Time resource allocation method and receiving method, and related apparatuses

Abstract

To provide a time resource allocation and receiving method and a related apparatus applied to a wireless local area network supporting the 802.11be standard.SOLUTION: A method includes generating and sending, by a first device, a media access control MAC frame. Therein: the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame whose trigger type subfield is set to 3 and that includes no user information field; the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to a second device; and a receiver address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The method also includes receiving and parsing, by the second device, the MAC frame to obtain that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and that the MAC frame includes no user information field, and then determining, based on a parsing result, that the MAC frame is the single-user trigger frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110008588.5, entitled "TIME RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND RECEIVING METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on January 05, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular to a resource allocation and reception method and related apparatus. [Background technology]

[0003] To meet the specific requirements of users, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11be standard supports several special application scenarios, such as a scenario in which stations are scheduled to transmit uplink single-user physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs), a scheduled peer-to-peer (P2P) scenario, and a coordinated time division multiple access (Co-TDMA) scenario.

[0004] In a scheduled P2P scenario, multiple stations (STAs) are connected by forming a small network using P2P technology so that they can communicate with each other directly. After getting a transmission opportunity (TXOP), an access point (AP) allocates a part of the time resource of the TXOP to the STA associated with the AP, so that the STA communicates with other STAs on the allocated time resource.

[0005] In the Co-TDMA scenario, two AP roles are defined: sharing AP and shared AP. After obtaining a TXOP, the sharing AP allocates a part of the time resource of the TXOP to the shared AP, so that the shared AP can communicate with stations associated with the shared AP on the time resource.

[0006] Therefore, a trigger frame is needed in both scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios to support time resource allocation. Based on the current 802.11be standard discussion, there is a way to design the trigger frame using a multi-user (MU) Request-to-Send (RTS) frame. However, how to implement time resource allocation in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios based on MU-RTS frames has not been resolved. Summary of the Invention

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application provides a time resource allocation and reception method and associated apparatus that uses a single-user trigger frame to indicate time resource allocation to support communications in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0008] In the following, the present application will be described from various aspects. It should be understood that the following implementations and the beneficial effects of different aspects can be cross-referenced.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the present application provides a time resource allocation method. The method includes: A first device generates and sends a media access control (MAC) frame. A trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of a second device. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame. In other words, the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame with a trigger type subfield set to 3 and no user information field, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device. Here, the time resource refers to a time period.

[0010] Optionally, a trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, because an MU-RTS frame is transmitted to more than one user (or station), an MU-RTS frame always contains one or more user information fields. Therefore, in this solution, a MAC frame's trigger type subfield set to 3 and the MAC frame containing no user information fields indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, not an MU-RTS frame.

[0011] In the present solution, it can be seen that the trigger type subfield of a MAC frame set to 3 and the MAC frame not including a user information field implicitly indicates that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, which can indicate time resource allocation to support communications in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0012] According to a second aspect, the present application provides a time resource receiving method, the method including: a second device receives a medium access control (MAC) frame from a first device, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device; the second device analyzes the MAC frame to obtain that a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, and the MAC frame does not include a user information field; the second device determines that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device; where the time resource refers to a time period. where the time resource refers to a time period.

[0013] Optionally, a trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, because an MU-RTS frame is transmitted to more than one user (or station), an MU-RTS frame always contains one or more user information fields. Therefore, in this solution, a MAC frame's trigger type subfield set to 3 and the MAC frame containing no user information fields indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, not an MU-RTS frame.

[0014] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a time resource allocation device. The time resource allocation device may be a first device or a chip in the first device, for example a Wi-Fi chip. The time resource allocation device includes a processing unit configured to generate a MAC frame, where a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of a second device, and a transceiver unit configured to transmit the MAC frame. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame. In other words, the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame with a trigger type subfield set to 3 and does not include a user information field, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device. Here, the time resource refers to a time period.

[0015] Optionally, a trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, because an MU-RTS frame is transmitted to more than one user (or station), an MU-RTS frame always contains one or more user information fields. Therefore, in this solution, a MAC frame's trigger type subfield set to 3 and the MAC frame containing no user information fields indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, not an MU-RTS frame.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a time resource receiving device. The time resource receiving device may be a second device or a chip in the second device, for example a Wi-Fi chip. The time resource receiving device includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive a MAC frame, where a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device; an analysis unit configured to analyze the MAC frame to obtain that a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field; and a determination unit configured to determine that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device. Here, the time resource refers to a time period.

[0017] Optionally, the trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, because an MU-RTS frame is transmitted to more than one user (or station), an MU-RTS frame always contains one or more user information fields. Therefore, in this solution, a MAC frame's trigger type subfield set to 3 and the MAC frame containing no user information fields indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, not an MU-RTS frame.

[0018] In any possible implementation of the aforementioned aspects, a duration field in the MAC frame can indicate the time duration assigned to the second device. Since the original meaning of the duration field is to indicate information about the remaining duration of the current transmission opportunity, reusing the duration field to indicate the time duration assigned to the second device is equivalent to assigning the second device the entire remaining duration of the entire transmission opportunity.

[0019] In this solution, the original duration field is reused and the meaning of the original duration field is extended so that the duration field has two meanings (one indicates information about the remaining duration of the current transmission opportunity, the other indicates the time period allocated to the second device) and the second device can learn to communicate with another station in the allocated time resource without adding any new fields to support communication in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios. The implementation is simple.

[0020] In a possible implementation of any of the aforementioned aspects, the MAC frame includes a first subfield, the first subfield indicating a time period assigned to the second device. Alternatively, the first subfield indicates a time period of the response frame. It should be understood that the first subfield is different from the duration field. The time period assigned to the second device and indicated by the first subfield is a time period within the duration of the remaining transmission opportunities.

[0021] In this solution, a new field is designed in the Modified MU-RTS frame (or single-user trigger frame) to indicate the time period allocated to the second device, and it can be learned that the meaning of the new field is clear and explicit.

[0022] In one possible implementation of the above aspects, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame. The length of the first subfield may be less than or equal to the length of the duration field.

[0023] It can be seen that this solution uses the reserved subfields of the common information field of the MAC frame to design the first subfield without adding any new fields, the original frame length is maintained, the reserved subfields of the common information field can be fully used, and the meaning of the first subfield is clear and explicit.

[0024] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length (UL length) subfield in the common information field of the MAC frame, which is hereinafter referred to as the uplink length (UL length) subfield for short.

[0025] It can be seen that the UL Length subfield of another type of trigger frame (trigger frame with a Trigger Type subfield value not equal to 3) indicates the frame length (here the frame length is the time period) of the triggered Trigger Based PPDU (TB PPDU), but the UL Length subfield is not used or does not exist in the MU-RTS frame. Thus, in this solution, the UL Length subfield indicates the time period assigned to the second device, and the UL Length subfield can be reused to indicate the granularity of the time period. Such a function is similar to that of the UL Length subfield.

[0026] In a possible implementation of any of the aforementioned aspects, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits. It can be seen that if the length of the first subfield is 12 bits, its length is the same as the length of the UL Length subfield, and the UL Length subfield can be reused to indicate the granularity of the period. If the length of the first subfield is 16 bits, its length is the same as the length of the Duration field, and the Duration field can be reused to indicate the granularity of the period.

[0027] According to a fifth aspect, the present application provides a time resource allocation method, the method including: a first device generates and transmits a MAC frame; the MAC frame includes a second subfield, the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to a second device, where the time resource refers to a time period; and a trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0028] Optionally, the trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, the second subfield of the MAC frame indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than an MU-RTS frame, distinguishing between MU-RTS frames and single-user trigger frames.

[0029] In this solution, to support communications in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios, a field in the MAC frame is designed to explicitly indicate that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and it can be seen that the single-user trigger frame may indicate a time resource allocation.

[0030] According to a sixth aspect, the present application provides a time resource receiving method, the method including: a second device receives a MAC frame from a first device, and analyzes the received MAC frame; the MAC frame includes a second subfield, the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device, where the time resource refers to a time period; and a trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0031] Optionally, the trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, the second subfield of the MAC frame indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than an MU-RTS frame, distinguishing between MU-RTS frames and single-user trigger frames.

[0032] According to a seventh aspect, the present application provides a time resource allocation device. The time resource allocation device may be a first device or a chip in the first device, for example a Wi-Fi chip. The time resource allocation device includes: a processing unit configured to generate a MAC frame, the MAC frame including a second subfield, the second subfield indicating that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, the single-user trigger frame being used to allocate time resources to a second device; and a transceiver unit configured to transmit the MAC frame. Here, a time resource refers to a time period. A trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0033] Optionally, the trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, the second subfield of the MAC frame indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than an MU-RTS frame, distinguishing between MU-RTS frames and single-user trigger frames.

[0034] According to an eighth aspect, the present application provides a time resource receiving device. The time resource receiving device may be a second device or a chip in the second device, for example a Wi-Fi chip. The time resource receiving device includes a transceiver unit configured to receive a MAC frame, the MAC frame including a second subfield, the second subfield indicating that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, the single-user trigger frame being used to receive the time resource to the second device, and an analysis unit configured to analyze the MAC frame. Here, the time resource refers to a time period. The trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0035] Optionally, the trigger type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. However, the second subfield of the MAC frame indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than an MU-RTS frame, distinguishing between MU-RTS frames and single-user trigger frames.

[0036] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the second subfield is a resource unit (RU) allocation subfield having a value that is a first preset value of the user information field of the MAC frame, the first preset value being an RU allocation value that is not used in the 802.11be standard and has values ​​from 0 to 60 and 68 to 255.

