Method for transmitting and receiving data in wireless communication system, and wireless communication terminal

Abstract

To efficiently signal uplink multi-user information.SOLUTION: In a wireless communication system, a terminal may receive a frame that triggers transmission of a TB PPDU (Trigger Based Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit) from an AP (access point), and transmit a TB PPDU in response to the frame. The trigger frame includes a common information field and a user information field for a terminal. The user information field includes a subfield used for identifying a resource unit allocated to a corresponding terminal. The common information field in the user information field and a corresponding user information field are used for identifying whether the type of the TB PPDU is HE (High Efficiency) type or EFT (Extremely High Throughput) type.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 34

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly to a wireless communication method and a wireless communication terminal for efficiently signaling uplink multi-user information in a wireless communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, as the popularity of mobile devices has increased, wireless LAN technology, which can provide them with high-speed wireless Internet services, has been gaining attention. Wireless LAN technology is a technology that uses short-range wireless communication technology to enable mobile devices such as smartphones, smart pads, laptop PCs, portable multimedia players, embedded devices, etc. to connect to the Internet wirelessly at home, in business, or in specific service areas.

[0003] Since supporting early wireless LAN technology using the 2.4 GHz frequency band, IEEE (Institute of Electronics Engineers) 802.11 has since implemented or is currently developing various other technology standards. IEEE 802.11b uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and supports a maximum communication speed of 11 Mbps. IEEE 802.11a, which was commercialized after IEEE 802.11b, uses the 5 GHz frequency band instead of the 2.4 GHz band, reducing the impact of interference compared to the significantly more congested 2.4 GHz frequency band, and uses OFDM technology to improve communication speeds to a maximum of 54 Mbps. However, IEEE 802.11a has the disadvantage of a shorter communication distance than IEEE 802.11b. IEEE 802.11g, like IEEE 802.11b, uses the 2.4GHz band to achieve a maximum transmission speed of 54Mbps and is backward compatible, which has attracted considerable attention, but it also has an advantage over IEEE 802.11a in terms of communication distance.

[0004] IEEE 802.11n is a technical standard established to overcome the communication speed limitations that have been identified as a weakness of wireless LANs. IEEE 802.11n aims to increase network speed and reliability and extend the operating distance of wireless networks. Specifically, IEEE 802.11n supports high throughput (HT) of up to 540 Mbps and is based on MIMO (Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs) technology, which uses multiple antennas on both the transmitting and receiving ends to minimize transmission errors and optimize data speed. This standard also uses a coding method that transmits multiple duplicate copies to increase data reliability.

[0005] As WLAN adoption continues to grow and applications become more diverse, the need for new WLAN systems is emerging to support data throughput rates (Very High Throughput, VHT) higher than those supported by IEEE 802.11n. Among these, IEEE 802.11ac supports wide bandwidth (80MHz-160MHz) in the 5GHz frequency band. While the IEEE 802.11ac standard is defined only in the 5GHz band, initial 802.11ac chipsets are expected to support operation in the 2.4GHz band as well for backward compatibility with existing 2.4GHz products. Theoretically, this standard enables multi-station WLAN speeds of at least 1Gbps and maximum single-link speeds of at least 500Mbps. This is achieved by expanding the air interface concepts adopted in 802.11n, including wider radio frequency bandwidth (up to 160MHz), more MIMO spatial streams (up to 8), multi-user MIMO, and denser modulation (up to 256QAM). Additionally, there is IEEE 802.11ad, a method of transmitting data using the 60GHz band instead of the conventional 24GHz / 5GHz. IEEE 802.11ad is a transmission standard that uses beamforming technology to provide speeds of up to 7Gbps, making it suitable for streaming large amounts of data and high-bitrate video, such as uncompressed HD video. However, the 60GHz frequency band has the disadvantage of being difficult to pass through obstacles and can only be used between devices in close proximity.

[0006] Meanwhile, the IEEE 802.11ax (High Efficiency WLAN, HEW) standard is being developed and is nearing completion as the successor to 802.11ac and 802.11ad in order to provide high-efficiency and high-performance WLAN communication technology in high-density environments where APs and terminals are densely packed. In an 802.11ax-based WLAN environment, high-frequency-efficient communication must be provided both indoors and outdoors in the presence of a high density of stations and APs (Access Points), and various technologies are being developed to achieve this.

[0007] Additionally, development of a new WLAN standard has begun to increase maximum transmission speeds to support new multimedia applications such as high-definition video and real-time gaming. IEEE 802.11be (Extremely High Throughput, EHT), the seventh generation WLAN standard, is currently being developed with the goal of supporting transmission rates of up to 30Gbps in the 2.4 / 5 / 6GHz bands through wider bandwidth, increased spatial streams, and multi-AP cooperation. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] As described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-high speed wireless LAN service for new multimedia applications.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for determining the format of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on a frame that instructs transmission of the PPDU.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for setting a different value for a length field included in a PPDU depending on the format of the PPDU indicated by an AP (Access Point).

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for allocating resources for transmitting PPDUs to legacy terminals and next-generation terminals using the same trigger frame.

[0012] The technical problems to be achieved in the specification are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In a wireless communication system, a terminal for transmitting a TB PPDU (Trigger Based Physical layer Protocol Data Unit), which is a response frame based on a trigger frame, includes a communication module and a processor that controls the communication module. The processor receives a frame from an AP (Access Point) instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU, the frame including a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals, the user information field including an AID12 subfield instructing a use of the user information field, and transmits the PPDU based on the AID12 subfield. If the PPDU instructed to be transmitted by the frame is an EHT (Extremely High Throughput) PPDU, a value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value, and the at least one specific value is an uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based random access of at least one terminal supporting High Efficiency (HE). It is used to allocate resources for user access (UORA).

[0014] In addition, in the present invention, the plurality of values ​​are used to identify a user information field for each terminal supporting EHT.

[0015] In addition, in the present invention, a first specific value of the at least one specific value is used for resource allocation for UORA operation of a terminal that is not associated with the AP.

[0016] In the present invention, the first specific value is "2045."

[0017] In addition, in the present invention, a second specific value is used for resource allocation for UORA operation of a terminal associated with the AP, and the second specific value is included in the at least one specific value if it does not satisfy a specific condition, and is included in the multiple values ​​if it satisfies the specific condition.

[0018] Also, in the present invention, the specific condition is when all terminals connected to the AP are unable to transmit the EHT PPDU and are not able to transmit the HE PPDU.

[0019] In the present invention, the second specific value is "0."

[0020] Also, in the present invention, the specific condition is when the frame is included in an EHT PPDU and transmitted.

[0021] In addition, in the present invention, the specific condition is when none of the terminals that are connected to the AP and that are unable to transmit the EHT PPDU but are able to transmit the HE PPDU support UORA operation.

[0022] The present invention also provides a method for allocating resources for uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFA) based random access (UORA) of at least one terminal supporting HE, the method comprising: receiving a frame from an AP instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU; the frame including a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals, the user information field including an AID12 subfield indicating a use of the user information field; and transmitting the PPDU based on the AID12 subfield; wherein if the PPDU instructed to be transmitted by the frame is an EHT PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value, and the at least one specific value is used to allocate resources for uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFA) based random access (UORA) of at least one terminal supporting HE. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently signal multilink information.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to instruct the transmission of PPDUs of different formats using one frame.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to use one frame to instruct the transmission of a legacy PPDU for backward compatibility.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to increase the overall resource utilization rate in a contention-based channel access system and improve the performance of a WLAN system.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, resources can be allocated to terminals of different generations using the same frame, thereby reducing signaling overhead and allocating resources efficiently.

[0028] The effects obtained from the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a wireless LAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a wireless LAN system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a station according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an access point according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a process in which a STA establishes a link with an AP. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) / CA (Collision Avoidance) method used in wireless LAN communication. [Figure 7] 1 shows examples of various standard generation PPDU (PLCP Protocol Data Unit) formats. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates various Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) formats and methods for indicating the same according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates a wireless LAN function according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates an uplink (UL) multi-user (MU) operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]1 illustrates a trigger frame format according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 illustrates a UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10 illustrates a UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 illustrates a method for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10 shows a trigger frame format for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 10 illustrates a trigger frame format for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 10 illustrates a method for determining a trigger frame format according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10 illustrates a method for setting a length field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] 10 illustrates a UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] 10 illustrates a UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] 1 illustrates UL Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based random access (UORA) operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] 10 illustrates a UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] A diagram showing a method for indicating a TB PPDU format according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a trigger frame format according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26]A diagram showing a trigger frame format and a method for indicating an RA-RU according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] A figure showing another example of a trigger frame format and a method for indicating an RA-RU according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example for indicating a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] 1 illustrates an example of a method for indicating uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access based random access (UORA) operation and TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] 10 illustrates another example of a method for indicating an uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access based random access (UORA) operation and a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 illustrates the configuration of a trigger frame according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] A diagram illustrating trigger frame configuration and UORA operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 illustrates UL MU operation using TRS according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a PPDU transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35] 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a frame transmission method for instructing a PPDU transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The terms used in this specification are generally used as widely as possible, taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, these may vary depending on the intentions of engineers in the relevant technical field, customs, or the emergence of new technologies. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may have arbitrarily selected terms, and in such cases, the meanings thereof will be described in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, it is made clear that the terms used in this specification should be interpreted not simply as names of terms, but based on the substantive meanings of the terms and the overall content of this specification.

[0031] Throughout this specification, when a component is referred to as being "connected" to another component, this includes not only when the component is "directly connected" to the other component, but also when the component is "electrically connected" to the other component via another component therebetween. Furthermore, when a component is referred to as "comprising" a specific component, this does not mean that the component excludes the other component, but that the component may further include the other component, unless otherwise specified. Additionally, limitations such as "greater than" or "less than" based on a specific critical value may be appropriately substituted with "exceeds" or "less than," respectively, depending on the embodiment. Hereinafter, in the present invention, the terms "field" and "subfield" may be used interchangeably.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a wireless LAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] A wireless LAN system includes one or more Basic Service Sets (BSSs), which are a set of devices that can synchronize and communicate with each other. Generally, BSSs are classified into infrastructure BSSs and independent BSSs (IBSSs), and Figure 1 shows an infrastructure BSS.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, infrastructure BSSs BSS1 and BSS2 include one or more stations STA1, STA2, STA3, STA4, and STA5, access points AP-1 and AP-2 that are stations providing distribution services, and a distribution system DS that connects multiple access points AP-1 and AP-2.

[0035] A station (STA) is any device that includes a medium access control (MAC) and a physical layer interface for a wireless medium according to the IEEE 802.11 standard. In a broad sense, the term "station" encompasses not only non-AP stations but also APs. In this specification, the term "terminal" refers to either a non-AP or an AP, or both. A station for wireless communication includes a processor and a communication unit, and may further include a user interface and a display unit, depending on the embodiment. The processor generates frames to be transmitted over a wireless network, processes frames received over the wireless network, and performs various other processes for controlling the station. The communication unit is functionally connected to the processor and transmits and receives frames over the wireless network for the station. In this specification, the term "terminal" encompasses user equipment (UE).

[0036] An access point (AP) is an entity that provides a connection to a distribution system (DS) via a wireless medium for associated stations. In an infrastructure BSS, communication between non-AP stations is generally performed via the AP. However, if a direct link is established, direct communication is also possible between non-AP stations. Meanwhile, in the present invention, the term AP is used as a concept including a personal BSS coordination point (PCP), but in a broader sense, it also includes concepts such as a central controller, a base station (BS), a node B, a base transceiver system (BTS), or a site controller. In the present invention, an AP is also referred to as a base wireless communication terminal, but in a broader sense, the term base wireless communication terminal is used as a term including an AP, a base station, an eNodeB (eNB), and a transmission point (TP). In addition, the base wireless communication terminal includes various types of wireless communication terminals that allocate communication medium resources and perform scheduling for communication with multiple wireless communication terminals.

[0037] A plurality of infrastructure BSSs are connected to each other via a distribution system DS, and the plurality of BSSs connected via the distribution system are called an Extended Service Set (ESS).

[0038] 2 is a diagram showing an independent BSS, which is a wireless LAN system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those in the embodiment of FIG. 1 will not be described again.

[0039] BSS3 shown in Figure 2 is an independent BSS and does not include an AP, so none of the stations (STA6, STA7) are connected to an AP. An independent BSS is not allowed to connect to a distribution system and forms a self-contained network. In an independent BSS, each station (STA6, STA7) is directly connected to each other.

[0040] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a station 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the station 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a processor 110, a communication unit 120, a user interface unit 140, a display unit 150, and a memory 160.

[0041] First, the communication unit 120 transmits and receives wireless signals such as WLAN packets and may be incorporated into or external to the station 100. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 120 may include at least one communication module using different frequency bands. For example, the communication unit 120 may include communication modules using different frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and 60 GHz. According to an embodiment, the station 100 may include a communication module using a frequency band above 7.125 GHz and a communication module using a frequency band below 7.125 GHz. Each communication module may perform wireless communication with an AP or an external station based on the WLAN standard of the frequency band supported by the communication module. The communication unit 120 may operate only one communication module at a time or multiple communication modules simultaneously, depending on the performance and requirements of the station 100. When the station 100 includes multiple communication modules, each communication module may be provided independently, or multiple modules may be integrated into a single chip. In the embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit 120 may represent a radio frequency (RF) communication module that processes RF signals.

[0042] Next, the user interface 140 includes various types of input / output means provided in the station 100. That is, the user interface unit 140 receives user input using various input means, and the processor 110 controls the station 100 based on the received user input. Also, the user interface unit 140 performs output based on instructions from the processor 110 using various output means.

[0043] The display unit 150 then outputs an image on a display screen. The display unit 150 outputs various display objects, such as a user interface, based on the contents or control commands of the processor 110. The memory 160 also stores control programs and various data used by the station 100. The control programs include a connection program required for the station 100 to connect to an AP or an external station.

[0044] The processor 110 of the present invention executes various commands or programs to process data within the station 100. The processor 110 also controls each unit of the station 100 and controls the transmission and reception of data between the units. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 110 executes a program for connection with an AP stored in the memory 160 and receives a communication setup message transmitted by the AP. The processor 110 also reads information about the station 100's preferences contained in the communication setup message and requests connection to the AP based on the information about the station 100's preferences. The processor 110 of the present invention may refer to a main control unit of the station 100, or, depending on the embodiment, may refer to a control unit for individually controlling some components of the station 100, such as the communication unit 120. That is, the processor 110 may be a modem that modulates and demodulates wireless signals transmitted and received by the communication unit 120, or a modulator and / or demodulator. The processor 110 controls various operations for transmitting and receiving wireless signals in the station 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A detailed embodiment of this will be described later.

[0045] The station 100 shown in FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the separate blocks indicate the logically separated elements of the device. Therefore, the above-described device elements may be mounted on a single chip or multiple chips depending on the device design. For example, the processor 110 and the communication unit 120 may be integrated into a single chip or may be mounted on separate chips. Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention, some components of the station 100, such as the user interface unit 140 and the display unit 150, may be selectively provided in the station 100.

[0046] 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an AP 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the AP 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a processor 210, a communication unit 220, and a memory 260. In FIG. 4, duplicated descriptions of parts of the configuration of the AP 200 that are the same as or correspond to the configuration of the station 100 in FIG. 3 will be omitted.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 4, the AP 200 according to the present invention includes a communication unit 220 for operating a BSS in at least one frequency band. As described above in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the communication unit 220 of the AP 200 may also include multiple communication modules using different frequency bands. That is, the AP 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include two or more communication modules using different frequency bands, for example, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and 60 GHz. Preferably, the AP 200 may include a communication module using a frequency band above 7.125 GHz and a communication module using a frequency band below 7.125 GHz. Each communication module may perform wireless communication with a station based on the WLAN standard of the frequency band supported by the communication module. The communication unit 220 may operate only one communication module at a time or multiple communication modules simultaneously, depending on the performance and requirements of the AP 200. In the embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit 220 may represent an RF (Radio Frequency) communication module that processes RF signals.

[0048] The memory 260 stores control programs used by the AP 200 and various data associated therewith. These control programs include a connection program that manages station connections. The processor 210 also controls each unit of the AP 200 and controls data transmission and reception between the units. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 210 executes a program for connecting with a station stored in the memory 260 and transmits a communication setup message to one or more stations. The communication setup message includes information regarding connection preferences for each station. The processor 210 also performs connection setup in response to a station connection request. According to an embodiment, the processor 210 is a modem or a modulator / demodulator that modulates and demodulates wireless signals transmitted and received by the communication unit 220. The processor 210 controls various operations for transmitting and receiving wireless signals by the AP 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A detailed embodiment of this will be described later.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process in which a STA establishes a link with an AP.

[0050] 5, a link between the STA 100 and the AP 200 is established through three steps: scanning, authentication, and association. First, the scanning step is a step in which the STA 100 acquires connection information for the BSS operated by the AP 200. There are two scanning methods: a passive scanning method in which the STA 100 acquires information using only a beacon message S101 periodically transmitted by the AP 200, and an active scanning method in which the STA 100 transmits a probe request to the AP S103, receives a probe response from the AP S105, and acquires connection information.

[0051] The STA 100 that successfully receives wireless connection information in the scanning step transmits an authentication request (S107a), receives an authentication response from the AP 200, and performs the authentication step (S107b). After the authentication step is performed, the STA 100 transmits an association request (S109a), receives an association response from the AP 200, and performs the association step (S109b). In this specification, association basically means wireless association, but the present invention is not limited to this, and association in a broad sense includes both wireless association and wired association.

[0052] Meanwhile, an 802.1X-based authentication step S111 and an IP address acquisition step S113 via DHCP are additionally performed. In Fig. 5, server 300 is a server that processes 802.1X-based authentication with STA 100, and may be physically connected to AP 200 or may exist as a separate server.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) / CA (Collision Avoidance) method used in wireless LAN communication.

[0054] A terminal performing WLAN communication performs carrier sensing to check whether a channel is occupied before transmitting data. If a wireless signal above a certain strength is detected, the channel is determined to be occupied, and the terminal delays access to the channel. This process is called Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), and the level that determines whether or not a signal is detected is called the CCA threshold. If a wireless signal above the CCA threshold is received by the terminal and the terminal is the receiver, the terminal processes the received wireless signal. On the other hand, if no wireless signal is detected from the channel or a wireless signal with a strength below the CCA threshold is detected, the channel is determined to be idle.

[0055] If the channel is determined to be idle, each terminal with data to transmit performs a backoff procedure after an IFS (Inter Frame Space), such as an AIFS (Arbitration IFS) or a PIFS (PCF IFS), depending on the status of each terminal. In some embodiments, the AIFS is used as a configuration replacing the conventional DIFS (DCF IFS). Each terminal waits while decreasing a slot time by a random number determined for the corresponding terminal during the idle interval of the channel, and a terminal that has exhausted all slot times attempts to access the corresponding channel. The period during which each terminal performs the backoff procedure is called a contention window period.

[0056] If a specific terminal successfully accesses the channel, it transmits data over the channel. However, if the terminal attempting access collides with another terminal, the colliding terminals are assigned new random numbers and perform a backoff procedure again. According to one embodiment, the new random numbers assigned to each terminal are determined within a range (2*CW) twice the range of the random numbers previously assigned to the terminal (contention window, CW). Meanwhile, each terminal attempts access by performing a backoff procedure again in the next contention window period. At this time, each terminal performs the backoff procedure from the slot time remaining in the previous contention window period. In this way, terminals communicating over a wireless LAN can avoid collisions with each other on a specific channel.

[0057] Hereinafter, in the present invention, a terminal may be referred to as a non-AP STA, an AP STA, an AP, an STA, a receiving device, or a transmitting device, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Also, in the present invention, an AP STA may be referred to as an AP.

[0058] <Examples of various PPDU formats> Figure 7 shows examples of various standard generation PPDU (PLCP Protocol Data Unit) formats. More specifically, Figure 7(a) shows an example of a legacy PPDU format based on 802.11a / g, Figure 7(b) shows an example of an HE PPDU format based on 802.11ax, and Figure 7(c) shows an example of a non-legacy PPDU (i.e., EHT PPDU) format based on 802.11be. Also, Figure 7(d) shows detailed field configurations of L-SIG and RL-SIG commonly used in the PPDU formats.

[0059] 7(a), the preamble of the legacy PPDU includes a Legacy Short Training field (L-STF), a Legacy Long Training field (L-LTF), and a Legacy Signal field (L-SIG). In an embodiment of the present invention, the L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG may be referred to as a legacy preamble.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 7(b), the preamble of the HE PPDU further includes a Repeated Legacy Short Training field (RL-SIG), a High Efficiency Signal A field (HE-SIG-A), a High Efficiency Signal B field (HE-SIG-B), a High Efficiency Short Training field (HE-STF), and a High Efficiency Long Training field (HE-LTF) in addition to the legacy preamble. In an embodiment of the present invention, the RL-SIG, HE-SIG-A, HE-SIG-B, HE-STF, and HE-LTF can be referred to as an HE preamble. The specific configuration of the HE preamble may vary depending on the HE PPDU format. For example, HE-SIG-B may be used only in the HE MU PPDU format.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 7(c), the preamble of the EHT PPDU further includes a Repeated Legacy Short Training field (RL-SIG), a Universal Signal field (U-SIG), an Extremely High Throughput Signal A field (EHT-SIG-A), an Extremely High Throughput Signal B field (EHT-SIG-A), an Extremely High Throughput Short Training field (EHT-STF), and an Extremely High Throughput Long Training field (EHT-LTF) in addition to the legacy preamble. In an embodiment of the present invention, the RL-SIG, EHT-SIG-A, EHT-SIG-B, EHT-STF, and EHT-LTF may be referred to as an EHT preamble. The specific configuration of the non-legacy preamble may vary depending on the EHT PPDU format. For example, EHT-SIG-A and EHT-SIG-B may be used only in some EHT PPDU formats.

[0062] The L-SIG field included in the PPDU preamble is configured with a total of 64 subcarriers using 64 FFT OFDM. Of these, 48 subcarriers, excluding guard subcarriers, DC subcarriers, and pilot subcarriers, are used for L-SIG data transmission. BPSK and Rate=1 / 2 MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) are applied to the L-SIG, so it can contain a total of 24 bits of information. Figure 7(d) shows the 24-bit information structure of the L-SIG.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 7(d), the L-SIG includes an L_RATE field and an L_LENGTH field. The L_RATE field is composed of 4 bits and indicates the MCS used for data transmission. Specifically, the L_RATE field indicates one of the transmission rates of 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, or 54 Mbps, which is a combination of a modulation scheme such as BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, or 64-QAM and a code rate such as 1 / 2, 2 / 3, or 3 / 4. The combined information in the L_RATE and L_LENGTH fields indicates the total length of the PPDU. In a non-legacy PPDU format, the L_RATE field is set to the minimum rate of 6 Mbps.

[0064] The unit of the L_LENGTH field is bytes, and a total of 12 bits are allocated, allowing a maximum of 4095 to be signaled. In combination with the L_RATE field, it can indicate the length of the corresponding PPDU. In this case, legacy and non-legacy terminals can interpret the L_LENGTH field in different ways.

[0065] First, a legacy or non-legacy terminal interprets the length of the corresponding PPDU using the L_LENGTH field as follows. When the value of the L_RATE field is set to indicate 6 Mbps, 3 bytes (i.e., 24 bits) may be transmitted during 4 us, which is one symbol duration of the 64FFT. Therefore, by adding the 3 bytes corresponding to the SVC field and Tail field to the L_LENGTH field value and dividing this by 3 bytes, which is the transmission amount of one symbol, the number of 64FFT reference symbols after the L-SIG is obtained. The obtained number of symbols is multiplied by 4 us, which is one symbol duration, and then 20 us, which is required to transmit the L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG, to obtain the length of the corresponding PPDU, i.e., the reception time (RXTIME). This can be expressed mathematically as shown in Equation 1 below.

[0066] [Formula 1]

number

number

[0067] [Formula 2]

number

[0068] [Formula 3]

number

[0069] Referring to Figure 7(e), the U-SIG (Universal SIG) field remains in the EHT PPDU and subsequent generation WLAN PPDUs, and serves to distinguish which generation of PPDU it is, including 11be. The U-SIG is two 64FFT-based OFDM symbols and can transmit a total of 52 bits of information. Of these, 43 bits excluding 9 bits of CRC / tail are roughly divided into a VI (Version Independent) field and a VD (Version Dependent) field.

[0070] The VI bit will maintain its current bit configuration, so even if a subsequent generation PPDU is defined, current 11be UEs can obtain information about the PPDU from the VI field of the PPDU. To this end, the VI field consists of the PHY version, UL / DL, BSS color, TXOP, and Reserved fields. The PHY version field is 3 bits long and serves to sequentially distinguish between 11be and subsequent generations of WLAN standards. 11be has a value of 000b. The UL / DL field identifies whether the PPDU is an uplink or downlink PPDU. The BSS color represents a BSS identifier defined in 11ax and has a value of 6 or more bits. The TXOP represents the transmit opportunity duration (Transmit Opportunity Duration) transmitted in the MAC header. By adding it to the PHY header, the length of the TXOP containing the PPDU can be inferred without decoding the MPDU, and has a value of 7 or more bits.

[0071] The VD field, which is signaling information useful only for 11be version PPDUs, may consist of fields commonly used in any PPDU format, such as the PPDU format and BW, as well as fields defined differently for each PPDU format. The PPDU format is a separator that distinguishes between EHT SU (Single User), EHT MU (Multiple User), EHT TB (Trigger-based), and EHT ER (Extended Range) PPDUs. The BW field broadly signals five basic PPDU BW options: 20, 40, 80, 160 (80 + 80), and 320 (160 + 160) MHz (BWs that can be expressed in the form of a power of 20 * 2 can be called basic BWs), as well as various remaining PPDU BWs formed by preamble puncturing. After signaling at 320 MHz, a portion of 80 MHz may be punctured. In addition, the punctured and modified channel shape may be signaled directly in the BW field, or may be signaled using both the BW field and a field that appears after the BW field (for example, a field in the EHT-SIG field). If the BW field is 3 bits, a total of 8 BW signalings are possible, so a maximum of 3 puncturing modes can be signaled. If the BW field is 4 bits, a total of 16 BW signalings are possible, so a maximum of 11 puncturing modes can be signaled.

