Resource configuration method and communication device

Abstract

This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a resource configuration method and a communication device. The solution is applicable to a WLAN system that supports 802.11 series protocols, such as the next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax like 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7 or EHT, and the next-generation protocol of 802.11be like Wi-Fi 8, and is also applicable to a UWB-based wireless personal area network system and a sensing system. In this method, the first resource unit indicated by the first station to the second station includes subcarriers within a difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. Therefore, such a method avoids an intersection set between the indicated first resource unit and the subcarriers of the first frequency range, that is, avoids resource collision and can maintain normal communication between stations.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210927210.X, entitled "RESOURCE CONFIGURATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS," filed on August 3, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] [Technical field] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a resource configuration method and a communication device. [Background technology]

[0003] Since the development of wireless local area networks (WLANs), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technologies have been newly introduced. The overall bandwidth is divided into multiple resource units (RUs). In other words, frequency domain resources for users are not allocated in units of resource units instead of channels. Resource units may be classified into contiguous resource units and distributed resource units.

[0004] In some scenarios, the distributed resource units allocated to the stations may collide with other resource units or channels, which will affect the normal communication between the stations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a resource configuration method and a communication device for avoiding resource collisions and maintaining normal communication between stations.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a resource configuration method is provided. The method may be executed by a first station. The first station may be a component (e.g., a chip, a circuit, or a module) configured in the first station.

[0007] The method includes the following. The first station generates first information, where the first information indicates a first resource unit. The first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The first station transmits the first information to the second station.

[0008] Based on the above solution, the first station can indicate the first resource unit to the second station. The first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of the second resource unit and a subcarrier set of the first frequency range, that is, the first resource unit does not include subcarriers of the first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. Therefore, such a method can avoid an intersection set between the indicated first resource unit and the subcarriers of the first frequency range, that is, avoid resource collisions and maintain normal communication between stations.

[0009] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes the following. The first station transmits second information to the second station, and the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0010] In the implementation method, the sub-carriers of the first resource unit include the sub-carriers within the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0011] For example, the first RU is a punctured distributed RU, and the second RU is an unpunctured distributed RU.

[0012] Optionally, the second information may be understood as indicating whether the first RU is a punctured distributed RU.

[0013] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by the punctured channel.

[0014] Based on the above solution, it is possible to prevent the sub-carriers of the first resource unit from being located in the punctured channel, and the resources are appropriately configured.

[0015] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0016] Based on the above solution, collisions between the sub-carriers of the first resource unit and the sub-carriers of other resource units can be avoided, and the resources are appropriately configured.

[0017] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, the first resource unit further includes the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set, and the number of sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set is less than or equal to the number of sub-carriers within the intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0018] In other words, in this implementation method, the sub-carriers of the first resource unit include two parts. The first part is the sub-carriers within the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, and the second part is the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set.

[0019] Based on the above solution, in order to help allocate more sufficient resources, the number of sub-carriers of the first resource unit may be the same as or close to the number of sub-carriers of the second resource unit.

[0020] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are located in the second sub-carrier set, and the second sub-carrier set is the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0021] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, the first frequency range is the frequency range occupied by the first continuous resource unit, and the third resource unit is the distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit.

[0022] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation methods of the first aspect, in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the sub-carriers, if the sub-carriers of the second resource unit are the i-th sub-carriers within the third sub-carrier set, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are the i-th sub-carriers within the second sub-carrier set, and the third sub-carrier set is the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range and the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0023] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the method further includes the following. The first station transmits third information to the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes subcarriers within the first subcarrier set.

[0024] For example, the first RU is a distributed RU with supplemented size, and the second RU is an undrilled distributed RU.

[0025] Optionally, the third information may be understood as indicating whether the first resource unit is a distributed RU with supplemented size.

[0026] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0027] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first information is carried in a triggered response scheduling control subfield (TRS control subfield) or a user info field within a trigger frame.

[0028] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first information includes first sub - information and second sub - information. The first sub - information indicates a first frequency range, and the second sub - information indicates a second resource unit.

[0029] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation manners of the first aspect, the first sub - information is carried in a common information field within the trigger frame, and the second sub - information is carried in a user information field within the trigger frame.

[0030] According to a second aspect, a resource configuration method is provided. The method may be executed by a second station. The second station may be a component (e.g., a chip, a circuit, or a module) configured in the second station.

[0031] The method includes the following. The second station receives first information, where the first information indicates a first resource unit. The first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. The second resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The second station transmits data on the first resource unit.

[0032] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second station receives second information, where the second information indicates whether to transmit data on the first resource unit or instructs the second station to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0033] For example, the first RU is a punctured distributed RU, and the second RU is an unpunctured distributed RU.

[0034] Optionally, the second information may be understood as indicating whether the first RU is a punctured distributed RU.

[0035] Optionally, the second information may be understood as indicating that the first RU is an unpunctured distributed resource unit or a punctured distributed RU.

[0036] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

[0037] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0038] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first resource unit further includes subcarriers within the first subcarrier set, and the number of subcarriers within the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of subcarriers in the intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range.

[0039] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are located in the second subcarrier set, the second subcarrier set is the difference set between the subcarrier set of the third resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0040] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by the first consecutive resource unit, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first consecutive resource unit.

[0041] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the subcarriers, if the subcarriers of the second resource unit are the i-th subcarriers in the third subcarrier set, the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are the i-th subcarriers in the second subcarrier set, the third subcarrier set is the difference set between the subcarrier set of the first frequency range and the subcarrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0042] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the method further includes the following. The second station receives third information, where the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes subcarriers within the first subcarrier set.

[0043] For example, the first RU is a distributed RU with supplemented size, and the second RU is an undrilled distributed RU.

[0044] Optionally, the third information may be understood as indicating whether the first resource unit is a distributed RU with supplemented size.

[0045] Optionally, the third information may be understood as indicating that the first resource unit is a punctured distributed resource unit or a distributed RU with supplemented size.

[0046] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0047] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control subfield or a user information field within a trigger frame.

[0048] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first information includes first sub-information and second sub-information, where the first sub-information indicates a first frequency range, and the second sub-information indicates a second resource unit.

[0049] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation manners of the second aspect, the first sub-information is carried in a common information field within a trigger frame, and the second sub-information is carried in a user information field within a trigger frame.

[0050] Regarding the second aspect and the beneficial effects of the implementation methods of the second aspect, reference should be made to the first aspect and the implementation methods of the first aspect for understanding.

[0051] According to a third aspect, a communication device is provided. The device may be executed by a first station. The first station may be a component (e.g., a chip, a circuit, or a module) configured in the first station.

[0052] The device includes a processing unit configured to generate first information, where the first information indicates a first resource unit, and the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit, and a transceiver unit configured to transmit the first information to a second station.

[0053] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation methods of the third aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit second information to the second station, and the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0054] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation methods of the third aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

[0055] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation methods of the third aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0056] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first resource unit further includes sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set, and the number of sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set is less than or equal to the number of sub-carriers within the intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0057] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are located in the second sub-carrier set, the second sub-carrier set is the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0058] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first frequency range is the frequency range occupied by the first continuous resource unit, and the third resource unit is the distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit.

[0059] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the sub-carriers, if the sub-carriers of the second resource unit are the i-th sub-carriers within the third sub-carrier set, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are the i-th sub-carriers within the second sub-carrier set, the third sub-carrier set is the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range and the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0060] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to send third information to the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set.

[0061] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0062] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control sub - field or a user information field in a trigger frame.

[0063] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first information includes first sub - information and second sub - information, the first sub - information indicates a first frequency range, and the second sub - information indicates a second resource unit.

[0064] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation manners of the third aspect, the first sub - information is carried in a common information field in a trigger frame, and the second sub - information is carried in a user information field in a trigger frame.

[0065] According to the fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device may be executed by a second station. The second station may be a component (such as a chip, a circuit or a module) configured in the second station.

[0066] The device includes a transceiver unit configured to receive first information, where the first information indicates a first resource unit, the first resource unit includes sub - carriers within a difference set between a sub - carrier set of a second resource unit and a sub - carrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the sub - carriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The transceiver unit is further configured to transmit data on the first resource unit.

[0067] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information, and the second information is used to indicate to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit to the second station.

[0068] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

[0069] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0070] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first resource unit further includes subcarriers within a first subcarrier set, and the number of subcarriers within the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of subcarriers within an intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range.

[0071] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are located in a second subcarrier set, and the second subcarrier set is a difference set between the subcarrier set of the third resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0072] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a first consecutive resource unit, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first consecutive resource unit.

[0073] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, when the sub - carriers of the second resource unit are the i - th sub - carrier in the third sub - carrier set in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the sub - carriers, the sub - carriers in the first sub - carrier set are the i - th sub - carrier in the second sub - carrier set, the third sub - carrier set is the difference set between the sub - carrier set in the first frequency range and the sub - carrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0074] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive third information by the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes sub - carriers in the first sub - carrier set.

[0075] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence relationship between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0076] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control sub - field or a user information field in the trigger frame.

[0077] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first information includes first sub - information and second sub - information, the first sub - information indicates the first frequency range, and the second sub - information indicates the second resource unit.

[0078] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation manners of the fourth aspect, the first sub - information is carried in a common information field in the trigger frame, and the second sub - information is carried in a user information field in the trigger frame.

[0079] According to a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a processor and a memory. Optionally, the device may further include a transceiver. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is configured to call the computer program stored in the memory, execute the computer program, and control the transceiver to receive and transmit signals, so that the communication device executes a method according to any one of the first aspect and the second aspect or possible implementation manners of these aspects.

[0080] According to a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to receive data and / or information and transmit the received data and / or information to the processor. The processor processes the data and / or information. Further, the communication interface is further configured to output the data and / or information obtained after being processed by the processor, so that a method according to any one of the first aspect and the second aspect or possible implementation manners of these aspects is executed.

[0081] According to a seventh aspect, a chip is provided, which includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a program or instructions. When the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the chip is capable of executing a method according to any one of the first aspect and the second aspect or possible implementation manners of these aspects.

[0082] According to an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, a method according to any one of the first aspect and the second aspect or possible implementation manners of these aspects is executed.

[0083] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer program code which, when run on a computer, performs the method according to the first and second aspects or any one of the possible implementations of these aspects.

[0084] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a wireless communication system, including a first station according to the first aspect and a second station according to the second aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0085]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0086] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical solution of this application will be described.

[0087] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable to wireless local area network (WLAN) scenarios that support IEEE 802.11-related standards such as the 802.11a / b / g standard, 802.11n standard, 802.11ac standard, 802.11ax standard, the next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax such as 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, extremely high throughput (EHT), 802.11ad, 802.11ay or 802.11bf, or as another example, the next-generation protocol of 802.11be or Wi-Fi 8. Or, it is applicable to ultra-wideband (UWB)-based wireless personal area network systems, such as the standards of the 802.15 series, or to sensing systems, such as the standards of the 802.11bf series. The 802.11n standard is called high throughput (HT), the 802.11ac standard is called very high throughput (VHT), the 802.11ax standard is called high efficient (HE), and the 802.11be standard is called extremely high throughput (EHT).

[0088] Embodiments of this application are mainly described by using an example in which a WLAN network, particularly a network to which the IEEE 802.11 system standard is applied, is deployed. However, those skilled in the art can easily understand that various aspects in the embodiments of this application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as high performance radio local area network (HIPERLAN), wireless wide area network (WWAN), wireless personal area network (WPAN), or other networks known or to be developed in the future. Therefore, regardless of the coverage area used and the wireless access protocol used, various aspects provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable to any suitable wireless network.