[0037] In this solution, it can be seen that the RU allocation subfield is reused and a special value is used to indicate a single-user trigger frame, without changing the meaning of some values ​​of the RU allocation subfield. Small changes are made to the MU-RTS frame to achieve compatibility with the 802.11ax standard.

[0038] In a possible implementation of any of the above aspects, the second subfield is an Association Identifier (AID) 12 subfield having a value that is a second preset value of the User Information field of the MAC frame, the second preset value being one of 2008 to 2044 and 2047 to 4094.

[0039] Optionally, the AID12 subfield is set to a second preset value and cannot be used to identify a station, so the recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to the MAC address of the second device.

[0040] Optionally, the AID12 subfield is set to a second preset value and cannot be used to identify a station, so a reserved subfield in the User Information field of the MAC frame is used to indicate the association identifier of the second device.

[0041] In this solution, we can see that the AID12 subfield is reused and a special value is used to indicate a single-user trigger frame without changing the meaning of some values ​​of the AID12 subfield. Small changes are made to the MU-RTS frame to achieve compatibility with the 802.11ax standard. Also, the AID12 subfield is the first subfield of the user information field. This allows the second device to more quickly determine whether the received frame is a single-user trigger frame and allows the second device to respond more quickly.

[0042] In an embodiment of any of the above aspects, the second subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame, and the value of the second subfield is different from the value of the second subfield in the reserved state.

[0043] It can be seen that in this solution, a reserved subfield in the common information field is used to indicate a single-user trigger frame. The meaning is clear and explicit, and is unlikely to cause confusion. Also, the common information field is placed after the sender address field. This allows the second device to more quickly determine whether the received frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the second device to more quickly

[0044] In an embodiment of any of the above aspects, the second subfield is a reserved subfield in a user information field of the MAC frame, and the value of the second subfield is different from the value of the second subfield in the reserved state.

[0045] It can be seen that in this solution, a reserved subfield in the user information field is used to indicate a single-user trigger frame. The meaning is clear and explicit, and is unlikely to cause confusion.

[0046] In any possible implementation of the aforementioned aspects, a duration field in the MAC frame can indicate the time duration assigned to the second device. Since the original meaning of the duration field is to indicate information about the remaining duration of the current transmission opportunity, reusing the duration field to indicate the time duration assigned to the second device is equivalent to assigning the second device the entire remaining duration of the entire transmission opportunity.

[0047] In a possible implementation of any of the aforementioned aspects, the MAC frame further includes a first subfield, the first subfield indicating a time period assigned to the second device. Alternatively, the first subfield indicates a time period of the response frame. It should be understood that the first subfield is different from the duration field. The time period assigned to the second device and indicated by the first subfield is a time period within the remaining transmission opportunity period.

[0048] In one possible implementation of the above aspects, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame. The length of the first subfield may be less than or equal to the length of the duration field.

[0049] In a possible implementation of any of the aforementioned aspects, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length (UL length) subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame.

[0050] In a possible implementation of any of the aforementioned aspects, the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits in length.

[0051] According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, particularly the first device according to the first or fifth aspect, including a processor and a transceiver.

[0052] A trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The transceiver is configured to transmit the MAC frame. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device, where the time resource refers to a time period.

[0053] In another design, the processor is configured to generate a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device. The transceiver is configured to transmit the MAC frame, where the time resource refers to a time period. The trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0054] According to a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, particularly the second device according to the second or sixth aspect, including a processor and a transceiver.

[0055] In one design, the transceiver is configured to receive a MAC frame, where a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The processor is configured to parse the MAC frame and obtain that a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field. The processor is further configured to determine that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to the trigger type subfield of the MAC frame being set to 3 and the MAC frame not including a user information field, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device, where the time resource refers to a time period.

[0056] In another design, the transceiver is configured to receive a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device. The processor is further configured to parse the MAC frame, where the time resource refers to a time period. A trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0057] According to an eleventh aspect, the present application provides an apparatus, the apparatus being realized in the form of a chip product and including an input / output interface and a processing circuit, the apparatus being a chip in a first device according to the first aspect or the fifth aspect.

[0058] In the design, the processing circuitry is configured to generate a MAC frame, where a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The input / output interface is configured to output the MAC frame and transmit the MAC frame via the antenna using the radio frequency circuitry after processing. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device, where the time resource refers to a time period.

[0059] In another design, the processing circuitry is configured to generate a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to a second device. The input / output interface is configured to output the MAC frame and transmit the MAC frame via the antenna using the radio frequency circuitry after processing, where the time resource refers to a time period. The trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0060] According to a twelfth aspect, the present application provides an apparatus, the apparatus being realized in the form of a chip product and including an input / output interface and a processing circuit, the apparatus being a chip in the second device according to the second aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0061] In the design, the input / output interface is configured to receive a MAC frame through the antenna and the radio frequency circuit, where a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The processing circuit is configured to analyze the MAC frame and obtain that a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field. The processing circuit is further configured to determine that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to the trigger type subfield of the MAC frame being set to 3 and the MAC frame not including a user information field, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to the second device, where the time resource refers to a time period.

[0062] In another design, the input / output interface is configured to input a MAC frame received via the antenna and the radio frequency circuitry, the processing circuitry is configured to parse the MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to a second device, and a trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0063] According to a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions. When the program instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the time resource allocation method according to the first aspect or the fifth aspect. Alternatively, when the program instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the time resource receiving method according to the second aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0064] According to a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising program instructions, which when executed on a computer enable the computer to perform the time resource allocation method according to the first or fifth aspect, or the time resource receiving method according to the second or sixth aspect.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present application, a single-user trigger frame may indicate time resource allocation to support communications in scheduled P2P and Co-TDMA scenarios. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0066] To more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings used to describe the embodiments.

[0067] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access point according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a station according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario between AP MLD and non-AP MLD;

[0070] [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication scenario between AP MLD and non-AP MLD;

[0071] [Figure 3A] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another structure of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0073] [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of applying a single-user trigger frame to a multi-link scenario.

[0074] [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scheduled P2P scenario.

[0075] [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of a Co-TDMA scenario.

[0076] [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of applying a single-user trigger frame to a scheduled P2 scenario.

[0077] [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application of a single-user trigger frame to a Co-TDMA scenario;

[0078] [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic flowchart of a time resource allocation and receiving method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] [Figure 10] 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of an MU-RTS frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] [Figure 11A] 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a common information field of a MU-RTS frame according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG.

[0081] [Figure 11B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a user information field of a MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame) according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0083] [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a common information field of a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a single-user trigger frame) according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] [Figure 14] 4 is another schematic flowchart of a time resource allocation and receiving method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] [Figure 15A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a first sub-field and a second sub-field in a user information field of a modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] [Figure 15B] 13 is a schematic diagram of another frame format of the first sub-field and the second sub-field in the user information field of the modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG.

[0087] [Figure 15C] 13 is a schematic diagram of yet another frame format of the first and second sub-fields in the user information field of a modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG.

[0088] [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a time resource allocation device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a time resource receiving equipment according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0091] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0092] In the present description, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or". For example, A / B may represent A or B. The term "and / or" in this specification describes only the association relationship between related objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. Furthermore, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. Terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and terms such as "first" and "second" do not indicate clear differences.

[0093] In this application, the words "example" or "for example" are used to indicate an example, illustration, or explanation. Any embodiment or design manner described by using "example" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being preferred or having more advantages over another embodiment or design manner. Rather, the use of the words "example", "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a particular way.

[0094] The technical solution provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as systems that comply with the IEEE 802.11 standard. For example, the IEEE 802.11 standard includes, but is not limited to, the 802.11be standard or the next generation 802.11 standard. The application scenarios of the technical solution provided in this application include communication between an AP and a STA, communication between APs, communication between STAs, etc.

[0095] An access point (AP) in this application is a device having a wireless communication function, supports communication using a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol, has a function of communicating with other devices (e.g., stations and other access points) in the WLAN network, and may further have a function of communicating with other devices. In a WLAN system, an access point can be called an access point station (AP STA). A device having a wireless communication function may be a whole device, or a chip, a processing system, etc. mounted in the whole device. A device mounted with a chip or a processing system may implement the method and functions in this embodiment of the present application under the control of the chip or the processing system. An AP in the embodiment of the present application is a device that provides services to a STA, and may support an 802.11 series protocol. For example, an AP may be a communication entity, such as a communication server, a router, a switch, or a bridge. An AP may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, an AP may alternatively be chips and processing systems in these devices in various forms to implement the method and functions in the embodiment of the present application.

[0096] A station (STA) in this application is a device having wireless communication capability, supports communication using a WLAN protocol, and has the ability to communicate with other stations or access points in a WLAN network. In a WLAN system, a station can be called a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For example, a STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and further communicate with a WLAN. A device having wireless communication capability can be an entire device, or a chip, a processing system, etc., mounted in the entire device. A device mounted with a chip or a processing system can implement the method and functions in the present embodiment of this application under the control of the chip or the processing system. For example, a STA can be a user device that can connect to the Internet, such as a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, an Ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), a handheld computer, a netbook, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone. Alternatively, the STA may be an Internet of Things node in the Internet of Things, an in-vehicle communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, an entertainment device, a gaming device or system, a Global Positioning System device, etc. The STA may alternatively be a chip and processing system within the above terminals.

[0097] WLAN systems can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission. With the continuous evolution of WLAN application scenarios, WLAN systems are applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Cars industry, the banking industry, corporate offices, stadium exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, hospital wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, production workshops, warehouses, etc. Of course, devices (such as access points or stations) supporting WLAN communication can be sensor nodes in smart cities (e.g., smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (e.g., smart cameras, projectors, displays, televisions, stereos, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (e.g., augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or other wearable devices), smart devices in smart offices (e.g., printers, projectors, speakers, or stereos), vehicle devices in the Internet of Vehicles, infrastructure in everyday life scenarios (e.g., vending machines, self-service navigation stations in supermarkets, self-service cashier devices, self-service ordering devices), devices in large sports or music venues, etc. The specific forms of STAs and APs are not limited in the embodiments of this application and are merely examples for the purposes of explanation herein.