[0072] The fields located after the BW field vary depending on the type and format of the PPDU. MU PPDUs and SU PPDUs may be signaled in the same PPDU format, and a field for distinguishing between MU PPDUs and SU PPDUs may be located before the EHT-SIG field, and additional signaling may be performed for this purpose. Both SU PPDUs and MU PPDUs include an EHT-SIG field, but some fields not required for the SU PPDU may be compressed. In this case, the information of the compressed fields may be omitted or may have a reduced size compared to the size of the original fields included in the MU PPDU. For example, the SU PPDU may have a different configuration, such as the common fields of the EHT-SIG being omitted or replaced, or the user-specific fields being replaced or reduced to one.

[0073] Alternatively, the SU PPDU may further include a compression field indicating whether or not it is compressed, and some fields (such as the RA field) may be omitted depending on the value of the compression field.

[0074] When a portion of the EHT-SIG field of the SU PPDU is compressed, the information included in the compressed field may be signaled together in an uncompressed field (e.g., a common field). In the case of an MU PPDU, since it is a PPDU format for simultaneous reception by multiple users, the EHT-SIG field must be transmitted after the U-SIG field, and the amount of information signaled may be variable. That is, since multiple MU PPDUs are transmitted to multiple STAs, each STA must recognize the location of the RU to which the MU PPDU is transmitted, the STA to which each RU is assigned, and whether the transmitted MU PPDU was sent to it. Therefore, the AP must transmit the above information in the EHT-SIG field. To this end, the U-SIG field signals information for efficiently transmitting the EHT-SIG field, which may be the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field and / or the MCS, which is the modulation method. The EHT-SIG field may include information on the size and location of the RU assigned to each user.

[0075] In the case of an SU PPDU, a STA may be assigned multiple RUs, and the multiple RUs may be contiguous or discontinuous. If the RUs assigned to the STA are not contiguous, the STA can efficiently receive the SU PPDU only by recognizing punctured RUs in between. Therefore, the AP can transmit the SU PPDU including information on punctured RUs among the RUs assigned to the STA (e.g., puncturing pattern of the RUs). That is, in the case of an SU PPDU, a puncturing mode field including information indicating whether a puncturing mode is applied and the puncturing pattern in a bitmap format, etc., may be included in the EHT-SIG field, and the puncturing mode field can signal the type of discontinuous channels appearing within the bandwidth.

[0076] The type of signaled discontinuous channel is limited, and indicates the BW and discontinuous channel information of the SU PPDU in combination with the value of the BW field. For example, since the SU PPDU is a PPDU transmitted only to a single UE, the STA can recognize its allocated bandwidth from the BW field included in the PPDU and can recognize punctured resources within the allocated bandwidth from the puncturing mode field of the U-SIG field or EHT-SIG field included in the PPDU. In this case, the UE can receive the PPDU in the remaining resource units excluding specific channels of the punctured resource units. In this case, multiple RUs allocated to the STA may be configured with different frequency bands or tones.

[0077] The reason why only limited discontinuous channel types are signaled is to reduce the signaling overhead of the SU PPDU. Since puncturing can be performed for each 20 MHz subchannel, if puncturing is performed on a BW having multiple 20 MHz subchannels, such as 80, 160, or 320 MHz, in the case of 320 MHz, the discontinuous channel type (when only the end 20 MHz is punctured and considered discontinuous) must be signaled by expressing whether or not each of the remaining 15 20 MHz subchannels excluding the primary channel is in use. Using 15 bits to signal the discontinuous channel type for single-user transmission can result in excessive signaling overhead when considering the low transmission rate of the signaling part.

[0078] This invention proposes a method for signaling the discontinuous channel type of the SU PPDU, shows the discontinuous channel type determined by the proposed method, and proposes a method for signaling the primary 160 MHz and secondary 160 MHz puncturing types in the 320 MHz BW configuration of the SU PPDU.

[0079] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention proposes a method of varying the PPDU configuration indicated by the preamble puncturing BW value according to the PPDU format signaled in the PPDU format field. Assuming the length of the BW field is 4 bits, in the case of an EHT SU PPDU or TB PPDU, an EHT-SIG-A symbol of one symbol may be further signaled after the U-SIG, or no EHT-SIG-A may be signaled at all. Taking this into consideration, up to 11 puncturing modes must be signaled using only the BW field of the U-SIG. However, in the case of an EHT MU PPDU, an EHT-SIG-B symbol is further signaled after the U-SIG, so up to 11 puncturing modes may be signaled in a different manner than in the SU PPDU. In the case of an EHT ER PPDU, the BW field can be set to 1 bit to signal whether the PPDU uses a 20 MHz or 10 MHz bandwidth.

[0080] Figure 7(f) shows the format-specific field configuration of the VD field when the PPDU format field of the U-SIG indicates an EHT MU PPDU. For an MU PPDU, SIG-B, a signaling field for simultaneous reception by multiple users, is required. SIG-B may be transmitted after the U-SIG without a separate SIG-A. For this purpose, the U-SIG must signal information for decoding SIG-B. These fields include the SIG-B MCS, SIG-B DCM, number of SIG-B symbols, SIG-B compression, and number of EHT-LTF symbols.

[0081] FIG. 8 illustrates various Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) formats and exemplary methods for indicating the same according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] 8, a PPDU may be configured with a preamble and a data portion, and the format of one type, EHT PPDU, may be distinguished by a U-SIG field included in the preamble. Specifically, whether the format of the PPDU is EHT PPDU may be indicated based on a PPDU format field included in the U-SIG field.

[0083] 8(a) shows an example of an EHT SU PPDU format for a single STA. The EHT SU PPDU is a PPDU used for single user (SU) transmission between an AP and a single STA, and an EHT-SIG-A field for additional signaling may be located after the U-SIG field.

[0084] 8(b) shows an example of an EHT trigger-based PPDU format, which is an EHT PPDU transmitted based on a trigger frame. The EHT trigger-based PPDU is an EHT PPDU transmitted based on a trigger frame and is an uplink PPDU used for responding to the trigger frame. Unlike the EHT SU PPDU, the EHT PPDU does not have an EHT-SIG-A field after the U-SIG field.

[0085] 8(c) shows an example of an EHT MU PPDU format, which is an EHT PPDU for multiple users. The EHT MU PPDU is a PPDU used to transmit a PPDU to one or more STAs. In the EHT MU PPDU format, an HE-SIG-B field may be located after the U-SIG field.

[0086] 8(d) shows an example of an EHT ER SU PPDU format used for single-user transmission with STAs in an extended range. The EHT ER SU PPDU may be used for single-user transmission with STAs in a wider range than the EHT SU PPDU described in FIG. 8(a), and the U-SIG field may be repeated on the time axis.

[0087] The EHT MU PPDU described in (c) of Figure 8 can be used by the AP for downlink transmission to multiple STAs. In this case, the EHT MU PPDU can include scheduling information so that multiple STAs can simultaneously receive the PPDU transmitted from the AP. The EHT MU PPDU can convey AID information of the receiver and / or sender of the transmitted PPDU to the STA through the user specific field of the EHT-SIG-B. Therefore, multiple terminals receiving the EHT MU PPDU can perform spatial reuse based on the AID information of the user specific field included in the preamble of the received PPDU.

[0088] Specifically, the resource unit allocation (RA) field of the HE-SIG-B field included in the HE MU PPDU may include information regarding the configuration of resource units (e.g., the division type of resource units) in a specific bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) on the frequency axis. That is, the RA field may indicate the configuration of resource units divided by the bandwidth for transmitting the HE MU PPDU so that the STA can receive the PPDU. Information about the STA allocated (or designated) to each divided resource unit may be included in a user specific field of the EHT-SIG-B and transmitted to the STA. That is, the user specific field may include one or more user fields corresponding to each divided resource unit.

[0089] For example, among the multiple divided resource units, the user field corresponding to at least one resource unit used for data transmission may include the AID of the receiver or sender, and the user field corresponding to the remaining resource units not used for data transmission may include a previously set null STA ID.

[0090] Two or more PPDUs shown in FIG. 8 can be indicated by a value indicating the same PPDU format. That is, two or more PPDUs can be indicated as the same PPDU format by the same value. For example, an EHT SU PPDU and an EHT MU PPDU can be indicated by the same value using the U-SIG PPDU format subfield. In this case, the EHT SU PPDU and the EHT MU PPDU can be distinguished depending on the number of STAs receiving the PPDU. For example, a PPDU received by only one STA may be identified as an EHT SU PPDU, and when the number of STAs is set so that two or more STAs can receive the PPDU, it may be identified as an EHT MU PPDU. In other words, two or more PPDU formats shown in FIG. 8 can be indicated using the same subfield value.

[0091] In addition, some of the fields or some information of the fields shown in Figure 8 may be omitted, and such a case where some of the fields or some information of the fields is omitted can be defined as a compression mode or a compressed mode.

[0092] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 9, the concept of a device to which one or more STAs are affiliated may be defined. As another example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a device to which more than one STA is affiliated (i.e., two or more) may be defined. In this case, the device may be a logical concept. Therefore, such a device to which one or more STAs are affiliated may be referred to as a multi-link device (MLD), a multi-band device, or a multi-link logical entity (MLLE).

[0094] Alternatively, the above conceptual device can be called a multi-link entity (MLE). Also, the MLD may have one MAC medium access control service access point (SAP) to the logical link control (LLC), and the MLD may have one MAC data service.

[0095] A STA included in an MLD can operate on one or more links or channels. That is, a STA included in an MLD can operate on multiple different channels. For example, a STA included in an MLD can operate using channels in different frequency bands, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. This allows MLD to obtain gains in channel access and improve overall network performance. While existing WLANs operate on a single link, MLD operation can use multiple links to obtain more channel access opportunities or allow STAs to operate efficiently on multiple links taking into account channel conditions.

[0096] Also, if the STA affiliated to the MLD is an AP, the MLD to which the AP is affiliated may be an AP MLD, whereas if the STA affiliated to the MLD is a non-AP STA, the MLD to which the non-AP is affiliated may be a non-AP MLD.

[0097] 9, an MLD including multiple STAs may exist, and the multiple STAs included in the MLD may operate on multiple links. In FIG. 9, an MLD including APs AP1, AP2, and AP3 may be referred to as an AP MLD, and an MLD including non-AP STAs non-AP STA1, non-AP STA2, and non-AP STA3 may be referred to as a non-AP MLD. STAs included in the MLD may operate on Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, or some of Links 1 to 3.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multi-link operation may include a multi-link setup operation. The multi-link setup operation may be an operation corresponding to the association performed in the single-link operation. To exchange frames over the multiple links, the multi-link setup may be preceded by the multi-link setup. The multi-link setup operation may be performed using a multi-link setup element. Here, the multi-link setup element may include capability information related to the multiple links. The capability information may include information related to whether a STA included in the MLD can receive a frame over one link while another STA included in the MLD can transmit a frame over another link. That is, the capability information may include information related to whether a STA (non-AP STA and / or AP (or AP STA)) can simultaneously transmit / receive frames in different transmission directions over the links included in the MLD. The capability information may also include information related to available links or operating channels. The multi-link setup may be established through negotiation between peer STAs, and the multi-link operation may be established over one link.

[0099] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a mapping relationship may exist between a TID and a link of an MLD. For example, when a TID and a link are mapped, the TID may be transmitted on the mapped link. The mapping between a TID and a link may be directional-based. For example, a mapping may be performed for each of the two directions between MLD1 and MLD2. Furthermore, a default setting may exist for the mapping between a TID and a link. For example, the mapping between a TID and a link may basically be such that all TIDs are mapped to a certain link.

[0100] FIG. 10 shows a wireless LAN function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 10 , a WLAN of a certain standard may include the functions of a WLAN of another standard. Or, when a WLAN of a certain standard is used, it may be a WLAN of another standard. Here, WLAN may refer to an STA. Furthermore, WLAN may refer to an MLD including an STA. For example, a WLAN standard may include the standard functions of a previous generation and additional functions. For example, an HT STA may be an OFDM PHY STA. An HT STA may also perform additional functions in addition to the functions of an OFDM PHY STA. For example, a VHT STA may be an HT STA. A VHT STA may also perform additional functions in addition to the functions of an HT STA. For example, an HE STA may be a VHT STA. An HE STA may also perform additional functions in addition to the functions of a VHT STA. An EHT STA may be an HE STA. An EHT STA may also perform additional functions in addition to the functions of an HE STA. There may also be standards subsequent to the EHT standard. In the present invention, the standard subsequent to the EHT standard can be called the NEXT standard, and the STA that complies with the NEXT standard can be called the NEXT STA. The NEXT STA may be an EHT STA. In addition, the NEXT STA can perform additional functions in addition to the functions of the EHT STA.

[0102] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between STAs of each standard. Referring to Figure 10, an EHT STA can be an HE STA, a VHT STA, an HT STA, or an OFDM PHY STA. Also, a NEXT STA can be an EHT STA, an HE STA, a VHT STA, an HT STA, or an OFDM PHY STA.

[0103] FIG. 11 illustrates an uplink (UL) multi-user (MU) operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 11, an AP can instruct at least one STA to transmit a PPDU using a specific frame (e.g., a triggering frame), and at least one STA can simultaneously transmit PPDUs of the same or different formats based on the specific frame transmitted from the AP.

[0105] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a frame soliciting or triggering a multi-user (MU) transmission may be transmitted, and one or more STAs may transmit or respond to such a frame based on the frame. In this case, when one or more STAs transmit a response to the frame, the one or more STAs may simultaneously respond immediately based on the frame, and the response to the frame may begin transmission SIFS after the end of the PPDU including the frame. For example, if the frame solicits an immediate response, one or more STAs may immediately transmit a response to the frame. A frame soliciting or triggering one or more STAs to transmit may be a trigger frame or a frame including information in its MAC header that solicits or triggers uplink transmission to one or more STAs. In this case, the frame may include information (e.g., a TRS control subfield) in its MAC header that triggers or instructs only one STA to transmit uplink. In this case, the frame includes information (for example, a TRS control subfield) in the MAC header that indicates whether to trigger uplink transmission to only one STA.

[0106] For example, the information indicating or triggering an uplink transmission included in the MAC header may be a triggered response scheduling (TRS) or TRS control subfield included in an HT control field, a control subfield, or an A-control subfield.

[0107] A frame for instructing or triggering uplink transmission may be transmitted by an AP. If the frame for instructing or triggering uplink transmission is a trigger frame, a response thereto may be transmitted in a trigger-based PPDU (TB PPDU) format. In this case, the TB PPDU may include the above-mentioned HE TB PPDU and EHT TB PPDU, as well as a NEXT TB PPDU that may be defined in a future standard.

[0108] The HE TB PPDU may consist of a preamble, data, and a packet extension (PE), and the preamble may include an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG, an RL-SIG, an HE-SIG-A, an HE-STF, and an HE-LTF in that order.

[0109] The EHT TB PPDU and NEXT TB PPDU may also be composed of a preamble, data, and PE, and the preambles of the EHT TB PPDU and NEXT TB PPDU may include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, (EHT- / NEXT-)STF, and (EHT- / NEXT-)LTF in sequence.

[0110] A frame that instructs or triggers one or more STAs to transmit a PPDU may include information required for one or more STAs to transmit a TB PPDU. For example, if a frame includes a type subfield of "01" (B3 B2) and a subtype subfield of "0010" (B7 B6 B5 B4), the frame including such type and subtype subfields may be a trigger frame, which is a control frame.

[0111] If multiple STAs are instructed or triggered to respond with a TB PPDU, and the formats of the PPDUs to which the multiple STAs respond are different, the AP that instructed or triggered the response may have difficulty receiving the response PPDUs transmitted from the multiple STAs. Alternatively, if the information contained in the preambles of the PPDUs to which the multiple STAs respond differs depending on the format, the AP that instructed or triggered the response may have difficulty receiving the response PPDUs transmitted from the multiple STAs.

[0112] Therefore, to solve this problem, when multiple STAs respond to a frame from an AP, the format of the responding PPDU and / or the type of information included in the preamble of the PPDU may be set to be the same. For example, when multiple STAs transmit HE TB PPDUs in response to a frame from an AP, the AP may transmit information such that the information included in the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, and HE-SIG-A is the same, or a convention may be established for the information included in the HE TB PPDU, so that the AP can successfully receive the preambles transmitted by the multiple STAs. However, if the HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, and NEXT TB PPDU are simultaneously transmitted in overlapping subbands, the TB PPDU formats may be different from each other, which may make it difficult for the AP to receive them.

[0113] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an HE STA can transmit an HE TB PPDU, an EHT STA can transmit either an EHT TB PPDU or an HE TB PPDU, and a NEXT STA can transmit either a NEXT TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, or an HE TB PPDU. This is because a STA of a certain standard may include functionality of a previous standard, as described in FIG. 10.

[0114] As shown in Figure 11, when an AP transmits a frame to schedule the transmission of a TB PPDU to an HE STA and an EHT STA, and uses the frame to instruct or trigger the transmission of a TB PPDU, there may be no precise instruction or protocol for the TB PPDU format. In this case, the HE STA transmits an HE TB PPDU in response to the frame, and the EHT STA may respond with an EHT TB PPDU or an HE TB PPDU. In this case, the AP may have difficulty receiving the TB PPDU transmitted by the STA. If the AP does not successfully receive TB PPDUs from multiple STAs, the medium may be occupied, reducing transmission opportunities for other STAs, even though the transmission was unsuccessful.

[0115] Hereinafter, in the present invention, instructing an STA can mean instructing a response from the STA, and the terms trigger and instruction may be used interchangeably.

[0116] Furthermore, the HE trigger frame, EHT trigger frame, and NEXT trigger frame may be trigger frames defined in the HE, EHT, and NEXT standards, respectively. Furthermore, in the present invention, the HE TRS, EHT TRS, and NEXT TRS may be TRSs defined in the HE, EHT, and NEXT standards, respectively.

[0117] FIG. 12 shows a trigger frame format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] (a) of Figure 12 shows the trigger frame format, and (b) and (c) of Figure 12 show the common info(information) field and the user info field, respectively, which are fields included in the trigger frame.

[0119] 12(a), as a trigger MAC header, a frame may include a Frame Control field, a Duration field, an Address field, a Common Information field, and a User Information List field. The Address field may include a Resource Allocation (RA) field and a Transmitter Address (TA) field.

[0120] The common information field can include information that is common to all STAs designated by the trigger frame. Figure 12(b) shows an example of the common information field.

[0121] The user information list field can include zero or more user information fields, and the user information list field of a trigger frame other than a specific type of trigger frame can include one or more user information fields. Figure 12(c) shows an example of a user information field.

[0122] The trigger frame may further include a padding field and a frame check sequence (FCS) field. The padding field may be used to increase the length of the frame to allow time for a STA receiving the trigger frame to prepare a response to the trigger frame, and may be optionally included in the trigger frame.

[0123] Referring to (b) of FIG. 12, the common information field may include a trigger type subfield. The trigger type subfield may be used to identify a trigger frame variant. Alternatively, the type of trigger frame may be indicated based on the value of the trigger frame subfield. Furthermore, the information and length included in the trigger dependent common information subfield and the trigger dependent user information subfield shown in FIG. 12 may be determined based on the trigger type subfield. For example, the trigger type subfield may be indicated by bits B0 to B3 of the common information field.

[0124] The common information field may include an Uplink (UL) length subfield. The UL length subfield may include information regarding the length of a TB PPDU, which is a response to the trigger frame, or may include information regarding the length of a frame responding to the trigger frame. In addition, the UL length subfield may indicate a value included in the length subfield of the L-SIG of the TB PPDU responding to the trigger frame. Therefore, a STA that receives a trigger frame and responds with a TB PPDU can set the value of the length subfield included in the L-SIG of the TB PPDU based on the value of the UL length subfield included in the received trigger frame. Specifically, a STA that responds with a TB PPDU can set the length subfield included in the L-SIG of the TB PPDU to the value of the UL length subfield included in the received trigger frame. For example, the STA can set the length subfield included in the L-SIG of the TB PPDU based on the value of bits B4 to B15 of the common information field, which indicate the UL length subfield, and transmit the TB PPDU.

[0125] The common information field may further include an uplink bandwidth subfield (UL Bandwidth (BW) subfield). The UL BW subfield may indicate a BW value included in a signaling field (e.g., HE-SIG-A or U-SIG) of a TB PPDU responding to the trigger frame, and may indicate the maximum BW of a TB PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame. Therefore, the STA may set the BW value included in the signaling field of the TB PPDU based on the value of the UL BW subfield included in the trigger frame.

[0126] In addition, the common information field may further include information included in the signaling field of the TB PPDU, which is a response to the trigger frame. Therefore, after receiving the trigger frame, the STA can set the information included in the TB PPDU based on the information included in the trigger frame.

[0127] Referring to (c) of FIG. 12, the user information field may include an AID12 subfield. The AID12 subfield may be used to indicate the intended recipient of the user information field including the AID12 subfield or the function of the user information field. Therefore, the AID12 subfield may also serve to indicate the intended recipient of the trigger frame including the AID12 subfield or the function of the trigger frame. For example, if the value of the AID12 subfield is a pre-configured value, the user information field may indicate a Random Access Resource Unit (RA-RU). That is, the pre-configured value of the AID12 subfield may indicate that the user information field indicates an RA-RU. Specifically, if the value of the AID12 subfield is '0', the user information field may indicate an RA-RU for associated STAs. For example, if the value of the AID12 subfield is "0", the user information field can indicate an RA-RU for associated STAs, and if the value of the AID12 subfield is "2045", the user information field can indicate an RA-RU for unassociated STAs. STAs corresponding to the STA ID (e.g., AID (association ID)) indicated by the value of the AID12 subfield may be instructed to respond by a user information field including the AID12 subfield or a trigger frame including the AID subfield. For example, the AID12 subfield can indicate the AID or 12 LSBs of the AID. STAs corresponding to the value indicated by the AID12 subfield can transmit a TB PPDU in response to the received trigger frame. In this case, the value of the AID12 subfield may be in the range of "1" to "2007" (including 1 and 2007), and if the AID12 subfield is a value that has already been set (e.g., "2046"), the RU corresponding to the already set value of the AID12 subfield may not be assigned to any STA.Also, if the AID subfield is a pre-set value (e.g., "4095"), the pre-set value may indicate the start of padding for the trigger frame.

[0128] Information in the user information field including the AID12 subfield may be information corresponding to the STA indicated by the AID12 subfield. For example, the Resource Unit (RU) Allocation subfield may indicate the size and location of the RU. In this case, the value of the RU Allocation subfield in the user information field including the AID12 subfield may be information corresponding to the STA indicated by the AID12 subfield. That is, the RU indicated by the RU Allocation subfield in the AID12 subfield may be the RU allocated to the STA indicated by the AID12 subfield.

[0129] The user information field may also indicate the coding method (UL FEC coding type), modulation method (UL HE-MCS, UL DCM), and power (UL Targer RSSI) for generating the TB PPDU to be transmitted in response to the trigger frame.

[0130] FIG. 13 illustrates UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0131] 13, when an AP instructs transmission of a PPDU using a trigger frame, the STAs can respond with PPDUs of different formats based on the trigger frame. The embodiment described in FIG. 13 may be a method for solving the problems described in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, and the above content will not be repeated.

[0132] Specifically, the EHT STA does not need to transmit an HE TB PPDU, does not need to perform HE UL MU operations, and can respond to a trigger frame or TRS (e.g., a PPDU including a TRS control subfield) in the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0133] An STA may transmit only a TB PPDU corresponding to the latest standard that the STA can support, and may not transmit a TB PPDU corresponding to an older standard. That is, a NEXT STA may transmit only a NEXT TB PPDU, and may not transmit an HE TB PPDU corresponding to an older standard. Also, a NEXT STA may perform a NEXT UL MU operation, but may not perform an HE UL MU operation. That is, an EHT STA may transmit only an EHT TB PPDU in response to an AP trigger frame, and may only perform an EHT UL MU operation.

[0134] Therefore, a STA responding to a trigger frame or TRS does not need to select the format of the TB PPDU to respond with, and this method has the advantage of simplifying the implementation of a STA responding to a trigger frame or TRS.

[0135] Furthermore, a STA that transmits a trigger frame or TRS to instruct the transmission of a TB PPDU may also need to schedule the transmission of different TB PPDUs so that they do not overlap. That is, a STA that transmits a trigger frame or TRS may not instruct a STA responding to the trigger frame or TRS as an HE STA, an EHT STA, and / or a NEXT STA. Or, a STA that transmits a trigger frame or TRS may not instruct a STA responding to the trigger frame or TRS as an HE STA, an EHT STA, and / or a NEXT STA using a single PPDU. Or, a HE trigger frame (or TRS), an EHT trigger frame (or TRS), and a NEXT trigger frame (or TRS) may not be included in a single PPDU, or a single trigger frame may not instruct a HE STA, an EHT STA, or a NEXT STA. Or, a HE trigger frame may not instruct a EHT STA or a NEXT STA. However, there may be an exception when indicating a combined PPDU (a PPDU in which multiple PPDUs exist in the form of frequency domain division). In the present invention, the HE STA may refer to an HE STA that is not an EHT STA but is not a NEXT STA. Also, the EHT STA may refer to an EHT STA that is not a NEXT STA.

[0136] Referring to Figure 13, the AP can transmit a trigger frame instructing only HE STAs. STAs receiving the trigger frame are HE STAs and can respond with an HE TB PPDU. The AP can transmit a trigger frame instructing only EHT STAs. STAs receiving the trigger frame instructing only EHT STAs are EHT STAs and can respond with an EHT TB PPDU.

[0137] That is, in the embodiment of Figure 13, the problems described in Figures 10 and 11 can be solved by restricting the TB PPDU format of the STA that responds to the trigger frame or TRS and scheduling the trigger frame or TRS accordingly.

[0138] FIG. 14 illustrates UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] Referring to FIG. 14, an Access Point (AP) can transmit one trigger frame to instruct one or more non-AP STAs to transmit PPDUs of different formats.

[0140] Specifically, the method described in Figure 14 may be a method for solving the problems described in Figures 10 and 11, and may be an exceptional case of the method described in Figure 13. The method of Figure 14 may be an exceptional case of the method of transmitting a trigger frame or TRS, which is the method described in Figure 13. The above content may be equally applied to this method, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0141] When instructing an aggregated PPDU, the AP can instruct all of the HE STAs, EHT STAs, and / or NEXT STAs to transmit PPDUs. In this case, the HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, and / or NEXT TB PPDU transmitted in response may be scheduled so as not to overlap in the frequency domain. Alternatively, the 20 MHz subchannel including the RU, which is the resource unit of the HE TB PPDU, and the 20 MHz subchannel including the RU of the EHT TB PPDU may be allocated so as not to overlap with each other.

