Null data packet announcement frame transmission method and related device

Abstract

To provide a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame transmission method and a communication device that can transmit data by using a greater bandwidth, thereby improving transmission efficiency.SOLUTION: An NDPA frame that an access point (AP) generates and transmits comprises a station information field including an association identifier AID subfield indicating the AID. The station information field further includes partial bandwidth information subfield that exists in bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame, which is greater than 160 MHz, and indicates a resource unit (RU) requiring that a station feeds back channel state information, and instructs the station to perform sounding on a channel having bandwidth greater than 160 MHz.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010443487.6, entitled "Method and Related Apparatus for Transmitting Null Data Packet Announcement Frames," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on May 22, 2020, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202010963022.3, entitled "Method and Related Apparatus for Transmitting Null Data Packet Announcement Frames," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on September 14, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0002]

[0002] Technical field The present application relates to the field of wireless local area network technology, and in particular to a null data packet announcement frame transmission method and related device. [Background technology]

[0003]

[0003] In wireless systems such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), access points (APs) and stations (STAs) need to acquire channel state information in advance to perform functions such as beamforming (BF), rate control, and resource allocation. In WLANs, the procedure for acquiring channel state information is called channel sounding. In related technology, when an AP performs channel sounding, the AP first transmits a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame to notify the STAs that it needs to perform channel sounding. Then, after a short inter-frame space (SIFS) has elapsed, the AP transmits a null data packet (NDP) without a data field. The STA performs channel estimation based on the NDP and then feeds back channel state information (CSI) using a beamforming report (BF Report) frame.

[0004]

[0004] In 802.11ax, the NDPA frame is called a high-efficiency (HE) NDPA frame. The HE NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes a station association identifier (AID) subfield, a partial bandwidth information (Partial BW Info) subfield, feedback type and number of grouping subfields, and a number of columns (Nc) subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield is used to indicate the frequency-domain range in which the STA needs to feedback channel state information. The partial bandwidth information subfield includes a resource unit (RU) start index and a resource unit end index to indicate a segment of consecutive RUs, thereby indicating the frequency-domain range corresponding to the segment of consecutive RUs. However, the maximum bandwidth allowed for transmission is 160 MHz. The 160 MHz bandwidth accommodates up to 74 26-tone resource units (26-tone RUs). The RU start index and RU end index separately indicate one of the 74 26-tone RUs.

[0005]

[0005] However, as WLAN technology develops, transmission at larger bandwidths, for example, transmission at bands larger than 160 MHz, is required to be supported in next-generation Wi-Fi standards (e.g., 802.11be or Wi-Fi 7). Before data transmission is performed, channel sounding needs to be performed. Therefore, in order to support data transmission at larger bandwidths and improve the transmission rate in next-generation Wi-Fi standards, it is very important how to perform channel sounding at larger bandwidths (e.g., bandwidths larger than 160 MHz) to obtain channel state information. Summary of the Invention

[0006]

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide an NDPA frame transmission method and related devices to meet the requirement of specifying RUs that are in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and require channel state information to be fed back.

[0007]

[0007] According to a first aspect, the implementation of the present application provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps.

[0008]

[0008] The access point generates an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating the station's association identifier AID. The station information field further includes a fractional bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The fractional bandwidth information subfield indicates resource units (RUs) within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station requires feedback of channel state information. The number of columns subfield indicates the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0009]

[0009] The access point transmits the NDPA frame.

[0010]

[0010] According to a second aspect, the implementation of the present application provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps.

[0011]

[0011] A station receives an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating the association identifier AID of the station. The station information field further includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0012]

[0012] The station obtains from the NDPA frame the RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back.

[0013]

[0013] According to a third aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0014]

[0014] The processing unit is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the station. The station information field further includes a fractional bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The fractional bandwidth information subfield indicates resource units (RUs) within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The number of columns subfield indicates the number of columns in a compressed beamforming feedback matrix. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0015]

[0015] The transmission unit is configured to transmit the NDPA frame.

[0016]

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0017]

[0017] The receiving unit is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the station. The station information field further includes a fractional bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The fractional bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame that require the station to feedback channel state information. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0018]

[0018] The processing unit is configured to obtain, from the NDPA frame, the RUs whose channel state information needs to be fed back.

[0019]

[0019] In the technical solution of the present application, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. The station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding result, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The number of columns indicated by the column number subfield is greater than 8. The station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding result, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0020]

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, sounding of a channel having a number of streams greater than 8 is performed and beamforming reports are fed back based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over a larger bandwidth and / or more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0021] In some implementations, the NDPA frame includes type information, which indicates that the NDPA frame is an ultra-high throughput EHT NDPA frame.

[0022]

[0022] Thus, the type information may indicate an NDPA frame variant corresponding to 802.11be or another standard emerging after 802.11be. For example, the NDPA frame variant may be an extremely high throughput (EHT) NDPA frame corresponding to the 802.11be standard. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back, and instructs stations to sound channels having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame further indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels having a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0023]

[0023] It should be understood that the NDPA frame provided in this implementation of the present application is also applicable to cases where the bandwidth is 160 MHz or less, or where the specified number of columns is 8 or less.

[0024]

[0024] In some implementations, the NDPA frame further includes a sounding dialog token field and a special station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The special station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. Type information is carried in the frame type subfield and the frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not a high throughput (HE) NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0025]

[0025] In this way, an HE STA or ranging STA that does not support EHT NDPA frames can identify an EHT NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame based on the frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field and read the NDPA frame according to the VHT NDPA frame format. The station information field of the EHT NDPA frame does not include the AID of the HE STA or ranging STA. An HE STA or ranging STA that receives an EHT NDPA frame can identify a mismatch between the AID in the station information field and the AID of the HE STA or ranging STA and not provide feedback based on the NDPA frame. In this way, the HE STA or ranging STA can prevent misreading of the EHT NDPA frame. An EHT STA that supports EHT NDPA frames can determine whether an NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame based on the frame subtype subfield. If the frame subtype field indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame, the EHT STA reads the partial bandwidth information subfield and / or the number of columns subfield in the NDPA frame according to the structure of the EHT NDPA frame, thereby accurately obtaining information regarding the partial bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back and / or the number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided.

[0026]

[0026] It should be understood that the HE STA in this application is an HE STA that does not support NDPA frame variants that occur after the HE NDPA frame, and that the ranging STA in this embodiment of the present application is an earlier version of the ranging STA that does not support NDPA frame variants that occur after the ranging NDPA frame.

[0027]

[0027] Below, we provide some implementations of the fractional bandwidth information subfield.

[0028]

[0028] In some implementations, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes a resource unit start index and a resource unit offset index. The resource unit start index is used to indicate the first RU for which the station requires channel state information to be fed back. The resource unit offset index indicates the offset, relative to the first RU, of the last RU for which the station requires channel state information to be fed back. In this way, the station can determine the last RU for which channel state information needs to be fed back based on the offset indicated by the partial bandwidth information subfield and the first RU. In this way, the number of bits of the resource unit offset index can be compressed, and the number of bits required by the partial bandwidth information subfield can be further compressed when the same partial bandwidth information is indicated, thereby supporting indication of RUs within a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back without increasing the number of bits of the partial bandwidth information subfield.

[0029]

[0029] In this application, the resource unit start index uses 8 bits, and the resource unit offset index uses 5 bits or less. In this way, when the solution of this application is compared with a solution in which the HE NDPA frame uses a 14-bit partial bandwidth information subfield, the number of bits of the partial bandwidth information subfield can be reduced, and the saved bits can be added to the column number subfield. In this case, the number of bits of the column number subfield is increased, so that the column number subfield indicates a column number greater than 8.

[0030]

[0030] In a specific implementation, the resource unit offset index indicates the offset of the last RU relative to the first RU by indicating how many times the offset is the basic granularity. In other words, the resource unit offset index specifies the offset by indicating the value obtained by dividing the offset by the basic granularity. When expressed as a formula, the resource unit offset index may be expressed as N = offset / basic granularity. The resource unit offset index can specify the offset by indicating N, where N is a positive integer. In this way, the resource unit offset index can be more effectively compressed, which helps support indicating RUs that are within a larger bandwidth and require channel state information to be fed back, and also helps the column number subfield indicate a larger column number.

[0031]

[0031] The compression degree of the resource unit offset index can be adjusted by adjusting the basic granularity. A larger basic granularity indicates a higher compression degree. A larger compression degree indicates that fewer bits are required to indicate the same offset, indicating less signaling overhead. In this way, the partial bandwidth information subfield can support indication of RUs within a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back. Optionally, the basic granularity is eight 26-tone RUs.

[0032]

[0032] In some other implementations, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes an RU indication index. The RU indication index includes a frequency domain indication part and an RU indication part. The frequency domain indication part is used to indicate the frequency domain range in which the RUs that require the station to feedback channel state information are located. The RU indication part is used to indicate the RUs that require channel state information to be fed back. The RUs that require channel state information to be fed back may be one RU or a combination of multiple RUs. In this way, the partial bandwidth information subfield requires a smaller number of bits when indicating information about partial bandwidths within the same bandwidth, resulting in smaller signaling overhead. This supports indicating RUs that are within a larger bandwidth and require channel state information to be fed back, and also supports the column number subfield indicating a larger number of columns.

[0033]

[0033] In a specific implementation, the RU indication index is 9 bits, where the frequency domain indication part is 2 bits and the RU indication part is 7 bits. In this way, by appropriately allocating bits to the frequency domain indication part and the RU indication part, RUs in a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back can be specified by using a smaller number of bits.

[0034] In some other implementations, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes an RU indication index, which indicates the RU corresponding to the partial or full bandwidth for which the station needs to feed back channel state information, and indicates the frequency location of the RU in the full bandwidth.

[0035]

[0035] Specifically, the minimum RU granularity indicated by the RU indication index is one 242-tone RU. In this way, there is no need to indicate small RUs, which helps reduce the number of bits in the RU indication index and reduce indication overhead.

[0036]

[0036] In an embodiment, the partial bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is N*80 MHz, and the RU corresponding to the partial bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is N*996-tone RU, where N=1, 2, 3, or 4. The RU indication index includes a 4-bit bitmap. Each bit in the bitmap corresponds to one 80 MHz. Each bit in the bitmap is used to indicate whether the 80 MHz corresponding to the bit is a partial bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back.

[0037] In another embodiment, the bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is the complete bandwidth. The RU indication index is the first index used to indicate the complete bandwidth. Optionally, the complete bandwidth is any of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz.

[0038] Optionally, the RU index is 5 bits, 6 bits, or 7 bits.

[0039]

[0039] Specifically, when the RU indication index is 5 bits, the RU indication index indicates only one RU.

[0040]

[0040] When the RU indication index is 6 bits, the RU indicated by the RU indication index may be any of a 242-tone RU, a 484-tone RU, a 484+996-tone RU, a 242+484-tone RU, a 996-tone RU, a 2*996-tone RU, a 3*996-tone RU, or a 4*996-tone RU.

[0041]

[0041] When the RU indication index is 7 bits, the RU indicated by the RU indication index may be any of a 242-tone RU, a 484-tone RU, a 484+996-tone RU, a 242+484-tone RU, a 996-tone RU, a 2*996-tone RU, a 2*996+484-tone RU, a 3*996-tone RU, a 3*996+484-tone RU, or a 4*996-tone RU.

[0042] In some other implementations, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes a resource unit start index and a resource unit end index. The resource unit start index is used to indicate the first RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The resource unit end index is used to indicate the last RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The first RU is the (k1*n+c1)th 26-tone RU, where c1 and k1 are positive integers and n is a natural number. The last RU is the (k2*m+c2)th 26-tone RU, where c2 and k2 are positive integers and m is a natural number. The resource unit start index indicates the first RU by indicating n. The resource unit end index indicates the last RU by indicating m. k1≧2 and / or k2≧2. In this way, the compression degree of the partial bandwidth information subfield can be adjusted by adjusting the value of k1 or k2, or by adjusting the values ​​of both k1 and k2. A larger k1 indicates a greater degree of compression of the fractional bandwidth information subfield, and a larger k2 also indicates a greater degree of compression of the fractional bandwidth information subfield. A greater degree of compression indicates that a smaller number of bits are required to represent the same fractional bandwidth information. In this way, the fractional bandwidth information subfield can support indication of RUs in a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back.

[0043]

[0043] In any of the above implementations, the station information field may use four octets. In this way, RUs in bandwidths greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback and / or a number of streams greater than eight can be indicated without increasing the overhead of the station information field. In this case, the station information field instructs stations to sound channels having bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and / or channels having a number of streams greater than eight and to feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and / or more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0044]

[0044] Furthermore, the number of octets in the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame matches the number of octets in the station information field in the HE NDPA frame. Compared with the solution in which the number of octets in the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame is set to 6, this solution using a 4-octet station information field can prevent HE STAs from misreading. This is because the HE STA may not be able to correctly identify the type of the EHT NDPA frame and may consider the EHT NDPA frame to be an HE NDPA frame and read the EHT NDPA frame according to the structure of the HE NDPA frame. If the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame is 6 octets, the HE STA reads the first 11 bits of the third two octets of the station information field as the AID. If the first 11 bits of the third two octets of the station information field match the AID of the HE STA, the HE STA will mistake the third two octets and the two octets following the third two octets for the station information field of the HE STA. Thus, an incorrect bit reading will cause the HE STA to misread.

[0045]

[0045] The number of octets in the 4-octet station information field provided in this application is consistent with the number of octets in the station information field of the EHT NDPA frame, and the first 11 bits of each of the two octets in the station information field of the EHT NDPA frame indicate the AID of the EHT STA. Even if the EHT NDPA frame is regarded as an EHT NDPA frame and reads the EHT NDPA frame according to the structure of the EHT NDPA frame, the EHT STA will recognize that the first 11 bits of each of the two octets do not match the AID of the EHT STA, thereby effectively preventing the EHT STA from misreading.

