COMMUNICATION METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and related devices. The method includes the steps of generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a second signal field of the first user using joint source channel coding, the second signal field of the first user indicating joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user, and the second signal field of the first user located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user, and transmitting the PPDU. The embodiment of the present application is implemented such that the complexity of reading the signal field by all users can be reduced.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210248453.0, entitled “COMMUNICATION METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS,” filed with the China State Intellectual Property Office on March 14, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular to communications methods and related devices. [Background technology]

[0003] At present, joint source and channel coding (JSCC) technology has been proposed to improve the quality of wireless video or picture transmission. When the JSCC technology is applied to a portion of multiple users, the JSCC signal field needs to be carried in the broadcast signal field so that all users can receive the signal field. The signal field received by a user using JSCC transmission includes JSCC-related signal information, and the signal field received by a user not using JSCC transmission does not include JSCC-related signal information. However, the JSCC-related signal information occupies many bits, and the length of the JSCC-related signal information may be variable in different physical layer protocol data units (PHY protocol data units, PPDUs). Therefore, for a user not using JSCC transmission, the lengthy JSCC signal information will cause a large overhead and affect the throughput rate. Also, the lengths of different user fields are different in one signal field. For example, the length of the user field of a user using JSCC transmission is different from the length of the user field of a user not using JSCC transmission. In addition, the length of the user field is variable, making it very complicated for all users to read the signal field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and associated apparatus for reducing the complexity of reading the signaling field by all users while reducing overhead and improving throughput rates for users that do not support JSCC transmission. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided, the method including the steps of generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating source layer joint source channel coding parameters corresponding to the first user, the first user second signal field being located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user, and transmitting the PPDU. It can be seen that in the above technical solution, the PPDU includes a first signal field, the first signal field includes a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, and the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the frequency domain resource allocated to the user corresponding to each user field. This indicates that the frequency domain resource can be allocated to both the user using JSCC transmission and corresponding to each user field, and the user not using JSCC transmission and corresponding to each user field. In addition, for a user using JSCC transmission, the PPDU may further include a second signal field located on the frequency domain resource allocated to the user, and the second signal field indicates the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the user. In other words, for a user using JSCC transmission, it is indicated that the JSCC signal information is located in another signal field of the frequency domain resource of the user. Therefore, when reading the first signal field, a user using JSCC transmission does not need to read a large amount of information in the same field. This reduces the complexity of reading the first signal field by a user using JSCC transmission.Furthermore, since only users who use JSCC can obtain the JSCC signal information related to the user, and users who do not use JSCC transmission do not need to read the JSCC signal information, users who do not use JSCC transmission need to read fewer signal fields. This further reduces the complexity of reading signal fields by users who do not use JSCC transmission. Moreover, for users who do not use JSCC transmission, the PPDU does not include a second signal field, i.e., there is no lengthy JSCC signal information. This reduces overhead and improves throughput rate.

[0006] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, the method includes the steps of receiving a PPDU, the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating joint source channel coding parameters of a source layer corresponding to the first user, the first user second signal field being located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user, obtaining the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user, and performing joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user. It can be seen that in the above technical solution, for a user using JSCC transmission, the PPDU may further include a second signal field located on the frequency domain resource allocated to the user, and the second signal field indicates the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the user. In other words, for a user using JSCC transmission, it is indicated that the JSCC signal information is located in another signal field of the frequency domain resource of the user. Therefore, when reading the first signal field, the user using JSCC transmission does not need to read a large amount of information in the same field. This reduces the complexity of reading the first signal field by the user using JSCC transmission. In addition, since only the user using JSCC can obtain the JSCC signal information related to the user, and the user not using JSCC transmission does not need to read the JSCC signal information, the user not using JSCC transmission needs to read fewer signal fields. This further reduces the complexity of reading the signal field by the user not using JSCC transmission.Moreover, for users that do not use JSCC transmission, the PPDU does not include a second signaling field, i.e., there is no lengthy JSCC signaling information, which reduces overhead and improves throughput rate.

[0007] According to a third aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module is configured to generate a PPDU, the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, and the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding. The PPDU further includes a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating joint source channel coding parameters of a source layer corresponding to the first user, and the first user second signal field is located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user. The transceiver module is configured to transmit the PPDU.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a PPDU, the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, and the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding. The PPDU further includes a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating joint source channel coding parameters of a source layer corresponding to the first user, the first user second signal field being located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user. The processing module is configured to obtain the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user. The processing module is further configured to perform joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user.

[0009] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first signal field further includes instruction information for instructing the first user to use the combined source channel coding transmission. Since the first signal field further includes instruction information for instructing the first user to use the combined source channel coding transmission, it can be seen that the first user may know that the first user needs to further read the second signal field.

[0010] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission is in a user field corresponding to the first user. Since the first user may read the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission in the user field of the first user, it can be seen that the first user may know that the first user needs to further read the second signal field.

[0011] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the user field corresponding to the first user further includes a modulation coding scheme field, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates that the first user uses combined source channel coding transmission. It can be seen that the first user can know the indication information indicating that the first user uses combined source channel coding transmission by reading the modulation coding scheme located in the user field of the first user, and can know that the first user needs to further read the second signal field.

[0012] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the resource unit allocation subfield indicates a layer frequency domain resource in each source layer for a user corresponding to each user field. This indicates that a layer frequency domain resource in a single source layer may be allocated to a user corresponding to each user field. Thus, the layer frequency domain resources in different source layers are different, and a user's reading of a field on a layer frequency domain resource of a source layer does not affect a user's reading of a field on a layer frequency domain resource of another source layer.

[0013] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the user fields corresponding to different source layers of the first user use the same station identifier field. It is understood that different source layers of a user using joint source channel coding may correspond to different user fields.

[0014] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the number of source tiers of the first user is equal to the number of user fields using the same station identifier field, and the station identifier field indicates the first user. It can be seen that the number of user fields using the same station identifier field can implicitly indicate the number of source tiers of the first user. This reduces overhead.

[0015] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second signal field of the first user further indicates at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and an identifier of one source layer corresponding to the first user. Since a user using joint source channel coding may further know the number of all source layers of the user and / or the identifier of one source layer corresponding to the user based on the second signal field, the user knows that he / she can better read the data in the source layer.

[0016] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of a combined source channel coding parameter of one source layer corresponding to the first user and a combined source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers of the first user. It can be seen that a user using the combined source channel coding can better read data at the source layer by knowing the combined source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0017] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources in all source layers of a user corresponding to each user field, which can be seen to indicate that total frequency domain resources in all source layers can be allocated to a user corresponding to each user field.

[0018] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second signal field of the first user further includes a layer resource unit allocation field, and the layer resource unit allocation field indicates at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and the layer frequency domain resources of the first user in each source layer. It can be seen that a user using joint source channel coding can know at least one of the number of all source layers of the user and the layer frequency domain resources of the user in each source layer based on the layer resource unit allocation field.

[0019] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer is a predefined frequency domain resource. It can be seen that since the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer is a predefined frequency domain resource, no additional indication needs to be made in the PPDU. This reduces overhead. Also, the first user may perform decoding based on a fixed frequency domain resource size.

[0020] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer corresponding to the first user and combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user. It can be seen that a user using the combined source channel coding can better read data at the source layer by knowing the combined source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0021] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second signal field of the first user further includes a signal A field and a signal B field, where the signal A field is located on the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers, the signal B field is located on the layer frequency domain resources of one source layer corresponding to the first user, the signal A field indicates joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user, and the signal B field indicates joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user. Since the signal A field is located on the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers, the parameters indicated by the signal A field are common parameters corresponding to different source layers, and the signal B field is located on the layer frequency domain resources of the source layer corresponding to the first user, i.e., the parameters indicated by the signal B field are parameters corresponding to one source layer, it can be seen that the first user may read and parse the parameters required by each source layer separately to reduce the complexity of reading the signal field by the first user.

[0022] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the combined source channel coding parameters of the one source layer corresponding to the first user further include a length of a physical layer service data unit of the one source layer corresponding to the first user or a number of symbols carried in a data field corresponding to the one source layer of the first user. Since the first user may further know the length of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer or the number of symbols carried in a data field corresponding to the one source layer of the first user based on the second signal field, it can be seen that the first user can better parse the data by knowing the mapping relationship between the data contained in the one source layer and the data contained in all source layers.

[0023] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first user carries different source layers on the allocated time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, whereby it can be seen that the time-frequency resources can be better used for data transmission since the first user carries different source layers on the allocated time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources.

[0024] Optionally, with respect to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the PPDU further includes a general signal field, and the first signal field further includes a general signal overflow field, and the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for a bonded source channel transmission. Since the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for a bonded source channel transmission, it can be seen that the user can know the function of the PPDU.

[0025] According to a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method includes: generating a PPDU, the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single user's combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and one user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; and transmitting the PPDU. It can be seen that the single user using the combined source channel transmission can obtain data in different source layers, since the single user using the combined source channel transmission can read data on layer frequency domain resources in each source layer after knowing the function of the PPDU based on the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field and further knowing the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer based on the layer block field. Also, the user can read and parse the parameters required by each source layer separately. This reduces the complexity of the signal field reading by the user. Furthermore, the PPDU contains only one user field, so the overhead is reduced.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method including: receiving a PPDU, the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources at each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; and performing combined source channel decoding based on the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. It can be seen that a single user using the combined source channel transmission can obtain data in different source layers, since the single user using the combined source channel transmission can read data on the layer frequency domain resources in each source layer after knowing the function of the PPDU based on the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field, and further knowing the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer based on the layer block field. In addition, the user can further read and parse the parameters required by each source layer separately. This reduces the complexity of the user reading the signal field. In addition, the PPDU contains only one user field, so the overhead is reduced.

