station transmits an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU to the second station.

[0053] The additional signal is used to indicate the identity of the first station. Optionally, the additional signal is used to indicate the first station or the identity of the first station or the identification of the first station. Optionally, the identification of the first station is used to uniquely identify the first station.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first PPDU carries a response frame to a request frame transmitted by the second station. Optionally, the request frame is a MU-RTS frame and the response frame is a CTS frame. In some other possible embodiments, the request frame and the response frame can also be other frames, such as newly defined request frame and response frame, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0055] In some embodiments, the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, and the second PPDU is a different PPDU from the first PPDU. Optionally, the second PPDU comprises a Null Data PPDU (NDP) Feedback Report.

[0056] In some embodiments, the first station can transmit the response frame to the request frame to the second station only after the first station receives the request frame transmitted by the second station.

[0057] In some embodiments, the request frame transmitted by the second station is for multiple first stations. However, the multiple first stations can not all receive the request frame. For example, assume that the second station transmits a request frame for {first station 1, first station 2, first station 3}, wherein first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame; first station 3 does not receive the request frame.

[0058] In some embodiments, the plurality of first stations that receive the request frame do not necessarily all send a response frame for the request frame. For example, assume that first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame sent by the second station, where first station 1 sends a response frame for the request frame to the second station, but first station 2 does not send a response frame for the request frame to the second station.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first station comprises a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD or an AP or an AP MLD.

[0060] In some embodiments, the second station comprises a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD or an AP or an AP MLD.

[0061] In the embodiments of the present application, the first station is a non-AP STA, and the second station is an AP STA.

[0062] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an AP sends a request frame to {station 1, station 2, station 3}. After receiving the request frame, station 1 and station 3 send a response frame to the AP, and at the same time, send an additional signal at the tail of the response frame. For example, station 1 sends an additional signal at the tail of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 1. Station 3 sends an additional signal at the tail of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 3. Station 2 detects that the medium is busy (P20 detected by physical CS or virtual CS) and therefore does not send a response frame to the AP. The AP determines that station 2 does not respond, and therefore does not send data to station 2.

[0063] In some embodiments, the first PPDU is a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU, and can also be a High Effiency (HE) Switch User (SU) PPDU or a HE Trigger-Based (TB) PPDU or an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) MU PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU or an Ultra High Reliability (UHR) MU PPDU or a UHR TB PPDU. In some possible cases, in order to better compatible with legacy STAs, the first PPDU can only be a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU.

[0064] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second STA is carried in a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU or a HE MU PPDU or an EHT MU PPDU or a UHR MU PPDU.

[0065] In summary, the method provided by the embodiments enables the second STA to accurately identify which first STA sends the first PPDU based on the additional signal after the first STA sends the first PPDU to the second STA, so that the uplink and downlink transmission between the first STA and the second STA can be accurately performed.

[0066] Next, in the case of the above embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the additional signal is introduced as follows:

[0067] 1.1 Channel carrying the additional signal

[0068] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted based on at least one of the following manners:

[0069] • The additional signal is transmitted on the main channel;

[0070] • The additional signal is transmitted on each sub-channel in the first channel, and the first channel is the channel indicated by the second STA in the request frame;

[0071] • The additional signal is transmitted on the main channel in a time-sharing manner.

[0072] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted only on the primary 20MHz channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, station 1 transmits a response frame on the primary 20MHz channel, and the additional signal is also transmitted on the primary 20MHz channel. Station 3 transmits a response frame on the primary 80MHz channel (including 4 20MHz sub-channels), and the additional signal is still transmitted only on the primary 20MHz channel.

[0073] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted on each sub-channel in the first channel indicated by the second station in the request frame. Or, it can be understood that the additional signal is transmitted on each 20MHz sub-channel corresponding to the response frame. For example, assuming that the first station transmits a response frame on the ith sub-channel, the additional signal is transmitted on the ith sub-channel. Alternatively, the first station can transmit the response frame using multiple sub-channels. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, station 1 transmits a response frame on the primary 20MHz channel, and the additional signal is also transmitted on the primary 20MHz channel. Station 3 transmits a response frame on the primary 80MHz channel (including 4 20MHz sub-channels), and the additional signal is transmitted on the primary 80MHz channel (including 4 20MHz sub-channels), i.e., on the 4 20MHz sub-channels.

[0074] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted on the primary 20MHz channel in a time-division manner. Different first stations transmit the additional signal using different symbol periods after the first PPDU on the primary 20MHz channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, station 3 transmits a response frame on the primary 80MHz channel (including 4 20MHz sub-channels), and the additional signal is transmitted in the first symbol period after the response frame on the primary 20MHz channel. Station 1 transmits a response frame on the primary 20MHz channel, and the additional signal is transmitted in the second symbol period after the response frame on the primary 20MHz channel.

[0075] In some embodiments, in order to make the interval between the first PPDU carrying the response frame transmitted by the first station and other PPDUs transmitted subsequently by the second station not exceed the priority interframe space (PIFS), the above-mentioned additional signal can use at most the time length corresponding to two symbols, or not exceed the time length indicated by the station internal constant aSlotTime, or 9 microseconds.

[0076] 1.2 Form of the additional signal

[0077] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted in the following two ways:

[0078] • Orthogonal Code Division Multiplexin (CDM) scheme;

[0079] • Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme.

[0080] For CDM scheme:

[0081] In some embodiments,

[0082] The additional signal is transmitted in CDM scheme. The information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence. Or, the additional signal is transmitted in the form of a CDM sequence. Different first stations transmit the additional signal on the same channel and / or subcarrier using different designated or assigned CDM sequences. Optionally, a cyclic shift, also called phase rotation, is used in the frequency domain. Optionally, an orthogonal sequence is used in the time domain.

[0083] In some embodiments, the CDM sequence is pre-negotiated between the first station and the second station, and / or is pre-calculated according to a pre-defined algorithm, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame.

[0084] In some embodiments, the CDM sequence is generated based on at least one of the following sequences:

[0085] • ZC sequence;

[0086] • Gold sequence;

[0087] • Maximum length sequence.

[0088] Taking ZC (Zadoff-Chu) sequence as an example, for an additional signal using M subcarriers, the length N of the ZC sequence is determined as the largest prime number less than or equal to M. For example, for an additional signal using 64 subcarriers, the length of the ZC sequence is 63.

[0089] The formula corresponding to a root ZC sequence with length N is as follows:

[0090] where q is a pre-defined integer greater than 0, for example a prime number. Different q values will derive different root ZC sequences. N represents the length of the ZC sequence.

[0091] The base sequence of length M is calculated based on the following formula:

[0092] where mod represents the modulus operation, which is used to calculate the remainder after two numbers are divided. M represents the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal.

[0093] That is, the base sequence of length M is obtained by cyclically extending the ZC sequence of length N (starting at 0 and taking M-1 steps). Then, the CDM sequence corresponding to the additional signal sent by different stations can be obtained by cyclically shifting the generated base sequence.

[0094] where a represents a phase rotation factor, which is equivalent to the number of cyclic shifts. For example, if a is set to 6, then the sequence of length 64 can correspond to at most 10 different stations. If a is set to 1, then the sequence of length 64 can correspond to at most 63 different stations.

[0095] In some embodiments, the CDM method includes at least one of the following:

[0096] • a CDM method in the frequency domain;

[0097] • a CDM method in the time domain;

[0098] • a CDM method in the frequency domain superimposed on the time domain.

[0099] In some embodiments, the information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence in a designated or assigned frequency domain. For example, different orthogonal sequences are generated by cyclically shifting a base sequence of length 64, and then assigned to at most 63 different first stations. This method has the advantage of shorter time consumption in the time domain. Each first station uses the same 64 subcarriers to transmit the corresponding CDM sequence, and the number of subcarriers used is large, so the anti-interference ability is strong. Optionally, the number of subcarriers is related to the sequence length, for example, the number of subcarriers is equal to the sequence length.

[0100] In some embodiments, the information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence in time domain. For example, by multiplying a predefined OFDM symbol with an orthogonal sequence. Different first stations transmit different orthogonal sequences in different symbol durations in the same resource unit (RU), e.g., a 26-tone RU. This approach has the advantage of lower bandwidth requirement in frequency domain. Optionally, the symbol duration is related to the length of the sequence, e.g., the number of symbols is equal to the length of the sequence. For example, assume the length of the sequence is 2, then there can be 3 first stations transmitting CDM sequences in a RU. In the primary 20MHz channel, there are 9 26-tone RUs, so there can be 3*9=27 first stations transmitting CDM sequences in total. The CDM sequences transmitted by different first stations in different RUs can be the same and / or different. When using CDM sequences in time domain, the RUs used by a first station in different symbol durations can be different. For example, 26-tone RU1 is used in the first symbol duration and 26-tone RU9 is used in the second symbol duration.