[0142] If the combined PPDU includes an HE PPDU, the HE PPDU must be present in an area including the primary channel, but if the combined PPDU is a TB PPDU, the HE PPDU may be present in an area not including the primary channel.

[0143] 14, in response to one trigger frame, multiple STAs may transmit an HE TB PPDU and an EHT TB PPDU. At this time, the HE TB PPDU and the EHT TB PPDU may be transmitted in non-overlapping RUs. That is, one trigger frame may instruct multiple STAs to transmit TB PPDUs of different formats, and the RUs for transmitting the TB PPDUs of different formats may not overlap. Therefore, multiple STAs can transmit PPDUs of different formats (e.g., HE TB PPDU and EHT TB PPDU) using different RUs on the frequency axis based on the transmitted trigger frame.

[0144] FIG. 15 illustrates a method for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0145] Referring to FIG. 15, one STA can selectively transmit PPDUs of different formats based on instructions from a triggering frame instructing transmission of the PPDU.

[0146] Specifically, an EHT STA can selectively transmit not only a legacy PPDU (e.g., an HE TB PPDU) but also an EHT TB PPDU, and a NEXT STA can selectively transmit an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, and / or a NEXT TB PPDU. In this case, STAs to which multiple standards are applied can be individually scheduled using one frame or one PPDU. This method can be advantageous because STAs to which multiple standards are applied share common resources in a WLAN. For example, an HE STA (an HE STA that is not an EHT STA) can respond with an HE TB PPDU using one frame. That is, a non-AP STA can transmit a triggering frame to instruct EHT STAs as well as HE STAs to transmit an HE TB PPDU.

[0147] In addition, information for selecting the TB PPDU format may be included in a trigger frame, which is a triggering frame, a PPDU including the TRS, or a PPDU including a TRS control subfield. That is, the AP STA includes information for selecting the TB PPDU format in a triggering frame and transmits it to at least one non-AP STA, and the non-AP STA can select the format of a responding PPDU based on the information included in the transmitted triggering frame. Then, the at least one non-AP STA can transmit a PPDU to the AP based on the selected format.

[0148] Information on the format of the PPDU (TB PPDU format) which is a response to such a triggering frame may exist at the MAC level, and a trigger frame, which is one of the triggering frames, may be classified into an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, and a NEXT trigger frame, and responses to each trigger frame may be classified into an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, and a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0149] Furthermore, classifying trigger frames into HE trigger frames, EHT trigger frames, and NEXT trigger frames may be equivalent to classifying the TB PPDU formats, which are responses to trigger frames, into HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, and NEXT TB PPDU, respectively.

[0150] Whether the format of a trigger frame for distinguishing the format of a TB PPDU is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame may be identified based on a Frame Control field included in the MAC header. Specifically, the format of the trigger frame may be identified based on a Type subfield, a Subtype subfield, and / or a Control Frame Extension subfield. Furthermore, if the values ​​of the Type subfield, the Subtype subfield, and / or the Control Frame Extension subfield are pre-set values, the trigger frame may be identified as an HE trigger frame. If the values ​​of the Type subfield, the Subtype subfield, and / or the Control Frame Extension subfield are pre-set values, the trigger frame may be identified as an EHT trigger frame. Furthermore, if the values ​​of the Type subfield, the Subtype subfield, and / or the Control Frame Extension subfield are pre-set values, the trigger frame may be identified as a NEXT trigger frame.

[0151] For example, if the Type subfield is 01 (B3 B2) and the Subtype subfield is 0010 (B7 B6 B5 B4), the format of the frame including the Type subfield and the Subtype subfield may be an HE trigger frame. In this case, it may be necessary to further use the entries of the Type subfield (2 bits), the Subtype subfield (4 bits), and / or the Control Frame Extension subfield (4 bits), which are assigned limited numbers of bits, in the EHT standard and the NEXT standard.

[0152] Alternatively, whether the format of the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame or an EHT trigger frame may be identified based on the common information field included in the trigger frame. That is, the format of the PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame may be determined based on the value of a specific subfield (first subfield) included in the common information field. For example, a non-AP STA may select an HE TB PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU based on the value of the common information field and transmit it in the assigned RU. In this case, in addition to the common information field, a specific subfield (second subfield) of the user information field may also be used to identify the format of the PPDU.

[0153] That is, a variant for determining the format of a PPDU that is a response to the trigger frame may be determined based on the common information field of the trigger frame, and the format of the PPDU may be determined based on the determined variant. For example, if the variant for determining the format of the PPDU is determined to be the HE variant based on the common information field, the non-AP STA may respond with an HE TB PPDU, and if the variant for determining the format of the PPDU is determined to be the EHT variant based on the common information field, the non-AP STA may respond with an EHT TB PPDU.

[0154] In this case, the variant for determining the format of the PPDU may further use the user information field in addition to the common information field.

[0155] For example, a trigger frame may be distinguished as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on the trigger type subfield. For example, if the trigger type subfield value is a previously set value, the trigger frame may be an HE trigger frame. Alternatively, if the trigger type subfield value is a previously set value, the trigger frame may be an EHT trigger frame. Alternatively, if the trigger type subfield value is a previously set value, the trigger frame may be a NEXT trigger frame.

[0156] For example, if the trigger type subfield value is 0 to 7, it is an HE trigger frame, and if it is not 0 to 7, it may be an EHT trigger frame or a NEXT trigger frame. The trigger type subfield indicates various trigger frame types, but in this case, there may be a disadvantage that a limited trigger type subfield space must be used.

[0157] According to still another embodiment, the trigger frame may be distinguished as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on the UL length subfield of the trigger frame. For example, the trigger frame may be distinguished as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on a value obtained by modulating the UL length subfield value. That is, the value of the UL length subfield may be used to determine whether the format of the PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame is an HE PPDU or an EHT PPDU.

[0158] More specifically, whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame can be determined based on the value obtained by modulating the UL length subfield value modulo (remainder) 3 (the remainder when the UL length subfield is divided by 3). For example, if the result of modulating the UL length subfield value modulo 3 is not 0, the trigger frame may be an HE trigger frame. Alternatively, if the result of modulating the UL length subfield value modulo 3 is 1, the trigger frame may be an HE trigger frame. Alternatively, if the result of modulating the UL length subfield value modulo 3 is 0, the trigger frame may be an EHT trigger frame or a NEXT trigger frame.

[0159] In other words, if the value modulo 3 of the UL length subfield of the trigger frame is not 0, the response to the trigger frame is transmitted in the HE TB PPDU, and if the value modulo 3 of the UL length subfield is 1, the response to the trigger frame is transmitted in the HE TB PPDU.

[0160] Furthermore, when the value modulo 3 of the UL length subfield of the trigger frame is 0, the format of the PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame may be EHT TB PPDU.

[0161] In addition to the above method, it is also possible to distinguish between HE trigger frames, EHT trigger frames, and NEXT trigger frames using an additional trigger frame distinction method. For example, it is possible to distinguish between HE trigger frames, EHT trigger frames, and NEXT trigger frames by using the distinction method described in FIG. 16 together.

[0162] According to one embodiment, it is possible to distinguish whether the format of the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on the User Info field of the trigger frame.

[0163] That is, similar to the above-described common information field, whether the format of the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame or an EHT trigger frame may be identified based on the user information field included in the trigger frame. That is, the format of the PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame may be determined based on the value of a specific subfield (second subfield) included in the user information field. For example, depending on the value of the user information field, a non-AP STA may select an HE TB PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU and transmit it in the assigned RU. In this case, in addition to the user information field, a specific subfield (first subfield) of the common information field may also be used to identify the format of the PPDU.

[0164] That is, a variant for determining the format of a PPDU that is a response to the trigger frame may be determined based on the user information field of the trigger frame, and the format of the PPDU may be determined based on the determined variant. For example, if the user information field determines that the variant for determining the PPDU format is the HE variant, the non-AP STA may respond with an HE TB PPDU, and if the user information field determines that the variant for determining the PPDU format is the EHT variant, the non-AP STA may respond with an EHT TB PPDU.

[0165] In this case, the variant for determining the format of the PPDU may further include a common information field in addition to the user information field.

[0166] For example, a frame may be distinguished as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on the AID12 subfield. According to one embodiment, a frame may be distinguished as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame based on whether or not it includes an AID12 subfield with a preset value. In this case, a problem may arise as to whether a STA indicated by a certain user information field should continue to check the AID12 subfield present after the user information field to determine the trigger frame format. To solve this problem, a user information field including an AID12 subfield indicating the type of trigger frame may be present before the user information list. In addition, to prevent HE STAs that cannot understand this signaling method from malfunctioning, a user information field including an AID12 subfield indicating the type of trigger frame may be present after the user information field corresponding to the HE STA.

[0167] In addition, information on subfields other than the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is not necessary for the TB PPDU response, and subfields of the user information field including the AID12 subfield, which indicate the type of trigger frame, may be omitted. That is, the length of the user information field may vary depending on the AID12 subfield. Referring to FIG. 15, the AID12 subfield may serve to indicate the format of the TB PPDU to be responded to. For example, if the AID12 subfield is a pre-set value, the response to the trigger frame including the AID12 subfield set to the pre-set value may be an EHT TB PPDU. For example, if the AID12 subfield value is 2047, the response to the trigger frame including the AID12 subfield may be an EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, if the AID12 subfield is a pre-set value, the response to the trigger frame including the AID12 subfield set to the pre-set value may be a NEXT TB PPDU. For example, if the AID12 subfield value is 2048, the response to a trigger frame containing the AID12 subfield may be a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0168] According to another embodiment, when responding based on a user information field located at a pre-set position from the AID12 subfield of a pre-set value, the response can be made in a TB PPDU format corresponding to the pre-set value. For example, when responding based on a user information field located after the AID12 subfield of a pre-set value, the response can be made in a TB PPDU format corresponding to the pre-set value. If there are multiple values ​​indicating a TB PPDU format, when responding based on a user information field located after both the pre-set value 1 and the pre-set value 2, the response can be made in a TB PPDU format according to the pre-set priority between the TB PPDU format corresponding to the pre-set value 1 and the TB PPDU format corresponding to the pre-set value 2. Referring to FIG. 15, when responding based on a user information field located after the AID12 subfield set to 2047, the response can be made in an EHT TB PPDU. Also, when responding based on a user information field located after the AID12 subfield set to 2048, the response can be made in a NEXT TB PPDU. Furthermore, when responding based on a user information field that exists after both the AID12 subfield set to 2047 and the AID12 subfield set to 2048, the NEXT TB PPDU can be used to respond. When responding based on a user information field that exists before both the AID12 subfield set to 2047 and the AID12 subfield set to 2048, the HE TB PPDU can be used to respond.

[0169] In this embodiment, an example is given in which the AID12 subfield indicates the type of trigger frame, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to indicate the type of trigger frame using other subfields of the user information field.

[0170] According to one embodiment, whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame may be determined based on the padding field of the trigger frame. For example, whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame can be determined based on whether the padding field includes a pre-defined value indicating whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame.

[0171] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, and a NEXT trigger frame by combining a plurality of trigger frame distinction methods described in the present invention. Furthermore, the description of the trigger frame in the present invention is not limited thereto and can also be applied to a TRS.

[0172] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the AP may not use a triggering frame to instruct transmission of both the EHT PPDU and the HE PPDU, i.e., the EHT AP may not transmit a trigger frame instructing both the HE TB PPDU and the EHT TB PPDU, but may instead instruct only one PPDU format.

[0173] FIG. 16 shows a trigger frame format for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0174] Referring to FIG. 16, the trigger frame may include information indicating the format of the trigger frame and the format of the PPDU to be sent in response to the trigger frame, and the content and length included in the trigger frame may vary depending on the indicated PPDU format.

[0175] Specifically, the trigger frame may include information indicating the format of the trigger frame, i.e., whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT trigger frame, and therefore may include information for determining the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame.

[0176] Furthermore, the content and length of the trigger frame may vary depending on the information indicating the format, and the trigger frame may include information indicating whether an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, or a NEXT TB PPDU should be transmitted in response to the trigger frame. For example, the information indicating the format of the trigger frame or the information indicating the TB PPDU format in response to the trigger frame may be included in a format identifier subfield.

[0177] Therefore, the format of the trigger frame can be determined based on the format identifier subfield. Also, the format of the TB PPDU to be responded to can be determined based on the format identifier subfield. That is, it is possible to respond with a standard TB PPDU corresponding to the value indicated by the format identifier subfield. According to one embodiment, the format identifier subfield may be 3 bits long. Also, the format identifier subfield may be located after B16 of the common information field.

[0178] For example, the format identifier subfield may be located next to the UL length subfield. Furthermore, since the trigger frame described in FIG. 12 has a format that can be understood by HE STAs, the format identifier subfield may be located in a trigger frame that conforms to the EHT standard or later. That is, when a trigger frame includes a format identifier subfield, the trigger frame may be an EHT trigger frame or a NEXT trigger frame. Alternatively, when a trigger frame includes a format identifier subfield, a TB PPDU responding to the trigger frame may be an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU. In this case, the values ​​that the format identifier subfield can indicate may conform to the EHT standard or later.

[0179] According to one embodiment, the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be based on the PPDU indicating the TB PPDU. According to one embodiment, the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be based on the trigger frame indicating the TB PPDU. More specifically, the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be based on the format identifier subfield included in the trigger frame indicating the TB PPDU.

[0180] For example, the PHY version identifier of the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be based on the format identifier subfield included in the trigger frame that indicated the TB PPDU. The PHY version identifier indicates the PHY version of the PPDU transmitted by a non-AP STA or an AP. For example, if the value of the PHY version identifier is set to '0', this means that the corresponding PPDU is an EHT PPDU whose PHY version is EHT.

[0181] The PHY version identifier may be used to identify whether the format of the PPDU is an EHT PPDU and may be set based on the format identifier included in the trigger frame. For example, a non-AP STA may set the value of the PHY version field included in the PPDU to be the same as the value of the format identifier included in the trigger frame. Therefore, a non-AP STA can determine whether the format of the PPDU to be transmitted is an EHT TB PPDU based on the value of the format identifier included in the trigger frame.

[0182] For example, the PHY version identifier value of the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be set to the same value as the format identifier subfield included in the trigger frame indicating the TB PPDU. Alternatively, if the standard ranges indicated by the PHY version identifier subfield of the U-SIG field and the format identifier subfield of the trigger frame are different, the PHY version identifier value of the U-SIG field included in the TB PPDU may be set to a value obtained by adding / subtracting a previously set value to / from the format identifier subfield value included in the trigger frame indicating the TB PPDU.

[0183] The PHY version identifier subfield of the U-SIG field may be the PHY version field described above. The PHY version identifier subfield of the U-SIG field may also serve to indicate the format of the U-SIG field. The PHY version identifier subfield of the U-SIG field may also serve to indicate the PHY version of the PPDU including the U-SIG field.

[0184] 16, the trigger frame may include a format identifier subfield, and based on the format identifier subfield, it may be determined what standard trigger frame the trigger frame is, or what TB PPDU format should be used in response to the trigger frame.

[0185] Furthermore, the trigger frame may include information included in the U-SIG field of the TB PPDU responding to the trigger frame. For example, the trigger frame may include information included in a version independent field and a version dependent field of the U-SIG field. The information included in the U-SIG field may include information included in the version independent field and the version dependent field.

[0186] The information included in the version-independent field of the U-SIG field may be U-SIG version-independent content. The information included in the version-dependent field of the U-SIG field may be U-SIG version-dependent content. Furthermore, the above-mentioned format identifier subfield may be one of the U-SIG version-independent content. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the content and length of the information included in the U-SIG field of the TB PPDU included in the trigger frame may vary based on the format identifier subfield included in the trigger frame. For example, the content and length of the U-SIG version-dependent content of the TB PPDU included in the trigger frame may vary based on the format identifier subfield included in the trigger frame. For example, the U-SIG version-independent content may be a subfield having content and length independent of the format identifier subfield, and the U-SIG version-dependent content may be a subfield having content and length based on the format identifier subfield. According to an embodiment, the information included in the U-SIG field may be included in the common information field of the trigger frame. Furthermore, the U-SIG version-dependent content included in the trigger frame may include BW, puncturing information, etc.

[0187] 16, the trigger frame can include U-SIG version-independent content and U-SIG version-dependent content, and the content and length of the U-SIG version-independent content or U-SIG version-dependent content can vary based on the format identifier subfield.

[0188] FIG. 17 shows a trigger frame format for indicating a trigger-based PPDU format according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0189] Referring to FIG. 17, the STA can determine the format of the PPDU to be transmitted based on the subfields included in the common information field and / or the user information field included in the triggering frame.

[0190] In detail, Fig. 17(a) shows an example of a common information field included in a trigger frame, Fig. 17(b) shows an example of a user information field, and Fig. 17(c) shows an example of a special user information field.

[0191] Among the fields shown in (a) to (c) of FIG. 17, the description of the same fields as those described above will be omitted.

[0192] 17(a) may be used to identify the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame, as described above. For example, the common information field of the trigger frame may be used to identify whether the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame is an EHT TB PPDU or an HE TB PPDU.

[0193] Specifically, in the common information field shown in (a) of Figure 17, the HE / EHT P160 subfield (first subfield) indicates the format of the PPDU transmitted on the 160 MHz primary channel. For example, a value of "1" in the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates transmission of the HE TB PPDU on the 160 MHz primary channel, and a value of "0" indicates transmission of the EHT TB PPDU on the 160 MHz primary channel.

[0194] The user information field in FIG. 17(b) may be used to identify the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame, as described above.

[0195] Specifically, in the user information field shown in (b) of Figure 17, the PS160 subfield (second subfield) indicates where the RU allocated by the RU allocation field of the user information field is located in the 160 MHz primary channel or secondary channel.

[0196] The PS160 subfield, together with the HE / EHT P160 subfield in (a) of Figure 17, is used to indicate the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame. For example, if the value of the HE / EHT P160 subfield is set to "1" to indicate transmission of an HE TB PPDU on the primary channel, setting the value of the PS160 subfield to "0" indicates that an RU has been assigned to the primary channel, and the STA transmits a response to the trigger frame with an HE TB PPDU on the primary channel.

[0197] However, when the value of the HE / EHT P160 subfield is set to "1" and indicates the transmission of an HE TB PPDU on the primary channel, if the value of the PS160 subfield is set to "1", this indicates that an RU is assigned to the secondary channel, so the STA transmits a PPDU on the secondary channel, and the format of the PPDU is EHT TB PPDU.

[0198] Table 1 below shows an example of a PPDU format with the HE / EHT P160 subfield and PS160 subfield.

[0199] [Table 1] Referring to Table 1, bit B54 of the common information field indicates the value of the HE / EHT P160 subfield, and bit B39 indicates the value of the PS160 subfield. The value of the HE / EHT P160 subfield and the value of the PS160 subfield determine the variant for determining the PPDU format, and the determined variant determines whether the PPDU type is HE or EHT.

[0200] Using the common information field and / or user information field included in the trigger frame, the STA determines whether the format of the PPDU to be sent in response to the trigger frame is EHT or HE, and generates and sends the PPDU to the AP in the determined format.

[0201] 17(c) shows an example of the special user information field including the PHY version identifier described above, which is used to identify whether the PHY version is EHT or not, as described above, and may be set based on the format indicator of the trigger frame.

[0202] FIG. 18 shows a method for determining a trigger frame format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0203] FIG. 18 may be used in association with the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17, and the details described above will be omitted.

[0204] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the trigger frame may include a format indicator subfield. Also, the trigger frame or the HE trigger frame illustrated in FIG. 12 may not include a format indicator subfield. Therefore, a method for determining whether a trigger frame includes a format indicator subfield may be necessary. According to an embodiment, the trigger frame may include information indicating whether it includes a format indicator subfield. For example, the common information field of the trigger frame may include information indicating whether it includes a format indicator subfield. More specifically, the trigger type subfield of the trigger frame may include information indicating whether it includes a format indicator subfield. For example, whether the trigger type subfield includes a pre-set value may determine whether it includes a format indicator subfield. For example, if the trigger type subfield is a value between 0 and 7, the trigger frame may not include a format indicator subfield. Also, if the trigger type subfield is not a value between 0 and 7 or if the trigger type subfield is a value between 8 and 15, the trigger frame may include a format indicator subfield. Also, when the trigger type subfield is 0 to 7, it can indicate Basic, Beamforming Report Poll (BFRP), MU-BAR, MU-RTS, Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP), GCR MU-BAR, Bandwidth Query Report Poll (BQRP), or NDP Feedback Report Poll (NFRP), respectively. In this case, when the trigger type subfield is 8 to 15, it can indicate a trigger frame type when the trigger type subfield is 0 to 7, but can also indicate a trigger frame format that does not include a format indicator subfield.

[0205] According to still another embodiment, whether a format indicator subfield is included can be determined based on the UL length subfield of the trigger frame. For example, whether a format indicator subfield is included can be determined by the trigger frame discrimination method based on the UL length subfield described with reference to FIG. 15. That is, whether a format indicator subfield is included can be determined based on the result of modulating the value of the UL length subfield, more specifically, the result of modulating the value of the UL length subfield.

[0206] For example, if the modulo 3 calculation result of the value of the UL length subfield is not 0, the format indicator subfield may not be included, and if the modulo 3 calculation result is 0, the format indicator subfield may be included. This may be combined with the above-mentioned embodiment in which the EHT trigger frame and the NEXT trigger frame include a format indicator subfield, and the above-mentioned embodiment in which it is determined whether the frame is an HE trigger frame based on the modulo 3 calculation result of the UL length subfield.

[0207] Referring to Figure 18, it is possible to determine whether the trigger frame is an HE trigger frame or whether the trigger frame includes a format indicator subfield based on the UL length subfield included in the trigger frame. For example, if the value of ((UL length subfield value) mod 3) is not 0, it can be determined that the trigger frame is a trigger frame (or an HE trigger frame) having a common information field and a user information field as described in Figure 12 and does not include a format indicator subfield. Furthermore, when responding to the trigger frame, it can respond with an HE TB PPDU.

[0208] Also, if the value of ((UL Length subfield value) mod 3) is 0, it can be determined that the trigger frame is an EHT trigger frame or a NEXT trigger frame and includes a format indicator subfield. Furthermore, the remaining information included in the trigger frame (i.e., common information field, user information field) can be determined based on the value indicated by the format indicator subfield. Furthermore, when responding to the trigger frame, it can respond with a TB PPDU of the standard indicated by the format indicator subfield. That is, if the format indicator subfield indicates the EHT standard, it can respond with an EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, if the format indicator subfield indicates the NEXT standard, it can respond with a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0209] A method for setting a length field according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 19. In the embodiment of Fig. 19, the contents described in Figs. 15 to 18 may be omitted.

[0210] Referring to FIG. 19, a PPDU transmitted in response to a trigger frame may include a length field having different values ​​depending on the format.

[0211] Specifically, the trigger frame may include a UL length subfield, which may indicate information related to the length of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame. For example, the UL length subfield may indicate information related to the value of a length field included in the L-SIG field of a PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame. The length field included in the L-SIG field may be length or duration information included in a legacy preamble. The length field included in the L-SIG field may be represented as L_LENGTH or LENGTH, which may be set by a transmission parameter or a reception parameter value.

[0212] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for setting a length field included in the L-SIG field of the TB PPDU using a UL length subfield included in the trigger frame may vary depending on the format of the TB PPDU transmitted in response to the trigger frame. Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for setting a length field included in the L-SIG field of the TB PPDU using a UL length subfield included in the trigger frame may vary depending on the format of the trigger frame. Alternatively, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for setting a length field included in the L-SIG field of the TB PPDU using a UL length subfield included in the trigger frame may vary depending on a value based on the value of the UL length subfield of the trigger frame.

[0213] As mentioned above, there may be cases where the value of the UL length subfield included in the trigger frame is not 0 when modulated by modular arithmetic mod 3, and it is possible to respond with an HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, or NEXT TB PPDU based on the trigger frame.

[0214] If the value obtained by modulating the value of the UL length subfield included in the trigger frame is not 0, when an HE TB PPDU is transmitted in response to the trigger frame, the length field of the L-SIG field included in the HE TB PPDU may be set to the same value as the value of the UL length subfield of the trigger frame. This is to ensure that the value obtained by modulating the value of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the HE TB PPDU is set to a non-zero value (e.g., 1).

[0215] Furthermore, if the value modulo 3 of the value of the UL length subfield included in the trigger frame is not 0, when an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU is transmitted in response to the trigger frame, the length field of the L-SIG field included in the HE TB PPDU may be set to a value obtained by adding a previously set value to the value of the UL length subfield of the trigger frame. In this case, the previously set value may be 2 or -1. This is to ensure that the value modulo 3 of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the HE TB PPDU becomes 0.

[0216] That is, when the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame is an HE TB PPDU and a non-AP STA transmits an HE TB PPDU in response to the trigger frame, the value of the L_LENGTH parameter, which is the value of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the TB PPDU, may be set to the value indicated by the UL length subfield included in the common information field of the trigger frame.

[0217] However, when the format of the PPDU indicated by the trigger frame is EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU, and a non-AP STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU in response to the trigger frame, the value of the L_LENGTH parameter, which is the value of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the TB PPDU, may be set to the value of the transmission parameter L_LENGTH parameter, which is the value indicated by the UL length subfield included in the common information field of the trigger frame, plus a previously set value (e.g., 2 or -1).

[0218] In this case, Length, which is the L_LENGTH value, may be calculated by the following Equation 4.

[0219] [Formula 4] [Number] As mentioned above, there may be cases where the value modulated 3 of the UL length subfield value included in the trigger frame is 0. Also, as mentioned above, it is possible to respond with an HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, or NEXT TB PPDU based on the trigger frame.

[0220] When the value modulo 3 of the UL length subfield value included in the trigger frame is 0, if a response is made using an HE TB PPDU, the length field included in the L-SIG field included in the HE TB PPDU can be set to a value obtained by adding a pre-set value to the UL length subfield value. For example, the pre-set value may be (-2). This may be to make the value modulo 3 of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the HE TB PPDU a non-zero value, for example, 1. In yet another embodiment, the pre-set value may be 1.