[0098] It should be understood that the 802.11 standard focuses on the physical layer (PHY) layer and media access control (MAC) layer parts. Please refer to FIG. 1A for an example. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access point according to an embodiment of the present application. The AP may be multi-antenna / multi-radio frequency or single-antenna / single-radio frequency. The antenna / radio frequency is used to transmit and receive data packets. In the implementation, the antenna or radio frequency part of the AP may be separated, i.e., separated from the main body of the AP. In FIG. 1A, the AP may include a physical layer processing circuit and a media access control layer processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit may be configured to process the physical layer signal, and the MAC layer processing circuit may be configured to process the MAC layer signal. Please refer to FIG. 1B for another example. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a station according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a single antenna / single-radio frequency STA. In a practical scenario, the STA may be a device with multiple antennas / multiple radio frequencies and may have more than two antennas. The antenna / radio frequency is used to transmit and receive data packets. In an implementation, the antenna or radio frequency part of the STA can be separated, i.e., separated from the main body of the STA. In FIG. 1B, the STA can include a PHY processing circuit and a MAC processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit can be configured to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be configured to process MAC layer signals.

[0099] In order to better understand the technical solution provided in this application, the following briefly describes the application scenarios of the time resource allocation and receiving method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0100] The time resource allocation and reception method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios, and optionally can be further applied to multi-link scenarios.

[0101] Extremely high throughput (EHT) devices that comply with the 802.11 next-generation Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocol support improved peak throughput and reduced service transmission delay through multiple streams, multiple frequency bands (such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz frequency bands), coordination among multiple channels of the same frequency band, etc. Multiple frequency bands or multiple channels are sometimes collectively referred to as multi-link (ML).

[0102] A Multi-link Device (MLD) includes one or more affiliated stations (STAs). An affiliated station may be a logical station or a physical station. In the embodiments of the present application, "a Multi-link Device includes an affiliated station" can be simply written as "a Multi-link Device includes a station."

[0103] The dependent station may be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For ease of explanation, in this embodiment of the present application, a multi-link device with an AP as an affiliated station may be called an AP MLD, and a multi-link device with an STA as an affiliated station may be called a non-AP MLD.

[0104] [The multi-link device can implement wireless communication according to an 802.11 system protocol. For example, the 802.11 system protocol may be an 802.11ax protocol, an 802.11be protocol, or a next-generation 802.11 protocol. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present application.

[0105] A multilink device can communicate with another device, which in this embodiment of the present application may or may not be a multilink device.

[0106] Please refer to FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario between AP MLD and non-AP MLD. As shown in FIG. 2A, one AP MLD is associated with multiple non-AP MLDs and single-link STAs (i.e., non-MLD STAs). For example, AP MLD 100 may be associated with non-AP MLD 200, non-AP MLD 300, and STA 400. It should be understood that multiple APs of AP MLD operate separately via multiple links, multiple STAs of non-AP MLD operate separately via multiple links, and STAs of non-AP MLD are associated with AP of AP MLD via the operating link of STA. Single-link STAs (i.e., non-MLD STAs) are associated with AP of AP MLD via the operating link of single-link STAs. Please refer to FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of another communication scenario between AP MLD and non-AP MLD. As shown in Fig. 2B, the wireless communication system includes at least one AP MLD (e.g., AP MLD 100 in Fig. 2B) and at least one non-AP MLD (e.g., non-AP MLD 200 in Fig. 2B). The AP MLD is a multi-link device serving the non-AP MLD, and the non-AP MLD can communicate with the AP MLD via multiple links. One AP in the AP MLD can communicate with one STA in the non-AP MLD via one link. It can be understood that the number of AP MLDs and non-AP MLDs in Fig. 2B is merely an example.

[0107] The 802.11 standard focuses on the 802.11 physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layer parts of AP MLD and Non-AP MLD. Please refer to FIG. 3A. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3A, multiple STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other in the low MAC layer and the PHY layer, and are also independent of each other in the high MAC layer. Please refer to FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing another structure of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3B, multiple STAs included in the multi-link device are independent of each other in the low MAC layer and the PHY layer, and share the high MAC layer.

[0108] Of course, non-AP MLD may use a structure with independent upper MAC layers, and AP MLD may use a structure with a shared MAC layer. Alternatively, non-AP MLD may use a structure with a shared upper MAC layer, and AP MLD may use a structure with independent upper MAC layers. For example, the upper MAC layer or the lower MAC layer may be implemented by a processor in a chip system of the multi-link device, or may be implemented by different processing modules in the chip system.

[0109] The frequency bands in which the Multilink device operates include, but are not limited to, sub-1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and high frequency 60 GHz.

[0110] A multilink device may support simultaneous data transmission and reception (STR) or may not support simultaneous data transmission and reception (non-STR). Support of simultaneous data transmission and reception means that when a STA of the multilink device transmits a frame over a link, another STA of the multilink device may receive the frame over another link. Non-support of simultaneous data transmission and reception means that when a STA of the multilink device transmits a frame over a link, another STA of the multilink device cannot receive the frame over another link, or clear channel assessment is blocked.

[0111] If non-AP MLD does not support simultaneous data transmission and reception (i.e., the capability of non-AP MLD is non-STR), in the data transmission process between non-AP MLD and AP MLD, both ends of the wireless frames transmitted by AP MLD over multiple links must be aligned, and the response frames transmitted by non-AP MLD over multiple links must also be aligned in both start and end times.

[0112] In a communication scenario of a non-STR multilink device, a trigger frame is required to control the length of the response frame to ensure that the response frames transmitted over different links are aligned. Note that in this specification, a "multilink scenario" is understood to refer to a "communication scenario of a multilink device that does not support STR."

[0113] The trigger frame in the current standard is designed for multiple users to simultaneously transmit uplink trigger-based PPDUs (TB PPDUs). Therefore, the current trigger frame needs to indicate information such as the modulation and coding scheme (MCS), resource unit (RU), and transmission power. However, in a multilink scenario, if only the length of the response frame needs to be aligned, only the frame length of the response frame needs to be indicated. Therefore, the current trigger frame causes unnecessary system overhead. In addition, the current trigger frame can only trigger a TB PPDU. In a multilink scenario, only one station is triggered to respond using the trigger frame used to control the length of the response frame, so that the station does not need to use a TB PPDU and can use a single-user PPDU. Single-user PPDUs have many advantages over TB PPDUs. (1) Single-user PPDUs can protect the channel better. A third party station can analyze the content of a single-user PPDU but cannot analyze the content of a TB PPDU. If the content of the TB PPDU cannot be parsed and the Network Allocation Vector (NAV) cannot be set, the duration field of the TB PPDU cannot be obtained. (2) The overhead of a single-user PPDU is smaller than the overhead of the TB PPDU in the physical layer frame header.

[0114] To solve this technical problem, the concept of single user trigger frame (SUTF) is proposed. The single user trigger frame can trigger a single STA to respond in a single user PPDU manner. The single user trigger frame can be applied to multi-link scenarios, and can also be applied to scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0115] For example, refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of applying a single-user trigger frame to a multi-link scenario. The single-user trigger frame may be carried in downlink data or aggregated with data frames, and the single-user trigger frame includes an assigned duration (allocated time duration) field. The assigned duration field indicates the length of the single-user PPDU (or response frame) fed back by the station. As shown in FIG. 4, AP1 and STA1 are associated and operate on link 1. AP2 and STA2 are associated and operate on link 2. AP1 and AP2 belong to the same AP MLD, STA1 and STA2 belong to the same non-AP MLD, and the capability of the non-AP MLD is non-STR. AP1 transmits data 1 and a single-user trigger frame to STA1 via link 1, and AP2 transmits data 2 and a single-user trigger frame to the receiver via link 2. STA1 transmits block ack (BA) frame 1 on link 1 according to the instruction of the single-user trigger frame, and STA2 transmits BA2 on link 2. BA1 and BA2 are aligned in the time domain. In Figure 4, "Tr" represents a single-user trigger frame.

[0116] It should be understood that the multilink scenario can be understood as one of the scenarios in which a station is scheduled to transmit an uplink SU PPDU. This is because the station is scheduled to transmit an uplink SU PPDU in the multilink scenario using a single-user trigger frame. In another scenario in which a station is scheduled to transmit an uplink SU PPDU, the station is scheduled to transmit multiple uplink SU PPDUs. The scenario in which a station is scheduled to transmit multiple uplink SU PPDUs is as follows: After obtaining a TXOP by contention, the AP allocates a part of the time resource of the TXOP to a STA associated with the AP, and the STA transmits multiple uplink SU PPDUs to the AP in the allocated time resource to realize uplink communication.

[0117] The design principle of scheduled P2P is that after obtaining a TXOP by contention, the AP allocates a part of the time resource of the TXOP to a STA associated with the AP, so that the STA can communicate with another STA on the allocated time resource. Scheduled P2P is also called scheduled device-to-device (D2D). The concepts of scheduled P2P and scheduled D2D are equivalent, and both mean that multiple stations exchange data directly without forwarding through the AP. Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a scheduled P2P scenario. As shown in FIG. 5, an AP is associated with STA1, and the AP may or may not be associated with STA2. A P2P link is established between STA1 and STA2. The AP can allocate a time resource to STA1, so that STA1 communicates with STA2 through the P2P link on the allocated time resource.