[0101] In some embodiments, the information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence in frequency domain superimposed time domain. For example, assume two symbols are transmitted, each modulated symbol corresponds to a base sequence of length 64, and in time domain the modulated symbol is multiplied by an orthogonal sequence of length 2, so that the capacity is expanded, i.e., 63*3 different first stations are indicated. When using CDM sequences in frequency domain superimposed time domain, the subcarriers used by a first station in different symbol durations can be different, e.g., a 64-tone subcarrier group in 256 tones is used in the first symbol duration and another 64-tone subcarrier group in 256 tones is used in the second symbol duration.

[0102] For OFDMA approach:

[0103] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted in OFDMA approach. The additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned subcarrier group or resource unit. Each subcarrier group or resource unit includes one or more subcarriers. The subcarrier group or resource unit is pre-negotiated by the first station and the second station, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame.

[0104] In some embodiments, different first stations transmit the additional signal using different designated or assigned subcarrier groups or different resource units. For example, the first station 1 transmits the additional signal using the designated or assigned subcarrier group 1 or resource unit 1. The first station 2 transmits the additional signal using the designated or assigned subcarrier group 2 or resource unit 2.

[0105] In some embodiments, the second station assigns different first stations different subcarrier groups within the 20 MHz bandwidth, and the first stations transmit one or more Long Training Field (LTF) symbols (including possible Guard Intervals (GIs)) using the assigned subcarrier groups. For example, the second station assigns or indicates that the subcarrier group { -113, -77, -41, 6, 42, 78} in the 20 MHz primary channel corresponds to a station with Association Identifier (AID) 3, and the subcarrier group { -112, -76, -40, 7, 43, 79} corresponds to a station with AID 17. Then the station with AID 3 transmits the additional signal with energy on the subcarriers corresponding to the subcarrier group { -113, -77, -41, 6, 42, 78} and no energy on other subcarriers; the station with AID 17 transmits the additional signal with energy on the subcarriers corresponding to the subcarrier group { -112, -76, -40, 7, 43, 79} and no energy on other subcarriers.

[0106] In some embodiments, the same first station can use different subcarriers in different symbol durations. For example, the first station uses the subcarrier group { -113, -77, -41, 6, 42, 78} in the first symbol duration and the subcarrier group { -112, -76, -40, 7, 43, 79} in the second symbol duration.

[0107] In some embodiments, the second station assigns different first stations different resource units within the 20 MHz bandwidth. For example, the 26-tone RU 1 with index 0 corresponds to a station with AID 9, and the 26-tone RU 2 with index 1 corresponds to a station with AID 16.

[0108] In some embodiments, the same first station can use different resource units in different symbol durations. For example, the first station uses the 26-tone RU 1 in the first symbol duration and the 26-tone RU 9 in the second symbol duration.

[0109] By transmitting the additional signal in OFDMA manner, the existing LTF symbol is used, and the implementation is relatively simple.

[0110] 1.3 Duration of the additional signal

[0111] In some embodiments, the duration of the additional signal is 4 microseconds or 8 microseconds or 16 microseconds or 32 microseconds. It is noted that according to the related art, it is possible for the second station to detect the additional signal within 4 microseconds. The start of an OFDM transmission at a receive level greater than or equal to the minimum modulation and coding rate sensitivity (–82 dBm for 20 MHz channel spacing) shall cause CS / CCA to detect a channel busy condition with a probability > 90% within 4 us for 20 MHz channel spacing. Additionally, the CS / CCA mechanism shall detect a medium busy condition within 4 us of any signal with a received energy that is 20 dB above the minimum modulation and coding rate sensitivity (minimum modulation and coding rate sensitivity + 20 dB resulting in –62 dBm for 20 MHz channel spacing).

[0112] In some embodiments, the duration of the additional signal is pre-negotiated, and / or is pre-defined by the protocol, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame. Optionally, the second station explicitly indicates the duration of the additional signal in the request frame when sending the request frame to the plurality of first stations.

[0113] In some embodiments, the duration of the additional signal is related to at least one of:

[0114] • the first station;

[0115] • the current transmission opportunity.

[0116] In some embodiments, the durations of the additional signals sent by different first stations are the same or different. For example, the duration of the additional signal sent by the first station 1 is 4 microseconds, and the duration of the additional signal sent by the first station 2 is 8 microseconds.

[0117] In some embodiments, in order to achieve simplicity, the second station is facilitated to detect the additional signals sent by the multiple first stations, and thus the durations of the additional signals sent by different first stations are the same.

[0118] In some embodiments, the durations of the additional signals in different transmission opportunities are the same or different. For example, the duration of the additional signal in one transmission opportunity is 4 microseconds, and the duration of the additional signal in another transmission opportunity is 16 microseconds.

[0119] In some embodiments, in order to achieve simplicity, the durations of the additional signals in different transmission opportunities are the same.

[0120] It should be understood that the transmission opportunity described in the embodiments of the present application includes the interaction process in which the second station sends the request frame and the first station sends the response frame. For example, the interaction process of one MU-RTS frame and one CTS frame can be understood as one interaction in one transmission opportunity.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first station sending or not sending the additional signal does not need to be explicitly indicated by the second station in the request frame. The first station which is pre-allocated and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, defaults to sending the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. The first station which is not pre-allocated and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. The legacy first station does not send the additional signal after receiving the request frame sent by the second station.

[0122] In some embodiments, whether the first station transmits or does not transmit the additional signal is explicitly indicated by the second station in the request frame. For example, the second station explicitly indicates in the MU-RTS frame whether one or more first stations transmit the additional signal. The first station that is pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame to transmit the additional signal and / or the CDM sequence and / or the subcarrier group and / or the resource unit for transmitting the additional signal determines whether to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU according to the indication in the request frame sent by the second station after receiving the request frame sent by the second station. The first station that is not pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame to transmit the additional signal and / or the CDM sequence and / or the subcarrier group and / or the resource unit for transmitting the additional signal defaults to not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU after receiving the request frame sent by the second station. The legacy first station does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU after receiving the request frame sent by the second station.

[0123] In some embodiments, whether the first station transmits or does not transmit the additional signal is explicitly indicated by the second station in the first frame. The first frame is used to indicate whether the first station transmits or does not transmit the additional signal. Optionally, the first frame carries a first indication, and the first indication is used to indicate that the first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, or the first indication is used to indicate that the first station does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU.

[0124] In some embodiments, the request frame is described by taking the example that the second station explicitly indicates in the request frame whether one or more stations transmit the additional signal. As shown in FIG. 6, the above method further includes:

[0125] Step 320: The first station receives the request frame sent by the second station.

[0126] In some embodiments, the request frame carries a first indication, and the first indication is used to indicate that the first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, or the first indication is used to indicate that the first station does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU.

[0127] In the embodiments of the present application, the request frame sent by the second station is taken as the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7 for description. The numbers below each field in the figure represent the number of bytes or bits that the field may occupy.

[0128] Optionally, the MU-RTS frame comprises at least one of the following fields: a Frame Control field, a Duration field, a Receiver Address (RA) field, a Transmitter Address (TA) field, a Common Info field, a User Info List field, a Padding field, and a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field. The User Info List field comprises zero or one or more Special User Info fields and zero or one or more User Info fields.

[0129] Optionally, the Common Info field is an EHT Variant Common Info field, or a UHR Variant Common Info field, or a Common Info field of another variant.

[0130] Taking the Common Info field as an example, the Common Info field includes at least one of the following subfields: Trigger Type, UL Length, More TF, CS Required, UL BW, GI And HE-LTF Type / Triggered TXOP Sharing Mode, Reserved, Number Of HE / EHT-LTF Symbols, LDPC Extra Symbol Segment, AP Tx Power, Pre-FEC Padding Factor, PE Disambiguity, UL Spatial Reuse, HE / EHT P160, Special User Info Field Flag, EHT Reserved.

[0131] Optionally, the Special User Info field is an EHT Variant Special Info field, or a UHR Variant Special Info field, or a special user information field of another variant.