[0046]

[0046] According to a fifth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps:

[0047]

[0047] The access point generates an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes at least two station information fields. Two of the at least two station information fields include an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the same station. The access point transmits the NDPA frame.

[0048]

[0048] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The Number of Columns subfield in one of the two Station Information fields and the Number of Columns subfield in the other Station Information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0049]

[0049] The access point transmits an NDPA frame.

[0050]

[0050] According to a sixth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps:

[0051]

[0051] A station receives an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes at least two station information fields. Two of the at least two station information fields include an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the same station. An access point transmits the NDPA frame.

[0052]

[0052] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The Number of Columns subfield in one of the two Station Information fields and the Number of Columns subfield in the other Station Information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0053]

[0053] The station obtains from the NDPA frame the RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back.

[0054]

[0054] According to a seventh aspect, the present implementation further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0055] The processing unit is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes at least two station information fields. Two of the at least two station information fields include an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the same station. The access point transmits the NDPA frame.

[0056]

[0056] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The Number of Columns subfield in one of the two Station Information fields and the Number of Columns subfield in the other Station Information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0057]

[0057] The transmission unit is configured to transmit an NDPA frame.

[0058]

[0058] According to an eighth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0059]

[0059] The receiving unit is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes at least two station information fields. Two of the at least two station information fields include an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the same station. The access point transmits the NDPA frame.

[0060]

[0060] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The Number of Columns subfield in one of the two Station Information fields and the Number of Columns subfield in the other Station Information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0061]

[0061] The processing unit is configured to obtain the RUs whose channel state information needs to be fed back from the NDPA frame.

[0062]

[0062] In this way, a station information field corresponding to a station can be newly added without changing the station information field originally included in the NDPA frame and corresponding to the station. The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. The station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The column number subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate a column number greater than 8. The station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth with a column number greater than 8 and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0063]

[0063] The two station information fields specify the RUs for which the station needs to feedback channel state information in two ways. In a specific implementation, the resource unit start index in one of the two station information fields and the resource unit start index in the other station information field indicate the first RU in the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the resource unit end index in one station information field and the resource unit end index in the other station information field indicate the last RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. For example, the resource unit start index in one station information field is 7 bits, the resource unit start index in the other station information field is 1 bit, the resource unit end index in one station information field is 1 bit, and the resource unit end index in the other station information field is 1 bit.

[0064]

[0064] In another specific implementation, one of the two station information fields contains a resource unit start index, which is used to indicate the first RU for which the station requires channel state information to be fed back, and the other station information field contains a resource unit end index, which is used to indicate the last RU for which the station requires channel state information to be fed back.

[0065]

[0065] Optionally, of the two station information fields, the column number subfield of one station information field is 3 bits, and the column number subfield of the other station information field is 1 bit.

[0066]

[0066] In some implementations, the NDPA frame includes type information, which indicates that the NDPA frame is an ultra-high throughput EHT NDPA frame.

[0067]

[0067] In some implementations, the NDPA frame further includes a sounding dialog token field and a special station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The special station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. Type information is carried in the frame type subfield and the frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0068]

[0068] The special station information field further includes a special AID, which indicates that the station information field is a special station information field. The special AID may be, for example, but is not limited to, 2047.

[0069]

[0069] According to a ninth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps:

[0070]

[0070] The access point generates an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a specific station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The specific station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0071]

[0071] The access point transmits an NDPA frame.

[0072]

[0072] According to a tenth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides an NDPA frame transmission method, including the following steps.

[0073]

[0073] The station receives an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a specific station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The specific station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0074]

[0074] The station obtains the frame type subfield and frame subtype subfield from the NDPA frame to determine that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0075]

[0075] According to an eleventh aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0076]

[0076] The processing unit is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a special station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The special station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0077]

[0077] The transmission unit is configured to transmit an NDPA frame.

[0078]

[0078] According to a twelfth aspect, the implementation of the present application further provides a transmission device including a processing unit and a transmission unit.

[0079]

[0079] The receiving unit is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a special station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The special station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0080]

[0080] The processing unit is configured to obtain a frame type subfield and a frame subtype subfield from the NDPA frame to determine that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0081]

[0081] Thus, the Frame Type subfield and Frame Subtype subfield together indicate that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame also indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 8 columns and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, in this case, no new frame needs to be defined, and the remaining available types in the MAC frame are fully utilized, thereby saving resources.

[0082] According to a thirteenth aspect, the present invention further provides a communication device. The communication device may include a processor and a transceiver, and optionally further includes a memory. When the processor executes a computer program or instructions in the memory, a method according to any one of the first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, or tenth aspects is performed.

[0083] According to a fourteenth aspect, implementations of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for instructing a communication device to perform a method according to any one of the implementations of the first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, or tenth aspects.

[0084]

[0084] According to a fifteenth aspect, implementations of the present application further provide a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program. When the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform a method according to any one of the implementations of the first aspect, the second aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect, the ninth aspect, or the tenth aspect.

[0085] According to a sixteenth aspect, the present application further provides a processor configured to perform any method according to the first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, or tenth aspects. In the processes of performing these methods, the processes of transmitting the information and receiving the information in the methods may be understood as processes of outputting the information by the processor and receiving the input information by the processor. Specifically, when outputting information, the processor outputs the information to the transceiver so that the transceiver transmits the information. Furthermore, after the information is output by the processor, other processing may be required to be performed on the information before it arrives at the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver receives the information and inputs the information to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the information, other processing may be required to be performed on the information before it is input to the processor.

[0086]

[0086] In this case, unless otherwise specified with respect to operations such as transmission, sending, and receiving associated with a processor, or if these operations do not contradict the actual function or internal logic of the operations in the associated description, the operations can be understood more generally as operations such as output, reception, and input of a processor, rather than operations such as transmission, sending, and receiving performed directly by radio frequency circuits and antennas.

[0087]

[0087] In a particular implementation, the processor may be a processor specially configured to perform these methods, or a processor configured to execute computer instructions in memory to perform these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory may be a non-transitory memory such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated on the same chip or may be located separately on different chips. The type of memory and the manner in which the memory and the processor are located are not limited to embodiments of the present invention.

[0088] According to a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system. The chip system includes a processor and an interface and is configured to support a communication transmission device in implementing the functions of a method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, for example, in determining or processing at least one of the data and information in the aforementioned method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store information and data required for the communication device. The chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete components.

[0089] According to an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a functional entity, configured to perform a method according to the first aspect, the second aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect, the ninth aspect or the tenth aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0090] [Figure 1]

[0090] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2]

[0091] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3]

[0092] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4A]

[0093] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a VHT NDPA frame according to the present application. [Figure 4B]

[0094] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of the structure of an HE NDPA frame according to the present application. [Figure 5]

[0095] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an NDPA frame transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6]

[0096] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7]

[0097] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a station information field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8]

[0098] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another station information field structure according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9]

[0099] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10]

[0100] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11]

[0101] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of yet another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12]

[0102] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an EHT MIMO control field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 13]

[0103] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 14]

[0104] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the beamforming report feedback process. [Figure 15]

[0105] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16]

[0106] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 17]

[0107] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 18]

[0108] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 19]

[0109] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 20]

[0110] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a module of a transmission device according to a further embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0091]

[0111] The technical solution of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0092]

[0112] An embodiment of the present application provides an NDPA frame transmission method applied to a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system may be a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular network. The method may be implemented by a communication device in the wireless communication system or by a chip or processor within the communication device. In the wireless local area network, the communication device supports communication performed by using an IEEE 802.11 series protocol. The IEEE 802.11 series protocols include 802.11be, 802.11ax, or 802.11a / b / g / n / ac.

[0093]

[0113] FIG. 1 is used as an example to describe a network structure to which the NDPA frame transmission method of the present application is applicable. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network structure according to an embodiment of the present application. The network structure may be a wireless local area network. The network structure may include one or more access point (AP) stations and one or more non-access point stations (non-AP STAs). For ease of explanation, in this specification, an access point station is referred to as an access point (AP), and a non-access point station is referred to as a station (STA). APs are, for example, AP 1 and AP 2 in FIG. 1, and STAs are, for example, STA 1 and STA 2 in FIG. 1.

[0094]

[0114] An access point may be an access point through which an end device (e.g., a mobile phone) accesses a wired (or wireless) network. It is primarily deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. Of course, an access point may alternatively be deployed outdoors. An access point is equivalent to a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network. The main function of an access point is to connect various wireless network clients to each other and to connect a wireless network to an Ethernet. Specifically, an access point may be an end device (e.g., a mobile phone) or a network device (e.g., a router) equipped with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip. An access point may also be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. Alternatively, an access point may be a device that supports multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) standards in the 802.11 family, such as 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. An access point in this application may be an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP or an access point to which a particular future generation of Wi-Fi standard is applicable.

[0095]

[0115] An access point may include a processor and a transceiver, the processor configured to control and manage operation of the access point, and the transceiver configured to receive or transmit information.

[0096]

[0116] The station may be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, a wireless communication terminal, etc., and may also be referred to as a user. For example, the station may be a mobile phone supporting Wi-Fi communication, a tablet computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart TV supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication, a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, etc. Optionally, the station may support the 802.11be standard. The station may also support multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) standards in the 802.11 family, such as 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0097]

[0117] A station may include a processor and a transceiver, the processor configured to control and manage operation of the station, and the transceiver configured to receive or transmit information.

[0098]

[0118] A station in this application may be an extremely high throughput (EHT) STA, or may be a STA to which a particular future generation of Wi-Fi standard is applicable.

[0099]

[0119] For example, access points and stations may be devices applied in the Internet of Vehicles; Internet of Things nodes, sensors, etc. in the Internet of Things (IoT); smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water meters, or smart electricity meters in smart homes; sensors in smart cities, etc.

[0100]

[0120] The access point and the station in the embodiments of the present application may be collectively referred to as a communication device. The communication device includes a hardware structure and a software module, and the functions described above may be realized in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. Specific functions of the functions described above may be realized in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module.

[0101]

[0121] 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 200 may include a processor 201 and a transceiver 205, and optionally further includes a memory 202.

[0102]

[0122] The transceiver 205 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., and is configured to perform transceiver functions. The transceiver 205 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiving machine, receiving circuit, etc., and is configured to perform receiving functions. The transmitter may be referred to as a transmitting machine, transmitting circuit, etc., and is configured to perform transmitting functions.

[0103]

[0123] The memory 202 may store computer programs, software codes, or instructions 204. The computer programs, software codes, or instructions 204 may also be referred to as firmware. The processor 201 may control the MAC layer and the PHY layer by executing the computer programs, software codes, or instructions 203 within the processor 201 or by calling the computer programs, software codes, or instructions 204 stored in the memory 202, thereby implementing the NDPA frame transmission method provided in the following embodiments of the present application. The processor 201 may be a central processing unit (CPU). The memory 202 may be, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM).

[0104]

[0124] The processor 201 and transceiver 205 described herein may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a hybrid signal IC, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, or the like.

[0105]

[0125] The communication device 200 may further include an antenna 206. The modules included in the communication device 200 are merely examples for purposes of illustration and are not limiting of the present application.

[0106]

[0126] As mentioned above, the communication device 200 described in the above embodiments may be an access point or a station. However, the scope of the communication device described herein is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited to that shown in FIG. 2. The communication device may be a standalone device or part of a larger device. For example, the implementation of the communication device may be as follows: (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), chip, chip system, or chip subsystem; (2) a set comprising one or more ICs, which may optionally also include a storage component configured to store data or instructions; (3) a module capable of being incorporated into another device; (4) a receiver, intelligent terminal, wireless device, handset, mobile unit, in-vehicle device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (5) other, etc.

[0107]

[0127] When the implementation of the communication device is a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip structure shown in Figure 3. The chip shown in Figure 3 includes a processor 301 and an interface 302. There may be more than one processor 301 and more than one interface 302. The interface 302 is configured to receive and transmit signals. Optionally, the chip or chip system may include a memory 303. The memory 303 is configured to store program instructions and data required for the chip or chip system.

[0108]

[0128] Furthermore, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the scope of protection and applicability of the claims. Those skilled in the art may make adaptive changes to the functions and arrangements of elements in the present application, or may omit, substitute, or add various processes or components as appropriate without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0109]

[0129] Since the 802.11a / g standard, WLAN has gone through several generations of standards, such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax, which are currently under discussion. The NDPA frame has different variants in different standards.

[0110]

[0130] 802.11ac is the previous generation standard of 802.11ax. In the 802.11ac standard, the NDPA frame variant may be referred to as a very high throughput (VHT) NDPA frame. Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a VHT NDPA frame.

[0111]

[0131] As shown in Figure 4A, a VHT NDPA frame contains a frame control field, a duration field, a receiving address (RA) field, a transmitting address (TA) field, a sounding dialog token (SDT) field, and one or more station information (STA information) fields. The frame control field contains a frame type subfield and a frame subtype subfield, which indicate that the frame is an NDPA frame. The sounding dialog token field is used to index the channel sounding sequence number. The RA and TA fields are used to identify the receiving and transmitting ends of the MAC frame.

[0112]

[0132] The station information field includes an association identifier (AID) subfield, a feedback type subfield, and a number of columns (Nc) subfield. One station information field is two octets long.

[0113]

[0133] The AID subfield indicates the AID of the station corresponding to the Station Information field. The Feedback Type subfield indicates whether the feedback is single-user feedback or multi-user feedback. The Number of Columns (Nc) subfield may be understood as indicating the number of columns for which the station needs to feedback channel state information, or the number of spatial streams for which the station needs to feedback channel state information.

[0114]

[0134] In 802.11ax, the corresponding NDPA frame variant is the high throughput (HE) NDPA frame. Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of the structure of an HE NDPA frame. The HE NDPA frame includes a frame control field, a duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a sounding dialog token field, and one or more station information fields.

