Wireless communication method, device, equipment, and storage medium

Abstract

An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method, an apparatus, a device, and a storage medium, the method including a step of an access point multilink device (AP MLD) exchanging frames with a non-access point device over a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission in the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission in the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and more particularly to a wireless communication method, device, apparatus, and storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] The wireless local area network industry is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the entire data communications field. As a complement and extension of traditional wired local area networks, wireless local area network solutions are welcomed and rapidly adopted by home network users, small and medium-sized office users, enterprise users, and telecommunications carriers due to their advantages such as flexibility, mobility, scalability, and low investment costs. Currently, an increasing number of wireless local area network devices support mobile access point (AP) capabilities.

[0003] An AP multi-link device (MLD) with Mobile AP capability has a nonsimultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) link pair, one link of which is a primary link that transmits beacon frames and probe response frames, and the other link is a secondary link that does not transmit beacon frames or probe response frames. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a wireless communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium.

[0005] The wireless communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes: The method includes a step in which an access point multilink device (AP MLD) exchanges frames with a non-access point device on a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0006] The wireless communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes: The method includes a step in which a non-access point device exchanges frames with an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) over a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0007] An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication device applied to AP MLD, the wireless communication device comprising: a first communication unit; The first communication unit is configured to exchange frames with a non-access point device over a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission over the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission over the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0008] An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication device applicable to a non-access point device, the wireless communication device comprising: a second communication unit; The second communication unit is configured to exchange frames with an Access Point Multilink Device (AP MLD) over a first link, a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0009] The communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application may be the AP MLD in the above technical solution (invention), or may be the non-access point device in the above technical solution, and the communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls and executes the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the above wireless communication method.

[0010] The chip provided in the embodiment of the present application realizes the above wireless communication method.

[0011] Specifically, the chip includes a processor, and the processor calls up and executes a computer program from a memory, thereby causing a device equipped with the chip to execute the wireless communication method described above.

[0012] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program, which causes a computer to execute the wireless communication method described above.

[0013] An embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including computer program instructions, which cause a computer to perform the above wireless communication method.

[0014] The computer program provided in the embodiment of the present application causes a computer to execute the above wireless communication method.

[0015] The above technical solution uses the first mode of AP MLD to increase the number of available spatial streams in the first link, strengthen the spatial stream capacity on the first link, and improve the transmission efficiency of AP MLD. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an arbitrary schematic diagram of an application scene according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 is an arbitrary schematic diagram of an application scene according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 is an arbitrary schematic diagram of an application scene according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 3] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6A] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6B] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 illustrates a format of a Presence Bitmap field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of a Common Info field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 illustrates the format of the EL Capabilities field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an encoding method for an EL Padding Delay field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an encoding method of an EL Transition Delay field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of an EML Capabilities field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of an EML Capabilities field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of an Action field of an EL OMN according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the encoding scheme of the Action field of a modified EL OMN according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of an EL Control field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an encoding method for an EL Control field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the format of an EML Control field according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format of control information according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 20] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 21] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 22] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 23] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 24] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 25] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 26] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 27] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 28A] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 28B] 1 is an optional flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 29] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optional configuration of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 30] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optional configuration of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 31] FIG. 2 is an exemplary structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 32] 1 is an exemplary structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 33] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The drawings described above are intended to provide a further understanding of the present application and are incorporated into this application, and the exemplary embodiments and descriptions thereof are intended to be illustrative of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0018] In the following, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, but obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments, and all other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative efforts are included in the protection scope of the present application.

[0019] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as systems such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or other communication systems. Bands supported by WLAN may include, but are not limited to, low bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and high bands (60 GHz).

[0020] FIG. 1 is an example of a communication system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applied.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 may include an AP 110 and STAs 120 that access a network via the AP 110. In some scenarios, the AP 110 may be referred to as an AP STA, i.e., in a sense, the AP is also an STA. In some scenarios, the STAs 120 may be referred to as non-AP STAs. In some scenarios, the STAs 120 may include AP STAs and non-AP STAs. Communication in the communication system 100 may be communication between the AP 110 and the STAs 120, communication between the STAs 120, or communication between the STA 120 and another peer STA. Here, the peer STA may refer to a device that communicates oppositely with the STA 120. For example, the peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0022] Here, the AP 110 corresponds to a bridge that connects to a wired network or a wireless network, and its main function is to connect various wireless network clients and further connect the wireless network to Ethernet. The AP 110 is a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) equipped with a WiFi chip.

[0023] It should be noted that the role of the STA 120 in the communication system is not absolute, that is, the role of the STA 120 in the communication system can be switched between an AP and a STA. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a STA, and when the mobile phone is used as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone functions as an AP.

[0024] In some embodiments, the AP 110 and the STA 120 may be devices applied to the Internet of Vehicles, IoT nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, etc., smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water meters, etc. in smart homes, sensors in smart cities, etc.

[0025] In some embodiments, the AP 110 may be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP may be a device that supports multiple current and future WLAN standards in the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. In some embodiments, the STA 120 may support the 802.11be standard. The STA may also support multiple current and future WLAN standards in the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0026] In some embodiments, the AP 110 and / or STA 120 may be deployed indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable, or on land, including vehicle-mounted, on water (such as a ship), or in the air (such as an airplane, balloon, satellite, etc.).

[0027] In some embodiments, the STA 120 may be a mobile phone supporting WLAN / WiFi technology, a tablet, a PC with wireless transceiver functionality, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless device in industrial control, a set-top box, a wireless device in self driving, an in-vehicle communication device, a wireless device in remote medical, a wireless device in a smart grid, a wireless device in transportation safety, a wireless device in a smart city, or a wireless device in a smart home, an in-vehicle communication device, a wireless communication chip / application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) / system on chip (SoC), etc.

[0028] For example, the STA 120 may be a wearable device. A wearable device, also referred to as a wearable smart device, is a collective term for wearable devices developed by applying wearable technology to intelligently design everyday clothing such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or incorporated into a user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices but also realize powerful functions through software support, data interaction, cloud interaction, and the like. In a broad sense, wearable smart devices include devices that are full-featured, large in size, and can achieve full or partial functions independently of a smartphone, such as smart watches and smart glasses, as well as devices that focus only on certain application functions and require cooperation with other devices, such as a smartphone, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for monitoring physical condition.

[0029] It should be understood that Fig. 1 is merely an example of the present application and should not be understood as a limitation of the present application. For example, Fig. 1 illustrates only one AP and two STAs for illustrative purposes. In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may include multiple APs and other numbers of STAs, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0030] FIG. 2A is an arbitrary schematic diagram of an application scene according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2A , the communication system 200 may include an AP MLD 210 and a non-AP MLD 220. The AP MLD 210 is an electronic device that can form a wireless LAN 230 based on a transmitted signal, such as a router or a mobile phone with a hotspot function. The non-AP MLD 220 is an electronic device that accesses the wireless LAN 230 formed by the AP MLD 210, such as a mobile phone, a smart washing machine, an air conditioner, or an electronic lock. The non-AP MLD 220 and the AP MLD 210 communicate with each other via the wireless LAN 230. Here, the AP MLD 210 may be a soft AP MLD, a mobile AP MLD, or the like.

[0032] 2B, in the communication system shown in FIG. 2A, at least two APs 2101 are associated with the AP MLD 210, and at least two stations (STAs) 2201 are associated with the non-AP MLD 220, where each AP is connected to a different STA in the non-AP MLD 220 via a different link. An AP associated with an AP MLD may also be referred to as the AP that the AP MLD belongs to, and a STA associated with a non-AP MLD may also be referred to as the STA that the non-AP MLD belongs to.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present application, the AP MLD 210 and the non-AP MLD 220 may be terminal devices, which may refer to an access terminal, user equipment (UE), user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user equipment, etc. The access terminal may be a mobile phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a portable device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal in a 5th generation (5G) network, or a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), etc.

[0034] 2A may further include a network device, which may be an access network device that can provide communication coverage to a particular geographic area and communicate with terminal devices located within the coverage area.

[0035] FIG. 2A illustrates one AP MLD and one non-AP MLD, and optionally, the wireless communication system 200 may include multiple non-AP MLDs accessing the wireless LAN 230, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0036] It should be noted that Figures 1, 2A, and 2B merely exemplify systems to which the present application is applied, and the methods described in the embodiments of the present application are, of course, applicable to other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are always used interchangeably in this specification. The term "and / or" in this specification describes only the association relationship between associated objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists independently, both A and B exist, and B exists independently. The symbol " / " in this specification generally indicates that the relationship between the preceding and following associated objects is an "or" relationship. It should also be understood that the term "indicates" in the embodiments of the present application may refer directly to something, indirectly to something, or to something that has an associated relationship. For example, when A indicates B, this can mean that A directly indicates B, e.g., B can obtain information through A, or that A indirectly indicates B, e.g., A indicates C, and B can obtain information through C, or that A and B have an association relationship. It should be understood that, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may mean that there is a direct or indirect corresponding relationship between them, or that there is an association relationship between them, or a relationship between indicating and being indicated, configuring and being configured, etc. It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, "predefined" or "preconfigured" can be realized by previously storing corresponding code, a table, or other form that can be used to indicate related information in a device (e.g., including an STA and a network device), and the present application does not limit the specific implementation form. For example, "predefined" can mean "defined in a protocol."It should be further understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the "protocol" may refer to a standard protocol in the communication field, and may include, for example, the WiFi protocol and related protocols applied to future WiFi communication systems, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0037] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the present application are described in detail below through specific embodiments. The following related technologies can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and all of them fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application:

[0038] The protocol specifies a non-simultaneous transmit and receive mobile access point multi-link device (NSTR Mobile AP MLD). To avoid inter-domain contention issues in NSTR Mobile AP MLD data transmission, the concept of primary and non-primary links is defined, and all management frames are required to be transmitted only on the primary link. Furthermore, the synchronous transmission rules for NSTR Mobile AP MLD are also defined, allowing data transmission on non-primary links only when the primary link is the holder of the transmission opportunity (TXOP). The protocol also requires operations such as alignment of start times and synchronization of deadline times for data frames between primary and non-primary links.

[0039] In addition to using the synchronous transmission rule to solve the inter-domain contention problem during data transmission in AP MLD and non-AP MLD, the enhanced multi-link (EML) operating mode can also be adopted. By switching spatial streams on multiple links to one operating link and transmitting using spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing, on the one hand, it is possible to improve the transmission efficiency of devices and, on the other hand, avoid inter-domain contention in data interaction.

[0040] Although the synchronous transmission rule can solve the inter-domain contention problem of NSTR Mobile AP MLD, it cannot fully utilize all of the spatial stream resources owned by NSTR Mobile AP MLD. For example, when the non-primary link of NSTR Mobile AP MLD is idle, the data transmission efficiency of NSTR Mobile AP MLD is largely limited by the number of spatial streams owned by the AP on the primary link.

[0041] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the present application are described in detail below through specific embodiments. The following related technologies can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application include at least some of the following contents:

[0042] An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method applied to AP MLD, and as shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

[0043] In step S301, an access point multilink device (AP MLD) exchanges frames with a non-access point device on a first link, a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0044] An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method applied to a non-access point device, and as shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps:

[0045] In step S401, a non-access point device exchanges frames with an AP MLD on a first link, a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0046] An embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication method applied to a wireless communication system including AP MLD and non-access point devices, and as shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following steps:

[0047] In step S501, an AP MLD exchanges frames with a non-access point device on a first link, a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0048] The wireless communication method shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 provided in the embodiments of the present application will be further described below.

[0049] The link modes of AP MLD include a first mode, which can be understood as a link enhancement (EL) operation mode or a link enhancement mode.

[0050] When the AP MLD is in a first mode, the number of available spatial streams in the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, the AP MLD is in a mode other than the first mode, and the number of available spatial streams in the first link is a second quantity.

[0051] In one example, when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of available spatial streams in the first link is M, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of available spatial streams in the first link includes N, where N is greater than M.

[0052] As can be understood, the number of spatial streams available for reception in AP MLD is independent from the number of spatial streams available for transmission. Optionally, when AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception comprises a second number and when AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception is the first number, or when AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for transmission comprises the second number and when AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for transmission is the first number.

[0053] The AP MLD being in a first mode can be understood to mean that communication between the AP MLD and one or more non-access point devices is in a first mode, and that the number of available spatial streams in a first link used for communication between the AP MLD and one or more non-access point devices includes a first quantity.

[0054] The AP MLD exchanges frames with a non-access point device using a first link. The number of spatial streams used in the frame exchange of the AP MLD is equal to or less than the number of spatial streams available in the first link. When the AP MLD exchanges frames, if the number of spatial streams available in the first link is a first number, the number of spatial streams used in the frame exchange of the first link is equal to or less than the first number. When the AP MLD exchanges frames, if the number of spatial streams available in the first link is a second number, the number of spatial streams used in the frame exchange of the first link is equal to or less than the second number.

