Bandwidth mode indication method and apparatus

Abstract

To provide a bandwidth mode indication method and apparatus.SOLUTION: In a method, a transmitting side transmits a first frame to a receiving side (S102). Here, the first frame includes a service field, and the service field includes a first field (S101). The first field indicates whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is allowed to indicate a target bandwidth mode, and the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Therefore, in a scenario where a new bandwidth mode is introduced, two devices negotiate the bandwidth mode based on the first frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No. 202010791002.2, entitled "BANDWIDTH MODE INDICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on August 7, 2020, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications technology, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for indicating a bandwidth mode. [Background technology]

[0003] In wireless communication scenarios, the transmitter and receiver are located in different wireless channel environments. Therefore, it would be very beneficial for data communication if the bandwidth available to both the transmitter and receiver could be negotiated based on the channel availability of the transmitter and receiver before data communication. To achieve this goal, the 802.11ac standard specifies two bits (i.e., B5 and B6) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence used by non-high throughput (non-HT) frames or non-HT duplicated frames to indicate the bandwidth mode. The four values ​​of the two bits correspond one-to-one to four bandwidth modes: 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80 + 80 MHz).

[0004] Currently, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is discussing the next-generation 802.11be standard after 802.11ax. Compared with the previous 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard supports data transmission with extremely high throughput (EHT). The 802.11be standard supports a maximum transmission bandwidth of 320 MHz. Therefore, the 802.11be standard introduces bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80 + 80 MHz or 160 MHz, such as 320 MHz.

[0005] After the introduction of bandwidth modes other than 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, and 80+80MHz or 160MHz, how two devices negotiate the bandwidth mode is a technical issue that needs to be resolved quickly. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a bandwidth mode indication method and apparatus, so that two devices can successfully negotiate the bandwidth mode in scenarios where other bandwidth modes than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz) are introduced.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a transmitting side generating a first frame, where the first frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the first frame includes a service field; the service field includes a first field; the first field indicates whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; then, the transmitting side sends the first frame to a receiving side.

[0008] Based on the aforementioned technical solution, the first frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the first field and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the first frame is ensured. In addition, the first field indicates whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is allowed to indicate the target bandwidth mode. In other words, since the service field of the first frame includes the first field, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame expands the range of bandwidth modes that can be indicated. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from the more bandwidth modes by transmitting the first frame.

[0009] In addition, positioning the first field in the service field of the first frame has the following advantages: (1) Currently, reserved bits in a media access control (MAC) frame can be used by chip vendors as private indicator bits. Therefore, if reserved bits in a MAC frame are used as the first field, the indication of the private bits will be affected. However, using bits in the service field as the first field can avoid affecting the private use of reserved bits in a MAC frame by chip vendors. (2) Reserved bits in MAC frames of different types of conventional frames do not necessarily have the same position. Therefore, for different types of transmission frames, the implementation solutions for using reserved bits in a MAC frame as the first field are different. The service field is a field introduced to perform scrambling operations in the physical layer. The service field is positioned before the MAC frame, and the service field itself is a field in the physical layer. In other words, all types of conventional frames include a service field. Thus, using bits in the service field as the first field is applicable to all types of conventional frames.

[0010] In a possible manner, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode.

[0011] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0 or 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode.

[0012] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a third bandwidth mode set. Alternatively, when the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a fourth bandwidth mode set, and at least one of the third bandwidth mode set and the fourth bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the bandwidth mode included in the third bandwidth mode set is different from the bandwidth mode included in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0013] In one possible scheme, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0014] In a possible manner, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field is one of the following cases: the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence and at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0015] In one possible implementation, when the value of the first field is the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field includes a fourth field and a fifth field. When the fourth field indicates that the total bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each of the eight bits occupied by the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, and one bit indicates whether the corresponding 20 MHz channel is idle. When the fourth field indicates that the total bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz or equal to 320 MHz or 160 + 160 MHz, the fifth field includes four first bits, two second bits, and two third bits. Each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channel, each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channel, and each of the two third bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle, the second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle, and the third bit indicates whether the 80 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0016] In a possible scheme, the first field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0017] In a possible manner, the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0018] According to a second aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a receiving side receives a first frame, where the first frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the first frame includes a service field; the service field includes a first field; the first field indicates whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and then the receiving side analyzes the first frame.

[0019] Based on the aforementioned technical solution, the first frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the first field and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the first frame is ensured. The first field indicates whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is allowed to indicate the target bandwidth mode. In other words, since the service field of the first frame includes the first field, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame expands the range of bandwidth modes that can be indicated. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from the more bandwidth modes by transmitting the first frame.

[0020] In a possible manner, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode.

[0021] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0 or 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode.

[0022] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a third bandwidth mode set. Alternatively, when the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a fourth bandwidth mode set, and at least one of the third bandwidth mode set and the fourth bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the bandwidth mode included in the third bandwidth mode set is different from the bandwidth mode included in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0023] In one possible scheme, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0024] In a possible manner, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field is one of the following cases: the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence and at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0025] In one possible implementation, when the value of the first field is the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field includes a fourth field and a fifth field. When the fourth field indicates that the total bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each of the eight bits occupied by the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, and one bit indicates whether the corresponding 20 MHz channel is idle. When the fourth field indicates that the total bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz or equal to 320 MHz or 160 + 160 MHz, the fifth field includes four first bits, two second bits, and two third bits. Each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channel, each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channel, and each of the two third bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle, the second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle, and the third bit indicates whether the 80 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0026] In a possible scheme, the first field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0027] In a possible manner, the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0028] According to a third aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a transmitting side generates a second frame, where the second frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the second frame includes a service field; the service field includes a second field; the second field indicates whether a bandwidth mode of the second frame is a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and then the transmitting side sends the second frame to a receiving side.

[0029] Based on the above technical solution, the second frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the second field, and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the second frame is ensured. In addition, the second field indicates whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from the higher bandwidth mode by transmitting the second frame.

[0030] In addition, positioning the second field in the service field of the second frame has the following advantages: (1) Currently, reserved bits in the MAC frame can be used by chip vendors as private indication bits. Therefore, if reserved bits in the MAC frame are used as the second field, the indication of the private bits will be affected. However, using bits in the service field as the second field can avoid affecting the private use of reserved bits in the MAC frame by chip vendors. (2) Reserved bits in the MAC frame of different types of conventional frames do not necessarily have the same position. Therefore, for different types of transmission frames, the implementation solutions for using reserved bits in the MAC frame as the second field are different. The service field is a field introduced to perform scrambling operations in the physical layer. The service field is positioned before the MAC frame, and the service field itself is a field in the physical layer. In other words, all types of conventional frames include a service field. In this way, using bits in the service field as the second field is applicable to all types of conventional frames.

[0031] In a possible manner, the second field indicating whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a ninth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is not the target bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode.

[0032] In a possible manner, the second frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicating that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the second bandwidth mode. Both the first bandwidth mode and the second bandwidth mode belong to the target bandwidth mode, and the first bandwidth mode is different from the second bandwidth mode.

[0033] In a possible scheme, the second field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0034] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a bandwidth mode indication method, the method including: a receiving side receives a second frame, where the second frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the second frame includes a service field; the service field includes a second field; the second field indicates whether a bandwidth mode of the second frame is a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and then the receiving side analyzes the second frame.

[0035] Based on the above technical solution, the second frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the second field, and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the second frame is ensured. In addition, the second field indicates whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from the higher bandwidth mode by transmitting the second frame.

[0036] In a possible manner, the second field indicating whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a ninth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is not the target bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode.

[0037] In a possible manner, the second frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicating that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the second bandwidth mode. Both the first bandwidth mode and the second bandwidth mode belong to the target bandwidth mode, and the first bandwidth mode is different from the second bandwidth mode.

[0038] In a possible scheme, the second field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0039] According to a fifth aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a transmitting side generates a third frame, where the third frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame, the third frame includes a bandwidth negotiation field and a bandwidth mode indication field, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate a bandwidth mode of the third frame, the bandwidth mode of the third frame is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz, or a first bandwidth mode, the first bandwidth mode is one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz, and then the transmitting side sends the third frame to a receiving side.