[0132] Taking the special user information field as an EHT special user information field as an example, the special user information (Special User Info) field includes at least one of the following subfields: AID12, a physical layer version identifier (PHY Version Identifier), an uplink bandwidth extension (UL Bandwidth Extension), an EHT spatial reuse 1 (EHT Spatial Reuse 1), an EHT spatial reuse 2 (EHT Spatial Reuse 2), U-SIG disregard and validation (U-SIG Disregard And Validate), and a reserved field. Wherein, when the AID12 field value is 2007, the AID12 field indicates that the user information field is a special user information field. Wherein the reserved field has 3 bits.

[0133] Optionally, the user information (User Info) field is a HE variant user information (HE Variant User Info) field, an EHT variant special user information (EHT Variant User Info) field, or a UHR variant user information (UHR Variant User Info) field, or other variant user information.

[0134] Taking the user information field as an EHT variant user information as an example, the user information (User Info) field includes at least one of the following subfields: AID12, RU allocation (RU Allocation), uplink forward error correction (Forward Error Correction, FEC) coding type (UL FEC Coding Type), uplink EHT modulation and coding category (UL EHT-MCS), reserved (Reserved), spatial stream allocation (SS Allocation), uplink target receive power (UL Target Receive Power), primary secondary 160 (PS160). Wherein, the AID12 field indicates the association identifier value of the opposite end site.

[0135] In some embodiments, one or more of the UL Length field, the Number Of HE / EHT-LTF Symbols field, the LDPC Extra Symbol Segment field, the AP Tx Power field, the Pre-FEC Padding Factor field, the PE Disambiguity field, the UL Spatial Reuse field in the EHT Variant Common Info field can be set as reserved fields. If all of these fields are set as reserved fields, there are 41 reserved bits in total, plus the existing reserved fields and the EHT reserved field, up to 52 reserved bits can be set in the EHT Variant Common Info field.

[0136] In some embodiments, one or more of the UL FEC Coding Type field, the UL EHT-MCS field, the SS Allocation field, the UL Target Receive Power field in the EHT Variant User Info field can be set as reserved fields. If all of these fields are set as reserved fields, there are 18 reserved bits in total, plus the existing reserved fields, up to 19 reserved bits can be set in the EHT Variant User Info field.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first indication is carried in the reserved bits in the MU-RTS frame. Optionally, the first indication is carried in the Common Info field and / or the Special User Info field in the MU-RTS frame. Optionally, the first indication is carried in the User Info field in the MU-RTS frame.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first indication is common. That is, the first indication is used to indicate that all the first stations among all the stations indicated by the user info list support the function described in the method to send additional signals after sending the first PPDU, or to indicate that all the first stations indicated by the user info list do not send additional signals after sending the first PPDU.

[0139] In the embodiments of the present application, the first indication is carried in the Common Info field and / or the Special User Info field in the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, the Common Info field and / or the Special User Info field in the MU-RTS frame carries at least one of the following fields: an additional signal (AS) field, an additional signal duration (ASDuration) field, an additional signal transmission power (ASTX power) field, an additional signal expected receiving signal strength (ASTarget RSSI) field, an additional signal type (AS Type) field, a CDM sequence space index (CDM Space Index) field, and an additional signal subcarrier space index (AS Tone Space Index) field.

[0140] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station carries at least one of the following fields:

[0141] a first field, used for indicating whether the first station needs to send an additional signal after sending the first PPDU;

[0142] a second field, used for indicating a duration of the additional signal;

[0143] a third field, used for indicating a transmission power of the additional signal;

[0144] a fourth field, used for indicating a receiving signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal;

[0145] a fifth field, used for indicating a type of the additional signal;

[0146] a sixth field, used for indicating an index of a sequence space to which a CDM sequence belongs;

[0147] a seventh field, used for indicating a number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or used for indicating an index of a subcarrier group space to which a subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs.

[0148] In some embodiments, when the first field is a first value, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is a second value, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or can not transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. Optionally, when the first field is 0, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is 1, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or can not transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. Optionally, when the first field is 1, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is 0, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or can not transmit an additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. In some embodiments, the first field can also be referred to as an additional signal (AS) field. In some embodiments, the first field includes 1 bit.

[0149] In some embodiments, when the second field is 0 (or binary value 00), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 4 microseconds. When the second field is 1 (or binary value 01), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 8 microseconds. When the second field is 2 (or binary value 10), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 16 microseconds. When the second field is 3 (or binary value 11), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 32 microseconds. In some embodiments, the second field can also be referred to as an additional signal duration (ASDuration) field. In some embodiments, the second field includes 2 bits.

[0150] In some embodiments, in order to improve the success rate of receiving and parsing the additional signal, similar to the power control of the TB UL transmission based on the trigger frame, the second station can also indicate the transmission power (TX Power) and / or the expected received signal strength (Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI) of the additional signal in the request frame.

[0151] In some embodiments, the third field can also be referred to as an additional signal transmit power (AS TX power) field. In some embodiments, the third field includes 6 bits or 8 bits. (indicates the average power per 20MHz bandwidth referenced to the antenna connector of all antennas used to transmit the additional signals of the following PPDUs. The transmit power is reported with a resolution of 1 dB, with values in the range 0 to 60 representing -20 dBm to 40 dBm, respectively. Values above 60 are reserved.)

[0152] In some embodiments, the fourth field can also be referred to as an additional signal target received signal strength (AS Target RSSI) field. In some embodiments, the fourth field includes 6 bits or 8 bits. (indicates the preferred receive signal power, averaged over the AP’s antenna connectors, for the additional signals of the following PPDUs to be transmitted by the non-AP STAs. The preferred receive signal power in units of dBm is RSSI = -110 + FVal, where FVal is the value of the AS Target RSSI field, except that values above 90 indicate that the AP has no receive signal power preference for the additional signals.)

[0153] In some embodiments, the type of additional signals includes at least one of: a CDM sequence; a sequence over subcarriers; a sequence over resource units.

[0154] In some embodiments, the fifth field is used to indicate the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence when the fifth field is a first value; the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers when the fifth field is a second value; the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource elements when the fifth field is a third value. For example, the fifth field is used to indicate the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence when the fifth field is 0 (or binary value 00); the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers when the fifth field is 1 (or binary value 01); the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource elements when the fifth field is 2 (or binary value 10). Or, the fifth field is used to indicate the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence when the fifth field is 1 (or binary value 01); the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers when the fifth field is 2 (or binary value 10); the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource elements when the fifth field is 3 (or binary value 11). There can be other combinations for the fifth field to indicate the type of the additional signal, which are not listed here. In some embodiments, the fifth field can also be referred to as an additional signal type (AS Type) field. In some embodiments, the fifth field includes 2 bits.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first station can be pre-assigned or pre-defined by a protocol with multiple alternative sequence spaces, and the sixth field is used to indicate the sequence space to be used for the interaction between the request frame and the response frame. In some embodiments, the sixth field can also be referred to as a CDM space index field. In some embodiments, the sixth field includes 2 bits.

[0156] In some embodiments, the sixth field is always present. In some embodiments, the sixth field is present only when a condition is met. For example, the sixth field is present when the type of the additional signal is a first type, which is used to indicate that the information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence. Alternatively, the sixth field is present when the fifth field indicates that the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first station can be pre-assigned or pre-defined by a protocol with multiple alternative subcarrier groups, and the seventh field is used to indicate the number of subcarriers or the index of the subcarrier group space to be used in the interaction between the request frame and the response frame. For example, in the case that the seventh field is 0 (or binary value 00), the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 4; in the case that the seventh field is 1 (or binary value 01), the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 8; in the case that the seventh field is 2 (or binary value 10), the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 16; in the case that the seventh field is 3 (or binary value 11), the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 32. For another example, in the case that the seventh field is 0 (or binary value 00), the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 4 belongs; in the case that the seventh field is 1 (or binary value 01), the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 8 belongs; in the case that the seventh field is 2 (or binary value 10), the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 16 belongs; in the case that the seventh field is 3 (or binary value 11), the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 32 belongs. In some embodiments, the seventh field can also be referred to as an additional signal subcarrier space index (AS Tone Space Index) field. In some embodiments, the seventh field includes 2 bits.

[0158] In some embodiments, the seventh field is always present. In some embodiments, the seventh field is present only when a condition is met. For example, in the case that the type of the additional signal is a second type, the seventh field is present, and the second type is used to indicate that the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned subcarrier group. Optionally, in the case that the fifth field indicates that the type of the additional signal is a sequence on subcarriers, the seventh field is present.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first indication is associated with the first station. Or, the first indication is Per-STA. Optionally, the request frame sent by the second station carries one or more first indications, respectively indicating whether the corresponding first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU or does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. For example, assuming that the bandwidth of the PPDU carrying the MU-RTS frame sent by the second station is 80MHz, if the second station allocates an 80MHz corresponding 996-tone RU to only one first station for transmitting the CTS frame, it can be indicated that this first station does not transmit the additional signal, because the second station can determine whether the CTS frame sent by the first station is received according to whether the 80MHz PPDU is received.