[0115]

[0135] The sounding dialogue token may use one octet, i.e., the sounding dialogue token may use 8 bits, i.e., B0 to B7. The sounding dialogue token field includes a 1-bit frame type subfield. The frame type subfield is located in B1 of the sounding dialogue token and is used to indicate whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame. 0 indicates that the NDPA frame is not a HE NDPA frame, and 1 indicates that the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame.

[0116]

[0136] The station information field includes the AID subfield, the partial BW Info subfield, the feedback type and Ng subfield, the disambiguation subfield, the codebook size subfield, and the number of columns (Nc) subfield. One station information field is 4 octets long.

[0117]

[0137] The AID and Column Number subfields serve the same purpose as the AID and Column Number subfields in the VHT NDPA frame.

[0118]

[0138] The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates the frequency domain range in which the station corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information.

[0119]

[0139] The bandwidth used to transmit data can be divided into one or more resource units (RUs). An RU can be a 26-tone RU, a 52-tone RU, a 106-tone RU, a 242-tone RU, a 484-tone RU, a 996-tone RU, etc. A tone represents a subcarrier. For example, a 26-tone RU represents an RU containing 26 subcarriers. A 20 MHz frequency-domain resource may contain one entire 242-tone resource unit (242-tone RU) or nine 26-tone RUs.

[0120]

[0140] The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates a segment of contiguous 26-tone RUs, thereby indicating a frequency-domain range in which the station needs to feedback channel state information. In other words, the partial bandwidth information subfield indicates the RU in which the STA corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information, and indicates a frequency-domain range of the partial bandwidth in which the station needs to feedback channel state information. It should be understood that the frequency-domain range of the partial bandwidth belongs to the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame.

[0121]

[0141] The partial bandwidth information subfield includes a resource unit start index and a resource unit end index, which are used to indicate a segment of consecutive RUs. In 802.11ax, the maximum bandwidth is 160 MHz, which includes 74 26-tone RUs. Therefore, the RU start index is used to indicate the first RU for which the station corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information.

[0122]

number

[0123]

number

[0124]

[0142] The Feedback Type and Ng subfields indicate whether the feedback is single-user feedback or multi-user feedback, and indicate that Ng subcarriers are assigned to one group. In this way, the channel state information of subcarriers in the same group are fed back together, which helps reduce overhead.

[0125]

[0143] The disambiguation subfield is used to prevent a VHT STA from misreading an NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame. A VHT STA in this application is a prior version VHT STA that supports the 802.11ac protocol but does not support the NDPA frame variants that occur after the VHT NDPA frame.

[0126]

[0144] The codebook size subfield indicates the precision of the quantization. Different precisions correspond to different overheads.

[0127]

[0145] In 802.11ax, a station may have up to eight antennas and support up to eight columns. Therefore, the Number of Columns subfield must be set to indicate a specific value for the number of columns, i.e., one of 1 to 8.

[0128]

number

[0129]

[0146] In 802.11az, i.e., the ranging standard stage, the corresponding NDPA frame variant is the ranging NDPA frame. The structure of the ranging NDPA frame is basically the same as that of the HE NDPA frame. For the structure of the ranging NDPA frame, please refer to Figure 4B.

[0130]

[0147] Unlike HE NDPA frames, the frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field in ranging NDPA frames has two bits. The two bits are B0 and B1 of B0 to B7. One bit (B1) is used to indicate whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame, and the other bit (B0) is used to indicate whether the NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame. The ranging STA determines the NDPA frame variant based on the two-bit frame type subfield. The specific indication relationship of the frame type subfield is shown in Table 1 below.

[0131] Table 1

[0132]

number

[0148] It should be understood that an HE STA does not read the bit in the Frame Type subfield that is used to indicate whether an NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame. An HE STA in this application is an earlier version of an HE STA that supports the 802.11ax protocol but does not support the NDPA frame variant that occurs after an HE NDPA frame. A ranging STA in this application is an earlier version of a ranging STA that supports the 802.11az protocol but does not support the NDPA frame variant that occurs after a ranging NDPA frame.

[0133]

[0149] The following describes how the partial bandwidth information subfield is indicated in different generations of the standard. In 802.11ax, the maximum bandwidth is 160 MHz, and the partial bandwidth information subfield can indicate the bandwidth by using 74 26-tone RUs. The typical values ​​corresponding to the 74 26-tone RUs are 0, 1, 2, 3, , and 73 in ascending order of the corresponding frequencies.

[0134]

[0150] In the HE NDPA frame, the indication method of the partial bandwidth information subfield is as follows: the resource unit start index of the partial bandwidth information subfield indicates one of the 74 26-tone RUs, and the resource unit end index of the partial bandwidth information subfield is used to indicate one of the 74 26-tone RUs. Specifically, the resource unit start index indicates one of the 74 26-tone RUs by indicating the ordinal value of the 26-tone RU, and the resource unit end index indicates one of the 74 26-tone RUs by indicating the ordinal value of the 26-tone RU.

[0135]

[0151] In the above solution, it can be seen that the RU start index of the partial bandwidth information subfield supports only one of the 74 26-tone RUs, and the RU end index of the partial bandwidth information subfield supports only one of the 74 26-tone RUs.

[0136]

[0152] However, in the 802.11be standard, the maximum bandwidth that can be supported is 320 MHz. For example, if 26-tone RUs are used as the granularity for indication, 320 MHz can accommodate a maximum of 148 26-tone RUs, and 148 cases need to be indicated. Obviously, in this case, the partial bandwidth information subfield of the HE NDPA frame cannot satisfy the requirement in the 802.11be standard to specify RUs in a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back.

[0137]

[0153] The following describes how the Number of Columns subfield indicates the number of columns in different generations of the standard. In 802.11ax, the maximum number of columns is 8. The 3-bit Number of Columns subfield in the HE NDPA frame indicates the number of columns by indicating a value from 1 to 8. However, the currently discussed 802.11be standard requires that a maximum of 16 columns be specified. Clearly, the Number of Columns subfield in the HE NDPA frame cannot meet the requirement of the 802.11be standard to specify a larger number of columns.

[0138]

[0154] The technical solution of the present application will be described below with reference to the NDPA frame transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the NDPA frame includes a number of fields and subfields. It should be understood that the names of the fields and subfields in the NDPA frame are not limited in the embodiment of the present application, and may be replaced with other names in other embodiments.

[0139]

[0155] 5 is a schematic flowchart of an NDPA frame transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes the following steps:

[0140]

[0156] 501. The beamformer (Bfer) generates an NDPA frame.

[0141]

[0157] The NDPA frame includes one or more station information fields. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating an AID, a partial bandwidth information subfield, and / or a column number subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs included in the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame that require the beamformee (Bfee) corresponding to the AID to feed back channel state information. Alternatively, it can be understood that the partial bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs for which the Bfee requests feedback. The RU for which the station requires channel state information to be fed back or the RU for which the Bfee requests feedback may be one RU or a combination of multiple RUs.

[0142]

[0158] It should be understood that the RUs indicated by the fractional bandwidth information subfield are segments of contiguous RUs, and the fractional bandwidth information subfield is not limited to indicating a segment of contiguous 26-tone RUs. For example, the fractional bandwidth information subfield could indicate a segment of contiguous 52-tone RUs, a segment of contiguous 242-tone RUs, or a combination of multiple contiguous RUs of different sizes.

[0143]

[0159] In this application, the RUs indicated by the Partial Bandwidth Information subfield are not necessarily actual RUs. RUs correspond to subcarriers. By indicating the RUs in the bandwidth, the Partial Bandwidth Information subfield indicates the range of subcarriers and the frequency-domain range of the partial bandwidth for which Bfer requests feedback. For example, indicating 320 MHz as 148 26-tone RUs does not mean that the 320 MHz bandwidth contains 148 26-tone RUs. The RUs indicated by the Partial Bandwidth Information subfield are only used to indicate the corresponding frequency-domain range.

[0144]

[0160] The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz, or the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8; or the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0145]

[0161] The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame may be understood as the channel sounding bandwidth, or alternatively, the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is the bandwidth of the NDP transmitted by the AP after the AP transmits the NDPA frame.

[0146]

[0162] It can be understood that the station information field may include any of the fractional bandwidth information subfield and the number of columns subfield, or may include the fractional bandwidth information subfield and the number of columns subfield.

[0147]

[0163] The NDPA frame in this embodiment of the present application satisfies any of the following cases: the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8; or the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0148]

[0164] 502. Bfer transmits an NDPA frame.

[0149]

[0165] Correspondingly, Bfee receives the NDPA frame and obtains relevant channel sounding parameters from the NDPA frame, e.g., fractional bandwidth information and / or the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix.

[0150]

[0166] Bfer may be an AP or a STA. Bfee may be a STA or an AP.

[0151]

[0167] Optionally, after step 502, the beamformee may initiate a channel sounding procedure. The channel sounding procedure may include the following steps:

[0152]

[0168] 503. Bfer transmits a null data packet (NDP).

[0153]

[0169] It should be understood that Bfer transmits the NDP after a short inter-frame space (SIFS) has elapsed.

[0154]

[0170] Correspondingly, after 1 SIFS has elapsed after receiving the NDPA frame, Bfee receives the NDP based on the associated channel sounding parameters obtained from the NDPA frame.

[0155]

[0171] 504. According to the indication information in the NDPA frame, Bfee performs channel estimation based on the NDP to obtain channel state information, and forms a beamforming report based on the channel state information.

[0156]

[0172] Specifically, Bfee determines based on the AID subfield in the station information field in the NDPA frame that the AID subfield matches Bfee's AID and determines that Bfee itself needs to perform channel sounding. Bfee determines the frequency range for which channel state information needs to be fed back based on the partial bandwidth information subfield in the station information field, and then performs channel estimation based on the NDP to obtain channel state information for the frequency range for which the station needs to feed back channel state information. Alternatively, Bfee can determine the number of columns of a compressed beamforming feedback matrix based on Nc. The compressed beamforming feedback matrix is ​​part of the beamforming report and carries at least a portion of the channel state information.

[0157]

[0173] 505.Bfee transmits beamforming reports.

[0158]

[0174] It can be understood that the beamforming report contains channel state information.

[0159]

[0175] Bfer may be an AP or an STA. Bfee may be an STA or an AP. In this embodiment of the present application, an example in which Bfer is an AP and Bfee is an STA is used for explanation. It should be understood that the technical solution in this embodiment of the present application is also applicable to the case in which Bfer is an STA or Bfee is an AP.

[0160]

[0176] Certainly, the channel sounding procedure is not limited to the solution proposed in this embodiment of the present application, which is based on steps 503 to 505. Optionally, the channel sounding procedure may alternatively be as follows: another beamformer transmits an NDP frame and the beamformee performs sounding based on the NDP frame.

[0161]

[0177] In the technical solution of this embodiment of the present application, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. In this case, the station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding result, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The number of columns indicated by the column number subfield is greater than 8. The station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding result, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0162]

[0178] Specifically, an NDPA frame contains type information. The type information is used to indicate the NDPA frame variant. For example, the type information indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. The type information is carried in a field that precedes one or more station information fields.

[0163]

[0179] Thus, upon receiving an NDPA frame, a station first obtains type information from the NDPA frame, determines the NDPA frame variant based on the type information, and then determines a policy for reading the station information field based on the NDPA frame variant. For example, the station is an EHT STA, and the type information indicates that the NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT STA reads the station information field according to the structure of the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame. The EHT STA obtains the station information field containing the AID of the EHT STA and obtains associated channel sounding parameters (e.g., an indication of RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back and / or an indication of a column number greater than 8) from the station information field. Next, the EHT STA receives an NDP based on the associated channel sounding parameters, then obtains channel state information based on the NDP, and feeds back the channel state information to the access point using beamforming reports.

[0164]

[0180] It can be seen that the type information can indicate that the new NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame also indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 8 and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency. In this case, no new frame needs to be defined, and the remaining available types in the MAC frame can be fully utilized, thereby saving resources.

[0165]

[0181] It should be understood that if the type information indicates that the NDPA frame is a VHT NDPA frame, an HE NDPA frame, or a ranging NDPA frame, the EHT STA can also read the NDPA frame separately according to a format corresponding to the VHT NDPA frame, the HE NDPA frame, or the ranging NDPA frame.

[0166]

[0182] The type information indication solution provided in this embodiment of the present application is described in detail below. The type information indication solution in this embodiment of the present application is not limited to the scenario in which the NDPA frame variant indicates that it is an EHT NDPA frame, but is also applicable to the scenario in which the NDPA frame variant indicates that it is a new NDPA frame variant corresponding to standards emerging after 802.11be.

[0167]

[0183] The NDPA frame further includes a sounding dialogue token, which includes a frame type indication field.

[0168]

[0184] As shown in Table 2, in the first type of information indication solution provided in this application, the sounding dialogue token field includes a 2-bit frame type indication field. If the two bits of the frame type subfield are both 1, it indicates a new NDPA frame variant. The new variant may be, for example, an EHT NDPA frame corresponding to 802.11be or an NDPA frame corresponding to a standard emerging after 802.11be. In this embodiment of this application, an example is used for explanation, in which the NDPA frame variant transmitted by the AP is an EHT NDPA frame, and the frame type subfield in the sounding dialogue token field indicates that the NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0169] Table 2

[0170]

number

[0185] It can be seen that in this solution, the type information is carried in the frame type subfield. In this way, defining new NDPA frame variants as EHT NDPA frames can be achieved without having to change the existing correspondence between the frame type subfield value and the specified NDPA frame variant.