[0089] The technical solution in the embodiments of this application is applicable, as an alternative, to various communication systems, such as, for example, a WLAN communication system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a 5th generation (5G) system or a new radio (NR), a future 6th generation (6G) system, an internet of things (IoT) network or a vehicle to everything (V2X).

[0090] The above communication systems to which this application is applicable are merely examples for illustration, and the communication systems to which this application is applicable are not limited thereto. This is uniformly described in this specification and will not be described in detail again below.

[0091] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an application scenario to which an embodiment of this application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the resource configuration method provided in this application is applicable to data communication between stations (STAs). The stations may be access point (AP) stations or non-access point stations (non-AP STAs). The access point station and the non-access point station are abbreviated as AP and non-AP station, respectively. Specifically, the solution in this application is applicable to data communication between an AP and one or more non-AP stations (e.g., data communication between AP1 and non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2), or to data communication between APs (e.g., data communication between AP1 and AP2) and data communication between non-AP STAs (e.g., data communication between non-AP STA2 and non-AP STA3).

[0092] An access point may be an access point used by a terminal (e.g., a mobile phone) to access a wired (or wireless) network, and is mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses. A typical coverage radius is several tens of meters or more than 100 meters. Obviously, an access point may alternatively be deployed outdoors. An access point corresponds to a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network. The main function of an access point is to connect various wireless network clients to each other and then connect the wireless network to an Ethernet.

[0093] Specifically, the access point may be a terminal or a network device having a Wi-Fi chip. The network device may be a router, a relay station, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a future 6G network, a network device in a public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The access point may be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. Alternatively, the access point may be a device supporting multiple 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 802.11be. The access point in this application may be a high efficient (HE) AP, an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP, or an access point applicable to future-generation Wi-Fi standards.

[0094] The non-AP station may be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, a wireless communication terminal, etc., and may also be referred to as a user, a user device (user equipment, UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user device. The non-AP station may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with a wireless communication function, a computing device, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a future 6G network, a terminal device in a PLMN, etc. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0095] For example, the non-AP station may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a set-top box, a smart TV, a smart wearable device, an in-vehicle communication device or a computer supporting a Wi-Fi communication function, or an Internet of Things (IoT) node or sensor supporting a Wi-Fi communication function, or a smart camera, a smart remote control, a smart water or electricity meter in a smart home supporting a Wi-Fi communication function, or a sensor in a smart city. Optionally, the non-AP station may support the 802.11be standard. Alternatively, the non-AP station may support multiple 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 802.11be.

[0096] With the development of wireless local area networks (WLANs), APs and STAs may communicate with each other by using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technology, or may perform wireless communication by using multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology.

[0097] In OFDMA and MU-MIMO transmission scenarios, the WLAN protocol classifies the spectral bandwidth into several resource units (RUs). For example, the 802.11ax protocol currently supports the following bandwidth configurations, namely, 20 megahertz (MHz), 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 80 MHz + 80 MHz. The difference between 160 MHz and 80 MHz + 80 MHz is that the former is a continuous frequency band, and the two 80 MHz of the latter may be separated. In other words, the 160 MHz formed by 80 MHz + 80 MHz is discontinuous. In another example, the 802.11be protocol supports the following bandwidth configurations, namely, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz bandwidth.

[0098] According to the IEEE 802.11ax protocol, for bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz, the spectral bandwidth may be classified into multiple types of resource units. The resource units may be classified into continuous resource units and distributed resource units.

[0099] The related concepts that may exist in the embodiments of this application are briefly described below.

[0100] 1. Continuous RU (CRU) In this application, a continuous resource unit is a RU that includes a plurality of continuous subcarriers, or a continuous RU is a RU that includes two continuous subcarrier groups, where the plurality of subcarriers included in each of the continuous subcarrier groups are continuous, and the two groups of subcarrier groups are separated only by one or more of guard subcarriers, null subcarriers, or direct current (DC) subcarriers. "Continuous" means that the subcarriers are continuous.

[0101] A continuous resource unit is also called a conventional resource unit or a regular resource unit. Obviously, a continuous resource unit may also have other names. The specific name of the continuous resource unit is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0102] In the embodiments of this application, a continuous RU that includes K subcarriers is called a continuous K-tone RU. For example, a continuous 26-tone RU is a continuous RU that includes 26 subcarriers. In other words, the concept of a continuous K-tone RU is the same as the concept of a K-tone RU in the existing 802.11ax standard.

[0103] It should be understood that the subcarriers of a contiguous RU may be contiguous, or the contiguous RU may include two contiguous subcarrier groups, where the two contiguous subcarrier groups are discontinuous. For example, a 26-tone RU including a group of 13 contiguous subcarriers and another group of 13 contiguous subcarriers is a contiguous RU. Similarly, a 996-tone RU including a group of 484 contiguous subcarriers and another group of 484 contiguous subcarriers is a contiguous RU. Such RUs may also be referred to as special contiguous RUs or general contiguous RUs. In this application, contiguous RUs also include special contiguous RUs and general contiguous RUs.

[0104] Figures 2(a) to 2(c) show the tone plan and contiguous resource units currently defined in the 802.11be standard. The contiguous resource units include 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs (the maximum RU in a 20 MHz bandwidth), 484-tone RUs (the maximum RU in a 40 MHz bandwidth), 996-tone RUs (the maximum RU in an 80 MHz bandwidth), and 2*996-tone RUs (the maximum RU in a 160 MHz bandwidth). Each RU includes contiguous subcarriers. For example, a 26-tone RU includes 26 contiguous subcarriers. In this application, a 26-tone RU is referred to as a 26-tone RU, a 52-tone RU is referred to as a 52-tone RU, and the rest can be inferred by analogy. 2(a) to 2(c), the 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 106-tone RU, 242-tone RU, 484-tone RU, 996-tone RU, etc. are all contiguous resource units. As shown in FIG. 2(a) to 2(c), in addition to the RUs for data transmission, the overall bandwidth further includes one or more of guard subcarriers, null subcarriers, and DC subcarriers.

[0105] Figure 2(a) is a diagram of the tone plan and continuous resource unit distribution on 20 MHz. As shown in Figure 2(a), when the bandwidth is 20 MHz, the overall bandwidth may include the entire 242-tone RU, or may include various combinations of 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, and 106-tone RU. In Figure 2(a), "3DC" represents three DC subcarriers, and "7DC" represents seven DC subcarriers.

[0106] Figure 2(b) is a diagram of the tone plan and continuous resource unit distribution on 40 MHz. As shown in Figure 2(b), when the bandwidth is 40 MHz, the overall bandwidth is approximately equal to the replication of the tone plan on the 20 MHz bandwidth. The overall bandwidth may include the entire 484-tone RU, or may include various combinations of 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 106-tone RU, and 242-tone RU. In Figure 2(b), "5DC" represents five DC subcarriers.

[0107] Figure 2(c) is a diagram of the tone plan and continuous resource unit distribution on 80 MHz. As shown in Figure 2(c), when the bandwidth is 80 MHz, the overall bandwidth is approximately equal to the replication of the tone plan on two 40 MHz bandwidths. The overall bandwidth may include four 242-tone RUs, or may include the entire 996-tone RU, or may include various combinations of 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 106-tone RU, 242-tone RU, and 484-tone RU. In Figure 2(c), "5DC" represents five DC subcarriers, and "23DC" represents 23 DC subcarriers.

[0108] When the bandwidth is 160 MHz, the overall bandwidth may be considered as a replication of the tone plan on two 80 MHz bandwidths. The overall bandwidth may include the overall 2 * 996 - tone RU, or may include various combinations of 26 - tone RU, 52 - tone RU, 106 - tone RU, 242 - tone RU, 484 - tone RU, and 996 - tone RU. It should be understood that similarly, when the bandwidth is 320 MHz, the overall bandwidth may be considered as a replication of the tone plan on four 80 MHz bandwidths, and the overall bandwidth may include four resource units of 996 - tone RU. For the sake of brevity, the tone plans and RU distributions on 160 MHz and 320 MHz will not be described separately again.

[0109] In the various tone plans shown in FIGS. 2(a) - 2(c), 242 - tone RU is used as a unit. The left side of FIGS. 2(a) - 2(c) may be considered as the lowest frequency, and the right side of FIGS. 2(a) - 2(c) may be considered as the highest frequency. From left to right, the 242 - tone RUs can be numbered as the 1st, 2nd,..., and 16th. It should be noted that in the data field, up to 16 242 - tone RUs correspond one - to - one with 16 20 - MHz channels in ascending order of frequency.

[0110] From FIGS. 2(a) - 2(c), it can be seen that the bandwidth of one 26 - tone RU is about 2 MHz, the bandwidth of one 52 - tone RU is about 4 MHz, the bandwidth of one 106 - tone RU is about 8 MHz, and the bandwidth of one 242 - tone RU is about 20 MHz. The bandwidths of other RUs may be correspondingly added or multiplied, and the details will not be described in this specification.

[0111] 2. Distributed RU (DRU) Compared with continuous RUs, an RU that includes a plurality of sub-carrier groups dispersed in the frequency domain may be referred to as a distributed RU. In other words, a distributed RU includes a plurality of sub-carrier groups, and any two sub-carrier groups are dispersed in the frequency domain. One sub-carrier group includes one sub-carrier, or one sub-carrier group includes at least two consecutive sub-carriers. In other words, one sub-carrier group includes one sub-carrier, or includes a plurality of consecutive sub-carriers. Specifically, a distributed RU is a sub-carrier that does not belong to a resource unit and exists between all (or at least most) of the most similar data sub-carriers that belong to the resource unit, and the positions of the sub-carriers of the RU may be understood as discontinuous in the bandwidth.

[0112] A distributed RU may also be referred to as a distributed RU (DRU). Obviously, in other embodiments, a distributed RU may have other names. The name of the distributed RU is not limited in this application. In this application, the number of sub-carrier groups included in one distributed RU is two or more.

[0113] In an embodiment of this application, a distributed RU including K sub-carriers may be referred to as a distributed K-tone RU. For example, a distributed 26-tone RU is a distributed RU including 26 sub-carriers. For the value of K, refer to the value of K of the continuous RU. Obviously, the value of K may be different from the value of K used for the continuous RU. For example, when the bandwidth is 20 MHz, 20 MHz may include one or more combinations of a distributed 26-tone RU, a distributed 52-tone RU, a distributed 106-tone RU, and a distributed 242-tone RU. The sub-carriers within "K sub-carriers" include pilot sub-carriers and data sub-carriers.

[0114] In this application, one distributed RU and another distributed RU may form a distributed MRU. The distributed MRU can be assigned to one or more stations. For example, a distributed 242 - tone RU and a distributed 484 - tone RU may form a distributed 484+242 - tone RU.

[0115] It should be noted that the above - mentioned special continuous RU or general continuous RU does not belong to the distributed RU in the embodiments of this application. For example, in the above example, the 26 - tone RU including a group of 13 consecutive sub - carriers and another group of 13 consecutive sub - carriers is not a distributed RU defined in this application, but a special continuous RU.

[0116] In some examples, the number of sub - carriers included in any two of the multiple sub - carrier groups included in a distributed RU may be the same or different. For example, the number of sub - carriers in each sub - carrier group may be 1. In other examples, the number of sub - carriers in a part of the sub - carrier group is 1, and the number of sub - carriers in another part of the sub - carrier group is 2. In other words, one distributed RU may include four sub - carrier groups, and the number of sub - carriers in the four sub - carrier groups may be 1, 1, 2, and 2 in sequence.