[0221] If the value modulated 3 of the UL Length subfield included in the trigger frame is 0, when responding with an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU, the length field included in the L-SIG field included in the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU can be set to the same value as the value of the UL Length subfield. This may be to set the value modulated 3 of the length field included in the L-SIG field of the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU to 0.

[0222] FIG. 20 illustrates UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0223] The embodiment of Fig. 20 may be a method for solving the problems described in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Also, the embodiment of Fig. 20 may be an explanation of another method for distinguishing trigger frames in the embodiment described in Fig. 15. Also, the above content may be omitted.

[0224] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an EHT STA can selectively transmit an HE TB PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, a NEXT STA can selectively transmit an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, or a NEXT TB PPDU. This has the advantage that multi-standard STAs can be scheduled using one frame or one PPDU. This is advantageous because multi-standard STAs share common resources in a WLAN. For example, it is possible for an HE STA (a non-EHT HE STA) and an EHT STA to respond with an HE TB PPDU using one frame.

[0225] Furthermore, information for selecting the TB PPDU format may be included in the trigger frame, the TRS, or the PPDU containing the trigger frame, or the PPDU containing the TRS.

[0226] According to an embodiment of the present invention, information regarding the format of the responding TB PPDU may be present at the PHY level. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, and a NEXT trigger frame may be distinguished. Furthermore, responses indicated as an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, or a NEXT frame may be responded with an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, or a NEXT TB PPDU, respectively.

[0227] Furthermore, in the present invention, distinguishing between an HE trigger frame, an EHT trigger frame, and a NEXT trigger frame may mean the same as distinguishing the TB PPDU formats responding to the trigger frames into an HE TB PPDU, an EHT TB PPDU, and a NEXT TB PPDU, respectively.

[0228] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the TB PPDU format for responding to the trigger frame can be determined based on the PPDU format including the trigger frame. For example, it is possible to respond to the frame using a standard TB PPDU that is the same as the PPDU format including the trigger frame. Referring to FIG. 19, if the trigger frame is transmitted using an HE PPDU, the TB PPDU for responding to the trigger frame may be an HE TB PPDU. In this case, even if the trigger frame indicates an EHT STA or a NEXT STA, the response can be made using an HE TB PPDU. If the trigger frame is transmitted using an EHT PPDU, the TB PPDU for responding to the trigger frame may be an EHT TB PPDU. In this case, even if the trigger frame indicates a NEXT STA, the response can be made using an EHT TB PPDU.

[0229] Furthermore, when responding to a trigger frame included in an EHT PPDU or a NEXT PPDU, the PHY version identifier included in the U-SIG field of the TB PPDU responding to the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU may be set to the same value as the PHY version identifier included in the U-SIG field of the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU. The PHY version identifier included in the U-SIG field of the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU may be a reception parameter, RXVECTOR, which may be transmitted from the PHY of the STA receiving the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU to MAC. The PHY version identifier included in the U-SIG field of the TB PPDU responding to the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU may be a TXVECTOR, which may be transmitted from the MAC of the STA transmitting the TB PPDU to PHY. That is, the TXVECTOR PHY version identifier of the STA responding with the TB PPDU may be set to the value of the RXVECTOR PHY version identifier when receiving a PPDU including a trigger frame indicating the TB PPDU.

[0230] According to one embodiment, it is possible to use both the MAC level distinction method described in Fig. 15 and the PHY level distinction method described in Fig. 20. For example, if a trigger frame is transmitted using a non-HT (duplicate) PPDU, the MAC level distinction method may be used. Also, if the results of the MAC level distinction method and the PHY level distinction method (which standard trigger frame or which standard TB PPDU should be used to respond) do not match, the previously set priority may be followed.

[0231] For example, if the results of the MAC level discrimination method and the PHY level discrimination method do not match, the PHY level discrimination method can be used. For example, if an EHT trigger frame is transmitted using an HE PPDU, it is possible to respond using an HE TB PPDU. This has the advantage that even an HE STA that cannot decode the PPDU of the later standard can decode the PPDU, check the preamble, receive the frame included in the PPDU, and appropriately protect the PPDU or the frame.

[0232] FIG. 21 illustrates UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0233] As described above, in addition to the trigger frame, the TB PPDU may be indicated by the TRS. Also, as described above, the TRS may be included in the HT control field. For example, when the HT control field includes an A-control field, the TRS may be included. The TRS may be conveyed by the TRS control subfield. The A-control field may have a form in which the control list fields can be positioned consecutively. Also, the control list field may include the TRS.

[0234] In addition, a receiver of a frame including a TRS (indented receiver) can respond to the TRS. For example, a STA corresponding to an RA included in a frame including a TRS can respond to the TRS. The TRS can include information on the length of a PPDU or frame responding to the TRS (UL Data Symbols), the location and size of an RU used when responding to the TRS (RU Allocation), information on power when responding to the TRS (AP Tx Power, UL Target RSSI), and information on a modulation method when responding to the TRS (UL HE-MCS).

[0235] The embodiment of Fig. 21 may be a method for solving the problems described in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Also, as mentioned above, the above-mentioned embodiment for the trigger frame can also be applied to the TRS, and the above content may be omitted.

[0236] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the TRS defined in the HE standard (HE TRS), TRS defined in the EHT standard or the NEXT standard (EHT TRS and NEXT TRS, respectively) may exist. Therefore, depending on whether the indicated TRS is the HE TRS, EHT TRS, or NEXT TRS, the TB PPDU responding to the TRS may be the HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, or NEXT TB PPDU, respectively. For example, which standard the TRS is defined in may be determined by the Control ID subfield of the A-Control subfield. In an additional embodiment, the TRS may be classified into two types: the HE TRS and a TRS that is not the HE TRS.

[0237] Alternatively, for example, the TRS defined by which standard is used may be determined depending on whether the HT control field is an HE variant, an EHT variant, or a NEXT variant. Also, the HE variant, EHT variant, or NEXT variant may be determined using the values ​​of bits already set in the HT control field. For example, if B0 and B1 in the HT control field are 1, 1, it may be an HE variant. Also, the HE variant, EHT variant, or NEXT variant may be determined using B0 and B1 in the HT control field and an additional bit (e.g., B31).

[0238] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the TB PPDU format responding to the TRS may be determined based on the PPDU format including the TRS, as in the case of the trigger frame described with reference to Figure 20. That is, when a PPDU instructing PPDU transmission includes a TRS control subfield, the format of the PPDU may be determined based on the format of the PPDU including the TRS control subfield. For example, when the format of the PPDU including the TRS control subfield is HE PPDU, the format of the indicated PPDU may be HE PPDU. On the other hand, when the format of the PPDU including the TRS control subfield is EHT PPDU, the format of the indicated PPDU may be EHT PPDU.

[0239] 21, when a TRS is transmitted in an HE PPDU, a TB PPDU responding to the TRS may be an HE TB PPDU. When a TRS is transmitted in an EHT PPDU, a TB PPDU responding to the TRS may be an EHT TB PPDU. When a TRS is transmitted in a NEXT PPDU, a TB PPDU responding to the TRS may be a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0240] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the interpretation of a subfield included in the TRS may vary depending on the PPDU format in which the TRS is included. For example, when the TRS is included in an HE PPDU, the UL HE-MCS subfield (or a subfield related to MCS) included in the TRS may indicate a value corresponding to the HE MCS table. When the TRS is included in an EHT PPDU, the UL HE-MCS subfield (or a subfield related to MCS) included in the TRS may indicate a value corresponding to the EHT MCS table. When the TRS is included in a NEXT PPDU, the UL HE-MCS subfield (or a subfield related to MCS) included in the TRS may indicate a value corresponding to the NEXT MCS table. In addition, the interpretation of the RU Allocation subfield may also vary depending on the PPDU format in which the TRS is included.

[0241] FIG. 22 illustrates UL OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)-based random access (UORA) operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0242] According to one embodiment, the UORA operation may be an operation of responding based on the RA-RU included in the trigger frame. For example, the OBO counter set by the STA is decremented based on the number of RA-RUs indicated by the trigger frame, and when the OBO counter becomes 0, the UORA operation may be an operation of responding to the trigger frame with the RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame.

[0243] FIG. 22 may be an operation for solving the problems described in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the above content may be omitted.

[0244] According to one embodiment of the present invention, not only the HE STA but also the EHT STA and the NEXT STA can decrement the OBO counter and send a UORA response to an RA-RU indicated by an HE trigger frame or a trigger frame included in an HE PPDU. Therefore, in this case, it may be necessary to respond with an HE TB PPDU. Similarly, when responding to an RA-RU indicated by an EHT trigger frame or a trigger frame included in an EHT PPDU, the response can be sent with an EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, when responding to an RA-RU indicated by a NEXT trigger frame or a trigger frame included in a NEXT PPDU, the response can be sent with a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0245] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when responding with a TB PPDU to a trigger frame including an RA-RU, it is possible to respond with a TB PPDU corresponding to the most recent previous standard that can understand the trigger frame and the PPDU including the trigger frame.

[0246] Referring to FIG. 22, it is shown that the EHT STA responds to the HE trigger frame indicating the RA-RU with an HE TB PPDU when the OBO counter value becomes 0.

[0247] FIG. 23 illustrates UL MU operation according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0248] According to one embodiment of the present invention, if a STA is the only STA indicated by a trigger frame or TRS, it can respond to any TB PPDU. Also, if a STA is the only STA indicated by a trigger frame and TRS included in a PPDU containing a trigger frame or TRS, it can respond to any TB PPDU. In other words, in this case, even if the embodiments described in Figures 13 to 22 are not applied, the problems described in Figures 10 to 11 do not occur.

[0249] According to one embodiment of the present invention, whether a STA is the only STA designated is determined based on the number of user information fields included in the trigger frame. For example, if the trigger frame does not satisfy the requirement that the trigger frame contains only one user information field, the STA is not the only STA designated to transmit a TB PPDU from the AP STA. In other words, if a frame designating transmission of a TB PPDU includes only one user information field rather than a specific user field, the STA corresponding to the user information field is the only STA designated to transmit a TB PPDU via the frame from the AP STA.

[0250] Also, if the RU that the STA receives is not satisfied that it is the only RU used by the PPDU containing the trigger frame or TRS, it will no longer be the only STA indicated.

[0251] Also, if the RA of the frame received by the STA does not satisfy the individual address indicating the STA, the STA will not be the only STA instructed by the AP STA to transmit a TB PPDU.

[0252] Furthermore, if the PPDU received by the STA is not a single user (SU) PPDU, the STA is not the only STA instructed to transmit a TB PPDU by the AP STA. In this case, the SU PPDU is an HE SU PPDU, an HE ER SU PPDU, an HE MU PPDU, or an EHT MU PPDU. In this case, the HE MU PPDU and the EHT MU PPDU contain only one user information field or terminal identifier STA-ID.

[0253] According to one embodiment, when both of the above conditions are satisfied, the STA can determine that it is the only STA instructed by the AP STA to transmit a TB PPDU.

[0254] According to one embodiment, the trigger frame or TRS, or the PPDU containing the trigger frame or TRS, includes information indicating that it does not matter what TB PPDU format the responding TB PPDU format is.

[0255] Referring to Figure 23, a trigger frame included in an SU PPDU indicates an STA corresponding to AID12 value X. The trigger frame may include only one user information field. Alternatively, the RU containing the trigger frame may be the only RU used by the PPDU containing the trigger frame. In this case, the TB PPDU responding to the trigger frame may be in any TB PPDU format. For example, if the STA corresponding to AID12 value X is an EHT STA, it may respond to the trigger frame with either an HE TB PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU.

[0256] 24 is a diagram illustrating a method for indicating a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention. This method is for indicating whether the TB PPDU format is VHT, HE, EHT, or a next-generation format (e.g., NEXT). This method is an additional explanation of the above-described embodiment, and the same content as previously described is omitted. For example, the TB PPDU format may be indicated as a specific format based on the user information field of the trigger frame.

[0257] Referring to FIG. 24, an AP STA or a non-AP STA indicates a TB PPDU format, which is a response to the frame, using a user information field included in the frame. More specifically, the AP STA indicates the TB PPDU format, which is a response to the frame, as a specific format by setting the value of the AID12 subfield included in the user format of the trigger frame to a specific value. For example, if the value of the AID12 subfield is preset, when TB PPDU transmission is triggered by the user information field included after the preset value, the UE responds in the TB PPDU format indicated by the preset value of the AID subfield. In addition, in this case, if the preset value of the AID12 subfield is multiple, the TB PPDU is transmitted in the TB PPDU format indicated by the AID12 subfield located at a preset position (e.g., the last position). That is, if the preset value of the AID subfield is '1', a response using TB PPDU format 1 is indicated, and if the preset value of the AID12 subfield is '2', a response using TB PPDU format 2 is indicated. In this case, if there is a user information field located after the user information fields containing the preset values ​​"1" and "2," respectively, the TB PPDU format, which is a response to the frame, is determined by the last user information field. Alternatively, if the transmission of the TB PPDU is triggered by a user information field X located after the user information field containing the preset value "1," the TB PPDU format indicated by the preset value "1" is used as the response to the frame if the user information field X is located before the user information field containing the preset value 2 or if there is no user information field indicating a PPDU format after the user information field X.

[0258] Alternatively, if the response is to a user information field that does not depend on the user information field that indicates the PPDU format, the response is made in a preset PPDU format, for example, the HE TB PPDU format, or if the response is to a user information field that is located before all user information fields that indicate the PPDU format, the response is made in a preset PPDU format, for example, the HE TB PPDU format.

[0259] 24, the trigger frame (or a specific frame instructing transmission of a TB PPDU, etc.) includes signaling instructing a TB PPDU format to instruct transmission of a TB PPDU. For example, the trigger frame includes a User Information 3 field instructing a response in the EHT PPDU format and a User Information 6 field instructing a response in the NEXT TB PPDU format. In this case, the value of the AID12 subfield included in the User Information 3 field is set to a value instructing transmission of an EHT TB PPDU, and the value of the AID12 subfield included in the User Information 6 field is set to a value instructing transmission of a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0260] Alternatively, if the transmission of the TB PPDU is triggered by the User Information 4 field or the User Information 5 field located after the User Information 3 field, the TB PPDU is transmitted based on the TB PPDU format (e.g., EHT TB PPDU) indicated by the User Information 4 field or the User Information 5 field. If the transmission of the TB PPDU is triggered by the User Information 7 field or the User Information 8 field located after the User Information 6 field, the TB PPDU is transmitted based on the TB PPDU format (e.g., NEXT TB PPDU) indicated by the User Information 7 field or the User Information 8 field.

[0261] Also, if the transmission of a TB PPDU is indicated by a user information field located before the user information field indicating the TB PPDU format, the TB PPDU format is determined based on the user information field indicating the transmission of a TB PPDU. For example, if the transmission of a TB PPDU is triggered by the user information 1 field or the user information 2 field in Figure 23, the TB PPDU format transmitted in response to the frame is the HE TB PPDU.

[0262] Alternatively, if a user information field indicating the HE TB PPDU format exists and transmission of the TB PPDU is triggered by a user information field located after the user information field indicating the HE TB PPDU format, the TB PPDU format transmitted in response to the frame is the HE TB PPDU.

[0263] The User Information 7 field and User Information 8 field in Figure 24 are located after the User Information field indicating the EHT TB PPDU and the User Information field indicating the NEXT TB PPDU. In this case, since the User Information 6 field indicating the NEXT TB PPDU is located after the User Information 3 field indicating the EHT TB PPDU, the format of the TB PPDU whose transmission is triggered by the User Information 7 field or the User Information 8 field is the NEXT TB PPDU.

[0264] Also, if the User Information 4 field or User Information 5 field indicates transmission of a TB PPDU, the User Information 4 field and User Information 5 field are located after the User Information 3 field indicating the EHT TB PPDU and before the User Information 6 field indicating the NEXT TB PPDU. Therefore, the format of the TB PPDU indicated by the User Information field or User Information 5 field is the EHT TB PPDU.

[0265] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the common information field and user information field of the EHT standard and the NEXT standard are the same as those of the common information field and user information field of the HE standard, respectively. This applies not only to the TB PPDU format indication method based on the user information field described in Figure 23, but also to other embodiments of the present invention, including the TB PPDU format indication method based on the common information field.

[0266] This method is intended to prevent a legacy terminal (e.g., a STA conforming to the HE standard or a standard prior to the HE standard) that cannot decode a PPDU conforming to the EHT standard or the NEXT standard from unintentionally transmitting a TB PPDU. For example, if the length of the common information field or user information field in the EHT standard and the NEXT standard differs from that of the HE standard, when the HE STA interprets the trigger frame according to the HE standard, the AID12 subfield or the like is recognized as triggering the transmission of the TB PPDU of the HE STA. In this case, the HE STA transmits an HE TB PPDU, but since this is not the intention of the STA that transmitted the trigger frame, the HE TB PPDU interferes with other TB PPDUs, and the HE TB PPDU itself cannot be received by the STA that transmitted the trigger frame.

[0267] According to one embodiment, the lengths of the common information field and the user information field are as shown in Figure 12. For example, the common information field is 64 bits (8 octets) excluding the trigger-dependent common information subfield. The user information field is 40 bits (5 octets) excluding the user-dependent user information subfield. In addition, in a basic trigger frame, the trigger-dependent common information subfield does not exist, and the length of the trigger-dependent user information subfield is 8 bits (1 octet).

[0268] However, in this case, the length of the user information field located after the preset AID12 subfield differs from the length of the user information field in the HE standard. For example, the preset value of the AID12 subfield is 4095. That is, the preset value of the AID12 subfield is a value in which all bits are set to 1. This value is the same as the value indicating the start of frame padding. Therefore, the HE STA ignores the user information field after the AID12 subfield with the preset value, and as a result, unintended HE TB PPDUs are not transmitted even if the user information field length is different.

[0269] In another embodiment of the present invention, if there are multiple user information fields or AID12 subfields that indicate TB PPDU formats, the user information fields or AID12 subfields are included in the frame in a set order, e.g., the user information fields or AID12 subfields are included in the frame in the order indicated by the TB PPDU formats.

[0270] That is, if the TB PPDU format indicated by a user information field or AID12 subfield is a legacy format, the corresponding user information field or AID12 subfield is located before other user information fields or AID12 subfields.

[0271] For example, if the TB PPDU format indicated by the user information field or AID12 subfield is EHT TB PPDU, the corresponding user information field or AID12 subfield is located before the user information field or AID12 subfield indicating NEXT TB PPDU. Also, if the TB PPDU format indicated by the user information field or AID12 subfield is HE TB PPDU, the corresponding user information field or AID12 subfield is located before the user information field or AID12 subfield indicating EHT TB PPDU.

[0272] The user information field indicates additional common information fields. As described above, the common information field contains information that is common to all STAs or multiple STAs receiving the frame. For example, if the AID12 subfield is a preset value, the user information field including the AID12 subfield contains additional common information fields. This is because there is a limit to the amount of information that can be contained in the common information field included in conventional frames.

[0273] That is, as shown in Figure 24, the User Information 1 field includes additional common information, and the AID12 subfield included in the User Information 1 field is set to a preset value indicating that the common information is included.

[0274] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing another example of a trigger frame format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0275] Referring to Figure 25, when a TB PPDU is indicated, the AID12 subfield of the user information field is used to indicate the TB PPDU format by indicating different values ​​for the AID12 subfield depending on the format. In detail, Figure 24 is an embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problem, and the same content as previously described will be omitted.

[0276] Specifically, as described above, a specific value of the AID12 subfield or the user information field indicates the RA-RU. However, if the method for indicating the TB PPDU format is designed to be the same as the method for indicating the TB PPDU to a legacy terminal, a problem may occur in that the legacy terminal may interpret and respond differently to the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield for indicating the TB PPDU format to a next-generation terminal.

[0277] For example, there is a risk that a legacy terminal (e.g., an HE STA) may interpret the value of the user information field or AID12 subfield for instructing transmission of an EHT TB PPDU as a value indicating an RA-RU for instructing UORA operation of the HE, and respond with an HE TB PPDU.

[0278] Therefore, as described in Figure 22, when using a value of the AID12 subfield or user information field indicating an RA-RU, the STA can respond with an HE TB PPDU. For example, if an STA is capable of transmitting both an EHT TB PPDU and an HE TB PPDU, it can transmit an HE TB PPDU in response to a frame including an AID12 subfield or user information field indicating an RA-RU.

[0279] In this case, the STA transmitting the trigger frame uses the AID12 subfield or user information field indicating the RA-RU to indicate a response to the HE TB PPDU as described in Figure 24. Therefore, if a value indicating the RA-RU in the AID12 subfield or user information field is used, no additional rules or implementations are required to indicate the PPDU format via the frame. In other words, if the AID12 subfield or user information field indicates the RA-RU, the STA recognizes the response to the frame as an HE TB PPDU.

[0280] That is, the user information field included in the frame or a specific value of the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is used to indicate the RA-RU of the STA supporting the HE, and in this case, the specific value for indicating the RA-RU indicates that the response to the frame is the HE TB PPDU. Therefore, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field for indicating the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU as a response to the frame is set to the remaining value excluding the specific value for indicating the UORA operation of the HE.

[0281] For example, an AP STA transmits a frame to instruct (or trigger) one or more non-AP STAs to transmit a TB PPDU, and in this case, sets the value of the user information field included in the frame or the AID12 subfield of the user information field differently depending on the format of the TB PPDU to be transmitted.

[0282] For example, when instructing transmission of an EHT TB PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to a value other than the first specific value (e.g., “2045”) and / or the second specific value (e.g., “0”). In this case, the second specific value may be used to instruct transmission of an EHT TB PPDU if a specific condition is met.

[0283] Therefore, the AID12 subfield is set to a first specific value (e.g., "2045") and / or a second specific value (e.g., "0") to indicate transmission of an HE TB PPDU instead of an EHT TB PPDU. In this case, the first specific value is used to indicate a response to an HE TB PPDU, and the second specific value is used to indicate transmission of an HE TB PPDU if a specific condition is not met.

[0284] That is, the AP STA transmits a frame including an HE variant user information field for instructing non-AP STAs to transmit an HE TB PPDU by setting the value of the AID12 subfield as a first specific value, and the second specific value is used to instruct transmission of the HE TB PPDU if a specific condition is not met.

[0285] If the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a first specific value (e.g., '2045') or a second specific value (e.g., '0') to indicate an RA-RU for UORA operation of the HE, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU in response to the frame. However, if the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a value other than the first specific value or the second specific value, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU in response to the frame.

[0286] The first specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is not associated with the AP, and the second specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is associated with the AP.

[0287] In this case, the second specific value is used to indicate the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU if a specific condition is met. For example, the specific condition is any one of the following: none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., all are capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU); none of the EHT STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs that are not HE and / or are not capable of transmitting an HE TB PPDU (i.e., STAs that are not capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU but are capable of transmitting an HE TB PPDU); none of the associated legacy STAs (terminals that are not capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation; or a frame indicating the transmission of a TB PPDU is transmitted in an EHT PPDU. In this case, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that are not capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation, the STAs may transmit a value in the capability subfield indicating that they do not support UORA operation to the AP.

[0288] In other words, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit EHT TB PPDUs) support UORA operation, the value of the capability subfield that the STA transmits to the AP is set to a value indicating that it does not support UORA operation, or this includes cases where an STA that does not support UORA operation itself is combined.

[0289] That is, among the above conditions, when none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., when all are capable of transmitting the EHT TB PPDU), the same condition also applies when the AP is associated with one STA that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU. In other words, since only STAs that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU exist among the STAs associated with the AP, in this case, the second specific value "0" is used as the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field. Therefore, in this case, the second specific value is determined to be a case where the specific condition is satisfied, and is used to indicate transmission of the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0290] In addition, the TB PPDU indicated by the AP through a frame indicates only one format of TB PPDU. For example, the AP indicates only the HE TB PPDU or EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU) through a frame, and cannot indicate both the HE TB PPDU and the EHT TB PPDU at the same time. Therefore, when a frame indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is not set to "2045" because the transmission of the HE TB PPDU cannot be indicated through the frame.

[0291] Furthermore, the embodiment of responding with an HE TB PPDU based on the AID12 subfield or user information field indicating an RA-RU is limited to the case where the trigger frame is included in a non-HE PPDU, a non-HT duplicate PPDU, an HE PPDU, a VHT PPDU, or an HT PPDU.

[0292] There is a value in the AID12 subfield or user information field that indicates an RA-RU while indicating a response with an HE TB PPDU. For example, if the value of the AID12 subfield is 0 or 2045, the value of the AID12 subfield indicates an RA-RU for UORA operation and indicates that the response format for the frame is an HE TB PPDU.

[0293] In addition, there is an AID12 subfield or user information field that indicates an RA-RU while instructing a response with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU. For example, the preset values ​​of the AID12 subfield that indicates an RA-RU while instructing a response with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU are values ​​excluding 0, 1 to 2007, 2045, 2046, and / or 4095.

[0294] That is, the RA-RU allocation for UORA operation of a STA capable of transmitting an EHT PPDU or NEXT PPDU (e.g., an EHT STA supporting EHT or a NEXT STA supporting the NEXT standard) and the value of the AID12 or user information field for indicating transmission of an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU are set to a value excluding the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field for allocating an RA-RU for UORA operation of a STA not capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0295] For example, as described above, when a frame for triggering transmission of a TB PPDU indicates transmission of an EHT TB PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield or the user information field is set to a value excluding at least one specific value. That is, the value of the AID12 subfield or the user information field is set to a value excluding at least one specific value for indicating the RA-RU of a STA that cannot transmit an EHT TB PPDU.

[0296] In this case, at least one specific value includes a first specific value (e.g., "2045") for indicating an RA-RU to a STA that is not associated with the AP, and a second specific value (e.g., "0") for indicating an RA-RU to a STA that is associated with the AP is included in the at least one specific value depending on whether a specific condition is satisfied.