[0171]

[0186] An EHT STA receives an NDPA frame from an AP and determines the NDPA frame variant by reading the 2-bit frame type subfield in the NDPA frame. For example, the frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT STA determines that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame based on the frame type subfield. The EHT STA can read the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame according to the format of the EHT NDPA frame. In this way, the EHT NDPA frame can indicate RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback. As a result, the station can sound a channel with a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feedback a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby achieving data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame can also indicate a column count greater than 8, allowing stations to sound channels with a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby achieving data transmission in more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0172]

[0187] It should be understood that in this embodiment of the present application, the frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field indicates that the NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame, and in other embodiments, the frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field may alternatively indicate that the NDPA frame variant is a VHT NDPA frame, an HE NDPA frame, or a ranging NDPA frame. If the frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is a VHT NDPA frame, an HE NDPA frame, or a ranging NDPA frame, the EHT STA can also separately read the NDPA frame according to a format corresponding to a VHT NDPA frame, an HE NDPA frame, or a ranging NDPA frame.

[0173]

[0188] As shown in Table 3, in the second type of information indication solution provided herein, the above entry used to indicate a ranging NDPA frame is replaced with the above entry used to indicate an EHT NDPA frame. In the frame type subfield, if the bit value indicating whether the NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame is 1 and the bit value indicating whether the NDPA frame is an HE NDPA frame is 0, the designated NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame; or, if the bit value indicating whether the NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame is 1 and the bit value indicating whether the NDPA frame is an HE NDPA frame is 1, the designated NDPA frame variant is a ranging NDPA frame. In this way, it is possible to define a new NDPA frame variant as an EHT NDPA frame. The frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field can indicate that the type of frame variant is EHT NDPA. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback, and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame also indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 8 and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0174] Table 3

[0175]

number

[0189] The (16n+12)th bit (e.g., the 28th bit or the 44th bit) of each station information field in the EHT NDPA frame is a disambiguation subfield, where n is a positive integer. The first bit of the station information field corresponds to B0 of the station information field. Thus, compared with the solution corresponding to Table 2, the solution corresponding to Table 3 can prevent the HE STA from misreading.

[0176]

[0190] This is because HE STAs do not read the bit in the Frame Type subfield that indicates whether the NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame. In the solution corresponding to Table 2, if the bit in the Frame Type subfield that indicates whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame has a value of 1, the HE STA reads the NDPA frame as a HE NDPA frame. However, if the bit in the NDPA frame that indicates whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame has a value of 1, the NDPA frame may actually be a HE NDPA frame or an EHT NDPA frame. However, an EHT NDPA frame may use more than four octets, for example, six octets. In this case, the HE STA reads the first 11 bits of the third two octets as the AID. If the first 11 bits of the third two octets of the station information field happen to match the AID of the HE STA, the HE STA will read the two octets indicating the AID and the two adjacent octets following them as the station information field of the HE STA, causing a misreading by the HE STA.

[0177]

[0191] According to the solution in Table 3, if the bit of the NDPA frame indicating whether the NDPA frame is an HE NDPA frame has a value of 0, the HE STA can identify the NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame and read the NDPA frame according to the format of the VHT NDPA frame. If the NDPA frame is actually a VHT NDPA frame, the HE STA can correctly read the VHT NDPA frame. If the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame, the first 11 or 12 bits of each station information field of the EHT NDPA frame indicate the AID. The AID is not the AID of the HE STA, and the (16n+12)th bit of the station information field is a disambiguation subfield. In this case, the first 12 bits of each two octets of the EHT NDPA frame do not match the AID of the HE STA. Even if an HE STA considers an EHT NDPA frame to be a VHT NDPA frame, reads the NDPA frame according to the VHT NDPA frame format, and reads the first 12 bits of each of the two octets of each station information field as the AID, the HE STA will recognize that the first 12 bits of each of the two octets do not match the AID of the HE STA, which prevents the HE STA from mistaking the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame for the station information field of the HE STA and consequently misreading the NDPA frame.

[0178]

[0192] If the bit in an NDPA frame indicating whether the NDPA frame is an HE NDPA frame has a value of 1, the HE STA can correctly read the NDPA frame if it is indeed a HE NDPA frame. If the NDPA frame is actually a ranging NDPA frame, the HE STA can read the AID in the NDPA frame at the correct position because the station information field in the ranging NDPA frame has the same structure as the station information field in the HE NDPA frame. The station information field in the ranging NDPA frame does not contain the AID of the HE STA, and the HE STA can also discover by reading the station information field that the AID in each station information field does not match the AID of the HE STA. In this way, the HE STA does not consider one of the station information fields in the NDPA frame to be the station information field of the HE STA and therefore does not misread the NDPA frame.

[0179]

[0193] However, as network technology evolves, there will likely be successor standards following 802.11be, which may support larger bandwidths. In this case, if a new NDPA frame variant that occurs after the EHT NDPA frame needs to be defined, the other NDPA frame variant that occurs after the EHT NDPA frame cannot be specified by the 2-bit frame type subfield described above.

[0180]

[0194] 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present application. In the third type of information indication solution provided in this embodiment of the present application, a special station information field is newly added to the NDPA frame. The special station information field includes a special AID field and a frame subtype field.

[0181]

[0195] The special AID indicates a special station information field. For example, the special AID may be 2047, which indicates that the station information field is a special station information field. The AID of 2047 is not defined in existing standards. Therefore, the STA can identify the special station information field based on the special AID. It should be understood that in another embodiment, the special AID is not limited to 2047 and may be, for example, another undefined AID.

[0182]

[0196] The frame type subfield in the sounding dialog token field and the frame subtype field in the newly added special station information field together indicate the NDPA frame variant. For example, the frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame, and the frame subtype subfield of the special station information field indicates the particular NDPA frame variant. For example, the frame subtype subfield in the special station information field could indicate that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. It should be understood that the frame subtype subfield could alternatively indicate that the NDPA frame variant is another NDPA frame variant that occurs after an EHT NDPA frame.

[0183]

[0197] Specifically, as shown in Table 4, in the indication resolution, if the values ​​of the two bits of the frame type subfield are both 0, it indicates that the NDPA frame is not a HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame.

[0184] Table 4

[0185]

number

[0198] It can be seen that in this solution, the type information is carried in the Frame Type subfield and the Frame Subtype subfield. In this way, it is possible to support indicating one or more new NDPA frame variants that occur after the HE NDPA frame and the ranging NDPA frame. The new NDPA frame variant may be, for example, an EHT NDPA frame or another NDPA frame that occurs after the EHT NDPA frame.

[0186]

[0199] A STA that supports the new NDPA frame variant can specifically determine which variant the NDPA frame is based on the Frame Subtype subfield in the Special Station field and read the NDPA frame according to the structure of the NDPA frame variant. For example, the Frame Type subfield and Frame Subtype subfield indicate that the NDPA frame variant is an EHT NDPA frame. An EHT STA can determine that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame based on the Frame Subtype subfield. The EHT STA then reads the Fractional Bandwidth Information subfield and the Number of Columns subfield in the NDPA frame according to the structure of the EHT NDPA frame, thereby accurately obtaining information regarding the fractional bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back and the number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided.

[0187]

[0200] If the frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is a VHT NDPA frame, an HE NDPA frame, or a ranging NDPA frame, the EHT STA can also read the NDPA frame separately according to the format corresponding to the VHT NDPA frame, the HE NDPA frame, or the ranging NDPA frame.

[0188]

[0201] It should be understood that the number of octets in the station information field in this embodiment of the present application is an integer multiple of 2. The station information field may use 4 octets, or may use more than 4 octets, for example 6 octets.

[0189]

[0202] In this solution, the Frame Type subfield of the Sounding Dialogue Token field indicates the category of NDPA frames other than HE NDPA frames and ranging NDPA frames, and the Frame Subtype subfield of the Special Station field indicates the specific variant of the NDPA frame, which can prevent HE STAs or ranging STAs from misreading the new NDPA frame variants.

[0190]

[0203] For example, the frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. A HE STA or ranging STA can recognize the EHT NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame based on the frame type field in the sounding dialogue token field and read the EHT NDPA frame according to the VHT NDPA frame structure. The station information field of the EHT NDPA frame does not include the AID of the HE STA or ranging STA. An earlier version HE STA or ranging STA that receives an EHT NDPA frame will not provide feedback based on the EHT NDPA frame because the AID in the station information field does not match the AID of the earlier version HE STA or ranging STA. This prevents the earlier version HE STA or ranging STA from misreading the EHT NDPA frame.

[0191]

[0204] Furthermore, in the NDPA frame transmitted by the AP, the (16n+12)th bit of the special station information field is a disambiguation subfield, and the (16n+12)th bit (e.g., the 28th bit) of each station information field is a disambiguation subfield, where n is a positive integer. The first bit of the special station information field corresponds to B0 of the special station information field. The first bit of each station information field corresponds to B0 of the station information field.

[0192]

[0205] In this case, if the frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not a HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame, the VHT STA does not read the frame type subfield of the sounding dialogue token field and is unable to identify the NDPA frame variant. In this embodiment of the present application, based on conventional techniques, the NDPA frame variant indicated when the two bits of the frame type subfield are both 0 is modified to not cause the VHT STA to misread another NDPA frame variant.

[0193]

[0206] For example, the NDPA frame transmitted by the AP is an EHT NDPA frame, and the first 11 bits of the specific station information field and the first 11 bits of the any station information field in the EHT NDPA frame are set as an 11-bit AID, the AID is not the AID of the VHT STA, and the (16n+12)th bit of the specific station information field and the (16n+12)th bit of the any station information field are disambiguation subfields. In this case, the first 12 bits of each of the two octets of the station information field and the specific station information field in the EHT NDPA frame do not match the AID of the VHT STA. Even if a VHT STA reads an EHT NDPA frame according to the structure of the VHT NDPA frame and reads the first 12 bits of each of the two octets of the special station information field or station information field as the AID, the VHT STA can recognize that the first 12 bits of each of the two octets do not match the AID of the VHT STA, which prevents the VHT STA from mistaking the special station information field or station information field in the EHT NDPA frame for the station information field of the VHT STA and consequently misreading the NDPA frame.

[0194]

[0207] Also, when comparing the indication method of Table 4 with the indication method of Table 3, the original entry indicating the ranging NDPA frame, that is, the original entry of the frame type subfield, does not need to be changed either, in which case the ranging STA can still identify the ranging NDPA frame based on the frame type subfield as usual.

[0195]

[0208] It can be seen from the above that by using the third type of information indication solution, a new NDPA frame variant (e.g., EHT NDPA frame) can be indicated, and VHT STAs, HE STAs, and ranging STAs can be prevented from misreading the new NDPA frame variant.

[0196]

[0209] In some embodiments, the special station information field may further include a non-allowed subchannel bitmap, which is used to indicate preamble puncturing information.

[0197]

[0210] For example, each bit in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap corresponds to a frequency domain resource of 1 granularity, and each bit indicates whether the corresponding frequency domain resource is punctured. n *10 MHz, where n is a positive integer. For example, the granularity may be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, etc.

[0198]

[0211] The number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be fixed. For example, the number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap in an EHT NDPA frame may be set to 16. The 16 bits can indicate preamble puncturing information for a 320 MHz bandwidth. If the bandwidth is less than 320 MHz, each 20 MHz corresponds to one bit in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap, and the remaining bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap indicate that the corresponding frequency domain resource is to be punctured. For example, if the bandwidth is 240 MHz, the first 12 bits of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap indicate preamble puncturing information for 240 MHz, and the last 4 bits indicate that the corresponding frequency domain resource is to be punctured.

[0199]

[0212] Alternatively, the number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be variable. The number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be determined based on the bandwidth. For example, if the granularity is 20 MHz, the number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be 8 if the bandwidth is 160 MHz; or 16 if the bandwidth is 320 MHz. If the granularity is 40 MHz, the number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be 4 if the bandwidth is 160 MHz; or 8 if the bandwidth is 320 MHz. Alternatively, if the bandwidth is less than 80 MHz, the number of bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may be 4, where each 20 MHz corresponds to one bit in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap, and the remaining bits in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap indicate that the corresponding frequency domain resource is to be punctured. For example, if the bandwidth is 40 MHz, the first two bits of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap are used to indicate the puncturing state of the first 20 MHz and the puncturing state of the second 20 MHz of the 40 MHz, and the last two bits of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap indicate that the corresponding frequency domain resource is punctured.

[0200]

[0213] In some embodiments, the non-allowed subchannel bitmap may alternatively be carried in the NDP transmitted by the AP after the AP transmits the NDPA frame, or alternatively, the non-allowed subchannel bitmap is carried only in the NDP.

[0201]

[0214] Optionally, the specific station information field further includes a bandwidth indication subfield for indicating a bandwidth, the partial bandwidth indicated by the partial bandwidth information subfield being within a frequency domain range of the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth indication subfield.

[0202]

[0215] To indicate RUs that are in a bandwidth larger than 160 MHz and require channel state information to be fed back, or to indicate more spatial streams, embodiments of the present application provide several station information field design solutions.

[0203]

[0216] In this embodiment of the present application, the example in which the NDPA frame variant transmitted by the AP is an EHT NDPA frame is used for illustration purposes. The station information field design solution in this application is not limited to the EHT NDPA frame, but is also applicable to NDPA frame variants corresponding to standards emerging after 802.11be.

[0204]

[0217] The following describes a station information field design solution provided when the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz.

[0205]

[0218] In the first station information field design solution provided in this embodiment of the present application, the number of octets in the station information field is increased, and the number of bits in the partial bandwidth information subfield is also increased, allowing the partial bandwidth information subfield to indicate RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback. For example, the station information field in an NDPA frame may use 6 octets, and the partial bandwidth information subfield may use more than 7 bits. In this way, it is possible to indicate RUs in a wider bandwidth that require channel state information feedback. When the station information field is 6 octets, the number of bits in the column number subfield can also be increased. For example, the column number subfield has more than 3 bits. In this case, it is also possible to indicate a larger number of columns. It should be understood that the number of octets in the station information field in an NDPA frame may be 2*N, where N is 3 or greater. For example, the number of octets in the station information field in an NDPA frame may be 8, 10, 12, etc.