[0118] Co-TDMA is a form of multi-AP cooperation. The design principle of Co-TDMA is as follows: After obtaining a TXOP through contention, an AP (usually called a sharing AP) can allocate a part of time resources to another AP (usually called a shared AP). This allows the other AP (i.e., the Shared AP) to communicate with stations associated with the Shared AP with the allocated time resources. Please refer to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a Co-TDMA scenario. As shown in Figure 6, STA1 is associated with the Sharing AP, and STA2 is associated with the Shared AP. After obtaining a TXOP, the Sharing AP allocates time resources to the Shared AP, and the Shared AP can communicate with STA2 associated with the Shared AP with the time resources.

[0119] A TXOP is the basic unit of wireless channel access. A TXOP is a continuous period and is indicated using a duration field. A station that acquires a TXOP can continuously use the channel to transmit multiple data frames without performing channel contention again within the period of the TXOP. A TXOP can be acquired through contention or hybrid coordinator (HC) allocation. A TXOP acquired through contention may be called an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) TXOP. A TXOP acquired through HC allocation may be called a hybrid coordination function controlled channel access (HCCA) TXOP. It should be understood that the method of acquiring a TXOP in this application is common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

[0120] In order to support time resource allocation in the scheduled P2P scenario and the Co-TDMA scenario, the scheduled P2P scenario and the Co-TDMA scenario also require a single user trigger frame (SU TF). The single user trigger frame in the scheduled P2P scenario and the Co-TDMA scenario is used to allocate time resources to a target station (here, the target station refers to a station in a broad sense, and may be an access point station "AP" or a non-access point station "STA"). The single user trigger frame may further be used to trigger a single STA to respond in a single user physical protocol data unit (SU PPDU) manner. It should be understood that the single user PPDU is mainly used in the single user scenario.

[0121] For example, refer to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram of applying a single-user trigger frame to a scheduled P2 scenario. As shown in FIG. 7, after obtaining a TXOP, an AP can use a part of the time resource for itself, and allocate all or a part of the remaining time resource in the TXOP to a P2P station (for example, STA1 in FIG. 7) using a trigger frame (for example, TF for P2P in FIG. 7). Thus, for the allocated time resource, STA1 can send a P2P PPDU to STA2 (P2P PPDU is a single-user PPDU), and STA2 can send an acknowledgement (ACK) frame of P2P PPU to STA1.

[0122] For example, referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of applying a single-user trigger frame to a Co-TDMA scenario. As shown in FIG. 8, a TXOP is owned by AP1. In FIG. 8, AP1 uses a trigger frame (Trigger) to allocate time resources in the TXOP to multiple APs. However, in a real application, it is more realistic to send a unicast trigger frame from AP1 to AP2 after using up a part of the time resource, and allocate the unused part of the time resource to AP2. After AP2 uses up a part of the time resource, AP1 sends a unicast trigger frame to AP2, and allocates the unused part of the time resource to AP3. Similarly, AP1 can allocate the time resource of the TXOP to more APs.

[0123] Based on the discussion in the 802.11be standard, there is a way to design a single-user trigger frame using a multiple user (MU) Request-to-Send (RTS) frame. However, there are two open problems. One is how to indicate that the MU-RTS frame is a single-user trigger frame (called a modified MU-RTS frame in this application) rather than a basic MU-RTS. The other is how to indicate the time period assigned to the target station (here, the target station refers to a station in a broad sense, and may be an access point station "AP" or a non-access point station "STA").

[0124] Therefore, the embodiment of the present application provides a method for allocating and receiving time resources. The currently transmitted media access control (MAC) frame is implicitly or explicitly indicated as a single-user trigger frame, and can be distinguished from the basic / original / traditional MU-RTS frame, so that the receiver responds correspondingly based on the different received frames. Furthermore, the reserved subfield in the MU-RTS frame is used to indicate the time period allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application), so that the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application) can communicate with another station in the allocated time resource, supporting communication in scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0125] The following further describes the technical solution of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0126] The technical solution provided in this application is described in detail using two embodiments. Embodiment 1 describes the implicit indication that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and describes a method for implicitly indicating the time resource allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of this application). Embodiment 2 describes the explicit indication that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and describes a method for explicitly indicating the time resource allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of this application).

[0127] It is understood that the first device in the present application may be, for example, an AP such as the AP in Fig. 5 or the sharing AP in Fig. 6. The second device in the present application may be, for example, an STA such as the STA1 in Fig. 5. Alternatively, the second device may be, for example, an AP such as the shared AP in Fig. 6.

[0128] In addition, it can be understood that both the first device and the second device in the present application support the 802.11be protocol (also called Wi-Fi7, EHT protocol) and can further support other WLAN communication protocols, such as 802.11ax and 802.11ac. It can be understood that the first device and the second device in the present application can further support the next generation protocol of 802.11be. That is, the method provided in the present application can be applied not only to the 802.11be protocol but also to the next generation 802.11be protocol.

[0129] EMBODIMENT 1 In embodiment 1 of the present application, we mainly describe a method for implicitly indicating that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame and distinguishing it from an original MU-RTS frame when the single-user trigger frame is designed using a MU-RTS frame, and then describe a method for indicating the time resources allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application) after implicitly indicating it.

[0130] Please refer to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a schematic flowchart of a time resource allocation and receiving method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, the resource allocation and receiving method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0131] S101: A first device generates a media access control (MAC) frame, where a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of a second device. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device.

[0132] S102: The first device transmits a MAC frame.

[0133] Optionally, a Trigger Type subfield set to 3 indicates an MU-RTS frame. An MU-RTS frame always contains one or more User Information fields because it is transmitted to one or more users (or stations) and is used by one or more users (or stations) to respond to a Clear-To-Send (CTS) frame on a specified resource unit (RU).

[0134] Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of an MU-RTS frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, the MU-RTS frame may include a frame control field, a duration field, a receiver address (RA) field, a transmitter address (TA) field, a common information field, a user information list field, a padding field, a frame check sequence (FCS) field, etc. The frame control field indicates that the frame is a trigger frame. The duration field indicates the remaining time duration of the TXOP. The RA field and the TA field indicate the receiver address and the sender address, respectively. The common information (abbreviated as common info) field includes common information that all target STAs need to interpret. The user information list field includes one or more user information fields, and each user information field corresponds to one station.

[0135] Please refer to Figure 11A. Figure 11A is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a common information field of a MU-RTS frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11A, the trigger type subfield of the common information field indicates the specific MU-RTS trigger frame type of the current frame. That is, the trigger type subfield is set to 3 (B0-B3 are shown as 0010). The following subfields of the common information field of the MU-RTS frame are reserved (i.e., the following fields are not used in the MU-RTS frame): UL Length subfield, guard interval (GI) and high efficiency long training field (HE-LTF) type subfield, multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) HE-LTF Mode subfield, Number Of HE-LTF Symbols And Midamble Periodicity subfield, Uplink Space-Time Block Code (UL STBC) subfield, low-density parity check (LDPC) extra symbol segment subfield, AP TX Power subfield, forward error correction (FEC) padding factor field, packet extension, a PE disambiguity subfield, an uplink spatial reuse (UL spatial reuse) subfield, a Doppler subfield, and an uplink high efficiency signal field A2 reserved (UL HE-SIG-A2 Reserved) subfield.That is, these subfields of the common information field are not used or defined in the MU-RTS frame and are reserved. That is, B4 to B15 and B20 to B62 of the common information field of the MU-RTS frame are not used or defined.

[0136] Please refer to Figure 11B. Figure 11B is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a user information field of a MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11B, an Association Identifier (AID) 12 subfield of the user information (abbreviated as user info) field indicates the last 12 bits of the AID of the station, and an RU allocation subfield indicates the frequency resource allocated to the station. The following subfields of the user information field of the MU-RTS frame are also reserved (i.e., the following fields are not used in the MU-RTS frame): an uplink high efficiency modulation and coding scheme (UL HE-MCS) subfield, an uplink forward error correction coding type (UL FEC Coding Type) subfield, an uplink dual carrier modulation (UL DCM) subfield, a spatial stream allocation (SS Allocation) / random access resource unit information (RA-RU Information) subfield, and an uplink target received signal strength indication (UL Target RSSI) subfield. That is, these subfields of the user information field are not used or defined in the MU-RTS frame and are reserved, i.e., none of B20 to B38 in the user information field of the MU-RTS frame are used or defined.

[0137] In this embodiment of the present application, the single-user trigger frame in the scheduled P2P scenario and the Co-TDMA scenario is considered to be designed based on the MU-RTS frame. Therefore, the first problem to be solved is how to enable the receiver to identify that the currently received frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than a MU-RTS frame.

[0138] Therefore, the first device generates a MAC frame. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, which indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame. The single-user trigger frame (i.e., the MAC frame) is used to allocate time resources to the second device. In other words, the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame with the trigger type subfield set to 3 and no user information field. The MU-RTS frame always includes a user information field. In this embodiment, in order to indicate that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame rather than a MU-RTS frame, the trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3 (indicating a MU-RTS frame), and the MAC frame does not include a user information field. Note that the single-user trigger frame (i.e., the MAC frame) in this application is also called a modified MU-RTS frame, a new MU-RTS frame, a single-user RTS frame (SU-RTS frame), a single-user MU-RTS frame (SU MU-RTS frame), etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the name of the single-user trigger frame is not limited. That is, if the trigger type field of the MAC frame is set to 3 and the user information field is not present, the MAC frame is a modified MU-RTS frame. In order to easily distinguish from the original MU-RTS frame, the single-user trigger frame is hereinafter referred to as a modified MU-RTS frame (i.e., modified MU-RTS frame).

[0139] The Modified MU-RTS frame (or Single User Trigger frame) does not include a User Information field and is sent only to a single user. Therefore, the recipient address field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or Single User Trigger frame) can be set to the MAC address (media access control address, also called local area network address (LAN address), MAC address, Ethernet address, or physical address) of the second device so that the second device can receive and analyze the frame.