[0040] Based on the above technical solution, compared with the prior art in which a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame can only negotiate to use one of four bandwidth modes using a bandwidth mode indication field, the third frame provided in this application fully utilizes the redundancy state in the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field to indicate a new bandwidth mode (first bandwidth mode). Therefore, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field in the third frame jointly indicate one of five bandwidth modes. In this way, when the third frame is transmitted between two devices, one of the five bandwidth modes can be used through negotiation. In addition, compared with the non-HT frame or the non-HT duplicate frame defined in the 802.11n standard, no bits are added or deleted from the third frame provided in this application. In this way, the backward compatibility of the third frame is guaranteed.

[0041] In one possible scheme, the bandwidth negotiation field occupies bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0042] In a possible manner, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode used by the third frame, including: when the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode of the third frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0043] According to a sixth aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a receiving side receives a third frame, where the third frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame, the third frame includes a bandwidth negotiation field and a bandwidth mode indication field, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate a bandwidth mode of the third frame, the bandwidth mode of the third frame is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz, or a first bandwidth mode, the first bandwidth mode is one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and then the receiving side analyzes the third frame.

[0044] Based on the above technical solution, compared with the prior art in which a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame can only negotiate to use one of four bandwidth modes using a bandwidth mode indication field, the third frame provided in this application fully utilizes the redundancy state in the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field to indicate a new bandwidth mode (first bandwidth mode). Therefore, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field in the third frame jointly indicate one of five bandwidth modes. In this way, when the third frame is transmitted between two devices, one of the five bandwidth modes can be used through negotiation. In addition, compared with the non-HT frame or the non-HT duplicate frame defined in the 802.11n standard, no bits are added or deleted from the third frame provided in this application. In this way, the backward compatibility of the third frame is guaranteed.

[0045] In one possible scheme, the bandwidth negotiation field occupies bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0046] In a possible manner, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode used by the third frame, including: when the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode of the third frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0047] According to a seventh aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a transmitting side generating a fourth frame, where the fourth frame is used to respond to a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) frame, a MAC frame of the fourth frame occupying 15 bytes, the MAC frame of the fourth frame including a frame control field, a duration field, a transmitter address field, a frame check sequence field, and a third field, where the frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the transmitter address field occupies 6 bytes, the frame check sequence field occupies 4 bytes, and the third field occupies 1 byte, a K bit in the third field indicates a bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where K is a positive integer; and then the transmitting side transmits the fourth frame to a receiving side.

[0048] Based on the above technical solution, the MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 15 bytes, compared to the prior art where the MAC frame of the clear to send (CTS) frame occupies 14 bytes. Although one byte is added to the MAC frame of the fourth frame, the transmission period of the CTS frame coincides with the transmission period of the fourth frame. Therefore, the normal execution of the network allocation vector (NAV) reconfiguration mechanism based on the RTS / CTS or MU-RTS / CTS interaction is not affected. In addition, the fourth frame uses the added 8 bits as a third field, and one or more bits in the third field may be used to indicate a bandwidth mode. Therefore, in a scenario where another bandwidth mode is introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from a higher bandwidth mode by transmitting the fourth frame.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the fourth frame further includes a service field, which occupies 16 bits. The K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where M is a positive integer.

[0050] In a possible manner, when K+M=16, the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, including: each of the 16 bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, the value of the bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle, and the 16 bits include the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field.

[0051] According to an eighth aspect, a bandwidth mode indication method is provided, the method including: a receiving side receiving a fourth frame, where the fourth frame is used to respond to the MU-RTS frame, a MAC frame of the fourth frame occupying 15 bytes, the MAC frame of the fourth frame including a frame control field, a duration field, a transmitter address field, a frame check sequence field, and a third field, where the frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the transmitter address field occupies 6 bytes, the frame check sequence field occupies 4 bytes, and the third field occupies 1 byte, a K bit in the third field indicates a bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where K is a positive integer; and then the receiving side parses the fourth frame.

[0052] Based on the above technical solution, the MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 15 bytes, compared to the prior art, in which the MAC frame of the CTS frame occupies 14 bytes. Although one byte is added to the MAC frame of the fourth frame, the transmission period of the CTS frame coincides with the transmission period of the fourth frame. Therefore, the normal execution of the NAV reconfiguration mechanism based on the RTS / CTS interaction is not affected. In addition, the fourth frame uses the added 8 bits as a third field and may use one or more bits in the third field to indicate a bandwidth mode. Therefore, in a scenario in which another bandwidth mode is introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from a higher bandwidth mode by transmitting the fourth frame.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the fourth frame further includes a service field, which occupies 16 bits. The K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where M is a positive integer.

[0054] In a possible manner, when K+M=16, the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, including: each of the 16 bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, the value of the bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle, and the 16 bits include the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field.

[0055] A ninth aspect is provided according to a communication device, including a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is configured to generate a first frame, where the first frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the first frame includes a service field; the service field includes a first field; the first field indicates whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The communication module is configured to transmit the first frame to a receiving side.

[0056] In a possible manner, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode.

[0057] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0 or 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode.

[0058] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a third bandwidth mode set. Alternatively, when the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a fourth bandwidth mode set, and at least one of the third bandwidth mode set and the fourth bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the bandwidth mode included in the third bandwidth mode set is different from the bandwidth mode included in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0059] In one possible scheme, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0060] In a possible manner, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field is one of the following cases: the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence and at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0061] In a possible scheme, the first field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0062] In a possible manner, the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0063] A tenth aspect provides a communication device including a processing module and a communication module. The communication module is configured to receive a first frame, where the first frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the first frame includes a service field; the service field includes a first field; the first field indicates whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The processing module is configured to analyze the first frame.

[0064] In a possible manner, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode.

[0065] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0 or 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode.

[0066] In a possible manner, the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. Alternatively, when the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a third bandwidth mode set. Alternatively, when the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a fourth bandwidth mode set, and at least one of the third bandwidth mode set and the fourth bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the bandwidth mode included in the third bandwidth mode set is different from the bandwidth mode included in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0067] In one possible scheme, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0068] In a possible manner, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field and the first field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field is one of the following cases: the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field; or the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 1 bit in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence and at least 1 bit in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0069] In a possible scheme, the first field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0070] In a possible manner, the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0071] An eleventh aspect provides a communication device including a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is configured to generate a second frame, where the second frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the second frame includes a service field; the service field includes a second field; the second field indicates whether a bandwidth mode of the second frame is a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The communication module is configured to transmit the second frame to a receiving side.

[0072] In a possible manner, the second field indicating whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a ninth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is not the target bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode.

[0073] In a possible manner, the second frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicating that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the second bandwidth mode. Both the first bandwidth mode and the second bandwidth mode belong to the target bandwidth mode, and the first bandwidth mode is different from the second bandwidth mode.

[0074] In a possible scheme, the second field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0075] A twelfth aspect provides a communication device including a processing module and a communication module. The communication module is configured to receive a second frame, where the second frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame; the second frame includes a service field; the service field includes a second field; the second field indicates whether a bandwidth mode of the second frame is a target bandwidth mode; the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The processing module is configured to analyze the second frame.

[0076] In a possible manner, the second field indicating whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a ninth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is not the target bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode.

[0077] In a possible manner, the second frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. When the second field is set to a tenth preset value, the second field indicating that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following: when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode; or when the second field is set to a tenth preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the second bandwidth mode. Both the first bandwidth mode and the second bandwidth mode belong to the target bandwidth mode, and the first bandwidth mode is different from the second bandwidth mode.

[0078] In a possible scheme, the second field occupies at least one bit in the last nine bits of the service field.

[0079] A thirteenth aspect provides a communication device including a processing module and a communication module. The processing module is configured to generate a third frame, where the third frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame, the second frame includes a bandwidth negotiation field and a bandwidth mode indication field, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate a bandwidth mode of the third frame, the bandwidth mode of the third frame is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz, or a first bandwidth mode, where the first bandwidth mode is one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The communication module is configured to transmit the third frame to a receiving side.

[0080] In one possible scheme, the bandwidth negotiation field occupies bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0081] In a possible manner, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode used by the second frame, including: when the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0082] A fourteenth aspect provides a communication device including a processing module and a communication module. The communication module is configured to receive a third frame, where the third frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame, and the second frame includes a bandwidth negotiation field and a bandwidth mode indication field, where the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate a bandwidth mode of the third frame, where the bandwidth mode of the third frame is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz, or a first bandwidth mode, where the first bandwidth mode is one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. The processing module is configured to analyze the third frame.