[0160] In the embodiments of the present application, the first indication is carried in the User Info field of the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7. Optionally, the User Info field of the MU-RTS frame carries at least one of the following fields: an additional signal (AS) field, an additional signal duration (ASDuration) field, an additional signal transmission power (ASTX power) field, an additional signal expected received signal strength (ASTarget RSSI) field, an additional signal type (AS Type) field, a CDM sequence space index (CDM Space Index) field, a CDM sequence index (CDM Index) field, an additional signal resource unit (AS RU) field, an additional signal subcarrier space number (AS Tone Space Index) field, and an additional signal subcarrier group number (AS Tone Group Index) field.

[0161] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station carries at least one of the following fields:

[0162] A first field for indicating whether the first station needs to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU;

[0163] A second field for indicating the duration of the additional signal;

[0164] A third field for indicating the transmission power of the additional signal;

[0165] A fourth field for indicating the received signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal;

[0166] A fifth field for indicating the type of the additional signal;

[0167] A sixth field for indicating the index of the sequence space to which the CDM sequence belongs.

[0168] The eighth field is used to indicate the index of the CDM sequence in the sequence space to which the CDM sequence belongs.

[0169] The ninth field is used to indicate the resource units occupied by the additional signal.

[0170] The seventh field is used to indicate the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or to indicate the index of the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs.

[0171] The tenth field is used to indicate the index of the subcarrier group used by the additional signal in the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group belongs.

[0172] In some embodiments, when the first field is a first value, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is a second value, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or cannot transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. Optionally, when the first field is 0, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is 1, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or cannot transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. Optionally, when the first field is 1, the first field is used to indicate that the first station needs or can transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; when the first field is 0, the first field is used to indicate that the first station does not need or cannot transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. In some embodiments, the first field can also be referred to as an additional signal (AS) field. In some embodiments, the first field includes 1 bit.

[0173] In some embodiments, when the second field is 0 (or binary value 00), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 4 microseconds. When the second field is 1 (or binary value 01), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 8 microseconds. When the second field is 2 (or binary value 10), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 16 microseconds. When the second field is 3 (or binary value 11), the second field is used to indicate that the duration of the additional signal is 32 microseconds. In some embodiments, the second field can also be referred to as an additional signal duration (ASDuration) field. In some embodiments, the second field includes 2 bits.

[0174] In some embodiments, to improve the reception and parsing success rate of the additional signals, similar to the power control of the TB UL transmission based on the trigger frame, the second station can also indicate the transmission power (TX Power) and / or the expected received signal strength (Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI) of the additional signals in the request frame.

[0175] In some embodiments, the third field can also be referred to as an additional signal transmission power (AS TX power) field. In some embodiments, the third field includes 6 bits or 8 bits. (indicates the average power per 20MHz bandwidth referenced to the antenna connector of all antennas used to transmit the additional signals of the following PPDUs. The transmit power is reported with a resolution of 1dB, with values in the range 0 to 60 representing-20dBm to 40dBm, respectively. Values above 60 are reserved.)

[0176] In some embodiments, the fourth field can also be referred to as an additional signal expected receive signal strength (AS Target RSSI) field. In some embodiments, the fourth field includes 6 bits or 8 bits. (indicates the preferred receive signal power, averaged over the AP’s antenna connectors, for the additional signals of the following PPDUs to be transmitted by the non-AP STAs. The preferred receive signal power in units of dBm is RSSI = -110 + FVal, where FVal is the value of the AS Target RSSI field, except that values above 90 indicate that the AP has no receive signal power preference for the additional signals.)

[0177] In some embodiments, the type of additional signal includes at least one of: a CDM sequence; a sequence on a subcarrier; a sequence on a resource unit.

[0178] In some embodiments, when the fifth field is a first value, the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence; when the fifth field is a second value, the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers; when the fifth field is a third value, the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource units. For example, when the fifth field is 0 (or binary value 00), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence; when the fifth field is 1 (or binary value 01), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers; when the fifth field is 2 (or binary value 10), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource units. Or, when the fifth field is 1 (or binary value 01), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a CDM sequence; when the fifth field is 2 (or binary value 10), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over subcarriers; when the fifth field is 3 (or binary value 11), the fifth field is used to indicate that the type of the additional signal is a sequence over resource units. There can be other combinations for the fifth field to indicate the type of the additional signal, which are not listed here. In some embodiments, the fifth field can also be referred to as an additional signal type (AS Type) field. In some embodiments, the fifth field includes 2 bits.

[0179] In some embodiments, the first station can be pre-assigned or pre-defined by a protocol with multiple alternative sequence spaces, and the sixth field is used to indicate the sequence space to be used for the interaction between the request frame and the response frame. In some embodiments, the sixth field can also be referred to as a CDM sequence space index (CDM Space Index) field. In some embodiments, the sixth field includes 2 bits.

[0180] In some embodiments, when the eighth field is an i-th value, the eighth field is used to indicate that the CDM sequence is the i-th sequence in the sequence space. i is a positive integer. For example, the eighth field has values from 0 to 63, which are used to indicate the 1st sequence to the 64th sequence, respectively. In some embodiments, the eighth field can also be referred to as a CDM sequence index (CDM Index) field. In some embodiments, the eighth field includes 6 bits.

[0181] In some embodiments, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is persistent. In some embodiments, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is present only if a condition is met. For example, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is present if the type of the additional signal is a first type, the first type indicating that the information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned CDM sequence. Alternatively, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is present if the type of the additional signal is indicated by the fifth field to be a CDM sequence.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first station can be pre-assigned or pre-defined by a protocol with a plurality of alternative subcarrier groups, and the seventh field is used to indicate the number of subcarriers or the index of the subcarrier group space to be used in the interaction between the request frame and the response frame. For example, the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 4 if the seventh field is 0 (or binary value 00); the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 8 if the seventh field is 1 (or binary value 01); the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 16 if the seventh field is 2 (or binary value 10); and the seventh field is used to indicate that the number of subcarriers used by the additional signal is 32 if the seventh field is 3 (or binary value 11). For another example, the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 4 belongs if the seventh field is 0 (the seventh field and / or the tenth field is 00); the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 8 belongs if the seventh field is 1 (or binary value 01); the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 16 belongs if the seventh field is 2 (or binary value 10); and the seventh field is used to indicate the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group with the number of subcarriers being 32 belongs if the seventh field is 3 (or binary value 11). In some embodiments, the seventh field can also be referred to as an additional signal subcarrier space index (AS Tone Space Index) field. In some embodiments, the seventh field includes 2 bits.

[0183] In some embodiments, the tenth field is used to indicate the jth subcarrier group in the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs when the tenth field is the jth value. The value of j is a positive integer. For example, the value of the tenth field is 0 to 63, which are respectively used to indicate the 1st 4-tone subcarrier group to the 64th 4-tone subcarrier group. In some embodiments, the tenth field can also be referred to as an additional signal subcarrier group index (AS Tone Group Index) field. In some embodiments, the tenth field includes 6 bits.

[0184] In some embodiments, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is persistently present. In some embodiments, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is conditionally present. For example, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is present if the type of the additional signal is a second type, the second type indicating that the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned subcarrier group. Optionally, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is present if the type of the additional signal is a sequence on subcarriers, as indicated by the fifth field.

[0185] In some embodiments, the ninth field is used to indicate on which resource unit the first station transmits the additional signal. For example, when the ninth field has a value of 0 to 8, it indicates that the first station transmits the additional signal on the corresponding resource unit in the 26-tone RU1 to 26-tone RU9, respectively. When the ninth field has a value of 37 to 40, it indicates that the first station transmits the additional signal on the corresponding resource unit in the 52-tone RU1 to 52-tone RU4, respectively. When the ninth field has a value of 53, it indicates that the first station transmits the additional signal on the 106-tone RU1. When the ninth field has a value of 54, it indicates that the first station transmits the additional signal on the 106-tone RU2. The remaining values are reserved.