[0140] Please refer to Figure 12. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame) according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 12, the modified MU-RTS frame includes a frame control field, a duration field, a recipient address field, a sender address field, a common information field, a padding field, and a frame check sequence field. Compared with the frame format of the MU-RTS frame (shown in Figure 10), the frame format of the modified MU-RTS frame (shown in Figure 12) does not include a user information list field, i.e., does not include a user information field, and the recipient address field of the modified MU-RTS frame is set to the MAC address of the second device.

[0141] Optionally, the duration field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) can indicate the time period assigned to the second device. Since the original meaning of the duration field is to indicate information about the remaining duration of the current TXOP, reusing the duration field to indicate the time period assigned to the second device is equivalent to allocating the entire remaining duration of the entire TXOP to the second device. In this embodiment of the present application, the original duration field in the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) is reused and the meaning of the original duration field is extended so that the duration field has two meanings (one indicates information about the remaining duration of the current TXOP and the other indicates the time period assigned to the second device), and it can be seen that the second device can communicate with another station in the assigned time resource without adding a new field to support communication in scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios. The implementation is simple.

[0142] Optionally, the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) includes a first subfield, which indicates a time period allocated to the second device. That is, the first subfield indicates a time period allocated to a single-user transmission. It should be understood that the first subfield is different from the duration field. The time period allocated to the second device and indicated by the first subfield is a time period within the remaining duration of the TXOP. In this embodiment of the present application, a new field is designed in the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) to indicate the time period allocated to the second device, and it can be seen that the meaning of the new field is clear and explicit.

[0143] It can be seen from FIG. 11A that the common information field of the MU-RTS frame optionally includes multiple reserved subfields. Therefore, the first subfield may be a reserved subfield of the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame). The length of the first subfield may be equal to or less than the length of the duration field. For example, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits and is located from B20 to B31 of the common information field in the modified MU-RTS frame. Alternatively, the length of the first subfield is 16 bits and is located from B20 to B35 of the common information field in the modified MU-RTS frame. It can be seen that in this embodiment of the present application, the reserved subfields in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame) are used to design the first subfield without adding a new field. Since the original frame length is maintained, the reserved subfields of the common information field can be fully used, and the meaning of the first subfield is clear and explicit. It can be seen that if the length of the first subfield is 12 bits, its length is the same as the length of the UL Length subfield, and the UL Length subfield can be reused to indicate the granularity of the period. If the length of the first subfield is 16 bits, its length is the same as the length of the Duration field, and the Duration field can be reused to indicate the granularity of the period.

[0144] Optionally, the first subfield may be a reserved subfield of the common information field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or the Single User Trigger frame). In other words, the UL Length subfield in the Modified MU-RTS frame is used to indicate the time period allocated to the target station (referred to as the second device in this application).

[0145] It can be seen that the UL Length subfield of another type of trigger frame (trigger frame with a Trigger Type subfield value not equal to 3) indicates the frame length (here the frame length is the time period) of the triggered Trigger Based PPDU (TB PPDU), but the UL Length subfield is not used or does not exist in the original MU-RTS frame. Thus, in this solution, the UL Length subfield indicates the period assigned to the second device, and the UL Length subfield can be reused to indicate the granularity of the period. Such a function is similar to that of the UL Length subfield.

[0146] Optionally, since the MU-RTS can be transmitted in a preamble puncturing mode, the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) in this embodiment of the present application can also be transmitted in a preamble puncturing mode. Specifically, the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) can further include a third subfield. The third subfield indicates a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode, or the third subfield indicates a subchannel punctured in the preamble puncturing mode. The third subfield may be a reserved subfield in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame), and the third subfield is different from the first subfield. The length of the third subfield may be 16 bits. It should be understood that B4 to B15 and B20 to B62 in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) are all reserved. Therefore, the third sub-field and the first sub-field may be arranged in different bits of the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame). For example, the first sub-field may be arranged in bits B4 to B15 of the common information field, and the third sub-field may be arranged in bits B20 to B35 of the common information field.

[0147] For an example, see FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a common information field of a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame) according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the recipient address field in the modified MU-RTS frame is set to the MAC address of the second device, and the user information list field is not included. The trigger type subfield in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame is set to 3. The UL length subfield (i.e., the first subfield) in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame indicates the time period assigned to the target station (i.e., the second device in this application), and the start of the time period is the end of the modified MU-RTS frame. B20-B35 (i.e., the third subfield) in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame indicate the preamble puncturing bandwidth mode. B36-B63 in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame remain reserved.

[0148] Optionally, the Modified MU-RTS frame can not only be used to allocate time resources to the second device, but also have the basic function of the MU-RTS frame, that is, the function of requesting a CTS frame. In other words, the Modified MU-RTS frame has two functions. One is to allocate time resources to the second device for single-user transmission, and the other is to request a CTS frame from the second device. However, whether the second device needs to feedback a CTS frame in this interaction process is indicated by the first device in the Modified MU-RTS frame. That is, if the first device requests the second device to send a CTS frame, the second device needs to send a CTS frame. If the first device does not request the second device to send a CTS, the second device can send a CTS frame (the second device can choose to send a CTS frame or skip sending a CTS frame).

[0149] S103: The second device receives the MAC frame.

[0150] S104: The second device parses the MAC frame and obtains that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, and the MAC frame does not include a user information field.

[0151] S105: The second device determines that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to the trigger type subfield of the MAC frame being set to 3 and the MAC frame not including a user information field, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device.

[0152] Optionally, after receiving the MAC frame, the second device analyzes the MAC frame to obtain that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field. According to the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, the second device determines that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame) is used to allocate time resources to the second device. That is, when the trigger type subfield received by the second device indicates a MU-RTS frame, if the frame includes one or more user information fields (whether a user information field is included is determined using the frame length), it is determined that the frame is a MU-RTS frame. If the frame does not include a user information field, it is determined that the frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame).

[0153] In other words, the second device first receives a MAC frame, then determines that the MAC frame is a Modified MU-RTS frame, and further determines that the Modified MU-RTS frame includes a field indicating the time of single-user transmission (the field is in the MAC frame, but the receiving station (i.e., the second device) does not know about the field before determining the frame type).

[0154] Optionally, the single-user trigger frame can be further used to trigger a single station (here, a station in a broad sense, i.e., an AP or a STA) to respond in a SU PPDU manner. Thus, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a Modified MU-RTS frame), the second device transmits a SU PPDU, where the SU PPDU is not a CTS frame.

[0155] Optionally, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame), the second device sends a CTS frame and then a SU PPDU, where the SU PPDU is not a CTS frame.

[0156] Optionally, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame), the second device continues to analyze the MAC frame and uses the single-user trigger frame (or the modified MU-RTS frame) to obtain a time resource allocated to the second device. The second device communicates with another station (here, a station in a broad sense, i.e., an AP or a STA) in the allocated time resource.

[0157] In this embodiment of the present application, the trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3 (indicating a MU-RTS frame) to implicitly indicate that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a Modified MU-RTS frame) rather than a MU-RTS frame, and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, so that the MAC frame can be distinguished from the original MU-RTS frame, and the receiver can respond accordingly based on the different received frames. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present application, the reserved subfield in the common information field of the MU-RTS frame is used to indicate the time period allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application), so that the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application) can communicate with another station with the allocated time resource, supporting communication in scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0158] EMBODIMENT 2 In embodiment 2 of the present application, we mainly describe a method for explicitly indicating that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame and distinguishing it from an original MU-RTS frame when the single-user trigger frame is designed using a MU-RTS frame, and then describe a method for indicating the time resources allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application) after explicitly indicating this.

[0159] Please refer to Figure 14. Figure 14 is another schematic flowchart of a time resource allocation and receiving method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 14, the resource allocation and receiving method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0160] S201: A first device generates a medium access control (MAC) frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate a time resource to a second device.

[0161] S202: The first device transmits a MAC frame.

[0162] Optionally, the first device generates a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, and the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device. The trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3. It should be understood that the trigger type subfield is set to 3 indicates a MU-RTS frame. The second subfield of the MAC frame indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, not a MU-RTS frame. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present application, the single-user trigger frame can be called a Modified MU-RTS frame, or have other names, such as, for example, a new MU-RTS frame, a SU-RTS frame, and a SU MU-RTS frame. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0163] Optionally, the frame format of the Modified MU-RTS frame may be the same as or different from the frame format of the MU-RTS frame (as shown in FIG. 10). If the Modified MU-RTS frame includes a User Information List field, the frame format of the Modified MU-RTS frame is the same as the frame format of the MU-RTS frame (as shown in FIG. 10), including a Frame Control field, a Duration field, a RA field, a TA field, a Common Information field, a User Information List field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Information List field includes one or more User Information fields. The Modified MU-RTS frame may not include a User Information List field, i.e., it may not include a User Information field. It should be understood that if the Modified MU-RTS frame does not include a User Information field, the Receiver Address field of the Modified MU-RTS frame should be set to the MAC address of the second device.

[0164] Next, a specific implementation of the second sub-field will be described in detail.