[0083] In one possible scheme, the bandwidth negotiation field occupies bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the bandwidth mode indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0084] In a possible manner, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode used by the second frame, including: when the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0085] A fifteenth aspect provides a communications device including a processing module and a communications module. The processing module is configured to generate a fourth frame, where the fourth frame is used to respond to the MU-RTS frame, and the MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 15 bytes, and the MAC frame of the fourth frame includes a frame control field, a duration field, a transmitter address field, a frame check sequence field, and a third field, where the frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the transmitter address field occupies 6 bytes, the frame check sequence field occupies 4 bytes, and the third field occupies 1 byte, and a K bit in the third field indicates a bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where K is a positive integer. The communications module is configured to transmit the fourth frame to a receiving side.

[0086] In one possible implementation, the fourth frame further includes a service field, which occupies 16 bits. The K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where M is a positive integer.

[0087] In a possible manner, when K+M=16, the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, including: each of the 16 bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, the value of the bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle, and the 16 bits include the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field.

[0088] A sixteenth aspect provides a communications device including a processing module and a communications module. The communications module is configured to receive a fourth frame, where the fourth frame is used to respond to the MU-RTS frame, and the MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 15 bytes, and the MAC frame of the fourth frame includes a frame control field, a duration field, a transmitter address field, a frame check sequence field, and a third field, where the frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the transmitter address field occupies 6 bytes, the frame check sequence field occupies 4 bytes, and the third field occupies 1 byte, and a K bit in the third field indicates a bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where K is a positive integer. The processing module is configured to analyze the fourth frame.

[0089] In one possible implementation, the fourth frame further includes a service field, which occupies 16 bits. The K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where M is a positive integer.

[0090] In a possible manner, when K+M=16, the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, including: each of the 16 bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, the value of the bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle, and the 16 bits include the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field.

[0091] According to a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a communication device, comprising a processor and a transceiver configured to implement any of the methods provided in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the processor configured to perform processing actions of the corresponding method, and the transceiver configured to perform receiving / transmitting actions of the corresponding method.

[0092] According to an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform any of the methods provided in any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0093] According to a nineteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer instructions which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform any method provided in any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0094] According to a twentieth aspect, there is provided a chip including a processing circuit and a transceiver pin, the processing circuit and the transceiver pin configured to implement any of the methods provided in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the processing circuit configured to perform processing actions in the corresponding method, and the transceiver pin configured to perform receive / transmit actions in the corresponding method.

[0095] Please note that the technical effects provided by any design in the ninth to twentieth aspects refer to the technical effects provided by the corresponding design in the first to eighth aspects, and the details will not be described again here. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0096] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of channel distribution for a 320 MHz bandwidth.

[0097] [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a service field according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG.

[0098] [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart of a bandwidth mode indication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart of another bandwidth mode indication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart of yet another bandwidth mode indication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a CTS frame according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0102] [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a fourth frame according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0103] [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart of yet another bandwidth mode indication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0105] [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0106] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or." For example, A / B may represent A or B. The term "and / or" in this specification describes only the correspondence between related objects and indicates 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 a clear distinction.

[0107] In this application, terms such as "example" or "for example" are used to denote an example, illustration, or explanation. Any embodiment or design scheme described in this application as an "example" or using "for example" should not be described as preferred or having more advantages over another embodiment or design scheme. Rather, the use of terms such as "example" or "for example" is intended to indicate a relative concept in a specific manner.

[0108] WLAN started with 802.11a / g, went through 802.11n and 802.11ac, and is now being discussed with 802.11ax and 802.11be. See Table 1 for the permitted transmission bandwidth of WLAN. The 802.11n standard is also referred to as high throughput (HT), the 802.11ac standard is referred to as very high throughput (VHT), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) is referred to as HE, 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) is referred to as extremely high throughput (EHT), and standards before HT, such as 802.11a / b / g, are collectively referred to as non-high throughput (Non-HT). 802.11b uses a non-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) mode and is therefore not listed in Table 1. [Table 1] JPEG2025124724000002.jpg34151

[0109] For example, a channel distribution for a 320 MHz bandwidth may be shown in Figure 1. The 320 MHz channel may be divided into sixteen 20 MHz channels, which may be numbered from high frequency to low frequency, or from low frequency to high frequency.

[0110] For example, in Figure 1, channel 1 may be used as the primary 20 MHz channel and channel 2 may be used as the secondary 20 MHz channel. Channels 1 and 2 may be aggregated as a primary 40 MHz channel. Channels 3 and 4 may be aggregated as a secondary 40 MHz channel. Channels 1 through 4 may be aggregated as a primary 80 MHz channel. Channels 5 through 8 may be aggregated as a secondary 80 MHz channel. Channels 1 through 8 may be aggregated as a primary 160 MHz channel. Channels 9 through 16 may be aggregated as a secondary 160 MHz channel.

[0111] Note that the primary 20 MHz channel does not necessarily have to be the first 20 MHz channel. For example, channel 3 may be used as the primary 20 MHz channel, channel 4 may be used as the secondary 20 MHz channel, channel 3 and channel 4 may be aggregated as the primary 40 MHz channel, channel 1 and channel 2 may be aggregated as the secondary 40 MHz channel, channel 1 through channel 4 may be aggregated as the primary 80 MHz channel, channel 5 through channel 8 may be aggregated as the secondary 80 MHz channel, channel 1 through channel 8 may be aggregated as the primary 160 MHz channel, and channel 9 through channel 16 may be aggregated as the secondary 160 MHz channel. The secondary channels may alternatively have other names, such as slave channels or auxiliary channels. This embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0112] In 802.11a and later standards, in order to ensure backward compatibility, some control frames are transmitted in a non-HT duplication manner on channels with a bandwidth greater than 20 MHz. In other words, the control frames use a non-HT format (in other words, the control frames use a format that complies with the 802.11a standard), and the control frames are copied to a 20 MHz channel in the channel for transmission. For ease of explanation, frames transmitted in a non-HT duplication manner are hereinafter referred to as non-HT duplication frames or frames in a non-HT duplication format.

[0113] In a wireless communication scenario, the transmitting side and the receiving side are located in different wireless channel environments. Therefore, it is very helpful for data communication if the bandwidth available to both the transmitting side and the receiving side can be negotiated based on the channel availability of the transmitting side and the receiving side before data communication.

[0114] In the 802.11n standard, a non-HT duplicate frame or a non-HT frame includes a service field. See Figure 2 for the structure of the service field. The service field can be divided into two parts. The first 7 bits of the service field are used to carry the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the last 9 bits of the service field are reserved service bits.

[0115] To implement the purpose of negotiating the bandwidth mode, in the 802.11ac standard, the B5 and B6 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence used by a non-HT duplicated frame or a non-HT frame are set as the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field, where the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field indicates the bandwidth mode.

[0116] The first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are numbered sequentially from least significant to most significant as bits B0 through B6, so bit B5 is the sixth bit in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence, and bit B6 is the seventh bit in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0117] For example, in the 802.11ac standard, the correspondence between the value of the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field and the bandwidth mode may be shown in Table 2. The unit of the channel bandwidth (CBW) in Table 2 is MHz. [Table 2] JPEG2025124724000003.jpg60119

[0118] The bandwidth mode may also be referred to as the channel bandwidth. The bandwidth mode indicated by the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field in the current frame is the channel bandwidth used to transmit the frame.

[0119] Optionally, to enable the receiving side to know whether the transmitting side adds the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field to the scrambling sequence, the transmitting side uses a unicast / multicast bit in the transmitter address (TA) field in a non-HT duplicate frame or a non-HT frame to indicate whether bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence are used as the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field. Specifically, when the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, it indicates that bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence are used as the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field. When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence are not used as the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field.

[0120] With the development of technology, in a wireless communication scenario, the bandwidth modes that can be used between a transmitting side and a receiving side may exceed the four bandwidth modes shown in Table 2. For example, since the 802.11be standard supports a maximum transmission bandwidth of 320 MHz, other bandwidth modes, such as 320 MHz, can be used between a transmitting side and a receiving side that use the 802.11be standard.

[0121] Currently, the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field only supports the four bandwidth modes shown in Table 2. Therefore, in a scenario where other bandwidth modes than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz are introduced, how a non-HT duplicated frame or a non-HT frame indicates the bandwidth mode is a technical issue that needs to be resolved immediately.

[0122] To solve this technical problem, the embodiments of the present application provide a bandwidth mode indication method and apparatus. The technical solution provided in the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as systems using 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. Scenarios to which the technical solution of the present application can be applied include communication between an access point (AP) and a station (STA), communication between APs, and communication between STAs.