[0117] In some examples, when the number of sub - carrier groups included in a distributed RU is 3 or more, in the multiple distributed sub - carrier groups included in the distributed RU, the number of sub - carriers between every two adjacent sub - carrier groups may be the same or different. Every two adjacent sub - carrier groups are two adjacent sub - carrier groups within one distributed RU.

[0118] For example, in a distributed RU that includes three distributed subcarrier groups (shown as subcarrier group #1, subcarrier group #2, and subcarrier group #3), subcarrier group #1 and subcarrier group #2 are adjacent, and subcarrier group #2 and subcarrier group #3 are adjacent, i.e., the frequency of the subcarriers included in subcarrier group #1 is lower than the frequency of the subcarriers included in subcarrier group #2, and the frequency of the subcarriers included in subcarrier group #2 is lower than the frequency of the subcarriers included in subcarrier group #3. Furthermore, the subcarrier with the highest frequency in subcarrier group #1 and the subcarrier with the lowest frequency in subcarrier group #2 are discontinuous in frequency (or frequency domain), i.e., the two subcarriers are spaced apart by K1 (K1≧1) subcarriers, or there are K1 subcarriers between the two subcarriers, and the subcarrier with the highest frequency in subcarrier group #2 and the subcarrier with the lowest frequency in subcarrier group #3 are discontinuous in frequency (or frequency domain), i.e., the two subcarriers are spaced apart by K2 (K2≧1) subcarriers, or there are K2 subcarriers between the two subcarriers. K1 may or may not be equal to K2.

[0119] In another example, in a distributed RU including four distributed subcarrier groups (shown as subcarrier group #1, subcarrier group #2, subcarrier group #3, and subcarrier group #4), subcarrier group #1 and subcarrier group #2 are adjacent, subcarrier group #2 and subcarrier group #3 are adjacent, and subcarrier group #3 and subcarrier group #4 are adjacent. Further, a subcarrier having the maximum frequency within subcarrier group #1 and a subcarrier having the minimum frequency within subcarrier group #2 are separated by only K1 (K1≥1) subcarriers, a subcarrier having the maximum frequency within subcarrier group #2 and a subcarrier having the minimum frequency within subcarrier group #3 are separated by only K2 (K2≥1) subcarriers, and a subcarrier having the maximum frequency within subcarrier group #3 and a subcarrier having the minimum frequency within subcarrier group #4 are separated by only K3 (K3≥1) subcarriers. K1, K2, and K3 may be equal, or two of the three may be equal, or any two of the three may not be equal.

[0120] To improve the flexibility of RU allocation and / or frequency utilization, a plurality of consecutive or non-consecutive RUs may be supported to be allocated to one or more users. In this specification, a plurality of consecutive or non-consecutive RUs are referred to as a multi-RU (MRU). It should be understood that an MRU is an RU formed by combining a plurality of RUs.

[0121] Optionally, if an MRU includes a plurality of consecutive RUs, the MRU may be referred to as a consecutive MRU. For example, a plurality of MRUs are introduced in the 802.11be protocol. One 52-tone RU and one 26-tone RU form a 52+26-tone RU, one 106-tone RU and one 26-tone RU form a 106+26-tone RU, one 484-tone RU and one 242-tone RU form a 484+242-tone RU, one 996-tone RU and one 484-tone RU form a 996+484-tone RU, one 242-tone RU, one 484-tone RU and one 996-tone RU form a 242+484+996-tone RU, two 996-tone RUs and one 484-tone RU form a 2*996+484-tone RU, three 996-tone RUs form a 3*996-tone RU, three 996-tone RUs and one 484-tone RU form a 3*996+484-tone RU, etc. The MRU is a consecutive MRU.

[0122] Optionally, if an MRU includes a plurality of distributed RUs, the MRU may be referred to as a distributed MRU or a distributed MRU.

[0123] There may be two distributed RUs. One distributed RU does not correspond to a consecutive RU of the same size, and the other distributed RU corresponds to a consecutive RU of the same size.

[0124] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams of the tone plans of two distributed RUs. The distributed RUs shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) do not correspond to continuous RUs of the same size. Figure 3(a) shows a 26-tone RU with distributed subcarriers. The distributed 26-tone RU includes 13 subcarriers provided by each of two continuous 26-tone RUs (RU#1 and RU#2 in Figure 3(a)), and the distributed 26-tone RU does not correspond to any continuous 26-tone RU of RU#1 and RU#2, that is, the distributed RU does not correspond to continuous RUs of the same size. Further, in the distributed 26-tone RU, there are 24 data subcarriers and 2 pilot subcarriers, and there are 26 subcarriers in total.

[0125] Figure 3(b) shows a 52-tone RU with distributed subcarriers. The distributed 52-tone RU includes 13 subcarriers provided by each of four continuous 52-tone RUs (RU#3, RU#4, RU#5, and RU#6 in Figure 3(b)), and the distributed 52-tone RU does not correspond to any continuous 52-tone RU of RU#3, RU#4, RU#5, and RU#6, that is, the distributed RU does not correspond to continuous RUs of the same size. Further, in the distributed 52-tone RU, there are 48 data subcarriers and 4 pilot subcarriers, and there are 52 subcarriers in total.

[0126] In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), 484L and 484R represent the left and right halves of a 484-tone RU, and each part includes 242 subcarriers. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are other diagrams of 484 + 5DC.

[0127] In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), it should be understood that the data subcarriers of these distributed RUs are designed in a non-adjacent form for each pair. This is merely an example of the design method of the distributed RU. In addition to this method, other designs may exist. This is not limited in this application.

[0128] For discontinuous RUs that do not correspond to continuous RUs of the same size, when a discontinuous RU needs to be indicated, the RU index generally needs to be added again. For example, if four discontinuous RUs need to be indicated, four lines of indication need to be added, and each line corresponds to one discontinuous RU.

[0129] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the tone plan of other discontinuous RUs. The discontinuous RUs shown in FIG. 4 correspond to continuous RUs of the same size.

[0130] Specifically, in FIG. 4(a), four continuous RUs are included, namely, continuous RU #1, continuous RU #2, continuous RU #3, and continuous RU #4. Continuous RU #1 includes 26 subcarriers, continuous RU #2 includes 26 subcarriers, continuous RU #3 includes 52 subcarriers, and continuous RU #4 includes 106 subcarriers. The conversion from a conventional RU to a discontinuous RU may be implemented by using a two-line row input-output interleaver. The mapping method of the two-line row input-output interleaver is shown in FIG. 4(b). Finally, the discontinuous RUs shown in FIG. 4(c), namely, discontinuous RU #1, discontinuous RU #2, discontinuous RU #3, and discontinuous RU #4, may be obtained. Discontinuous RU #1 includes 26 subcarriers, discontinuous RU #2 includes 26 subcarriers, discontinuous RU #3 includes 52 subcarriers, and discontinuous RU #4 includes 106 subcarriers. That is, discontinuous RU #1 corresponds to continuous RU #1, discontinuous RU #2 corresponds to continuous RU #2, discontinuous RU #3 corresponds to continuous RU #3, and discontinuous RU #4 corresponds to continuous RU #4. In other words, the discontinuous RUs correspond to continuous RUs of the same size.

[0131] It should be understood that FIG. 4 only shows an example of obtaining discontinuous RUs from continuous RUs. In this example, the subcarrier interval of each discontinuous RU is 1, that is, there is one subcarrier that does not belong to the discontinuous RU between adjacent subcarriers of the discontinuous RU. In actual applications, the number of rows and columns of the interleaver is designed so that the subcarriers in the obtained discontinuous RUs can be more dispersed.

[0132] For the distributed RUs corresponding to consecutive RUs of the same size, when it is necessary to indicate a distributed RU, the indication method of the consecutive RUs may be reused, and based on this, the distributed RUs corresponding to the consecutive RUs are further indicated. According to the correspondence relationship specified in the protocol, the receiving end may know the frequency position of the distributed RUs corresponding to the consecutive RUs.

[0133] In this application, the "correspondence" between the consecutive RUs and the distributed RUs should be understood as the mapping relationship or correspondence relationship between the consecutive RUs and the distributed RUs, or may be understood as the mapping method between the consecutive RUs and the distributed RUs. The mapping relationship, correspondence relationship or mapping method may be expressed by using an interleaver.

[0134] Optionally, the correspondence relationship between the consecutive RUs and the distributed RUs is unique.

[0135] Furthermore, the pilot portion of any one of the above-mentioned distributed RUs is not limited, and the method in the consecutive RUs may be used, or other designs may be used.

[0136] It should be understood that the pilot in this application may also be referred to as a pilot subcarrier. Specifically, both the data subcarriers and the pilot subcarriers are subcarriers that form an RU. The data subcarriers carry data information from the upper layer, and the pilot subcarriers are used to transfer fixed values, so that the receiving end can estimate the phase and perform phase correction.

[0137] 3. Preamble puncture Some channels cannot be used during a certain period or at a specific time due to some of the following possible reasons.

[0138] (1) There is a radar signal. In the unlicensed spectrum, when a radar signal is detected, the WLAN user needs to actively avoid the radar signal.

[0139] (2) There are authorized users. The authorized users may exist on some specific channels. When an authorized user is detected, the WLAN user needs to actively avoid the authorized user.

[0140] (3) There is interference from other users.

[0141] For these scenarios where sub-channel transmission is not permitted, the 802.11ax protocol proposes a preamble puncture transmission method. In this method, the transmitting end can still transmit the physical protocol data unit (PPDU) when some 20MHz sub-channels are busy.

[0142] Figure 5 is a diagram of channel puncture in the 80MHz bandwidth. As shown in Figure 5, the 80MHz bandwidth includes four 20MHz sub-channels shown as sub-channel 1 (CH1), sub-channel 2 (CH2), sub-channel 3 (CH3), and sub-channel 4 (CH4) in ascending order of frequency. CH1 is the primary channel, and CH2, CH3, and CH4 are secondary channels. When CH2 of sub-channel 1 (CH1) is punctured, CH2 cannot be used, but CH1, CH3, and CH4 can still be used.

[0143] 4. Low Power Indoor (LPI) Currently, a low-power indoor communication method is defined in WLAN, which strictly limits the maximum transmit power and the maximum power spectral density. For an AP, the maximum transmit power is 36 dBm (decibel-milliwatt), and the maximum power spectral density is 5 dBm / MHz (decibel-milliwatt / megahertz). For an STA, the maximum transmit power is 24 dBm, and the maximum power spectral density is -1 dBm / MHz. Table 1 shows the relationship between the maximum transmit power and the bandwidth in the LPI scenario. The transmit power of a device is limited by both the maximum power and the maximum power spectral density. First, the transmit power cannot exceed the maximum power value. Second, the transmit power spectral density cannot exceed the maximum power spectral density. Compared with the limit of the maximum power, the limit of the maximum power spectral density is more stringent, and the allowable maximum transmit power is generally more restricted by the power spectral density. As shown in Table 1, as the transmission bandwidth increases, the maximum transmit power of the device increases accordingly. Only when the maximum bandwidth is 320 MHz can the specified maximum power limit be reached. Under this bandwidth, due to the limit of the maximum power spectral density, only lower power can be transmitted.

Table 1

[0144] In the LPI scenario, a distributed RU can increase the subcarrier transmit power compared to a continuous RU. Specifically, since the number of subcarriers per MHz decreases and the power requirement per MHz remains unchanged, the transmit power that can be transmitted by the subcarriers per MHz increases.

[0145] In the low-power indoor scenario, it is not necessarily an essential solution for non-AP stations to support distributed RUs. In other words, some non-AP stations may support distributed RUs, and some non-AP stations may still support only continuous RUs.