[0165] (1) The second subfield is an RU Allocation subfield, whose value is the first preset value of the User Information field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or Single User Trigger frame). The RU Allocation subfield has 8 bits, B0 to B7, which can represent values ​​from 0 to 255. In the 802.11ax standard, B0 is set to 0 if the RU Allocation field indicates a primary 20 MHz, primary 40 MHz, or primary 80 MHz channel. B0 is set to 1 if the RU Allocation field indicates 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz. B7 to B1 indicate the location of the specific RU that is assigned. Values ​​61 to 64 are used to indicate four 20 MHz subchannels on the primary 80 MHz channel, values ​​65 and 66 are used to indicate two 40 MHz subchannels on the primary 80 MHz channel, value 67 is used to indicate the primary 80 MHz channel, and value 68 is used to indicate the primary 80 MHz and secondary 80 MHz (i.e., 160 MHz) channels. If the value of the RU allocation subfield is 0 to 60, it indicates an RU that is smaller than 20 MHz bandwidth (242-tone). Therefore, values ​​from 0 to 60 are not used in the MU-RTS frame. Furthermore, if the value of B7 to B1 is greater than 68, which is not defined in the 802.11ax standard, B7 to B1 are reserved. In the 802.11be standard, the bandwidth is extended to 320 MHz and more RU combinations are supported. Therefore, in the 802.11be standard, the setting method of B1 to B7 and B0 may be extended, that is, undefined parameters are used for setting. Therefore, the first preset value is a value that is not used in the 802.11be standard, and the values ​​are 0 to 60 and 68 to 255. In other words, a specific RU allocation value (i.e., the first preset value) is used to indicate that the currently transmitted frame is a Modified MU-RTS frame. The specific RU allocation value is a value that is not used to indicate an actual RU in the 802.11ax and 802.11be standards.For example, the RU Allocation subfields B0 through B7 are all set to 1 (indicating a decimal value of 255).

[0166] It should be noted that, if the RU allocation subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) is set to the first preset value, the RU allocation subfield cannot allocate frequency resources to the station. That is, the station may not know the frequency resource to which the CTS frame is fed back. However, the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) is transmitted to a single user. If the second device needs to feed back a CTS frame, the second device can set the bandwidth of the CTS frame to be the same as the bandwidth of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). The bandwidth of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) can be obtained from the uplink bandwidth subfield of the common information field. That is, the RU allocation subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) is no longer necessary, and the bandwidth of the subsequent CTS frame (if necessary) can be set to be the same as the bandwidth of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame), and the bandwidth information can be obtained from the UL BW subfield of the common information field.

[0167] It can be seen that in this embodiment, without changing the meaning of some values ​​of the RU allocation subfield, the RU allocation subfield is reused and a special value is used to indicate a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame). Small changes are made to the MU-RTS frame to achieve compatibility with the 802.11ax standard.

[0168] (2) The second subfield is an AID12 subfield having a value that is the second preset value of the User Information field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or the Single User Trigger frame). The second preset value is one of the reserved values ​​(i.e., unused values) from 2008 to 2044 and from 2047 to 4094.

[0169] It should be understood that the original meaning of the AID12 subfield is to indicate the last 12 bits of the station's AID. When the AID12 subfield is set to the second preset value, the AID12 subfield cannot be used to identify the station. Therefore, in order to identify the station, the implementation can set the recipient address field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) to the MAC address of the second device. That is, the AID12 subfield of the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) becomes unnecessary. Since the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) is transmitted to a single user, the RA address field can be used to carry the MAC address of the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application).

[0170] In another implementation, another subfield in the user information field where the AID12 subfield value is a second preset value is reused to indicate the association identifier of the second device. For example, B12 to B23 in the user information field where the AID12 subfield value is a second preset value are used to indicate the association identifier of the second device. That is, in this implementation, the RU allocation subfield is not required. Therefore, when the second device needs to feed back a CTS frame, the bandwidth of the CTS frame can be set to be the same as the bandwidth of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame).

[0171] It can be seen that in this embodiment of the present application, the AID12 subfield is reused and a special value is used to indicate a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame) without changing the meaning of some values ​​of the AID12 subfield. Small changes are made to the MU-RTS frame to achieve compatibility with the 802.11ax standard. Also, the AID12 subfield is the first subfield of the user information field. This allows the second device to more quickly determine whether the received frame is a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame), and allows the second device to respond more quickly.

[0172] (3) The second subfield is a reserved subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). The value of the second subfield is different from the value of the second subfield in the reserved state. From the above FIG. 11B, it can be seen that the user information field of the MU-RTS frame has multiple reserved subfields and one reserved bit (i.e., B39). Therefore, one of these reserved subfields or reserved bits may indicate that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). If the second subfield is set to 0 in the reserved state, the second subfield set to 0 indicates that the MAC frame is a MU-RTS frame. If the second subfield is set to 1, the MAC frame is a modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). Conversely, if the second subfield is set to 1 in the reserved state, the second subfield set to 1 indicates that the MAC frame is a MU-RTS frame. The second subfield, when set to 0, indicates that the MAC frame is a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a Single User Trigger frame).

[0173] It can be seen that in this embodiment of the present application, the reserved subfield in the User Information field is used to indicate a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a Single User Trigger frame), the meaning is clear and explicit and is unlikely to cause confusion.

[0174] (4) The second subfield is a reserved subfield in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). The value of the second subfield is different from the value of the second subfield in the reserved state. From the above FIG. 11A, it can be seen that the user information field of the MU-RTS frame has multiple reserved subfields and one reserved bit (i.e., B63). Therefore, one of these reserved subfields or reserved bits may indicate that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame). If the second subfield is set to 0 in the reserved state, the second subfield set to 0 indicates that the MAC frame is a MU-RTS frame. If the second subfield is set to 1, the MAC frame is a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single user trigger frame). Conversely, if the second subfield is set to 1 in the reserved state, the second subfield set to 1 indicates that the MAC frame is a MU-RTS frame. The second subfield, when set to 0, indicates that the MAC frame is a Modified MU-RTS frame (or a Single User Trigger frame).

[0175] It can be seen that in this embodiment of the present application, a reserved subfield in the common information field is used to indicate a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single-user trigger frame). The meaning is clear and explicit, and is unlikely to cause confusion. Also, the common information field is placed after the sender address field. This allows the second device to more quickly determine whether the received frame is a modified MU-RTS frame (or a single-user trigger frame), and allows the second device to respond more quickly.

[0176] Optionally, the MAC frame uses a second subfield to indicate that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, which is used to allocate time resources to the second device. Therefore, the Modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) needs to transmit a time period indication field to indicate the time period allocated by the AP (i.e., the first device of the present application) to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application). It should be understood that the MU-RTS frame contains two fields related to the time period. One is the duration field, and the other is the UL length subfield. The duration field indicates information about the remaining time period of the current TXOP. The UL length subfield of another type of trigger frame (a trigger frame whose trigger type subfield value is not 3) indicates the frame length of the triggered trigger-based PPDU (TB PPDU). Although the MU-RTS frame is a type of trigger frame, the MU-RTS does not trigger a TB PPDU, but rather triggers a CTS frame in a non-high throughput (non-HT) or non-HT duplicated format, and the transmission time duration of the CTS frame is fixed. Therefore, the UL length subfield in the MU-RTS frame is reserved and unused.

[0177] Optionally, the Duration field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or the Single User Trigger frame) can indicate the time period allocated to the second device. Since the original meaning of the Duration field is to indicate information about the remaining duration of the current TXOP, reusing the Duration field to indicate the time period allocated to the second device is equivalent to allocating the second device the entire remaining duration of the entire TXOP.

[0178] Optionally, the MAC frame may further include a first subfield, which indicates a time period allocated to the second device. That is, the first subfield indicates a time period allocated to a single-user transmission. It should be understood that the first subfield is different from the duration field, and the first subfield is also different from the second subfield. The time period allocated to the second device and indicated by the first subfield is a time period within the remaining duration of the TXOP. Two implementations of the first subfield are described in detail below.

[0179] It can be seen from FIG. 11A that in a first implementation, the common information field of the MU-RTS frame includes a number of reserved subfields. Thus, the first subfield may be a reserved subfield of the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame). The length of the first subfield may be less than or equal to the length of the duration field. For example, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits and is located from B20 to B31 of the common information field in the modified MU-RTS frame. Alternatively, the length of the first subfield is 16 bits and is located from B20 to B35 of the common information field in the modified MU-RTS frame.

[0180] Optionally, the first subfield may be a reserved subfield of the common information field of the Modified MU-RTS frame (or the Single User Trigger frame). In other words, the UL Length subfield in the Modified MU-RTS frame is used to indicate the time period allocated to the target station (referred to as the second device in this application).

[0181] In the second implementation, it can be seen from FIG. 11B that the user information field of the MU-RTS frame includes a number of reserved subfields. Thus, the first subfield may be a reserved subfield of the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame). The length of the first subfield may be less than or equal to the length of the duration field. For example, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits and is located from B20 to B31 of the user information field in the modified MU-RTS frame. Alternatively, the length of the first subfield is 16 bits and is located from B20 to B35 of the user information field in the modified MU-RTS frame.

[0182] For an example, see Figure 15. Figure 15A is a schematic diagram of a frame format of the first and second subfields in the user information field of the modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 15A, the second subfield is the AID12 subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame, which is set to a special value (i.e., the second preset value mentioned above). The recipient address field of the modified MU-RTS frame is set to the MAC address of the second device. The first subfield is a reserved subfield of the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame, which has a length of 12 bits (B20-B31) or 16 bits (B20-B35).

[0183] For another example, see Figure 15B. Figure 15B is a schematic diagram of another frame format of the first and second subfields in the user information field of the modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 15B, the second subfield is the AID12 subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame, which is set to a special value (i.e., the second preset value mentioned above). B12-B23 in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame indicate the station association identifier. The first subfield is a reserved subfield of the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame, and has a length of 12 bits (B24-B35) or 16 bits (B24-B39).

[0184] For another example, see Figure 15B. Figure 15C is a schematic diagram of yet another frame format of the first and second subfields in the user information field of the modified MU-MU frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 15C, the second subfield is a RU allocation subfield in the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame and set to a special value (i.e., the first preset value mentioned above, i.e., a special value not used for RU allocation in 802.11ax and 802.11be). The first subfield is a reserved subfield of the user information field of the modified MU-RTS frame and has a length of 12 bits (B20 to B31) or 16 bits (B20 to B35).