[0027] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module is configured to generate a PPDU, the PPDU including a general signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a general signal overflow field, and the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single user combined source channel transmission. The third signal field further includes a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. The transceiver module is configured to transmit the PPDU.

[0028] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a PPDU, the PPDU including a general signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a general signal overflow field, and the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single user's combined source channel transmission. The third signal field further includes a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. The processing module is configured to perform combined source channel decoding based on the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field.

[0029] Optionally, with respect to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, the third signal field further includes a combined source channel signal field, and the combined source channel signal field indicates a combined source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers of the user corresponding to the user field. Since a single user using combined source channel transmission can know the combined source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers based on the combined source channel signal field, the user knows that it is not necessary to obtain the combined source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers every time the user parses data in the source layer. Also, since the combined source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers is included by one signal field, overhead is reduced.

[0030] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a chip, the chip comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface, the logic circuit configured to read and execute stored instructions which, when executed, enable the chip to perform a method according to any one of the first, second, fifth or sixth aspects.

[0031] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed by a computer, enable the computer to perform a method according to any one of the first, second, fifth or sixth aspects.

[0032] According to an eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to assist the communication device to perform a corresponding function in the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, the fifth aspect, or the sixth aspect. The transceiver is configured to assist communication between the communication device and another communication device other than the communication device. The communication device may further include a memory, the memory is configured to be coupled to the processor, and the memory stores program instructions and data required for the communication device. The transceiver may be integrated into the communication device or may be independent of the communication device. This is not limited herein.

[0033] According to a twelfth aspect there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform a method according to any one of the first, second, fifth or sixth aspects.

[0034] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system including one or more of a first device performing a method according to either the first aspect or the fifth aspect, and a second device performing a method according to either the second aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0035] The following is a brief description of the accompanying drawings used to explain the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] This is the procedure of a conventional data transmission solution. [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a joint source channel coding data transmission solution; [Figure 2B] 1 is a schematic flow chart of a joint source channel coding data transmission solution; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a network architecture of a WLAN according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a diagram of a hardware structure applicable to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when a resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] 13 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 1 illustrates a frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when a resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 13 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 11] 13 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 12] 13 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 13] 13 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14A] 1 illustrates a frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when different source layers are carried on time-frequency resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14B]1 illustrates a frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when different source layers are carried on time-frequency resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 15] 1 is a frame structure of a PPDU in a single-user transmission scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] The following describes the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The terms "system" and "network" may be used interchangeably in the embodiments of the present application. " / " represents an "or" relationship between associated objects unless otherwise specified. For example, A / B may represent A or B. The term "and / or" in the present application only describes an associated relationship to describe associated objects, and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists, where A and B may each be singular or plural. Also, in the description of the present application, "multiple" means two or more unless otherwise specified. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or multiple items. For example, at least one item (item) of, for example, a, b, or c may represent a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c may be singular or plural. In addition, in order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application use terms such as "first", "second", etc. to distinguish between the same or similar items that basically provide the same network element or purpose. Those skilled in the art may understand that terms such as "first", "second", etc. do not limit the number or execution order, and terms such as "first", "second", etc. do not indicate clear differences.

[0038] References to "one embodiment," "some embodiments," and the like in the description of the embodiments of this application indicate that one or more embodiments of this application include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic described with respect to the embodiment. Thus, statements such as "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in some other embodiments," "in other embodiments," and the like appearing in different places in this specification are not necessarily meant to refer to the same embodiment. Instead, these statements mean "one or more, but not all, of the embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "include," "contain," "have," and variations thereof all mean "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0039] The objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application are further described in the following specific embodiments. It should be understood that the following description is only a specific embodiment of the present application, and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, or improvements made based on the technical solutions of the present application shall be within the protection scope of the present application.

[0040] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise stated or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and may be mutually referenced, and the technical features of different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form a new embodiment.

[0041] The following explains some terms used in this application. It will be understood that where the following terms are used in other parts of this application, no further explanation or description is provided.

[0042] 1. Joint source and channel coding (JSCC) solution As information technology develops and society progresses, people have more and more demands for information, and people put forward integrated services such as voice, data, pictures, and videos, and higher requirements for enjoying various types of multimedia services anytime and anywhere. Therefore, multimedia communication has become the focus of people's attention. Video is an important part of multimedia data, and has a series of advantages such as accuracy, real-time, intuitive, clear, and vivid, bringing users a visual experience and greatly enriching traditional services. In the coming years, wireless video services will have a broader development prospect. Therefore, wireless video coding and transmission technology will also become the current research hotspot in the field of multimedia communication.

[0043] Figure 1 shows the procedure of a conventional data transmission solution. As shown in Figure 1, after the application layer data of the transmitting end, such as video and picture data, undergoes compression and channel coding steps, the application layer data is transmitted to the receiving end over a channel. The receiving end performs channel decoding and data decompression processes on the received data to obtain the application layer data sent by the receiving end.

[0044] Due to the limited bandwidth of wireless channels, video data needs to be efficiently compressed. However, it is well known that techniques such as predictive coding and variable length coding used in video coding, while efficiently compressing the bitstream, make the bitstream susceptible to channel bit errors, and wireless channels are interfered with by various noises and have high bit error rates. Therefore, how to transmit high-quality video over wireless mobile networks is a serious challenge. Coding is one of the key issues. Coding is mainly classified into source coding and channel coding. The main indicator of source coding is coding efficiency, and the main purpose of channel coding is to improve the reliability of information transmission. Digital video communication systems based on separate source and channel coding require not only physical layer adaptation algorithms, but also video bitrate control modules. If the video bitrate does not match the channel capacity, a cliff effect similar to that of the physical layer will occur. That is, when the channel noise is larger than the predicted value, the reconstructed video will be severely distorted, or when the channel noise is less than the predicted value, the distortion will not be reduced.

[0045] Therefore, wireless video transmission needs to seamlessly adapt to channel conditions, ie, the transmitting end does not need to change the transmission method based on the channel conditions, and the video quality at the receiving end corresponds to the real-time channel conditions.

[0046] In order to solve the aforementioned problem, a joint source channel coding and decoding solution for adaptive channels is proposed. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the transmitting end device divides a picture or a picture frame in a video into blocks, and performs a discrete cosine transform (DCT) on the blocks. Most of the energy of the graph is concentrated in the low frequency part obtained after the DCT transformation, so the picture frame can be compressed by the DCT transformation. Then, the picture data obtained after the DCT transformation is quantized and layered based on the importance of the data. Rateless coding, for example, channel coding 1 to channel coding N shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, is performed separately on the layered picture data of different bit planes. The coded data is mapped to resource blocks through bit splicing and symbol modulation. The control information includes information such as block size, bandwidth, coding, modulation, and layered bit width in the aforementioned process. After channel modulation and coding are performed separately on the control information, the control information is also mapped to the corresponding resource block and transmitted together with the data information.

[0047] At the receiving end, after performing synchronization, channel estimation and equalization processing on the received signal, the receiving end device obtains the control information and data information through resource demapping. Then, the receiving end device performs symbol division and demodulation on the data information based on the control information to obtain soft information, and then performs channel decoding by obtaining 0 / 1 bit probability using the belief propagation transmission method. Finally, the information is combined based on the probability to restore the original source information. According to the joint source channel coding solution shown in Figure 2A and Figure 2B, the quality of wireless video or picture transmission can be improved.

[0048] 2. Combined Source Channel Transmission The combined source channel transmission may be referred to as layered transmission, user multiple physical layer service data unit (PSDU) transmission, etc. This is not limited in this specification. In one possible implementation, data may be divided into one base layer and at least one enhancement layer via combined source channel transmission.

[0049] 3. Source Layer One source layer is one PSDU. A user using joint source channel coding corresponds to multiple source layers, i.e., a user using joint source channel coding corresponds to multiple PSDUs. A user not using joint source channel coding corresponds to one source layer, i.e., a user using joint source channel coding corresponds to one PSDU.

[0050] 4. Layer Frequency Domain Resources The layer frequency domain resource is the frequency domain resource of the source layer. In other words, the layer frequency domain resource is the frequency domain resource allocated to the source layer. The frequency domain resource can be a resource unit (RU) or a multi-resource unit (MRU).

[0051] 5. Joint Source-Channel Coding Parameters The joint source channel coding parameters may be classified into joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer and joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers.

[0052] The combined source channel coding parameters of one source layer may include at least one of the following: the modulation coding scheme of the source layer, the probability of the source distribution of the source layer, and the length of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer. The probability of the source distribution is the probability of binary 0 or the probability of binary 1. The length of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer may also be referred to as the number of symbols carried in the data field corresponding to the source layer. The modulation coding scheme of the source layer is the modulation scheme of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer, and the modulation scheme includes BPSK / QPSK / 8-PSK / 16QAM / 64QAM / 256QAM, etc. The length of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer may indicate the mapping relationship between the physical layer service data unit and different bit planes, and one physical layer service data unit may correspond to one bit plane, or one physical layer service data unit may correspond to multiple bit planes.