[0123] In this application, the STA may refer to various user terminals, user equipment, access devices, subscriber stations, subscriber units, mobile stations, user agents, user devices, or other devices with wireless communication capabilities. User terminals may include various handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, computing devices with wireless communication capabilities, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, and may include various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile stations (MS), terminals, terminal equipment, portable communication devices, handheld devices, portable computing devices, entertainment devices, gaming devices, or systems, global positioning system devices, or any other suitable devices configured to perform network communications over a wireless medium. For ease of explanation, the above devices will be collectively referred to as stations or STAs.

[0124] An access point (AP) in this application is a device deployed in a wireless communication network and providing wireless communication functions to STAs associated with the access point. The access point (AP) may be used as a hub of a communication system and may be a communication device such as a base station, a router, a gateway, a repeater, a communication server, a switch, or a bridge. The base station may include various types of base stations, such as a macro base station, a micro base station, and a relay station. Herein, for ease of explanation, the above devices are collectively referred to as an access point (AP).

[0125] The embodiment of the present application provides a first frame, which is a non-HT duplicate frame or a non-HT frame, for example, an RTS frame or a CTS frame.

[0126] The first frame includes a service field. The service field carried in the first frame occupies 16 bits. In other words, compared with the non-HT duplicated frame or non-HT frame defined in the 802.11n standard, no bits are added or deleted from the first frame provided in this application, so that the first frame is backward compatible.

[0127] The service field of the first frame includes a first field, which indicates whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is permitted to indicate a target bandwidth mode. The target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. For example, the target bandwidth mode may include 320 MHz (or 160+160 MHz), 240 MHz, etc. This is not limiting here.

[0128] Optionally, the first field occupies at least one bit in bits B7 to B15 in the service field, for example, the first field occupies bit B7, bit B11 or bit B15 in the service field.

[0129] In this embodiment of the present application, when the first frame carries a bandwidth mode indication field, the bits occupied by the bandwidth mode indication field are different from the bits occupied by the first field.

[0130] Optionally, when the first field occupies 1 bit, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the first field indicates that the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is not permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to a second preset value, the first field indicates that the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode.

[0131] For example, when the first field is implemented using one bit, the first preset value may be 0 and the second preset value may be 1; or the first preset value may be 1 and the second preset value may be 0.

[0132] Optionally, when the first field occupies multiple bits, the first field indicating whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode includes: when the first field is set to a first preset value, the first field indicates that the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is not permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode; or when the first field is set to another value other than the first preset value, the first field indicates that the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is permitted to indicate the target bandwidth mode. One or more other values ​​are present.

[0133] Optionally, when the first field occupies multiple bits, the first field may have another function, for example, the first field may further indicate the total bandwidth.

[0134] Optionally, the first frame may use any one of the following designs:

[0135] Design 1: The first field occupies at least 1 bit, and the first frame indicates the bandwidth mode in the following manner (1-1) or (1-2).

[0136] (1-1): When the first field is set to a first preset value, the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0137] When the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is implemented using two bits (e.g., B5 and B6 bits) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence. The bandwidth modes included in the first bandwidth mode set are 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz). For the correspondence between the values ​​of the bandwidth mode indication field and the enumerated values ​​of the bandwidth modes, please refer to Table 2. This is uniformly described here and will not be described in detail again below.

[0138] (1-2): When the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, and the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode.

[0139] Optionally, when the bandwidth mode indication field occupies 1 or 2 bits, the second bandwidth mode set does not include four bandwidth modes, such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. In other words, the intersection set between the second bandwidth mode set and the first bandwidth mode set is empty.

[0140] Optionally, when the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits, the second bandwidth mode set may include four bandwidth modes, such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz). In other words, the first bandwidth mode set is a proper subset of the second bandwidth mode set. Based on this, the second bandwidth mode set includes at least five bandwidth modes.

[0141] Optionally, when the bandwidth mode indication field occupies at least 3 bits, the second bandwidth mode set does not include four bandwidth modes, such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz). In other words, the intersection set between the second bandwidth mode set and the first bandwidth mode set is empty. Based on this, the number of bandwidth modes included in the second bandwidth mode set in this embodiment of the present application is not limited. For example, the second bandwidth mode set may include 8 or 63 bandwidth modes.

[0142] Design 2: The first field occupies at least 1 bit, and the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. The first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the following manner (2-1), (2-2), or (2-3).

[0143] (2-1): When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field.

[0144] (2-2): When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0145] (2-3): When the first field is set to a second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0 or 1, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the second bandwidth mode set.

[0146] Design 3: The first field occupies at least 1 bit, and the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit. The first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the following manner (3-1), (3-2), (3-3), or (3-4).

[0147] (3-1): When the first field is set to the first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, it indicates that the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field.

[0148] (3-2): When the first field is set to a first preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0149] (3-3): When the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the third bandwidth mode set.

[0150] (3-4): When the first field is set to the second preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0151] In this embodiment of the present application, at least one of the third bandwidth mode set and the fourth bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the bandwidth mode included in the third bandwidth mode set is different from the bandwidth mode included in the fourth bandwidth mode set.

[0152] In a possible manner, the third bandwidth mode set may include one or more of four bandwidth modes such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80 + 80 MHz), and / or the fourth bandwidth mode set may include one or more of four bandwidth modes such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80 + 80 MHz).

[0153] In another possible design, the third bandwidth mode set does not include four bandwidth modes such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz), and the fourth bandwidth mode set does not include four bandwidth modes such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz (or 80+80 MHz).

[0154] Optionally, based on any one of the aforementioned Designs 1 to 3, when the value of the first field is the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame may use any one of the following Implementations 1-1 to 1-4.

[0155] Implementation 1-1: The bandwidth mode indication field is implemented using 1 or 2 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0156] For example, the bandwidth mode indication field may be implemented using bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0157] Implementation 1-2: The bandwidth mode indication field is implemented using at least 3 bits in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0158] For example, the bandwidth mode indication field may be implemented using bits B3, B5, and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0159] Implementation 1-3: The bandwidth mode indication field is implemented using one or more bits in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0160] For example, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies 6 bits B9 to B14 of the service field.

[0161] Implementation 1-4: The bandwidth mode indication field is implemented using at least one bit in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence and at least one bit in the last 9 bits of the service field.

[0162] For example, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies two bits, B5 to B6, in the scrambling sequence and four bits, B11 to B14, in the service field.

[0163] For example, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies three bits, B3, B5, and B6, in the scrambling sequence and three bits, B12 to B14, in the service field.

[0164] Optionally, the second bandwidth mode set, the third bandwidth mode set, or the fourth bandwidth mode set may include a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode, which may also be referred to as a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0165] For example, see Table 3 for the preamble puncturing bandwidth modes and non-preamble puncturing bandwidth modes defined by 802.11be based on non-orthogonal frequency division multiple access (non-OFDMA). Table 3 shows 63 bandwidth modes. In Table 3, one "1" or "X" corresponds to one 20 MHz channel, where "1" indicates that the corresponding 20 MHz channel is idle and "X" indicates that the corresponding 20 MHz channel is busy or not available.

[0166] In this embodiment of the present application, in the case of a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode, the total bandwidth corresponding to the bandwidth mode is the bandwidth when preamble puncturing is not performed. For example, the total bandwidth can be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz (or 80 + 80 MHz), or 320 MHz (or 160 + 160 MHz). [Table 3] JPEG2025124724000004.jpg25297

[0167] Design 4: The first field occupies 1 bit, and the first frame indicates the bandwidth mode in the following manner (4-1) or (4-2).

[0168] (4-1): When the first field is set to a first preset value, the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0169] (4-2): When the first field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame includes a fourth field and a fifth field. The fourth field indicates the total bandwidth. The fifth field indicates preamble puncturing information corresponding to the total bandwidth. In other words, the fifth field indicates the availability of each channel corresponding to the total bandwidth.

[0170] The fourth field may occupy at least 1 bit, and the fifth field occupies at least 1 bit. The fourth field and the fifth field are located in the service field.

[0171] Optionally, the fourth field may use any one of the following implementations 2-1 to 2-3.

[0172] Implementation 2-1: The fourth field occupies 1 bit. The fourth field indicates the total bandwidth and includes the following cases 1-1 and / or 1-2.

[0173] Case 1-1: When the value of the fourth field is the eleventh preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz.