[0055] The AP MLD frame exchange with the non-AP device can be understood as the AP MLD frame exchange with the non-AP device via the first link, where the frames in the frame exchange process may include data frames and other frames such as management frames.

[0056] In an exemplary scenario, the AP MLD sends a frame to a non-AP device on a first link, and after the non-AP device receives the frame sent from the AP MLD, it sends a confirmation frame to the AP MLD on the first link, and the confirmation frame is used to indicate that the non-AP device has received the frame sent from the AP MLD. At this time, the frame in the frame exchange process is an uplink frame.

[0057] In an exemplary scenario, the non-access point device transmits a frame to the AP MLD on a first link, and after receiving the transmitted frame, the AP MLD transmits a confirmation frame to the non-access point device on the first link, and the confirmation frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD has received the frame transmitted from the non-access point device.

[0058] It can be understood that when AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of available spatial streams in the first link can include a second quantity, and when AP MLD is in the first mode and the number of available spatial streams in the first link is the second quantity, the number of spatial streams used for frame exchange in the first link is less than or equal to the second quantity.

[0059] Optionally, the non-access point device includes a Non-AP MLD or a Non-AP STA.

[0060] A Non-AP MLD has at least two stations (STAs), and a STA that belongs to the Non-AP MLD may be called a serving STA. When an AP MLD operating in the first mode exchanges frames with a Non-AP MLD using a first link, the AP MLD exchanges frames with a serving STA that uses the first link in the Non-AP MLD using the first link.

[0061] Optionally, the first link is a primary link and the second link is a secondary link, in which case AP MLD can switch an available spatial stream in the secondary link to the primary link.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, an NSTR Mobile AP MLD, and the AP MLD includes at least two links. Optionally, the AP MLD is an NSTR Mobile AP MLD, and the NSTR Mobile AP MLD includes two links, and the two links included in the NSTR Mobile AP MLD constitute an NSTR link pair.

[0063] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the available spatial streams in a first link of the AP MLD include available spatial streams that are switched from a second link to the first link, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD.

[0064] As can be seen, the first link is an enhanced-link (EL) operational link, and the other link of the AP MLD, ie, the second link, is a non-EL operational link.

[0065] Optionally, some or all of the available spatial streams in the second link of the AP MLD may be switched to the first link, whereby the available spatial streams in the first link include the available spatial streams switched from the second link to the first link.

[0066] Optionally, for one second link, all or some of the available spatial streams in said second link may be switched to the first link.

[0067] When AP MLD is in a first mode, available spatial streams in a second link may be switched to the first link. Optionally, when AP MLD is in the first mode, whether available spatial streams in the second link are switched to the first link is determined based on a quantity of available spatial streams of a non-access point device.

[0068] Switching an available spatial stream in the second link to the first link can be understood as switching a spatial stream available for reception or transmission on the second link to the first link for frame exchange on the first link.

[0069] When the spatial streams available for reception on the second link are switched to the first link due to frame exchange on the first link, the spatial streams available for reception on the first link include the original spatial streams of the first link available for reception and the spatial streams available for reception on the second link, i.e., the spatial streams available for reception on multiple links of AP MLD are aggregated, and the aggregated spatial streams available for reception are applied to the first link.

[0070] When the spatial streams available for transmission on the second link are switched to the first link due to frame exchange on the first link, the spatial streams available for transmission on the first link include the original spatial streams of the first link available for transmission and the spatial streams available for transmission on the second link, i.e., the spatial streams available for transmission on multiple links of AP MLD are aggregated, and the aggregated spatial streams available for transmission are applied to the first link.

[0071] For example, when the available spatial streams in the second link are not switched to the first link, the AP MLD has multiple links, each link has a corresponding available spatial stream, and the number of available spatial streams in different links is independent, and the number of available spatial streams in the first link is a second quantity.

[0072] For example, when all available spatial streams in the second link are switched to the first link, the AP MLD has multiple links, there are corresponding available spatial streams in the first link, and the number of corresponding available spatial streams includes all available spatial streams in the second link, and there are no corresponding available spatial streams in the second link.

[0073] Take the case where some of the available spatial streams in the second link are switched to the first link as an example, the AP MLD has multiple links, there are corresponding available spatial streams in the first link, and the number of corresponding available spatial streams includes some of the available spatial streams in the second link, and there are some available spatial streams in the second link.

[0074] In one example, AP MLD includes three links: Link 1, Link 2, and Link 3, where Link 1 is a first link and Link 2 and Link 3 are different second links. If available spatial streams in Link 2 are not switched to Link 1, the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 1 is 2, the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 2 is 2, and the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 3 is 2. If all of the spatial streams available for reception in Link 2 and Link 3 are switched to Link 1, the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 1 is 6, and the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 2 and Link 3 is 0. If some of the spatial streams available for reception in Link 2 and Link 3 are switched to Link 1, the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 1 is 4, and the number of spatial streams available for reception in Link 2 and Link 3 is 1, respectively.

[0075] The available spatial streams in the second link among the multiple links of the AP MLD are switched to the first link, so that the available spatial streams in the first link include the available spatial streams in the second link, increasing the number of available spatial streams in the first link, enhancing the spatial stream capacity, and improving the operating efficiency of the first link.

[0076] In some embodiments, the AP MLD further performs the following steps.

[0077] The AP MLD transmits a first frame, and the first frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts or ends the first mode.

[0078] At this time, the non-access point device receives the first frame transmitted from the AP MLD, and determines whether the AP MLD enters or exits the first mode based on the first frame.

[0079] In an embodiment of the present application, the first frame is used to notify non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD that the AP MLD is about to enter or exit the first mode. When the AP MLD needs to enter or exit the first mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the associated non-access point devices to notify the non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD that the AP MLD is about to enter or exit the first mode, and the non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD receive the first frame and determine the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode based on the first frame.

[0080] If the first frame indicates that the AP MLD should start the first mode, the AP MLD enters the first mode based on the transmission of the first frame, and the non-access point device determines that the AP MLD should enter the first mode based on the first frame.

[0081] If the first frame indicates that the AP MLD should exit the first mode, the AP MLD exits the first mode based on the transmission of the first frame. The non-access point device determines that the AP MLD should exit the first mode based on the first frame.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first mode includes an independent operation mode and a group operation mode; In an independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the non-access point device, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode; In group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts the first frame.

[0083] In the independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to one non-access point device on a first link and notifies only the non-access point device to enter or exit the first mode based on the first frame.

[0084] When the AP MLD starts the independent operation mode, the AP MLD enters the first mode with only one non-AP device, and the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the non-AP device on a first link, and the non-AP device receives the first frame on the first link.

[0085] In the independent operation mode, the AP MLD notifies the non-access point device that it is about to enter or exit the first mode on the first link, and the first mode is then enabled in the communication between the AP MLD and the non-access point device. The communication between the AP MLD and other access point devices other than the access point device is not in the first mode.

[0086] In a group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts a first frame, and multiple non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD listen for the first frame.

[0087] When the AP MLD starts the group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts to notify non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD that it is about to start or end the first mode. In the group operation mode, the first mode is enabled for communication between the AP MLD and all non-access point devices associated with the AP MLD.

[0088] Optionally, when the operation mode of the first mode is the group operation mode, the wireless communication method further includes a step of the AP MLD entering or exiting the first mode after transmitting the first frame.

[0089] For example, if the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to start the first mode, the AP MLD broadcasts the first frame indicating that the first mode is to start, and enters the first mode after completing the broadcast of the first frame.

[0090] For example, if the first frame indicates that the AP MLD should terminate the first mode, the AP MLD broadcasts a first frame indicating that the first mode should be terminated, and exits the first mode after completing the broadcast of the first frame.

[0091] Optionally, when the operation mode of the first mode is the independent operation mode, the wireless communication method further includes a step of the AP MLD entering or exiting the first mode at a second time immediately after the first time or after completing reception of a second frame, wherein the interval between the second time and the first time has a first time length, the first time is the time when transmission of the first frame is completed, and the second frame is used to respond to the first frame.

[0092] Optionally, the first length of time is a maximum length of time to wait for a second frame after transmitting a first frame.

[0093] In the independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to a non-access point device on a first link, starts timing at a first time after completing the transmission of the first frame, and enters or exits the first mode after a first length of time after completing the transmission of the first frame or after receiving a second frame transmitted from the non-access point device in response to the first frame.

[0094] For example, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to enter the first mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame indicating that the AP MLD is to enter the first mode on the first link, and the AP MLD enters the first mode at a second time after the first frame is completely transmitted or after the second frame is completely received.

[0095] For example, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD should exit the first mode, the AP MLD transmits the first frame indicating that the first mode should be exited on the first link, and the AP MLD exits the first mode at a second time after the first frame has been transmitted or after the second frame has been received.

[0096] Optionally, the value of the second frame for responding to the first frame is the same as the value of the Dialog Token included in the first frame.

[0097] Optionally, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD starts the first mode, the first frame includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode.

[0098] Optionally, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to exit the first mode, the first frame includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to exit the first mode.

[0099] In some embodiments, the first frame is further used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is an independent operation mode or a group operation mode.

[0100] Optionally, the first frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is an independent operation mode.

[0101] Optionally, the first frame includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is a group operation mode.

[0102] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a first identifier, the first identifier having a first value being first indication information, and the first indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to start the first mode, and the first identifier having a second value being second indication information, and the second indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to end the first mode.

[0103] The first identifier is a bit that indicates whether the AP MLD starts or ends the first mode, and the first identifier may include one or more bits.

[0104] As can be understood, the first value and the second value are different values, for example, if the first identifier comprises one bit, the first value is 1 and the second value is 0, or the first value is 0 and the second value is 1.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a second identifier, the second identifier having a third value being third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is an independent operation mode, and the second identifier having a fourth value being fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is a group operation mode.

[0106] The second identifier is a bit indicating the operation mode of the AP MLD, and the second identifier may include one or more bits.

[0107] It can be understood that the third value and the fourth value are different values, for example, if the second identifier contains one bit, the third value is 1 and the fourth value is 0, or the third value is 0 and the fourth value is 1.

[0108] Optionally, said first frame includes a third identifier, said third identifier being used to indicate said first link.

[0109] The third identifier is a bit that indicates the first link, and the third identifier may include one or more bits.

[0110] When the third identifier includes multiple bits, different bits correspond to different links, and the link corresponding to the bit with a predetermined value is the first link. It can be understood that the number of bits included in the third identifier may be equal to or greater than the number of links of the AP MLD.

[0111] In some embodiments, the first frame is a configured frame or an enhanced multi-link operating mode notification (EML OMN) frame.

[0112] About the set frame If the first frame is a configured frame, i.e., a newly established frame, the first frame may be referred to as an enhanced link operating mode notification (EL OMN) frame.

[0113] Optionally, if the first frame is a configured frame, an action domain of the configured frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode.

[0114] Optionally, an action domain of the configured frame includes at least one of a category field, an action field, and an enhanced mode control field, and the first identifier is located in the enhanced mode control (EL control) field.

[0115] The category field indicates the category of the set frame.

[0116] The action field is understood as a Protected EHT Action field, and is used to indicate whether the frame is used to indicate an operation mode, where if the value of the action field is a predetermined value, the action field indicates that the frame is used to indicate an operation mode.

[0117] The EL control field contains a first identifier.

[0118] Optionally, the enhanced mode control field further includes a second identifier, which is used to indicate an operation mode of the AP MLD.

[0119] Optionally, said enhanced mode control field further includes a third identifier, said third identifier being used to indicate said first link.

[0120] Optionally, the EL control field includes 18 bits, where the 0th bit is a second identifier indicating whether the operation mode of the AP MLD is a group operation mode or an independent operation mode, the 1st bit is a first identifier indicating starting or ending the first mode, and the 2nd bit to the 17th bit are a third identifier indicating the first link.

[0121] About EML OMN Frame If the first frame is an EML OMN frame, the EML OMN frame is reused and a part of the attribute field of the EML OMN frame is changed to obtain the first frame.

[0122] Optionally, when the first frame is an EML OMN frame, a reserved field of the EML OMN frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode.

[0123] Optionally, a reserved field of said EML OMN frame further includes a second identifier, said second identifier being used to indicate an operation mode of said first mode.

[0124] The 18th to 23rd bits of the EML OMN frame are reserved fields, and therefore one of the 18th to 23rd bits of the EML OMN frame can be reused as a first identifier, and one bit of the 18th to 23rd bits of the EML OMN frame other than the first identifier can be reused as a second identifier.

[0125] Optionally, said EML OMN frame further comprises a third identifier, said third identifier being used to indicate said first link.

[0126] The third identifier may be located in a bit other than the first identifier and the second identifier in the reserved field of the EML OMN frame, or may be a field newly added to the EML OMN frame.