[0186] In some embodiments, the ninth field is persistently present. In some embodiments, the ninth field is conditionally present. For example, the ninth field is present if the type of the additional signal is a third type, the third type indicating that the additional signal is carried on a designated or assigned resource unit. Optionally, the ninth field is present if the type of the additional signal is a sequence on resource units, as indicated by the fifth field.

[0187] In some embodiments, to meet the requirements of relevant regulations, such as requirements for Control Signalling Transmissions. The second station can control the transmission frequency and the total duration of the additional signal in a period of time by indicating in the request frame whether to send or not to send the additional signal. For example, the frequency of sending the additional signal within 50 milliseconds is less than or equal to 50 times, and the total duration of the additional signal within 50 milliseconds does not exceed 2500 microseconds. (Short Control Signalling Transmissions are transmissions used by the equipment to send management and control frames without sensing the channel for the presence of other signals. The use of Short Control Signalling Transmissions is constrained as follows: within an observation period of 50ms, the number of Short Control Signalling Transmissions by the equipment shall be equal to or less than 50; and the total duration of the equipment's Short Control Signalling Transmissions shall be less than 2 500μs within said observation period.)

[0188] The fields, elements, and byte numbers shown in FIG. 7 are optional examples. The present application supports any adaptive modification of the frame format of the MU-RTS frame, such as adding fields, reducing some fields, recombining some fields, changing byte numbers, changing field names, and the like.

[0189] In some embodiments, the step 320 described above is performed before the step 220.

[0190] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a station indication method according to an example embodiment of the present application. The method is performed by a second station. The method includes:

[0191] Step 420: The second station continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station.

[0192] The additional signal is used to indicate the identity of the first station. Optionally, the additional signal is used to indicate the first station or the identity or the identification of the first station. Optionally, the identification of the first station is used to uniquely identify the first station.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first PPDU carries a response frame to a request frame transmitted by the second station. Optionally, the request frame is a MU-RTS frame and the response frame is a CTS frame. In some other possible embodiments, the request frame and the response frame can also be other frames, such as newly defined request frame and response frame, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0194] In some embodiments, the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, which is a different PPDU from the first PPDU. Optionally, the second PPDU includes a Null Data Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (NDP) Feedback Report.

[0195] In some embodiments, the first station can transmit the response frame to the request frame to the second station only after the first station receives the request frame transmitted by the second station.

[0196] In some embodiments, the request frame transmitted by the second station is to multiple first stations. However, the multiple first stations are not necessarily all able to receive the request frame. For example, assuming that the second station transmits a request frame to {first station 1, first station 2, first station 3}, wherein first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame; first station 3 does not receive the request frame.

[0197] In some embodiments, the multiple first stations that receive the request frame are not necessarily all able to transmit the response frame to the request frame. For example, assuming that first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame transmitted by the second station, wherein first station 1 transmits the response frame to the request frame to the second station, but first station 2 does not transmit the response frame to the request frame to the second station.

[0198] In some embodiments, the first station includes a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD or an AP STA or an AP MLD.

[0199] In some embodiments, the second station comprises a non-AP station (non-AP STA) or a non-AP multi-link device (non-AP MLD) or an AP station (AP) or an AP multi-link device (AP MLD).

[0200] In the embodiments of the present application, the first station is a non-AP station, and the second station is an AP station.

[0201] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the AP sends a request frame to {station 1, station 2, station 3}. After receiving the request frame, station 1 and station 3 send a response frame to the AP, and at the same time, station 1 and station 3 send an additional signal at the end of the response frame. For example, station 1 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 1. Station 3 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 3. Station 2 detects that the medium is busy (P20 detected by physical CS or virtual CS) and therefore does not send a response frame to the AP. The AP determines that station 2 does not respond, so it does not send data to station 2. Then, the AP continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the response frame sent by station 1, and continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the response frame sent by station 3.

[0202] In some embodiments, the first PPDU is a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU, and can also be a High Efficiency (HE) Switch User (SU) PPDU or a HE Trigger-Based (TB) PPDU or an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) MU PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU or an Ultra High Reliability (UHR) MU PPDU or a UHR TB PPDU. In some possible cases, in order to better compatible with legacy stations (legacy STAs), the first PPDU can only be a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU.

[0203] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station is carried in a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU or a HE MU PPDU or an EHT MU PPDU or a UHR MU PPDU.

[0204] In summary, the method provided in the embodiment enables the second station to continue receiving the additional signal after receiving the first PPDU, so that the first station and the second station can accurately perform uplink and downlink transmission based on the additional signal.

[0205] In some embodiments, the second station can indicate the target receiving station when sending the request frame. For example, the target receiving station can be indicated in the User Info List field in the MU-RTS frame. Therefore, the second station can determine which stations are likely to send the response frame and which stations are likely to send the additional signal. Based on this, the second station can determine whether it needs to continue receiving the additional signal at the end of the first PPDU. Other stations, such as legacy stations, will discard the additional signal that cannot be parsed after receiving the end of the first PPDU.

[0206] In some embodiments, since the additional signal has good autocorrelation and cross-correlation, the second station can use a correlator to search for the additional signal in a known search space, that is, to detect and identify the additional signal, which is relatively simple and can be implemented using existing hardware. In some embodiments, if the second station fails to successfully identify one or more first stations indicated by the additional signal, the second station continues to perform according to the rules and procedures in the existing standard.

[0207] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted based on at least one of the following methods:

[0208] • The additional signal is transmitted on the main channel;

[0209] • The additional signal is transmitted on each sub-channel in the first channel, and the first channel is the channel indicated by the second station in the request frame;

[0210] • The additional signal is transmitted on the main channel in a time-sharing manner.

[0211] Since the transmission method of the additional signal is different, the above step 420 can be replaced by at least one of the following sub-steps:

[0212] Step 421: Continue receiving the additional signal on the main channel at the end of the first PPDU sent by the first station;

[0213] Step 422: Continue receiving the additional signal on each sub-channel in the first channel at the end of the first PPDU sent by the first station, and the first channel is the channel indicated by the second station in the request frame;

[0214] Step 423: Continue to receive the additional signal in a time-division manner on the primary channel at the end of the first PPDU sent by the first station.

[0215] In some embodiments, the additional signal is introduced as described in 1.1-1.3 above.

[0216] In some embodiments, the second station explicitly indicates in the first frame whether the first station transmits or does not transmit the additional signal. Optionally, the first frame carries a first indication indicating that the first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, or the first indication indicating that the first station does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU. Optionally, the first frame comprises a request frame. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the above method further comprises:

[0217] Step 520: The second station transmits a request frame to the first station.

[0218] In some embodiments, the request frame carries a first indication indicating that the first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, or the first indication indicating that the first station does not transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU.

[0219] In the embodiments of the present application, the request frame sent by the second station is taken as an example of the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7. The numbers below each field in the figure represent the number of bytes or bits that the field may occupy.

[0220] In some embodiments, the request frame is introduced as described in step 320 above.

[0221] In some embodiments, step 520 above is performed before step 420.

[0222] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a station indication method provided in an example embodiment of the present application. The method is jointly performed by a first station and a second station. The method comprises:

[0223] Step 1: The second station transmits a request frame to the first station;

[0224] In some embodiments, the specific implementation is described in step 520 above.

[0225] Step 2: The first station receives the request frame sent by the second station;

[0226] In some embodiments, the specific implementation is described in step 320 above.

[0227] Step 3: The first station transmits the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU to the second station;

[0228] In some embodiments, the detailed implementation of step 220 is described above.

[0229] Step 4: The second station continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the first PPDU sent by the first station.

[0230] In some embodiments, the detailed implementation of step 420 is described above.

[0231] In some embodiments, in order to resist the impersonation attack, i.e. to prevent the attacker from impersonating the first station to send the first PPDU and the additional signal, security enhancement can be performed on the additional signal. In some embodiments, the additional signal is generated based on an additional signal key.

[0232] In some embodiments, the additional signal key is negotiated in advance by the first station and the second station. Optionally, the additional signal key is generated based on a Group Temporal Key (GTK). Optionally, the additional signal key is generated based on a Pairwise Transient Key (PTK).

[0233] In some embodiments, the second station also indicates a random number or a counter value in the beacon frame and / or other management frame. The first station generates a random sequence based on the additional signal key and the random number (or the counter value), and then performs phase rotation on each subcarrier of the CDM sequence or the LTF sequence of the additional signal according to the generated random sequence.

[0234] In some embodiments, the second station also indicates a random number or a counter value in the request frame. The first station generates a random sequence based on the additional signal key and the random number (or the counter value), and then performs phase rotation on each subcarrier of the CDM sequence or the LTF sequence of the additional signal according to the generated random sequence.