[0174] Case 1-2: When the value of the fourth field is the twelfth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz, or the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz or 160+160 MHz.

[0175] Implementation 2-2: The fourth field occupies 2 bits. The fourth field indicates the total bandwidth and includes one or more of the following cases 2-1 to 2-3.

[0176] Case 2-1: When the value of the fourth field is the eleventh preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz.

[0177] Case 2-2: When the value of the fourth field is the twelfth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz.

[0178] Case 2-3: When the value of the fourth field is the thirteenth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz or 160+160 MHz.

[0179] For example, the eleventh preset value, the twelfth preset value, and the thirteenth preset value are 0, 1, and 2.

[0180] Implementation 2-3: The fourth field occupies 3 bits. The fourth field indicates the total bandwidth and includes one or more of the following cases 3-1 to 3-5.

[0181] Case 3-1: When the value of the fourth field is the eleventh preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 20 MHz.

[0182] Case 3-2: When the value of the fourth field is the twelfth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 40 MHz.

[0183] Case 3-3: When the value of the fourth field is the thirteenth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz.

[0184] Case 3-4: When the value of the fourth field is the fourteenth preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz.

[0185] Case 3-5: When the value of the fourth field is the 15th preset value, it indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz or 160+160 MHz.

[0186] For example, the eleventh to fifteenth preset values ​​are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.

[0187] Optionally, the fifth field may use any one of the following implementations 3-1 to 3-4.

[0188] Implementation 3-1: The fifth field occupies 8 bits. The fifth field indicates preamble puncturing information corresponding to the total bandwidth, and includes the following case 4-1 or case 4-2.

[0189] Case 4-1: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each bit in the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel. One bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle.

[0190] Optionally, the channels corresponding to the bits in the fifth field are ordered from low frequency to high frequency, such that in the fifth field, the least significant bit corresponds to a low frequency channel and the most significant bit corresponds to a high frequency channel.

[0191] Optionally, the channels corresponding to the bits in the fifth field are set in order from high frequency to low frequency, such that in the fifth field, the least significant bit corresponds to a high frequency channel and the most significant bit corresponds to a low frequency channel.

[0192] The above correspondence between bits and channels is not only applicable to case 4-1 of the fifth field, but also to other cases of the fifth field or other fields.

[0193] A bit may indicate whether the channel corresponding to said bit is idle as follows: when the bit is set to the seventh preset value, it indicates that the channel corresponding to said bit is available, or when the bit is set to the eighth preset value, it indicates that the channel corresponding to said bit is unavailable or busy. Optionally, the seventh preset value is 0, and the eighth preset value is 1. Alternatively, the seventh preset value is 1, and the eighth preset value is 0. This has been uniformly described here, and will not be described in detail again below.

[0194] In this embodiment of the present application, "the channel is unavailable or busy" can be replaced with "the channel is punctured" and "the channel is idle" can be replaced with "the channel is not punctured."

[0195] Case 4-2: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is greater than 160 MHz, each bit in the fifth field corresponds to one 40 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether a secondary 20 MHz channel of the primary 40 MHz channel is idle, and the first bit corresponds to the primary 40 MHz channel. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The second bit is any one of the bits in the fifth field other than the first bit.

[0196] Implementation 3-2: The fifth field occupies 8 bits. The fifth field indicates preamble puncturing information corresponding to the total bandwidth, and includes the following case 5-1 or case 5-2.

[0197] Case 5-1: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each bit in the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel. One bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle.

[0198] Case 5-2: The fifth field includes four first bits, two second bits, and two third bits. Each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channels, each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channels, and each of the two third bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channels. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The third bit indicates whether the 80 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0199] Implementation 3-3: The fifth field occupies 10 bits. The fifth field indicates preamble puncturing information corresponding to the total bandwidth, and includes the following case 6-1 or case 6-2.

[0200] Case 6-1: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each of the eight bits in the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel. One bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to that bit is idle.

[0201] Case 6-2: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is greater than 160 MHz, the fifth field includes four first bits, two second bits, and four third bits. Each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channels. Each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channels. Each of the four third bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channels. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The third bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0202] Implementation 3-4: The fifth field occupies 10 bits. The fifth field indicates preamble puncturing information corresponding to the total bandwidth, and includes the following case 7-1 or case 7-2.

[0203] Case 7-1: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is less than or equal to 160 MHz, each of the eight bits in the fifth field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel. One bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to that bit is idle.

[0204] Case 7-2: When the total bandwidth indicated by the fourth field is greater than 160 MHz, the fifth field includes eight first bits and two second bits. Each of the eight first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 160 MHz channels. Each of the two second bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channels. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 160 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle.

[0205] Design 5: The first field occupies two bits, and the first frame indicates the bandwidth mode in the following manner (5-1), (5-2), or (5-3).

[0206] (5-1): When the first field is set to a first preset value, the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0207] (5-2): When the first field is set to the second preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz.

[0208] (5-3): When the first field is set to the third preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz (or the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz), and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz.

[0209] Design 6: The first field occupies two bits, and the first frame indicates the bandwidth mode in the following manners (6-1), (6-2), (6-3), or (6-4).

[0210] (6-1): When the first field is set to a first preset value, the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0211] (6-2): When the first field is set to the second preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz.

[0212] (6-3): When the first field is set to the third preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz.

[0213] (6-4): When the first field is set to the fourth preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz.

[0214] Design 7: The first field occupies 3 bits, and the first frame indicates the bandwidth mode in the following manner (7-1), (7-2), (7-3), (7-4), or (7-5).

[0215] (7-1): When the first field is set to a first preset value, the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set.

[0216] (7-2): When the first field is set to the second preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 20 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 20 MHz.

[0217] (7-3): When the first field is set to the third preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 40 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 40 MHz.

[0218] (7-4): When the first field is set to the fourth preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 80 MHz.

[0219] (7-5): When the first field is set to the fifth preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 160 MHz.

[0220] (7-6): When the first field is set to the sixth preset value, the first field indicates that the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates whether each channel is idle when the total bandwidth is equal to 320 MHz.

[0221] Optionally, based on any one of Designs 5 to 7, when the total bandwidth indicated by the first field is less than or equal to 160 MHz, the bandwidth mode indication field includes any one of Implementation 4-1 or Implementation 4-2 below.

[0222] Implementation 4-1: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 8 bits, and each bit in the bandwidth mode indication field corresponds to one 20MHz channel. A bit indicates whether the 20MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle.

[0223] Implementation 4-2: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 10 bits, and each of the eight fields in the bandwidth mode indication field corresponds to one 20 MHz channel. One bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle.

[0224] Optionally, based on any one of Designs 5 to 7, when the total bandwidth indicated by the first field is greater than 160 MHz or equal to 320 MHz, the bandwidth mode indication field includes any one of the following Implementations 5-1 to 5-4.

[0225] Implementation 5-1: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 8 bits, and each bit in the bandwidth mode indication field corresponds to one 40 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the secondary 20 MHz channel of the primary 40 MHz channel is idle, and the first bit corresponds to the primary 40 MHz channel. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The second bit is any one of the bits in the bandwidth mode indication field other than the first bit.

[0226] Implementation 5-2: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 8 bits and includes four first bits, two second bits, and two third bits, where each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channel, each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channel, and each of the two third bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The third bit indicates whether the 80 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0227] Implementation 5-3: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 10 bits and includes four first bits, two second bits, and four third bits. Each of the four first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 80 MHz channel. Each of the two second bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 80 MHz channel. Each of the four third bits corresponds to one 40 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle. The third bit indicates whether the 40 MHz channel corresponding to the third bit is idle.

[0228] Implementation 5-4: The bandwidth mode indication field occupies 10 bits and includes eight first bits and two second bits. Each of the eight first bits corresponds to one 20 MHz channel of the primary 160 MHz channel. Each of the two second bits corresponds to one 80 MHz channel of the secondary 160 MHz channel. The first bit indicates whether the 20 MHz channel corresponding to the first bit is idle. The second bit indicates whether the 160 MHz channel corresponding to the second bit is idle.

[0229] Based on the above first frame, an embodiment of the present application provides a bandwidth mode indication method, as shown in Figure 3. The method includes the following steps:

[0230] S101: The transmitting side generates a first frame.

[0231] The transmitting side supports the 802.11be standard or a next-generation 802.11 standard of the 802.11be standard. It can be understood that the transmitting side may be backward compatible with previous standard protocols, for example, may support the 802.11ax standard and 802.11ax standards that predate the 802.11ax standard. The transmitting side may be an AP or a STA.