[0127] If the third identifier is a newly added field in the EML OMN frame, the third identifier may be located at any position in the EML OMN frame. Optionally, the third identifier may be located at the end of the EML OMN frame.

[0128] In some embodiments, the first mode includes a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation; In the first operation, the first link and the second link of the AP MLD are in a monitoring state, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD; In the second operation, the first link performs a frame exchange employing no more than the second number of spatial streams, and the second link has available spatial streams and is usable for frame exchange; In the third operation, the first link performs frame exchange employing spatial streams greater than the second quantity and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the second link cannot be used for frame exchange.

[0129] As can be seen, the AP MLD exchanges frames with non-access point devices on the first link in the second or third operation of the first mode.

[0130] In the first operation, the AP MLD does not exchange frames with non-access point devices, but monitors whether or not there is a need to exchange frames on the first and second links.

[0131] In the second operation, the AP MLD exchanges frames with a non-access point device, and if both the first link and the second link are available for frame exchange, there are available spatial streams on both the first link and the second link, and the available spatial streams on the first link do not include the available spatial streams on the second link, the available spatial streams on the first link are a second number, and the first link exchanges frames using spatial streams that are less than or equal to the second number.

[0132] In a third operation, the AP MLD performs frame exchange with a non-access point device, and if a first link is available for frame exchange and available spatial streams in the first link include available spatial streams in a second link, the available spatial streams in the first link are a first quantity, the first link performs frame exchange using spatial streams that are equal to or less than the first quantity, and the second link is unavailable for frame exchange. Optionally, there are no available spatial streams in the second link.

[0133] Optionally, the AP MLD enters the first operation after starting the first mode.

[0134] After starting the first mode, the AP MLD first enters the first operation in the first mode, monitors whether frame exchange is necessary in the first operation, and if frame exchange is necessary, performs frame exchange in the second or third operation, and after the frame exchange is completed, exits the second or third operation.

[0135] In the embodiment of the present application, AP MLD transitions between the first, second, and third operations in the following two scenarios.

[0136] Scene 1: Start frame exchange. Scene 2: End frame exchange.

[0137] About Scene 1 In scene 1, the first mode of AP MLD transitions from the first operation to the second operation or the third operation to exchange frames.

[0138] Optionally, the AP MLD switches from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0139] If it is detected in the first operation that frame exchange is necessary, the second operation is entered or the operation is switched to the third operation, and frame exchange is performed in the second operation or the third operation.

[0140] In an embodiment of the present application, if frame exchange is required, the AP MLD can enter a second operation and perform frame exchange in the second operation, where the AP MLD enters the second operation from the first operation. If frame exchange is required, the AP MLD may switch to a third operation and perform frame exchange in the third operation. Here, the AP MLD may first enter the second operation from the first operation and then switch from the second operation to the third operation, or may directly switch from the first operation to the third operation. If the AP MLD first enters the second operation from the first operation and then switches from the second operation to the third operation, the AP MLD enters the second operation, performs frame exchange in the second operation, and switches available spatial streams in the second link to the first link to switch from the second operation to the third operation. After completing the switch of available spatial streams, the AP MLD completes the switch to the third operation and performs frame exchange in the third operation.

[0141] Since AP MLD does not need to switch available spatial streams in the second link to the first link when entering the second operation from the first operation, but needs to switch available spatial streams in the second link to the first link when switching from the first or second operation to the third operation, the number of available spatial streams in the first link becomes a first quantity.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 6A, the first mode is entered at time T1. In this case, the AP MLD enters the first operation at time T1 and performs monitoring. If it detects that frame exchange is necessary at time T2, it switches to the third operation at time T2 and completes the switch to the third operation at time T3.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 6B, the first mode is entered at time T1. In this case, the AP MLD enters the first operation at time T1 and performs monitoring. If it detects that frame exchange is necessary at time T2, it enters the second operation at time T2, switches to the third operation at time T3, and completes the switch to the third operation at time T4.

[0144] Optionally, if the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is less than or equal to the second quantity, the AP MLD enters from the first operation to the second operation.

[0145] If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is less than or equal to the second number, the number of spatial streams adopted in frame exchange between the AP MLD and the non-access point device is less than or equal to the second number, and there is no need to expand the number of available spatial streams in the first link of the AP MLD. In this case, the AP MLD enters the second operation and performs frame exchange in the second operation.

[0146] Optionally, if the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is greater than the second quantity, the AP MLD enters the second operation from the first operation, switches from the second operation to the third operation, or switches from the first operation to the third operation.

[0147] If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is greater than the second number, the number of spatial streams employed in frame exchange between the AP MLD and the non-access point device may be greater than the second number and less than or equal to the first number, and the AP MLD expands the number of available spatial streams in the first link, and the AP MLD switches from the first operation or the second operation to a third operation and performs frame exchange in the third operation.

[0148] In an embodiment of the present application, the AP MLD determines whether to enter the second operation or switch to the third operation based on the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device. If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is equal to or less than the second number, i.e., equal to or less than the number of available spatial streams when the first link is not in the enhanced mode, there is no need to switch the available spatial streams, and the AP MLD enters the second operation. If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is greater than the second number, switching the available spatial streams can enhance the spatial stream capacity of the first link, and the AP MLD switches to the third operation to increase the number of available spatial streams in the first link and improve the transmission capacity of the first link.

[0149] Optionally, the time length for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation is less than or equal to a second time length, which can be understood as a minimum time length for the AP MLD to switch available spatial streams in the second link to the first link, and may be noted as EL Padding Delay.

[0150] In the motion transition process shown in FIG. 6A, the interval between time T2 and time T3 is equal to or greater than the second time length.

[0151] In the motion transition process shown in FIG. 6B, the interval between time T3 and time T4 is equal to or greater than the second time length.

[0152] Optionally, a trigger occasion for the AP MLD to switch to the third operation includes at least one of the following:

[0153] Trigger opportunity A1: The AP MLD acquires a transmission opportunity for the first link, and the transmission opportunity is used to transmit a data frame.

[0154] Trigger opportunity A2: The AP MLD receives a data frame that satisfies the first rule on the first link.

[0155] Trigger opportunity A3: The AP MLD receives a third frame on the first link, and the third frame is used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0156] Here, trigger opportunity A1 to trigger opportunity A3 can be understood as AP MLD determining that a trigger condition exists that requires switching available spatial streams. Trigger opportunity A1 applies to a scene in which AP MLD transmits a downlink data frame to a non-access point device, and trigger opportunity A2 and trigger opportunity A3 apply to a scene in which a non-access point device transmits an uplink data frame to AP MLD.

[0157] Optionally, trigger opportunity A1 applies to the independent operation mode or the group operation mode, trigger opportunity A2 applies to the independent operation mode, and trigger opportunity A3 applies to the independent operation mode.

[0158] In the case of trigger opportunity A1, the AP MLD acquires a transmission opportunity and determines that frame exchange is necessary. The AP MLD acquires the transmission opportunity in a first operation, switches from the first operation to a third operation based on the acquired transmission opportunity, and transmits a data frame based on the acquired transmission opportunity in the third operation.

[0159] Optionally, after obtaining a transmission opportunity for the first link, the AP MLD protects radio resources of the first link, and the protecting time length is equal to or greater than a second time length, so that the radio resources of the first link are protected during the process of AP MLD switching from the first operation to the third operation.

[0160] The protection scheme for AP MLD to protect the radio resources of the first link includes at least one of the following:

[0161] In protection method 1, the AP MLD transmits a fourth frame on the first link, and the fourth frame is used to indicate that the network allocation vector NAV of the first link is a third time length, the third time length is equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0162] In protection method 2, the AP MLD transmits at least one fifth frame to the non-access point device on the first link, and the transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or longer than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0163] Protection Method 1 The non-access point device receives a fourth frame transmitted on the first link from the AP MLD, the fourth frame being used to indicate that the network allocation vector NAV of the first link is a third time length, the third time length being equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length being a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0164] The AP MLD prevents the radio resources of the first link from being used by other devices by setting the NAV of the first link, where the time length of the NAV indicated by the fourth frame is a third time length, and the third time length is equal to or greater than the second time length, so that the radio resources of the first link are not used by other devices during a switching process in which the AP MLD switches from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0165] Optionally, the fourth frame is a Request To Send (RTS) frame.

[0166] Protection Method 2 The non-access point device receives at least one fifth frame transmitted from the AP MLD on the first link, and a transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

[0167] The AP MLD occupies the radio resources of the first link by transmitting at least one fifth frame, thereby preventing the radio resources of the first link from being used by other devices, where the transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or longer than the second time length, preventing the radio resources of the first link from being used by other devices within the second time length.

[0168] Optionally, the fifth frame comprises: Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) and Neighbor Discovery Protocols (NDP), CTS to self frame, QoS-null frames, Contains at least one of the data frames.

[0169] For trigger opportunity A2, when the AP MLD receives data that satisfies the first rule on the first link, the AP MLD decides to switch to the third operation, where trigger opportunity A2 can be understood as an implicit initiation method of the third operation using the transmission rule.

[0170] When the non-access point device transmits a data frame, it transmits the data frame to the AP MLD based on the first rule, and the AP MLD receives the data frame transmitted from the non-access point on the first link, analyzes the received data frame, and if it determines that the received data frame satisfies the first rule, initiates switching to the third operation.

[0171] It can be understood that, in a second operation, the AP MLD receives a data frame that satisfies the first rule on the first link, i.e., when the first link transmits the data frame that satisfies the first rule, the number of available spatial streams is a second number, and the AP MLD employs spatial streams that are equal to or less than the second number to receive the data frame that satisfies the first rule.

[0172] Optionally, the first rule comprises: The setting includes at least one of a set frame format and a set transmission rate.

[0173] The configured frame format includes at least one of a non-High Throughput (non-HT) Presentation Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format and a non-HT duplicate PPDU format.

[0174] The set transmission rate includes at least one of 6 Mbps, 12 Mbps, or 24 Mbps.

[0175] In the case of trigger opportunity A3, the third frame can be understood as a trigger frame that triggers the switching of the third operation, and trigger opportunity A3 can be understood as an initiation method that utilizes the trigger frame to explicitly start the third operation.

[0176] The non-AP device needs to transmit a data frame to the AP MLD and requests transmission of the data frame by transmitting a third frame to the AP MLD. When the AP receives the third frame from the non-AP device, it switches from the first operation to the third operation. After switching to the third operation, it receives the data frame transmitted from the non-AP device on the first link.

[0177] Optionally, the third frame is a control frame.

[0178] Optionally, the third frame includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0179] Optionally, the third frame includes an A-Control field, the A-Control field including a control identification field and a control information field, and when the value of the control identification field is a fifth value, the control information field includes a first field, and the fifth indication information is the first field whose value is a sixth value.

[0180] Here, the first field, the EL Request Control field, is added to the A-Control field, and when the value of the control identification field of the A-Control field is the fifth value, the control information field of the A-Control field includes the first field.

[0181] Optionally, the control information field of the A-Control field includes two bits, the first bit is a first field, and the second bit is a reserved bit, and when the value of the first field is a sixth value, the first field is used to indicate fifth indication information.

[0182] Optionally, the sixth value is one.

[0183] About Scene 2 In scene 2, the AP MLD completes the frame exchange, enters the first operation from the second operation, or switches from the third operation to the first operation, releases the integrated available spatial streams, and returns to the monitoring state.

[0184] In some embodiments, the AP MLD switches from the third operation to the first operation.

[0185] When switching from the third operation to the first operation, the AP MLD returns the available spatial streams in the second link that are included in the available spatial streams in the first link to the second link, thereby canceling the aggregated available spatial streams, so that the number of available spatial streams in the first link is changed from the first quantity to the second quantity.

[0186] Optionally, the time length for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation to the first operation is equal to or less than a fourth time length.

[0187] The fourth time length can be understood as the time length required for the AP MLD to return available spatial streams on the second link that are included in the available spatial streams on the first link to the second link, and can be identified as the EL Transition Delay.

[0188] Optionally, a trigger occasion for the AP MLD to switch to the first operation includes at least one of the following:

[0189] Triggering occasion B1: The AP MLD actively completes the transmission of a data frame.

[0190] Trigger opportunity B2: When an immediate reply to the data frame received by the AP MLD is not required, the Media Access Control (MAC) layer of the AP MLD does not receive sixth indication information transmitted from the physical layer of the AP MLD within a fifth time length after the AP MLD receives the data frame, the sixth indication information is used to indicate that a first confirmation frame has been received, the first confirmation frame is used to respond to the transmitted data frame, and the fifth time length is the time required to receive the first confirmation frame.

[0191] Trigger opportunity B3: When an immediate reply is required for a data frame received by the AP MLD, the MAC layer of the AP MLD does not receive the sixth indication information within the fifth time period after the AP MLD completes transmission of the first confirmation frame.