[0053] The joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers may include at least one of the following: frame rate, color identification method (RGB / YUV), picture size (resolution), pixel depth, quantization step, DCT or discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) size, the number of DCT blocks included in each code block, the number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes, and the number of code blocks. The frame rate is the frame playback rate (frames / second), and the representative supported frame rates are 60 / 90 / 120. The picture size is the size of the picture including the width and height, and the representative supported picture sizes are 1080P (1920*1080) / 4K (3840*2160) / 2048*1024 / 4096*2048. The pixel depth is the color depth of each pixel, and the typical pixel depth is 8 bits / 10 bits. The quantization step is the quantization order. The DCT or discrete wavelet transform size is the size of the DCT / DWT transform, and the typical DCT or discrete wavelet transform size is 4*4 / 8*8 / 16*16 / 32*32. The number of DCT blocks included in each code block is the number of DCT blocks included in the JSCC code block carried in each data field, and the typical number of DCT blocks included in each code block is 10 / 15 / 20 / 25. The number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes is the number of bit planes formed by sequentially arranging each quantized DCT coefficient from the most significant bit to the least significant bit, and the typical number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes is 8 / 10 / 12. The number of code blocks is the number of picture code blocks carried in each data field.

[0054] The above content briefly explains the meanings of nouns (communication terms) used in the embodiments of the present application for a better understanding of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, and does not constitute any limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0055] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application may be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN) scenario, and may be applied to IEEE 802.11 system standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, or next-generation standards. Alternatively, the embodiments of the present application may be applied to a wireless local area network system, such as an internet of things (IoT) network or a vehicle-to-X (V2X) network. Of course, the embodiments of the present application may further be applied to other possible communication systems, such as an LTE system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, and a future 6G communication system.

[0056] The following uses an example in which the embodiments of the present application are applicable to a WLAN scenario. It should be understood that WLAN has evolved from the 802.11a / g standard through 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and 802.11be, which are currently being discussed. 802.11n may also be called high throughput (HT), 802.11ac may also be called very high throughput (VHT), 802.11ax may also be called high efficient (HE) or Wi-Fi6, and 802.11be may also be called extremely high throughput (EHT) or Wi-Fi7. Standards prior to HT, such as 802.11a / b / g, are collectively referred to as non-high throughput (Non-HT).

[0057] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a network architecture of a WLAN according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 3, an example is used in which the WLAN includes one wireless access point (AP) and two stations (STAs). The STAs associated with the AP can receive wireless frames transmitted by the AP and can also transmit wireless frames to the AP. The embodiments of the present application are also applicable to communication between APs, for example, APs may communicate with each other by using a distributed system (DS), and the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to communication between STAs. It should be understood that the number of APs and STAs in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and there may be more or fewer APs and STAs.

[0058] The access point may be an access point for terminal devices (e.g., mobile phones) to access a wired (or wireless) network, and is mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius ranging from tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, the access point may be deployed outdoors instead. The access point corresponds to a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, and the main function of the access point is to connect various wireless network clients to each other and then connect the wireless network to Ethernet. Specifically, the access point may be a terminal device (e.g., mobile phone) or a network device (e.g., router) with a Wi-Fi chip. The access point may be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. Alternatively, the access point may be a device supporting multiple wireless local area networks (WLAN) standards of the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and the next generation of 802.11be. The access points of the present application may be high efficient (HE) APs, extremely high throughput (EHT) APs, or access points applicable to future generation Wi-Fi standards.

[0059] The STA of the embodiments of the present application may be a user terminal, user equipment, access equipment, subscriber station, subscriber unit, mobile station, user agent, user device, or other device having wireless communication capability. The user terminal may include various devices having wireless communication capability, such as handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, computing devices, other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile stations (MS), terminals, terminal equipment, portable communication devices, handheld devices, portable computing devices, entertainment devices, gaming devices or systems, global positioning system devices, or any other suitable devices configured to perform network communication over a wireless medium. For example, the STA may be a router, a switch, a bridge, etc. For ease of description, the above devices are collectively referred to as stations or STAs in this specification.

[0060] The AP and STA in the embodiment of the present application may be AP and STA applicable to the IEEE 802.11 system standard. The AP is a device arranged in a wireless communication network and provides wireless communication functions to the STA associated with the AP. The AP may be used as the center of the communication system, and is usually a network side product that supports MAC and PHY in the 802.11 system standard, and may be a communication device such as a base station, a router, a gateway, a repeater, a communication server, a switch, or a bridge. The base station may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. In this specification, for ease of explanation, the above-mentioned devices are collectively referred to as APs. The STA is usually a terminal product that supports the media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) of the 802.11 system standard, such as a mobile phone or a notebook computer.

[0061] The communication method provided in the present application may be applied to a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system may be a wireless local area network or a cellular network. The method may be implemented by a communication device of the wireless communication system, or a chip or processor in the communication device. The communication device may be a wireless communication device supporting multi-link simultaneous transmission. For example, the communication device is called a multi-link device or a multi-band device. Compared with a device supporting only single-link transmission, a multi-link device has higher transmission efficiency and higher throughput. A multi-link device includes one or more affiliated station STAs. An affiliated STA is a logical station and may operate on one link. An affiliated station may be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For ease of explanation, in this application, a multi-link device whose affiliates are APs may be referred to as a multi-link AP, a multi-link AP device, or an AP multi-link device, and a multi-link device whose affiliates are non-AP STAs may be referred to as a multi-link STA, a multi-link STA device, or a STA multi-link device.

[0062] In addition, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to multiple system architectures. The network architectures and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute limitations on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art will recognize that with the evolution of network architectures and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application will also be applicable to similar technical problems.

[0063] Optionally, the wireless access points, stations, etc. in Fig. 3 may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented jointly by multiple devices, or may be one functional module in one device. This is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the aforementioned functions may be network elements in a hardware device, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0064] For example, each device in Fig. 3 may be implemented by using a communication device 400 in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a hardware structure applicable to a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 400 includes at least one processor 401, a communication line 402, a memory 403, and at least one communication interface 404.

[0065] The processor 401 may be a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to control program execution of the solutions of the present application.

[0066] Communications lines 402 may include paths for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0067] The communication interface 404 is any transceiver-type device (eg, antenna) configured to communicate with another device or a communication network, such as Ethernet, RAN, wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc.

[0068] The memory 403 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or another optical disk storage, an optical disk storage (including compact disks, laser disks, optical disks, digital versatile disks, Blu-ray disks, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or another magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer. The memory may exist independently or be connected to the processor via communication line 402. The memory may alternatively be integrated with the processor. The memory provided in the embodiments of the present application may typically be non-volatile. The memory 403 is configured to store computer-executable instructions for carrying out the solutions of the present application, and the processor 401 controls the execution of the computer-executable instructions. The processor 401 is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 403 to implement the methods provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0069] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions of the embodiments of the present application may be referred to as application program code, which is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0070] In one possible implementation, the processor 401 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 of FIG.

[0071] In one possible implementation, the communications device 400 may include multiple processors, such as, for example, processor 401 and processor 407 of FIG. 4. Each of the processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may be one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores configured to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0072] In one possible implementation, the communication apparatus 400 may further include an output device 405 and an input device 406. The output device 405 communicates with the processor 401 and may display information in a number of ways. For example, the output device 405 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 406 communicates with the processor 401 and may receive user input in a number of ways. For example, the input device 406 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0073] The aforementioned communication device 400 may be a general-purpose device or a dedicated device. In specific implementation, the communication device 400 may be a portable computer, a network server, a palmtop computer (personal digital assistant, PDA), a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal device, an embedded device, or a device having a structure similar to that of Fig. 4. The type of the communication device 400 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0074] After the communication device is powered on, the processor 401 can read the software program in the memory 403, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 401 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and then outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit, which performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal, and then transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of an electromagnetic wave via an antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal via the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 401, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0075] In another embodiment, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located separately from the processor for performing baseband processing, for example in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located separately from the communication device.

[0076] The following describes the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the first device may be the AP or STA in FIG. 3, the second device may be the AP or STA in FIG. 3, and the third device may be the AP or STA in FIG. 3. This is not limited in this specification. The following describes the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application by using an example in which the first device is an AP, and the second device and the third device are STAs. In FIG. 5, the second device is a device corresponding to a first user that uses joint source channel coding, and the third device is a device corresponding to a second user that does not use joint source channel coding. In FIG. 6, the second device is a device corresponding to one user field.

[0077] Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the embodiment of Figure 5 is for multi-user transmission. As shown in Figure 5, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0078] 501: A first device generates a PPDU, the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user that uses joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating joint source channel coding parameters of a source layer corresponding to the first user, and the first user second signal field being located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user.

[0079] Optionally, the first signal field includes at least one user field corresponding to each user, which may be understood as the first signal field includes at least one user field corresponding to a first user using joint source channel coding and one user field corresponding to a second user not using joint source channel coding. There may be one or more first users, and there may be one or more second users. This is not limited in this specification. It should be understood that one first user may correspond to at least one user field, and one second user corresponds to one user field.

[0080] In order to allow a user to know whether joint source channel coding transmission is used, the solution may also be implemented in any one of the following manners.

[0081] Scheme 1.1: The first signal field further includes indication information indicating that the first user uses joint source channel coding transmission.

[0082] Scheme 1.2: A plurality of user fields corresponding to a first user indicates that the first user uses joint source channel coding transmission.

[0083] Scheme 1.1 can be understood as: the indication information indicating that the first user uses joint source channel coding transmission is in the user field corresponding to the first user. For details, please refer to any one of the following schemes.