[0232] The transmitting side may determine the value of the relevant field (e.g., the first field) in the first frame based on factors such as the requirements of the transmitting side and the protocol supported by the peer device (i.e., the receiving side below).

[0233] For example, when the receiving side supports the 802.11be standard, the transmitting side can set the value of the first field in the first frame to a first preset value or a second preset value. When the receiving side does not support the 802.11be standard, the transmitting side can only set the value of the first field in the first frame to the first preset value.

[0234] S102: The transmitting side transmits a first frame to the receiving side, and as a result, the receiving side receives the first frame.

[0235] S103: The receiving side analyzes the first frame.

[0236] In this embodiment of the present application, when the receiving side learns through analysis that the value of the first field in the first frame is a second preset value, the receiving side may determine that the transmitting side (i.e., the transmitting side) of the first frame supports the 802.11be standard or the next-generation 802.11 standard.

[0237] Based on the technical solution shown in FIG. 3, the first frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the first field and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the first frame is ensured. The first field indicates whether the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is allowed to indicate the target bandwidth mode. In other words, since the service field of the first frame includes the first field, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame expands the range of bandwidth modes that can be indicated. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from the more bandwidth modes by transmitting the first frame.

[0238] In this embodiment of the present application, the first field is positioned in the service field of the first frame, which has the following advantages: (1) Currently, reserved bits in the MAC frame can be used by chip vendors as private indication bits. Therefore, if reserved bits in the MAC frame are used as the first field, the indication of the private bits will be affected. However, using bits in the service field as the first field can avoid affecting the private use of reserved bits in the MAC frame by chip vendors. (2) Reserved bits in the MAC frame of different types of conventional frames do not necessarily have the same position. Therefore, for different types of transmission frames, the implementation solutions for using reserved bits in the MAC frame as the first field are different. The service field is a field introduced to perform scrambling operations in the physical layer. The service field is positioned before the MAC frame, and the service field itself is a field in the physical layer. In other words, all types of conventional frames include a service field. In this way, using bits in the service field as the first field is applicable to all types of conventional frames.

[0239] The embodiment of the present application provides a second frame, which is a non-HT duplicate frame or a non-HT frame, for example, an RTS frame or a CTS frame.

[0240] The second frame includes a service field. The service field carried in the second frame occupies 16 bits. In other words, compared with the non-HT duplicated frame or non-HT frame defined in the 802.11n standard, no bits are added or deleted from the second frame provided in this application, so that the second frame is backward compatible.

[0241] The service field of the second frame includes a second field, and the second field indicates whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is a target bandwidth mode, and the target bandwidth mode includes one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz.

[0242] Optionally, the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0243] Optionally, the second field occupies at least one bit in bits B7 to B15 in the service field, for example, the second field occupies bit B7, bit B11 or bit B15 in the service field.

[0244] In this embodiment of the present application, the second field indicating whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode includes the following case (8-1) or case (8-2).

[0245] (8-1): When the second field is set to the ninth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is not the target bandwidth mode.

[0246] Based on case (8-1), the first frame does not carry a bandwidth mode indication field, or the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set. In this case, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame is implemented using two bits (e.g., B5 bit and B6 bit) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence. The bandwidth modes included in the first bandwidth mode set are 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz. For the correspondence between the value of the bandwidth mode indication field and the enumerated value of the bandwidth mode, please refer to Table 2. This is uniformly described here and will not be described in detail again below.

[0247] (8-2): When the second field is set to the tenth preset value, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode.

[0248] Optionally, the second frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit, and case (8-2) may be further classified into the following case (8-2-1) or case (8-2-2).

[0249] (8-2-1): When the second field is set to the 10th preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 0, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0250] (8-2-2): When the second field is set to the 10th preset value and the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1, the second field indicates that the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the second bandwidth mode.

[0251] Both the first bandwidth mode and the second bandwidth mode belong to a target bandwidth mode, and the first bandwidth mode is different from the second bandwidth mode, for example, the first bandwidth mode is 240 MHz and the second bandwidth mode is 320 MHz.

[0252] For example, when the second field is implemented using 1 bit, the ninth preset value may be 0 and the tenth preset value may be 1; or the ninth preset value may be 1 and the tenth preset value may be 0.

[0253] Based on the above second frame, an embodiment of the present application provides a bandwidth mode indication method, as shown in Figure 4. The method includes the following steps:

[0254] S201: The transmitting side generates a second frame.

[0255] The transmitting side supports the 802.11be standard or a next-generation 802.11 standard of the 802.11be standard. It can be understood that the transmitting side may be backward compatible with previous standard protocols, for example, may support the 802.11ax standard and 802.11ax standards that predate the 802.11ax standard. The transmitting side may be an AP or a STA.

[0256] The transmitting side may determine the value of the relevant field (eg, the second field) in the second frame based on factors such as the requirements of the transmitting side and the protocol supported by the receiving side.

[0257] S202: The transmitting side transmits a second frame to the receiving side, and as a result, the receiving side receives the second frame.

[0258] S203: The receiving side analyzes the second frame.

[0259] Based on the technical solution shown in FIG. 4, the second frame uses at least one bit in the service field as the second field, and does not increase or decrease the bits in the service field. In this way, backward compatibility of the second frame is ensured. In addition, the second field indicates whether the bandwidth mode of the second frame is the target bandwidth mode. Therefore, in a scenario where bandwidth modes other than 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz are introduced, two devices can negotiate to use one bandwidth mode from a higher bandwidth mode by transmitting the second frame.

[0260] For example, the first field or the second field may have another name, such as an EHT bandwidth indication field, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0261] In this embodiment of the present application, the second field is positioned in the service field of the second frame, which has the following advantages: (1) Currently, reserved bits in the MAC frame can be used by chip vendors as private indication bits. Therefore, if reserved bits in the MAC frame are used as the second field, the indication of the private bits will be affected. However, using bits in the service field as the second field can avoid affecting the private use of reserved bits in the MAC frame by chip vendors. (2) Reserved bits in the MAC frame of different types of conventional frames do not necessarily have the same position. Therefore, for different types of transmission frames, the implementation solutions for using reserved bits in the MAC frame as the second field are different. The service field is a field introduced to perform scrambling operations in the physical layer. The service field is positioned before the MAC frame, and the service field itself is a field in the physical layer. In other words, all types of conventional frames include a service field. In this way, using bits in the service field as the second field is applicable to all types of conventional frames.

[0262] Currently, the transmitting side transmits an RTS frame after the backoff is completed. The transmitting side can transmit the RTS frame in a non-HT replication manner. In the RTS frame, the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field indicates the bandwidth mode, and the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field indicates the bandwidth negotiation mode.

[0263] The CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is implemented using bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence. The DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is implemented using bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence. When the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 0, it indicates static bandwidth negotiation. When the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 1, it indicates dynamic bandwidth negotiation.

[0264] After the receiver receives an RTS frame, if the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 0, the NAV indicates idle, and the bandwidth CCA detection result indicated by the RTS frame is idle, the receiver replies with a non-HT duplicate CTS frame using the bandwidth indicated by the RTS frame.

[0265] After the receiver receives an RTS frame, when the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 1, if the NAV indicates idle and the bandwidth CCA detection result indicated by the RTS frame is that all or some channels (including the primary 20 MHz channel) are idle, the receiver shall reply with a non-HT duplicate CTS frame by using a bandwidth equal to or smaller than that of the RTS frame.

[0266] Applicant finds that when the bandwidth mode indicated by the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field in the RTS frame is 20 MHz, the receiver uses the same processing scheme regardless of whether the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 0 or 1, as follows: when the primary 20 MHz channel is busy, the receiver does not reply with a CTS frame; and when the primary 20 MHz channel is idle, the receiver replies with a CTS frame, and the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field carried in the CTS frame indicates 20 MHz.

[0267] For RTS or CTS frames as defined in the current standard, it can be seen that when the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field is set to 0, the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field has a redundant state.

[0268] Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a third frame, which is a non-HT duplicate frame or a non-HT frame, for example, an RTS frame or a CTS frame.

[0269] The third frame includes a bandwidth negotiation field and a bandwidth mode indication field. The bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field in the third frame jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the third frame. The bandwidth mode of the third frame is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, or 160 MHz, or the first bandwidth mode. The first bandwidth mode is one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz, for example, 320 MHz.