[0297] The specific conditions are as described above, and if the specific conditions are met, the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field is set to instruct a STA capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU to transmit the RA-RU and EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0298] However, if certain conditions are not met, the second specific value is included in at least one specific value and is not set to the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field for instructing a STA capable of transmitting an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU to transmit an RA-RU and an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0299] As described in Figure 15, if the value of the AID12 subfield is 0, the value of the AID12 subfield is used to indicate one or more RA-RUs for associated STAs. Also, values ​​1 to 2007 of the AID12 subfield are used to indicate associated STAs with the corresponding AID, and 2045 is used to indicate one or more RA-RUs for unassociated STAs. The value 2046 of the AID12 subfield is used to indicate an unassigned RU, and 4095 is used to indicate the start of the padding field of the frame.

[0300] As shown in Figure 24, the padding field of the trigger frame is located in the middle of the user information field, in which case the padding field is called a mid-padding field. The mid-padding field is a different field from the padding field described in Figure 12 and is a type of user information field. For example, if the AID12 subfield has a preset value, the user information field is a mid-padding field. More specifically, a user information field including an AID12 subfield with a preset value is included in the middle of a user information list field, and such a user information field including an AID12 subfield is a mid-padding field.

[0301] Alternatively, a user information field including an AID12 subfield with a preset value may be included in a position that is not the last position of the user information list field.

[0302] In this case, the preset value may be the same as the value indicating the start of the padding field. For example, the preset value is 4095. Alternatively, the preset value may have all bits set to 1. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the TB PPDU format is determined based on the relative position between the user information field indicating the RA to be transmitted by the STA and the intermediate padding field. For example, the TB PPDU format is determined based on the relative position between the user information field indicating the RA-RU to be transmitted by the STA and the intermediate padding field. For example, an intermediate padding field may be included to prevent the HE STA from recognizing the user information fields after the intermediate padding field.

[0303] More specifically, an intermediate padding field may be included to prevent the HE STA from recognizing the user information field indicating the RA-RU after the intermediate padding field. If the intermediate padding field is included, the HE STA can recognize the fields and values ​​after the intermediate padding field as the padding field described in FIG. 12. Furthermore, the length of the intermediate padding field may be the same as that of the user information field. In one embodiment, the remaining part of the intermediate padding field excluding the AID12 subfield is set to a predetermined value. As another example, the remaining part of the intermediate padding field excluding the AID12 subfield may be set to an arbitrary value.

[0304] In one embodiment of the present invention, responding to a user information field indicating a certain RA-RU may mean that a selected RU from among multiple RA-RUs indicated by a trigger frame including the user information field is the certain RA-RU. For example, if the OBO counter becomes 0 in the above-mentioned UORA operation, a process of selecting an RU to transmit from one or more RA-RUs indicated by the trigger frame is included.

[0305] In this case, an RU for UORA operation is arbitrarily selected from one or more RA-RUs. In the present invention, responding to an RA-RU includes responding based on a user information field indicating the RA-RU, selecting the RA-RU, or selecting the RA-RU as a transmitting RU because the OBO counter becomes 0.

[0306] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when responding based on the RA-RU indicated by the user information field before the intermediate padding field, or when responding with the RA-RU indicated by the user information field before the intermediate padding field, the response is made using a preset PPDU format. For example, the preset PPDU format is the HE TB PPDU format. Also, the value of the AID12 subfield included in the user information field indicating the RA-RU is 0 or 2045.

[0307] According to this embodiment, when an HE STA responds to an RA-RU, it responds with an HE TB PPDU, which is the only TB PPDU format that the HE STA can transmit. Also, when an EHT STA or a NEXT STA can transmit multiple TB PPDU formats including the HE TB PPDU format, it responds with an HE TB PPDU based on the relative position of the user information field that indicated the RA-RU with the intermediate padding field.

[0308] 25, the trigger frame includes an intermediate padding field. Also, an RA-RU is indicated by a user information 1 field. If an STA responds to the RA-RU indicated by the user information 1 field, it transmits using the HE TB PPDU format. This is because the RA-RU to which the STA responds is indicated by a user information field existing before the intermediate padding field.

[0309] In the present invention, a case has been described in which the relative position of the user information field indicating the responding RA-RU with respect to the intermediate padding field is before the intermediate padding field, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be defined and applied as using the HE TB PPDU format when it is present after the intermediate padding field.

[0310] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when responding based on an RA-RU indicated by a user information field present after the intermediate padding field, or when responding with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field present after the intermediate padding field, the TB PPDU format is determined and transmitted using the TB PPDU format indication or determination method described with reference to Figures 15 to 24. The user information field indicating the RA-RU has an AID12 subfield value set to 0 or 2045. For example, when using the TB PPDU format indication method described with reference to Figure 24, if the user information field indicating the RA-RU to be transmitted is present after the intermediate padding field, the TB PPDU format to be transmitted in the UORA is determined based on where the user information field indicating the RA-RU to be transmitted is located relative to the user information field indicating the TB PPDU format.

[0311] Alternatively, if TB PPDU format indication signaling is included in the common information field and a user information field indicating the RA-RU to transmit is present after the intermediate padding field, the TB PPDU format is selected based on the TB PPDU format indication signaling.

[0312] As shown in Figure 25, the trigger frame includes an intermediate padding field. In this case, the User Information 5 field indicates an RA-RU, and the User Information 7 field also indicates an RA-RU. The User Information 2 field indicates the EHT TB PPDU format, although it also includes a User Information field indicating the TB PPDU format according to the embodiment described in Figure 24. The User Information 6 field also indicates the format of the NEXT TB PPDU.

[0313] If a STA responds to an RA-RU indicated by the User Information 5 field, it transmits using the EHT TB PPDU format indicated by the User Information 2 field. This is because the RA-RU to which the STA responds is indicated by the User Information field located after the intermediate padding field, and the User Information field indicating the RA-RU is located after the User Information 2 field indicating the EHT TB PPDU format, and is located before the User Information 5 field, which indicates a different PPDU format.

[0314] Alternatively, if the STA responds to an RA-RU indicated by the User Information 7 field, the STA transmits using the NEXT TB PPDU format indicated by the User Information 6 field. This is because the RA-RU to which the STA responds is indicated by a User Information field located after the intermediate padding field, the User Information field indicating the RA-RU is located after the User Information 6 field indicating the NEXT TB PPDU format, and there is no User Information field indicating another PPDU format after the User Information 7 field.

[0315] In this embodiment, the HE STA may recognize the value after the intermediate padding field as a padding field and may not be able to understand the user information field indicating the RA-RU. Also, when an EHT STA or NEXT STA that can transmit multiple TB PPDU formats including the HE TB PPDU format responds with an RA-RU, it responds in a TB PPDU format indication method based on the relative position of the user information field indicating the RA-RU with the intermediate padding field.

[0316] In the present invention, a case has been described in which the relative position of the User Info indicating the responding RA-RU with respect to the intermediate padding field is later, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied by defining that a format according to the TB PPDU format indication method other than the HE TB PPDU format is used when it exists before the intermediate padding field.

[0317] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate padding field needs to be distinguished from the padding field (the field located before the FCS described in FIG. 25). This is because the EHT STA and the NEXT STA must not ignore the information after the intermediate padding field, but may ignore the information in the padding field. Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is signaling indicating whether or not an intermediate padding field exists.

[0318] For example, the common information field may include signaling indicating whether an intermediate padding field is present. For example, the presence or absence of an intermediate padding field may be indicated based on the UL length field. More specifically, the presence or absence of an intermediate padding field may be indicated based on the UL length field modulo 3 value. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 12, the presence or absence of an intermediate padding field may be indicated based on the UL HE-SIG-A2 Reserved subfield (B54 to B62) or Reserved (B63) included in the common information field.

[0319] According to another embodiment, the user information field includes signaling indicating whether an intermediate padding field exists. For example, the presence or absence of the intermediate padding field may be indicated based on bits included in the intermediate padding field. For example, the presence or absence of the intermediate padding field may be indicated based on preset bits included in the intermediate padding field, excluding the AID12 subfield.

[0320] For example, the preset bit is the bit following the AID12 subfield (one bit of the RU allocation subfield). This is because all bits of the padding field shown in FIG. 12 are set to 1. According to another embodiment, a user information field different from the intermediate padding field indicates whether or not an intermediate padding field exists. For example, the user information field indicating whether or not an intermediate padding field exists precedes the intermediate padding field. More specifically, the user information field indicating whether or not an intermediate padding field exists immediately precedes the intermediate padding field.

[0321] In one embodiment, the AID12 subfield of the user information field indicating whether an intermediate padding field is present is set to a preset value. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the user information field indicating whether an intermediate padding field is present is the user information field indicating the TB PPDU format described in FIG. 23, etc. For example, the presence or absence of the intermediate padding field is indicated using bits other than the AID12 subfield of the user information field indicating the TB PPDU format. Referring to FIG. 24, the user information 2 field located before the intermediate padding field indicates whether the padding field is present. Also, the user information 2 field is the user information field indicating the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0322] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the STA ignores any user information fields following a user information field including an AID12 subfield value that the STA cannot understand. Alternatively, the STA ignores any user information field indicating an RA-RU following a user information field including an AID12 subfield that the STA cannot understand. This is to solve the problem of TB PPDU formats being mixed up when transmitted from multiple STAs, as described above. Referring to Figure 24, the EHT STA cannot understand the AID12 subfield of the User Information 5 field indicating a NEXT TB PPDU. Therefore, the EHT STA ignores the User Information 7 field following the User Information 6 field and the RA-RU indicated by the User Information 7 field.

[0323] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a range of AID12 subfield values ​​indicating the TB PPDU format is reserved. For example, when defining the EHT standard, the range available in the NEXT standard is defined. This embodiment is applicable when using the TB PPDU format described in FIG. 24.

[0324] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA ignores the user information field indicating the RA-RU indicated after the AID12 subfield in the reserved value range (i.e., a value indicating a standard later than the standard supported by the STA). Referring to Figure 24, the EHT STA can see that the AID12 subfield of the user information 6 field indicating the NEXT TB PPDU is a value for a future standard. Therefore, the EHT STA ignores the user information 7 field present after the user information 6 field and the RA-RU indicated by the user information 7 field.

[0325] In the present invention, ignoring a user information field means not responding based on the user information field, or not responding to the RU indicated by the user information field, or not decrementing an OBO counter based on the user information field.

[0326] According to one embodiment, the length of the user information field present after the intermediate padding field is different from the length of the user information field defined in the HE standard.

[0327] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when using the TB PPDU format indication method described in Figures 24 and 25, the user information field indicating the RA-RU is present only on the side indicating one TB PPDU format, i.e., it is present in only one of the user information 1 field, user information 5 field, and user information 7 field shown in Figure 24.

[0328] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when using the TB PPDU format indication method described in Figures 24 and 25, the user information field indicating the RA-RU exists on the side indicating multiple TB PPDU formats, that is, the user information 1 field, user information 5 field, and user information 7 field shown in Figure 24 exist simultaneously.

[0329] In addition, the STA decrements the OBO counter or selects an RU to transmit to based only on the user information field indicating an RA-RU corresponding to a supportable TB PPDU format. Furthermore, when the OBO counter reaches 0, the STA selects an RA-RU to transmit to and responds based on which TB PPDU format should be used when the user information field indicating the RA-RU follows the method described in Figures 23 and 24. That is, the STA selects an RU to transmit from among RA-RUs corresponding to a supportable format and responds using the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU. In another embodiment, regardless of whether the RU is supportable or not, the STA selects an RU to transmit from among RA-RUs and responds using the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU, or does not respond if the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU is not supported. In this case, the OBO counter is reset.

[0330] According to one embodiment, there is one OBO counter in the STA. The above embodiment is also applied to the case where there is one OBO counter in the STA.

[0331] According to another embodiment, a STA may have multiple OBO counters. For example, a separate OBO counter exists for each standard supported by the STA. The OBO counter for the corresponding standard is decremented based on the RA-RU corresponding to the TB PPDU format indication method described in Figures 23 and 24. Referring to Figure 24, the OBO counter for the HE standard is decremented based on User Info 1, the OBO counter for the EHT standard is decremented based on User Info 5, and the OBO counter for the NEXT standard is decremented based on User Info 7. When the OBO counter for a certain standard reaches 0, the STA selects and transmits one of the RA-RUs indicated for that standard.

[0332] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the STA responds with a TB PPDU based on TB PPDU format information or neighboring STA standard information received from the AP. The TB PPDU format information or neighboring STA standard information is included in a management frame transmitted by the AP. The management frame includes one of an association response frame, a reassociation response frame, a beacon response frame, and a probe response frame.

[0333] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the TB PPDU format is determined based on the STA's observations. For example, if the STA receives a frame or an HE PPDU from an HE STA in the same BSS, it responds with an HE TB PPDU. Alternatively, if the STA does not receive a frame or an HE PPDU from an HE STA in the same BSS, it responds with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0334] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the TRS control field includes a format identifier or a version identifier. Also, a 20 MHz subchannel including an RU indicated by a TRS control subfield that is an HE variant is not instructed to respond in the EHT TB PPDU format or the NEXT TB PPDU format by the TB PPDU format indication method described with reference to Figures 15 to 25. Similarly, a 20 MHz subchannel including an RU indicated by a TRS control field that is an EHT variant is not instructed to respond in the HE TB PPDU format or the NEXT TB PPDU format by the TB PPDU format indication method described with reference to Figures 15 to 25.

[0335] The 20 MHz subchannel including the RU indicated by the TRS control field of the NEXT variant is not instructed to respond in the HE TB PPDU format or the EHT TB PPDU format by the TB PPDU format indication method described in Figures 15 to 25.

[0336] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a trigger frame format and a method for indicating an RA-RU according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0337] Referring to Figure 26, the TB PPDU format and RA-RU are indicated using the user information field included in the above frame or the value of the AID12 subfield included in the user information field. In Figure 26, the same content as previously described is omitted.

[0338] In particular, as described above, the frame includes an AID12 subfield or user information field that indicates the RA-RU and the response PPDU format for the frame.

[0339] For example, as described above, if the AID12 subfield is 0 or 2045, it indicates an RA-RU and instructs transmission of an EHT TB PPDU as a response to the frame. In this case, a value of 0 in the AID12 subfield indicates an RA-RU for STAs associated with the AP, and a value of 2045 in the AID12 subfield indicates an RA-RU for STAs not associated with the AP. In addition, there is an AID12 subfield or user information field that indicates an RA-RU and indicates that the response PPDU format is an EHT TB PPDU. In this case, there are separate values ​​indicating an RA-RU for STAs associated with the AP and an RA-RU for STAs not associated with the AP.

[0340] Similarly, there is an AID12 subfield or user information field that indicates an RA-RU and indicates that the response PPDU format is a NEXT TB PPDU. In this case, there are separate values ​​indicating an RA-RU for STAs associated with the AP and for STAs not associated with the AP.

[0341] According to another embodiment, if the AID12 subfield has a preset value, it indicates RA-RU and indicates that the response PPDU format is EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU (i.e., it indicates that the response PPDU format is not the EHT TB PPDU format). For example, the preset value is a value other than 0 and 2045. Also, the preset value is a value between 2008 and 2044, or a value between 2047 and 4094. In this case, the method of selecting the PPDU format from EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU can additionally use the method described in the embodiment of FIG. 23 or other embodiments of the present invention, so no problem occurs.

[0342] Referring to Figure 26, the trigger frame includes a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating that the response PPDU format is an EHT TB PPDU. The value of the AID12 subfield of this user information field is 0 or 2045. The trigger frame also includes a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating that the response PPDU format is an EHT TB PPDU. Referring to Figure 26, the value of the AID12 subfield of this user information field is X. The trigger frame also includes a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating that the response PPDU format is a NEXT TB PPDU. Referring to Figure 25, the value of the AID12 subfield of this user information field is Y. As described above, in one embodiment, X and Y are the same value.

[0343] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the HE STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045, and selects an RU. Also, the HE STA cannot recognize a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to X or Y and the RA-RU indicated thereby.

[0344] According to an embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU in a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, or X, and selects an RU. In this case, the EHT STA has more random access opportunities than the HE STA. In addition, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045, it responds via an HE TB PPDU. In addition, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to X, it responds via an EHT TB PPDU.

[0345] In addition, according to another embodiment, the RA-RU candidate that reduces the OBO counter or determines UORA transmission (so that the OBO counter becomes 0) and the RA-RU candidate selected when transmitting UORA may be different from each other.

[0346] According to another embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for the RA-RU of the user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to 0, 2045, or X, and selects an RU from among the RA-RUs of the user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to X. In addition, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by the user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to X, it responds via an EHT TB PPDU.

[0347] According to yet another embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, X, or Y, and selects an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, or X. In this case, the EHT STA obtains more random access opportunities than the HE STA. Furthermore, since the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU such as a NEXT STA, random access opportunities are obtained fairly. Furthermore, in this case, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045, it responds via the HE TB PPDU. Furthermore, in this case, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to X, it responds via the EHT TB PPDU.

[0348] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to X, and selects an RU. That is, the EHT STA does not decrement the OBO counter for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045.

[0349] However, if the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for AID12 subfield X, the OBO counter is reset to decrement the OBO counter based on the RA-RU in the user information field where the AID12 subfield value is set to "0" or "2045". Similarly, if the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for AID12 subfield set to "0" or "2045", the OBO counter is reset to decrement the OBO counter based on the RA-RU in the user information field where the AID12 subfield value is set to "X".

[0350] In addition, the EHT STA does not select an RU for an RA-RU in a user information field where the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045. In this case, in the above embodiment, the EHT STA can obtain more random access opportunities than the HE STA, thereby preventing a decrease in fairness. In addition, in this case, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field where the AID12 subfield is set to X, the response is made via an EHT TB PPDU.

[0351] According to yet another embodiment, the EHT STA has and manages multiple OBO counters. For example, for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045, the EHT STA decrements OBO counter A and selects an RU. For an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to X, the EHT STA decrements OBO counter B and selects an RU. For an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to Y, the EHT STA decrements OBO counter C and selects an RU.

[0352] In this case, the EHT STA must maintain a large number of OBO counters, but has more random access opportunities than the HE STA. In addition, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by the user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045, it responds via the HE TB PPDU. In addition, if the EHT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by the user information field with the AID12 subfield set to X, it responds via the EHT TB PPDU. In addition, if the NEXT STA responds with an RA-RU indicated by the user information field with the AID12 subfield set to Y, it responds via the NEXT TB PPDU.

[0353] The NEXT STA also performs UORA using the same method as described for the EHT STA. That is, according to one embodiment, the NEXT STA decrements the OBO counter for an RA-RU whose user information field has the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, X, or Y, and selects an RU. Also, when transmitting via UORA, the TB PPDU format is based on the AID12 subfield indicating the responding RA-RU. For example, the HE TB PPDU is used when responding with an RA-R indicated by a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045, the EHT TB PPDU is used when responding with an RA-RU indicated by a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to X, and the NEXT TB PPDU is used when responding with an RA-R indicated by a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to Y.

[0354] Further, according to the embodiment, the NEXT STA decrements the OBO counter for the RA-RU in the user information field with the AID12 subfield set to Y and selects an RU. Also, when transmitting using UORA, the NEXT STA responds using the NEXT TB PPDU format.

[0355] According to one embodiment, X and Y are each a value other than 0 or 2045, and in another embodiment, X and Y are each 0 or 2045.

[0356] Referring to Figure 26, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter based on the RA-RU indicated by User Info 1 with AID12 set to 0 and the RA-RU indicated by User Info 5 with AID12 set to X, and when the OBO counter becomes 0, it selects from the RA-RU indicated by User Info 1 and User Info 5 and responds.

[0357] As another embodiment, referring to FIG. 25, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter based on the RA-RU indicated by User Info 5 with AID12 set to X, and when the OBO counter reaches 0, selects one of the RA-RUs indicated by User Info 5 and responds.

[0358] In one embodiment of the present invention, the OBO counter may become 0 if the number of RUs indicated by the RA-RU is greater than or equal to the remaining OBO counter. In other words, it may become 0 or less if the OBO counter is decremented.

[0359] In one embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment described in Figure 26 is used together with the TB PPDU format determination method described in the present invention, such as the embodiment of Figure 24 and the embodiments of Figures 15 to 20. In this case, two or more methods indicate different PPDU formats, and in this case, a preset method among the two or more methods is used. For example, the embodiment described in Figure 24 and the embodiment described in Figure 25 may be used together.

[0360] 26, the AID12 subfield value of the User Information 1 field is set to 0 or 2045, and the AID12 subfield value of the User Information 3 field is set to 0 or 2045. The User Information 2 field indicates the EHT TB PPDU format, and the User Information 3 field follows the User Information 2 field.

[0361] That is, when responding based on the User Information 3 field, the EHT TB PPDU is indicated based on the User Information 2 field, and the HE TB PPDU is indicated based on the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 contained in the User Information 3 field. In this case, according to one embodiment, the response is made using the HE TB PPDU. This is because the HE STA can recognize the User Information 3 field and the RA-RU indicated by the User Information 3 field, but cannot recognize the PPDU format indicated by the User Information 2 field, and therefore it is expected that the HE STA will respond with the HE TB PPDU based on the User Information 3 field.

[0362] That is, when a UORA response is made based on a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is 0 or 2045, it can be transmitted in a HE TB PPDU regardless of other TB PPDU format indication methods.

[0363] In another embodiment, the user information field in which the AID12 subfield contains 0 or 2045 is located at a position indicating an EHT TB PPDU. For example, it may be located before the user information field, or before the user information field indicating an EHT TB PPDU and the user information field indicating a NEXT TB PPDU. Alternatively, when using the method of including an intermediate padding field described in FIG. 25, the user information field in which the AID12 subfield contains 0 or 2045 is located before the intermediate padding field.

[0364] According to one embodiment, an AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is included regardless of whether the trigger frame indicates which standard of trigger frame it is or which TB PPDU it responds with, an AID12 subfield set to a value indicating an RA-RU and indicating an EHT TB PPDU to respond with, and an AID12 subfield set to a value indicating an RA-RU and indicating a NEXT TB PPDU to respond with are included regardless of whether the trigger frame indicates which standard of trigger frame it is or which TB PPDU it responds with.

[0365] As yet another example, the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is included only in trigger frames indicating an HE TB PPDU (e.g., an HE trigger frame, a trigger frame for an HE variant, a trigger frame indicating a response with an HE TB PPDU, or a trigger frame whose format identifier indicates HE).

[0366] Therefore, the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is not included in trigger frames indicating an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU (e.g., an EHT (or NEXT) trigger frame, a trigger frame for an EHT (or NEXT) variant, a trigger frame indicating a response with an EHT (or NEXT) TB PPDU, or a trigger frame whose format identifier indicates EHT (or NEXT)).

[0367] The AID12 subfield set to a value indicating an RA-RU and a response with an EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU) is included only in a trigger frame indicating transmission of an EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU) (e.g., an EHT trigger frame (or NEXT trigger frame), a trigger frame for an EHT variant (or NEXT variant), a trigger frame indicating a response with an EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU), or a trigger frame whose format identifier indicates EHT (or NEXT)).

[0368] In other words, the AID12 subfield set to a value indicating an RA-RU and a response with an EHT TB PPDU is not included in trigger frames indicating the transmission of an HE TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU (e.g., a HE (or NEXT) trigger frame, a trigger frame for a HE (or NEXT) variant, a trigger frame indicating a response with an HE (or NEXT) TB PPDU, or a trigger frame whose format identifier indicates HE (or NEXT)).

[0369] The AID12 subfield set to a value indicating an RA-RU and a response with a NEXT TB PPDU is not included in a trigger frame indicating the transmission of an HE TB PPDU (or EHT TB PPDU) (e.g., an HE (or EHT) trigger frame, a trigger frame for an HE (or EHT) variant, a trigger frame indicating a response with an HE (or EHT) TB PPDU, or a trigger frame whose format identifier indicates HE (or EHT)).

[0370] For example, the embodiment described in Figure 25 may be used together with the determination method and embodiment based on the common information field described in Figures 15 to 18. In this case, if the common information field indicates an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU (or if the trigger frame is an EHT variant or a NEXT variant), it does not include a user information field whose AID12 subfield is 0 or 2045. Alternatively, if the trigger frame indicates an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU (or if the trigger frame is an EHT variant or a NEXT variant), it does not include a user information field whose AID12 subfield is 0 or 2045.

[0371] According to yet another embodiment, if the trigger frame or common information field indicates an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU (or if the trigger frame is an EHT variant or a NEXT variant), and the AID12 subfield contains a user information field with 0 or 2045, and a UORA response is made based thereon, the response is made using an EHT TB PPDU, not an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0372] Furthermore, if the trigger frame or common information field indicates a NEXT TB PPDU (or is a NEXT variant), it does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, or X. As yet another example, if the trigger frame or common information field indicates a NEXT TB PPDU (or is a NEXT variant), it includes a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0, 2045, or X, and a UORA response is made based on this, the response will be made using a TB PPDU format indicated by 0, 2045, or X, rather than a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0373] Also, when responding to a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating an EHT TB PPDU, if the EHT TB PPDU is different from the PPDU format indicated by another PPDU format determination method, the response is made in a preset method. According to one embodiment, regardless of another PPDU format determination method, the response is made with an EHT TB PPDU based on a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating an EHT TB PPDU. According to yet another embodiment, when responding based on a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating an EHT TB PPDU, the response is made based on another PPDU format determination method.

[0374] Alternatively, the user information field indicating the RA-RU and indicating the EHT TB PPDU configures the trigger frame so as to be determined by the EHT TB PPDU according to other PPDU format determination methods. Referring to Figure 25, the user information field indicating the RA-RU and in which the AID12 subfield is set to X indicating a response with an EHT TB PPDU is located after User Info 2 indicating a response with an EHT TB PPDU and before User Info 6 indicating a response with a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0375] When responding to a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating a NEXT TB PPDU, the same method as when responding to a user information field indicating an RA-RU and indicating an EHT TB PPDU is applied.

[0376] Figure 27 is a diagram showing another example of a trigger frame format and a method for indicating an RA-RU according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0377] The embodiment described in Figure 27 is a further explanation and embodiment of the problem and solution described in Figure 25, and the same content as above will be omitted. Hereinafter, the value of the AID12 subfield indicating the RA-RU includes 0 and 2045.

[0378] 24, the inclusion of the intermediate padding field in the middle of the user information list field means that the intermediate padding field is included at the very front of the user information list field, or that the position of the intermediate padding field is different from the conventional padding that exists after the trigger frame, or that another user information field may exist after the intermediate padding field.