[0206]

[0219] Furthermore, the 6 octets may be divided sequentially into three 2-octets. The 12th bit of the second 2-octet and the 12th bit of the third 2-octet are set as disambiguation fields. In this case, even if a VHT STA reads an NDPA frame according to the VHT NDPA frame format and reads the first 12 bits of each 2-octet as the AID, the VHT STA can recognize that the first 12 bits of each 2-octet do not match the VHT STA's AID. This prevents the VHT STA from mistaking the station information field in the new NDPA frame variant for the VHT STA's station information field and consequently misreading the new NDPA frame variant.

[0207]

[0220] In this solution, the partial bandwidth information subfield of the station information field includes an RU start index and an RU end index, where the RU start index uses more than 7 bits and the RU end index also uses more than 7 bits.

[0208]

[0221] The column number subfield of the station information field is greater than 3 bits.

[0209]

[0222] In a particular embodiment, the bandwidth is 320 MHz and the length of the station information field is 6 octets. The structure of the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame is shown in FIG.

[0210]

[0223] In this embodiment, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the station information field includes an RU start index and an RU end index. The RU start index uses 8 bits and is used to indicate one 26-tone RU within 320 MHz. The RU end index also uses 8 bits and is used to indicate one 26-tone RU within 320 MHz. The 12th bit of the second octet (the 28th bit of the station information field) and the 12th bit of the third octet (the 44th bit of the station information field) are set as disambiguation fields.

[0211]

[0224] As shown in FIG. 7, the length of the station information field in a VHT NDPA frame is two octets, or a total of 16 bits. The first 12 bits of the station information field in a VHT NDPA frame are the AID. A VHT STA does not read the frame type subfield or identify NDPA frame variants. A VHT STA reads an EHT NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame. This causes the VHT STA to read the first 12 bits of each of the two octets of the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame as the AID. If the first 12 bits of the second two octets of the station information field in the station information field happen to match the AID of the VHT STA that received the EHT NDPA frame, a misreading occurs. In the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame provided in this embodiment, the first 11 bits of the first two octets are the AID of the EHT STA. In this case, the first 12 bits of the first two octets do not match the AID of the VHT STA. The 12th bit (B11) of the second two octets of the station information field is a disambiguation field. The first 12 bits of the second two octets of the station information field also do not match the AID of the VHT STA. In this way, the VHT STA can prevent itself from mistaking the station information field for its own, which would result in the VHT STA misreading the EHT NDPA frame.

[0212]

[0225] The 8-bit index field can contain up to 2 8 It can be seen that 320 MHz can contain up to 148 26-tone RUs. An 8-bit RU start index can indicate one of the 148 26-tone RUs. An 8-bit RU end index can also indicate one of the 148 26-tone RUs.

[0213]

[0226] In an embodiment in which the first station information field design solution is used, the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is not limited to 320 MHz in the above example, but may alternatively be another bandwidth greater than 160 MHz, such as 240 MHz or 480 MHz. Therefore, the number of bits in the fractional bandwidth information subfield may be adaptively adjusted based on the size of the bandwidth.

[0214]

[0227] It should be understood that the first station information field design solution may be implemented in combination with the second and third types of information indication solutions described above, or may be implemented separately.

[0215]

[0228] For EHT NDPA frames using the first station information field design solution, the setting of the disambiguation field can prevent misreading by VHT STAs. However, if the EHT NDPA frame uses the first type information indication solution described above, HE STAs do not read the bit in the frame type subfield that indicates whether the NDPA frame is a ranging NDPA frame. As a result, HE STAs cannot distinguish HE NDPA frames from EHT NDPA frames. In this case, HE STAs read the EHT NDPA frame as an HE NDPA frame. When reading the third two octets of the station information field in an EHT NDPA frame, HE STAs read the first 11 bits of the third two octets as the AID indicated by the first 11 bits of the station information field of the HE NDPA frame. If the first 11 bits of the third two octets of the Station Information field in an EHT NDPA frame match the AID of the HE STA receiving the EHT NDPA frame, it will cause the HE STA to misread the EHT NDPA frame.

[0216]

[0229] If an EHT NDPA frame using the first station information field design solution described above uses the second type information indication solution, the HE STA reads the EHT NDPA frame as a VHT NDPA frame. The station information field in the EHT NDPA frame does not include the AID of the HE STA, the AID of the ranging STA, or the AID of the VHT STA, and the disambiguation subfield is set to another position that the HE STA, the ranging STA, or the VHT STA can consider to indicate the AID. In this way, the HE STA can be prevented from misreading the EHT NDPA frame.

[0217]

[0230] When an EHT NDPA frame using the first station information field design solution described above uses the third type information indication solution, the NDPA frame is indicated as a HE NDPA frame only if the bit in the frame type subfield indicating whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame indicates that the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame if the bit indicates that the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame, and no other indications indicate that the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame. A HE STA can accurately determine whether an NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame based on the bit in the frame type subfield indicating whether the NDPA frame is a HE NDPA frame, and will not read other NDPA frame variants as HE NDPA frames.

[0218]

[0231] 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present application. In the second station information field design solution provided in this embodiment of the present application, the station information field is 4 octets. When comparing the EHT NDPA frame with the HE NDPA frame, the number of octets in the station information field remains the same. In this solution, the number of bits in the fractional bandwidth information subfield is compressed, and the indication method of the fractional bandwidth information subfield is improved to indicate RUs in a larger bandwidth that require channel state information feedback, and / or indicate a number of columns greater than 8.

[0219]

[0232] For example, the number of bits in the fractional bandwidth information subfield may be compressed. The fractional bandwidth information subfield may use 13 bits or less. In this way, the number of bits in the column count subfield can be increased, so that the column count subfield uses 4 bits or more and can indicate a larger number of columns. Alternatively, when the number of bits in the fractional bandwidth information subfield is compressed, the resource unit start index and resource unit end index can support indication of RUs within a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back. Indeed, if this solution is used, it is not limited to requiring the number of bits in the column count subfield to be increased to 4 or more. Alternatively, the column count subfield can use 3 bits.

[0220]

[0233] In a possible implementation, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the station information field includes a resource unit start index and a resource unit offset index. The resource unit start index is used to indicate the first RU of the RUs for which the station corresponding to the AID requires channel state information to be fed back. The resource unit offset index indicates the offset relative to the first RU of the last RU for which channel state information needs to be fed back. Alternatively, the resource unit start index indicates the first RU for which Bfer requests feedback, and the resource unit offset index indicates the offset relative to the first RU of the last RU for which Bfer requests feedback. The offset may be 0.

[0221]

[0234] It can be understood that the RU offset indicated by the resource unit offset index may not indicate the RUs actually included in the bandwidth. In fact, the resource unit offset index indicates a subcarrier offset in the frequency domain by indicating the RU offset, and indicates a continuous frequency domain range in cooperation with the resource unit start index.

[0222]

[0235] As shown in FIG. 8, the station information field is not limited to being used by the EHT NDPA frame, and may also be used by other NDPA frame variants that occur after the EHT NDPA frame.

[0223]

[0236] See Figure 8. The resource unit start index uses 8 bits. In this case, if the bandwidth is 320 MHz, the resource unit start index can indicate one of 148 26-tone RUs corresponding to 320 MHz. The resource unit offset index may use 5 bits or less. In this case, the fractional bandwidth information subfield uses 13 bits or less. Therefore, the column number subfield uses 4 bits or more, which can indicate a larger number of columns.

[0224]

[0237] It should be understood that the 28th bit (B27) of the station information field is set as a disambiguation subfield, which is used to prevent the STA of the previous version from misreading. For the principle of how the disambiguation subfield prevents misreading, please refer to the relevant description of the above embodiment. The details will not be described again here.

[0225]

[0238] In certain embodiments, offsets of different sizes may be indicated by different resource unit offset indices. In the following, a scenario in which the bandwidth is 320 MHz is used as an illustrative example.

[0226]

[0239] In one example, the correspondence between resource unit offset indexes and corresponding offsets is shown in Table 5 below.

[0227] Table 5

[0228]

number

[0240] For example, if the resource unit offset index is 0010, it indicates that the offset of the last RU for which channel state information needs to be fed back relative to the first RU is a 52-tone RU. Furthermore, if the resource unit start index indicates that the first RU for which the station needs to feed back channel state information is the first 26-tone RU, the RUs for which the station needs to feed back channel state information are the first 26-tone RU and the 52-tone RUs adjacent to the first 26-tone RU. In this case, the frequency-domain range for which the station needs to feed back channel state information is the frequency-domain range corresponding to the first 26-tone RU and the 52-tone RUs adjacent to the first 26-tone RU, i.e., the first 78 subcarriers with the lowest frequency of 320 MHz.

[0229]

[0241] In another example, the correspondence between resource unit offset indexes and corresponding offsets is shown in Table 6 below.

[0230] Table 6

[0231]

number

[0242] For example, if the resource unit offset index is 0011, it indicates that the offset of the last RU for which channel state information needs to be fed back relative to the first RU is 4*26 tone RU.

[0232]

[0243] If the bandwidth is 320 MHz, 26-tone RUs are used as the granularity, the first RU is indicated by the resource unit start index, and the last RU is indicated by the resource unit end index, the resource unit start index and the resource unit end index each require 8 bits. In other words, the partial bandwidth information subfield requires at least 16 bits. In contrast, in the above solution where indication is performed using the resource unit start index and the resource unit offset index, 10 resource unit offset indexes can indicate 10 resource offsets of different sizes, and the resource unit offset index can use 4 bits. In this way, the number of bits in the partial bandwidth information subfield can be reduced. Furthermore, the saved bits can be used to increase the bits in the column number subfield, thereby indicating a larger number of space-time streams.

[0233]

[0244] Certainly, in another implementation, the correspondence between the resource unit offset index and the offset is not limited to the aforementioned examples shown in Table 5 or Table 6, and another correspondence may alternatively be configured. The number of bits in the resource unit offset index is also not limited to 4, provided that the sum of the number of bits in the resource unit start index and the number of bits in the resource unit offset index is 13 or less.

[0234]

[0245] In another specific embodiment, the resource unit offset index indicates the offset by indicating how many times the basic granularity the RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back are. The basic granularity is equal to or greater than 26-tone RUs. In other words, the resource unit offset index indicates the offset by indicating a value obtained by dividing the offset by the basic granularity. When expressed as a formula, the resource unit offset index may be expressed as N = offset / basic granularity. The resource unit offset index can indicate the offset by indicating N, where N is a positive integer.

[0235]

[0246] For example, if the bandwidth is 320 MHz, which contains 148 26-tone RUs, and the basic granularity is 8*26-tone RUs, the offset has 20 values. The resource unit offset index may use 5 bits to indicate the 20 values. See Table 7 for the correspondence between the resource unit offset index and the corresponding offset.

[0236] Table 7

[0237]

number

[0247] If the offset is 8 26-tone RUs, the resource unit offset index may be 00001. If the offset is 16 26-tone RUs, the resource unit offset index may be 00010.

[0238]

[0248] The resource unit start index may use 8 bits. The resource unit start index can indicate one of 148 26-tone RUs. The STA can determine the first and last RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back based on the resource unit start index and the resource unit offset index. Alternatively, the STA can determine the range of RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back based on the resource unit start index and the resource unit offset index.

[0239]

[0249] For example, if the resource unit start index indicates that the first RU for which the STA corresponding to the station information field needs to feedback channel state information is the ninth 26-tone RU out of 148 26-tone RUs, and the resource unit offset index is 00010, it can be determined that the last RU for which the STA needs to feedback channel state information is the 25th 26-tone RU. The RUs for which the STA needs to feedback channel state information are from the ninth 26-tone RU to the 25th 26-tone RU.

[0240]

[0250] For another example, if the ordinal value of the last RU for which the STA needs to feedback channel state information, determined based on the resource unit start index and resource unit offset index, is greater than 148, it can be determined that the last RU for which the STA needs to feedback channel state information is the 148th RU. For example, if the first RU indicated by the resource unit start index and for which channel state information needs to be fed back is the 142nd RU of 148 26-tone RUs, and the resource unit offset index indicates that the offset is 8 26-tone RUs, it can be determined that the last RU for which the STA needs to feedback channel state information is the 148th RU.

[0241]

[0251] It can be appreciated that the compression degree of the resource unit offset index may be adjusted by adjusting the basic granularity. A larger basic granularity indicates a higher compression degree. A larger compression degree indicates that a smaller number of bits are required to indicate the same offset. In this way, the fractional bandwidth information subfield can support indication of RUs within a larger bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back.

[0242]

[0252] In another possible implementation, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes an RU index. The RU indication index includes a frequency domain indication part and an RU indication part. The frequency domain indication part is used to indicate a frequency domain range in which an RU that requires a station corresponding to the AID to feed back channel state information is located. The RU indication part is used to indicate an RU that requires channel state information to be fed back.

[0243]

[0253] In a specific embodiment, the bandwidth is 320 MHz, and the 320 MHz is divided into four frequency domain ranges, which may be referred to as four frequency segments. The four frequency domains correspond, in ascending frequency order, to the first 80 MHz, the second 80 MHz, the third 80 MHz, and the fourth 80 MHz of the 320 MHz. The frequency domain indication part may use two bits and indicate that the frequency domain range in which the RU that the STA requires to feedback channel state information is located is one of the four frequency domain ranges. For example, see Table 8 for the correspondence between the frequency domain indication part and the specified frequency domain ranges.

[0244] Table 8

[0245]

number

[0254] The RU indication part uses 7 bits and is used to indicate that the RUs whose channel state information needs to be fed back are one RU or a combination of multiple RUs within the frequency domain range indicated by the frequency domain indication part. See Table 9 for the relationship between the RU indication part and the indicated RUs.