[0192] Trigger opportunity B4: If an immediate reply is required for a data frame received by the AP MLD, the AP MLD has not transmitted the first confirmation frame within one Short interframe space (SIFS).

[0193] Here, trigger opportunities B1 to B4 can be understood as opportunities when the AP MLD determines to complete frame exchange. Trigger opportunity B1 applies to a scenario in which the AP MLD transmits a downlink data frame to a non-AP device, and trigger opportunities B2 and B4 apply to a scenario in which the non-AP device transmits an uplink data frame to the AP MLD.

[0194] Optionally, trigger opportunity B1 may apply to the independent operation mode or the group operation mode, and trigger opportunities B2-B4 apply to the independent operation mode.

[0195] If the AP MLD determines that the frame exchange is complete at the above trigger opportunity, it switches from the third operation to the first operation.

[0196] For trigger occasion B1, upon finishing downlink data frame transmission with the non-access point device, the AP MLD can immediately switch available spatial streams to switch from the third operation to the first operation.

[0197] For trigger opportunity B2, if the AP MLD does not require an immediate reply to the data frame it previously received from the non-access point device, the frame exchange is determined to be complete if the MAC layer of the AP does not receive sixth indication information within a fifth time period from the start time, starting from the time when the data frame is received. The third operation is then switched to the first operation.

[0198] The fifth time length is a specified time for receiving the first confirmation frame, and if the MAC layer of the AP does not receive the sixth indication information within the specified time, it means that an error may have occurred during the frame exchange process.

[0199] Optionally, the fifth length of time is aSIFSTime+aSlotTime+aRxPHYStartDelay.

[0200] Optionally, the sixth indication information includes a service primitive receive start indication (PHY-RXSTART.indication) sent from the physical layer to the MAC layer.

[0201] For trigger opportunity B3, when an immediate reply is required for the data frame previously received by the AP MLD from the non-access point device, the start point is the time when the first confirmation frame in response to the data frame is transmitted, and if the MAC layer of the AP MLD does not receive sixth indication information within a fifth time period from the start point, it determines that frame exchange is complete and switches from the third operation to the first operation.

[0202] For trigger opportunity B4, if the AP MLD requires an immediate reply to the data frame it previously received from the non-access point device and the AP MLD does not reply with the first confirmation frame to the non-access point device within 1 SIFS, the AP MLD determines that the frame exchange is complete and switches from the third operation to the first operation.

[0203] In some embodiments, after establishing a link with the non-access point device, the AP MLD interacts with the non-access point device regarding its capabilities, and the AP MLD prepares to notify the non-access point device of the AP MLD's capabilities, and / or the non-access point device reports the non-access point device's capabilities to the AP MLD.

[0204] Optionally, the AP MLD transmits a sixth frame to the non-access point device, the sixth frame including seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode.

[0205] At this time, the non-access point device receives a sixth frame transmitted from the AP MLD, the sixth frame including seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode.

[0206] In the case of a non-access point device, the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the non-access point device supports starting the first mode by the AP MLD.

[0207] Optionally, the sixth frame is a management frame.

[0208] Optionally, the seventh indication information is located in a second field of the sixth frame, the second field is located in a basic multilink element, and the second field is a configured field or an enhanced multilink (EML) capability field.

[0209] The second field is a field for indicating whether AP MLD supports the first mode, and may be referred to as an EL Support field.

[0210] The second field being a set field can be understood as a field that is newly added to the basic multilink element.

[0211] The second field being an EML capability field can be understood as reusing the EML capability field in the basic multilink element to indicate whether the AP MLD has the first mode, i.e., link strengthening capability.

[0212] Optionally, the second field further includes at least one of a second length of time, a fourth length of time, and a first length of time;

[0213] the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation in the first mode to the third operation in the first mode,

[0214] the fourth time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation to the first operation,

[0215] The first time length is a valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to start or end the first mode.

[0216] For example, if the second field is a configured field, when the value of the configured third field in the basic multilink element is the seventh value, the basic multilink element includes the configured field, and the third field is used to indicate whether the basic multilink element includes the configured field.

[0217] Optionally, the third field is a Presence Bitmap subfield, and if the value of the third field is a seventh value, the basic multilink element includes a newly added field indicating whether AP MLD supports the first mode. It can be understood that if the value of the third field is a value other than the seventh value, the basic multilink element does not include the configured field.

[0218] Optionally, the set field includes a first subfield and at least one subfield from among a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield, wherein the first subfield is used to indicate the seventh indication information, the second subfield is used to indicate a second time length, the third subfield is used to indicate a fourth time length, and the fourth subfield is used to indicate the first time length.

[0219] Take the case where the second field is an EML capability field as an example, if the value of the EML capability presence field in the basic multilink element is the eighth value, the basic multilink element includes the EML capability field.

[0220] As can be appreciated, if the value of the EML Capabilities Present field is any value other than the eighth value, the Basic Multilink element does not include the EML Capabilities field.

[0221] Optionally, the second field is an EML capability field, and the seventh indication information is located in a fourth field of the EML capability field, and the fourth field is an enhanced multi-link single radio (EML SR) support field or a reserved field of the EML capability field.

[0222] In the embodiment of the present application, the EML SR support field of the EML capability field may be reused to indicate whether the AP MLD supports the first mode, or a reserved field of the EML capability field may be used to indicate whether the AP MLD supports the first mode.

[0223] When the second capability indicates a second time length, the manner in which the EML capability field indicates the second time length is to indicate the second time length by the EMLSR Padding Delay field of the EML capability field, and the second time length is the time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first or second operation of the first mode to the third operation of the first mode.

[0224] Here, the EMLSR Padding Delay field of the EML Capabilities field is reused to indicate the second duration.

[0225] When the second capability indicates a fourth time length, the manner in which the EML capability field indicates the fourth time length is that the EMLSR Transition Delay field of the second EML capability field indicates the fourth time length, and the fourth time length is the time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation of the first mode to the first operation of the first mode.

[0226] Here, the EMLSR Transition Delay field in the EML Capabilities field is reused to indicate the fourth duration.

[0227] When the second capability indicates a first time length, the manner in which the EML capability field indicates the first time length is to indicate the first time length by a Transition Timeout field of the second EML capability field, where the first time length is the valid time length of the first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts or ends the first mode.

[0228] Here, the Transition Timeout field of the EML Capabilities field is reused to indicate the first time length.

[0229] The wireless communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described in more detail below.

[0230] The wireless communication method provided in the embodiments of this application utilizes a spatial stream switching method in enhanced multi-link mode, and in the operation scenario of NSTR Mobile AP MLD, a link enhanced operation mode of point-to-point NSTR Mobile AP MLD is designed to switch the spatial stream of the non-operating link to the working link, and enhance the spatial stream capacity of the NSTR Mobile AP MLD operating link. This technical solution avoids the inter-domain contention problem in NSTR Mobile AP MLD, and improves the transmission efficiency of spatial stream capacity on the NSTR Mobile AP MLD working link, so that all capacity resources of NSTR Mobile AP MLD are fully utilized.

[0231] Definition and explanation of NSTR mobile AP MLD link strengthening operation mode

[0232] For the NSTR mobile AP MLD with link enhancement capability, on the one hand, the NSTR mobile AP MLD can interact with non-AP MLD or non-AP STAs via broadcast to initiate point-to-multipoint operation mode, and on the other hand, the NSTR mobile AP MLD can interact with non-AP MLD or non-AP STAs via unicast to initiate point-to-point operation mode. The above operation modes are collectively referred to as NSTR mobile AP MLD Link Enhancement (EL) Mode, i.e., Link Enhancement Operation Mode or EL Operation Mode.

[0233] After starting the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD can switch the spatial stream of the non-EL operation link to the EL operation link to strengthen the spatial stream capacity on the EL operation link and improve transmission efficiency.

[0234] In the following, the link strengthening operation mode of NSTR mobile AP MLD is described.

[0235] After the NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STA start the link strengthening operation mode, the link associated with the NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STA is set as the EL operating link, and other links are set as non-EL operating links. By default, the primary link established between the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA and the NSTR mobile AP MLD is used as the EL operating link, and links other than the EL operating link within the NSTR mobile AP MLD are used as non-EL operating links. During data frame interaction in the EL operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD should switch the spatial stream on the non-EL operating link to the EL operating link, and EL data frame interaction between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STA should only be performed on the EL operating link.

[0236] The link strengthening operation mode of NSTR mobile AP MLD has two operation modes: group operation mode and independent operation mode.

[0237] When the NSTR mobile AP MLD starts the group operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD notifies its associated non-AP MLD or non-AP STA by broadcast that it is about to enter the link strengthening operation mode. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the group operation mode, the link strengthening operation mode becomes effective in the communication between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and all non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs.

[0238] When the NSTR mobile AP MLD starts the independent operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD notifies only any non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that it is about to enter the link strengthening operation mode. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD notifies the associated non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that it is starting the link strengthening operation mode, the link strengthening operation mode is only valid for the communication between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, and the communication between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and other non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs that have not started the link strengthening operation mode is in the non-link strengthening operation mode.

[0239] After the NSTR mobile AP MLD with link strengthening capability enters the link strengthening operation mode, the communication between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA will default to the initial operation state.

[0240] Before the NSTR mobile AP MLD starts the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD should execute the link strengthening operation mode start process, and before the NSTR mobile AP MLD attempts to exit the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD executes the link strengthening operation mode exit process.

[0241] The link strengthening operation mode of NSTR mobile AP MLD can have two operation states: an initial operation state and an strengthened operation state.

[0242] The initial operating state is the first operation, and each link of the NSTR mobile AP MLD performs data communication according to the link's own original spatial stream capability and corresponding operating mode, and in the initial operating state, the NSTR mobile AP MLD uses synchronous transmission rules between the primary link and the non-primary link by default.

[0243] The enhanced operating state is the third operation, in which the NSTR mobile AP MLD switches the spatial stream on the non-EL operating link to the EL operating link, and data communication between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA is performed on the EL operating link according to the current spatial stream capability and corresponding operating mode of the EL operating link. While the NSTR mobile AP MLD is communicating data with the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD does not perform any data transmission on the non-EL operating link.

[0244] After the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the initial operation state, and when the NSTR mobile AP MLD prepares to send or receive a link strengthening data frame, the NSTR mobile AP MLD switches from the initial operation state to the strengthened operation state, and when the NSTR mobile AP MLD completes sending or receiving a link strengthening data frame sequence, the NSTR mobile AP MLD switches from the strengthened operation state to the initial operation state.

[0245] NSTR mobile AP MLD Link Strengthening Capability Information Instruction In command method 1, a new capability information field is added.

[0246] A new capability field, the mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities subfield, i.e., the EL Capabilities subfield, is added to the Common Info of the Basic Multilink element, and this added capability field indicates the current device's support capability for the NSTR mobile AP MLD link strengthening operation mode.

[0247] A mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities Present subfield is added to the Presence Bitmap subfield in the Basic Multilink element. If the value of this field is 1, the device can perform operations related to the NSTR mobile AP MLD link strengthening operation mode, and the corresponding "mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities subfield" is present; if the value of this field is 0, the device cannot perform operations related to the NSTR mobile AP MLD link strengthening operation mode, and the "mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities subfield" is not present.

[0248] NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that support the link strengthening operation mode must set the mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities Present field in the basic multilink element of the management frame to 1, set the EL Support field in the mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities subfield to 1, and set other attribute fields in the mobile AP MLD EL Capabilities subfield according to their own capability status.

[0249] The format of the modified Presence Bitmap subfield is as shown in Figure 7. Bit (B) 0 is a Link ID Info Present field, B1 is a BSS parameter change count present field, B2 is a Medium synchronization delay Information Present field, B3 is an Enhanced Multilink Capabilities Present field, B4 is an MLD Capabilities and Operations Present field, B5 is an MLD ID Present field, B6 is a Mobile AP MLD Link Enhancement Capabilities Present field, and B7 is a reserved field.

[0250] In FIG. 7, the Link ID Info Present field is used to indicate whether or not a Link ID Info field is present in Common Info, the BSS Parameters Change Count Present field is used to indicate whether or not a BSS Parameters Change Count field is present in Common Info, the Medium Synchronization Delay Information Present field is used to indicate whether or not a Medium Synchronization Delay Information field is present in Common Info, the EML Capabilities Present field is used to indicate whether or not an EML Capabilities field is present in Common Info, the MLD Capabilities and Operations Present field is used to indicate whether or not an MLD Capabilities and Operations field is present in Common Info, and the MLD ID Present field is used to indicate whether or not an MLD ID field is present in Common Info.