[0146] In some other scenarios, some non-AP stations may support distributed RUs, and some non-AP stations may support only contiguous RUs.

[0147] In the above preamble puncture scenario, low-power indoor scenario or other scenarios, the resource units assigned to a station may collide with other resource units or channels. By using an example with reference to FIG. 6, an explanation is provided below.

[0148] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a tone plan. As shown in FIG. 6, when the AP needs to assign a distributed 242-tone RU distributed over 80 MHz to the STA, some of the subcarriers within the distributed 242-tone RU overlap with a contiguous 242-tone RU or a punctured 20-MHz channel, and a collision occurs if any of the following cases exist.

[0149] Case 1: There is one contiguous RU having 242 subcarriers on a second 20 MHz over the 80-MHz bandwidth, i.e., a contiguous 242-tone RU. A possible reason for this case is that the contiguous 242-tone RU is assigned to a non-AP station that supports only contiguous RUs.

[0150] Case 2: On the 80-MHz bandwidth, a second 20 MHz is punctured. A possible reason for this case is that there is a radar signal on the 20 MHz.

[0151] Specifically, in Case 1, since the subcarriers of the distributed 242-tone RU and the subcarriers of the contiguous 242-tone RU overlap, these overlapping subcarriers are assigned to two users. As a result, a collision occurs. In Case 2, some of the subcarriers of the distributed 242-tone RU fall on the punctured 20-MHz channel. As a result, a collision occurs.

[0152] When the resource unit allocated to a station collides with another resource unit or channel, the resource unit allocated to the station cannot perform normal data transmission. This affects the normal communication between stations.

[0153] Considering this, this application provides a resource configuration method and a communication device. A first station can indicate a first resource unit to a second station, and the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range, that is, the first resource unit does not include subcarriers of the first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. Therefore, such a method avoids an intersection set between the indicated first resource unit and the subcarriers of the first frequency range, that is, avoids resource collision and can maintain normal communication between stations.

[0154] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a resource configuration method 200 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0155] S210: The first station generates first information, and the first information indicates a first resource unit.

[0156] The first station may be an AP or a non-AP STA. For the description of the first station, refer to the description of the station in FIG. 1. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0157] The first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range. In other words, the first resource unit does not include subcarriers within an intersection set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range.

[0158] Assume that A and B are two sets. The term "different set" in this specification represents a set that includes all elements that belong to set A but not to set B, and the term "intersection set" in this specification represents a set that includes all elements that belong to both set A and set B. Sub-carriers within the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range are sub-carriers that belong to the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit but not to the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0159] A part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. In other words, there is an intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0160] The first frequency range may be understood as the frequency range of the punctured sub-carriers, or the positions occupied by the punctured sub-carriers.

[0161] Optionally, the first information indicates the first resource unit. In other words, the first information indicates that a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit located in the first frequency range is unavailable, or the first information indicates that the sub-carriers within the intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range are unavailable.

[0162] In this application, a "sub-carrier set" represents one or more sub-carriers in the frequency domain, and each sub-carrier is an element of the sub-carrier set. For example, the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit indicates all the sub-carriers of the second resource unit. For example, the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range indicates all the sub-carriers within the first frequency range.

[0163] For example, the distributed RU#1 (an example of the second resource unit) includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. In other words, the subcarrier set of the distributed RU#1 includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. Similarly, the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In other words, the subcarrier set of the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. For example, if the subcarrier set of the second resource unit includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1 and 5, and the difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range includes subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21. That is, in this example, the first resource unit may include subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21, but does not include subcarriers 1 and 5.

[0164] After the subcarriers are sorted in ascending order of frequency, it should be understood that each subcarrier has a corresponding position in the frequency domain. In one example, the index of the subcarrier (or called the sequence number) in this application is the sequence number of the subcarrier in the frequency domain after the subcarriers are sorted in ascending order of frequency. A larger number indicates that the subcarrier is located at a higher frequency in the frequency domain. Optionally, there may be other corresponding relationships between the subcarrier sequence number and the frequency domain position. This is not limited in this application. For example, the subcarrier at the middle position in the frequency domain is used as subcarrier 0, the subcarriers to the left of subcarrier 0 are sorted in ascending order by using negative sequence numbers, and the subcarriers to the right of subcarrier 0 are sorted in ascending order by using positive sequence numbers. For example, the RU includes subcarriers -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, and 3.

[0165] It should be further understood that the subcarriers having subcarrier indices may include one or more of pilot subcarriers, data subcarriers, null subcarriers, DC subcarriers, etc.

[0166] Furthermore, in this application, an example where RU includes 6 subcarriers is used for illustration. In actual applications, the number of subcarriers included in RU may also be 26, 52, 106, 242, etc. This is not limited. RU may also be an MRU.

[0167] Optionally, in this application, at least one of the first resource unit, the second resource unit, and the third resource unit (refer to the following) is a distributed MRU, and at least one of the first continuous resource unit (refer to the following) and the second continuous resource unit (refer to the following) is a continuous MRU. In other words, one or more of the RUs provided in this application are MRUs.

[0168] Optionally, the second resource unit in this application is a distributed resource unit. Therefore, the first resource unit is also a distributed resource unit.

[0169] It should be understood that "the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit" may be understood as follows. The second resource unit is a distributed MRU, or the second resource unit may be a distributed resource unit including a plurality of distributed resource units. Therefore, the first resource unit may also be a distributed MRU.

[0170] S220: The first station transmits the first information to the second station, and correspondingly, the second station receives the first information.

[0171] The second station may be an AP or a non-AP STA. For the description of the second station, refer to the description of the station in FIG. 1. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0172] Optionally, when the first station is an access point and the second station is a non-AP STA, the first station may add the first information to the trigger frame when transmitting the trigger frame to the second station.

[0173] Optionally, when transmitting a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) to the second station, the first station may add the first information to the PPDU.

[0174] Based on the above solution, the first station can indicate a first resource unit to the second station. The first resource unit includes subcarriers within the difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range, that is, the first resource unit does not include subcarriers of the first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range. Therefore, such a method avoids the intersection set between the indicated first resource unit and the subcarriers of the first frequency range, that is, avoids resource collisions and can maintain normal communication between stations.

[0175] In an implementation manner, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by the punctured channel.

[0176] For example, due to channel puncturing, the subcarriers in the punctured channel cannot perform data transmission, and the first frequency range may be the frequency range occupied by the punctured channel.

[0177] It should be understood that the frequency range included by the channel in which the first frequency range is punctured may be greater than or equal to the frequency range occupied by the channel in which the frequency range indicated by the first frequency range is punctured.

[0178] In other implementation manners, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0179] For example, since there are one or more consecutive resource units and subcarriers within the one or more consecutive resource units are allocated, the first frequency range may include the frequency range occupied by the one or more consecutive resource units. In other words, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by consecutive MRUs.

[0180] It should be understood that the first frequency range including the frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units may be greater than or equal to the frequency range occupied by the one or more consecutive resource units.

[0181] In other implementation manners, the first frequency range includes the frequency range occupied by subcarriers at specified positions.

[0182] For example, in order to enable the first resource unit to have a small number of subcarriers, the subcarriers at the specified position are punctured. In this case, the first frequency range may include the frequency range occupied by the subcarriers at the specified position. In other examples, within a range of 320 MHz, one 20 MHz bandwidth is punctured. If 4 bits represent the puncture of 320 MHz, 1 bit represents the puncture of 80 MHz. In this case, 80 MHz may be understood as the specified frequency range.

[0183] For example, the first frequency range may correspond to any one of 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 106-tone RU, 20 MHz (or 242-tone RU), 40 MHz (or 484-tone RU), 80 MHz (or 996-tone RU), and 160 MHz (or 2 * 996-tone RU).

[0184] It should be understood that the "frequency range" in this application is the frequency range in the WLAN protocol, and the subcarrier is used as the minimum granularity of the frequency range. In WLAN, a plurality of subcarriers may form one RU or MRU.

[0185] Optionally, the first frequency range may include a segment of consecutive subcarriers. For example, the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the frequency domain.

[0186] Optionally, the first frequency range may include a plurality of non-consecutive subcarriers. For example, the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 in the frequency domain.

[0187] Optionally, method 200 further includes the following. S230: The second station transmits data on the first resource unit.

[0188] Specifically, since a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, in other words, since there is an intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, the transmission of data by the second station on the first resource unit may be understood as follows. Whether data is not transmitted on a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit located in the first frequency range, or whether data is not transmitted on the sub-carriers within the intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, or whether the second station does not use a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit within the first frequency range for transmitting data, or whether the second station does not use the sub-carriers within the intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range for transmitting data.

[0189] In an embodiment, the sub-carriers of the first resource unit include the sub-carriers within the difference set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0190] In this embodiment, the sub-carriers within the intersection set are punctured on the second resource unit, and the remaining sub-carriers are the first resource unit.

[0191] Optionally, in this embodiment, the second resource unit may be referred to as an unpunctured distributed resource unit. Relatively, the first resource unit may be referred to as a punctured distributed resource unit.

[0192] For example, in the term "punctured distributed resource unit", "punctured" indicates punctured sub-carriers rather than a punctured channel. The punctured sub-carriers indicate that the sub-carriers do not belong to the first resource unit.

[0193] The relationship between the first resource unit, the second resource unit, and the first frequency range in this embodiment will be described below.

[0194] Assume that the number of subcarriers of the punctured-free distributed resource unit (an example of the second resource unit) is x, the number of data subcarriers is x D and the number of pilot subcarriers is x. P Also assume that the indices of the subcarriers of the punctured-free distributed resource unit at the absolute positions in frequency may be represented as y(1),..., y(2),..., and y(x).

[0195] A punctured distributed resource unit (an example of the first resource unit) means that data is not transmitted on some of the subcarriers within the subcarrier set of the punctured-free distributed resource unit. In other words, the punctured distributed resource unit includes only some of the subcarriers of the punctured-free distributed resource unit, and the number of elements in the subcarrier set corresponding to the punctured distributed resource unit is reduced. The reduced subcarriers or the subcarriers on which data is not transmitted may be any one of the following. (1) Subcarriers assigned to a continuous resource unit, (2) Subcarriers belonging to a punctured channel range, and (3) Subcarriers at specified positions.

[0196] Therefore, if the number of reduced subcarriers or subcarriers on which data is not transmitted is x1, the number of subcarriers of the punctured distributed resource unit is x - x1, and the positions of the x - x1 subcarriers in the frequency domain do not change compared to those in the punctured-free distributed resource unit.

[0197] The first resource unit in this embodiment will be described below by using an example with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0198] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 8, the second resource unit is a distributed 242-tone RU distributed over 80 MHz. In the distributed 242-tone RU, N1 subcarriers are distributed over the first 20 MHz bandwidth, shown as subcarriers 1, 2, 3, ..., and N1, N2 subcarriers are distributed over the second 20 MHz bandwidth, shown as subcarriers N1+1, N1+2, N1+3, ..., and N1+N2, N3 subcarriers are distributed over the third 20 MHz bandwidth, shown as subcarriers N1+N2+1, N1+N2+2, N1+N2+3, ..., and N1+N2+N3, N4 subcarriers are distributed over the fourth 20 MHz bandwidth, shown as subcarriers N1+N2+N3+1, N1+N2+N3+2, N1+N2+N3+3, ..., and N1+N2+N3+N4, and N1+N2+N3+N4 = 242. Optionally, any of N1, N2, N3, and N4 are not equal, or at least two of N1, N2, N3, and N4 are equal. The first frequency range is the second 20 MHz over 80 MHz. For example, the second 20 MHz is punctured, or a continuous 242-tone RU is allocated to the second 20 MHz. In this case, data is not transmitted on subcarriers N1+1, N1+2, N1+3, ..., and N1+N2 of the distributed 242-tone RU. Specifically, the subcarriers in the difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range are the subcarriers of the second resource unit distributed over the first 20 MHz, the third 20 MHz, and the fourth 20 MHz, that is, the subcarriers of the first resource unit are the subcarriers 1, 2, 3, ..., and N1, N1+N2+1, N1+N2+2, N1+N2+3, ..., and N1+N2+N3, N1+N2+N3+1, N1+N2+N3+2, N1+N2+N3+3, ..., and N1+N2+N3+N4 of the distributed 242-tone RU.