[0246] Table 9

[0247]

number

[0255] The RU designation part of each entry in Table 9 is a decimal value. In the fractional bandwidth information subfield, the RU designation part of the RU designation index is a binary value that corresponds to the decimal value in Table 9.

[0248]

[0256] It should be understood that the correspondence between the RU instruction part of each entry in Table 9 and the designated RU is merely an optional embodiment. In this application, the correspondence between the RU instruction part and the designated RU is not limited to the correspondence in Table 9. In another embodiment, the correspondence between the RU instruction part and the designated RU may alternatively be different from the correspondence in Table 9.

[0249]

[0257] Referring to Tables 8 and 9, in a specific example, the first two bits of the RU indication index are the frequency domain indication part, and the last seven bits of the RU indication index are the RU indication part. If the RU indication index is 000000001, 00 indicates the first 80 MHz, and 0000001 indicates the second 26-tone RU within 80 MHz. Therefore, 000000001 indicates that the RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information is the second 26-tone RU within the first 80 MHz. If the RU indication index is 111000010, 11 indicates the fourth 80 MHz, and 1000010 indicates the second 484-tone RU within 80 MHz. Therefore, 111000010 indicates that the RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information is the second 484-tone RU within the fourth 80 MHz.

[0250]

[0258] In yet another possible implementation, the partial bandwidth information subfield includes a resource unit start index and a resource unit end index, where the resource unit start index is used to indicate the first RU for which the station corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information, and the resource unit end index is used to indicate the last RU for which the station corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information.

[0251]

[0259] In this implementation, the resource unit start index and resource unit end index are compressed, and the granularity of the RUs indicated by the resource unit start index and resource unit end index is increased, for example, from 26-tone RUs to 2*26-tone RUs or 4*26-tone RUs.

[0252]

[0260] Specifically, the first RU indicated by the resource unit start index is the (k1*n+c1)th 26-tone RU, where c1 and k1 are positive integers and n is a natural number. The last RU indicated by the resource unit end index is the (k2*m+c2)th 26-tone RU, where c2 and k2 are positive integers and m is a natural number. The resource unit start index indicates the first RU by indicating n. The resource unit end index indicates the last RU by indicating m. k1≧2 and / or k2≧2.

[0253]

[0261] For example, in a particular embodiment, the bandwidth is 320 MHz, k1 is 2, and c1 is 1. The resource unit start index indicates the first, third, fifth, ..., (2n+1)th, or 147th 26-tone RU, where n≦73. In this case, the granularity of the first RU indicated by the resource unit start index is 2*26-tone RU. The resource unit start index indicates a total of 74 cases and requires 7 bits. k2 is 4 and c2 is 2. The resource unit end index indicates the second, sixth, ..., (4n+2)th, or 150th 26-tone RU. In this case, the granularity of the last RU indicated by the resource unit end index is 4*26-tone RU. The resource unit end index indicates a total of 37 cases and requires 6 bits, where n≦37.

[0254]

[0262] For the correspondence between resource unit start index and RU, see Table 10. For the correspondence between resource unit end index and RU, see Table 11.

[0255] Table 10

[0256]

number

[0257]

number

[0263] It can be understood that if the ordinal value of the RU indicated by the resource unit end index is greater than the ordinal value of the last RU corresponding to the bandwidth, the RU indicated by the resource unit end index is the last RU corresponding to the bandwidth. For example, in the above example, if the bandwidth is 320 MHz and the resource unit end index indicates the 150th 26-tone RU, the specified RU is actually the 148th 26-tone RU.

[0258]

[0264] The compression degree of the fractional bandwidth information subfield can be adjusted by adjusting the value of k1 or k2, or by adjusting the values ​​of both k1 and k2. A larger k1 indicates a larger compression degree of the fractional bandwidth information subfield, and a larger k2 also indicates a larger compression degree of the fractional bandwidth information subfield. A larger compression degree indicates that a smaller number of bits are required to represent the same fractional bandwidth information. In this way, the fractional bandwidth information subfield can indicate RUs that are within a larger bandwidth and require channel state information to be fed back.

[0259]

[0265] Optionally, if the bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz, the fractional bandwidth information subfield may indicate the fractional bandwidth information in the manner used in HE NDPA frames.

[0260]

[0266] It should be understood that the above-mentioned second station information field design solution may be implemented separately or in combination with any of the above-mentioned type information indication solutions.

[0261]

[0267] In the EHT NDPA frame specified by using the second station information field design solution, the number of octets in the station information field is 4, which is consistent with the number of octets in the station information field of the HE NDPA frame. The station information field of the EHT NDPA frame does not include the AID of the HE STA, the AID of the ranging STA, or the AID of the VHT STA, and the disambiguation subfield is set to another position that the HE STA, the ranging STA, or the VHT STA can consider to indicate the AID. In this way, the HE STA, the ranging STA, or the VHT STA can be prevented from misreading the EHT NDPA frame.

[0262]

[0268] The following describes a design solution for the Number of Columns subfield in the Station Information field, where the design solution is implemented when the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield in the NDPA frame is greater than 8. The Number of Columns subfield design solution is applicable when the Station Information field uses 6 octets, and also when the Station Information field uses 4 octets.

[0263]

[0269] Specifically, the number of bits in the column number subfield may be increased to indicate a larger number of columns.

[0264]

[0270] For example, if the number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided is in the range of 1 to 16, the column count subfield may use 4 bits. 4 = 16 cases can be indicated. The column count subfield can indicate the number of columns by using a column count index. See Table 12 for the correspondence between column count index and column count.

[0265] Table 12

[0266]

number

[0271] It should be understood that the correspondence between the column number index and the column number is not limited to the correspondence shown in Table 12. In another embodiment, the correspondence between the column number index and the column number can be flexibly set.

[0267]

[0272] The above-mentioned column number subfield design solutions may be implemented in combination with any of the above-mentioned station information field design solutions, or may be implemented separately.

[0268]

[0273] When the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz and the number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8, the design solution of the partial bandwidth information subfield in the station information field may be any of the above-mentioned station information field design solutions provided when the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz, and for the number of columns subfield design solution, reference may be made to the above-mentioned number of columns subfield design solution provided when the number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0269]

[0274] In an optional embodiment, if the bandwidth is less than or equal to 160 MHz, the partial bandwidth information subfield indicates the partial bandwidth information in the manner used in HE NDPA frames, whereas if the bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz, the partial bandwidth information subfield indicates the partial bandwidth information according to the resolution of the aforementioned indication of the partial bandwidth information subfield.

[0270]

[0275] In another optional embodiment, if the bandwidth is 160 MHz or less, or the maximum number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided is 8 or less, the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame can alternatively use the station information field design solution in any of the previous embodiments of this application.

[0271]

[0276] Furthermore, regardless of whether the bandwidth is greater than or equal to 160 MHz and whether the number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided is less than or equal to eight or more than eight, the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame uses a unified format. That is, the station information field in the EHT NDPA frame uses a unified format. In this way, the EHT STA can read the station information fields of all EHT NDPA frames by using the unified reading policy. Therefore, it is more convenient for the EHT STA to read the EHT NDPA frames.

[0272]

[0277] The present embodiment also provides another station information field design solution in which one station corresponds to two station information fields when the bandwidth is greater than 160 MHz. In other words, the NDPA frame includes two station information fields corresponding to the same station. The two station information fields include the AID of the same station. This solution may be implemented in combination with any of the above-mentioned type information indication solutions, or may be implemented separately.

[0273]

[0278] The method for indicating the partial bandwidth information of a station is as follows: the partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the first RU and the last RU for which the STA corresponding to the AID needs to feedback channel state information. It can be seen that in this solution, the partial bandwidth information subfield corresponding to the STA corresponding to the AID is divided into two parts, which are respectively transmitted in the two station information fields containing the AID.

[0274]

[0279] Thus, a station information field corresponding to the station can be newly added without changing the station information field originally included in the NDPA frame that corresponds to the station. The two station information fields cooperate to indicate partial bandwidth information, thereby realizing the indication of RUs in a wider bandwidth that require channel state information to be fed back.

[0275]

[0280] Furthermore, if the specified partial bandwidth belongs to the first 160 MHz of the bandwidth in ascending frequency order, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the EHT NDPA frame may use the setting method of the partial bandwidth information subfield in the HE NDPA frame. If the station's partial bandwidth belongs to the first 160 MHz of the bandwidth, the EHT NDPA frame includes two station information fields containing the station's AID. The two station information fields cooperate to indicate the partial bandwidth information. Therefore, the number of bits occupied by the station information field corresponding to each station can be increased as required, instead of blindly increasing the number of bits in the station information fields corresponding to all stations, thereby reducing overhead.

[0276]

[0281] 9 is a schematic diagram of another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment, a resource unit start index in one of two station information fields and a resource unit start index in the other station information field indicate the first RU that stations corresponding to the same AID need to feedback channel state information, and a resource unit end index in one station information field and a resource unit end index in the other station information field indicate the last RU that stations corresponding to the same AID need to feedback channel state information.

[0277]

[0282] For example, if the resource unit start index of one station information field is 7 bits and the resource unit start index of the other station information field is 1 bit, the 7-bit resource unit start index of one station information field and the 1-bit resource unit start index of the other station information field cooperate to indicate the first RU to which the STA corresponding to the same AID needs to feedback channel state information.

[0278]

[0283] It can be understood that the 7-bit resource unit start index in one station information field and the 1-bit resource unit start index in the other station information field together form a complete resource unit start index, and the 1-bit resource unit start index in the other station information field may be the most significant bit (MSB) of the complete resource unit start index, which may also be referred to as the highest bit.

[0279]

[0284] Similarly, a 1-bit resource unit end index in one station information field and a 1-bit resource unit end index in the other station information field together form a complete resource unit end index. The complete resource unit end index can indicate the last RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The 1-bit resource unit end index in the other station information field may be the most significant bit of the complete resource unit end index, which may also be referred to as the highest bit.

[0280]

[0285] Certainly, the number of bits of the resource unit start index and resource unit end index in the two station information fields is not limited to the above example, and may alternatively be other values.

[0281]

[0286] 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, in another embodiment, one of the two station information fields includes a resource unit start index but not a resource unit end index, and the other station information field includes a resource unit end index but not a resource unit start index. In this case, the resource unit start index in one station information field indicates the first RU for which the STA corresponding to the two station information fields requires channel state information feedback, and the resource unit end index in the other station information field indicates the last RU for which the STA corresponding to the two station information fields requires channel state information feedback. Thus, in a 320 MHz bandwidth scenario, both partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields use only 8 bits, thereby limiting the number of octets in the station information field to four or less and supporting the indication of RUs within 320 MHz that require channel state information feedback. In this way, the number of bits in the fractional bandwidth information subfield within each station information field is reduced, thereby increasing the number of bits in the column number subfield and indicating a larger number of columns.

[0282]

[0287] If the number of columns that needs to be specified is greater than 8, the method for indicating the number of columns may be as follows: a number of columns subfield in one of the two station information fields and a number of columns subfield in the other station information field indicate the number of columns for which stations corresponding to the same AID need to feed back channel state information. In a possible embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of columns subfield in one station information field uses 3 bits, and the number of columns subfield in the other station information field uses 1 bit. The number of columns subfield in one station information field and the number of columns subfield in the other station information field form a complete number of columns subfield. The complete number of columns subfield can accurately indicate the number of columns. The 1-bit number of columns subfield in the other station information field may be the most significant bit (MSB) or the highest bit of the complete number of columns subfield.

[0283]

[0288] It can be understood that the partial bandwidth information indicating method described above may be implemented in combination with the column number indicating method described above, or may be implemented separately, which is not limited in the present application.

[0284]

[0289] 11 is a schematic diagram of yet another NDPA frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, in yet another embodiment, one of the two station information fields includes a fractional bandwidth information subfield but does not include a column number subfield, and the other station information field includes a column number subfield but does not include a fractional bandwidth information subfield.

[0285]

[0290] Optionally, a station responds to two station information fields only if the frequency of the partial bandwidth for which the station needs to feedback channel state information is not within the first 160 MHz of the full bandwidth in ascending frequency order. The two station information fields contain the station's AID. That is, the AID contained in the two station information fields is the same. If the frequency of the partial bandwidth for which the station needs to feedback channel state information is within the first 160 MHz of the full bandwidth, the STA responds to only one station information field, thereby avoiding the increased overhead caused by adding excessive station information fields.

[0286]

[0291] The following describes in detail the relevant contents of the beamforming report fed back by the station.

[0287]

[0292] As shown in Table 13, the beamforming report includes category information, EHT action information, EHT Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) control information, a compressed beamforming report, and a multi-user exclusive beamforming report.

[0288] Table 13

[0289]

number

[0293] In some embodiments, the MIMO control field in the beamforming report is an EHT MIMO control field that carries EHT MIMO control information. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an EHT MIMO control field according to an embodiment of the present application. The EHT MIMO control field includes a Number of Columns subfield, a Number of Rows subfield, a Bandwidth (BW) subfield, a Number of Groups subfield, a Codebook Information subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a Remaining Feedback Segments subfield, a First Feedback Segment subfield, a Resource Unit Start Index, a Resource Unit End Index, a Sounding Dialogue Token subfield, a Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap Presence / Length subfield, and a Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap.

[0290]

[0294] The Number of Columns subfield is used to indicate the number of columns for which feedback needs to be provided. The Number of Rows subfield is used to indicate the number of rows for which feedback needs to be provided. The Channel Bandwidth subfield is used to indicate the bandwidth of the channel. The Number of Groups subfield is a group number bitmap and is used to indicate how subcarriers are grouped. Channel state information for subcarriers in the same group is fed back together. The Feedback Type subfield is used to indicate the type of feedback. The Remaining Feedback Segments subfield is used to indicate segments that have not yet been fed back. The First Feedback Segment subfield is used to indicate whether the segment is the first feedback segment. The Resource Unit Start Index is used to indicate the first RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information. The Resource Unit End Index is used to indicate the last RU for which the station needs to feedback channel state information.