[0251] The format of the modified Common Info of the basic multilink element is as shown in FIG. The Common Info Length field occupies 1 byte and is used to indicate the length of the Common Info in bytes. The MLD MAC Address field occupies 6 bytes and is used to indicate the MAC address of the non-access point device transmitting the current basic multilink element. The Link ID Info field occupies 0 or 1 byte and is used to indicate which link the current basic multilink element indicates information on. It is sent by the NSTR mobile AP MLD. The BSS Parameters Change Count field occupies 0 or 1 byte and the value changes depending on the operation of the NSTR mobile AP MLD. The Medium Synchronization Delay Information field occupies 0 or 2 bytes and is used to indicate the delay time to be determined in the medium synchronization operation. It is sent by the NSTR mobile AP MLD. The EML Capabilities field occupies 0 or 2 bytes and is used to declare its own capabilities related to EMLSR and EMLMR operations. The Operations field occupies 0 or 2 bytes and contains an operation description related to the multilink device, such as Traffic Identifier to Link (TID-to-link) mapping capability support, AAR capability support, the MLD Identifier (ID) field occupies 0 or 1 byte, and the EL Capabilities field occupies 0 or 2 bytes and is used to indicate the identity of the AP MLD indicated to the current multilink element.

[0252] The format of the newly added EL Capabilities field is as shown in Figure 9. The EL Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B0, the EL Padding Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B1 to B3, the EL Transition Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B4 to B6, the Transition Timeout field occupies 4 bits, i.e., B7 to B10, and the Reserved field occupies 5 bits, i.e., B11 to B15.

[0253] The EL Support field indicates whether the device supports the link strengthening operation mode of the NSTR mobile AP MLD. For the NSTR mobile AP MLD, if EL Support is 1, it indicates that the NSTR mobile AP MLD supports the link strengthening operation mode, and if EL Support is 0, it indicates that the NSTR mobile AP MLD does not support the link strengthening operation mode. For the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, if EL Support is 1, it indicates that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports initiating the link strengthening operation mode by the NSTR mobile AP MLD, and if EL Support is 0, it indicates that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not support initiating the link strengthening operation mode by the NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0254] The EL Padding Delay field indicates the time required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to switch from the initial operation state to the enhanced operation state after entering the link enhanced operation mode, and the EL Padding Delay for non-AP MLD or non-AP STA is 0. Figure 10 shows the coding scheme of the EL Padding Delay.

[0255] The EL Transition Delay field indicates the time required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to return from the enhanced operation state to the initial operation state. Figure 11 shows the coding scheme of the EL Transition Delay.

[0256] The Transition Timeout field indicates the expiration time of the EL OMN frame.

[0257] In command method 2, existing ability fields are reused.

[0258] The EML Capabilities field in the Basic Multilink element is reused to describe the link strengthening capability information of the NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0259] First, an EL Support field must be added to the EML Capabilities field to describe whether the device supports the link strengthening operation mode of NSTR mobile AP MLD. NSTR mobile AP MLD supports the link strengthening operation mode, and if EL Support is 0, it indicates that NSTR mobile AP MLD does not support the link strengthening operation mode. For non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, if EL Support is 1, it indicates that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports initiating the link strengthening operation mode with NSTR mobile AP MLD, and if EL Support is 0, it indicates that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not support initiating the link strengthening operation mode with NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0260] NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that support the link strengthening operation mode must first set EML Capabilities Present located in the basic multilink element of the management frame to 1, set the EL Support capability field in EML Capabilities to 1, and set other attribute fields according to their own capability status.

[0261] The EMLSR Padding Delay in the EML Capabilities field of the NSTR mobile AP MLD indicates the time required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to switch from the initial operating state to the enhanced operating state, the EMLSR Transition Delay in the EML Capabilities field of the NSTR mobile AP MLD indicates the time required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to recover from the enhanced operating state to the initial operating state, and the Transition Timeout in the EML Capabilities field of the NSTR mobile AP MLD indicates the expiration time of the EL OMN frame. The encoding method is an existing method.

[0262] The indication method of the EL support field includes an implicit indication method and an explicit indication method.

[0263] Implicit specification of EL Support fields In the implicit capability indication method, the EMLSR Support field is interpreted anew.

[0264] For NSTR mobile AP MLD, this bit indicates whether the NSTR mobile AP MLD supports link strengthening operation mode. That is, if the NSTR mobile AP MLD supports link strengthening operation mode, B0 is set to 1; if the NSTR mobile AP MLD does not support link strengthening operation mode, B0 is set to 0.

[0265] For non-AP MLD or non-AP STA devices, this bit indicates whether the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports the link strengthening operation mode of NSTR Mobile AP MLD. That is, if the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports the link strengthening operation mode of NSTR Mobile AP MLD, B0 is set to 1; if the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not support the link strengthening operation mode of NSTR Mobile AP MLD, B0 is set to 0.

[0266] FIG. 12 is a modified EML Capabilities field. As shown in FIG. 12, the EMLSR Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B0; the EMLSR Padding Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B1 to B3; the EMLSR Transition Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B4 to B6; the enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EML MR) Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B7; the EMLMR Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B8 to B10; the Transition Timeout field occupies 4 bits, i.e., B11 to B14; and the reserved bit occupies 1 bit, i.e., B15.

[0267] In FIG. 12, the EMLSR Support field is used to indicate whether the current device supports EMLSR operation, the EMLSR Padding Delay field is used to indicate the time required to perform spatial stream integration or spatial stream switching in the EMLSR operation mode, the EMLSR Transition Delay field is used to indicate the time required to release the spatial stream integration state in the EMLMR operation mode, the EMLMR Support field is used to indicate whether the current device supports EMLMR operation, the EMLMR Delay field is used to indicate the minimum time required for the device to perform spatial stream integration in the EMLMR operation mode, and the Transition Timeout field is used to indicate the maximum time to wait for a reply after sending an enhanced multilink operation mode notification frame.

[0268] Explicit specification of EL Support fields In the explicit capability specification method, the reserved bit B15 of the EML Capabilities field is set as EL Support to describe the required capabilities.

[0269] In the NSTR mobile AP MLD, this bit indicates whether the NSTR mobile AP MLD supports link strengthening operation mode. That is, if the NSTR mobile AP MLD supports link strengthening operation mode, B15 is set to 1; if the NSTR mobile AP MLD does not support link strengthening operation mode, B15 is set to 0.

[0270] In a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA device, this bit indicates whether the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports starting the link strengthening operation mode by NSTR Mobile AP MLD. That is, if the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA supports starting the link strengthening operation mode by NSTR Mobile AP MLD, B15 is set to 1; if the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not support starting the link strengthening operation mode by NSTR Mobile AP MLD, B15 is set to 0.

[0271] Figure 13 is the modified EML Capabilities field. As shown in Figure 13, the EMLSR Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B0, the EMLSR Padding Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B1 to B3, the EMLSR Transition Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B4 to B6, the EML MR Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B7, the EMLMR Delay field occupies 3 bits, i.e., B8 to B10, the Transition Timeout field occupies 4 bits, i.e., B11 to B14, and the EL Support field occupies 1 bit, i.e., B15.

[0272] NSTR mobile AP MLD link strengthening operation mode start and end process EL mode operation frame design explanation There are two design methods for the EL mode operation frame. One is to create a new operation mode instruction frame to start and end the EL operation mode. The other is to reuse the existing EML OMN and add the EL operation mode related attributes to the EML Control to start and end the EL operation mode.

[0273] In design method 1, a new EL OMN is established.

[0274] The EL OMN is sent by the NSTR mobile AP MLD to notify the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that its operation mode has changed. The action field of the EL OMN includes a category field, a protected EHT action field, a dialog token, and an EL control field, as shown in Figure 14.

[0275] An EL Operating Mode Notification flag bit is added to the Protected EHT Action field, and the encoding method of the modified Protected EHT Action field is as shown in Figure 15. If the value of the Protected EHT Action field is 7, which indicates EL Operating Mode Notification, it indicates that the EL OMN includes an EL Control field.

[0276] The value of the Dialog Token is a non-zero value selected by the NSTR mobile AP MLD. When a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA receives a unicast EL OMN, the Dialog Token in the returned EL OMN is the same as the Dialog Token that received the EL OMN.

[0277] As shown in FIG. 16, the EL Control field format includes 18 bits, with the EL Mode field occupying 2 bits B0 and B1, and the EL Link Bitmap field occupying 16 bits B2 to B17.

[0278] Here, the EL Mode field has two bits, the first bit indicates whether the link strengthening operation mode operated by the NSTR mobile AP MLD is a group operation mode or an independent operation mode, and the second bit indicates whether the NSTR mobile AP MLD starts or ends the link strengthening operation mode. Figure 17 shows the coding scheme of the EL Mode field.

[0279] An available link participating in the link enhancement operation mode between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA is called an EL link. An EL link is indicated and described by the EL Link Bitmap of the EL OMN. When the i-th bit of the Link Bitmap is 1, it indicates that the i-th link is an EL link participating in the link enhancement operation mode.

[0280] In design method 2, existing EML OMN is reused.

[0281] The existing EML OMN is reused and some of its attribute fields are modified. As shown in Figure 18, an EL Mode field is added to B18 and B19 of the EML Control field of the EML OMN frame, and an EL Link Bitmap field is added to the end of the EML OMN frame. As shown in Figure 18, the EML OMN includes an EML SR mode field, an EML MR mode field, an EML SR link bitmap field, a reserved (reversed) field, an EML MR link bitmap field, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) map count field, an EML MR supported MCS and number of spatial streams (NSS) set field, and an EL link bitmap field.

[0282] Here, the format design of the EL Mode field and EL Link Bitmap field is the same as that of design method 1.

[0283] Link Strengthening Operation Mode Startup Process 1) Initiation process in group operation mode When the NSTR mobile AP MLD attempts to start the group operation mode of the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD broadcasts an EML OMN frame or an EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 01 to notify all associated non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs that it is entering the link strengthening operation mode. After a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA receives an EML OMN frame or an EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 01, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not need to reply to this frame. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD completes sending the EML OMN frame, the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the link strengthening operation mode. After the STR mobile AP MLD enters the link strengthening operation mode, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA cannot start the EMLSR or EMLMR mode by sending an EML OMN.

[0284] When an NSTR mobile AP MLD is associated with a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that can support multiple link strengthening operation modes and the NSTR mobile AP MLD attempts to start the link strengthening operation mode with any of the non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs, the NSTR mobile AP MLD can choose to start the group operation mode instead of the independent operation mode. On the one hand, the NSTR mobile AP MLD notifies the associated non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that it is about to enter the link strengthening operation mode, and on the other hand, it can handle the situation where other non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs prepare to start the link strengthening operation mode with the NSTR mobile AP MLD, thereby reducing the negotiation cost between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA and improving operation efficiency.

[0285] 2) Initiation process in independent operation mode When the NSTR mobile AP MLD attempts to enter the independent operation mode of the link enhancement operation mode, it transmits an EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 11 to the associated STA on the primary link to notify the corresponding STA that it is entering the link enhancement operation mode. After a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA receives an EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 11, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must reply to the frame with an EML OMN and set the EL Mode to 11. The NSTR mobile AP MLD begins timing from the end of the transmission of the EML OMN frame, and after the timing indicated by the Transition Timeout expires or after the AP receives an EML OMN or EL OMN frame returned from the STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the link enhancement operation mode. After the device initiates the link enhancement operation mode of the NSTR mobile AP MLD, the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the initial operation state of the link enhancement operation mode when communicating with the STA. After the STR mobile AP MLD enters the link strengthening operation mode, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA cannot send an EML OMN to start the EMLSR or EMLMR mode.

[0286] Link Strengthening Operation Mode Exit Process 1) Termination process in group operation mode When the NSTR mobile AP MLD intends to end the group operation mode of the link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD broadcasts an EML OMN frame or an EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 00 to notify all associated non-AP MLDs or non-AP STAs that it intends to end the link strengthening operation mode. After the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA receives an EML OMN frame or an EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 00, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA does not need to reply to this frame. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD has completed sending the EML OMN frame, the NSTR mobile AP MLD ends the link strengthening operation mode.

[0287] 2) Termination process in independent operation mode When the NSTR mobile AP MLD wishes to exit the independent operation mode of the link strengthening operation mode, it sends an EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 10 on the primary link to the associated STA to notify the corresponding STA that it wishes to exit the link strengthening operation mode. After the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA receives an EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame with EL Mode set to 10, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must reply to the frame with an EML OMN and set the EL Mode to 10. The NSTR mobile AP MLD starts timing from the end of the transmission of the EML OMN frame, and after the time specified by the Transition Timeout has elapsed or after the AP receives an EML OMN or EL OMN frame returned from the STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD will exit the link strengthening operation mode.

[0288] NSTR mobile AP MLD EL data frame transmission start and end 1),Start flag of downlink EL data transmission After the NSTR mobile AP MLD enters the link enhanced operation mode and obtains a TXOP, before performing downlink EL data transmission with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD must first switch from the initial operation state to the enhanced operation state within the EL Padding Delay time.