[0199] The dispersed 242-tone RU should be understood to have a plurality of tone plan methods on 80 MHz. This is not limited in this application.

[0200] FIG. 9 is another diagram of the tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 9, the second resource unit is a dispersed 52-tone RU dispersed on 20 MHz. Thirteen subcarriers are dispersed on the 52-tone RU and are shown as subcarriers 1 to 13. Thirteen subcarriers are dispersed on the second 52-tone RU and are shown as subcarriers 14 to 26. Thirteen subcarriers are dispersed on the third 52-tone RU and are shown as subcarriers 27 to 39. Thirteen subcarriers are dispersed on the fourth 52-tone RU and are shown as subcarriers 40 to 52. The first frequency range is the second 52-tone RU on 20 MHz. For example, the second 52-tone RU is an assigned continuous RU. In this case, data is not transmitted on subcarriers 14 to 26 of the dispersed 52-tone RU. Specifically, the subcarriers within the difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range are the subcarriers of the second resource unit dispersed on the first 52-tone RU, the third 52-tone RU, and the fourth 52-tone RU. That is, the subcarriers of the first resource unit are subcarriers 1 to 13, 27 to 39, and 40 to 52 of the dispersed 242-tone RU.

[0201] The dispersed 52-tone RU should be understood to have a plurality of tone plan methods on 20 MHz. The above description in FIG. 9 is merely an example and is not intended to limit this application.

[0202] FIG. 10 is another diagram of the tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. The above embodiment is described in FIG. 10 by using an example with reference to the mapping method of the interleaver. In FIGS. 10(a), 10(c), and 10(e), the horizontal axis indicates the frequency or the subcarrier sorting order.

[0203] As shown in (a) of FIG. 10, assume that there are a total of four consecutive RUs, each consecutive RU includes six sub-carriers, and the distribution of the consecutive RUs in the frequency domain is as shown in (a) of FIG. 10. Sub-carriers 1 to 6 form consecutive RU #1, sub-carriers 7 to 12 form consecutive RU #2, sub-carriers 13 to 18 form consecutive RU #3, and sub-carriers 19 to 24 form consecutive RU #4.

[0204] (b) in FIG. 10 shows a process of realizing distributed RUs by using the concept of a row input-output interleaver. After using a four-row row input-output interleaver, four distributed RUs may be output. As shown in (c) of FIG. 10, distributed RU #1 includes sub-carriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21, distributed RU #2 includes sub-carriers 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22, distributed RU #3 includes sub-carriers 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, and 23, and distributed RU #4 includes sub-carriers 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Further, the four distributed RUs correspond to the four consecutive RUs shown in (a) of FIG. 10. Distributed RU #1, distributed RU #2, distributed RU #3, and distributed RU #4 shown in (c) of FIG. 10 are each examples of a second resource unit.

[0205] When the frequency range (an example of the first frequency range) where six lowest-frequency subcarriers are located is punctured or occupied by consecutive RUs (an example of the first consecutive resource units), the subcarrier set of the first frequency range includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. (d) in FIG. 10 shows a process of realizing punctured distributed RUs by using the concept of a row input-output interleaver. The distribution of four punctured distributed RU outputs in the frequency domain after using a 4-row row input-output interleaver is shown in (e) in FIG. 10. The punctured distributed RU #1 indicated by the first station includes subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21, the punctured distributed RU #2 includes subcarriers 10, 14, 18, and 22, the punctured distributed RU #3 includes subcarriers 7, 11, 15, 19, and 23, and the punctured distributed RU #4 includes subcarriers 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. The punctured distributed RU #1 shown in (e) in FIG. 10 is a difference set between distributed RU #1 and the first frequency range, the punctured distributed RU #2 is a difference set between distributed RU #2 and the first frequency range, the punctured distributed RU #3 is a difference set between distributed RU #3 and the first frequency range, and the punctured distributed RU #4 is a difference set between distributed RU #4 and the first frequency range. The punctured distributed RU #1, the punctured distributed RU #2, the punctured distributed RU #3, and the punctured distributed RU #4 are each an example of the first resource unit.

[0206] Based on the solution in the above embodiment, the first station may show the punctured distributed resource unit to the second station. This can avoid the intersection set between the shown resource unit and the subcarriers of the first frequency range, that is, avoid resource collision and maintain normal communication between stations.

[0207] In other embodiments, the first resource unit includes not only the subcarriers within the difference set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range, but also the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set.

[0208] In this embodiment, it should be understood that the first resource unit may be referred to as a padded distributed resource unit, a padded punctured distributed resource unit, or a punctured resource unit with padded subcarriers. A padded distributed resource unit includes the subcarriers of the punctured distributed resource unit and the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set. "Size padding" indicates that the number of subcarriers of the padded resource unit is the same as or close to the number of subcarriers of the non-punctured distributed resource unit, and does not necessarily mean that the two numbers are the same. Optionally, the number of subcarriers of the padded resource unit may be greater than the number of subcarriers of the non-punctured distributed resource unit.

[0209] The number of subcarriers in the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of subcarriers in the intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range. In other words, the number of subcarriers in the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of punctured subcarriers of the second resource unit.

[0210] Specifically, the subcarriers in the intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range are punctured subcarriers. After the subcarriers in the intersection set are punctured, the subcarriers of the second subcarrier set may be selected as the supplementary subcarriers of the first resource unit, and the selected subcarriers form the first subcarrier set. In other words, the first subcarrier set may be a subset of the second subcarrier set.

[0211] The second sub - carrier set is a difference set between the sub - carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub - carrier set of the first frequency range. The second sub - carrier set may be understood as a set formed by sub - carriers that can be used as supplementary sub - carriers.

[0212] The third resource unit may be any resource unit. For example, the third resource unit is one or more consecutive resource units. In other examples, the third resource unit is one or more distributed resource units. In other examples, the third resource unit is an MRU, and the MRU may be a consecutive MRU or a distributed MRU. There is no intersection set between the sub - carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub - carrier set of the second resource unit. Therefore, some or all of the sub - carriers of the third resource unit may be used as the second sub - carrier set. Some or all of the sub - carriers of the third resource unit indicate sub - carriers within the difference set between the sub - carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub - carrier set of the first frequency range. It should be understood that the difference set herein may be equal to the sub - carrier set of the third resource unit.

[0213] In one example, the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit specified by the first station.

[0214] In other examples, the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first consecutive resource unit, and the frequency range occupied by the first consecutive resource unit is the first frequency range.

[0215] Specifically, assuming that the first frequency range is the frequency range occupied by the first continuous resource unit and the third resource unit is the distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit, the second subcarrier set may include a part of the subcarriers of the third resource unit. For example, the second subcarrier set may be the difference set between the subcarrier set of the third resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range. In other words, the second subcarrier set includes subcarriers other than those of the first frequency range within the third resource unit. Further, the subcarriers of the first subcarrier set may occupy the positions of the second subcarrier set in the frequency domain.

[0216] In this application, it should be understood that the remaining subcarriers other than those of the first frequency range within the third resource unit are used as supplementary subcarriers of other resource units. The third resource unit may be understood as a "sacrificial" resource unit and is used to supplement the size of other resource units.

[0217] Furthermore, regarding the position order of the subcarriers in the first subcarrier set within the second subcarrier set, refer to the position order of the subcarriers of the second resource unit within the third subcarrier set. The third subcarrier set is the difference set between the subcarrier set of the first frequency range and the subcarrier set of the third resource unit. Specifically, the third subcarrier set may be understood as a subcarrier set that needs to be supplemented or a punctured subcarrier set, and includes a part of the subcarriers within the first frequency range in the frequency domain. A part of the subcarriers are the remaining subcarriers within the first frequency range excluding the subcarriers occupied by the third resource unit.

[0218] In the implementation manner, the positional order of the sub - carriers in the first sub - carrier set within the second sub - carrier set may be the same as the positional order of the sub - carriers in the second resource unit within the third sub - carrier set. In other words, after the sub - carriers are sorted in ascending order of frequency, if the sub - carriers of the second resource unit are the i - th sub - carriers within the third sub - carrier set, the sub - carriers within the first sub - carrier set are also the i - th sub - carriers within the second sub - carrier set, where i is a positive integer.

[0219] In this application, it should be understood that the positional order of the sub - carriers in the second resource unit within the third sub - carrier set is the sequence number of the sub - carriers of the second resource unit after a plurality of sub - carriers within the third sub - carrier set are arranged in ascending order of frequency. Similarly, the positional order of the sub - carriers in the first sub - carrier set within the second sub - carrier set is the sequence number of the sub - carriers within the first sub - carrier set after a plurality of sub - carriers within the second sub - carrier set are arranged in ascending order of frequency.

[0220] Optionally, method 200 further includes the following. The first station transmits third information to the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes sub - carriers within the first sub - carrier set.

[0221] Specifically, the third information may be 1 bit. If the third information indicates that the first resource unit includes sub - carriers within the first sub - carrier set, the first resource unit is a padded distributed resource unit; or if the third information indicates that the first resource unit does not include sub - carriers within the first sub - carrier set, the first resource unit is a punctured distributed resource unit.

[0222] In this application, the third information may alternatively be understood to indicate that the first resource unit is a punctured distributed resource unit or a distributed resource unit with augmented size.

[0223] In one example, the first station may transmit the third information in the process of transmitting the first information to the second station, that is, the third information and the first information are carried in the same frame. In this case, S220 may be understood as the first station transmitting the first information and the third information to the second station, and correspondingly, the second station receiving the first information and the third information.

[0224] In other examples, the first station may alternatively transmit the third information and the first information separately, that is, the transmission opportunity of the third information may be before or after S220. When the transmission opportunity of the third information is before S220, the transmission opportunity of the third information may be before or after S210. This is not limited in this application. Optionally, when the first station transmits the third information and the first information separately, the third information may be transmitted to the second station before S230.

[0225] The first resource unit in this embodiment will be described below by using an example with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14.

[0226] FIG. 11 is another diagram of a tone plan according to an embodiment of this application. In (a), (c), (e), (g), and (i) in FIG. 11, the horizontal axis indicates frequency or subcarrier sort order.

[0227] As shown in (a) of FIG. 11, assume that there are a total of four consecutive RUs, each consecutive RU includes six subcarriers, and the distribution of the consecutive RUs in the frequency domain is as shown in (a) of FIG. 11. Subcarriers 1 to 6 form consecutive RU #1, subcarriers 7 to 12 form consecutive RU #2, subcarriers 13 to 18 form consecutive RU #3, and subcarriers 19 to 24 form consecutive RU #4.

[0228] (b) in FIG. 11 shows a process of realizing distributed RUs by using the concept of a row input column output interleaver. After the interleaver is used, four distributed RUs may be output. As shown in (c) of FIG. 11, distributed RU #1 indicated by the first station includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21, distributed RU #2 includes subcarriers 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22, distributed RU #3 includes subcarriers 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, and 23, and distributed RU #4 includes subcarriers 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Further, the four distributed RUs correspond to the four consecutive RUs shown in (a) of FIG. 11. Distributed RU #1, distributed RU #2, distributed RU #3, and distributed RU #4 shown in (c) of FIG. 11 are each an example of a second resource unit.