[0270] The Bandwidth Negotiation field occupies bit B4 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence, and the Bandwidth Mode Indication field occupies bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of the scrambling sequence.

[0271] Optionally, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode used by the third frame include the following cases:

[0272] (9-1): When the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode used by the third frame is the first bandwidth mode.

[0273] (9-2): When the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 0 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 0, it indicates that the bandwidth mode used by the third frame is 20 MHz.

[0274] (9-3): When the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 0 or 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 1, it indicates that the bandwidth mode used by the third frame is 40 MHz.

[0275] (9-4): When the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 0 or 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 2, it indicates that the bandwidth mode used by the third frame is 80 MHz.

[0276] (9-5): When the bandwidth negotiation field is set to 0 or 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field is set to 3, it indicates that the bandwidth mode used by the third frame is 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz.

[0277] In this embodiment of the present application, when the Bandwidth Negotiation field is set to 0, it indicates that static bandwidth negotiation is being used. When the Bandwidth Negotiation field is set to 1, it indicates that dynamic bandwidth negotiation is being used.

[0278] Based on the aforementioned third frame, an embodiment of the present application provides a bandwidth mode indication method, as shown in Figure 5. The method includes the following steps:

[0279] S301: The transmitting side generates a third frame.

[0280] The transmitting side supports the 802.11be standard or a next-generation 802.11 standard of the 802.11be standard. It can be understood that the transmitting side may be backward compatible with previous standard protocols, for example, may support the 802.11ax standard and 802.11ax standards that predate the 802.11ax standard. The transmitting side may be an AP or a STA.

[0281] The transmitting side may determine the values ​​of the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field in the third frame based on factors such as the requirements of the transmitting side and the protocols supported by the receiving side.

[0282] For example, when the receiving side supports the 802.11be standard or the next generation 802.11 standard, the transmitting side may set the bandwidth negotiation field to 1 and the bandwidth mode indication field to 0 in the third frame.

[0283] S302: The transmitting side transmits the third frame to the receiving side, and as a result, the receiving side receives the third frame.

[0284] S303: The receiving side analyzes the third frame.

[0285] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 5, compared with the prior art in which a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicate frame can negotiate to use one of four bandwidth modes only using the bandwidth mode indication field, the third frame provided in this application fully utilizes the redundancy state in the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field to indicate a new bandwidth mode (first bandwidth mode). Therefore, the bandwidth negotiation field and the bandwidth mode indication field in the third frame jointly indicate one of five bandwidth modes. In this way, when the third frame is transmitted between two devices, one of the five bandwidth modes can be used through negotiation. In addition, compared with the non-HT frame or the non-HT duplicate frame defined in the 802.11n standard, no bits are added or deleted from the third frame provided in this application. In this way, the backward compatibility of the third frame is guaranteed.

[0286] After the bandwidth supported by the 802.11be standard is extended to 320 MHz, devices may use more bandwidth modes. In the case of a transmitting side, the MU-RTS frame sent by the transmitting side may use a user information field of a special AID to carry a bandwidth mode indication field. In this way, the bandwidth mode indication field occupies more bits (e.g., 16 bits), and as a result, the bandwidth mode indication field may be applicable to scenarios where more bandwidth modes exist in a communication system.

[0287] However, for the receiving side, the CTS frame used to respond to the MU-RTS frame is a legacy frame, and as a result, the CTS frame does not have enough idle bits for use by the bandwidth mode indication field. Therefore, the current CTS frame is not applicable to scenarios where more bandwidth modes are introduced into the communication system.

[0288] To solve this technical problem, the embodiment of the present application provides a fourth frame. The fourth frame is used to respond to an MU-RTS frame or an RTS frame. Compared with the MAC frame of the current CTS frame, which occupies 112 bits, the MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 112+N bits, where N is a positive integer. One or more of the N bits indicate a bandwidth mode. The bandwidth mode can be a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

[0289] In this way, when the fourth frame includes all fields carried in the CTS frame, the fourth frame also provides more idle bits to indicate a bandwidth mode and may indicate one bandwidth mode from at least five bandwidth modes.

[0290] In this embodiment of the present application, N is less than or equal to 10. The specific reasons are as follows:

[0291] Currently, CTS frames are typically transmitted at a rate of 6 Mbps, with one OFDM symbol being 4 microseconds long, so that one OFDM symbol can carry 24 bits of data (6 Mbps x 4 microseconds). As one byte has 8 bits, one OFDM symbol can carry 3 bytes.

[0292] As shown in Figure 6, in addition to the preamble portion also included in non-HT frames, the CTS frame further includes a service field (2 bytes), a frame control field (2 bytes), a duration field (2 bytes), a receiver address (RA) field (6 bytes), a frame check sequence (FCS) field (4 bytes), and a tail (6 bits). In other words, the CTS frame needs to use 16 bytes + 6 bits to carry the aforementioned fields. Therefore, the CTS frame requires 6 OFDM symbols for transmission. It should be noted that in the above calculation process, the period required to transmit the physical frame header portion is ignored because the transmission period of the physical frame header portion is fixed for all non-HT frames.

[0293] A NAV reset mechanism based on RTS / CTS or MU-RTS / CTS interaction is supported in the current standard: if a station has updated its previous NAV based on an RTS or MU-RTS frame and does not receive a PHY-RXSTART indication within NAVTimeout, the station may reset its NAV, in other words, ignore the NAV update by RTS or MU-RTS. NAVTimeout is calculated from the time the MAC layer receives the PHY-RXEND.indication primitive of the RTS or MU-RTS frame.

[0294] NAVTimeout is a fixed time length defined in the current standard, specifically, it is equal to (2 x aSIFSTime) + (CTS_Time) + aRxPHYStartDelay + (2 x aSlotTime), where aSIFSTime = 16 microseconds, CTS_Time is the transmission period of the CTS frame, aRxPHYStartDelay is the physical layer receive delay, and aSlotTime = 9 microseconds.

[0295] Because the NAVTimeout is a fixed length, to ensure the normal execution of the NAV reset mechanism based on RTS / CTS or MU-RTS / CTS interaction, the transmission period of the fourth frame should match the transmission period of the CTS frame. In other words, the fourth frame also requires six OFDM symbols for transmission. Six OFDM symbols can transmit up to 18 bytes of data. Therefore, up to 10 bits can be added to the fourth frame compared to the CTS frame. In other words, N is less than or equal to 10.

[0296] Optionally, N may be equal to 8. In this way, the fourth frame may satisfy the rule of increasing the length of a MAC frame by an integer number of bytes.

[0297] In the following, the fourth frame will be specifically described by using an example where N=8.

[0298] The MAC frame of the fourth frame occupies 15 bytes. As shown in Figure 7, the MAC frame of the fourth frame includes a frame control field, a duration field, a transmitter address field, a frame check sequence field, and a third field. The frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the transmitter address field occupies 6 bytes, the frame check sequence field occupies 4 bytes, and the third field occupies 1 byte.

[0299] The position of the third field in the fourth frame is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, the third field can also be located between the transmitter address field and the duration field.

[0300] In this embodiment of the present application, the K bit in the third field indicates the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame.

[0301] Optionally, the fourth frame further includes a service field, where the service field occupies 16 bits. K bits in the third field and M bits in the service field jointly indicate a bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, where M is a positive integer.

[0302] For example, when K+M=16, the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field jointly indicate the bandwidth mode of the fourth frame, including: each of 16 bits corresponds to one 20MHz channel, and the value of one bit indicates whether the 20MHz channel corresponding to the bit is idle. The aforementioned 16 bits include the K bits in the third field and the M bits in the service field.

[0303] For example, the 16 bits may include 8 bits in the third field and 8 bits in the service field, which may be any 8 of the last 9 bits of the service field (i.e., bits B7 to B15).

[0304] Optionally, when the M bit in the service field includes the B0 bit to B6 bit in the service field, it needs to ensure that the B0 bit to B6 bit are not all set to 0, to avoid the scrambling process not being able to work properly.

[0305] Based on the above third frame, the present application provides a bandwidth mode indication method. As shown in Figure 8, the method includes the following steps:

[0306] S401: The transmitting side generates a fourth frame.

[0307] For a specific description of the fourth frame, please refer to the above description, and the details will not be described again here.

[0308] In a possible implementation, when the transmitter determines that the receiver supports the 802.11be standard or the next generation 802.11 standard, the transmitter generates a fourth frame.

[0309] S402: The transmitting side transmits the fourth frame, and as a result, the receiving side receives the fourth frame.