[0289] In order to prevent the transmission resources between the NSTR mobile AP MLD and the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA from being preempted during the switching time, the NSTR mobile AP MLD can protect the transmission resources during the switching of the working state after obtaining the TXOP, where the manner of protecting the transmission resources during the switching of the working state includes:

[0290] In protection method 1, the NSTR mobile AP MLD sends one RTS frame to the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA at the start of a TXOP to set the NAV for the current TXOP. After completing the operation state switch, the NSTR mobile AP MLD performs downlink EL data transmission in the enhanced operation state.

[0291] In protection method 2, the NSTR mobile AP MLD transmits one or more specific types of frames to the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA at the start of a TXOP. Usable frames include, but are not limited to, NDPA+NDP, CTS to self, QoS-null, and data frames. The purpose of TXOP protection is achieved by transmitting a frame sequence. After completing the operational state switch, the NSTR mobile AP MLD performs downlink EL data transmission in the enhanced operational state. This method will be described in detail in Example 3.

[0292] 2) ,Uplink EL data transmission initiation method There are two initiation methods for uplink EL data transmission: implicit initiation using a transmission rule and explicit initiation using a trigger frame.

[0293] Initiation method 1: Implicit initiation method that uses transmission rules. When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in link strengthening operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD receives an initial data frame transmitted in spatial stream format from a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, which means that the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA requests the NSTR mobile AP MLD to soon start interaction for uplink EL data frames. The initial data frame should be transmitted in non-HT PPDU or non-HT duplicate PPDU format, and the transmission rate is 6 Mbps, 12 Mbps, or 24 Mbps.

[0294] Here, the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in a link strengthening operation mode and receives an initial data frame transmitted in a spatial stream format from a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA in the second operation. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD receives an initial data frame transmitted in a spatial stream format from a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD switches from the first operation to an strengthening operation state, i.e., a third operation.

[0295] Initiation method 2: Explicit initiation method using control frames. Add an EL Request Control field to the A-Control field and set its Control ID value to 10. The Control ID code of the modified A-Control is shown in Table 1.

[0296] [Table 1]

[0297] Here, as shown in Table 1, when the Control ID of A-Control is 10, the A-Control is an EL Request Control, and the EL Request Control includes a Control Information field for describing flag information, and the length of the Control Information field of the EL Request Control is 2.

[0298] The control information format of the EL Request Control includes an EL Request field and a Reversed field, as shown in Figure 19. The EL Request bit of the Control Information of the EL Request Control is B0, occupying 1 bit, indicating that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA transmitting the control frame requests the initiation of uplink EL data frame exchange, and the reserved bit occupies 1 bit of B1.

[0299] When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in link strengthening operation mode, if the EL Request in the EL Request Control of the initial data frame received by the NSTR mobile AP MLD from the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA is 1, it means that the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA has started uplink EL data frame interaction and is requesting the NSTR mobile AP MLD to switch from the initial operation state to the strengthened operation state. If the EL Request in the EL Request Control of the initial data frame received by the NSTR mobile AP MLD is 0 or the EL Request Control is not included, no uplink EL data frame interaction will be performed within the following time.

[0300] The NSTR mobile AP MLD must complete the operation mode switch within the EL Padding Delay time. After sending the initial data frame or RTS EL Padding Delay time, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA can perform uplink EL data transmission with the NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0301] When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in independent operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD allows the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA to perform uplink EL data transmission initialization using either one of the two methods above. When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in group operation mode, the NSTR mobile AP MLD only allows the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA to perform uplink EL data transmission initialization using the explicit start method of a trigger frame, that is, when the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in group operation mode, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must actively send an RTS frame to request the start of uplink EL data transmission.

[0302] 3) End identifier When the NSTR mobile AP MLD intends to terminate downlink EL data transmission with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD does not need to notify the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA that it intends to terminate the EL data transmission state. After the NSTR mobile AP MLD ends EL data transmission, it should perform spatial stream switching operation and return to monitoring mode, i.e., the initial operation state, within the EL Transition Delay time.

[0303] When an NSTR mobile AP MLD performs uplink EL data transmission with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, the AP uses the following events as termination identifiers:

[0304] 1) If an immediate response to the PPDU from the previous STA is not required, the start time is the end time of the reception of the PPDU. If an immediate response to the previous PPDU from the STA is required, the start time is the end time of the transmission of the reply confirmation frame for the PPDU. From the start time, the AP MAC does not receive a PHY-RXSTART.indication service primitive within the time aSIFSTime+aSlotTime+aRxPHYStartDelay.

[0305] 2) For PPDUs that require an immediate reply, the AP does not reply to the STA within 1 SIFS.

[0306] After the AP receives the termination flag, it returns to the initial operating state within the EL Transition Delay time.

[0307] In the following, the above wireless communication method will be further explained using the scene shown in FIG.

[0308] As shown in Figure 20, the left side of Figure 20 is an NSTR mobile AP MLD device, the AP MLD has two attached APs, each AP has one spatial stream (ss: Spatial Stream), the right side is a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, the STA has two spatial streams, after switching to the STA enhanced operation state is completed, the STA is connected to AP1 of the NSTR mobile AP MLD by a primary link, and the transmitted data frame is transmitted using two spatial streams.

[0309] In the scene shown in FIG. 20, when data transmission is performed according to the existing multi-link access rules, the following restrictions are imposed.

[0310] The first limitation is limited by the number of spatial streams of AP1. When AP1 performs data interaction with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, it uses one spatial stream for data transmission, and the other spatial stream owned by the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA is idle.

[0311] The second limitation is imposed by the NSTR mobile AP MLD transmission rules: when AP1 performs data interaction with non-AP MLD or non-AP STA on the primary link, AP2 cannot perform data interaction with other STAs, which wastes the spatial stream resources owned by AP2 in the NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0312] In an embodiment of the present application, the scene shown in FIG. 20 can be implemented as follows.

[0313] In the first embodiment, the NSTR mobile AP MLD interacts with the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA for downlink EL data frames.

[0314] As shown in Figure 21, the NSTR mobile AP MLD initiates link strengthening operation mode in group operation mode by sending a broadcast EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame, or initiates link strengthening operation mode in independent operation mode by interacting with a specific non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via unicast EML OMN or EL OMN frames. Before initiating downlink EL data frame interaction, the NSTR mobile AP MLD must complete switching from the initial operation state to the enhanced operation state. After switching to the enhanced operation state, the NSTR mobile AP MLD interacts with the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via downlink EL data frames, and the transmitted downlink EL data is transmitted using two spatial streams.

[0315] In the second embodiment, the NSTR mobile AP MLD interacts with the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA via downlink EL data frames and protects TXOP using the NAV setting.

[0316] As shown in Figure 22, the NSTR mobile AP MLD initiates link strengthening operation mode in group operation mode by sending a broadcast EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame, or initiates link strengthening operation mode in independent operation mode by interacting with a specific non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via a unicast EML OMN or EL OMN frame. Before initiating downlink EL data frame interaction, the NSTR mobile AP MLD first performs NAV setting protection for the current primary link by sending an RTS frame to the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA on the primary link to prevent other devices from preempting the current TXOP while the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in operation. After receiving the RTS frame, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA returns a CTS frame to the NSTR mobile AP MLD on the primary link. After completing the switch to the enhanced operation state, the NSTR mobile AP MLD employs two SSs to transmit downlink EL data. After the RTS / CTS interaction is completed, the AP transmits a data frame for a certain period of time to occupy the channel. This certain period of time is greater than the EL padding delay required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to switch from the initial operation state to the enhanced operation state. Here, one ss is used to perform the RTS / CTS and data frame interaction before the switch to the enhanced operation state is completed.

[0317] In the third embodiment, the NSTR mobile AP MLD interacts with the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA for downlink EL data frames, and protects the TXOP by sending a frame exchange sequence.

[0318] As shown in Figures 23 to 26, the NSTR mobile AP MLD first transmits a broadcast EML OMN or EL OMN frame to initiate group operation mode, or unicasts EML OMN or EL OMN frame interaction with a specific non-AP MLD or non-AP STA to initiate independent operation mode. Before initiating downlink EL data frame interaction, the NSTR mobile AP MLD first transmits a specific frame sequence on the primary link to the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA to keep the current link busy and prevent other devices from preempting the current TXOP while the NSTR mobile AP MLD is switching its operation state. After completing the switch to the enhanced operation state, the NSTR mobile AP MLD uses two seconds to transmit downlink EL data. The time length of the specific frame sequence should be equal to or greater than the EL padding delay required for the NSTR mobile AP MLD to switch from the initial operation state to the enhanced operation state, and the NSTR mobile AP MLD uses one second to transmit this specific frame sequence.

[0319] In Figure 23, a specific frame sequence includes NDPA+NDP and utilizes NDPA+NDP for TXOP-protected downlink EL data transmission; in Figure 24, a specific frame sequence includes multiple CTS to self frames and utilizes CTS to self frames for TXOP-protected downlink EL data transmission; in Figure 25, a specific frame sequence includes multiple QoS-null frames and utilizes QoS-null frames for TXOP-protected downlink EL data transmission; and in Figure 26, a specific frame sequence includes multiple Data frames and utilizes Data frames for TXOP-protected downlink EL data transmission.

[0320] In the fourth embodiment, a transmission rule is used to initiate an interaction between an NSTR mobile AP MLD and a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA for uplink EL data frames.

[0321] As shown in Figure 27, the NSTR mobile AP MLD interacts with a specific non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via a unicast EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame to initiate an independent operation mode. When initiating an uplink EL data frame interaction on the primary link using the transmission rule, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must transmit one initial data frame (initial PPDU) on the primary link, and the interaction time length of the initial data frame must be equal to or greater than the EL Padding Delay of the NSTR Mobile AP MLD. The initial data frame should be transmitted in a non-HT PPDU or non-HT duplicate PPDU format, with a transmission rate of 6 Mbps, 12 Mbps, or 24 Mbps. Optionally, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA pads the initial data frame and selects the EL Padding Delay of the NSTR Mobile AP MLD as the padding time length, thereby making the initial data frame time length greater than the EL Padding Delay. When the NSTR Mobile AP MLD operates in link enhanced operation mode and receives an initial data frame of one single spatial stream from a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA, if it determines that the transmission of the initial data frame satisfies the transmission rules, the NSTR Mobile AP MLD will switch its operation state and return a response frame within a SIFStime, switching to the enhanced operation state. After completing the switch to the enhanced operation state, the NSTR Mobile AP MLD will use two ss to transmit uplink EL data.

[0322] In the fifth embodiment, a frame trigger initiates an interaction of an uplink EL data frame between an NSTR mobile AP MLD and a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA.

[0323] As shown in FIG. 28A, the NSTR mobile AP MLD initiates the independent operation mode by sending a broadcast EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame to initiate the group operation mode, or by interaction with a specific non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via a unicast EML OMN frame or EL OMN frame. When using a frame trigger to initiate uplink EL data frame interaction on the primary link, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must send one RTS frame on the primary link. When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is operating in link strengthening operation mode and receives an RTS frame from a non-AP MLD or non-AP STA, the NSTR mobile AP MLD switches its operation state and completes the operation mode switch within the EL padding delay time of receiving the RTS. When the NSTR mobile AP MLD is in group operation mode in link strengthening operation mode, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA must select this trigger method.

[0324] As shown in Figure 28A, the NSTR mobile AP MLD has two APs, each with one spatial stream, and the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA has two spatial streams. The NSTR mobile AP MLD is connected to the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA via a primary link.

[0325] If the RTS / CTS interaction time does not meet the time requirement for the EL padding delay required for mobile AP MLD switching, after the RTS / CTS interaction is completed, as shown in Figure 28B, the non-AP MLD or non-AP STA will transmit a frame sequence consisting of data frames to occupy time to ensure that the mobile AP MLD has enough time to switch its operating mode.

[0326] As shown in FIG. 28A or FIG. 28B, the NSTR mobile AP MLD uses one ss to transmit RTS / CTS and uplink data frames before completing the switch to the enhanced operation state, and the NSTR mobile AP MLD uses two ss to transmit uplink EL data after completing the switch to the enhanced operation state.

[0327] In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 28B, the interval between two frames in a non-AP MLD or an interaction between a non-AP STA and an AP MLD is 1 SIFS.

[0328] In the related art, when the AP MLD type is NSTR mobile AP MLD, the data transmission efficiency within the network is limited by resource limitations of both the NSTR mobile AP MLD and non-AP MLD or non-AP STAs, and the synchronous transmission rule of the NSTR mobile AP MLD must be followed to avoid inter-domain contention issues. In the wireless communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a link-enhancing operation mode for the NSTR mobile AP MLD is designed to improve the performance of the NSTR mobile AP MLD, which increases the available transmission resources on both sides and effectively avoids the inter-domain contention issues faced by the NSTR mobile AP MLD during data transmission. A rational scheduling method dynamically allocates resources used by the NSTR mobile AP MLD according to the real-time traffic transmission and reception status, thereby achieving enhanced data transmission and reception processing for the NSTR mobile AP MLD.