[0235] In some embodiments, the second station also indicates a random number or a counter value in the request frame, which is used to generate the additional signal in the next request frame and response frame interaction. The additional signal in the first request frame and response frame interaction uses the initial random value or the default counter value 0 specified in the association time, and the first station generates a random sequence based on the additional signal key and the random number (or the counter value), and then performs phase rotation on each subcarrier of the CDM sequence or the LTF sequence of the additional signal according to the generated random sequence.

[0236] In some embodiments, the second station can generate the same random sequence using the same method, so that the second station can determine the sequence after phase rotation by the first station, and thus can identify the first station. Since the attacker does not know the additional signal key, it cannot generate the random sequence that the first station can generate, and thus cannot impersonate the first station.

[0237] In some embodiments, the method and procedure provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied in various scenarios.

[0238] For example, in an access point initiated downlink multi-user transmission, by identifying which non-access point stations sent the CTS frame, the access point can more efficiently perform downlink transmission and avoid unnecessary retransmission.

[0239] For another example, in an access point initiated uplink multi-user transmission, by identifying which non-access point stations sent the CTS frame, the access point can more efficiently allocate resources for uplink transmission and avoid possible resource waste.

[0240] For another example, in an access point triggered procedure of switching a non-access point station from a lower capability operation mode to a higher capability operation mode, and / or in a procedure of performing non-primary channel access, and / or in a procedure of performing dynamic sub-channel operation, by identifying which non-access point stations sent the CTS frame, the access point can more efficiently perform subsequent downlink transmission, and / or more efficiently allocate resources for uplink transmission, and avoid unnecessary retransmission and / or possible resource waste.

[0241] For another example, by this method, the implementation complexity of the access point in performing non-primary channel access can also be reduced, the access point does not need to predict which non-access point stations will switch to the non-primary channel and / or will not switch to the primary channel. For example, after the access point switches to the non-primary channel, the access point can send a MU-RTS frame with the receiver address field set to the broadcast address, and does not need to indicate in the MU-RTS frame which specific stations need to respond, and the non-access point stations that receive the MU-RTS frame on the non-primary channel all send the CTS frame for response by using the method provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0242] For another example, in a time division multiple access transmission with multi-access point coordination, and / or in a multi-access point cooperation measurement procedure, by identifying which neighbor access points sent the CTS frame, the access point that has the transmission opportunity can better schedule the various neighbor access points and avoid failed scheduling.

[0243] FIG. 11 shows a structural block diagram of a station indication apparatus provided by an example embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the apparatus can be implemented as a first station. The apparatus includes:

[0244] The sending module 1110 is configured to send an additional signal after sending the first PPDU to the second station.

[0245] The additional signal is used to indicate the identity of the first station. Optionally, the additional signal is used to indicate the first station or the identity or the identifier of the first station. Optionally, the identifier of the first station is used to uniquely identify the first station.

[0246] In some embodiments, the first PPDU carries a response frame to a request frame sent by the second station. Optionally, the request frame is a MU-RTS frame and the response frame is a CTS frame. In some other possible embodiments, the request frame and the response frame can also be other frames, such as newly defined request frame and response frame, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0247] In some embodiments, the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, which is a different PPDU from the first PPDU. Optionally, the second PPDU includes a Null Data Physical Layer Convergence Protocol Data Unit (NDP) Feedback Report.

[0248] In some embodiments, the first station can send a response frame to the request frame sent by the second station only after the first station receives the request frame.

[0249] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station is to multiple first stations. However, the multiple first stations can not all receive the request frame. For example, assuming that the second station sends a request frame to {first station 1, first station 2, first station 3}, wherein first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame; first station 3 does not receive the request frame.

[0250] In some embodiments, the multiple first stations that receive the request frame can not all send a response frame to the request frame. For example, assuming that first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame sent by the second station, wherein first station 1 sends a response frame to the request frame to the second station, but first station 2 does not send a response frame to the request frame to the second station.

[0251] In some embodiments, the first station includes a non-access point station (non-AP STA) or a non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) or an access point station (AP) or an access point multi-link device (AP MLD).

[0252] In some embodiments, the second station includes a non-access point station (non-AP STA) or a non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) or an access point station (AP) or an access point multi-link device (AP MLD).

[0253] In the embodiments of the present application, the first station is taken as a non-access point station and the second station is taken as an access point station as an example for description.

[0254] As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, the access point sends a request frame to {Station 1, Station 2, Station 3}. After receiving the request frame, Station 1 and Station 3 send a response frame to the access point, while sending an additional signal at the end of the response frame. For example, Station 1 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of Station 1. Station 3 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of Station 3. Station 2 detects that the medium is busy (Medium busy on P20 detected by physical CS or virtual CS) through physical carrier sensing or virtual carrier sensing, and therefore does not send a response frame to the access point. The access point determines that Station 2 does not respond, and therefore does not send data to Station 2.

[0255] In some embodiments, the first PPDU is a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU, and can also be a High Efficiency (HE) Switch User (SU) PPDU or an HE Trigger-Based (TB) PPDU or an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) MU PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU or an Ultra High Reliability (UHR) MU PPDU or a UHR TB PPDU. In some possible cases, in order to better compatible with legacy stations (legacy STAs), the first PPDU can only be a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU.

[0256] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station is carried in a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU or an HE MU PPDU or an EHT MU PPDU or a UHR MU PPDU.

[0257] In some embodiments, the additional signal is described in detail in 1.1-1.3 above.

[0258] In some embodiments, the first station sending or not sending the additional signal is not explicitly indicated by the second station in the request frame. The first station that is pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, by default sends the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. The first station that is not pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. The legacy first station does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU after receiving the request frame sent by the second station.

[0259] In some embodiments, the first station sending or not sending the additional signal is explicitly indicated by the second station in the request frame. For example, the second station explicitly indicates in the MU-RTS frame whether one or more first stations send the additional signal. The first station that is pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, determines whether to send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU according to the indication in the request frame sent by the second station. The first station that is not pre-assigned and / or indicated by the request frame with the CDM sequence and / or subcarrier group and / or resource unit for transmitting the additional signal, after receiving the request frame sent by the second station, by default does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. The legacy first station does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU after receiving the request frame sent by the second station.

[0260] In some embodiments, the first station sending or not sending the additional signal is explicitly indicated by the second station in the first frame. The first frame is used to indicate the first station sending or not sending the additional signal. Optionally, the first frame carries a first indication, the first indication is used to indicate the first station sending the additional signal after sending the first PPDU, or the first indication is used to indicate the first station not sending the additional signal after sending the first PPDU.

[0261] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0262] The receiving module 1120 is configured to receive the request frame sent by the second station.

[0263] In some embodiments, the request frame carries a first indication, the first indication is used to indicate the first station sending the additional signal after sending the first PPDU, or the first indication is used to indicate the first station not sending the additional signal after sending the first PPDU.

[0264] In the embodiments of the present application, the request frame sent by the second station is taken as an example of the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7 for illustration. The numbers below each field in the figure represent the number of bytes or bits that the field can occupy.

[0265] In some embodiments, the request frame is introduced in detail in step 320.

[0266] FIG. 12 shows a structural block diagram of a station indicating device provided in an example embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the device can be implemented as a second station. The device includes:

[0267] The receiving module 1210 is configured to continue receiving the additional signal at the end of receiving the first PPDU sent by the first station.

[0268] The additional signal is used to indicate the identity of the first station. Optionally, the additional signal is used to indicate the first station or the identity or the identification of the first station. Optionally, the identification of the first station is used to uniquely identify the first station.

[0269] In some embodiments, the first PPDU carries a response frame to the request frame sent by the second station. Optionally, the request frame is a MU-RTS frame and the response frame is a CTS frame. In some other possible embodiments, the request frame and the response frame can also be other frames, such as newly defined request frames and response frames, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0270] In some embodiments, the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, and the second PPDU is a different PPDU from the first PPDU. Optionally, the second PPDU includes a Null Data PPDU (NDP) Feedback Report.

[0271] In some embodiments, the first station can send the response frame to the request frame to the second station only after the first station receives the request frame sent by the second station.

[0272] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station is for multiple first stations. However, the multiple first stations can not all receive the request frame. For example, it is assumed that the second station sends a request frame for {first station 1, first station 2, first station 3}, wherein the first station 1 and the first station 2 receive the request frame; and the first station 3 does not receive the request frame.