[0229] When the frequency range in which six lowest-frequency subcarriers are located is occupied by a continuous RU (an example of a first continuous resource unit and also an example of a first frequency range), the continuous RU includes subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. (d) in FIG. 11 shows a process of realizing punctured distributed RUs by using the concept of a row input-output interleaver. The distribution of four punctured distributed RU outputs in the frequency domain after using a 4-row row input-output interleaver is shown in (e) in FIG. 11. The punctured distributed RU #1 indicated by the first station includes subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21, the punctured distributed RU #2 includes subcarriers 10, 14, 18, and 22, the punctured distributed RU #3 includes subcarriers 7, 11, 15, 19, and 23, and the punctured distributed RU #4 includes subcarriers 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. The punctured distributed RU #1 shown in (e) in FIG. 11 is a difference set between the distributed RU #1 and the first frequency range, the punctured distributed RU #2 is a difference set between the distributed RU #2 and the first frequency range, the punctured distributed RU #3 is a difference set between the distributed RU #3 and the first frequency range, and the punctured distributed RU #4 is a difference set between the distributed RU #4 and the first frequency range. The subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU #1, the subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU #2, the subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU #3, and the subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU #4 are part of the first resource unit.

[0230] From the comparison between (a) in FIG. 11 and (c) in FIG. 11, it can be seen that the punctured distributed RU#1 has two fewer subcarriers than the non-punctured distributed RU#1, the punctured distributed RU#2 has two fewer subcarriers than the non-punctured distributed RU#2, the punctured distributed RU#3 has one fewer subcarrier than the non-punctured distributed RU#3, and the punctured distributed RU#4 has one fewer subcarrier than the non-punctured distributed RU#4. Therefore, the first station may use one of the subcarriers of any one of the punctured distributed RU#1, the punctured distributed RU#2, the punctured distributed RU#3, and the punctured distributed RU#4 as a supplementary subcarrier, and show a part of the subcarriers in the supplementary subcarrier to the second station. Therefore, subcarriers are supplemented in the other three punctured distributed RUs, so that the size becomes as close as possible to the size of the non-punctured distributed RU.

[0231] Specifically, the punctured distributed RU#1 needs to supplement two subcarriers, the punctured distributed RU#2 needs to supplement two subcarriers, the punctured distributed RU#3 needs to supplement one subcarrier, and the punctured distributed RU#4 needs to supplement one subcarrier. It may be understood that for any of the punctured distributed RUs, the number of subcarriers that need to be supplemented (i.e., the first subcarrier set) is less than or equal to the number of punctured subcarriers (i.e., the intersection set between the non-punctured distributed RU and the continuous RU within the first frequency range).

[0232] A method for supplementing subcarriers will be described below.

[0233] The discrete resource units corresponding to the continuous RUs within the first frequency range (i.e., the third resource unit) include subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. That is, the third resource unit is the non-punctured discrete RU#1. Therefore, the difference set between the subcarrier set of the third resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range is subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21 (an example of the second subcarrier set). In this embodiment, the subcarriers within the second subcarrier set may be used as supplementary subcarriers. (f) in FIG. 11 shows a process of realizing supplementary subcarriers by using the concept of a row input-output interleaver, and a 4-row row input-output interleaver is used. The distribution in the frequency domain of the three punctured discrete RUs and the supplementary subcarriers output by the interleaver is shown in (g) in FIG. 11. It can be seen from the figure that the supplementary subcarriers include subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21.

[0234] Furthermore, the supplementary subcarriers may be separately supplemented to the punctured discrete RU#2, the punctured discrete RU#3, and the punctured discrete RU#4 to form the discrete RU#2 with supplemented size, the discrete RU#3 with supplemented size, and the discrete RU#4 with supplemented size. Specifically, for the discrete RU#x, the subcarriers that need to be supplemented may be selected from the supplementary subcarriers. The selection method is as follows. After the subcarriers are sorted in ascending order of frequency, in the remaining subcarriers other than those occupied by the third resource unit within the first frequency range (i.e., the third subcarrier set), if the subcarriers belonging to the non-punctured discrete RU#x are the i-th subcarriers, the subcarriers that need to be supplemented are the i-th subcarriers in the ascending order of frequency within the supplementary subcarriers.

[0235] Specifically, as shown in (g) of FIG. 11, the remaining subcarriers other than those occupied by the third resource unit within the first frequency range are subcarriers 2, 3, 4, and 6 (an example of the third subcarrier set). For the punctured distributed RU#2, the subcarriers that originally belonged to the non-punctured distributed RU#2 are the first subcarrier and the fourth subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 2 and subcarrier 6) among subcarriers 2, 3, 4, and 6. For the punctured distributed RU#3, the subcarriers that originally belonged to the non-punctured distributed RU#3 are the second subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 3) among subcarriers 2, 3, 4, and 6. For the punctured distributed RU#4, the subcarriers that originally belonged to the non-punctured distributed RU#4 are the third subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 4) among subcarriers 2, 3, 4, and 6. In this case, the first station may supplement the punctured distributed RU#2 with the first subcarrier and the fourth subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 9 and subcarrier 21) at subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21 to form a distributed RU#2 with supplemented size, supplement the punctured distributed RU#3 with the second subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 13) at subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21 to form a distributed RU#3 with supplemented size, and supplement the punctured distributed RU#3 with the third subcarrier (i.e., subcarrier 17) at subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21 to form a distributed RU#3 with supplemented size. (h) in FIG. 11 shows the process of supplementing the size of the distributed RU by using the concept of a row input-output interleaver. After a 4-row row input-output interleaver is used, the distribution in the frequency domain of the three output distributed RUs with supplemented size is shown in (i) of FIG. 11.From the figure, it can be seen that distributed RU #2, whose size has been supplemented and which is indicated by the first station, includes subcarriers 9, 10, 14, 18, 21, and 22, distributed RU #3, whose size has been supplemented, includes subcarriers 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, and 23, and distributed RU #4, whose size has been supplemented, includes subcarriers 8, 12, 16, 17, 20, and 24. In (i) of FIG. 11, distributed RU #2, distributed RU #3, and distributed RU #4, whose size has been supplemented, are each examples of a first resource unit. Furthermore, if the first resource unit is distributed RU #2, whose size has been supplemented, the set including subcarriers 9 and 21 is an example of a first subcarrier set. If the first resource unit is distributed RU #3, whose size has been supplemented, the set including subcarrier 13 is an example of a first subcarrier set. If the first resource unit is a distributed RU#4 supplemented in size, then the set including subcarrier 17 is an example of the first subcarrier set.

[0236] It should be understood that the supplementary method in this application may be predefined in a standard or may be indicated by the first station to the second station. The above supplementary method is merely an example, which is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0237] Based on the solution in the above embodiment, the first station may indicate a supplemented size of distributed resource units to the second station, which avoids cross-sets between the indicated resource units and subcarriers in the first frequency range, i.e., avoids resource collisions, and maintains normal communication between the stations.

[0238] In the example in FIG. 11, the first frequency range is exactly fully occupied by the first continuous RU, that is, the number of subcarriers within the first frequency range is equal to the number of subcarriers of the third resource unit, and as a result, it should be further understood that the number of subcarriers within the second subcarrier set becomes the same as the number of subcarriers within the third subcarrier set. Therefore, the number of subcarriers of the padded distributed RU#2, the number of subcarriers of the padded distributed RU#3, and the number of subcarriers of the padded distributed RU#4 are respectively the same as the number of subcarriers of the non-punctured distributed RU#2, the number of subcarriers of the non-punctured distributed RU#3, and the number of subcarriers of the non-punctured distributed RU#4. In other words, the number of subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU#2, the number of subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU#3, and the number of subcarriers of the punctured distributed RU#4 may all be padded.

[0239] In other examples, the number of subcarriers within the first frequency range is greater than the number of subcarriers of the third resource unit, and as a result, the number of subcarriers within the second subcarrier set is made smaller than the number of subcarriers within the third subcarrier set. For example, the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit designated by the first station, the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel, and the number of subcarriers within the first frequency range is more than the number of subcarriers of the third resource unit. In this case, the subcarriers of the distributed RU partially punctured in the frequency domain cannot be padded to the same size as the non-punctured distributed RU. In this case, the padding method in FIG. 11 may still be used. Only one or more subcarriers having a high frequency and needing to be padded cannot be padded, that is, for one or more occupied subcarriers having a high frequency, the corresponding resources cannot be found. An explanation is provided below by using examples with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0240] For example, FIG. 12 is another diagram of the tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. In (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) in FIG. 12, the horizontal axis indicates the frequency or the sub-carrier sort order.

[0241] For (a) and (b) in FIG. 12, refer to (a) and (c) in FIG. 11 respectively. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0242] As shown in (c) in FIG. 12, assume that the punctured sub-carriers are seven consecutive sub-carriers, occupying sub-carriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (another example of the first frequency range). The third resource unit is the same as that in the example in FIG. 11 and is still the unpunctured distributed RU#1, that is, it includes sub-carriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17 and 21. In this case, four sub-carriers, namely sub-carriers 9, 13, 17 and 21, still exist in the second sub-carrier set. Different from the example in FIG. 11, as shown in (d) in FIG. 12, five sub-carriers, namely sub-carriers 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, exist in the third sub-carrier set. Therefore, as shown in (e) in FIG. 12, the punctured distributed RU#3 indicated by the first station includes sub-carriers 11, 15, 19 and 23, and the size-supplemented distributed RU#3 includes sub-carriers 11, 13, 15, 19 and 23. In other words, the punctured distributed RU#3 is not completely supplemented.

[0243] In another example, FIG. 13 is another diagram of the tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. In (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) in FIG. 13, the horizontal axis indicates the frequency or the sub-carrier sort order.

[0244] For (a) and (b) in FIG. 13, refer to (a) and (c) in FIG. 11 respectively. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0245] As shown in (c) in FIG. 13, assume that the punctured subcarriers are seven subcarriers, occupying subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 (another example of the first frequency range). The third resource unit is the same as that in the example in FIG. 11 and is still the unpunctured distributed RU#1, that is, it includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. In this case, four subcarriers, namely subcarriers 2, 3, 4, and 6, still exist in the third subcarrier set. Different from the example in FIG. 11, as shown in (d) in FIG. 13, three subcarriers, namely subcarriers 13, 17, and 21, exist in the second subcarrier set. Therefore, as shown in (e) in FIG. 13, the size-supplemented distributed RU#2 indicated by the first station includes subcarriers 10, 13, 14, 18, and 22, the size-supplemented distributed RU#3 includes subcarriers 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, and 23, and the size-supplemented distributed RU#4 includes subcarriers 8, 12, 16, 20, 21, and 24. In other words, the punctured distributed RU#2 is not completely supplemented.

[0246] It should be understood that "size supplementation" in this application indicates that the number of subcarriers of the size-supplemented resource unit is close to or the same as the number of subcarriers of the unpunctured distributed resource unit, and does not necessarily mean that the two numbers are the same. Optionally, the number of subcarriers of the size-supplemented resource unit may be larger than the number of subcarriers of the unpunctured distributed resource unit.