[0291]

[0295] The Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield indicates whether a non-allowed subchannel bitmap is present; if so, the length of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap. For example, if the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield indicates 0, it may be understood as indicating that a non-allowed subchannel bitmap is not present.

[0292]

[0296] In one example, each bit in the non-allowed subchannel bitmap is used to indicate 20 MHz preamble puncturing information. For a description of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap in the EHT MIMO control field, see the related description of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap in the NDPA frame in the previous embodiment. In this way, the EHT MIMO control field in the beamforming report also includes the non-allowed subchannel bitmap. This can prevent the EHT MIMO control field from being misread. The resource unit start index and resource unit end index in the EHT MIMO control field may be compressed by using any of the previously described solutions for compressing the number of bits in the partial bandwidth information subfield.

[0293]

[0297] The Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield can indicate the length of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap by indicating the bandwidth or number of bits. For example, the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield may indicate a bandwidth of 320 MHz to indicate a length of the non-allowed subchannel bitmap of 16 bits; or the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield may indicate a bandwidth of 240 MHz to indicate a length of 12 bits; or the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield may indicate a bandwidth of 160 MHz to indicate a length of 8 bits. The Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield and the method of indicating the specified length are not limited to the above examples. In other embodiments, the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Present / Length subfield may indicate a different length or perform a different method of indication.

[0294]

[0298] In this way, a network device receiving the EHT MIMO control field can accurately receive the EHT MIMO control field based on the Non-Allowed Subchannel Bitmap Presence / Length subfield.

[0295]

[0299] In an optional embodiment, the aforementioned NDPA frame may be implemented using a trigger frame. In other words, the NDPA frame in step 502 may be a trigger frame. The trigger frame includes the content of the NDPA frame in any of the aforementioned embodiments provided herein.

[0296]

[0300] Specifically, see Figure 13. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a trigger frame. The trigger frame includes a trigger frame type field. The field indicates that the trigger frame is an NDPA trigger frame. The trigger frame further includes a bandwidth field, a sounding dialog token field, and an NDPA frame type field. The type information is carried in the NDPA frame type field and is used to indicate the NDPA frame variant.

[0297]

[0301] The design solutions for the relevant content in the station information field in any of the above-described embodiments are all applicable to the station information field of the trigger frame, and the details will not be described again here.

[0298]

[0302] The station information field in the trigger frame does not need to include the ambiguity resolution field. This is because NDPA frames are not transmitted using trigger frames in 802.11ax and its predecessors. Therefore, HE STAs and STAs (e.g., VHT STAs) that comply with standards that came before 802.11ax will not receive NDPA frames using trigger frames. A solution that transmits NDPA frames using trigger frames does not need to consider the problem of devices that comply with 802.11ax and its predecessors misreading the NDPA frames. Therefore, there is no need to set the ambiguity resolution field.

[0299]

[0303] Please refer to Figure 14 for further details. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the beamforming report feedback process. The NDPA frame is transmitted by using a trigger frame. A Bfee includes multiple stations (e.g., STA 1, STA 2, and STA 3 in Figure 14). The AP first transmits the NDPA frame in the form of a trigger frame, and then transmits the NDP after SIFS has elapsed.

[0300]

[0304] The trigger frame can trigger multiple stations to simultaneously perform uplink transmissions. For example, in Figure 14, STA 1, STA 2, and STA 3 simultaneously feedback beamforming reports, thereby improving the efficiency of channel sounding.

[0301]

[0305] The embodiment of the present application further provides another partial bandwidth information indication solution. The station information includes an RU index. The RU indication index indicates information about the bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back by indicating the RU corresponding to the partial or full bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back. The RU indication index may be understood as a partial bandwidth information field or a partial bandwidth information subfield.

[0302]

[0306] The minimum RU granularity indicated by the RU indication index is one 242-tone RU. In this way, it is unnecessary to indicate small RUs, which helps reduce the number of bits in the RU indication index and reduce indication overhead.

[0303]

[0307] The RU indication index indicates the size of the RU corresponding to the partial or full bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back, and indicates the frequency location of the RU in the full bandwidth.

[0304]

[0308] Specifically, for a 242-tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 20 MHz, and 16 different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different positions of the 242-tone RU within 320 MHz. For example, 16 different RU indices are used to indicate each of the corresponding 16 20 MHz segments of 320 MHz in ascending frequency order.

[0305]

[0309] For a 484-tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 40 MHz, and eight different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different locations of the 484-tone RU within 320 MHz. For example, eight different RU indices are used to indicate eight corresponding 40 MHz segments within 320 MHz in ascending frequency order.

[0306]

[0310] For a 242+484 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 60 MHz, and 16 different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different positions of the 242+484 tone RU within 320 MHz. For example, 320 MHz can be understood as the first 80 MHz, the second 80 MHz, the third 80 MHz, and the fourth 80 MHz in ascending frequency order. Four different RU designation indices may be used to indicate the location of a 242+484 tone RU in the first 80 MHz; another four different RU designation indices may be used to indicate the location of a 242+484 tone RU in the second 80 MHz; yet another four different RU designation indices may be used to indicate the location of a 242+484 tone RU in the third 80 MHz; and yet another four different RU designation indices may be used to indicate the location of a 242+484 tone RU in the fourth 80 MHz.

[0307]

[0311] For a 996-tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 80 MHz, and four different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different locations of the 996-tone RU within 320 MHz. For example, four different RU indices are used to indicate corresponding four 80 MHz segments within 320 MHz in ascending frequency order.

[0308]

[0312] For a 484+996 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 120 MHz, and four different RU designation indexes are used to indicate different positions of the 484+996 tone RU within 160 MHz at the lowest frequency of 160 MHz out of 320 MHz; another four different RU designation indexes are used to indicate different positions of the 484+996 tone RU within 160 MHz at the highest frequency of 160 MHz out of 320 MHz.

[0309]

[0313] For a 2*996-tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 160 MHz, and six different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different locations of the 2*996-tone RU within 320 MHz. Alternatively, the location of the 2*996-tone RU may be further specified. In a 320 MHz bandwidth, only a 2*996-tone RU at 160 MHz in the lowest frequency and a 2*996-tone RU at 160 MHz in the highest frequency are supported, corresponding to only two different RU designation indices.

[0310]

[0314] For a 3*996 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 240 MHz, and four different RU indices may be used to indicate different positions of the 3*996 tone RU within 320 MHz.

[0311]

[0315] For a 4*996 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 320 MHz. In this case, it can be understood as indicating the complete bandwidth, and one RU indication index can be used for indication.

[0312]

[0316] The RU indication index may use, for example, but is not limited to, 6 or 7 bits.

[0313]

[0317] It should be understood that the type of RU indicated by the RU indication index is not limited to the above example types, and the RU indication index may alternatively indicate another type of RU and the location of the RU within the bandwidth.

[0314]

[0318] For example, the RU designation index may use 6 bits. In an embodiment, the RU designation index may implement designation according to Table 14.

[0315] Table 14

[0316]

number

[0319] It should be understood that in Table 14, the correspondence between the RU indication index and the specified bandwidth / RU is arranged in ascending order of RU size. In another embodiment, the correspondence between the RU indication index and the specified bandwidth / RU is not limited to the correspondence in Table 14. The correspondence between the RU indication index and the specified bandwidth / RU may be adjusted and converted, provided that the corresponding bandwidth / RU can be obtained based on the RU indication index.

[0317]

[0320] Optionally, for an N*996 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is N*80 MHz, and 14 different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different positions of the N*996 tone RU within 320 MHz, where N=1, 2, or 3.

[0318]

[0321] Optionally, the RU designation index indicating the N*996-tone RU may include 4 bits used as a bitmap. Each of the 4 bits corresponds to one 80 MHz of the 320 MHz. For example, if the bitmap is 1100, it indicates that the 2*996-tone RUs are located in the first 80 MHz and the second 80 MHz of the 320 MHz; or, if the bitmap is 0010, it indicates that the 996-tone RUs are located in the third 80 MHz of the 320 MHz.

[0319]

[0322] Optionally, a 4-bit bitmap is the last 4 bits of the RU index.

[0320]

[0323] For a 4*996-tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 320 MHz. This can be understood as indicating the entire bandwidth, and one RU designation index can be used for designation. For example, according to the above-mentioned designation method of the RU designation index corresponding to an N*996-tone RU, the RU designation index indicating the 4*996-tone RU also includes a 4-bit bitmap. The bitmap is 1111, indicating that the 4*996-tone RU is located from the first 80 MHz to the fourth 80 MHz of the 320 MHz.

[0321]

[0324] As shown in Tables 14 to 21, the RU indication index indicating a 4*996 tone RU may be used to indicate a 4*996 tone RU or may be used to indicate the full bandwidth (complete bandwidth).

[0322]

[0325] For example, the RU indication index may use 6 bits. In an embodiment, the RU indication index may perform indication according to Table 15-1.

[0323] Table 15-1

[0324]

number

[0326] The specific correspondence between 100001-101110 and the designated N*996 tone RU may be as shown in Table 16. The last four bits of 100001 to 101110 specifically indicate the N*996 tone RU, and the last four bits implement the function of the bitmap.

[0325] Table 16

[0326]

number

[0327] When the bandwidth that the channel state information needs to be fed back is the full bandwidth, there are two indication solutions, which will be described separately below.

[0327]

[0328] One of the two indication solutions is as follows: if the bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is the full bandwidth, the RU indication index indicates the full bandwidth or the RU corresponding to the full bandwidth, regardless of the size of the bandwidth. For example, if the bandwidth is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz, the RU indication index indicates the full bandwidth or the RU corresponding to the full bandwidth (e.g., in Table 15-1, the RU indication index (e.g., 101111) is used to indicate the full bandwidth or a 4*996 tone RU).

[0328]

[0329] The other indication solution is as follows: when the bandwidth that requires channel state information to be fed back is the full bandwidth, the RU indication index (e.g., 101111 in Table 15-1) indicating a 4*996 tone RU is used for indication only when the bandwidth is equal to the full bandwidth, for example, when the bandwidth corresponding to the RU is 320 MHz, which is equal to the full bandwidth of 320 MHz, where the bandwidth that requires channel state information to be fed back is the full bandwidth.

[0329]

[0330] The bandwidth that requires the channel state information to be fed back is the full bandwidth, but if the bandwidth is smaller than the full bandwidth, the RU indication index of the RU corresponding to the bandwidth is used for indication.

[0331] When the bandwidth is 20 MHz, if the bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is the entire bandwidth, an RU indication index indicating the 242-tone RU in which the 20 MHz is located may be used for indication. For example, based on Table 15-1, one of 000000 to 001111 may be used for indication.

[0330]

[0332] When the bandwidth is 40 MHz, if the bandwidth for which channel state information needs to be fed back is the entire bandwidth, an RU indication index indicating the 484-tone RU in which 40 MHz is located may be used for indication. For example, based on Table 15-1, one of 010000 to 010111 may be used for indication.

[0331]

[0333] When the bandwidth is 80 MHz, if the bandwidth for which the channel state information needs to be fed back is the entire bandwidth, an RU indication index indicating the 996-tone RU in which 80 MHz is located may be used for indication. For example, based on Table 15-1, one of 100001 to 101110 may be used for indication.

[0332]

[0334] When the bandwidth is 160 MHz, if the bandwidth that requires channel state information to be fed back is the full bandwidth, an RU indication index indicating the 2*996 tone RU in which 160 MHz is located may be used for indication. For example, based on Table 15-1, one of 100001 to 101110 may be used for indication.

[0333]

[0335] Optionally, the rows in Table 15-1 where RU designation indexes 100001 to 101110 and 101111 are located may be replaced with the following Table 15-2.

[0334] Table 15-2

[0335]

number

[0336] The correspondence between the RU designation index and the specified bandwidth / RU in Table 15-1 may be adjusted and converted.

[0336]

[0337] Optionally, the RU indication index may alternatively use 7 bits, thereby supporting indication of more RU types.

[0338] Specifically, for a 2*996+484 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 200 MHz, and 12 different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different locations of the 2*996+484 tone RU in 320 MHz. Specifically, the lowest frequency 240 MHz of 320 MHz corresponds to six different RU designation indices, which indicate 2*996+484 tone RUs at different locations within the lowest frequency 240 MHz; and the highest frequency 240 MHz of 320 MHz corresponds to another six different RU designation indices.

[0337]

[0339] For a 3*996+484 tone RU, the corresponding bandwidth is 280 MHz, and 8 different RU designation indices may be used to indicate different positions of the 3*996+484 tone RU in 320 MHz.

[0338]

[0340] For example, the RU indication index may implement indication according to Table 17.

[0339] Table 17

[0340]

number

[0341] For example, in another possible implementation, the RU indication index may perform indication according to Table 18. In Table 18, the RU indication indexes other than the RU indication index indicating the N*996 tone RU are arranged in ascending order of RU size. The index indicating the N*996 tone RU includes a 4-bit bitmap.

[0341] Table 18

[0342]

number

[0343]

[0343] For example, the RU indication index may perform indication according to Table 19. The index indicating the N*996 tone RU includes a 4-bit bitmap.

[0344] Table 19

[0345]

number

[0344] The correspondence between the RU indication index and the specified bandwidth / RU in Table 19 may be adjusted and converted.

[0346]

[0345] For example, in another possible implementation, the RU indication index may perform indication according to Table 20. In Table 20, the RU indication indexes other than the RU indication index indicating the N*996 tone RU are arranged in ascending order of RU size. The index indicating the N*996 tone RU includes a 4-bit bitmap.