[0379] The intermediate padding field is a user information field that includes a predetermined value of the AID12 subfield, for example, the length of the intermediate padding field is the same as the length of the user information field.

[0380] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate padding field may have a different length from the user information field. For example, the intermediate padding field may be shorter than the user information field. The intermediate padding field is set to a predetermined value. For example, the intermediate padding field has the same length as the AID12 subfield. That is, the intermediate padding field is 12 bits. The intermediate padding field is set to a predetermined value, for example, 4095 (a value with all 12 bits set to 1).

[0381] When a STA receiving a trigger frame checks the AID12 subfield value included in one or more user information fields, it finds the next AID12 subfield based on the length of the user information field. If an intermediate padding field is found, it finds the next AID12 subfield based on the length of the intermediate padding field.

[0382] For example, if the intermediate padding field is the same length as the AID12 subfield, the intermediate padding field can be found and it can be determined that the next AID12 subfield or the next user information field follows immediately after the intermediate padding field. In this case, the overhead of including the intermediate padding field in the trigger frame can be reduced while solving the above-mentioned TB PPDU format determination problem.

[0383] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the trigger frame does not include an intermediate padding field, and the trigger frame includes a user information field indicating an RA-RU. As shown in Figure 27(a), the trigger frame includes a user information 1 field, a user information 5 field, and a user information 7 field indicating an RA-RU.

[0384] 26(a) does not include an intermediate padding field. Therefore, even if the PPDU format determination method of the above-mentioned embodiment is used, the HE STA can recognize the user information 1 field, user information 5 field, and user information 7 field that indicate the RA-RU.

[0385] Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the HE TB PPDU can be used when responding to a UORA request, regardless of other PPDU format determination methods. For example, if the trigger frame does not include an intermediate padding field, the HE TB PPDU is used when responding to a UORA request, regardless of other PPDU format determination methods. Referring to Figure 26(a), the PPDU format is determined based on the user information field, which includes an AID12 subfield set to a specific value. For example, the user information 2 field indicates a response with an EHT TB PPDU, and the user information 6 field indicates a response with a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0386] However, the HE STA can also recognize the user information field that indicates the RA-RU contained in this trigger frame. Therefore, regardless of the user information 2 field or user information 6 field, the HE TB PPDU can be used when responding to the RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame.

[0387] Also, as described above, when determining the TB PPDU format based on the common information field or format identifier field, the HE TB PPDU is used when responding to the RA-RU. Alternatively, if the trigger frame is included in the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU, or in a PPDU that the HE STA cannot read, the same TB PPDU format determination method "Off" is used when responding to the RA-RU when determining the TB PPDU format based on the common information field or format identifier field.

[0388] According to another embodiment, if the TB PPDU format is determined based on the common information field or the format identifier field, the HE STA may not recognize the EHT or NEXT standard when indicating it. In such a case, the TB PPDU format is determined based on the common information field or the format identifier field when responding to a UORA. For example, if the TB PPDU format is determined based on the trigger type subfield, the HE STA may not respond based on a trigger frame containing the trigger type subfield if the HE STA does not recognize the trigger type subfield.

[0389] In another embodiment, if the trigger frame does not include an intermediate padding field, it does not include a user information field indicating an RA-RU.

[0390] As another embodiment, if a response with a standard TB PPDU that is not supported is indicated based on the above-mentioned PPDU format determination method, the OBO counter for the RA-RU indicated by the user information field included in such a trigger frame may not be decremented. Also, the RA-RU may not be selected as an RU that will respond to the UORA. For example, if the trigger frame includes a format identifier field and the EHT STA confirms that the common information field or the format identifier field indicates a NEXT TB PPDU, the OBO counter may not be decremented based on the RA-RU indicated by the user information field included in the trigger frame, and the RA-RU may not be selected as an RU that will respond to the UORA.

[0391] In the present invention, the user information field indicating the RA-RU is the user information field in the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045.

[0392] In the present invention, an RU that decrements its OBO counter is referred to as an eligible RA-RU. An RU that responds with a UORA is referred to as an eligible RA-RU. When selecting an RU that responds with a UORA, an RU that can be selected is referred to as an eligible RA-RU. An RU that decrements its OBO counter and responds with a UORA is referred to as an eligible RA-RU. An RU that decrements its OBO counter or responds with a UORA is selected from eligible RA-RUs. An RA-RU that is capable of transmission is referred to as an eligible RA-RU. The meaning of responding with a UORA or being capable of transmission includes the supported TB PPDU format. For example, an RA-RU that is instructed by an EHT STA to respond with a NEXT TB PPDU is not an eligible RA-RU.

[0393] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the trigger frame includes an intermediate padding field. This embodiment is the same as that described in Figure 24, and redundant content has been omitted. As described above, when responding to an RA-RU, the PPDU format is determined based on the relative position of the intermediate padding field in the user information field indicating the responding RA-RU. Alternatively, whether the RA-RU is an eligible RU is determined based on the relative position of the user information field indicating the RA-RU in the intermediate padding field.

[0394] As an example, when a UORA response is made based on a user information field located before the intermediate padding field, the response is made using an HE TB PPDU. In this case, when a UORA response is made based on a user information field located before the intermediate padding field, the response is made using an HE TB PPDU regardless of other TB PPDU format indication methods. Referring to FIG. 26(b), a trigger frame includes an intermediate padding field. Also, the user information 1 field, user information 3 field, user information 5 field, and user information 7 field included in the trigger frame indicate an RA-RU. Also, the user information 1 field and user information 3 field are located before the intermediate padding field, and the user information 5 field and user information 7 field are located after the intermediate padding field.

[0395] When a UORA response is made in an RA-RU indicated by the user information 1 field or user information 3 field, the HE TB PPDU is used in the response. In this case, even if the above-mentioned PPDU format determination method indicates a PPDU other than the HE TB PPDU, the STA responds using the HE TB PPDU. For example, when the PPDU format determination method described in FIG. 24 is used and the user information 2 field located before the user information 3 field indicates the EHT TB PPDU, the HE TB PPDU is used when a UORA response is made in an RA-RU indicated by the user information 3 field.

[0396] In another embodiment, a user information field indicating an EHT TB PPDU is located after the intermediate padding field, and a user information field indicating a NEXT TB PPDU is located after the intermediate padding field.

[0397] Also, as an embodiment, when a UORA response is made based on a user information field present after the intermediate padding field, the response is made based on another PPDU format determination method described above. For example, referring to Figure 27(b), the PPDU format determination method described in Figure 24 is used. In this case, when a UORA response is made in an RA-RU indicated by User Info 5 present after the intermediate padding field, the response is made using the EHT TB PPDU indicated by the User Information 2 field. Also, when a UORA response is made in an RA-RU indicated by the User Information 7 field present after the intermediate padding field, the STA responds using the NEXT TB PPDU indicated by the User Information 6 field.

[0398] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a TB PPDU format determination method based on a user information field is used, and a TB PPDU format determination method based on an intermediate padding field is used. Also, there exists an RA-RU that is instructed to respond in the HE TB PPDU format, and such an RA-RU is referred to as an HE RA-RU.

[0399] There exists an RA-RU that is instructed to respond in the EHT TB PPDU format, and such an RA-RU is called an EHT RA-RU.

[0400] There is an RA-RU that is instructed to respond in the NEXT TB PPDU format, and such an RA-RU is called a NEXT RA-RU.

[0401] Referring to Figure 27(b), the RA-RU indicated by the user information 1 field is an HE RA-RU. This is because the TB PPDU format for the user information 1 field is not indicated or is indicated as an HE TB PPDU. Also, the RA-RU indicated by the user information 3 field is an HE RA-RU. This is because the user information 1 field exists before the intermediate padding field. Also, the RA-RU indicated by the user information 1 field is an EHT RA-RU. This is because the user information 1 field indicates an EHT TB PPDU format for the user information 1 field.

[0402] Also, the RA-RU indicated by the User Information 7 field is the NEXT RA-RU, because the User Information 6 field indicates the NEXT TB PPDU format for the User Information 7 field.

[0403] As another example, the HE RA-RU is an RA-RU whose AID12 subfield value is designated as 0 or 2045. Alternatively, the EHT RA-RU is an RA-RU whose AID12 subfield value is designated as a value indicating an RA-RU and indicating that it will respond with an EHT TB PPDU. Alternatively, the NEXT RA-RU is an RA-RU whose AID12 subfield value is designated as a value indicating an RA-RU and indicating that it will respond with a NEXT TB PPDU.

[0404] According to one embodiment, the STA decrements the OBO counter for all past, present, and future standard RA-RUs or selects an RU, and in this case, if a future standard RA-RU is selected as the RU to transmit, it will not transmit.

[0405] In another embodiment, the STA decreases the OBO counter for all past and current standard RA-RUs or selects an RU, and the STA does not decrease the OBO counter for future standard RA-RUs, and the STA does not select an RU for future standard RA-RUs.

[0406] In another embodiment, the STA decreases the OBO counter for all current standard RA-RUs or selects an RU, and the STA does not decrease the OBO counter for past or future standard RA-RUs, and does not select an RU for past or future standard RA-RUs.

[0407] According to yet another embodiment, the STA decreases the OBO counter for all current and future standard RA-RUs or selects an RU, and the STA does not decrease the OBO counter for past standard RA-RUs, and does not select an RU for past standard RA-RUs.

[0408] In addition, different combinations of the standard for decrementing the OBO counter and the standard for selecting the RU are used. Examples of such combinations are as follows:

[0409] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counters for the HE RA-RU, EHT RA-RU, and NEXT RA-RU. The EHT STA also selects a responding RU from the HE RA-RU, EHT RA-RU, and NEXT RA-RU. If the EHT STA selects the NEXT RA-RU, no transmission is performed.

[0410] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counters for the HE RA-RU, the EHT RA-RU, and the NEXT RA-RU, and selects a responding RU from among the HE RA-RU and the EHT RA-RU.

[0411] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counters for the HE RA-RU and the EHT RA-RU. The EHT STA also selects a responding RU from among the HE RA-RU, the EHT RA-RU, and the NEXT RA-RU. If the EHT STA selects the NEXT RA-RU, no transmission is performed.

[0412] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counters for the HE RA-RU and the EHT RA-RU, and selects a responding RU from among the HE RA-RU and the EHT RA-RU.

[0413] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for the EHT RA-RU. Also, the EHT STA does not decrement the OBO counter for the HE RA-RU or the NEXT RA-RU. Also, the EHT STA selects an RU to respond from among the EHT RA-RU. Also, the EHT STA does not select an RU to respond from among the HE RA-RU or the NEXT RA-RU.

[0414] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for the EHT RA-RU and the NEXT RA-RU. The EHT STA also selects a responding RU from the HE RA-RU, the EHT RA-RU, and the NEXT RA-RU. In this case, if the EHT STA selects the NEXT RA-RU, no transmission is performed.

[0415] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for the EHT RA-RU and the NEXT RA-RU, and selects a responding RU from the HE RA-RU and the EHT RA-RU.

[0416] According to one embodiment, the EHT STA decrements the OBO counter for the EHT RA-RU and the NEXT RA-RU, and selects a responding RU from among the EHT RA-RUs.

[0417] In addition, the decrement of the OBO counter based on the above-mentioned TB PPDU format and the selection of the RU depend on whether other transmission parameters are supported. The transmission parameters are values ​​indicated by the common information field or the corresponding user information field. For example, when determining whether to decrement the OBO counter for a certain standard RA-RU, it depends on whether other transmission parameters are supported. If other transmission parameters are supported, the counter can be decremented.

[0418] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an RA-RU is determined to be an eligible RA-RU based on the following conditions: For example, if all of the following conditions are satisfied, the RA-RU is determined to be an eligible RA-RU.

[0419] 1) Supports all transmission parameters of the common information field 2) Supports all transmission parameters of the user information field indicating the RA-RU 3) Supports the TB PPDU format indicated by the user information field indicating the TB PPDU format for the user information field.

[0420] Condition 3) is replaced by the following condition:

[0421] 3-1) Support the TB PPDU format indicated for the user information field In this case, the TB PPDU format indication method includes the methods of the above-mentioned embodiments, such as indication by trigger frame, indication by information field, indication by user information field, etc.

[0422] Condition 3) is replaced by condition 3-2) or 3-3) below.

[0423] 3-2) Support all transmission parameters indicated by other user information fields including information for the user information field. 3-3) Supports all transmission parameters indicated by other user information fields, including common information (information applicable to multiple STAs) for the user information field. Referring to Figure 27(b), the EHT STA determines an eligible RA-RU based on the trigger frame shown in Figure 27(b). At this time, the RA-RU indicated by the user information 1 field, user information 3 field, and user information 5 field is determined to be an eligible RA-RU. This is because the EHT STA transmits the HE TB PPDU and EHT TB PPDU. Also, the RA-RU indicated by the user information 7 field is not determined to be an eligible RA-RU. This is because the user information 6 field should transmit the NEXT TB PPDU when responding to the RU indicated by the user information 7 field, but the EHT STA cannot transmit the NEXT TB PPDU.

[0424] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user information field includes the number or length of specific user information fields that follow. For example, a user information field indicating a TB PPDU format includes the number or length of user information fields corresponding to the indicated TB PPDU format. For example, if an unsupported TB PPDU format is indicated, other user information fields are searched for based on the number or length included in the user information field. This is because a response to a trigger frame with an unsupported TB PPDU format is not indicated.

[0425] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a preset value that indicates the start of a padding field. The preset value is a value other than 4095. Or, the preset value is a value different from the value indicating an intermediate padding field. For example, this is because there may be cases where a padding field, not an intermediate padding field, needs to be indicated. Or, the preset value is a value between 2008 and 2044, or a value between 2047 and 4094. Also, the preset value is a value other than 1 to 2007, a value other than 0, a value other than 2045, a value other than 2046, or a value other than 4095.

[0426] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a determination method based on a UL length field included in a trigger frame. For example, there is a determination method based on a value obtained by modulating the UL length field value. For example, there is a determination method based on a value obtained by modulating the UL length field value by 3. There is a determination method based on whether the value obtained by modulating the UL length field value by 3 is 0. Furthermore, the determination method indicates a PPDU format. Alternatively, the determination method indicates whether a specific field exists (is included). Alternatively, the determination method indicates a method for interpreting a specific field. Alternatively, the determination method indicates the meaning of a value indicated by a specific field. Alternatively, the determination method indicates the length of a specific field.

[0427] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an A-MPDU includes multiple trigger frames, the contents of which may differ, and the A-MPDU or a PPDU including the A-MPDU includes signaling indicating whether the contents of the multiple trigger frames differ.

[0428] The STA also determines whether the contents of the multiple trigger frames are different based on the type of PPDU containing the A-MPDU. For example, the contents of the multiple trigger frames included in the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU may be different. This is also the case when an aggregated PPDU (A-PPDU) is supported. The A-PPDU is a PPDU in which multiple PPDUs are frequency division multiplexed. The multiple PPDUs are PPDUs of different standards.

[0429] FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating another example for indicating a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0430] As described above, a method for indicating a PPDU format in response to a triggering frame is required. For example, the PPDU format refers to the TB PPDU format. The embodiment of Figure 28 is a specific example of the above-mentioned TB PPDU format indication method. Also, in this embodiment, the content previously described is omitted.

[0431] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a format of a PPDU in response to a trigger frame is determined based on a user information field included in the trigger frame, or the format of a PPDU in response to the trigger frame is indicated via a user information field included in the trigger frame. In the present invention, the user information field that determines and indicates the format of a PPDU is referred to as a specific user information field.

[0432] According to one embodiment, the specific user information field is a user information field in which the AID12 subfield included in the specific user information field is set to a preset value. For example, the preset value is 2007. The preset value is a value that the AP does not assign as an AID (association ID).

[0433] Furthermore, the specific user information field has a different format from the other user information fields. That is, the specific user information field includes different subfields than the other user information fields. Furthermore, the specific user information field and the other user information fields both include the AID12 subfield in the same position. For example, the specific user information field and the user information field that is not the specific user information field have the AID12 subfield in the first 12 bits. For example, the specific user information field and the user information field that is not the specific user information field have B0 to B11 as the AID12 subfield.

[0434] The trigger frame also includes a subfield that indicates whether a specific user information field is included. The subfield that indicates whether a specific user information field is included is called the "Specific User Information Field Present" subfield. For example, the "Specific User Information Field Present" subfield is present in the common information field. For example, bit B55 of the common information field is the "Specific User Information Field Present" subfield. If the "Specific User Information Field Present" subfield is set to 1, the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field.

[0435] Also, if the Present subfield of the specific user information field is set to 0, the trigger frame includes the specific user information field because the 802.11ax standard sets B55 of the common information field to the preset value 1.

[0436] Since a STA receiving a trigger frame determines whether a specific user information field is included based on the specific user information field Present subfield, it is easier to implement the determination than when the specific user information field Present subfield is not present. Furthermore, when a trigger frame is received by a STA that is not associated with the AP that sent the trigger frame, the STA determines whether the user information field, in which the AID12 subfield is set to a preset value indicating the specific user information field, is a specific user information field (whether it indicates the 12 LSBs of the actual AID) based on the specific user information field Present subfield. For example, when indicating an RA-RU for an unassociated STA, if a trigger frame is received by a STA that is not associated with the AP that sent the trigger frame, it operates based on the trigger frame. Furthermore, the STA performs spatial reuse based on the trigger frame or TB PPDU from a BSS to which it is not associated.

[0437] Also, if the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, the specific user information field may be located at the front of the user information fields, or may be located immediately after the common information field, so that a STA receiving the trigger frame can easily parse the specific user information field.

[0438] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the format of a PPDU in response to a trigger frame is determined based on whether the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. For example, if the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, the format of the PPDU in response to the trigger frame is EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, if the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field, the format of the PPDU in response to the trigger frame is HE TB PPDU. As described above, there is a specific user information field Present subfield, which is signaling whether the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. Therefore, it can be said that the format of a PPDU in response to a trigger frame is determined based on the specific user information field Present subfield. For example, if the specific user information field Present subfield is set to 0, the format of the PPDU in response to the trigger frame is EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, if the specific user information field Present subfield is set to 1, the format of the PPDU in response to the trigger frame is HE TB PPDU.

[0439] If the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, the user information field included in the trigger frame is an EHT variant user information field. If the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field, the trigger frame does not include an EHT variant user information field. If the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field, the trigger frame includes only an HE variant user information field.

[0440] The RU indication method differs when the user information field is the EHT variant and when it is the HE variant. For example, the interpretation method of the user information field may differ depending on whether the RU allocation subfield included in the user information field is the EHT variant or the HE variant. For example, the RU allocation subfield included in the EHT variant user information field is encoded to indicate an RU supported by the EHT standard. Also, the RU Allocation subfield included in the HE variant user information field is encoded to indicate an RU supported by the HE standard.

[0441] Furthermore, when interpreting an RU indicated based on the EHT variant user information field, two or more subfields should be considered. The two or more subfields include an RU assignment subfield and a PS160 subfield. The RU assignment subfield is located immediately after the AID12 subfield as shown in FIG. 12. The RU assignment subfield is 8 bits long. The PS160 subfield indicates which subchannel the RU indicated by the RU assignment subfield is located on. The PS160 subfield also indicates which subchannel the RU indicated by the user information field is located on. Here, the unit for indicating which subchannel is the 160 MHz subchannel is the unit. The PS160 subfield indicates whether the indicated RU is located on the primary 160 MHz channel or the secondary 160 MHz channel. The PS160 subfield is located immediately before the Trigger Dependent user information field. The PS160 subfield is bit B39 of the user information field. The PS160 subfield is 1 bit long.

[0442] Furthermore, the interpretation of the RU indicated by the HE variant user information field is based on one subfield, which is the RU allocation subfield. That is, the location of the RU indicated by the HE variant user information field is determined based only on the RU allocation subfield included in the HE variant user information field.

[0443] Referring to FIG. 28, the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. Whether a user information field is a specific user information field is determined based on the AID12 subfield included in the user information field. For example, if the AID12 subfield included in the user information field has a preset value, the user information field is a specific user information field. Referring to FIG. 27, the preset value is 2007. Referring to FIG. 28, the specific user information field is located immediately after the common information field, at the front of the user information fields. Also, there is a specific user information field Present subfield, which is signaling indicating whether the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. Referring to FIG. 27, the specific user information field Present subfield is included in the common information field. If the specific user information field Present subfield is set to 0, the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. As shown in FIG. 27, if the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, the format of the response PPDU is an EHT TB PPDU.

[0444] According to a further embodiment, the format of a PPDU in response to the trigger frame is determined based on whether the trigger frame includes a specific user information field and on a subfield indicating a TB PPDU format. In the present invention, the subfield indicating a TB PPDU format is referred to as an HE / EHT P160 subfield. According to a more specific embodiment, the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates a TB PPDU format for a pre-configured channel. For example, the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates a TB PPDU format for a primary 160 MHz channel (P160 channel). For example, a value of 1 in the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates a response with an HE TB PPDU. Also, a value of 0 in the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates a response with an EHT TB PPDU. The HE / EHT P160 subfield is 1-bit.

[0445] 28, the HE / EHT P160 subfield is included in the common information field. More specifically, the HE / EHT P160 subfield is included in the bit B55 position of the common information field.

[0446] Therefore, when the TB PPDU format is indicated and determined based on the specific user information field and the HE / EHT P160 subfield, the following operation is performed. If the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the trigger frame response is made with an EHT TB PPDU. That is, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the trigger frame response is made with an EHT TB PPDU regardless of the assigned RU position. Also, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the specific user information field is always included. That is, the specific user information field Present subfield also indicates that the specific user information field is included.

[0447] If the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the TB PPDU format is indicated and determined based on the allocated RU location when the trigger frame responds. If the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE TB PPDU, the response is made with the HE TB PPDU if the allocated RU is included in the pre-configured channel indicated by the HE / EHT P160 subfield (e.g., P160 channel). Also, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE TB PPDU, the response is made with the EHT TB PPDU if the allocated RU is not included in the pre-configured channel indicated by the HE / EHT P160 subfield (e.g., P160 channel) (e.g., if the RU is included in the secondary 160 MHz channel (S160 channel)). Also, whether the allocated RU is included in the pre-configured channel depends on the RU Allocation subfield and the PS160 subfield. More specifically, if the preset channel is a P160 channel, whether the preset channel includes an assigned RU depends on the PS160 subfield.

[0448] Furthermore, indicating and determining the TB PPDU format based on the HE / EHT P160 subfield and the assigned RU location is limited to cases where the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. If the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, the trigger frame includes the HE / EHT P160 subfield and the PS160 subfield. If the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field, the HE TB PPDU is always used to respond to the trigger frame. Also, as described above, whether or not the specific user information field is included depends on the specific user information field Present subfield. Therefore, when the trigger frame is described as including or not including a specific user information field, it means that the specific user information field Present subfield is set to include or not include the specific user information field, respectively.

[0449] In the present invention, the description of instructing and determining the use of the EHT TB PPDU when responding to a trigger frame may be replaced with the description of instructing and determining the use of the EHT TB PPDU or the NEXT TB PPDU. Furthermore, whether to use the EHT TB PPDU or the NEXT TB PPDU is determined based on the format identifier subfield. That is, the TB PPDU format indicated by the format identifier subfield is used. For example, if the format identifier subfield indicates EHT, the EHT TB PPDU is used.

[0450] The specific user information field includes the AID12 subfield and information required for responding to the trigger frame. The information required for responding to the trigger frame includes information included in the preamble of the PPDU responding to the trigger frame. For example, the information required for responding to the trigger frame includes information included in the U-SIG field of the PPDU responding to the trigger frame. Figure 28 includes an example of information included in the U-SIG field. Referring to Figure 28, the specific user information field includes the AID12, PHY Version ID, UL Bandwidth Extension, Spatial Reuse 1, Spatial Reuse 2, U-SIG Disregard And Validate, Reserved, and Trigger Dependent user information fields.

[0451] Furthermore, the mentioned fields are positioned in the mentioned order and have the following bit counts: 12, 3, 2, 4, 4, 12, 3, and variable. The PHY Version ID field is the above-mentioned format identifier subfield, PHY version identifier subfield, or PHY version field. A STA responding to a trigger frame sets the U-SIG field included in the responding PPDU based on the specific user information field included in the trigger frame. For example, the STA copies the subfield value included in the specific user information field into the subfield including the responding U-SIG field. The subfields copied into the subfield included in the U-SIG field are the PHY Version ID, Spatial Reuse 1, Spatial Reuse 2, and U-SIG Disregard And Validate subfields.

[0452] Alternatively, the subfield included in the U-SIG field of the responding PPDU is set based on the subfield value included in the specific user information field. The subfield for setting the U-SIG field based on the subfield included in the specific user information field is the UL Bandwidth Extension subfield. For example, the bandwidth (BW) subfield included in the U-SIG field of the responding PPDU is set based on the UL Bandwidth Extension subfield included in the specific user information field and the UL BW subfield included in the common information field (see FIG. 12).

[0453] In addition, the presence and length of the Trigger Dependent user information field included in the specific user information field depend on the type of the trigger frame. That is, the presence and length of the Trigger Dependent user information field included in the specific user information field depend on the variant of the trigger frame. The type of the trigger frame is indicated and determined by the Trigger Type subfield (see FIG. 12) included in the common information field.

[0454] As described above, even when instructing a response PPDU format based on the specific user information field, if RA-RU is instructed with an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045, even if the specific user information field is included in the trigger frame and instructed to respond with an EHT TB PPDU, the HE STA may not recognize the specific user information field and may respond with an HE TB PPDU. A method for solving this problem will be described below, which is a more specific embodiment of the above content.

[0455] FIG. 29 illustrates an example of a method for indicating an uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFA) based random access (UORA) operation and a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0456] The embodiment described in Figure 29 is a more specific embodiment of the embodiment described in Figures 24 to 27. The embodiment described in Figure 29 is used together with the method described in Figure 28. The content previously described has been omitted.

[0457] According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the AID12 subfield value indicating an RA-RU is 0 or 2045, it indicates that a response should be made with an EHT TB PPDU when transmitting to the RA-RU. Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there are AID12 subfield values ​​other than 0 or 2045 that indicate an RA-RU. An AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates an RA-RU indicates that a response should be made with the above-mentioned EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU, and is an AID12 subfield value that indicates an RA-RU. An AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates an RA-RU is set for a user information field included in a trigger frame that includes a specific user information field. That is, an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates an RA-RU is used in conjunction with a TB PPDU format indication method based on a specific user information field.