[0273] In some embodiments, the plurality of first stations that receive the request frame are not necessarily all going to send a response frame for the request frame. For example, assume that first station 1 and first station 2 receive the request frame sent by the second station, where first station 1 sends a response frame for the request frame to the second station, but first station 2 does not send a response frame for the request frame to the second station.

[0274] In some embodiments, the first station comprises a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD or an AP or an AP MLD.

[0275] In some embodiments, the second station comprises a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD or an AP or an AP MLD.

[0276] In the embodiments of the present application, the first station is a non-AP STA, and the second station is an AP STA.

[0277] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an AP sends a request frame to {station 1, station 2, station 3}. After receiving the request frame, station 1 and station 3 send a response frame to the AP, and at the same time, send an additional signal at the end of the response frame. For example, station 1 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 1. Station 3 sends an additional signal at the end of the response frame, which is used to indicate the identity of station 3. Station 2 detects that the medium is busy (Medium busy on P20 detected by physical CS or virtual CS), so it does not send a response frame to the AP. The AP determines that station 2 does not respond, so it does not send data to station 2. The AP continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the response frame sent by station 1, and continues to receive the additional signal at the end of the response frame sent by station 3.

[0278] In some embodiments, the first PPDU is a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU, and can also be a High Efficiency (HE) Single User (SU) PPDU or a HE Trigger-Based (TB) PPDU or an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) MU PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU or an Ultra High Reliability (UHR) MU PPDU or a UHR TB PPDU. In some possible cases, in order to better compatible with legacy stations (legacy STAs), the first PPDU can only be a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU.

[0279] In some embodiments, the request frame sent by the second station is carried in a non-HT PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU or a HE MU PPDU or an EHT MU PPDU or a UHR MU PPDU.

[0280] In some embodiments, the second station can indicate the target receiving stations when sending the request frame. For example, the target receiving stations are indicated in a User Info List field in the MU-RTS frame. Therefore, the second station can determine which stations are likely to send the response frame and can determine which stations are likely to send the additional signal. Based on this, the second station can determine whether it is necessary to continue receiving the additional signal at the end of the first PPDU. Other stations, such as legacy stations, will discard the additional signal that cannot be parsed after the end of the first PPDU.

[0281] In some embodiments, since the additional signal has good autocorrelation and cross-correlation, the second station can use a correlator to search for the additional signal in a known search space, that is, to detect and identify the additional signal, which is relatively simple and can be implemented using existing hardware. In some embodiments, if the second station fails to successfully identify one or more first stations indicated by the additional signal, the second station continues to perform according to the rules and procedures in the existing technology, such as Draft P802.11REVme_D7.0, section 26.2.6 MU-RTS Trigger / CTS frame exchange sequence procedure.

[0282] In some embodiments, the additional signal is transmitted based on at least one of the following manners:

[0283] • the additional signal is transmitted on the primary channel;

[0284] • the additional signal is transmitted on each of the sub-channels in the first channel, the first channel being indicated in the request frame by the second station;

[0285] • the additional signal is transmitted on the primary channel in a time-division manner.

[0286] The receiving module 1210 is further configured to continue receiving the additional signal on the primary channel at an end time of receiving the first PPDU sent by the first station; or

[0287] The receiving module 1210 is further configured to continue receiving the additional signal on each of the sub-channels in the first channel at the end time of receiving the first PPDU sent by the first station, the first channel being indicated in the request frame by the second station; or

[0288] The receiving module 1210 is further configured to continue receiving the additional signal on the primary channel in a time-division manner at the end time of receiving the first PPDU sent by the first station.

[0289] In some embodiments, the additional signal is introduced in detail as described in 1.1-1.3 above.

[0290] In some embodiments, the second station explicitly indicates in the first frame whether the first station sends or does not send the additional signal. Optionally, the first frame carries a first indication, the first indication being used to indicate that the first station sends the additional signal after sending the first PPDU, or the first indication being used to indicate that the first station does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU. Optionally, the first frame comprises the request frame.

[0291] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises:

[0292] The sending module 1220 is configured to send the request frame to the first station.

[0293] In some embodiments, the request frame carries a first indication, the first indication being used to indicate that the first station sends the additional signal after sending the first PPDU, or the first indication being used to indicate that the first station does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU.

[0294] In the embodiments of the present application, the request frame sent by the second station is taken as the MU-RTS frame shown in FIG. 7 for example. The numbers below each field in the figure represent the number of bytes or bits that the field may occupy.

[0295] In some embodiments, the request frame is introduced in detail as described in step 320 above.

[0296] It should be noted that the apparatus provided by the above embodiments is only exemplified by the above division of functional modules when implementing its functions, and in actual application, the above functions can be completed by different functional modules according to actual needs, that is, the content structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0297] Again, the frame format, element format, and field format shown in the above embodiments are examples and are not limiting. The present application supports changes to the format of each frame, element, and field based on the format design described above, such as changing the order of fields / elements, changing the number of bytes of fields / elements, changing the number of bits of fields / elements, changing the name of fields / elements / frames, and the like. It is also supported to set part of the fields / elements as reserved fields.

[0298] It should be understood that the format, name, and value of the frame / element / field involved in each embodiment of the present application are only examples and do not mean to limit the format, name, and value of the frame / element / field. In different embodiments or different designs, one or more of the name of the above element / field, the position in the frame, the arrangement order between other elements / fields, the number of bytes occupied, and the number of bits occupied can change. In different embodiments or different designs, one or more of the name of the above frame, the contained element / field, the number of bytes occupied, and the number of bits occupied can change.

[0299] FIG. 13 shows a structural schematic diagram of a communication device (network device or terminal device) provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device can include a processor 2101, a receiver 2102, a transmitter 2103, a memory 2104, and a bus 2105.

[0300] The processor 2101 includes one or more processing cores. The processor 2101 performs various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules.

[0301] The receiver 2102 and the transmitter 2103 can be implemented as a transceiver 2106, which can be a communication chip.

[0302] The memory 2104 is connected to the processor 2101 through the bus 2105. The memory 2104 can be used to store computer programs, and the processor 2101 is used to execute the computer programs to implement each step performed by the network device or the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0303] Moreover, the memory 2104 can be implemented by any type of volatile or nonvolatile storage devices or a combination thereof, including but not limited to: RAM (Random-Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), flash memory or other solid state storage technology, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Video Disc), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices.

[0304] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used for being executed by a processor of a terminal device or a network device to implement each step of the site indication method.

[0305] In some embodiments, the computer readable storage medium can include a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random-Access Memory), a SSD (Solid State Drives) or an optical disc, etc. Wherein, the random access memory can include a ReRAM (Resistance Random Access Memory) and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0306] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, wherein the chip includes a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, and when the chip is running on a terminal device or a network device, is used for implementing each step of the site indication method.

[0307] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product or a computer program, wherein the computer program product or the computer program includes computer instructions, the computer instructions are stored in a computer readable storage medium, a processor of a communication device reads and executes the computer instructions from the computer readable storage medium, to implement each step of the site indication method.

[0308] Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in the above one or more examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the functions can be stored in a computer readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on the computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. The storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

[0309] The above merely illustrates the embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A station indicating method, characterized by, The method is performed by a first station, and the method comprises: sending an additional signal after sending a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to a second station, the additional signal being used to indicate an identity of the first station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first PPDU carries a response frame to a request frame sent by the second station, and the request frame is sent to a plurality of stations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The request frame is a multi-user-request-to-send (MU-RTS) frame, and the response frame is an allow-to-send (CTS) frame.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the additional signal is transmitted on a primary channel; or the additional signal is transmitted on each sub-channel in a first channel, and the first channel is indicated by the second station in the request frame; or the additional signal is transmitted on the primary channel in a time-division manner.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, and the second PPDU is different from the first PPDU.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the additional signal is transmitted in a code division multiplexing (CDM) manner.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The CDM manner comprises at least one of the following: a CDM manner in a frequency domain; a CDM manner in a time domain; a CDM manner in a frequency domain superimposed on a time domain.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, Information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated CDM sequence.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The CDM sequence is pre-negotiated by the first station and the second station, and / or is pre-calculated according to a pre-defined algorithm according to a protocol, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The CDM sequence is generated based on at least one of the following sequences: a ZC sequence; a Gold sequence; a maximum length sequence.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the additional signal is transmitted in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multiple access (OFDMA) manner.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated sub-carrier group or resource unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The sub-carrier group or resource unit is pre-negotiated by the first station and the second station, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, A duration of the additional signal is pre-negotiated, and / or is pre-defined according to a protocol, and / or is indicated by the second station in the request frame.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The duration of the additional signal is related to at least one of the following: the first station; a current transmission opportunity.