[0347] Table 20

[0348]

number

[0346] In an optional embodiment, the RU indication index uses 5 bits to indicate a single RU. In this way, the indication overhead can be further reduced.

[0349]

[0347] For example, the RU instruction index may perform instructions according to Table 21.

[0350] Table 21

[0351]

number

[0348] In the above-described embodiments provided herein, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application are described separately from the perspective of an access point and a station. To realize the functions in the methods provided in the above-described embodiments of the present application, the access point and the station include hardware structures and software modules, and can realize the above-described functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. The functions in the above-described functions may be performed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module.

[0352]

[0349] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 1501 and a transmission unit 1502.

[0353]

[0350] The processing unit 1501 is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the station. The station information field further includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame that require the station to feedback channel state information. The number of columns subfield indicates the number of columns in a compressed beamforming feedback matrix. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0354]

[0351] The transmission unit 1502 is configured to transmit an NDPA frame.

[0355]

[0352] Thus, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. In this case, the station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the number of columns indicated by the column count subfield is greater than 8. The station information field instructs the station to sound a channel with a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0356]

[0353] The transmission device 1500 may be a communication device or an access point, or may be located within the communication device or the access point. The processing unit 1501 of the transmission device 1500 may be a processor, and the transmission unit 1502 of the transmission device 1500 may be a transceiver.

[0357]

[0354] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NDPA frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 1500. The details will not be described again here.

[0358]

[0355] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 1601 and a transmission unit 1602.

[0359]

[0356] The processing unit 1601 is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes two station information fields. The two station information fields include AID subfields indicating association identifiers AIDs of the same station. The transmission unit 1602 is configured to transmit the NDPA frame.

[0360]

[0357] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The number of columns subfield in one station information field and the number of columns subfield in the other station information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0361]

[0358] In this way, a station information field corresponding to a station can be newly added without changing the station information field originally included in the NDPA frame and corresponding to the station. The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. The station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The column number subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate a column number greater than 8. The station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth with a column number greater than 8 and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0362]

[0359] The transmission device 1600 may be a communication device or an access point, or may be located within the communication device or the access point. The processing unit 1601 of the transmission device 1600 may be a processor, and the transmission unit 1602 of the transmission device 1600 may be a transceiver.

[0363]

[0360] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NAPD frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 1600. The details will not be described again here.

[0364]

[0361] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 1701 and a transmission unit 1702.

[0365]

[0362] The processing unit 1701 is configured to generate an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a specific station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The specific station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. Type information is carried in the frame type subfield and the frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0366]

[0363] The transmission unit 1702 is configured to transmit an NDPA frame.

[0367]

[0364] Thus, the Frame Type subfield and Frame Subtype subfield together indicate that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame also indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 8 columns and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, in this case, no new frame needs to be defined, and the remaining available types in the MAC frame are fully utilized, thereby saving resources.

[0368]

[0365] The transmission device 1700 may be a communication device or an access point, or may be located within the communication device or the access point. The processing unit 1701 of the transmission device 1700 may be a processor, and the transmission unit 1602 of the transmission device 1700 may be a transceiver.

[0369]

[0366] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NAPD frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 1700. The details will not be described again here.

[0370] 18 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 1801 and a receiving unit 1802.

[0371]

[0368] The receiving unit 1802 is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a station information field. The station information field includes an AID subfield indicating an association identifier AID of the station. The station information field further includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and / or a number of columns subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield indicates RUs within the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame that require the station to feedback channel state information. The number of columns subfield indicates the number of columns of a compressed beamforming feedback matrix. The bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz. The number of columns indicated by the number of columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0372]

[0369] The processing unit 1801 is configured to obtain the RUs whose channel state information needs to be fed back from the NDPA frame.

[0373]

[0370] Thus, the partial bandwidth information subfield in the NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information to be fed back. In this case, the station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the number of columns indicated by the column count subfield is greater than 8. In this case, the station information field instructs the station to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 8 columns and feed back a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0374]

[0371] The transmitting device may be a communication device or an access station, or the transmitting device may be located in a communication device or station. The processing unit 1801 of the transmitting device 1800 may be a processor, and the receiving unit 1802 of the transmitting device 1800 may be a transceiver.

[0375]

[0372] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NAPD frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 1800. The details will not be described again here.

[0376]

[0373] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 1901 and a receiving unit 1902.

[0377]

[0374] The receiving unit 1902 is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes at least two station information fields. The two station information fields include AID subfields indicating the same station association identifier AID.

[0378]

[0375] The two station information fields satisfy at least one of the following: The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields together indicate the RUs to which the station needs to feedback channel state information, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame is greater than 160 MHz; or The Number of Columns subfield in one of the two Station Information fields and the Number of Columns subfield in the other Station Information field indicate the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix, and the number of columns indicated by the Number of Columns subfield is greater than 8.

[0379]

[0376] The processing unit 1901 is configured to obtain, from the NDPA frame, the RUs for which channel state information needs to be fed back and / or the number of columns in the compressed beamforming feedback matrix.

[0380]

[0377] In this way, a station information field corresponding to a station can be newly added without changing the station information field originally included in the NDPA frame and corresponding to the station. The partial bandwidth information subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback. In this case, the station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz and feedback a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over a larger bandwidth and improving transmission efficiency. The column number subfields in the two station information fields cooperate to indicate a column number greater than 8. The station is instructed to sound a channel having a bandwidth with a column number greater than 8 and feedback a beamforming report based on the channel sounding results, thereby realizing data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency.

[0381]

[0378] The transmitting device may be a communication device or station, or the transmitting device may be located in a communication device or station. The processing unit 1901 of the transmitting device 1900 may be a processor, and the receiving unit 1902 of the transmitting device 1900 may be a transceiver.

[0382]

[0379] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NAPD frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 1900. The details will not be described again here.

[0383]

[0380] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application. The transmission device includes: a processing unit 2001 and a receiving unit 2002.

[0384]

[0381] The receiving unit 2002 is configured to receive an NDPA frame. The NDPA frame includes a sounding dialog token field, a specific station information field, and a station information field. The sounding dialog token field includes a frame type subfield. The specific station information field includes a frame subtype subfield. The frame type subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is not an HE NDPA frame or a ranging NDPA frame. The frame subtype subfield indicates that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0385]

[0382] The processing unit 2001 is configured to obtain a frame type subfield and a frame subtype subfield from the NDPA frame to determine that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0386]

[0383] Thus, the Frame Type subfield and Frame Subtype subfield together indicate that the NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame. The EHT NDPA frame indicates RUs in a bandwidth greater than 160 MHz that require channel state information feedback and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 160 MHz and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over larger bandwidths and improving transmission efficiency. The EHT NDPA frame also indicates a column count greater than 8 and instructs stations to sound channels with bandwidths greater than 8 columns and feedback beamforming reports based on the channel sounding results, thereby enabling data transmission over more streams and improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, in this case, no new frame needs to be defined, and the remaining available types in the MAC frame are fully utilized, thereby saving resources.

[0387]

[0384] The transmitting device may be a communication device or station, or the transmitting device may be located in a communication device or station. The processing unit 2001 of the transmitting device 2000 may be a processor, and the receiving unit 2002 of the transmitting device 2000 may be a transceiver.

[0388]

[0385] It should be understood that the relevant description of the NAPD frame transmission method above is also applicable to the transmission device 2000. The details will not be described again here.

[0389]

[0386] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, realizes the functions of any of the above-described method embodiments.

[0390]

[0387] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when executed by a computer, realizes the functions of any of the above-described method embodiments.

[0391]

[0388] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processor. The processor is configured to perform steps that can be performed by an access point in any of the aforementioned method embodiments, or to perform steps that can be performed by a station in any of the aforementioned method embodiments. In the processes of performing these methods, the processes of transmitting information and receiving information in the aforementioned methods can be understood as processes of outputting information by the processor and processes of receiving input information by the processor. Specifically, when outputting information, the processor outputs the information to the transceiver, and the transceiver then transmits the information. Furthermore, after the information is output by the processor, other processing may need to be performed on the information before it arrives at the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver receives the information and inputs the information to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives information, other processing may need to be performed on the information before it is input to the processor.

[0392]

[0389] In this case, unless otherwise stated, operations such as transmission, sending and receiving associated with a processor, or if the operations do not contradict the actual function or internal logic of the operations in the associated description, the operations can be understood more generally as operations such as output, reception and input of a processor, rather than operations such as transmission, sending and receiving performed directly by radio frequency circuits and antennas.

[0393]

[0390] In a particular implementation, the processor may be a processor specially configured to perform these methods, or a processor configured to execute computer instructions in memory to perform these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory may be a non-transitory memory such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated on the same chip or may be located separately on different chips. The type of memory and the manner in which the memory and the processor are located are not limited to embodiments of the present invention.

[0394]

[0391] Embodiments of the present application further provide a chip system. The chip system includes a processor and an interface and is configured to support a communication transmission device in implementing functions related to an access point or station in any of the aforementioned method embodiments, for example, in determining or processing at least one of the data and information in the aforementioned method. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store information and data required for the communication device. The chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component.

[0395]

[0392] According to an eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a functional entity, the functional entity being configured to implement the aforementioned NDPA frame transmission method.

[0396]

[0393] It should further be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and various numbers used in this specification are merely used to distinguish for ease of explanation and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the present application.

[0397]

[0394] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this specification describes only an association relationship for describing related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: only A is present, both A and B are present, and only B is present. Furthermore, the character " / " in this specification generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0398]

[0395] It should be understood that the sequential numbers of the above processes do not refer to the order of execution in various embodiments of the present application. The order of execution of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0399]

[0396] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps in the examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to go beyond the scope of the present application.

[0400]

[0397] For the purpose of ease of explanation, it can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that for the detailed operation processes of the aforementioned systems, devices, and units, please refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0401]

[0398] In some embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be realized in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into 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 system, or some features may be ignored or not implemented. Furthermore, the illustrated or described mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be realized through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be realized in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0402]

[0399] Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, and parts illustrated as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one place or distributed over multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions in the embodiments.

[0403]

[0400] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0404]

[0401] When a function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or a portion of the technical solution, may essentially be implemented in the form of a computer software product. The computer software product includes instructions stored in a storage medium for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0405]

[0402] The series of steps of the methods in the embodiments of the present application may be adjusted, combined, and deleted based on actual requirements.

[0406]

[0403] The modules in the device in the embodiments of the present application may be combined, divided, and deleted based on actual requirements.

[0407]

[0404] In conclusion, the above embodiments are merely intended to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and do not limit the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions for any technical features thereof may still be made without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. 1. A Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) frame transmission method comprising: generating an NDPA frame, the NDPA frame including a station information field, the station information field including an association identifier (AID) subfield indicating an AID of a station; the station information field further including a partial bandwidth information subfield; the partial bandwidth information subfield indicating RUs within a complete bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station requires channel state information feedback, the complete bandwidth being 320 MHz, and the RUs within the 320 MHz indicated by the partial bandwidth information subfield being 242+484 tone RUs, 484+996 tone RUs, 2*996 tone RUs, 3*996 tone RUs, or 4*996 tone RUs; and transmitting the NDPA frame; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RU is a 484+996-tone RU, and different RU designation indexes indicate different positions of the 484+996-tone RU in a 160 MHz bandwidth, and the 160 MHz bandwidth is the lowest 160 MHz of 320 MHz, or the 160 MHz bandwidth is the highest 160 MHz of the 320 MHz.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a 2*996-tone RU corresponds to a 160 MHz bandwidth, and the RU designation index is one of two different RU designation indexes, each indicating two 160 MHz segments in the 320 MHz bandwidth in ascending frequency order.

4. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RU is a 3*996-tone RU, the RU designation index is one of four different RU designation indexes, and the four different RU designation indexes indicate different positions of the 3*996-tone RU in 320 MHz.

5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fractional bandwidth information subfield is 9 bits.

6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the NDPA frame includes a sounding dialogue token field, and the sounding dialogue token field includes a frame type subfield that indicates that the NDPA frame is an extremely high throughput (EHT) NDPA frame.

7. 1. A Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) frame transmission method comprising: receiving an NDPA frame, the NDPA frame including a station information field, the station information field including an association identifier (AID) subfield indicating an AID of a station; the station information field further including a partial bandwidth information subfield; the partial bandwidth information subfield indicating RUs within a complete bandwidth corresponding to the NDPA frame for which the station requires channel state information feedback, the complete bandwidth being 320 MHz, and the RUs within the 320 MHz indicated by the partial bandwidth information subfield being 242+484 tone RUs, 484+996 tone RUs, 2*996 tone RUs, 3*996 tone RUs, or 4*996 tone RUs; and obtaining the RUs whose channel state information needs to be fed back from the NDPA frame; A method comprising:

8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the RU is a 484+996-tone RU, and different RU designation indexes indicate different positions of the 484+996-tone RU in a 160 MHz bandwidth, and the 160 MHz bandwidth is the lowest 160 MHz of 320 MHz, or the 160 MHz bandwidth is the highest 160 MHz of the 320 MHz.

9. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein a 2*996 tone RU corresponds to a 160 MHz bandwidth, and the RU designation index is one of two different RU designation indexes, each indicating two 160 MHz segments in the 320 MHz bandwidth in ascending frequency order.

10. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the RU is a 3*996-tone RU, the RU designation index is one of four different RU designation indexes, and the four different RU designation indexes indicate different positions of the 3*996-tone RU in 320 MHz.

11. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the fractional bandwidth information subfield is 9 bits.

12. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the NDPA frame includes a sounding dialogue token field, and the sounding dialogue token field includes a frame type subfield that indicates that the NDPA frame is an extremely high throughput (EHT) NDPA frame.

13. 13. A communications device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory configured to store instructions; and execution of the instructions by the processor enables the communications device to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. 13. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions that cause a communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A program, when executed on a computer, that enables the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images