[0084] Scheme 2.1: The first user corresponds to one user field, and the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission may be in the user field corresponding to the first user. That is, the user field corresponding to the first user may further include a modulation coding scheme field, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission. For example, the number of bits of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, that is, the value of the modulation coding scheme field may range from 0 to 31. When the value of the modulation coding scheme field ranges from 0 to 15, it indicates the different modulation coding scheme of the first user, and when the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 16 to 31, it indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission. It should be understood that in the present application, the specific value indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission and the specific value indicating the different modulation coding scheme of the first user are not limited in this specification.

[0085] Scheme 2.2: The first user corresponds to one user field, and the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission may be in the user field corresponding to the first user. That is, the user field corresponding to the first user may further include a combined source channel coding indication field, and the combined source channel coding indication field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission. Alternatively, the use of the combined source channel coding transmission by the first user may be indicated by a reserved field, and when the reserved field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission, the name of the reserved field may be changed, and the specific name is not limited. Optionally, the user field corresponding to the first user may further include a modulation coding scheme field, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates the modulation coding scheme of the base layer corresponding to the first user. For example, when the bit number of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, and the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 16 to 31, it indicates the modulation coding scheme of the base layer corresponding to the first user. Alternatively, the value of the modulation and coding scheme field may be any value, the value does not represent any meaning, and the STA may ignore the modulation and coding scheme field.

[0086] Scheme 2.3: The first user corresponds to a plurality of user fields, and the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission may be located in one or more of the plurality of user fields corresponding to the first user. That is, each of the one or more user fields includes a modulation coding scheme field, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission. For example, the number of bits of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, that is, the value of the modulation coding scheme field may range from 0 to 31. When the value of the modulation coding scheme field ranges from 0 to 15, it indicates a different modulation coding scheme of the first user, and when the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 16 to 31, it indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission.

[0087] Scheme 2.4: The first user corresponds to a plurality of user fields, and the indication information indicating that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission may be located in one or more of the plurality of user fields corresponding to the first user. That is, each of the one or more user fields may further include a combined source channel coding indication field, and the combined source channel coding indication field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission. Alternatively, the use of the combined source channel coding transmission by the first user may be indicated by a reserved field, and when the reserved field indicates that the first user uses the combined source channel coding transmission, the name of the reserved field may be changed, and the specific name is not limited. Optionally, each of the plurality of user fields corresponding to the first user may further include a modulation coding scheme field, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates the modulation coding scheme of the base layer corresponding to the first user. For example, when the number of bits of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, and the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 16 to 31, it indicates the modulation coding scheme of the base layer corresponding to the first user. Alternatively, the value of the modulation and coding scheme field may be any value, the value does not represent any meaning, and the STA may ignore the modulation and coding scheme field.

[0088] Optionally, one user field corresponding to one second user may also include a modulation coding scheme field. For Scheme 2.1 or Scheme 2.3, in one possible implementation, the modulation coding scheme field in the user field corresponding to the second user indicates that the second user does not use combined source channel coding transmission, i.e., the modulation coding scheme field explicitly indicates that the second user does not use combined source channel coding transmission. For example, if the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 0 to 15, it indicates the modulation coding scheme used by the second user and also indicates that the second user does not use combined source channel coding transmission. In another possible implementation, the modulation coding scheme field indicates the modulation coding scheme used by the second user, i.e., the modulation coding scheme field implicitly indicates that the second user does not use combined source channel coding transmission. For example, if the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 0 to 15, it indicates the modulation coding scheme used by the second user.

[0089] Optionally, one user field corresponding to one second user may also include a joint source channel coding indication field. For Scheme 2.2 or Scheme 2.4, the joint source channel coding indication field in the user field corresponding to the second user indicates the modulation and coding scheme used by the second user, and also indicates that the second user does not use joint source channel coding transmission.

[0090] Scheme 1.2 may be understood as: whether joint source channel coding transmission is used is indicated by using some user fields. In one possible embodiment, one of the multiple user fields corresponding to the first user may further include a modulation coding scheme field corresponding to one source layer, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates the modulation coding scheme of the source layer. For example, the number of bits of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, that is, the value of the modulation coding scheme field may range from 0 to 31. If the value of the modulation coding scheme field is any value from 0 to 15, it indicates the modulation coding scheme of the source layer. Of course, one user field corresponding to one second user indicates that the second user does not use joint source channel coding transmission. In one possible embodiment, the user field corresponding to the second user may further include a modulation coding scheme field corresponding to one source layer, and the modulation coding scheme field indicates the modulation coding scheme of the source layer. For example, the number of bits of the modulation coding scheme field is 5, that is, the value of the modulation coding scheme field may range from 0 to 31. When the value of the modulation and coding scheme field is any value between 0 and 15, it indicates the modulation and coding scheme of the source layer.

[0091] The resource unit allocation subfield indicates the frequency domain resources allocated to the users corresponding to each user field, which may be understood in any one of the following manners, which is not limited in this specification.

[0092] Scheme 3.1: The resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field. That is, the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer and the layer frequency domain resource of the second user in one source layer. It can be seen that this indicates that the layer frequency domain resource in a single source layer can be allocated to the user corresponding to each user field. Therefore, the layer frequency domain resource in different source layers is different, and the reading of a field on the layer frequency domain resource of a source layer by a user does not affect the reading of a field on the layer frequency domain resource of another source layer by a user.

[0093] Scheme 3.2: The resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources in all source layers of the user corresponding to each user field. That is, the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers and the total frequency domain resources of the second user in all source layers. It can be seen that this indicates that the total frequency domain resources in all source layers can be allocated to the user corresponding to each user field.

[0094] Note that the second user without joint source channel coding corresponds to one source layer. Therefore, the size of the frequency domain resource in Scheme 3.1 and Scheme 3.2 is the same.

[0095] Scheme 3.1 may be implemented when the first user using joint source channel coding corresponds to multiple user fields, and the second user not using joint source channel coding corresponds to one user field. Specifically, for the first user using joint source channel coding, when the first device performs resource allocation, the first device may regard different source layers as data corresponding to different user fields, i.e., may allocate corresponding RU or MRU to the data of each source layer; for the second user not using joint source channel coding, when the first device performs resource allocation, the first device may regard one source layer as data corresponding to one user field, and allocate corresponding RU or MRU to the data of one source layer.

[0096] Optionally, when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of a user corresponding to each user field, the user fields corresponding to different source layers of a first user use the same station identifier field, i.e., all station identifier fields included in the user fields corresponding to different source layers indicate the first user.

[0097] When the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field, the number of source layers corresponding to the first user may be indicated implicitly or explicitly. This is not limited in this specification. In one possible embodiment, implicitly indicating the number of source layers corresponding to the first user may be understood as the number of source layers of the first user is equal to the number of user fields using the same station identifier field, and the station identifier field indicates the first user. In one possible embodiment, explicitly indicating the number of source layers corresponding to the first user may be understood as the second signal field of the first user further indicating at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and one source layer identifier corresponding to the first user, i.e., one second signal field of the first user further indicating at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and one source layer identifier corresponding to the first user. For example, the second signal field of the first user includes a tier number field, where the tier number field indicates the number of all source tiers of the first user. As another example, the second signal field of the first user includes a tier identifier field, where the tier identifier field indicates an identifier of one source tier corresponding to the first user. Alternatively, the user field corresponding to the first user further indicates the number of all source tiers of the first user. For example, the user field corresponding to the first user includes a tier number field, where the tier number field indicates the number of all source tiers of the first user.

[0098] Also, when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field, the number of second signal fields of the first user, the number of source layers corresponding to the first user, and the number of user fields corresponding to the first user are all the same. That is, one source layer corresponds to one second signal field of the first user. In other words, the PPDU includes multiple second signal fields of the first user. The one second signal field of the first user further indicates at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and the identifier of one source layer corresponding to the first user. This is equivalent to the identifier of all source layers of the first user being indicated by multiple second signal fields of the first user.

[0099] When the PPDU includes a plurality of second signal fields of the first user, the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user and joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user. The joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user include at least one of a modulation coding scheme of one source layer corresponding to the first user and a probability of source distribution of one source layer corresponding to the first user. The joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user may include at least one of a frame rate, a color discrimination method, a picture size, a pixel depth, a quantization step, a DCT transform or a discrete wavelet transform size, the number of DCT blocks included in each code block, the number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes, and the number of code blocks. In another possible implementation, at least one of the frame rate, the color discrimination method, the picture size, the pixel depth, the quantization step, the DCT transform or the discrete wavelet transform size, the number of DCT blocks included in each code block, the number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes, and the number of code blocks may be located in the frame header or the frame body of the media access control (MAC) frame corresponding to the first user. The MAC frame is located in each data field corresponding to the first user. It can be seen that a user using joint source channel coding can better read the data at the source layer by knowing the joint source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0100] Scheme 3.2 may be implemented when a first user that uses joint source channel coding corresponds to one user field and a second user that does not use joint source channel coding corresponds to one user field.

[0101] Optionally, when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources of the users corresponding to each user field in all source layers, the layer frequency domain resources of the first user in each source layer may be indicated by the second signal field of the first user or predefined in the protocol. Specifically, any one of the following ways may be used for implementation, which is not limited in this specification.

[0102] Scheme 4.1: The second signal field of the first user further includes a layer resource unit allocation field, and the layer resource unit allocation field indicates at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer. It can be seen that a user using joint source channel coding can know at least one of the number of all source layers of the user and the layer frequency domain resource of the user in each source layer based on the layer resource unit allocation field.