[0185] It should be understood that if both the first subfield and the second subfield are in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame), the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame) may not include a user information list field, i.e., may not include a user information field. The modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame) may further include one or more user information fields. Furthermore, it should be understood that the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single user trigger frame) does not include a user information field in this specification. This is simply to shorten the frame length, and has a different meaning from the above embodiment 1.

[0186] Optionally, since the MU-RTS can be transmitted in a preamble puncturing mode, the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) in this embodiment of the present application can also be transmitted in a preamble puncturing mode. Specifically, the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame) can further include a third subfield. The third subfield indicates a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode, or the third subfield indicates a subchannel punctured in the preamble puncturing mode. The third subfield may be a reserved subfield in the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or the single-user trigger frame), and the third subfield is different from the above-mentioned first subfield and second subfield. The length of the third subfield may be 16 bits.

[0187] It should be understood that B4-B15 and B20-B62 of the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame) are all reserved. Thus, the third subfield, the first subfield, and the second subfield may each be located in different bits of the common information field of the modified MU-RTS frame (or single user trigger frame). For example, the first subfield may be located in B4-B15 of the common information field, the third subfield may be located in B20-B35 of the common information field, and the second subfield may be located in B36 of the common information field. In another example, the first subfield is a UL length subfield of the common information field, the third subfield may be located in B20-B35 of the common information field, and the second subfield may be located in B36 of the common information field. Furthermore, it should be understood that various implementations of the second subfield and the first subfield may be randomly combined and will not be enumerated here.

[0188] Optionally, the Modified MU-RTS frame can not only be used to allocate time resources to the second device, but also have the basic function of the MU-RTS frame, that is, the function of requesting a CTS frame. In other words, the Modified MU-RTS frame has two functions. One is to allocate time resources to the second device for single-user transmission, and the other is to request a CTS frame from the second device. However, whether the second device needs to feedback a CTS frame in this interaction process is indicated by the first device in the Modified MU-RTS frame. That is, if the first device requests the second device to send a CTS frame, the second device needs to send a CTS frame. If the first device does not request the second device to send a CTS, the second device can send a CTS frame (the second device can choose to send a CTS frame or skip sending a CTS frame).

[0189] S203: The second device receives the MAC frame.

[0190] S204: The second device analyzes the MAC frame.

[0191] Optionally, after receiving the MAC frame, the second device parses the MAC frame to obtain a second subfield contained in the MAC frame, and determines, according to the indication of the second subfield, that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame), where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device.

[0192] Optionally, the single-user trigger frame can be further used to trigger a single station (here, a station in a broad sense, i.e., an AP or a STA) to respond in a SU PPDU manner. Thus, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a Modified MU-RTS frame), the second device transmits a SU PPDU, where the SU PPDU is not a CTS frame.

[0193] Optionally, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame), the second device sends a CTS frame and then a SU PPDU, where the SU PPDU is not a CTS frame.

[0194] Optionally, after determining that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a modified MU-RTS frame), the second device continues to analyze the MAC frame and uses the single-user trigger frame to obtain a time resource assigned to the second device. The second device communicates with another station (here, a station in a broad sense, i.e., an AP or a STA) in the assigned time resource.

[0195] It can be seen that in this embodiment of the present application, a field (i.e., the second subfield) is included in the MAC frame to explicitly indicate that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, so that the MAC frame can be distinguished from the MU-RTS frame, and the receiver can respond accordingly based on the different received frames. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present application, the reserved subfield in the common information field or user information subfield of the MU-RTS frame is used to design the first subfield to indicate the time period allocated to the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application), so that the target station (i.e., the second device of the present application) can communicate with another station in the allocated time resource, supporting communication in scheduled P2P scenarios and Co-TDMA scenarios.

[0196] In any embodiment, the time resource allocation and receiving method provided in the present application can be further applied to a multi-link scenario. The difference from embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 is that the first subfield indicates the length of the response frame (e.g., BA frame). It should be noted that the length of the response frame indicated by the first subfield is determined by the first device. It should be further understood that in the multi-link scenario, the first device is an AP in the AP MLD, and the second device is an STA associated with the AP (i.e., the first device) in the non-AP MLD. Optionally, in order to distinguish the function of the first subfield in the single-user trigger frame in different scenarios, indication information can be transmitted in the single-user trigger frame to indicate the function of the first subfield in the single-user trigger frame in different scenarios. In the scheduled P2P scenario and the Co-TDMA scenario, the first subfield indicates the time period allocated to the second device. In the multi-link scenario, the first subfield indicates the length of the response frame.

[0197] It should be understood that in different scenarios, the design of the frame format of the single-user trigger frame and the design of the frame format of the first subfield and the second subfield remain unchanged. Specifically, when the time resource allocation receiving method provided in this embodiment is applied to a multi-link scenario, the frame format design of the single-user trigger frame (e.g., "Tr" carried in downlink data or aggregated in the data frame of FIG. 4), the design of the first subfield and the second subfield, refer to the corresponding description in the first and second embodiments. Details will not be described again here. In other words, in a multi-link scenario, a single-user trigger frame is designed using a MU-RTS frame, which can implicitly or explicitly indicate that the currently transmitted MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame (or a Modified MU-RTS frame), and further indicate the length of the response frame (e.g., a BA frame). The single-user trigger frame (or a Modified MU-RTS frame) in a multi-link scenario is transmitted in downlink data or aggregated in a data frame.

[0198] In this embodiment of the present application, it can be seen that by using the MU-RTS frame to design a single-user trigger frame applied to multi-link scenarios, the frame length of the response frame can be indicated, unnecessary system overhead can be reduced (because many fields in the MU-RTS frame are reserved), and a SU PPDU can be used to trigger a single station to respond, which can better protect the channel and reduce overhead.

[0199] The above has described in detail the method provided in the present application. In order to realize the implementation of the above solution in the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide a corresponding device or apparatus.

[0200] In the embodiment of the present application, the first device and the second device may be divided into functional modules according to the above-mentioned method examples. For example, the functional modules may be obtained through division based on the corresponding functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware, or may be implemented in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the division into modules is an example, which is merely a logical functional division, and may be other divisions during actual implementation. With reference to Figures 16 to 18, the time resource allocation device and the time resource receiving device in the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail. The time resource allocation device is the first device or a device in the first device, and the time resource receiving device is the second device or a device in the second device.

[0201] When an integrated unit is used, please refer to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a time resource allocation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. The time resource allocation device may be a first device or a chip in the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. As shown in Fig. 16, the time resource allocation device includes a processing unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12.

[0202] In the design, the processing unit 11 is configured to generate a MAC frame, where a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3, the MAC frame does not include a user information field, and a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the MAC frame. The trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, which is used to allocate time resources to the second device. It should be understood that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 indicates a MU-RTS frame.

[0203] Optionally, the MAC frame includes a first subfield, the first subfield indicating a time period assigned to the second device.

[0204] Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field in the MAC frame. Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame.

[0205] Optionally, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits.

[0206] It should be understood that in this design, the time resource allocation device corresponds to embodiment 1, and the above operations or functions of the units in the time resource allocation device are separately used to realize the corresponding operations of the first device in embodiment 1. For the technical effects of the units, please refer to the technical effects of embodiment 1. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0207] In another design, the processing unit 11 is configured to generate a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the MAC frame. A trigger type subfield of the MAC frame is set to 3.

[0208] Optionally, the second subfield is an RU Allocation subfield whose value is a first preset value of the User Information field of the MAC frame, the first preset value being a value unused in the 802.11be standard, and having values ​​from 0 to 60 and 68 to 255.

[0209] Optionally, the second subfield is an AID12 subfield having a value that is a second preset value of the user information field of the MAC frame, the second preset value being one of 2008 to 2044 and 2047 to 4094. The recipient address field of the MAC frame is set to the MAC address of the second device. Or a reserved subfield of the user information field of the MAC frame indicates an association identifier of the second device.

[0210] Optionally, the second subfield is a reserved subfield of the common information field of the MAC frame, and a value of the second subfield is different from a value of the second subfield that is reserved.

[0211] Optionally, the second subfield is a reserved subfield of a user information field of the MAC frame, and a value of the second subfield is different from a value of the second subfield in a reserved state.

[0212] Optionally, the MAC frame further comprises a first sub-field, the first sub-field indicating a time period allocated to the second device.

[0213] Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field in the MAC frame. The first subfield is different from the second subfield. Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length subfield in the common information field of the MAC frame.

[0214] Optionally, the first sub-field is a reserved sub-field in a User Information field in the MAC frame. The first sub-field is different from the second sub-field.

[0215] Optionally, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits.

[0216] It should be understood that in this design, the time resource allocation device corresponds to embodiment 2, and the above operations or functions of the units in the time resource allocation device are separately used to realize the corresponding operations of the first device in embodiment 2. For the technical effects of the units, please refer to the technical effects of embodiment 2. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0217] Please refer to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a time resource receiving device according to an embodiment of the present application. The time resource allocation device may be a second device or a chip in the second device, for example a Wi-Fi chip. As shown in Fig. 17, the time resource receiving device includes a transceiver unit 21, an analysis unit 22, and optionally a determination unit 23.

[0218] In one design, the transceiver unit 21 is configured to receive a medium access control (MAC) frame, where a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device. The parsing unit 22 is configured to parse the MAC frame and obtain that a trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field. The determining unit 23 is further configured to determine that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame according to that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 and the MAC frame does not include a user information field, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device. It should be understood that the trigger type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3 indicates a MU-RTS frame.

[0219] Optionally, the MAC frame includes a first subfield, the first subfield indicating a time period assigned to the second device.

[0220] Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field in the MAC frame. Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame.

[0221] Optionally, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits.