16. The method of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a request frame sent by the second station, and the request frame carries a first indication, the first indication being used to indicate that the first station sends the additional signal after sending the first PPDU, or being used to indicate that the first station does not send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The request frame carries at least one of the following fields: a first field, used to indicate whether the first station needs to send the additional signal after sending the first PPDU; a second field, used to indicate a duration of the additional signal; a third field, used to indicate a transmission power of the additional signal; a fourth field indicating a received signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal; a fifth field indicating a type of the additional signal; a sixth field indicating an index of a sequence space to which a CDM sequence belongs; a seventh field indicating a number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or indicating an index of a subcarrier group space to which a subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, in a case where the type of the additional signal is a first type, the sixth field is present, the first type indicating that information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated CDM sequence; or, in a case where the type of the additional signal is a second type, the seventh field is present, the second type indicating that the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated subcarrier group.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein, The first indication is common.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein, The request frame carries at least one of the following fields: a first field indicating whether the first station needs to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; a second field indicating a duration of the additional signal; a third field indicating a transmission power of the additional signal; a fourth field indicating a received signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal; a fifth field indicating a type of the additional signal; a sixth field indicating an index of a sequence space to which a CDM sequence belongs; an eighth field indicating an index of the CDM sequence in the sequence space to which the CDM sequence belongs; a ninth field indicating a resource unit occupied by the additional signal; a seventh field indicating a number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or indicating an index of a subcarrier group space to which a subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs; a tenth field indicating an index of the subcarrier group used by the additional signal in the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group belongs.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, in a case where the type of the additional signal is a first type, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is present, the first type indicating that information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated CDM sequence; or, in a case where the type of the additional signal is a second type, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is present, the second type indicating that the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated subcarrier group; or, in a case where the type of the additional signal is a third type, the ninth field is present, the third type indicating that the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated resource unit.

22. The method of claim 20 or 21, wherein, The first indication is related to the first station.

23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, The additional signal is generated based on an additional signal key.

24. The method of any of claims 1 to 23, wherein, the first station comprises a non-access point station or a non-access point multi-link device or an access point station or an access point multi-link device.

25. The method of any of claims 1-24, wherein: the second station comprises a non-access point station or a non-access point multi-link device or an access point station or an access point multi-link device.

26. A station indicating method, comprising: the method is performed by the second station, and the method comprises: continuing to receive an additional signal at an end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station, the additional signal being used to indicate an identity of the first station.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, the first PPDU carries a response frame to a request frame transmitted by the second station, the request frame being transmitted to multiple stations.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, the request frame is a MU-RTS frame and the response frame is a CTS frame.

29. The method of any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein, the continuing to receive the additional signal at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station comprises: continuing to receive the additional signal on a primary channel at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station; or, continuing to receive the additional signal on each of a plurality of sub-channels in a first channel at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station, the first channel being indicated in the request frame by the second station; or, continuing to receive the additional signal on a primary channel in a time-division manner at the end of the first PPDU transmitted by the first station.

30. The method of any of claims 26-29, wherein: the additional signal is carried in a second PPDU, the second PPDU being different from the first PPDU.

31. The method of any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein, the additional signal is transmitted in a CDM manner.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, the CDM manner comprises at least one of: a CDM manner in a frequency domain; a CDM manner in a time domain; a CDM manner in a frequency domain superimposed with a time domain.

33. The method of claim 31 or 32, wherein, the indicated information of the additional signal is carried on a designated or allocated CDM sequence.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein: the CDM sequence is pre-negotiated between the first station and the second station, and / or is pre-computed according to a pre-defined algorithm according to a protocol, and / or is indicated in the request frame by the second station.

35. The method of claim 33 or 34, wherein, the CDM sequence is generated based on at least one of: a ZC sequence; a Gold sequence; a maximum length sequence.

36. The method of any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein, the additional signal is transmitted in an OFDMA manner.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein, the additional signal is carried on a designated or allocated sub-carrier group or resource unit.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein, the sub-carrier group or resource unit is pre-negotiated between the first station and the second station, or is indicated in the request frame by the second station.

39. The method of any one of claims 26 to 38, wherein, a duration of the additional signal is pre-negotiated, and / or is pre-defined according to a protocol, and / or is indicated in the request frame by the second station.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein, the duration of the additional signal is related to at least one of: the first station; a current transmission opportunity.

41. The method of any one of claims 26 to 40, wherein, the method further comprises: transmitting a request frame to the first station, the request frame carrying a first indication, the first indication being used to indicate that the first station is to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU, or being used to indicate that the first station is not to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein, In case that the first indication is common, the request frame carries at least one of the following fields: a first field for indicating whether the first station needs to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; a second field for indicating a duration of the additional signal; a third field for indicating a transmission power of the additional signal; a fourth field for indicating a received signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal; a fifth field for indicating a type of the additional signal; a sixth field for indicating an index of a sequence space to which a CDM sequence belongs; a seventh field for indicating a number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or for indicating an index of a subcarrier group space to which a subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein, in case that the type of the additional signal is a first type, the sixth field is present, the first type being used for indicating that information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated CDM sequence; or, in case that the type of the additional signal is a second type, the seventh field is present, the second type being used for indicating that the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated subcarrier group. the first indication is common.

44. The method of claim 42 or 43, wherein, In case that the first indication is related to the first station, the request frame carries at least one of the following fields:

45. The method of claim 41, wherein, a first field for indicating whether the first station needs to transmit the additional signal after transmitting the first PPDU; a second field for indicating a duration of the additional signal; a third field for indicating a transmission power of the additional signal; a fourth field for indicating a received signal strength expected by the second station when receiving the additional signal; a fifth field for indicating a type of the additional signal; a sixth field for indicating an index of a sequence space to which a CDM sequence belongs; an eighth field for indicating an index of the CDM sequence in the sequence space to which the CDM sequence belongs; a ninth field for indicating a resource unit occupied by the additional signal; a seventh field for indicating a number of subcarriers used by the additional signal, or for indicating an index of a subcarrier group space to which a subcarrier group used by the additional signal belongs; a tenth field for indicating an index of the subcarrier group used by the additional signal in the subcarrier group space to which the subcarrier group belongs.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein, in case that the type of the additional signal is a first type, the sixth field and / or the eighth field is present, the first type being used for indicating that information indicated by the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated CDM sequence; or, in case that the type of the additional signal is a second type, the seventh field and / or the tenth field is present, the second type being used for indicating that the additional signal is carried on a specified or allocated subcarrier group; or, ​ ​ In a case where the type of the additional signal is a third type, the ninth field exists, the third type being used to indicate that the additional signal is carried on a designated or allocated resource unit.

47. The method of claim 45 or 46, wherein, The first indication is related to the first station.

48. The method of any one of claims 26 to 47, wherein, The additional signal is generated based on an additional signal key.

49. The method of any of claims 26-48, wherein The first station comprises a non-access point station or a non-access point multi-link device or an access point station or an access point multi-link device.

50. The method of any of claims 26-49, wherein The second station comprises a non-access point station or a non-access point multi-link device or an access point station or an access point multi-link device.

51. A station indicating apparatus, comprising: The apparatus comprises: a sending module configured to send an additional signal after sending the first PPDU to the second station, the additional signal being used to indicate the identity of the first station.

52. A station indicating apparatus, comprising: The apparatus comprises: a receiving module configured to continue receiving an additional signal at an end time of receiving the first PPDU sent by the first station, the additional signal being used to indicate the identity of the first station.

53. A station device, comprising: The station device comprises: a processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the station indication method of any of claims 1-25, and / or the station indication method of any of claims 26-50.

54. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising: The storage medium has stored therein a computer program for being executed by the processor to implement the station indication method of any of claims 1-25, and / or the station indication method of any of claims 26-50.

55. A chip, comprising: The chip comprises programmable logic circuitry and / or program instructions, which, when the chip is running on a communication device, are used to implement the station indication method of any of claims 1-25, and / or the station indication method of any of claims 26-50.

56. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product comprises computer instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium; the processor of the communication device reads the computer instructions from the computer readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions, so that the communication device implements the station indication method of any of claims 1-25, and / or the station indication method of any of claims 26-50.

57. A computer program, characterized in that, The computer program is executed by the processor of the communication device to implement the station indication method of any of claims 1-25, and / or the station indication method of any of claims 26-50.

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