[0329] In the present embodiment, the receiver of the link enhancement operation mode may include, but is not limited to, an NSTR mobile AP MLD, other AP MLD, non-AP MLD, or non-AP STA. The link enhancement operation mode and attribute field can perform any AP MLD or support non-AP MLD or non-AP STA's spatial stream capability enhancement operation on the EL operation link.

[0330] Although the preferred embodiments of the present application have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present application is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Various simple modifications may be made to the technical solutions of the present application within the scope of the technical concept of the present application, and all such simple modifications are within the scope of protection of the present application. For example, the specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments may be combined in any appropriate manner without contradiction, and to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present application does not describe various possible combinations. In another example, various different embodiments of the present application may also be arbitrarily combined, and as long as such combination does not violate the concept of the present application, such combination should also be considered as the content disclosed in the present application. In another example, various examples and / or technical features in various examples described in the present application may be arbitrarily combined with related technologies without contradiction, and the technical solutions obtained by such combinations are also within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0331] It should be further understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the magnitude of the sequence numbers of the above processes does not indicate the order of execution. The order of execution of each process should be determined according to its capabilities and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the terms "downlink," "uplink," and "sidelink" are used to represent the transmission direction of a signal or data. In this specification, "downlink" represents the first direction of the signal or data transmission from a station to a user equipment of a cell, "uplink" represents the second direction of the signal or data transmission from a user equipment of a cell to a station, and "sidelink" represents the third direction of the signal or data transmission from user equipment 1 to user equipment 2. For example, a "downlink signal" represents the first direction of the signal transmission. In the embodiments of the present application, the term "and / or" describes only an associated relationship and indicates that three relationships may exist. Specifically, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists independently, both A and B exist, and B exists independently. Furthermore, the symbol " / " in this specification generally indicates that the relationship between related objects is "or."

[0332] 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a wireless communication device applied to AP MLD provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 29, the wireless communication device 2900 includes a first communication unit 2901,

[0333] The first communication unit 2901 is configured to exchange frames with a non-access point device on a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0334] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the available spatial streams in a first link of the AP MLD include available spatial streams that are switched from a second link to the first link, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first communication unit 2901 is further configured to transmit a first frame, wherein the first frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to enter or exit the first mode.

[0336] In some embodiments, the first mode includes an independent operation mode and a group operation mode;

[0337] In an independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the non-access point device, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode;

[0338] In group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts the first frame.

[0339] In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 2900 further comprises a first control unit 2902, wherein the first control unit 2902 is configured to enter the first mode or exit the first mode after transmission of the first frame is completed if the operation mode of the first mode is the group operation mode.

[0340] In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 2900 further comprises a second control unit 2903, wherein the second control unit 2903 is configured to, when the operation mode of the first mode is the independent operation mode, enter the first mode or exit the first mode at a second time immediately after a first time or after completion of reception of a second frame, wherein an interval between the second time and the first time has a first time length, the first time is the time when transmission of the first frame is completed, and the second frame is used to respond to the first frame.

[0341] In some embodiments, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to start the first mode, the first frame includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to start the first mode.

[0342] In some embodiments, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode, the first frame includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode.

[0343] In some embodiments, the first frame further includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is an independent operation mode.

[0344] In some embodiments, the first frame further includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is a group operation mode.

[0345] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a first identifier, the first identifier having a first value being first indication information, and the first indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to start the first mode, and the first identifier having a second value being second indication information, and the second indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to end the first mode.

[0346] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a second identifier, the second identifier having a third value being third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is an independent operation mode, and the second identifier having a fourth value being fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is a group operation mode.

[0347] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0348] In some embodiments, the first frame is a configured frame or an Enhanced Multilink Operational Mode Notification (EML OMN) frame.

[0349] In some embodiments, if the first frame is a configured frame, the action domain of the configured frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD should start the first mode.

[0350] In some embodiments, the action domain of the configured frame includes at least one of a category field, an action field, and an enhanced mode control field, and the first identifier is located in the enhanced mode control field.

[0351] In some embodiments, the enhanced mode control field further includes a second identifier, which is used to indicate an operation mode of the AP MLD.

[0352] In some embodiments, the enhanced mode control field further includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0353] In some embodiments, when the first frame is an EML OMN frame, a reserved field of the EML OMN frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode.

[0354] In some embodiments, the reserved field of the EML OMN frame further includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate the first mode of operation.

[0355] In some embodiments, the EML OMN frame further comprises a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0356] In some embodiments, the first mode includes a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation; In the first operation, the first link and the second link of the AP MLD are in a monitoring state, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD; In the second operation, the first link performs a frame exchange employing no more than the second number of spatial streams, and the second link has available spatial streams and is usable for frame exchange; In the third operation, the first link performs frame exchange employing spatial streams greater than the second quantity and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the second link cannot be used for frame exchange.

[0357] In some embodiments, wireless communications device 2900 comprises a third control unit 2904, said third control unit 2904 configured to enter said first operation after initiating said first mode.

[0358] In some embodiments, wireless communication device 2900 comprises a fourth control unit 2905, said fourth control unit 2905 configured to switch from said first operation or said second operation to said third operation.

[0359] In some embodiments, if the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is less than or equal to the second quantity, the AP MLD transitions from the first operation to the second operation when performing a frame exchange.

[0360] In some embodiments, if the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is greater than the second quantity, the AP MLD enters the second operation from the first operation and switches from the second operation to the third operation, or switches from the first operation to the third operation, when performing a frame exchange.

[0361] In some embodiments, the length of time before the AP MLD switches from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation is equal to or less than a second length of time.

[0362] In some embodiments, the trigger occasion for the AP MLD to switch to the third operation is: The AP MLD obtains a transmission opportunity for the first link, and the transmission opportunity is used to transmit a data frame; The AP MLD receives a data frame that satisfies a first rule on the first link; The AP MLD receives a third frame on the first link, the third frame being used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0363] In some embodiments, the first communication unit 2901 is further configured to, after obtaining a transmission opportunity for the first link, send a fourth frame to the non-access point device on the first link, wherein the fourth frame is used to indicate that the network allocation vector of the first link is a third time length, the third time length being equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length being a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third state.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first communication unit 2901 is further configured to, after obtaining a transmission opportunity for the first link, transmit at least one fifth frame to the non-access point device on the first link, wherein the transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third state.

[0365] In some embodiments, the fifth frame comprises: Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) and Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP), CTS to self frame, QoS-null frames, Contains at least one of the data frames.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first rule is: The setting includes at least one of a set frame format and a set transmission rate.

[0367] In some embodiments, the third frame includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0368] In some embodiments, the third frame includes an A-Control field, the A-Control field including a control identification field and a control information field, and when the value of the control identification field is a fifth value, the control information field includes a first field, and the fifth indication information is the first field with a sixth value.

[0369] In some embodiments, wireless communications device 2900 comprises a fifth control unit 2906, said fifth control unit 2906 configured to switch from said third operation to said first operation.

[0370] In some embodiments, the length of time over which the AP MLD switches from the third operation to the first operation is equal to or less than a fourth length of time.

[0371] In some embodiments, the trigger occasion for the AP MLD to switch to the first operation is: The AP MLD actively completes the transmission of the data frame; When an immediate reply to the data frame received by the AP MLD is not required, the media access control (MAC) layer of the AP MLD does not receive sixth indication information transmitted from the physical layer of the AP MLD within a fifth time length after the AP MLD receives the data frame, the sixth indication information is used to indicate that a first confirmation frame has been received, the first confirmation frame is used to respond to the transmitted data frame, and the fifth time length is the time required to receive the first confirmation frame; When an immediate reply is required for the data frame received by the AP MLD, the MAC layer of the AP MLD does not receive the sixth indication information within the fifth time period after the AP MLD completes transmitting the first confirmation frame; When an immediate reply to the data frame received by the AP MLD is required, the AP MLD does not transmit the first confirmation frame within 1 SIFS.

[0372] In some embodiments, the first communication unit 2901 is further configured to transmit a sixth frame to the non-access point device, the sixth frame including seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode.

[0373] In some embodiments, the seventh indication information is located in a second field of the sixth frame, the second field is located in a basic multilink element, and the second field is a configured field or an enhanced multilink (EML) capability field.

[0374] In some embodiments, the second field further comprises at least one of a second length of time, a fourth length of time, and a first length of time; the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation in the first mode to the third operation in the first mode, the fourth time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation to the first operation, The first time length is a valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to start or end the first mode.

[0375] In some embodiments, if the second field is a configured field and the value of the configured third field in the basic multilink element is a seventh value, then the basic multilink element includes the configured field and the third field is used to indicate whether the basic multilink element includes the configured field.

[0376] In some embodiments, the set field includes a first subfield and at least one subfield from among a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield, wherein the first subfield is used to indicate the seventh indication information, the second subfield is used to indicate a second time length, the third subfield is used to indicate a fourth time length, and the fourth subfield is used to indicate the first time length.

[0377] In some embodiments, if the second field is an EML capabilities field and the value of an EML capabilities present field in the basic multilink element is an eighth value, the basic multilink element includes the EML capabilities field.

[0378] In some embodiments, the second field is an EML capabilities field, the seventh indication information is located in a fourth field of the EML capabilities field, and the fourth field is an enhanced multi-link single radio EML SR support field or a reserved field of the EML capabilities field.

[0379] In some embodiments, the EMLSR Padding Delay field of the EML Capabilities field is used to indicate a second length of time, the second length of time being the length of time required for the AP MLD to switch from a first or second operation of the first mode to a third operation of the first mode.

[0380] In some embodiments, the EMLSR Transition Delay field of the second EML Capability field is used to indicate a fourth length of time, the fourth length of time being the length of time required for the AP MLD to switch from a third operation in the first mode to a first operation in the first mode.

[0381] In some embodiments, the Transition Timeout field of the second EML capability field is used to indicate a first time length, which is the valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and which is used to indicate that the AP MLD is entering or leaving the first mode.

[0382] In some embodiments, the first link is a primary link of the AP MLD link, and the second link is a secondary link of the AP MLD link.

[0383] In some embodiments, the non-access point device is a non-access point multilink device (Non-AP MLD) or a non-AP station device.

[0384] 30 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a wireless communication device applied to a non-access point device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 30, the wireless communication device 3000 includes a second communication unit 3001, The second communication unit 3001 is configured to exchange frames with an access point multilink device on a first link, wherein the link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, the number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

[0385] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD is in the first mode, the available spatial streams in a first link of the AP MLD include available spatial streams that are switched from a second link to the first link, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD.

[0386] In some embodiments, the second communication unit 3001 is further configured to receive a first frame transmitted from the AP MLD, the first frame being used to instruct the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode.

[0387] In some embodiments, the first mode includes an independent operation mode and a group operation mode;

[0388] In an independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the non-access point device, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode; In group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts the first frame.

[0389] In some embodiments, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to start the first mode, the first frame includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to start the first mode.

[0390] In some embodiments, when the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode, the first frame includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode.

[0391] In some embodiments, the first frame further includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is an independent operation mode.

[0392] In some embodiments, the first frame further includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is a group operation mode.

[0393] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a first identifier, the first identifier having a first value being first indication information, and the first indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to start the first mode, and the first identifier having a second value being second indication information, and the second indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to end the first mode.

[0394] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a second identifier, the second identifier having a third value being third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is an independent operation mode, and the second identifier having a fourth value being fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is a group operation mode.

[0395] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0396] In some embodiments, the first frame is a configured frame or an Enhanced Multilink Operational Mode Notification (EML OMN) frame.

[0397] In some embodiments, if the first frame is a configured frame, the action domain of the configured frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD should start the first mode.

[0398] In some embodiments, the action domain of the configured frame includes at least one of a category field, an action field, and an enhanced mode control field, and the first identifier is located in the enhanced mode control field.

[0399] In some embodiments, the enhanced mode control field further includes a second identifier, which is used to indicate an operation mode of the AP MLD.

[0400] In some embodiments, the enhanced mode control field further includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0401] In some embodiments, when the first frame is an EML OMN frame, a reserved field of the EML OMN frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode.

[0402] In some embodiments, the reserved field of the EML OMN frame further includes a second identifier, the second identifier being used to indicate the first mode of operation.

[0403] In some embodiments, the EML OMN frame further comprises a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link.

[0404] In some embodiments, the first mode includes a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation; In the first operation, the first link and the second link of the AP MLD are in a monitoring state, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD; In the second operation, the first link performs a frame exchange employing no more than the second number of spatial streams, and the second link has available spatial streams and is usable for frame exchange; In the third operation, the first link performs frame exchange employing spatial streams greater than the second quantity and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the second link cannot be used for frame exchange.