[0222] The analysis unit 22 and the decision unit 23 may be integrated, for example as a processing unit.

[0223] It should be understood that in this design, the time resource receiving device corresponds to embodiment 1, and the above operations or functions of the units in the time resource receiving device are separately used to realize the corresponding operations of the first device in embodiment 1. For the technical effects of the units, please refer to the technical effects of embodiment 1. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0224] In another design, the transceiver unit 21 is configured to receive a MAC frame, where the MAC frame includes a second subfield, where the second subfield indicates that the MAC frame is a single-user trigger frame, where the single-user trigger frame is used to allocate time resources to the second device. The parsing unit 22 is configured to parse the MAC frame.

[0225] Optionally, the second subfield is an RU Allocation subfield whose value is a first preset value of the User Information field of the MAC frame, the first preset value being a value unused in the 802.11be standard, and having values ​​from 0 to 60 and 68 to 255.

[0226] Optionally, the second subfield is an AID12 subfield having a value that is a second preset value of the user information field of the MAC frame, the second preset value being one of 2008 to 2044 and 2047 to 4094. The recipient address field of the MAC frame is set to the MAC address of the second device. Or a reserved subfield of the user information field of the MAC frame indicates an association identifier of the second device.

[0227] Optionally, the second subfield is a reserved subfield of the common information field of the MAC frame, and a value of the second subfield is different from a value of the second subfield that is reserved.

[0228] Optionally, the second subfield is a reserved subfield of a user information field of the MAC frame, and a value of the second subfield is different from a value of the second subfield in a reserved state.

[0229] Optionally, the MAC frame further comprises a first sub-field, the first sub-field indicating a time period allocated to the second device.

[0230] Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field in the MAC frame. The first subfield is different from the second subfield. Optionally, the first subfield is a reserved uplink length subfield in the common information field of the MAC frame.

[0231] Optionally, the first sub-field is a reserved sub-field in a User Information field in the MAC frame. The first sub-field is different from the second sub-field.

[0232] Optionally, the length of the first subfield is 12 bits or 16 bits.

[0233] The analysis unit 22 may also be called a processing unit.

[0234] It should be understood that in this design, the time resource receiving device corresponds to embodiment 2, and the above operations or functions of the units in the time resource receiving device are separately used to realize the corresponding operations of the first device in embodiment 2. For the technical effects of the units, please refer to the technical effects of embodiment 2. For the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0235] The above describes the first device and the second device in the embodiment of the present application. The following describes possible product forms of the first device and the second device. It should be understood that the product form having the function of the first device in FIG. 16 and the product form having the function of the second device in FIG. 17 are included in the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application. Furthermore, it should be understood that the following description is merely an example and does not limit the product form of the first device and the second device in the embodiment of the present application.

[0236] In a possible product form, the first device or the second device in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented using a common bus architecture.

[0237] For ease of explanation, reference is made to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 may be a first device, a second device, or a chip in the first device or the second device. FIG. 18 shows only the main components of the communication device 1000. In addition to a processor 1001 and a transceiver 1002, the communication device may further include a memory 1003 and an input / output device (not shown).

[0238] The processor 1001 is mainly configured to process communication protocols and communication data, control communication devices, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs. The memory 1003 is mainly configured to store software programs and data. The transceiver 1002 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is mainly configured to perform conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals and process the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly configured to transmit and receive the radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. The input / output device, such as a touch screen, a display, or a keyboard, is mainly configured to: receive data input by a user and output data to a user.

[0239] After the communication device is started, the processor 1001 may read the software program from the memory, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1001 performs baseband processing 1001 on the data to be transmitted, and then outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves through an antenna after performing radio frequency processing on the baseband signal. When data is transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor 1001 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0240] In another embodiment, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located independently from the processor performing the baseband processing, for example in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located independently and remotely from the communication device.

[0241] The processor 1001, the transceiver 1002, and the memory 1003 may be coupled to each other via a communication bus.

[0242] In design, the communication device 1000 may be configured to perform the functions of the first device of embodiment 1. The processor 1001 may be configured to perform step S101 of FIG. 9 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1002 may be configured to perform step S102 of FIG. 9 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0243] In another design, the communication device 1000 may be configured to perform the functions of the second device in embodiment 1. The processor 1001 may be configured to perform step S105 and step S105 of FIG. 9, and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1002 may be configured to perform step S103 of FIG. 9, and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0244] In design, the communication device 1000 may be configured to perform the functions of the first device of embodiment 2. The processor 1001 may be configured to perform step S201 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1002 may be configured to perform step S202 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0245] In another design, the communication device 1000 may be configured to perform the function of the second device of embodiment 2. The processor 1001 may be configured to perform step S204 of FIG. 14 and / or another process of the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1002 may be configured to perform step S203 of FIG. 14 and / or another process of the techniques described herein.

[0246] In any of the above designs, the processor 1001 may include a transceiver configured to implement the transmitting and receiving functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit configured to implement the transmitting and receiving functions may be separate or integrated together. The transceiver circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit may be configured to read and write code / data. Alternatively, the transceiver circuit, the interface, or the interface circuit may be configured to transmit or forward a signal.

[0247] In any of the above designs, the processor 1001 may store instructions. The instructions may be computer programs. The computer programs may be executed on the processor 1001, such that the communication device 1000 can perform the method described in any one of the above method embodiments. The computer programs may be fixed to the processor 1001. In this case, the processor 1001 may be implemented in hardware.

[0248] In implementations, the communication device 1000 may include circuitry that may implement the transmit, receive, or communicate functions in the above-described method embodiments. The processors and transceivers described herein may be implemented in an integrated circuit (IC), analog IC, radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), mixed signal IC, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), printed circuit board (PCB), or electronic device, etc. The processors and transceivers may alternatively be fabricated using various IC technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), p-type metal (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), and gallium arsenide (GaAs).

[0249] The scope of the communication device described herein is not so limited, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited by FIG. 18. The communication device may be a separate device or part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) An independent integrated circuit IC, chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a set including one or more integrated circuits, optionally the set of integrated circuits further including a storage component configured to store data and computer programs; (3) ASICs, such as modems, (4) A module that can be incorporated into other devices; 5) Receivers, terminals, intelligent terminals, mobile phones, wireless devices, handheld devices, mobile units, vehicle-mounted devices, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, etc.; or (6) Other devices, etc.

[0250] In a possible product form, the first device or the second device in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a general-purpose processor.

[0251] A general purpose processor implementing the first device includes a processing circuit and an input / output interface interconnected to and in communication with the processing circuit.

[0252] In design, the general-purpose processor may be configured to perform the functions of the first device of embodiment 1. Specifically, the processing circuit is configured to perform step S101 of FIG 9 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The input / output interface is configured to perform step S102 of FIG 9 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0253] In another design, the general-purpose processor may be configured to perform the functions of the first device of embodiment 2. Specifically, the processing circuit is configured to perform step S201 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The input / output interface is configured to perform step S202 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0254] A general purpose processor implementing the second device includes a processing circuit and an input / output interface interconnected to and in communication with the processing circuit.

[0255] In design, the general-purpose processor may be configured to perform the functions of the second device of embodiment 1. Specifically, the processing circuit is configured to perform step S104 and step S105 of Fig. 9, and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The input / output interface is configured to perform step S103 of Fig. 9, and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0256] In another design, the general-purpose processor may be configured to perform the functions of the second device of embodiment 2. Specifically, the processing circuit is configured to perform step S204 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein. The input / output interface is configured to perform step S203 of FIG. 14 and / or other processes of the techniques described herein.

[0257] It should be understood that the aforementioned communication devices of various product types have the functions of the first device or the second device in the aforementioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0258] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code, which when executed by a processor causes the electronic device to perform the method in any of the above embodiments.

[0259] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0260] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device. The device may be in the product form of a chip. The structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is configured to communicate with another device through the interface circuit and enable the communication device to perform the method in any of the previous embodiments.

[0261] An embodiment of the present application further provides a wireless communication system, including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being capable of performing the method in any of the above embodiments.

[0262] The method or algorithm steps described in connection with the contents disclosed herein may be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions may include corresponding software modules. The software modules may be stored in a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable-Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a removable hard disk, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. For example, the storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from or write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium may be located in an ASIC. Furthermore, the ASIC may be located in the core network interface device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may reside in the core network interface device as separate components.

[0263] Those skilled in the art should recognize that in one or more of the above examples, the functions described herein may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If the functions are implemented by software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer-readable storage media and communication media. Communication media includes any medium that facilitates the transmission of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0264] In the above specific implementation, the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application are further described in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation of the present application, and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements or improvements made based on the technical solutions of the present application should be encompassed within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a time resource, comprising: receiving a MAC frame by a second device, the MAC frame including a second subfield, the second subfield indicating that the MAC frame is a modified multi-user transmission request frame, the modified multi-user transmission request frame being used to allocate time resources to the second device; parsing the MAC frame by the second device; The method includes:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second subfield is a resource unit allocation subfield having a value that is a first preset value of a User Information field of the MAC frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a recipient address field in the MAC frame is set to a MAC address of the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value of the second subfield is different from the value of the second subfield of a reserved state.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the MAC frame further comprises a first sub-field, the first sub-field indicating a time period allocated to the second device.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame, and the first subfield is different from the second subfield.

7. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first subfield is a reserved uplink length subfield in a common information field of the MAC frame, and the first subfield is different from the second subfield.

8. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first subfield is a reserved subfield in a user information field of the MAC frame, and the first subfield is different from the second subfield.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the length of the first sub-field is 12 bits or 16 bits.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a Trigger Type subfield in the MAC frame is set to 3.

11. A communications device comprising a processor and a transceiver, the transceiver configured to transmit and receive MAC frames, the processor configured to execute program instructions to enable the communications device to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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