[0103] Scheme 4.2: The layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer is a predefined frequency domain resource. It can be seen that the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer is a predefined frequency domain resource, so no additional indication needs to be made in the PPDU. This reduces overhead. And the first user can perform decoding based on a fixed frequency domain resource size.

[0104] For Scheme 4.1, in one possible implementation, the value of the tier resource unit allocation field indicates at least one of the number of all source tiers of the first user and the tier frequency domain resources of the first user in each source tier.

[0105] For example, in the second row of Table 1, RU242-RU242 indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the two source layers is RU242. That is, if the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 0, it indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the two source layers is RU242. In the third row of Table 1, RU242-RU242-RU242 indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 3, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the three source layers is RU242. That is, if the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 1, it indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 3, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the three source layers is RU242. In the fifth row of Table 1, RU484-RU242 indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in one source layer is RU484, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in the other source layer is RU242. That is, if the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 3, it indicates that the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in one source layer is RU484, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in the other source layer is RU242. The other values ​​of the layer resource unit allocation field in Table 1 are similar. Details will not be repeated here. It should be understood that in this application, RUs or MRUs of different sizes are RUs or MRUs predefined in the standard, including sizes and positions. For example, RU2*996+484-tone MRU includes two 996-tone RUs and one 484-tone RU predefined in the standard.

[0106] [Table 1]

[0107] In addition to the combinations in the table, there may be other combinations, for example, RU484+242-RU242 and RU996+484-RU484. Different source layers have different resource sizes. Larger resources may be allocated to the enhancement layer so that more bits can be carried in the case of low bit rates.

[0108] As another example, when the size of the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers is the same, the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is different. For example, when the size of the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers is RU2*996, refer to Table 2 for the value of the layer resource unit allocation field. With reference to Table 2, it can be seen that the size of the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers is the same, and different values ​​of the layer resource unit allocation field may indicate different numbers of all source layers of the first user. As shown in Table 2, when the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 0, the number of all source layers of the first user is 4, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the four source layers is RU484; when the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 1, the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the two source layers is RU996; when the value of the layer resource unit allocation field is 2, the number of all source layers of the first user is 3, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in one source layer is RU996, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the other source layers is RU484. As another example, when the size of the total frequency domain resource of the first user in all source layers is RU3*996, please refer to Table 3 for the value of the layer resource unit allocation field. The description of Table 3 is similar to that of Table 2. Details are not repeated here.

[0109] [Table 2]

[0110] [Table 3]

[0111] For Scheme 4.1, in another possible implementation, the layer resource unit allocation field includes a layer number field and an index field, the layer number field is located before or after the index field, the layer number field indicates the number of all source layers of the first user, and the index field indicates the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer. If the size of the total frequency domain resource of the first user in all source layers is the same, the value of the index field is different when the number of source layers is different.

[0112] For example, referring to Table 4, it can be seen that when the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, the value of the index field can be any one of 0 to 4. When the value of the index field is 0, the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the two source layers is RU242. When the value of the index field is 1, the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in one source layer is RU484, and the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in the other source layer is RU242. The same is true for other values ​​of the index field in Table 4. Details are not repeated here.

[0113] [Table 4]

[0114] Scheme 4.2 can be understood as follows: In the standard, there is a unique allocation scheme for the total RU or MRU, and the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer does not need to be further indicated; or, for the total RU or MRU, the number of layers is indicated, and the unique allocation scheme of the corresponding number of layers is pre-specified in the standard, and the allocation of layer resource units does not need to be further indicated; that is, for the total RU or MRU, the number of all source layers of the first user is indicated, and although the number of source layers is different, the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer under the number of source layers is pre-specified in the standard. For example, when the size of the total frequency domain resource of the first user in all source layers is RU996, when the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, the allocation scheme in this case only corresponds to RU484-RU484. That is, when the number of all source layers of the first user is 2, the size of the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each of the two source layers is RU484.

[0115] For example, when the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer is a predefined frequency domain resource, in one possible implementation, the number of all source layers of the first user is indicated by the second signal field of the first user, i.e., the second signal field of the first user further includes a layer resource unit allocation field, and the layer resource unit allocation field indicates the number of all source layers of the first user. In another possible implementation, the user field corresponding to the first user indicates the number of all source layers of the first user, i.e., the user field corresponding to the first user further indicates the number of source layers corresponding to the first user. For example, the user field corresponding to the first user includes a layer number field, and the layer number field indicates the number of source layers corresponding to the first user.

[0116] If the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources in all source layers of the users corresponding to each user field, the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user may be understood in any one of the following manners:

[0117] Scheme 5.1: The joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of the joint source channel coding parameters of each source layer corresponding to the first user and the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user. The joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user may include at least one of the modulation coding scheme of one source layer corresponding to the first user and the probability of the source distribution of one source layer corresponding to the first user. That is, the PPDU includes one second signal field of the first user. It can be seen that the user using joint source channel coding can better read the data in the source layer by knowing the joint source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0118] Scheme 5.2: The second signal field of the first user further includes a signal A field and a signal B field, where the signal A field is located on the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers, the signal B field is located on the layer frequency domain resources of one source layer corresponding to the first user, the signal A field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user, and the signal B field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user. That is, the PPDU includes one second signal field of the first user, and there are multiple signal B fields, for example, the number of signal B fields is the same as the number of source layers corresponding to the first user. Since the signal A field is located on the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all source layers, and the parameters indicated by the signal A field are common parameters corresponding to different source layers, and the signal B field is located on the layer frequency domain resources of the source layer corresponding to the first user, i.e., the parameters indicated by the signal B field are parameters corresponding to one source layer, it can be seen that the first user may read and parse the parameters required by each source layer separately, so as to reduce the complexity of reading the signal field by the first user.

[0119] Scheme 5.3: The joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user are joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user. The joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user include at least one of the joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user and the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user. That is, the PPDU includes a plurality of second signal fields of the first user, and the one second signal field of the first user indicates at least one of the joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user and the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user. It can be seen that a user using joint source channel coding can better read data in the source layer by knowing the joint source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0120] In one possible implementation, Scheme 5.1 may be combined with Scheme 4.1 or Scheme 4.2. In another possible implementation, Scheme 5.2 may be combined with Scheme 4.1 or Scheme 4.2. It should be understood that when Scheme 5.2 is combined with Scheme 4.1, the signal A field further indicates at least one of the number of all source layers of the first user and the layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer. That is, the signal A field further includes a layer resource unit allocation field. In another possible implementation, Scheme 5.3 may be combined with Scheme 4.1 or Scheme 4.2.

[0121] Also, in one possible implementation, for scheme 5.1 or scheme 5.3, one second signal field of the first user further indicates all source layer identifiers of the first user, and for scheme 5.2, one signal B field further indicates one source layer identifier corresponding to the first user, which is equivalent to indicating all source layer identifiers of the first user by multiple signal B fields.

[0122] In one possible implementation, the combined source channel coding parameters of one source layer corresponding to the first user may further include the length of the physical layer service data unit of one source layer of the first user or the number of symbols carried in the data field corresponding to one source layer of the first user. It should be understood that the number of data fields of the first user is the same as the number of source layers corresponding to the first user. Since the first user may further know the length of the physical layer service data unit of the source layer or the number of symbols carried in the data field corresponding to the source layer of the first user based on the second signal field, it can be seen that the first user can better parse the data by knowing the mapping relationship between the data contained in one source layer and the data contained in all source layers.

[0123] Optionally, the first user carries different source layers on the allocated time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources. For example, a user using joint source channel coding may carry different source layers only in the time domain, or may carry different source layers in both the time domain and the frequency domain. Since the first user carries different source layers on the allocated time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, it can be seen that the time-frequency resources can be better used for data transmission.

[0124] Optionally, the PPDU further includes a generic signal field, and the first signal field further includes a generic signal overflow field, and the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission. That the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission may be indicated by a PPDU type and a compressed mode field in the generic signal field, that the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission may be indicated by a B20 bit to a B24 bit or a B25 bit of a first symbol in the generic signal field, or that the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission may be indicated by a B2 bit or a B8 bit of a second symbol in the generic signal field. That the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission may be indicated by at least one bit in the generic signal overflow field. It should be understood that the B20 to B24 bits of the first symbol in the general signal field are disregard bits, the B25 bit of the first symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit, the B2 bit of the second symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit, and the B8 bit of the second symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit. After these bits indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission, the meanings of the bits are changed, and the specific names are not limited in this specification.

[0125] After step 501, steps 502 to 504 may be further performed. Of course, steps 505 and 506 may also be further performed. Specifically, FIG. 5 may include steps 501 to 504, or FIG. 5 may include steps 501, 505, and 506, or FIG. 5 may include steps 501 to 506. It will be understood that there is no necessary order in which steps 502 to 504 and steps 505 and 506 are performed. In other words, steps 502 to 504 may be performed before either step 505 or step 506, after either step 505 or step 506, or simultaneously with either step 505 or step 506.

[0126] 502: A first device transmits a PPDU.

[0127] In response, the second device receives the PPDU.

[0128] 503: The second device obtains joint source channel coding parameters of a source layer corresponding to the first user on a frequency domain resource allocated to the first user.

[0129] If the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field, step 503 can be understood as the second device obtaining the joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer on the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the first user. Also, the second device can further obtain the joint source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers of the first user on the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the first user. If the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field, it can be seen that the user using the joint source channel coding can better read the data in the source layer by knowing the joint source channel coding parameter required by the user.