[0310] S403: The receiving side analyzes the fourth frame.

[0311] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 8, compared with the existing CTS frame, the fourth frame has more idle bits to indicate a bandwidth mode. Thus, in a scenario where other bandwidth modes than 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80+80MHz or 160MHz are introduced, the transmitting side sends the third frame to the receiving side to select one bandwidth mode from the more bandwidth modes.

[0312] The following mainly describes the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of a communication device. To implement the aforementioned functions, it can be understood that the communication device includes corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing the functions. In combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, those skilled in the art should easily recognize that the modules, algorithms, and steps can be implemented by hardware in the present application, or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether the functions are implemented by hardware or hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solutions. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present application.

[0313] In the embodiment of the present application, the device may be divided into functional modules based on the above-mentioned method example. For example, each functional module may be obtained through division based on its corresponding function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one functional module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. In this embodiment of the present application, the module division is an example and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. The example in which each functional module is obtained through division based on its corresponding function is used below for explanation.

[0314] 9 shows a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device includes a processing module 101 and a communication module 102.

[0315] In a possible manner, when the communication device is serving as a transmitter, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S101 in FIG. 3, and the communication module is configured to perform step S102 in FIG. 3.

[0316] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a transmitter, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S201 in FIG. 4, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S202 in FIG. 4.

[0317] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a transmitter, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S301 in FIG. 5, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S302 in FIG. 5.

[0318] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a transmitter, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S401 in FIG. 8, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S402 in FIG. 8.

[0319] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a receiver, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S103 in FIG. 3, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S102 in FIG. 3.

[0320] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a receiver, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S203 in FIG. 4, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S202 in FIG. 4.

[0321] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a receiver, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S303 in FIG. 5 and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S302 in FIG. 5.

[0322] In another possible design, when the communication device is serving as a receiver, the processing module 101 is configured to perform step S403 in FIG. 8, and the communication module 102 is configured to perform step S402 in FIG. 8.

[0323] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a possible product form of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0324] In a possible product form, the communication apparatus in this embodiment of the present application may be a communication device, which includes a processor 201 and a transceiver 202. Optionally, the communication device further includes a storage medium 203.

[0325] In a possible manner, when the communication device is used as a transmitting side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S101 in Figure 3, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S102 in Figure 3.

[0326] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a transmitting side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S201 in FIG. 4, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S202 in FIG. 4.

[0327] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a transmitting side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S301 in FIG. 5, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S302 in FIG. 5.

[0328] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a transmitting side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S401 in FIG. 8, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S402 in FIG. 8.

[0329] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a receiving side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S103 in FIG. 3, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S102 in FIG. 3.

[0330] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a receiving side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S203 in FIG. 4, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S202 in FIG. 4.

[0331] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a receiving side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S303 in FIG. 5, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S302 in FIG. 5.

[0332] In another possible design, when the communication device is used as a receiving side, the processor 201 is configured to perform step S403 in FIG. 8, and the transceiver 202 is configured to perform step S402 in FIG. 8.

[0333] It should be understood that the communication device shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 may implement any function of the transmitting side or receiving side in the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0334] As a possible product form, the communication device described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented using a chip. The chip includes a processing circuit 201 and a transceiver pin 202. Optionally, the chip may further include a storage medium 203.

[0335] In another possible product form, the communications devices described in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be implemented using the following circuits or components: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuitry, or any combination of circuitry capable of performing the functions described herein.

[0336] It should be understood that computer instructions can be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio wave, or microwave) methods. A computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes), optical media, or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives), etc.

[0337] Based on the above description of the implementation, it can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that for the purpose of simple and easy description, the above division into functional modules is only used as an example for explanation. During actual application, the above functions can be allocated to different functional modules for implementation based on requirements. In other words, the internal structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to implement all or part of the above functions.

[0338] In some embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into modules or units is merely a logical division of function, and other divisions may be used in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0339] Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts shown as units may be one or more physical units, or may be located in one place or distributed in different places. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.

[0340] Furthermore, each functional unit in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of these units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0341] When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated unit may be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be essentially implemented in the form of a software product, or a part of the technical solutions may be implemented in the form of a software product. The software product is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for instructing a device (which may be a single-chip microcomputer, a chip, etc.) or a processor to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0342] The above description is merely a specific implementation example of the present application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims. Other possible items [Item 1] 1. A method for indicating a bandwidth mode, the method comprising: generating a first frame, wherein the first frame is a non-high throughput non-HT frame or a non-high throughput duplicated non-HT frame, the first frame having a service field, the service field including a first field, the first field indicating whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode, the target bandwidth mode including one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and transmitting the first frame A method comprising: [Item 2] The first field indicating whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode includes: When the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or When the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode. Item 1. The method according to item 1, comprising: [Item 3] the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit; When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the first field is set to a first preset value, it indicates that the first frame carries the bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; or When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the first field is set to a second preset value, it indicates that the first frame carries the bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode. The method according to item 1. [Item 4] 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bandwidth mode indication field includes bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of a scrambling sequence. [Item 5] 5. The method of any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the first field includes at least one of the last 9 bits of the service field. [Item 6] 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first field is a B7 bit in the service field. [Item 7] 7. The method according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode. [Item 8] 1. A method for indicating a bandwidth mode, the method comprising: receiving a first frame, wherein the first frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicated frame, the first frame having a service field, the service field including a first field, the first field indicating whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode, the target bandwidth mode including one or more of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and a bandwidth mode other than 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; and analyzing the first frame A method comprising: [Item 9] The first field indicating whether a bandwidth mode indication field carried in the first frame indicates a target bandwidth mode includes: When the first field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field does not indicate the target bandwidth mode; or When the first field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates the target bandwidth mode. Item 9. The method according to item 8, comprising: [Item 10] the first frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit; When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the first field is set to a first preset value, it indicates that the first frame carries the bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; or When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the first field is set to a second preset value, it indicates that the first frame carries the bandwidth mode indication field, and the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes the target bandwidth mode. The method according to item 8. [Item 11] 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the bandwidth mode indication field includes bits B5 and B6 in the first 7 bits of a scrambling sequence. [Item 12] 12. The method of any of items 8 to 11, wherein the first field includes at least one of the last 9 bits of the service field. [Item 13] Item 13. The method according to item 12, wherein the first field is a B7 bit in the service field. [Item 14] Item 14. The method according to any one of items 8 to 13, wherein the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode. [Item 15] 15. A communication device, the communication device comprising a unit configured to perform the steps of the method according to any one of items 1 to 14. [Item 16] 15. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions that, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method of any one of items 1 to 14. [Item 17] A chip comprising a processing unit and a transceiver pin, the processing unit configured to perform the processing operations of the method according to any one of items 1 to 14, and the transceiver pin configured to perform the communication operations of the method according to any one of items 1 to 14. [Item 18] 15. A computer program product, which when running on a computer, enables the computer to carry out the method according to any one of items 1 to 14.

Claims

1. 1. A method for indicating a bandwidth mode, the method comprising: generating a frame by a transmitting end; wherein the frame is a non-HT frame or a non-HT duplicated frame, the frame having a service field, the service field occupying 16 bits (B0-B15), the first 7 bits (B0-B6) of the service field carrying a scrambling sequence; When the B7 bit of the service field is set to a first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the frame indicates a bandwidth mode in a first bandwidth mode set, where the first bandwidth mode set includes 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 80+80 MHz or 160 MHz; or When the B7 bit of the service field is set to a second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field carried in the frame indicates a bandwidth in a second bandwidth mode set, where the second bandwidth mode set includes a target bandwidth mode, and the target bandwidth mode includes 320 MHz or 160+160 MHz; The method further comprises transmitting the frame by the transmitting end.

2. The frame further includes a unicast / multicast bit; When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the B7 bit of the service field is set to the first preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in the first bandwidth mode set; or When the unicast / multicast bit is set to 1 and the B7 bit of the service field is set to the second preset value, the bandwidth mode indication field indicates a bandwidth mode in the second bandwidth mode set. The method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth mode indication field comprises bits B5 and B6 of the service field.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth mode indication field is a CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first preset value is 0 and the second preset value is 1.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target bandwidth mode includes a preamble puncturing bandwidth mode and / or a non-preamble puncturing bandwidth mode.

7. 7. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions that, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A computer program product for causing a computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A communication device, a processor; and A storage medium configured to store computer instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6. A communication device comprising:

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