[0247] In yet another example, the number of subcarriers within the first frequency range is less than the number of subcarriers of the third resource unit, such that the number of subcarriers within the second subcarrier set is greater than the number of subcarriers within the third subcarrier set. For example, the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit designated by the first station, the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel, and the number of subcarriers within the first frequency range is less than the number of subcarriers of the third resource unit. In this case, the subcarriers of all the distributed RUs punctured in the frequency domain can be padded to the same size as the size of the non-punctured distributed RUs. In this case, the padding method in FIG. 11 may still be used. Only one or more padding subcarriers having a high frequency are not used. An explanation is provided below by using an example with reference to FIG. 14.

[0248] For example, FIG. 14 is another view of the tone plan according to this embodiment of this application. In (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) in FIG. 14, the horizontal axis indicates the frequency or the subcarrier sort order.

[0249] For (a) and (b) in FIG. 14, refer to (a) and (c) in FIG. 11 respectively. Details are not described again in this specification.

[0250] As shown in (c) in FIG. 14, assume that the punctured subcarriers are five subcarriers, occupying subcarriers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (another example of the first frequency range). The third resource unit is the same as that in the example in FIG. 11 and is still the unpunctured distributed RU#1, that is, it includes subcarriers 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21. In this case, four subcarriers, namely subcarriers 9, 13, 17, and 21, still exist in the second subcarrier set. Different from the example in FIG. 11, three subcarriers, namely subcarriers 2, 3, and 4, exist in the third subcarrier set. Therefore, the punctured distributed RU#2 indicated by the first station includes subcarriers 6, 9, 10, 14, 18, and 22, the size-supplemented distributed RU#3 still includes subcarriers 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, and 23, and the size-supplemented distributed RU#4 still includes subcarriers 8, 12, 16, 17, 20, and 24. In other words, subcarrier 21 in the second subcarrier set is not used.

[0251] It should be further understood that the above example is described by using the example where the third resource unit is the unpunctured distributed RU#1. However, the third resource unit may alternatively be any one of the unpunctured distributed RU#2, the unpunctured distributed RU#3, or the unpunctured distributed RU#4, and is used as the supplementary subcarriers of the other three punctured distributed RUs. This is not limited in this application.

[0252] In a possible implementation, when selecting the supplementary subcarriers, the first station may preferably select, as much as possible, the distributed RUs having a larger number of subcarriers in the intersection set of the first frequency range. This can reduce the position change of the subcarriers of the size-supplemented distributed RUs with respect to the position change of the subcarriers of the unpunctured distributed RUs.

[0253] Furthermore, in this application, the second resource unit may be considered as a distributed resource unit corresponding to the second consecutive resource unit. When the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first consecutive resource, the mapping method between the third resource unit and the first consecutive resource unit may be the same as the mapping method between the second resource unit and the second consecutive resource unit.

[0254] In the implementation method, the first information is an index entry, and there is a corresponding relationship between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0255] Specifically, the index entry corresponding to the first resource unit may be directly added, and the first station may indicate the first resource unit to the second station by using the index entry.

[0256] In this application, the index entry may also be referred to as an index or an index value, and may be understood as an index value in an index table. For example, when field #A is 2 bits, the value of field #A may be 0, 1, 2, or 3. The four values indicate different meanings. The index entry indicates the value of field #A, and the meaning indicated by the index entry may be obtained by using the index entry.

[0257] Optionally, in this implementation method, the first information may be carried in the user info field in the trigger frame. For example, the first information may be located in the resource unit allocation (RU Allocation) subfield and / or the principal and subordinate (PS) 160 MHz indication subfield.

[0258] FIG. 15 is a diagram of a user information list field within a trigger frame according to this embodiment of this application. The trigger frame is to be understood to include resource unit allocation information and other parameters used by one or more second stations to transmit an extremely high throughput trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (EHT TB PPDU). After receiving the trigger frame, the second station obtains, through parsing, a user information field that matches the association identifier (AID) of the second station, and then transmits the EHT TB PPDU on the resource unit indicated by the resource unit allocation subfield and / or the PS 160 MHz indication subfield within the user information field.

[0259] Optionally, in this implementation, the first information may be carried in a triggered response scheduling control subfield (TRS control subfield) carried in a PPDU.

[0260] In other implementations, the first information includes first sub-information and second sub-information, the first sub-information indicates a first frequency range, and the second sub-information indicates a second resource unit.

[0261] In one example, the first sub - information may be a 16 - bit bitmap. The first sub - information may indicate whether one or more 20 - MHz sub - carriers are punctured within a 320 - MHz bandwidth range. Each of the 16 bits indicates whether a 20 - MHz sub - carrier is punctured. This method may cover all bandwidths. Puncturing in this specification indicates the range in which the distributed sub - carriers need to be punctured, and it should be understood that this range may be equal to or greater than the channel puncture range.

[0262] In another example, the first sub - information may be a 4 - bit bitmap. The first sub - information may indicate whether one or more 20 - MHz sub - carriers are punctured within an 80 - MHz bandwidth range. This method may be used in a scenario where the distributed RUs are distributed within a maximum of 80 MHz.

[0263] In yet another example, the first information may be fixed z bits. The z bits indicate the puncture state in the bandwidth of the entire PPDU. For example, z = 4. For a 320 - MHz PPDU, each of the 4 bits indicates whether one 80 - MHz sub - carrier is punctured. For a 160 - MHz PPDU, each of the 4 bits indicates whether one 40 - MHz sub - carrier is punctured.

[0264] Furthermore, the first frequency range may be shown in combination with a field related to channel puncturing, or may be directly indicated by a field related to channel puncturing. For example, a disabled sub-channel bitmap field indicates the static puncturing state of a channel, and the first sub-information may be directly indicated by using the disabled sub-channel bitmap field. In this case, the first frequency range is a channel puncturing range. The granularity of channel puncturing may be defined by a protocol, or may be specified by an AP or an STA, for example, it may be 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz. The granularity of channel puncturing is the bandwidth corresponding to each bit in the disabled sub-channel bitmap field.

[0265] When the first station indicates the first frequency range to the second station, the second station may acquire punctured distributed resource units (an example of the first resource units) based on an indication of non-punctured distributed resource units. The indication method of non-punctured distributed resource units may be as follows.

[0266] Method 1: The non-punctured distributed resource units are directly indicated by index entries.

[0267] Method 2: The corresponding contiguous resource units (information #A) are indicated, and the allocated distributed resource units (information #B) are indicated.

[0268] Method 1 may be understood as follows. The second sub - information is an index entry. Method 2 may be understood as follows. The second information includes information #A and information #B. Information #A indicates continuous resource units, and information #B indicates the use of continuous resource units or the use of distributed resource units corresponding to the continuous resource units. For example, information #B is 1 bit. The correspondence between the continuous resource units and the distributed resources may be defined in the standard.

[0269] In this implementation method, the first sub - information may be carried in a common information field within the trigger frame. For example, the first sub - information is carried in newly added bits of the common information field. The second sub - information may be carried in a user information field within the trigger frame. For example, the second sub - information is carried in a resource unit allocation sub - field and / or a PS 160MHz indication sub - field.

[0270] Optionally, the content within the common information field may alternatively be carried in a special user information field. For example, when the length of the common information field is insufficient, the AID of the special user information field may be set to a special value, so that the special user information field may be used as an extension of the common information field.

[0271] Optionally, Method 200 further includes the following. The first station transmits the second information to the second station, and the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0272] Specifically, when the first station instructs the second station to transmit data on the second resource unit for the second information, the first station transmits data on the undrilled distributed resource unit. Or when the first station instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit for the second information, the first station transmits data on the drilled distributed resource unit or the distributed resource unit with supplemented size.

[0273] In an implementation manner, information #B, the second information, and the third information may be carried in the same field. For example, the field is 2 bits, and the four values of the field are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

[0274] Information #B may include indexes 0 and 1, the second information may include indexes 1 and 2, and the third information may include indexes 2 and 3.

[0275] Optionally, Table 2 is merely an implementation manner. The sequence in which the meaning corresponding to the index appears is not limited in this application. In other words, the correspondence between the index and the meaning may alternatively be in other ways. For example, when the index is 0, this may indicate that the first resource unit is a drilled distributed resource unit, or when the index is 1, this may indicate that the first resource unit is a drilled distributed resource unit with supplemented size.

[0276] According to the method provided in the above embodiment, within the first frequency range, the first resource unit and the continuous resource unit may coexist without collision. For example, the first station may allocate a first 20 MHz bandwidth above 80 MHz to a user as a continuous 242-tone RU, or may allocate a punctured distributed 242-tone RU or a punctured distributed 242-tone RU with supplemented size to other users, and no collision will occur.

[0277] Optionally, the following restrictions may exist. After the RU is allocated to the user as the continuous RU#A, a distributed RU that satisfies the following rules cannot be allocated. The subcarriers of the continuous RU corresponding to the distributed RU overlap with the continuous RU#A.

[0278] The above describes an embodiment of the method in the embodiments of this application. Next, embodiments of the corresponding apparatus will be described. The description of the embodiments of the apparatus corresponds to the description of the embodiments of the method. Therefore, it should be understood that for parts not described in detail, reference may be made to the above embodiments of the method.

[0279] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 16, the apparatus 400 may include a transceiver unit 410 and / or a processing unit 420. The transceiver unit 410 may communicate with the outside, and the processing unit 420 is configured to process data / information. The transceiver unit 410 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0280] In a possible implementation, the apparatus 400 may be the first station in the above method 200, or may be a chip configured to implement the functions of the first station in the above method 200. The apparatus 400 may implement the procedures executed by the first station in the above method 200. The processing unit 420 is configured to execute the processing-related operations of the first station in the above method 200, and the transceiver unit 410 is configured to execute the reception and transmission-related operations of the first station in the above method 200.

[0281] For example, the processing unit 420 is configured to generate first information, where the first information indicates a first resource unit, and the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range. A part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The transceiver unit 410 is configured to transmit the first information to a second station.

[0282] Optionally, the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to transmit second information to the second station, where the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0283] Optionally, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

[0284] Optionally, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more contiguous resource units.

[0285] Optionally, the first resource unit further includes sub-carriers within a first sub-carrier set, and the number of sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set is less than or equal to the number of sub-carriers within an intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range.

[0286] Optionally, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are located in the second sub-carrier set, the second sub-carrier set is a difference set between the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0287] Optionally, the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a first continuous resource unit, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit.

[0288] Optionally, in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the sub-carriers, if the sub-carriers of the second resource unit are the i-th sub-carriers within a third sub-carrier set, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are the i-th sub-carriers within the second sub-carrier set, the third sub-carrier set is a difference set between the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range and the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0289] Optionally, the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to send third information to the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set.

[0290] Optionally, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0291] Optionally, the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control subfield or a user information field within the trigger frame.

[0292] Optionally, the first information includes first sub - information and second sub - information. The first sub - information indicates a first frequency range, and the second sub - information indicates a second resource unit.

[0293] Optionally, the first sub - information is carried in a common information field within the trigger frame, and the second sub - information is carried in a user information field within the trigger frame.

[0294] It should be understood that the above content is merely used as an example for understanding. The apparatus 400 may further implement other steps, actions, or methods related to the first station in the method 200. Details are not described in this specification.

[0295] In other possible implementation manners, the apparatus 400 may implement the procedures executed by the second station in the embodiment 200 of the above method, and the transceiver unit 410 is configured to execute the reception and transmission related operations of the second station in the embodiment 200 of the above method.

[0296] Optionally, in this implementation manner, the apparatus 400 may further include a processing unit 420. The processing unit 420 is configured to execute the processing related operations of the second station in the embodiment 200 of the above method.