[0130] If the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources in all source layers for the user corresponding to each user field, step 503 may be understood as any one of the following:

[0131] Scheme 6.1: Referring to Scheme 5.1, the second device obtains a joint source channel coding parameter of each source layer corresponding to the first user on the total frequency domain resources of all source layers of the first user. The second device may also obtain a joint source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers of the first user on the total frequency domain resources of all source layers of the first user.

[0132] Scheme 6.2: Referring to scheme 5.2, the second device obtains the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers on the layer frequency domain resources of each source layer of the first user. That is, the second device obtains the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers by reading the corresponding signal B field on the layer frequency domain resources of each source layer of the first user. Also, the second device may further obtain the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user on the total frequency domain resources in all source layers of the first user. That is, the second device obtains the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user by reading the signal A field on the total frequency domain resources of all source layers of the first user.

[0133] Scheme 6.3: Referring to Scheme 5.3, the second device obtains a joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer on the layer frequency domain resource of each source layer of the first user. The second device may also obtain a joint source channel coding parameter shared by all source layers of the first user on the layer frequency domain resource in each source layer of the first user.

[0134] For any of Schemes 6.1 to 6.3, if the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources at all source layers for the users corresponding to each user field, it can be seen that a user using joint source channel coding can better read the data at the source layer by knowing the joint source channel coding parameters required by the user.

[0135] 504: The second device performs joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user.

[0136] For one source layer corresponding to the first user, step 504 may be understood as the second device performing joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the one source layer corresponding to the first user and the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the first user.

[0137] 505: The first device transmits a PPDU.

[0138] In response, the third device receives the PPDU.

[0139] 506: The users corresponding to each user field further include a second user that does not use joint source channel coding, and a third device obtains data on the frequency domain resource allocated to the second user.

[0140] The third device obtaining data on the frequency domain resources allocated to the second user may be understood as the third device obtaining data on the frequency domain resources allocated to the second user by using the corresponding data field.

[0141] It can be seen that in the above technical solution, the first device may allocate frequency domain resources to both users who use JSCC transmission and correspond to each user field, and users who do not use JSCC transmission and correspond to each user field. Also, for users who use JSCC transmission, the PPDU may further include a second signal field located on the frequency domain resource allocated to the user, and the second signal field indicates a joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer corresponding to the user. In other words, for users who use JSCC transmission, it is indicated that the JSCC signal information is located in another signal field of the frequency domain resource of the user. Therefore, when reading the first signal field, the user who uses JSCC transmission does not need to read a large amount of information in the same field. This reduces the complexity of reading the first signal field by the user who uses JSCC transmission. In addition, since only the user who uses JSCC can obtain the JSCC signal information related to the user, and the user who does not use JSCC transmission does not need to read the JSCC signal information, the user who does not use JSCC transmission needs to read fewer signal fields. This further reduces the complexity of reading the signal field by the user who does not use JSCC transmission. Moreover, for users that do not use JSCC transmission, the PPDU does not include a second signaling field, i.e., there is no lengthy JSCC signaling information, which reduces overhead and improves throughput rate.

[0142] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the embodiment of Figure 6 is for single-user transmission. As shown in Figure 6, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0143] 601: A first device generates a PPDU, the PPDU including a general signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a general signal overflow field, the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field.

[0144] The PPDU may be indicated as a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission by the PPDU type and compressed mode fields in the general signal field, the PPDU may be indicated as a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission by the B20 to B24 bits or the B25 bits of the first symbol in the general signal field, or the PPDU may be indicated as a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission by the B2 or B8 bits of the second symbol in the general signal field. The PPDU may be indicated as a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission by at least one bit in the general signal overflow field. It should be understood that the B20 to B24 bits of the first symbol in the general signal field are disregard bits, the B25 bit of the first symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit, the B2 bit of the second symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit, and the B8 bit of the second symbol in the general signal field is a validation bit. After these bits indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission, the meaning of the bits changes, and the specific name is not limited in this specification.

[0145] The resource unit allocation subfield indicating the layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field can be understood as meaning that when making resource allocation, the first device can allocate RUs or MRUs corresponding to data in each source layer.

[0146] Optionally, the layer block field may include a layer field corresponding to each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and one layer field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. The joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field may include at least one of the modulation coding scheme of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field and the source distribution probability of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. In one possible implementation, the joint source channel coding parameters of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field may further include the length of the physical layer service data unit of one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, or the number of symbols carried in the data field corresponding to one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. It should be understood that the number of data fields of the user corresponding to the user field is the same as the number of source layers of the user corresponding to the user field.

[0147] Optionally, the third signal field further includes a combined source channel signal field, and the combined source channel signal field indicates combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the user corresponding to the user field. The combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the user corresponding to the user field may include at least one of a frame rate, a color discrimination method, a picture size, a pixel depth, a quantization step, a DCT transform or a discrete wavelet transform size, a number of DCT blocks included in each code block, a number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes, and a number of code blocks. In another possible implementation, at least one of the frame rate, the color discrimination method, the picture size, the pixel depth, the quantization step, the DCT transform or a discrete wavelet transform size, a number of DCT blocks included in each code block, a number of DCT coefficient quantization bit planes, and a number of code blocks may be located in a frame header or a frame body of the MAC frame. The MAC frame is located in each data field of the user corresponding to the user field. Since a single user using the joint source channel transmission can know the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers based on the joint source channel signal field, the user knows that it is not necessary to obtain the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers every time the user parses data in the source layer. Also, since the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers are included by one signal field, overhead is reduced.

[0148] 602: A first device transmits a PPDU.

[0149] In response, the second device receives the PPDU.

[0150] The second device may receive a PPDU from the first device, and in response, the first device may transmit a PPDU to the second device.

[0151] 603: The second device performs joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel encoding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field.

[0152] For one source layer of a user corresponding to the user field, step 603 may be understood as the second device performing joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the one source layer of the user corresponding to the user field and the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the users corresponding to the user field.

[0153] It can be seen that a single user using the combined source channel transmission can obtain data in different source layers, since the single user using the combined source channel transmission can read data on the layer frequency domain resources in each source layer after knowing the function of the PPDU based on the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field, and further knowing the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer based on the layer block field. In addition, the user can further read and parse the parameters required by each source layer separately. This reduces the complexity of the user reading the signal field. In addition, the PPDU contains only one user field, so the overhead is reduced.

[0154] The following describes some possible frame structures of the PPDU of the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in this application, XT is a standard code for future generation standards, and the specific name is not limited.

[0155] In a multi-user transmission scenario, when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to each user field, please refer to Figure 7 or Figure 8 for the frame structure of the PPDU. It should be understood that in Figure 7 or Figure 8, one JSCC user corresponds to multiple user fields, and one non-JSCC user corresponds to one user field.

[0156] In one possible implementation, FIG. 7 is a frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, the PPDU includes at least one of an XT-SIG field and a JSCC-SIG field of a JSCC user at each source layer. The PPDU includes a legacy-short training field (L-STF), a legacy-long training field (L-LTF), a legacy signal field (L-SIG), a repeated legacy signal field (RL-SIG), a universal signal field (U-SIG), an XT-STF field of a JSCC user at each source layer, an XT-LTF field of a JSCC user at each source layer, a data field of a JSCC user at each source layer, a packet extension field of a JSCC user at each source layer, and a packet extension field of a JSCC user at each source layer. 7 may further include at least one of a packet extension (PE) field of a non-JSCC user in one source layer, an XT-STF field of a non-JSCC user in one source layer, an XT-LTF field of a non-JSCC user in one source layer, a data field of a non-JSCC user in one source layer, and a packet extension field of a non-JSCC user in one source layer. The JSCC user in FIG. 7 may be understood as the first user in FIG. 5, and the non-JSCC user in FIG. 7 may be understood as the second user in FIG. 5. The XT-SIG field in FIG. 7 is the first signal field in FIG. 5, and the JSCC-SIG field in FIG. 7 is the second signal field in FIG. 5. It should be noted that FIG. 7 is merely an example, and FIG. 7 may further include related fields of other JSCC users in different source layers, or related fields of other non-JSCC users in one source layer, etc.

[0157] In Figure 7, the XT-SIG field may further include at least one of a resource unit allocation subfield-1, a resource unit allocation subfield-2 (if present), and at least one user block (only two user blocks are shown in Figure 7). The XT-SIG field may further include at least one of a general-purpose signal overflow (U-SIG overflow) field, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and tail field, and a cyclic redundancy check and tail field (if present) padding (if present). One user block may include at least one user field and a cyclic redundancy check and tail field, and different user blocks use different cyclic redundancy check codes. As shown in FIG. 7, the user block located after the cyclic redundancy check and tail field (if present) may include user field 1, user field 2, and a cyclic redundancy check and tail field, and the user block before the padding field (if present) may include user field 3, user field 4, and a cyclic redundancy check and tail field.

[0158] The user field may include at least one of a station identifier (STA-ID) field and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) field. In one possible implementation, the user field may further include a joint source channel coding indication field, and the specific position and length of the joint source channel coding indication field are not limited. For example, in the above-mentioned scheme 2.2 or scheme 2.4, a user field corresponding to a JSCC user may further include a joint source channel coding indication field. Of course, a user field corresponding to a non-JSCC user may also include a joint source channel coding indication field. In one possible scheme, the user field may further include at least one of a reserved field, a number of spatial streams (NSS) field, a beamformed field, and a coding field. As shown in Figure 7, each of user field 1 to user field 4 may include at least one of a station identifier field and a modulation and coding scheme field, and user field 1 to user field 4 may further include at least one of a reserved field, a number of spatial streams field, a beamformed field, and a coding field. It should be understood that Figure 7 shows only the fields included in user field 1.