[0458] The AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU is one of the values ​​2008 to 2044 or 2047 to 4094. For example, the AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU is 2047. The AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU exists as values ​​that are different for associated STAs and for non-associated STAs. For example, the AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU that an associated STA can transmit is 2047. For example, the AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU that an non-associated STA can transmit is 2048.

[0459] According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the AID12 subfield value is 0 or 2045, the user information field including the AID12 subfield is the HE variant User Info.

[0460] According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the AID12 subfield value is other than 0 or 2045 indicating RA-RU, the user information field including the AID12 subfield is EHT variant User Info.

[0461] Furthermore, the STA (for example, AP) that transmits the trigger frame sets and generates the trigger frame as follows.

[0462] For channels where the trigger frame indicates a response with an EHT TB PPDU by the method described in Figure 28, etc., it does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045. It does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 for the S160 channel. In other words, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 does not indicate an RA-RU included in the S160 channel. Also, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates EHT, it does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045. More specifically, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates EHT, it does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 for the RU of the P160 channel.

[0463] When instructing RA-RU for a channel instructing a response with an EHT TB PPDU, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU is included. That is, when instructing RA-RU for an S160 channel, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU is included. Also, when instructing RA-RU for a P160 channel and the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates EHT, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU is included. Also, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU is included in a trigger frame that includes a specific user information field.

[0464] For a channel in which the trigger frame indicates a response with an HE TB PPDU by the method described in Figure 28 etc., the trigger frame does not include a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU. In other words, when the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates HE, the trigger frame does not include a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 that indicates RA-RU for the P160 channel.

[0465] In addition, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to a value other than 0 or 2045 indicating RA-RU may not be included in a trigger frame that does not include a specific user information field. When specifying RA-RU for a channel indicating a response with an HE TB PPDU, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to a value of 0 or 2045 is included. If the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates HE, a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is included for the P160 channel.

[0466] Furthermore, the STA responding to the trigger frame performs the following operations.

[0467] A STA responding to an RA-RU in response to a trigger frame determines the TB PPDU format by the method described in Figure 27 etc. In other words, a STA responding to an RA-RU indicated by a trigger frame determines the TB PPDU format based on the specific user information field, HE / EHT P160 subfield, and PS160 subfield. Also, when a STA responds to a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045, it uses the HE TB PPDU. When a STA responds to a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU, it uses the EHT TB PPDU.

[0468] More specifically, if the STA responds to a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU when the trigger frame includes a specific user information field in which the PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the STA uses the EHT TB PPDU. Even more specifically, if the STA responds to a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU when the trigger frame includes a specific user information field in which the PHY Version ID field indicates a standard other than EHT, the STA does not use the EHT TB PPDU. Also, if the STA responds to a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU when the trigger frame includes a specific user information field in which the PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the STA decrements the OBO counter or selects an RA-RU to transmit when the user information field is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. Furthermore, if the trigger frame includes a specific user information field whose PHY Version ID field indicates a standard (value) other than EHT, the STA does not decrement the OBO counter for the user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU, and does not select an RA-RU for transmission. Alternatively, if the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field whose PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the STA does not use an EHT TB PPDU when responding to a user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. Alternatively, if the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field whose PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the STA does not decrement the OBO counter for the user information field whose AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU, and does not select an RA-RU for transmission.

[0469] According to one embodiment, a STA responding to a trigger frame maintains one OBO counter. The STA uses the same OBO counter for 1) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045, and 2) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. Furthermore, when the OBO counter becomes 0 or is smaller than or equal to the number of eligible RA-RUs, the STA selects an RU to use for UORA transmission from both 1) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045, and 2) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU.

[0470] Then, the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU is selected by the method described in Figure 27, etc. Alternatively, the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU is determined based on the AID12 subfield value included in the user information field indicating the selected RU. If the selected RU is indicated by AID12 subfield 0 or 2045, it responds using the HE TB PPDU format. If the selected RU is indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU, it responds using the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0471] According to another embodiment, an EHT STA responding to the trigger frame uses an OBO counter for RA-RUs indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. An OBO counter may not be used for RA-RUs indicated by an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045. Furthermore, if the OBO counter becomes 0 or is smaller than or equal to the number of eligible RA-RUs, the STA selects an RU to use for UORA transmission from among RA-RUs indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. An RU to use for UORA transmission is not used from among RA-RUs indicated by an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045.

[0472] According to another embodiment, a STA responding to a trigger frame maintains multiple OBO counters. Each of the multiple OBO counters corresponds to a standard TB PPDU. For example, two OBO counters are maintained. The two OBO counters correspond to 1) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value of 0 or 2045, and 2) an RA-RU indicated by an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU. Each OBO counter is decremented for each RA-RU, and an RU to transmit is selected from among the RA-RUs corresponding to the OBO counter when the OBO counter reaches 0 or when the OBO counter is equal to or smaller than the number of indicated RA-RUs. If multiple OBO counters for the same trigger frame reach 0 or when the OBO counter is equal to or smaller than the number of indicated RA-RUs, an RU to transmit is selected from among the RA-RUs corresponding to the multiple OBO counters.

[0473] In the above embodiment, the description that the OBO counter becomes 0 includes the case where the OBO counter is equal to or smaller than the number of eligible RA-RUs even if the OBO counter is not actually decremented. In addition, the OBO counter is reset when starting a UORA operation or after transmitting a PPDU by the UORA operation. In this case, the OBO counter is reset by arbitrarily selecting an integer equal to or greater than 0 within a set range. The set range is determined based on a UORA Parameter Set element. The set range is an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) contention window (OCW) range. Alternatively, the set range is an OCW.

[0474] User information fields with AID12 subfields set with AID12 subfield values ​​other than 0 or 2045, which indicate RA-RU, occur after user information fields with AID12 subfields set to 1 through 2007.

[0475] 29, the trigger frame includes a specific user information field, which is a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to a preset value of 2007. The specific user information field is located at the front of the user information fields.

[0476] Whether a specific user information field is included in the trigger frame is indicated by the specific user information field Present subfield included in the common information field. If the specific user information field Present subfield value is 0, it indicates that the trigger frame includes a specific user information field.

[0477] If the value of the Present subfield of the specific user information field is 1, it indicates that the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field. A STA responding to a trigger frame including a specific user information field responds using an EHT TB PPDU. The trigger frame also indicates an RA-RU. If the trigger frame indicates an RA-RU responding with an EHT TB PPDU, the AID12 subfield of the user information field (User Info 3) indicating the RA-RU is set to a preset value. The preset value is a value that is not 0 or 2045. The preset value indicates that the user information field including the preset value indicates an RA-RU and that an EHT TB PPDU should be used when responding to the RA-RU.

[0478] When responding with an RA-RU, the STA determines the TB PPDU format based on the AID12 subfield value indicating the selected RA-RU. When responding with an RA-RU, the STA responds using the EHT TB PPDU format if the AID12 subfield value indicating the selected RA-RU is 0 or 2045. When responding with an RA-RU, the STA responds using the EHT TB PPDU format if the AID12 subfield value indicating the selected RA-RU is neither 0 nor 2045. In addition, the determination of whether to respond using the EHT TB PPDU is based on the PHY Version ID field including the specific user information field. For example, if the PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the STA responds with the RA-RU using the EHT TB PPDU format. If the PHY Version ID field indicates a value other than EHT, the STA cannot respond with the RA-RU using the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0479] FIG. 30 illustrates another example of a method for indicating an uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (UORA) based random access and a TB PPDU format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0480] The embodiment described in Figure 30 is a more specific embodiment of the embodiment described in Figures 24 to 27. The embodiment described in Figure 30 is used in conjunction with the method described in Figure 28. The content previously described has been omitted.

[0481] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the trigger frame includes a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to a preset value. The preset value is 4095. The user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to a preset value is the intermediate padding field described above. The AID12 subfield is a 12-bit field located at the front of the intermediate padding field. That is, bits B0 to B11 of the intermediate padding field indicate the AID12 subfield.

[0482] The intermediate padding field has the same length as other user information fields included in the trigger frame, or has the same length as other user information fields included in the trigger frame except when the trigger frame is an MU-BAR trigger frame, or has the same length as a specific user information field included in the trigger frame, or has no Trigger Dependent user information field included in the intermediate padding field except when the trigger frame is an MU-BAR trigger frame.

[0483] Alternatively, the intermediate padding field is 40 bits unless the trigger frame is an MU-BAR trigger frame. Trigger frames that are not MU-BAR trigger frames include Basic trigger frames, Beamforming Report Poll (BFRP) trigger frames, MU-RTS trigger frames, Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) trigger frames, GCR MU-BAR trigger frames, Bandwidth Query Report Poll (BQRP) trigger frames, and NDP Feedback Report Poll (NFRP) trigger frames. Trigger frames containing Trigger Type subfield values ​​of 0 to 7 indicate Basic trigger frames, Beamforming Report Poll (BFRP) trigger frames, MU-RTS trigger frames, Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) trigger frames, GCR MU-BAR trigger frames, Bandwidth Query Report Poll (BQRP) trigger frames, and NDP Feedback Report Poll (NFRP) trigger frames, respectively.

[0484] Therefore, the intermediate padding field included in the GCR MU-BAR trigger frame is 40 bits long, excluding the Trigger Dependent user information field. The intermediate padding field has the same length as the specific user information field. The specific user information field included in the GCR MU-BAR trigger frame is 40 bits long, excluding the Trigger Dependent user information field.

[0485] The specific user information field included in the Basic trigger frame or BFRP trigger frame is 1 octet in length. All subfields of the specific user information field included in the Basic trigger frame or BFRP trigger frame are reserved. If a subfield is reserved, all bits are set to 0.

[0486] The specific user information field included in the MU-BAR trigger frame is a 4-octet Trigger Dependent user information field, and the Bar Type subfield included in the Trigger Dependent user information field indicates Compressed BlockAckReq, with the remaining subfields being reserved.

[0487] Alternatively, the specific user information field included in the MU-BAR trigger frame has a 6-octet Trigger Dependent user information field. Also, the Bar Type subfield included in the Trigger Dependent user information field indicates Multi-TID BlockAckReq, and the BAR control subfield included in the Trigger Dependent user information field indicates the number of TIDs as 1. The number of TIDs is indicated by the TID_INFO subfield. The subfields included in the Trigger Dependent user information field, except for the Bar Type subfield and TID_INFO subfield, are reserved.

[0488] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the STA performs different operations depending on whether the user information field indicating the RA-RU contained in the received trigger frame is before or after the intermediate padding field.

[0489] For example, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in a received trigger frame is located before an intermediate padding field, the STA responds to the RA-RU using the HE TB PPDU format. Alternatively, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in a received trigger frame is located before an intermediate padding field, the user information field is an HE variant user information field.

[0490] Also, if the user information field indicating the RA-RU included in the received trigger frame is present after the intermediate padding field, the STA responds using the EHT TB PPDU format when responding to the RA-RU. Alternatively, for example, if the user information field indicating the RA-RU included in the received trigger frame is present after the intermediate padding field, the user information field is an EHT variant user information field.

[0491] According to another embodiment, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in a received trigger frame is located before an intermediate padding field, the STA responds using the HE TB PPDU format when responding to the RA-RU. Alternatively, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in a received trigger frame is located before an intermediate padding field, the user information field is an HE variant user information field. Furthermore, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in a received trigger frame is located after an intermediate padding field, the STA responds using the TB PPDU format determined based on the method described in FIG. 27 when responding to the RA-RU.

[0492] Alternatively, for example, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU included in the received trigger frame is present after the intermediate padding field, the STA determines whether the user information field is an HE variant user information field or an EHT variant user information field according to the method described in Figure 27. The method described in Figure 27 refers to a method based on the presence or absence of a specific user information field, the specific user information field Present subfield, the HE / EHT P160 subfield, the PS160 subfield, etc.

[0493] For example, if a user information field indicating an RA-RU exists after the intermediate padding field, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE and the user information field indicates an RU existing in (included within) the P160 channel, the user information field is an HE variant user information field, and an HE TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field.

[0494] If a user information field indicating an RA-RU is present after the intermediate padding field, the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE, and if the user information field indicates an RU present on the S160 channel, the user information field is an EHT variant user information field, and an EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field. If a user information field indicating an RA-RU is present after the intermediate padding field, and the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT, the user information field is an EHT variant user information field, and an EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field.

[0495] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the statement that the user information field is an EHT variant user information field and that the EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field can be expanded to the statement that the user information field is an EHT variant user information field or a NEXT variant user information field and that the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field. In this case, if the PHY Version ID field included in a specific user information field indicates EHT, the user information field is an EHT variant user information field and the EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field. In addition, if the PHY Version ID field included in a specific user information field indicates NEXT, the user information field is a NEXT variant user information field and the NEXT TB PPDU is used when responding to the user information field.

[0496] Furthermore, the STA (for example, AP) that transmits the trigger frame sets and generates the trigger frame as follows.

[0497] According to one embodiment, a user information field indicating an RA-RU is positioned after the intermediate padding field to instruct the RA-RU to respond with an EHT TB PPDU. Also, a user information field that triggers an HE STA other than an EHT STA (including dedicated and scheduled STAs) is positioned before the intermediate padding field, but not after it. Also, a user information field positioned after the intermediate padding field is a user information field that triggers an EHT STA (including dedicated and scheduled STAs).

[0498] Furthermore, the STA responding to the trigger frame performs the following operations.

[0499] According to one embodiment, a STA responding to a trigger frame maintains one OBO counter. The STA uses the same OBO counter for 1) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field existing before the intermediate padding field and 2) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field existing after the intermediate padding field. Furthermore, when the OBO counter becomes 0 or is smaller than or equal to the number of eligible RA-RUs, the STA selects an RU to use for UORA transmission from both 1) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field existing before the intermediate padding field and 2) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field existing after the intermediate padding field. Then, the STA selects a TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU according to the methods described in Figures 28, 30, etc.

[0500] Alternatively, the TB PPDU format corresponding to the selected RU is determined based on the position of the user information field indicating the selected RU. If the user information field indicating the selected RU is located before the intermediate padding field, the response is made using the HE TB PPDU format. If the user information field indicating the selected RU is located after the intermediate padding field, the response is made using the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0501] According to another embodiment, an EHT STA responding to the trigger frame uses an OBO counter for the RA-RUs indicated by the user information fields present after the intermediate padding fields, and does not use an OBO counter for the RA-RUs indicated by the user information fields present before the intermediate padding fields. Also, if the OBO counter becomes 0 or is equal to or smaller than the number of eligible RA-RUs, the STA selects an RU to be used for UORA transmission from among the RA-RUs indicated by the user information fields present after the intermediate padding fields. The STA does not use an RU to be used for UORA transmission from among the RA-RUs indicated by the user information fields present before the intermediate padding fields.

[0502] According to another embodiment, the STA responding to the trigger frame maintains multiple OBO counters. Each of the multiple OBO counters corresponds to a standard TB PPDU. For example, two OBO counters are maintained. The two OBO counters correspond to 1) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field located before the intermediate padding field, and 2) the RA-RU indicated by the user information field located after the intermediate padding field. Each OBO counter is decremented for each RA-RU, and an RU to transmit is selected from among the RA-RUs whose OBO counters correspond to the OBO counters whose OBO counters are 0 or are equal to or smaller than the number of indicated RA-RUs.

[0503] If multiple OBO counters reach 0 for the same trigger frame, or if the OBO counter is smaller than or equal to the number of specified RA-RUs, an RU to transmit from among the RA-RUs corresponding to the multiple OBO counters is selected.

[0504] In the above embodiments, the description that the OBO counter becomes 0 includes the case where the OBO counter is equal to or smaller than the number of eligible RA-RUs even if the OBO counter is not actually decreased. In addition, the OBO counter is reset when starting a UORA operation or after transmitting a PPDU by the UORA operation. In this case, the OBO counter is reset by arbitrarily selecting an integer equal to or greater than 0 within a set range. The set range is determined based on a UORA parameter set element. The set range is an OCW range. Alternatively, the set range is an OCW.

[0505] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for distinguishing between an intermediate padding field and a padding field is required. This is because the values ​​of the first many bits of both an intermediate padding field and a padding field are set to the same value. For example, the values ​​of the first 12 bits of both an intermediate padding field and a padding field are set to 1. The padding field is the field before the FCS included in the trigger frame. Alternatively, the padding field may be the last field included in the trigger frame excluding the FCS. The FCS is the last 4 octets included in the trigger frame.

[0506] In one embodiment, the padding field contains all bits set to 1. The padding field is intended to allow time for STAs receiving the trigger frame to prepare a response. The padding field is at least 2 octets long.

[0507] The intermediate padding field includes a bit set to a value other than 1. For example, at least one preset bit among the bits of the intermediate padding field is set to a value other than 1. More specifically, at least one preset bit among the bits of the intermediate padding field excluding the AID12 subfield is set to a value other than 1. The at least one preset bit is the 13th bit from the front in the intermediate padding field, or the bit with bit index B12. Therefore, a STA receiving an intermediate padding field distinguishes whether it is an intermediate padding field or a padding field based on the value of the at least one preset bit. If the previous 12 bits (B0 to B11) at the position of the AID12 subfield of User Info in the trigger frame received by the STA are all set to 1, and if the preset bit next to the 12 bits is 0, it indicates that an intermediate padding field has been received. If the preset bit next to the 12 bits is 1, it indicates that a padding field has been received.

[0508] In another embodiment, if the STA assumes that there is a user information field 1 containing all bits set to 1 in an AID12 subfield position, the user information field immediately following the user information field 1 is user information field 2. If there is no user information field 2 following user information field 1, user information field 1 is a padding field. Alternatively, if there is a user information field 2 following user information field 1 and the value of the AID12 subfield contained in user information field 2 is 4095 (4095 if all bits are set to 1), user information field 1 and user information field 2 are padding fields. Alternatively, if there is a user information field 2 following user information field 1 and the value of the AID12 subfield contained in user information field 2 is not 4095 (4095 if all bits are set to 1), user information field 1 is an intermediate padding field.

[0509] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a trigger frame includes a plurality of intermediate padding fields. In each of the plurality of intermediate padding fields included in the trigger frame, the position of the AID12 subfield, i.e., the first 12 bits, are set to 1. In each of the plurality of intermediate padding fields included in the trigger frame, bits excluding the position of the AID12 subfield are set to different values. For example, in one of the plurality of intermediate padding fields included in the trigger frame, the first bit excluding the position of the AID12 subfield is set to 0. In another of the plurality of intermediate padding fields included in the trigger frame, the second bit excluding the position of the AID12 subfield is set to 0.

[0510] Referring to FIG. 30, the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. The specific user information field is a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to the preset value 2007. The specific user information field is located at the front of the user information fields. Whether the specific user information field is included in the trigger frame is indicated by the specific user information field Present subfield included in the common information field. If the specific user information field Present subfield value is 0, it indicates that the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. If the specific user information field Present subfield value is 1, it indicates that the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field. A STA responding to a trigger frame including a specific user information field responds using an EHT TB PPDU. The trigger frame also indicates an RA-RU. The AID12 subfield included in the user information field indicating an RA-RU is set to 0 or 2045. The trigger frame includes an intermediate padding field. The TB PPDU format is determined based on the position of the user information field indicating the RA-RU included in the trigger frame. If the user information field indicating the RA-RU included in the trigger frame is located before the intermediate padding field, the EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the RA-RU. If the user information field indicating the RA-RU included in the trigger frame is located after the intermediate padding field, the EHT TB PPDU is used when responding to the RA-RU. In addition, the determination of whether to respond using the EHT TB PPDU is based on the PHY Version ID field including a specific user information field. For example, if the PHY Version ID field indicates EHT, the RA-RU responds using the EHT TB PPDU format. If the PHY Version ID field indicates a value other than EHT, the RA-RU cannot respond using the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0511] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the location of the user information field where the AID12 subfield is set to a value based on the AID of the STA is preset. The user information field where the AID12 subfield is set to a value based on the AID of the STA triggers one STA.

[0512] In one embodiment, any user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to a value based on the AID of the STA is located before the intermediate padding field, which has the advantage that STAs that do not use UORA do not need to distinguish between the intermediate padding field and the padding field.

[0513] In another embodiment, among the user information fields in which the AID12 subfield is set to a value based on the AID of the STA, the user information fields that trigger 1) EHT STA or 2) STAs that are not HE STAs are both present after the intermediate padding field. In this case, the intermediate padding field cannot be recognized as an intermediate padding field, and the HE STA that recognizes it as a padding field does not parse the user information field after the intermediate padding field. Therefore, the HE STA can save power.

[0514] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an intermediate padding field is included in the NFRP trigger frame. The NFRP trigger frame is a frame in which the user information field indicates the AID range of the STAs that will respond. For example, the user information field included in the NFRP trigger frame indicates a Starting AID. The user information field included in the NFRP trigger frame also indicates the number of STAs that can respond. The number of STAs that can respond is based on the bandwidth (UL BW of the trigger frame) and the multiplexing flag (Number of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield) included in the user information field. The response to the NFRP trigger frame is an NDP. The NDP is a PPDU that includes only a PPDU preamble. According to one embodiment, AID values ​​are arbitrarily assigned to multiple STAs. Therefore, when the NFRP trigger frame indicates an AID range, STAs with AIDs in that range may support different standards. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain responses of the same standard to the NFRP trigger frame. Therefore, an intermediate padding field is included to spoof STAs that only support a certain standard to the NFRP trigger frame. For example, an intermediate padding field is included in order to obtain an NDP response consisting of an EHT PPDU in response to the NFRP trigger frame. Therefore, the HE STA recognizes the intermediate padding field as padding and does not respond. The method described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 29 determines whether to respond with an EHT PPDU or a NEXT PPDU. For example, if the user information field included in the NFRP trigger frame is located before the intermediate padding field, the HE STA responds with an NDP that is an EHT PPDU when responding to the user information field. Also, if the user information field included in the NFRP trigger frame is located after the intermediate padding field, the HE STA responds with an NDP that is an EHT PPDU or a NEXT PPDU when responding to the user information field. Whether to use an EHT PPDU or a NEXT PPDU depends on the format identifier included in the trigger frame.More specifically, whether to use the EHT PPDU or the NEXT PPDU is based on the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field.

[0515] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating the setting of a trigger frame according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0516] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the trigger frame includes multiple user-specific information fields. The user-specific information fields are the user-specific information fields of the embodiments described above. The embodiment described in Figure 31 may also be used in conjunction with the embodiments described in Figures 28 to 30.

[0517] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the PHY Version ID field included in each of multiple specific user information fields included in the trigger frame is set to a different value. The PHY Version ID field included in one specific user information field among multiple specific user information fields included in the trigger frame is set to a value corresponding to EHT, and the PHY Version ID field included in another specific user information field is set to a value corresponding to NEXT.

[0518] Referring to FIG. 31(a), a user-specific information field with the PHY Version ID field set to a value corresponding to EHT immediately follows the common information field.

[0519] If the trigger frame includes multiple specific user information fields, the multiple specific user information fields are arranged in the order of the PHY Version ID field values ​​included in each specific user information field. If the trigger frame includes multiple specific user information fields, the multiple specific user information fields are arranged immediately after the common information field.

[0520] Referring to FIG. 31(a), a specific user information field in which the PHY Version ID field is set to a value corresponding to EHT is followed by a specific user information field in which the PHY Version ID field is set to a value corresponding to NEXT.

[0521] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the STA instructs the RA-RU according to the methods described in Figures 28 to 30 and receives a user information field instructing it to respond with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU. The operation in this case is described below. Below, the descriptions "can respond to the RA-RU" and "cannot respond to the RA-RU" mean that the RA-RU is determined to be an eligible RA-RU or is not determined to be an eligible RA-RU, respectively. In addition, for an eligible RA-RU, the OBO counter is decremented or the RA-RU is selected as an RU to transmit, and for an RU that is not eligible RA-RU, the OBO counter cannot be decremented or the RA-RU cannot be selected as an RU to transmit.

[0522] According to one embodiment, if the trigger frame received by the STA does not include any specific user information field, the STA responds to the RA-RU using an HE TB PPDU.

[0523] According to one embodiment, when a trigger frame received by a STA includes one specific user information field, if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field is a standard supported by the STA, the STA responds to the RA-RU using a TB PPDU of the standard indicated by the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field. When a trigger frame received by a STA includes one specific user information field, if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field is a standard not supported by the STA, the STA cannot respond to the RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame. In addition, the specific user information field received by the STA is a field located immediately after the common information field. In other words, the STA determines whether or not it can respond to the RA-RU based on the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field located immediately after the common information field received by the STA. For example, when a trigger frame received by an EHT STA includes one specific user information field, the EHT STA responds to an RA-RU using an EHT TB PPDU if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field is EHT. When a trigger frame received by an EHT STA includes one specific user information field, the EHT STA cannot respond to an RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field is not EHT.

[0524] Referring to Figure 31(b), the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. The PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field indicates the NEXT standard. The trigger frame also includes User Info 2 and User Info 3. Furthermore, the User Info 2 indicates the RA-RU that responds with the HE TB PPDU in the manner described with reference to Figures 28 to 30.

[0525] 28 to 30, the User Information 3 field indicates the RA-RU that responds with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU. Therefore, an EHT STA that receives the trigger frame can respond to the User Information 2 field, but in this case, it uses the EHT TB PPDU.

[0526] Also, an EHT STA receiving the trigger frame cannot respond to User Info 3. The reason why the EHT STA cannot respond to the User Info 3 field is because the EHT STA does not support the standard indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific User Information field included in the trigger frame.

[0527] According to one embodiment, when a trigger frame received by a STA includes multiple specific user information fields, if the value indicated by at least one of the PHY Version ID fields included in the multiple specific user information fields is a standard supported by the STA, the STA responds to the RA-RU using a TB PPDU of the standard indicated by the indicated value.When a trigger frame received by a STA includes multiple specific user information fields, if the values ​​indicated by the PHY Version ID fields included in the multiple specific user information fields are all standards not supported by the STA, the STA cannot respond to the RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame.