[0297] For example, the transceiver unit 410 is configured to receive first information, the first information indicates a first resource unit, the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The transceiver unit 410 is further configured to transmit data on the first resource unit.

[0298] Optionally, the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to receive second information, and the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

[0299] Optionally, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

[0300] Optionally, the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

[0301] Optionally, the first resource unit further includes subcarriers within a first subcarrier set, and the number of subcarriers within the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of subcarriers within an intersection set between a subcarrier set of the second resource unit and a subcarrier set of the first frequency range.

[0302] Optionally, the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are located in a second subcarrier set, the second subcarrier set is a difference set between a subcarrier set of a third resource unit and a subcarrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

[0303] Optionally, the first frequency range is the frequency range occupied by the first continuous resource unit, and the third resource unit is the distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit.

[0304] Optionally, in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the subcarriers, if the subcarrier of the second resource unit is the i-th subcarrier within the third subcarrier set, the subcarrier within the first subcarrier set is the i-th subcarrier within the second subcarrier set, the third subcarrier set is the difference set between the subcarrier set of the first frequency range and the subcarrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

[0305] Optionally, the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to receive third information from the second station, and the third information indicates whether the first resource unit includes subcarriers within the first subcarrier set.

[0306] Optionally, the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence between the index entry and the first resource unit.

[0307] Optionally, the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control subfield or a user information field within the trigger frame.

[0308] Optionally, the first information includes first sub-information and second sub-information, the first sub-information indicates the first frequency range, and the second sub-information indicates the second resource unit.

[0309] Optionally, the first sub-information is carried in a common information field within the trigger frame, and the second sub-information is carried in a user information field within the trigger frame.

[0310] It should be understood that the above content is used merely as an example for understanding. Apparatus 400 may further implement other steps, actions, or methods related to the second station in method 200. Details are not described herein.

[0311] It should be understood that apparatus 400 in this specification is embodied in the form of functional units. The term "unit" in this specification may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor configured to execute one or more software or firmware programs (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors), a memory, a merge logic circuit, and / or other suitable components that support the described functions.

[0312] Apparatus 400 has a function of implementing the corresponding steps executed by the first station in the above method, or apparatus 400 has a function of implementing the corresponding steps executed by the second station in the above method. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. To separately execute the reception and transmission operations and related processing operations in the method embodiment, for example, the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., the transmission unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transmitter, and the reception unit in the transceiver unit may be replaced by a receiver machine), and other units, such as the processing unit, may be replaced by a processor.

[0313] Furthermore, the transceiver unit may alternatively be a transceiver circuit (for example, it may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit may be a processing circuit. In the embodiments of this application, the apparatus in FIG. 16 may be the first station or the second station in the above embodiments, or may be a chip or a chip system, for example, a system on chip (SoC). The transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is an integrated circuit integrated on a processor, a microprocessor or a chip. This is not limited in this specification.

[0314] FIG. 17 is another diagram of the structure of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 17, the communication apparatus 500 includes at least one processor 510 and a transceiver 520. The processor 510 is coupled to a memory and is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to control the transceiver 520 to transmit signals and / or receive signals. Optionally, the communication apparatus 500 further includes a memory 530 configured to store instructions.

[0315] It should be understood that the processor 510 and the memory 530 may be integrated into one processing device. The processor 510 is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory 530 to implement the above functions. In a specific implementation manner, the memory 530 may alternatively be integrated into the processor 510 or may be independent of the processor 510.

[0316] It should be further understood that the transceiver 520 may include a receiver (also called a receiver machine) and a transmitter (also called a transmitter machine). The transceiver 520 may further include an antenna. One or more antennas may be present. The transceiver 1020 may be a communication interface or an interface circuit.

[0317] When the communication device 500 is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit may be a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

[0318] Embodiments of this application further provide a processing device including a processor and an interface. The processor may be configured to execute the methods in the embodiments of the above methods.

[0319] It should be understood that the processing device may be a chip. For example, the processing device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), a micro controller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

[0320] In the implementation process, the steps of the above method may be implemented by using integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of this application may be directly executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by using a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and combines it with the hardware of the processor to complete the steps in the above method. To avoid repetition, details will not be described again in this specification.

[0321] FIG. 18 is another diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 18, the apparatus 600 includes a processing circuit 610 and a transceiver circuit 620. The processing circuit 610 and the transceiver circuit 620 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The processing circuit 610 is configured to execute instructions for controlling the transceiver circuit 620 to transmit signals and / or receive signals.

[0322] Optionally, the apparatus 600 may further include a storage medium 630. The storage medium 630 communicates with the processing circuit 610 and the transceiver circuit 620 through an internal connection path. The storage medium 630 is configured to store instructions, and the processing circuit 610 may execute the instructions stored in the storage medium 630.

[0323] In a possible implementation manner, the apparatus 600 is configured to implement the procedure corresponding to the first station in the embodiment of the above method.

[0324] In another possible implementation manner, the apparatus 600 is configured to implement the procedure corresponding to the second station in the embodiment of the above method.

[0325] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes computer program code. When the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer can execute the method in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).

[0326] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores program code, and when the program code is executed on a computer, the computer can execute the method in the above embodiments of the method.

[0327] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application further provides a system including the above first station and / or second station.

[0328] The term "at least one of" in this specification represents all or any combination of the listed items. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" may represent the following six cases, namely, only A exists, only B exists, only C exists, both A and B exist, both B and C exist, and all of A, B, and C exist. In this specification, "at least one" means one or more. "A plurality" means two or more.

[0329] The term "and / or" in this specification only describes the association relationship for describing related objects and represents that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following three cases, namely, only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. Further, the character " / " in this specification generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0330] In the embodiments of this application, it should be understood that "B corresponding to A" indicates that B may be associated with A and determined based on A. However, it should be further understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is determined only based on A. The terms "comprising", "having" and their variants all mean "including but not limited to" unless otherwise emphasized.

[0331] In various embodiments of this application, the first, second and various numbers are for the purpose of distinction only to facilitate the description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. For example, different information is distinguished.

[0332] Those skilled in the art can recognize that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the units and algorithm steps may be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the function is executed by hardware or 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 method should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0333] For the purpose of convenience and concise description, regarding the detailed operation processes of the above systems, devices and units, reference may be made to the corresponding processes in the embodiments of the above methods, which can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art. Details will not be described again in this specification.

[0334] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the described embodiments of the devices are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical function division, and other divisions may be used in actual implementation methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into other systems, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection shown or discussed may be realized by using some interfaces. The indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be realized in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0335] The 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. They may be located in one place or distributed among multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the embodiments' solutions.

[0336] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0337] When the function is realized in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or a part of the technical solution, may also be realized in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of this application. The above 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, or an optical disk.

[0338] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any deformation or substitution that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A resource configuration method, comprising: a step of generating first information by a first station, wherein the first information indicates a first resource unit, and the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit; a step of transmitting, by the first station, the first information to a second station; and a method including the above steps.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting, by the first station, second information to the second station, wherein the second information instructs the second station to transmit data on the first resource unit or to transmit data on the second resource unit.

3. A resource configuration method, comprising: a step of receiving, by a second station, first information, wherein the first information indicates a first resource unit, and the first resource unit includes subcarriers within a difference set between a subcarrier set of a second resource unit and a subcarrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the subcarriers of the second resource unit is located in the first frequency range, and the second resource unit is a distributed resource unit; a step of transmitting, by the second station, data on the first resource unit; and a method including the above steps.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of receiving, by the second station, second information, wherein the second information instructs the second station to transmit the data on the first resource unit or to transmit the data on the second resource unit.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more continuous resource units.

7. The first resource unit further includes sub-carriers within a first sub-carrier set, and the number of sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set is less than or equal to the number of sub-carriers within an intersection set between the sub-carrier set of the second resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are located in a second sub-carrier set, and the second sub-carrier set is a difference set between the sub-carrier set of a third resource unit and the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range. The third resource unit is a distributed resource unit. The method according to claim 7.

9. The first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a first continuous resource unit, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first continuous resource unit. The method according to claim 8.

10. In ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the sub-carriers, when the sub-carriers of the second resource unit are the i-th sub-carriers within a third sub-carrier set, the sub-carriers within the first sub-carrier set are the i-th sub-carriers within the second sub-carrier set, and the third sub-carrier set is a difference set between the sub-carrier set of the first frequency range and the sub-carrier set of the third resource unit, where i is a positive integer. The method according to claim 8 or 9.

11. The first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence relationship between the index entry and the first resource unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control sub-field or a user information field within a trigger frame. The method according to claim 11.

13. The first information includes first sub-information and second sub-information. The first sub-information indicates the first frequency range, and the second sub-information indicates the second resource unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first sub-information is carried in a common information field within a trigger frame, and the second sub-information is carried in a user information field within the trigger frame. **Claim 15** A communication device, a processing unit configured to generate first information, the first information indicating a first resource unit, the first resource unit including sub-carriers within a difference set between a sub-carrier set of a second resource unit and a sub-carrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit being located within the first frequency range, and the second resource unit being a distributed resource unit; a transceiver unit configured to transmit the first information to a second station; and an apparatus including the same. **Claim 16** The transceiver unit is further configured to transmit second information to the second station, the second information being for transmitting data on the first resource unit or instructing the second station to transmit data on the second resource unit, for the apparatus according to claim 15. **Claim 17** A communication device, including a transceiver unit configured to receive first information, the first information indicating a first resource unit, the first resource unit including sub-carriers within a difference set between a sub-carrier set of a second resource unit and a sub-carrier set of a first frequency range, a part of the sub-carriers of the second resource unit being located within the first frequency range, and the second resource unit being a distributed resource unit; and the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit data on the first resource unit. **Claim 18** The transceiver unit is further configured to receive second information, the second information being for transmitting the data on the first resource unit or instructing a second station to transmit the data on the second resource unit, for the apparatus according to claim 17. **Claim 19** The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by a punctured channel. **Claim 20** The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first frequency range includes a frequency range occupied by one or more consecutive resource units.

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the first resource unit further includes subcarriers within a first subcarrier set, and the number of subcarriers within the first subcarrier set is less than or equal to the number of subcarriers within an intersection set between the subcarrier set of the second resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are located in a second subcarrier set, the second subcarrier set is a difference set between the subcarrier set of a third resource unit and the subcarrier set of the first frequency range, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first frequency range is a frequency range occupied by a first consecutive resource unit, and the third resource unit is a distributed resource unit corresponding to the first consecutive resource unit.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, when the subcarriers of the second resource unit are the i-th subcarriers within a third subcarrier set in ascending order of the frequencies corresponding to the subcarriers, the subcarriers within the first subcarrier set are the i-th subcarriers within the second subcarrier set, the third subcarrier set is a difference set between the subcarrier set of the first frequency range and the subcarrier set of the third resource unit, and i is a positive integer.

25. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein the first information is an index entry, and there is a correspondence relationship between the index entry and the first resource unit.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first information is carried in a trigger response scheduling control subfield or a user information field within a trigger frame.

27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein the first information includes first sub-information and second sub-information, the first sub-information indicates the first frequency range, and the second sub-information indicates the second resource unit.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first sub-information is carried in a common information field in a trigger frame, and the second sub-information is carried in a user information field in the trigger frame.

29. A communication device, a memory configured to store computer instructions, a processor configured to execute the computer instructions stored in the memory to enable the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and including the apparatus.

30. A chip including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a program or instructions, and when the program or the instructions are executed by the processor, the chip is capable of executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

31. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, wherein when the computer program or the instructions are executed, a computer is capable of executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

32. A computer program product including computer program code, wherein when the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer is capable of implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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