[0159] The JSCC-SIG field of a JSCC user in one source tier may further include a tier number field and a tier identifier (layer ID) field. For example, if the number of all source tiers corresponding to the JSCC user is explicitly indicated, the JSCC-SIG field of a JSCC user in one source tier may further include a tier number field.

[0160] Also, the JSCC-SIG field of the JSCC user in one source layer may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC user in one source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the JSCC-SIG field of the JSCC user in one source layer may further include at least one of a modulation coding scheme field for the layer (MCS for the layer), a probability of source distribution field, a frame rate field, etc. It should be understood that Figure 7 shows only some of the fields included in the JSCC-SIG field of the JSCC user in one source layer.

[0161] In another possible embodiment, Figure 8 is yet another frame structure of a corresponding PPDU when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 7 is similar to that shown in Figure 8, with the difference being that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 7, one user field corresponding to a JSCC user does not include a layer number field, but one JSCC-SIG field corresponding to a JSCC user includes a layer number field and a layer identifier field, and in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 8, one user field corresponding to a JSCC user includes a layer number field, and one JSCC-SIG field corresponding to a JSCC user does not include a layer number field or a layer identifier field.

[0162] In a multi-user transmission scenario, when the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resources in all source layers of the users corresponding to each user field, please refer to any of Figures 9 to 13 for the frame structure of the PPDU. It should be understood that in Figures 9 to 13, one JSCC user corresponds to one user field and one non-JSCC user corresponds to one user field.

[0163] In one possible embodiment, Figure 9 is a frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates the total frequency domain resource according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 7 is similar to that shown in Figure 9, and the difference lies in the following aspects.

[0164] 1. In the PPDU frame structure shown in Figure 7, one JSCC user corresponds to multiple user fields and one non-JSCC user corresponds to one user field, and in the PPDU frame structure shown in Figure 9, one JSCC user corresponds to one user field and one non-JSCC user corresponds to one user field.

[0165] 2. In the frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 7, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field at one source layer, which may include a layer number field and a layer identifier field, and the one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users at one source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user; in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 9, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field at all source layers, which includes a layer resource assignment (layer RU assignment) field, and the one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users at each source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user. As shown in Figure 9, the common info for all layers field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user, the layer info field 1 indicates the joint source channel coding parameters of the JSCC user in source layer 1, and the layer info field 2 indicates the joint source channel coding parameters of the JSCC user in source layer 2. It should be understood that Figure 9 shows only two layer information fields and may further include other layer information fields, which is not limited in this specification.

[0166] Please note that if the layer frequency domain resources of the JSCC users in each source layer are predefined frequency domain resources, the layer resource unit allocation field in FIG. 9 may be omitted.

[0167] In another possible embodiment, Figure 10 is yet another frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 9 is similar to that shown in Figure 10, with the difference being that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 8, the user field corresponding to the JSCC user does not include a layer number field, but the JSCC-SIG field corresponding to the JSCC user includes a layer resource unit allocation field, and in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 10, the user field corresponding to the JSCC user includes a layer number field, and the JSCC-SIG field corresponding to the JSCC user does not include a layer resource unit allocation field.

[0168] Please note that if the layer frequency domain resources of the JSCC users in each source layer are predefined frequency domain resources, the layer number field in FIG. 10 may be omitted.

[0169] In another possible embodiment, Figure 11 is yet another frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 9, and the difference is that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 9, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers, and one JSCC-SIG field may include a layer resource unit allocation field, and one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users in each source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user, and the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 9, and the difference is that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 9, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers, and one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users in each source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user, and the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 9, and the difference is that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers, and one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users in each source layer and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user, and the difference is that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers, and one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers. In the frame structure, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG-A field in all source layers, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG-B field in one source layer, the JSCC-SIG-A field may include a layer resource unit allocation field, the JSCC-SIG-A field indicates combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user, and one JSCC-SIG-B field indicates combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users in one source layer.

[0170] Please note that if the layer frequency domain resources of the JSCC users in each source layer are predefined frequency domain resources, the layer resource unit allocation field in FIG. 11 may be omitted.

[0171] In another possible embodiment, Figure 12 is yet another frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 12 is similar to that shown in Figure 11, with the difference being that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 11, the user field corresponding to the JSCC user does not include a layer number field, but the JSCC-SIG-A field corresponding to the JSCC user includes a layer resource unit allocation field, and in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 12, the user field corresponding to the JSCC user includes a layer number field, and the JSCC-SIG-A field corresponding to the JSCC user does not include a layer resource unit allocation field.

[0172] Please note that if the layer frequency domain resources of the JSCC users in each source layer are predefined frequency domain resources, the layer number field in FIG. 12 may be omitted.

[0173] In another possible embodiment, Figure 13 is yet another frame structure of a PPDU corresponding to the case where the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources according to an embodiment of the present application. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 13 is similar to that shown in Figure 9, with the difference being that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 9, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in all source layers, and one JSCC-SIG field includes a layer resource assignment (layer RU assignment) field, and one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate the combined source channel coding parameters of the JSCC users in each source layer, and the combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user; in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 13, one JSCC user corresponds to one JSCC-SIG field in each source layer, and one JSCC-SIG field includes a layer resource assignment (layer RU assignment) field. the one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate combined source channel coding parameters of JSCC users in one source layer, for example, the one JSCC-SIG field may include layer information field 1, layer information field 1 indicates combined source channel coding parameters of JSCC users in source layer 1, and the one JSCC-SIG field may further indicate combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the JSCC user.

[0174] In a multi-user transmission scenario, when a user carries different source layers on the allocated time domain resource and / or frequency domain resource, please refer to Figure 14A and Figure 14B for the frame structure of the PPDU. Figure 14A and Figure 14B are the frame structures of the PPDU corresponding to the case where different source layers are carried on the time-frequency resource according to one embodiment of the present application. The frame structures of the PPDU shown in Figure 14A and Figure 14B are similar to those shown in Figure 13, the difference being that in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 13, one JSCC user carries only one source layer on the time-frequency resource, and in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 14A and Figure 14B, one JSCC user carries different source layers on the time-frequency resource.

[0175] Also, in Figures 7 to 13, one JSCC user may carry different source layers on time-frequency resources, and no examples of frame structures of PPDUs are provided.

[0176] For the frame structure of the PPDU in a single-user transmission scenario, please refer to Figure 15. Figure 15 is a frame structure of the PPDU in a single-user transmission scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. The single user is a JSCC user. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 15 is similar to that shown in Figure 7, and the difference lies in the following aspects.

[0177] 1. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 7 includes an XT-SIG field, a JSCC-SIG field for each JSCC user at each source layer, an XT-STF field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, an XT-LTF field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, a data field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, and a packet extension field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, and the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 15 does not include an XT-SIG field, an XT-STF field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, an XT-LTF field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, a data field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer, or a packet extension field for a non-JSCC user at one source layer.

[0178] 2. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 7 includes at least one user block, and one user block may include at least one user field, and the frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 15 includes one user block, and one user block includes one user field.

[0179] 3. The frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 7 does not include a JSCC common field or a layer block field, and the frame structure of the PPDU shown in Figure 15 includes a JSCC common field and a layer block field, the JSCC common field is the combined source channel signal field of Figure 6, the layer block field may include at least one layer field and a cyclic redundancy check and tail field, and the layer field indicates the combined source channel coding parameters of a user corresponding to one user field in one source layer. As shown in Figure 15, the layer block field may include a layer block field 1 and a layer block field 2, the layer block field 1 indicates the combined source channel coding parameters of a user corresponding to one user field in source layer 1, and the layer block field 2 indicates the combined source channel coding parameters of a user corresponding to one user field in source layer 2.

[0180] 4. In the frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 7, the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for combined source channel transmission, and in the frame structure of the PPDU shown in FIG. 15, the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for single-user combined source channel transmission.

[0181] Note that the XT-SIG field in FIG. 15 is the third signal field in FIG.

[0182] The above describes the solution provided in the present application in terms of the interaction between devices. It will be understood that in order to implement the aforementioned functions, the aforementioned devices may include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing the functions. Those skilled in the art should easily recognize that the present application may be implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software in combination with the example units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or by hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0183] In the embodiment of the present application, the AP or STA may be divided into functional modules based on the above-mentioned method example. For example, the AP or STA may be divided into functional modules corresponding to functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the division into modules is an example and is merely a logical division of functions. In actual implementation, another division method may be used.

[0184] When an integrated module is used, FIG. 16 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 may be used in the methods shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 16, the communication device 1600 includes a processing module 1601 and a transceiver module 1602. The processing module 1601 may be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 1602 may be a transceiver or a communication interface. The communication device may be configured to perform an AP or a STA of any one of the aforementioned method embodiments, or may be configured to perform a function of a network element of any one of the aforementioned method embodiments. The network element or network function may be a network element of a hardware device, a software function running on a dedicated hardware, or a virtualization function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Optionally, the communication device 1600 may further include a storage module 1603 configured to store program codes and data of the communication device 1600.

[0185] In one example, when the communication device is used as a STA, or a chip applied in a STA, and performs steps performed by the STA in the above-mentioned method embodiments, the transceiver module 1602 is configured to support communication with an AP, etc., and the transceiver module specifically performs the transmission and / or reception performed by the STA in Figures 5 and 6, for example, the transceiver module 1602 assists the STA to perform step 502 and / or another process of the techniques described herein, and the processing module 1601 may be configured to assist the communication device 1600 to perform processing operations in the above-mentioned method embodiments, for example, the processing module 1601 assists the STA to perform step 503 and / or another process of the techniques described herein.