[0528] Alternatively, if the trigger frame received by the STA includes multiple specific user information fields, the STA responds to the RA-RU using a TB PPDU of the standard indicated by the specified value if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field located immediately after the common information field is a standard supported by the STA. If the trigger frame received by the STA includes multiple specific user information fields, the STA cannot respond to the RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame if the value indicated by the PHY Version ID field included in the specific user information field located immediately after the common information field is a standard not supported by the STA.

[0529] Referring to Figure 31(a), the User Information 3 field included in the trigger frame indicates the RA-RU that responds with an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU according to the methods described in Figures 27 to 30. The trigger frame also includes Special User Info with the PHY Version ID field set to EHT. The specific user information field with the PHY Version ID field set to EHT is located immediately after the common information field.

[0530] Furthermore, the trigger frame includes a specific user information field with a PHY Version ID field set to NEXT. The specific user information field with a PHY Version ID field set to NEXT is located after the specific user information field with a PHY Version ID field set to EHT. In this case, an EHT STA receiving the trigger frame can respond to the User Information 3 field because the trigger frame includes a specific user information field with a PHY Version ID field set to EHT.

[0531] According to one embodiment, when a trigger frame received by a STA includes multiple specific user information fields, the STA responds to an RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame if the value indicated by at least one of the PHY Version ID fields included in the multiple specific user information fields is a standard that the STA does not support. When a trigger frame received by a STA includes multiple specific user information fields, the STA can respond to an RA-RU indicated by the trigger frame if the values ​​indicated by the PHY Version ID fields included in the multiple specific user information fields are all standards that the STA supports.

[0532] According to another embodiment, a trigger frame including multiple specific user information fields does not include a user information field indicating an RA-RU. Therefore, in such a case, the user information field indicating an RA-RU is included in the trigger frame only if the trigger frame includes a specific user information field or includes only one specific user information field. In addition, in such a case, it is determined whether the RA-RU is capable of responding according to the above-described embodiment. That is, if the trigger frame does not include a specific user information field, it responds with an HE TB PPDU to the indicated RA-RU. If the trigger frame includes only one specific user information field, and this indicates that it should respond with an HE TB PPDU according to the methods described in Figures 28 to 30, it responds with an HE TB PPDU to the indicated RA-RU.

[0533] If the trigger frame includes only one specific user information field, and indicates a response with an EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU according to the method described in Figures 28 to 30, it is determined whether the indicated RU is a RA-RU that can respond based on the PHY Version ID field indicated by the specific user information field.

[0534] According to one embodiment of the present invention, if the PHY Version ID subfield included in the specific user information field included in the received trigger frame indicates a standard that the STA does not support, the STA ignores the content after the specific user information field. Alternatively, if the PHY Version ID subfield values ​​included in multiple specific user information fields included in the received trigger frame indicate standards that the STA does not support, the STA ignores the rest of the trigger frame. This allows the STA to save power.

[0535] According to one embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the specific user information field is located immediately after the common information field and is the foremost of the user information fields, except that the intermediate padding field is located before the specific user information field. That is, the intermediate padding field is located immediately after the common information field. In this case, the specific user information field does not include a Trigger Dependent user information field regardless of the Trigger Type. In other words, the specific user information field is 40 bits.

[0536] FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating trigger frame configuration and UORA operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0537] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user information field indicates and determines which TB PPDU variant to indicate, or which TB PPDU format to use when responding to the trigger frame, based on a number of subfields included in the trigger frame. In the present invention, the content previously described is omitted. This embodiment also describes the content described in FIG. 28 and other figures in a different way.

[0538] According to the embodiment described in FIG. 28, if the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an EHT TB PPDU (i.e., if the subfield value is set to 0), the EHT responds with an EHT TB PPDU. Also, if 1) the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE TB PPDU (i.e., if the subfield value is set to 1), or 2) the PS160 subfield indicates P160 (i.e., if the subfield value is set to 0), the EHT responds with an EHT TB PPDU. Also, if 1) the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE TB PPDU (i.e., if the subfield value is set to 1), or 2) the PS160 subfield indicates S160 (i.e., if the subfield value is set to 1), the EHT responds with an EHT TB PPDU.

[0539] In addition, when responding with an HE TB PPDU, it is the same as when the corresponding user information field is an HE variant user information field instructing transmission of an HE TB PPDU, and when responding with an EHT TB PPDU, it is the same as when the corresponding user information field is an EHT variant user information field.

[0540] Alternatively, when responding to the HE variant user information field, EHT variant user information field, or NEXT variant user information field, the HE TB PPDU, EHT TB PPDU, or NEXT TB PPDU is used, respectively.

[0541] To summarize the example, if 1) the HE / EHT P160 subfield indicates an HE TB PPDU (i.e., the subfield value is set to 1), and 2) the PS160 subfield of the user information field indicates P160 (i.e., the subfield value is set to 0), the user information field is an HE variant user information field. In other cases (i.e., if the HE / EHT P160 subfield and PS160 subfield are 1) set to 1 and 1, respectively, or 2) set to 0 and 1, respectively, or 3) set to 0 and 0, respectively), the user information field is an EHT variant user information field.

[0542] Referring to Figure 28, the HE / EHT P160 subfield is included in the common information field. More specifically, the HE / EHT P160 subfield is included in the bit B54 position of the common information field. Also referring to Figure 28, the Special User Info Present subfield is included in the common information field. More specifically, the Special User Info Present The subfield is contained in bit B55 position of the common information field.

[0543] This embodiment relates to the TB PPDU format indication method described in Fig. 28. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045 is not set in the EHT variant user information field. That is, a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045 is not instructed to be responded to by an EHT TB PPDU. Furthermore, a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU is not set in the HE variant user information field. That is, a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU is not set to be responded to by an HE TB PPDU.

[0544] Furthermore, even if there are restrictions on the above-mentioned methods and indication methods, there is a response method for when the STA (AP) transmitting the trigger frame does not properly implement them. According to one embodiment of the present invention, if a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 in the received trigger frame is set in the EHT variant user information field, the user information field is ignored. Alternatively, the RU indicated by the user information field is not determined to be an eligible RA-RU. Alternatively, the OBO counter for the RA-RU corresponding to the user information field is decremented, but the OBO counter is set to 0 or not used as an RA-RU selected for transmission.

[0545] According to one embodiment of the present invention, if a user information field in a received trigger frame in which the AID12 subfield is set to an AID12 subfield value other than 0 or 2045 indicating an RA-RU is set in the HE variant user information field, the user information field is ignored. Alternatively, the RU indicated by the user information field is not determined to be an eligible RA-RU. Alternatively, the OBO counter for the RA-RU corresponding to the user information field is decremented, but the OBO counter is set to 0 or the RA-RU is not used as an RA-RU to be selected for transmission.

[0546] An embodiment of the present invention relates to the TB PPDU format indication method described in Figure 30. According to this embodiment, when a user information field with an AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is set in an EHT variant user information field, the user information field is not positioned before the mid-padding field. That is, when a user information field with an AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is set in an EHT variant user information field, the user information field is not positioned at a position indicating that a response should be made with an HE TB PPDU. Furthermore, when a user information field with an AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is set in an HE variant user information field, the user information field is not positioned after the mid-padding field. That is, when a user information field with an AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 is set in an HE variant user information field, the user information field is not positioned at a position indicating that a response should be made with an EHT TB PPDU.

[0547] Even if there are restrictions on the above-mentioned methods and indication methods, there is a response method that prepares for the case where the STA (AP) transmitting the trigger frame does not properly implement them. According to one embodiment of the present invention, when a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045 in a received trigger frame is set in an EHT variant user information field, the user information field may be positioned before the intermediate padding field. Alternatively, when a user information field in which the AID12 subfield is set to 0 or 2045 in a received trigger frame is set in an HE variant user information field, the user information field may be positioned after the intermediate padding field. In such cases, the user information field is ignored. Alternatively, the RU indicated by the user information field is not determined to be an eligible RA-RU. Alternatively, the OBO counter for the RA-RU corresponding to the user information field is decremented, but the OBO counter is set to 0 or the RA-RU is not used as a RA-RU selected for transmission.

[0548] Figure 32 is a diagram showing a trigger frame and an EHT TB PPDU, which is a response thereto. Referring to Figure 32, the trigger frame includes a common information field. The trigger frame also includes one or more user information fields. Referring to Figure 31, the one or more user information fields include a specific user information field, a user information 2 field, and a user information 3 field. The common information field includes a specific user information field Present subfield. The specific user information field Present subfield is set to 0, indicating that the trigger frame includes a specific user information field. Referring to Figure 32, both the user information 2 field and the user information 3 field are EHT variant user information fields. A method of indicating that a user information field is an EHT variant user information field follows the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0549] Also, the value of the AID12 subfield being 0 or 2045 indicates the RA-RU responding with an HE TB PPDU. Referring to Figure 31, the User Information 2 field is configured as an EHT variant user information field, and the AID12 subfield included in the User Information 2 field is set to 0 or 2045. Therefore, when responding to the User Information 2 field, the User Information 2 field indicates two types of PPDU regarding which PPDU format should be used.

[0550] The variant of the user information field indicates EHT, and the AID12 subfield indicates HE. Therefore, such a configuration is not allowed. However, if the trigger frame is configured in this way and a STA (non-AP STA) receives a trigger frame with this configuration, it ignores the user information 2 field. Alternatively, it does not determine the RU indicated by the user information 2 field as an eligible RA-RU. Alternatively, it does not respond with a UORA to the RU indicated by the user information 2 field. Alternatively, it does not decrement the OBO counter for the RU indicated by the user information 2 field or select it as an RU that responds with a UORA. Therefore, referring to FIG. 32, even if the TB PPDU format indicated by the trigger frame is configured to allow collisions, ignoring the user information field where a collision occurred prevents the PPDU from being transmitted to the RU indicated by the user information 2 field, and therefore, UL MU operation is successfully performed.

[0551] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there exists an STA (or AP) with limited capability. An STA with limited capability is an STA that implements only baseline features. Having limited capability is indicated by dot11EHTBaseLineFeaturesImplementedOnly in the MIB (management information base). For example, an STA with limited capability sets dot11EHTBaseLineFeaturesImplementedOnly to true.

[0552] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a STA with limited capability does not solicit multiple TB PPDU formats in one trigger frame, more specifically, a STA with limited capability does not solicit an HE TB PPDU and an EHT TB PPDU in one trigger frame.

[0553] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a STA (which may be an AP) with limited capability does not indicate a responding RA-RU with an EHT TB PPDU. Alternatively, a STA with limited capability may not be able to indicate a responding RA-RU with an EHT TB PPDU. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a STA with limited capability does not set a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 in the EHT variant user information field. Also, a STA with limited capability sets a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 only in the HE variant user information field.

[0554] Furthermore, a STA with limited capability does not include a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 in a trigger frame indicating an EHT TB PPDU. In other words, a STA with limited capability includes a user information field with the AID12 subfield set to 0 or 2045 only in a trigger frame indicating an EHT TB PPDU.

[0555] The trigger frame indicating an EHT TB PPDU is a trigger frame including at least one EHT variant user information field. Alternatively, the trigger frame indicating an EHT TB PPDU is a trigger frame including a specific user information field. Alternatively, the trigger frame indicating an EHT TB PPDU is a trigger frame indicating that the Present subfield of the specific user information field is present. The trigger frame indicating an HE TB PPDU is a trigger frame in which all user information fields are HE variant user information fields. Alternatively, the trigger frame indicating an HE TB PPDU may be a trigger frame without a specific user information field. Alternatively, the trigger frame indicating an HE TB PPDU may be a trigger frame indicating that the Present subfield of the specific user information field is not present.

[0556] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a STA with limited capability does not include both 1) a trigger frame or TRS indicating an HE TB PPDU and 2) a trigger frame or TRS indicating an EHT TB PPDU in one PPDU. Alternatively, a STA with limited capability does not include both 1) a trigger frame or TRS indicating an HE TB PPDU and 2) a trigger frame or TRS indicating an EHT TB PPDU in one A-MPDU.

[0557] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is capability signaling for transmitting capability information indicating whether the RA-RU or UORA responding in the EHT TB PPDU is supported. Such signaling exists independently from the capability signaling indicating whether the RA-RU or UORA responding in the EHT TB PPDU is supported. The capability signaling indicating whether the RA-RU or UORA responding in the EHT TB PPDU is supported is included in the EHT capabilities element.

[0558] Capability signaling indicating whether the RA-RU responding in the HE TB PPDU or UORA is supported is included in the HE capabilities element. The EHT capabilities element or HE capabilities element is included in a beacon frame, probe request frame, probe response frame, association request frame, association response frame, reassociation request frame, reassociation response frame, etc. When an AP transmits such signaling, it indicates whether it can indicate or allocate an RA-RU. When a non-AP STA transmits such signaling, it indicates whether it can respond to the indicated or allocated RA-RU or participate in UORA.

[0559] FIG. 33 illustrates UL MU operation using TRS according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0560] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the RU to be allocated or indicated by the TRS is determined based on the location or bandwidth of the RU to which the TRS is transmitted.

[0561] For example, the RU on which the TRS is transmitted may be smaller than the preset bandwidth. In this case, the RU indicated by the TRS is included within a subchannel of the preset bandwidth that includes the RU on which the TRS is transmitted. For example, the preset bandwidth is 160 MHz. If the RU on which the TRS is transmitted is transmitted on a subchannel of the P160 (primary 160 MHz) channel, the RU indicated by the TRS is included within P160. Also, if the RU on which the TRS is transmitted is transmitted on a subchannel of the S160 (secondary 160 MHz) channel, the RU indicated by the TRS is included within S160. Therefore, when the TRS indicates an RU, it does not indicate which subchannel of the preset bandwidth the RU is included in. In other words, for example, the TRS can indicate an RU within 320 MHz without signaling that functions like the PS160 subfield included in the trigger frame described above.

[0562] Referring to Figure 33, the PPDU includes TRS 1 and TRS 2. TRS 1 and TRS 2 are TRSs that solicit the EHT TB PPDU. TRS 1 is transmitted in the P160 channel. In this case, the RU indicated by TRS 1 is an RU in the P160 channel. Therefore, a STA that responds to TRS 1 responds using an RU in the P160 channel. Also, TRS 2 is transmitted in the S160 channel. In this case, the RU indicated by TRS 2 is an RU in the S160 channel. Therefore, a STA that responds to TRS 2 responds using an RU in the S160 channel.

[0563] However, if the TRS is transmitted in an RU with a bandwidth greater than the preset bandwidth (e.g., 160 MHz), ambiguity occurs in this rule.

[0564] Therefore, according to one embodiment, the RU including the TRS does not exceed the preset bandwidth. For example, the RU including the TRS does not exceed 160 MHz. If the RU including the TRS received by the STA exceeds the preset bandwidth, the STA ignores the received TRS and does not respond.

[0565] According to another embodiment, an RU including a TRS may exceed the preset bandwidth, and in this case, a rule for interpreting the assigned RU is defined. According to one embodiment of the present invention, if an RU including a TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, the assigned RU is designated by an RU located in an area exceeding the preset bandwidth. Alternatively, only if an RU including a TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, an RU located in an area exceeding the preset bandwidth responds. Alternatively, if an RU including a TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, an assigned RU may exceed the preset bandwidth. Alternatively, only if an RU including a TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, an RU exceeding the preset bandwidth responds.

[0566] More specifically, if the RU containing the TRS is greater than 160 MHz, it will indicate an RU spanning both the P160 and S160 subchannels, or if the RU containing the TRS is greater than 160 MHz, it will respond with an RU spanning both the P160 and S160 subchannels.

[0567] If the RU containing the TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, only the RUs that exceed the preset bandwidth are indicated. If the RU containing the TRS is equal to or less than the preset bandwidth, only the RUs that are equal to or less than the preset bandwidth are indicated.

[0568] Alternatively, if the RU containing the TRS exceeds the preset bandwidth, the RU indicated by the TRS will be located in a subchannel of the preset bandwidth at a preset location. For example, the preset bandwidth is 160 MHz. If the RU containing the TRS exceeds 160 MHz, the RU indicated by the TRS will be located in the P160 channel.

[0569] Alternatively, if the RU indicated by the TRS is greater than 160 MHz, the 160 MHz of the indicated RU is located in the 160 MHz channel including the RU on which the TRS was transmitted. In other words, if the RU indicated by the TRS is greater than 160 MHz, two of the 996-tone of the indicated RU are located in the 160 MHz channel including the RU on which the TRS was transmitted.

[0570] Referring to Figure 33, TRS 3 solicits an EHT TB PPDU. The bandwidth of the RU including TRS 3 exceeds 160 MHz. For example, the bandwidth of the RU including TRS 3 is 320 MHz. In this case, the bandwidth of the RU indicated by TRS 3 or the RU used to respond to TRS 3 exceeds 160 MHz. The bandwidth of the RU indicated by TRS 3 or the RU used to respond to TRS 3 exists on the P160 channel and the S160 channel.

[0571] FIG. 34 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a PPDU transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0572] Referring to FIG. 34, a non-AP STA transmits a TB PPDU of a specific format based on a trigger frame instructing transmission of a TB PPDU from an AP STA.

[0573] In detail, the non-AP STA receives a frame from the AP STA instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU (Step S34010).

[0574] In this case, the frame has the same format as the frame for indicating transmission of the TB PPDU described in Figures 13 to 33. For example, the frame includes a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals. In this case, the user information field includes an AID12 subfield that indicates the use of the user information field.

[0575] The AID12 subfield is set to a different value depending on the TB PPDU indicated as described in Figures 13 to 33. For example, if the PPDU indicated to be transmitted by a frame is an EHT PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value.

[0576] In this case, at least one specific value is used to allocate resources for uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFA) based random access (UORA) of at least one UE supporting HE.

[0577] That is, the user information field included in the frame or a specific value of the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is used to indicate the RA-RU of the STA supporting the HE, and in this case, the specific value for indicating the RA-RU indicates that the response to the frame is the HE TB PPDU. Therefore, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field for indicating the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU as a response to the frame is set to the remaining value excluding the specific value for indicating the UORA operation of the HE.

[0578] For example, if the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a first specific value (e.g., '2045') or a second specific value (e.g., '0') to indicate an RA-RU for UORA operation of the HE, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU in response to the frame. However, if the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a value other than the first specific value or the second specific value, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU in response to the frame.

[0579] The first specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is not associated with the AP, and the second specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is associated with the AP.

[0580] In this case, the second specific value is used to indicate the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU if a specific condition is met. For example, the specific condition is one of the following: none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., all can transmit the EHT TB PPDU); none of the EHT STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs that cannot transmit the HE TB PPDU (i.e., STAs that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU but can transmit the HE TB PPDU); none of the associated legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation; or a frame indicating the transmission of a TB PPDU is transmitted in an EHT PPDU. In this case, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation, the STA may transmit a value of ≠ 0 indicating that it does not support UORA operation to the AP.

[0581] In other words, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit EHT TB PPDUs) support UORA operation, the value of the capability subfield that the STA transmits to the AP is set to a value indicating that it does not support UORA operation, or this includes cases where an STA that does not support UORA operation itself is combined.

[0582] That is, among the above conditions, when none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., none of them are capable of transmitting the EHT TB PPDU), the same condition also applies when the AP is associated with one STA that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU. In other words, since only STAs that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU exist among the STAs associated with the AP, in this case, the second specific value "0" is used as the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field. Therefore, in this case, the second specific value is determined to satisfy the specific condition and is used to instruct transmission of the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0583] In addition, the TB PPDU indicated by the AP through a frame indicates only one format of TB PPDU. For example, the AP indicates only the HE TB PPDU or EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU) through a frame, and cannot indicate both the HE TB PPDU and the EHT TB PPDU at the same time. Therefore, when a frame indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is not set to "2045" because the transmission of the HE TB PPDU cannot be indicated through the frame.

[0584] Next, the non-AP STA transmits a PPDU as a response to the frame based on the AID12 subfield S34020.

[0585] FIG. 35 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a frame transmission method for instructing transmission of a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0586] Referring to FIG. 35, an AP STA transmits a trigger frame to instruct a non-AP STA to transmit a specific TB PPDU, and receives a TB PPDU of a specific format from the non-AP STA based on the frame.

[0587] In detail, the AP STA transmits a frame instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU S35010.

[0588] In this case, the frame has the same format as the frame for indicating transmission of the TB PPDU described in Figures 13 to 33. For example, the frame includes a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals. In this case, the user information field includes an AID12 subfield that indicates the use of the user information field.

[0589] The AID12 subfield is set to a different value depending on the TB PPDU indicated as described in Figures 13 to 33. For example, if the PPDU indicated to be transmitted by a frame is an EHT PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value.

[0590] In this case, at least one specific value is used to allocate resources for uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFA) based random access (UORA) of at least one UE supporting HE.

[0591] That is, the user information field included in the frame or a specific value of the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is used to indicate the RA-RU of the STA supporting the HE, and in this case, the specific value for indicating the RA-RU indicates that the response to the frame is the HE TB PPDU. Therefore, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field for indicating the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU as a response to the frame is set to the remaining value excluding the specific value for indicating the UORA operation of the HE.

[0592] For example, if the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a first specific value (e.g., '2045') or a second specific value (e.g., '0') to indicate an RA-RU for UORA operation of the HE, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU in response to the frame. However, if the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is set to a value other than the first specific value or the second specific value, the STA transmits an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU in response to the frame.

[0593] The first specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is not associated with the AP, and the second specific value is used to indicate the RA-RU to a STA that is associated with the AP.

[0594] In this case, the second specific value is used to indicate the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU or a NEXT TB PPDU if a specific condition is met. For example, the specific condition is any one of the following: none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., all can transmit the EHT TB PPDU); none of the EHT STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs that cannot transmit the HE TB PPDU (i.e., STAs that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU but can transmit the HE TB PPDU); none of the associated legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation; or a frame indicating the transmission of a TB PPDU is transmitted in an EHT PPDU. In this case, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit the EHT TB PPDU) support UORA operation, the STA may transmit a value of the capability subfield indicating that it does not support UORA operation to the AP.

[0595] In other words, if none of the legacy STAs (terminals that cannot transmit EHT TB PPDUs) support UORA operation, the value of the capability subfield that the STA transmits to the AP is set to a value indicating that it does not support UORA operation, or this includes cases where an STA that does not support UORA operation itself is combined.

[0596] That is, among the above conditions, when none of the STAs associated with the AP are legacy STAs (e.g., none of them are capable of transmitting the EHT TB PPDU), the same condition also applies when the AP is associated with one STA that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU. In other words, since only STAs that can transmit the EHT TB PPDU exist among the STAs associated with the AP, in this case, the second specific value "0" is used as the value of the AID12 subfield or user information field. Therefore, in this case, the second specific value is determined to satisfy the specific condition and is used to instruct transmission of the EHT TB PPDU or NEXT TB PPDU.

[0597] In addition, the TB PPDU indicated by the AP through a frame indicates only one format of TB PPDU. For example, the AP indicates only the HE TB PPDU or EHT TB PPDU (or NEXT TB PPDU) through a frame, and cannot indicate both the HE TB PPDU and the EHT TB PPDU at the same time. Therefore, when a frame indicates an EHT TB PPDU, the value of the user information field or the AID12 subfield included in the user information field is not set to "2045" because the transmission of the HE TB PPDU cannot be indicated through the frame.

[0598] Next, the AP STA receives a TB PPDU of a specific format as a response to the frame based on the AID12 subfield from at least one non-AP STA S35020.

[0599] The above description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting. For example, each component described as a single component may be implemented in a distributed form, and components described as distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

[0600] The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims that follow rather than by the above detailed description, and all modifications and variations that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0601] 100 Stations 110 processors 120 Communications Department 140 User Interface 150 display units 160 memory

Claims

1. In a terminal of a wireless communication system, a communication module; a processor for controlling the communication mode; The processor: A frame instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU is received from an AP (Access Point), the frame includes a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals; the user information field includes an AID12 subfield that indicates the purpose of the user information field; The PPDU is transmitted based on the AID12 subfield. If the PPDU instructed to be transmitted by the frame is an EHT (Extremely High Throughput) PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value; The at least one specific value is an uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based random access (UORA) based random access of at least one terminal supporting High Efficiency (HE). A terminal used to allocate resources for such access.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of values ​​are used to identify a user information field for each terminal that supports EHT.

3. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein a first specific value of the at least one specific value is used for resource allocation for a UORA operation of a terminal unassociated with the AP.

4. The terminal according to claim 3 , wherein the first specific value is “2045”.

5. The second specific value is used for resource allocation for UORA operation of a terminal associated with the AP, The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second specific value is included in the at least one specific value if the second specific value does not satisfy a specific condition, and is included in the plurality of values ​​if the second specific value satisfies the specific condition.

6. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the specific condition is that all terminals connected to the AP are unable to transmit the EHT PPDU and are not able to transmit the HE PPDU.

7. The terminal according to claim 5 , wherein the second specific value is “0”.

8. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the specific condition is when the frame is included in an EHT PPDU and transmitted.

9. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the specific condition is that none of the terminals connected to the AP that are capable of transmitting the EHT PPDU and the HE PPDU support the UORA operation.

10. A method for a terminal to transmit a frame in a wireless communication system, comprising: receiving a frame from the AP instructing one or more terminals to transmit a PPDU; the frame including a common information field and a user information field for each of the one or more terminals; the user information field includes an AID12 subfield that indicates the purpose of the user information field; transmitting the PPDU based on the AID12 subfield; If the PPDU instructed to be transmitted by the frame is an EHT PPDU, the value of the AID12 subfield is set to one of a plurality of values ​​excluding at least one specific value; The at least one specific value is used to allocate resources for uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access based random access (UORA) of at least one terminal supporting HE.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of values ​​are used to identify a user information field for each terminal that supports EHT.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a first specific value of the at least one specific value is used for resource allocation for a UORA operation of a terminal not associated with the AP.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first specific value is "2045".

14. The second specific value is used for resource allocation for the UORA operation of the terminal associated with the AP, The method of claim 10 , wherein the second specific value is included in the at least one specific value if the second specific value does not satisfy a specific condition, and is included in the plurality of values ​​if the second specific value satisfies the specific condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the specific condition is that all terminals associated with the AP are unable to transmit the EHT PPDU and are not able to transmit the HE PPDU.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second specific value is "0."

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the specific condition is when the frame is carried in an EHT PPDU.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the specific condition is that none of the terminals associated with the AP that are capable of transmitting the EHT PPDU and the HE PPDU support the UORA operation.

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