[0186] For example, the transceiver module 1602 is configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU, the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating a frequency domain resource allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a second signal field of the first user, the second signal field of the first user indicating a joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer corresponding to the first user, the second signal field of the first user being located on the frequency domain resource allocated to the first user. The processing module 1601 is configured to obtain the joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer corresponding to the first user on the frequency domain resource allocated to the first user, and the processing module 1601 is further configured to perform joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameter of the source layer corresponding to the first user.

[0187] As another example, the transceiver module 1602 is configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU, the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources at each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the processing module 1601 is configured to perform combined source channel decoding based on the combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field.

[0188] In one example, when the communication device is used as an AP, or a chip applied in an AP, and performs steps performed by the AP in the above-mentioned method embodiments, the transceiver module 1602 is configured to support communication with STAs, etc., and the transceiver module specifically performs the transmission and / or reception performed by the AP in Figures 5 and 6, for example, the transceiver module 1602 assists the AP in performing step 501 and / or another process of the techniques described herein, and the processing module 1601 may be configured to assist the communication device 1600 in performing processing operations in the above-mentioned method embodiments, for example, the processing module 1601 assists the AP in performing another process of the techniques described herein.

[0189] For example, the processing module 1601 is configured to generate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user that uses joint source channel coding, the PPDU further including a first user second signal field, the first user second signal field indicating source layer joint source channel coding parameters corresponding to the first user, and the first user second signal field being located on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user, and the transceiver module 1602 is configured to transmit the PPDU.

[0190] As another example, the processing module 1601 is configured to generate a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU, the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and a user field corresponding to the user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources at each source layer for the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters for each source layer for the user corresponding to the user field, and the transceiver module 1602 is configured to transmit the PPDU.

[0191] In one possible embodiment, when the STA or AP is a chip, the transceiver module 1602 may be an input / output interface, pin, circuit, etc. For example, the input / output interface may be configured to input data to be processed into a logic circuit, and output the processing result of the logic circuit to the outside. In a specific implementation, the input / output interface may be a general purpose input output (GPIO) interface and may be connected to multiple peripheral devices (e.g., a display (LCD), a camera (camera), a radio frequency (RF) module, an antenna). The input / output interface is connected to the processor via a bus.

[0192] The processing module 1601 may be a logic circuit that may execute stored instructions to enable the chip to perform the method of any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6. It will be understood that the instructions may be stored in a storage module.

[0193] The storage module may be a storage module internal to the chip, such as a register or cache, or may be a storage module located external to the chip, such as a Read Only Memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, or a Random Access Memory (RAM).

[0194] It should be noted that the functions corresponding to each of the logic circuits and the input / output interfaces may be implemented using a hardware design, a software design, or a combination of software and hardware, which is not limited in this specification.

[0195] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, including a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to assist the communication device to perform any one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The transceiver is configured to assist communication between the communication device and another communication device other than the communication device. The communication device may further include a memory, the memory is configured to be coupled to the processor, and the memory stores program instructions and data required for the communication device. The transceiver may be integrated into the communication device or may be independent of the communication device. This is not limited herein. For example, in a distributed scenario, the transceiver may be located independently and apart from the communication device.

[0196] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip. The chip includes at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface. The logic circuit is configured to read and execute a stored instruction, and when the instruction is executed, the chip is enabled to perform any one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

[0197] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, enable the computer to perform any one of the embodiments shown in FIG.

[0198] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which when run on a computer, enable the computer to perform any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0199] The aforementioned units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one place or distributed over multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the network elements of the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software network element.

[0200] When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software network element and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated unit may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, an essentially contributing part in the technical solution of the present application, or all or part of the technical solution, may be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes some instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a terminal device, a cloud server, a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application. The above-mentioned storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc. The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. Modifications or replacements that are easily devised by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0201] 400 Communication equipment 401 Processor 402 Communication lines 403 Memory 404 Communication Interface 405 Output Device 406 Input Devices 407 Processor 1600 Communication Equipment 1601 Processing Module 1602 Transceiver Module 1603 Memory Module

Claims

1. 1. A method of communication, comprising: generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding; the PPDU further includes a second signal field of the first user, the second signal field of the first user indicating a joint source channel coding parameter of a source layer corresponding to the first user, the second signal field of the first user being on a frequency domain resource allocated to the first user; transmitting the PPDU; A communication method comprising:

2. 1. A method of communication, comprising: receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user that uses joint source channel coding; the PPDU further includes a second signal field of the first user, the second signal field of the first user indicating a joint source channel coding parameter of a source layer corresponding to the first user, and the second signal field of the first user is located on a frequency domain resource allocated to the first user; obtaining the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user; performing joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user; A communication method comprising:

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first signal field further includes indication information for indicating that the first user uses joint source channel coding transmission.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication information indicating that the first user uses joint source channel coding transmission is in a user field corresponding to the first user.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user field corresponding to the first user further includes a modulation and coding scheme field, the modulation and coding scheme field indicating that the first user uses combined source channel coding transmission.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resource unit allocation subfield indicates layer frequency domain resources in each source layer for the user corresponding to each user field.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein user fields corresponding to different source tiers of the first user use the same station identifier field.

8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein a number of source tiers of the first user is equal to a number of user fields that use the same station identifier field, and the station identifier field indicates the first user.

9. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal field of the first user further indicates at least one of a number of all source tiers of the first user and an identifier of one source tier corresponding to the first user.

10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of a combined source channel coding parameter of one source layer corresponding to the first user and a combined source channel coding parameter shared by all the source layers of the first user.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resource unit allocation subfield indicates total frequency domain resources in all source layers for the user corresponding to each user field.

12. 12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the second signal field of the first user further includes a layer resource unit allocation field, the layer resource unit allocation field indicating at least one of a number of all the source layers of the first user and a layer frequency domain resource of the first user in each source layer.

13. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the stratum frequency domain resource of the first user in each source stratum is a predefined frequency domain resource.

14. 14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the combined source channel coding parameters of the source layers corresponding to the first user include at least one of a combined source channel coding parameter of each source layer corresponding to the first user and the combined source channel coding parameter shared by all the source layers of the first user.

15. The second signal field of the first user further includes a signal A field and a signal B field, where the signal A field is located on the total frequency domain resources of the first user in all the source layers, and the signal B field is located on the layer frequency domain resources of one source layer corresponding to the first user; The signal A field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters shared by all the source layers of the first user, and the signal B field indicates the joint source channel coding parameters of the one source layer corresponding to the first user.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13.

16. 16. The method of claim 10, 14, or 15, wherein the combined source channel coding parameters for one source layer corresponding to the first user further include a length of a physical layer service data unit for the one source layer of the first user or a number of symbols carried in a data field corresponding to the one source layer of the first user.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first user carries different source layers on allocated time and / or frequency domain resources.

18. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PPDU further includes a general signal field, and the first signal field further includes a general signal overflow field, and the general signal field and / or the general signal overflow field indicate that the PPDU is a PPDU for a combined source channel transmission.

19. 1. A method of communication, comprising: generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single user's combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and one user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; transmitting the PPDU; A communication method comprising:

20. 1. A method of communication, comprising: receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single user's combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and one user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; performing joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the users corresponding to the user field; A communication method comprising:

21. 21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the third signal field further includes a combined source channel signal field, the combined source channel signal field indicating combined source channel coding parameters shared by all source layers of the user corresponding to the user field.

22. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module; and a transceiver module; The processing module generates a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user using joint source channel coding; The PPDU further includes a second signal field of the first user, the second signal field of the first user indicating a joint source channel coding parameter of a source layer corresponding to the first user, and the second signal field of the first user is located on a frequency domain resource allocated to the first user; the transceiver module is configured to transmit the PPDU; Communications equipment.

23. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module; and a transceiver module; The transceiver module receives a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a first signal field, the first signal field including a resource unit allocation subfield and at least one user field corresponding to each user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating frequency domain resources allocated to the user corresponding to each user field, the user corresponding to each user field including a first user that uses joint source channel coding; The PPDU further includes a second signal field of the first user, the second signal field of the first user indicating a joint source channel coding parameter of a source layer corresponding to the first user, and the second signal field of the first user is located on a frequency domain resource allocated to the first user; The processing module is configured to obtain the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user on the frequency domain resources allocated to the first user; the processing module is further configured to perform joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of the source layer corresponding to the first user. Communications equipment.

24. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module; and a transceiver module; the processing module is configured to generate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and one user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources in each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; the transceiver module is configured to transmit the PPDU; Communications equipment.

25. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module; and a transceiver module; the transceiver module is configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a generic signal field and a third signal field, the third signal field including a generic signal overflow field, the generic signal field and / or the generic signal overflow field indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU for a single-user combined source channel transmission, the third signal field further including a resource unit allocation subfield, a layer block field, and one user field corresponding to a user, the resource unit allocation subfield indicating layer frequency domain resources at each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field, and the layer block field indicating combined source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field; The processing module is configured to perform joint source channel decoding based on the joint source channel coding parameters of each source layer of the user corresponding to the user field. Communications equipment.

26. 22. A chip comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface, the logic circuit configured to read and execute stored instructions, the execution of which enables the chip to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 21.

27. 22. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed by a computer, enable the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 21.

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