[0405] In some embodiments, the trigger opportunity for switching to the third operation is: The AP MLD obtains a transmission opportunity for the first link, and the transmission opportunity is used to transmit a data frame; The AP MLD receives a data frame that satisfies a first rule on the first link; The AP MLD receives a third frame on the first link, the third frame being used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0406] In some embodiments, the second communication unit 3001 is further configured to receive a fourth frame transmitted on the first link from the AP MLD, the fourth frame being used to indicate that the network allocation vector of the first link is a third time length, the third time length being equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length being a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third state.

[0407] In some embodiments, the second communication unit 3001 is further configured to receive at least one fifth frame transmitted on the first link from the AP MLD, wherein a transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third state.

[0408] In some embodiments, the fifth frame comprises: Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) and Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP), CTS to self frame, QoS-null frames, Contains at least one of the data frames.

[0409] In some embodiments, the first rule is: The setting includes at least one of a set frame format and a set transmission rate.

[0410] In some embodiments, the third frame includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

[0411] In some embodiments, the third frame includes an A-Control field, the A-Control field including a control identification field and a control information field, and when the value of the control identification field is a fifth value, the control information field includes a first field, and the fifth indication information is the first field with a sixth value.

[0412] In some embodiments, the second communication unit 3001 is further configured to receive a sixth frame transmitted from the AP MLD, the sixth frame including seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode.

[0413] In some embodiments, the seventh indication information is located in a second field of the sixth frame, the second field is located in a basic multilink element, and the second field is a configured field or an enhanced multilink (EML) capability field.

[0414] In some embodiments, the second field further comprises at least one of a second length of time, a fourth length of time, and a first length of time; the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation in the first mode to the third operation in the first mode, the fourth time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation to the first operation, The first time length is a valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to start or end the first mode.

[0415] In some embodiments, if the second field is a configured field and the value of the configured third field in the basic multilink element is a seventh value, then the basic multilink element includes the configured field and the third field is used to indicate whether the basic multilink element includes the configured field.

[0416] In some embodiments, the set field includes a first subfield and at least one subfield from among a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield, wherein the first subfield is used to indicate the seventh indication information, the second subfield is used to indicate a second time length, the third subfield is used to indicate a fourth time length, and the fourth subfield is used to indicate the first time length.

[0417] In some embodiments, if the second field is an EML capabilities field and the value of an EML capabilities present field in the basic multilink element is an eighth value, the basic multilink element includes the EML capabilities field.

[0418] In some embodiments, the second field is an EML capabilities field, the seventh indication information is located in a fourth field of the EML capabilities field, and the fourth field is an enhanced multi-link single radio EML SR support field or a reserved field of the EML capabilities field.

[0419] In some embodiments, the EMLSR Padding Delay field of the EML Capabilities field is used to indicate a second length of time, the second length of time being the length of time required for the AP MLD to switch from a first or second operation of the first mode to a third operation of the first mode.

[0420] In some embodiments, the EMLSR Transition Delay field of the second EML Capability field is used to indicate a fourth length of time, the fourth length of time being the length of time required for the AP MLD to switch from a third operation in the first mode to a first operation in the first mode.

[0421] In some embodiments, the Transition Timeout field of the second EML capability field is used to indicate a first time length, which is the valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and which is used to indicate that the AP MLD is entering or leaving the first mode.

[0422] In some embodiments, the first link is a primary link of the AP MLD link, and the second link is a secondary link of the AP MLD link.

[0423] In some embodiments, the non-access point device is a non-access point multilink device (Non-AP MLD) or a non-AP station device.

[0424] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above description related to the wireless communication device in the embodiments of the present application can be understood with reference to the above description related to the wireless communication method in the embodiments of the present application.

[0425] 31 is an exemplary structural diagram of a communication device 3100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be an AP MLD or a non-access point device. The communication device 3100 shown in FIG. 31 includes a processor 3110, which can implement the method in the embodiment of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0426] Optionally, as shown in Figure 31, the communication device 3100 further includes a memory 3120. Here, the processor 3110 can call and execute a computer program from the memory 3120 to realize the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0427] Here, the memory 3120 may be a separate device independent of the processor 3110 or may be integrated into the processor 3110.

[0428] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 31 , the communication device 3100 may include a transceiver 3130, and the processor 3110 may control the transceiver 3130 to communicate with other devices, specifically to transmit information or data to other devices or receive information or data transmitted by other devices.

[0429] Here, the transceiver 3130 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 3130 may further include one or more antennas.

[0430] Optionally, the communication device 3100 may specifically be an AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 3100 may perform corresponding processes realized by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described repeatedly here for the sake of brevity.

[0431] Optionally, the communication device 3100 may specifically be a non-access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 3100 may perform corresponding processes realized by the non-access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0432] 32 is an exemplary structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application. The chip 3200 shown in FIG. 32 includes a processor 3210, which can implement the method according to the embodiment of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0433] Optionally, as shown in Figure 32, the chip 3200 may further include a memory 3220. Here, the processor 3210 can implement the method in the embodiment of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from the memory 3220.

[0434] Here, the memory 3220 may be a separate device independent of the processor 3210 or may be integrated into the processor 3210.

[0435] Optionally, the chip 3200 may further include an input interface 3230. Here, the processor 3210 can control the input interface 3230 to communicate with other devices or chips, and in particular can obtain information or data transmitted by other devices or chips.

[0436] Optionally, the chip 3200 may further include an output interface 3240. Here, the processor 3210 can control the output interface 3240 to communicate with other devices or chips, and in particular can output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0437] Optionally, the chip may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip can perform the corresponding processes realized by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0438] Optionally, the chip may be applied to a non-access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip can perform corresponding processes realized by the non-access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0439] It should be understood that the chips referred to in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as system level chips, system chips, chip systems, or system-on-chips.

[0440] 33 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 3300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 33, the communication system 3300 includes an AP MLD 3310 and a non-access point device 3320.

[0441] Here, the AP MLD 3310 may be configured to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the AP MLD in the above-mentioned method, may be configured to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the non-access point device 3320, or may be configured to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the non-access point device, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0442] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments may be completed by an integrated logic circuit in the form of hardware in the processor or by instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc. Each method, step, and logic block disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be realized or executed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be directly executed by a hardware decoding processor or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a conventional storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method embodiments in combination with the hardware.

[0443] It is understood that the memory of the present embodiments may be volatile or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Here, non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of illustrative, but non-limiting example, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that memory in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0444] It should be understood that the above-mentioned memories are exemplary and not limiting. For example, the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM). Thus, the memory in the embodiments of the present application is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0445] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon.

[0446] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to an AP in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program can cause a computer to execute corresponding processes implemented by the AP in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described repeatedly here for the sake of brevity.

[0447] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to a non-access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program causes a computer to execute corresponding processes implemented by the non-access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described repeatedly here for the sake of brevity.

[0448] Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product including computer program instructions.

[0449] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions can cause a computer to perform corresponding processes implemented by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described repeatedly here for the sake of brevity.

[0450] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to a non-access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions can cause a computer to perform corresponding processes implemented by the non-access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0451] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program.

[0452] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, it can cause the computer to perform corresponding processes realized by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described again here for the sake of brevity.

[0453] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to a non-access point device in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer can perform corresponding processes implemented by the non-access point device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be described again here for the sake of brevity.

[0454] Those skilled in the art can understand that each exemplary unit and algorithm step described with reference to the embodiments disclosed herein may be realized by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals may use different methods for each specific application to realize the described functions, but such realization should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0455] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for convenience and brevity of description, the specific operating processes of the above systems, devices and units can refer to the corresponding processes in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0456] In some embodiments provided herein, the disclosed methods and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative, and the separation of the units is merely a separation of logical functions. In actual implementation, there may be other separation methods, such as integrating or integrating multiple units or components into another system, or ignoring or not implementing some features. It should be noted that the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be implemented using some interfaces, and indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0457] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units, and some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the technical solutions in this embodiment.

[0458] Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0459] When the functions are realized in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the essential parts of the technical solutions of the present application, i.e., the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions of the relevant art, can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0460] The above content is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any modifications or replacements that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising:

1. A wireless communication method, comprising: an access point multilink device (AP MLD) exchanging frames with a non-access point device over a first link; a link mode of the AP MLD comprising a first mode; when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission in the first link comprises a first quantity; when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission in the first link comprises a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

2. When the AP MLD is in the first mode, the available spatial streams in a first link of the AP MLD include available spatial streams switched from a second link to the first link, and the second link is a link other than the first link in the links of the AP MLD. The wireless communication method according to claim 1 .

3. The wireless communication method includes: The method further includes the step of the AP MLD transmitting a first frame, wherein the first frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts or ends the first mode.

3. The wireless communication method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the first mode includes an independent operation mode and a group operation mode; In an independent operation mode, the AP MLD transmits a first frame to the non-access point device, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to enter or exit the first mode; In a group operation mode, the AP MLD broadcasts the first frame; The wireless communication method according to claim 3 .

5. When the operation mode of the first mode is the group operation mode, the wireless communication method includes: The AP MLD further includes a step of entering or exiting the first mode after transmitting the first frame. The wireless communication method according to claim 4.

6. When the operation mode of the first mode is the independent operation mode, the wireless communication method includes: The AP MLD may further include a step of entering or exiting the first mode at a second time immediately after the first time or after completing reception of a second frame, wherein an interval between the second time and the first time has a first time length, the first time is a time when transmission of the first frame is completed, and the second frame is used to respond to the first frame. The wireless communication method according to claim 4.

7. When the first frame indicates that the AP MLD starts the first mode, the first frame includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

8. When the first frame indicates that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode, the first frame includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD is to terminate the first mode. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

9. The first frame further includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is an independent operation mode.

9. The wireless communication method according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The first frame further includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the operation mode of the AP MLD is a group operation mode.

9. The wireless communication method according to claim 7 or 8.

11. The first frame includes a first identifier, the first identifier having a first value being first indication information, the first indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to start the first mode, the first identifier having a second value being second indication information, the second indication information being used to instruct the AP MLD to end the first mode. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 10.

12. the first frame includes a second identifier, the second identifier having a third value being third indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is an independent operation mode, and the second identifier having a fourth value being fourth indication information, the fourth indication information being used to indicate that the operation mode of the first mode is a group operation mode. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 11.

13. the first frame includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link; The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 12.

14. the first frame is a configured frame or an Enhanced Multilink Operational Mode Notification (EML OMN) frame; The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 13.

15. If the first frame is a configured frame, an action domain of the configured frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode. The wireless communication method according to claim 14.

16. The action domain of the configured frame includes at least one of a category field, an action field, and an enhanced mode control field, and the first identifier is located in the enhanced mode control field.

16. The wireless communication method according to claim 15.

17. The enhanced mode control field further includes a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate an operation mode of the AP MLD.

17. The wireless communication method of claim 16.

18. the enhanced mode control field further includes a third identifier, the third identifier being used to indicate the first link; 18. A wireless communication method according to claim 16 or 17.

19. When the first frame is an EML OMN frame, a reserved field of the EML OMN frame includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts the first mode. The wireless communication method according to claim 14.

20. The reserved field of the EML OMN frame further includes a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate an operation mode of the first mode.

20. The wireless communication method of claim 19.

21. The EML OMN frame further includes a third identifier, and the third identifier is used to indicate the first link.

21. A wireless communication method according to claim 19 or 20.

22. the first mode includes a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation; In the first operation, the first link and the second link of the AP MLD are in a monitoring state, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD; In the second operation, the first link performs a frame exchange employing no more than the second number of spatial streams, and the second link has available spatial streams and is usable for frame exchange; In the third operation, the first link performs frame exchange using spatial streams greater than the second quantity and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the second link cannot be used for frame exchange. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. The wireless communication method includes: The AP MLD further includes entering the first operation after starting the first mode.

23. The wireless communication method of claim 22.

24. The wireless communication method includes: The AP MLD further includes switching from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

24. A wireless communication method according to claim 22 or 23.

25. If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is less than or equal to the second quantity, the AP MLD switches from the first operation to the second operation when performing a frame exchange.

25. A wireless communication method according to claim 23 or 24.

26. If the number of available spatial streams supported by the non-access point device is greater than the second quantity, the AP MLD enters the second operation from the first operation, switches from the second operation to the third operation, or switches from the first operation to the third operation when performing a frame exchange.

25. The wireless communication method of claim 24.

27. A time length until the AP MLD switches from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation is equal to or shorter than a second time length. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 24 to 26.

28. The trigger opportunity for the AP MLD to switch to the third operation is: The AP MLD obtains a transmission opportunity for the first link, and the transmission opportunity is used to transmit a data frame; the AP MLD receiving a data frame that satisfies a first rule on the first link; the AP MLD receiving a third frame on the first link, the third frame being used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame; 26. A wireless communication method according to claim 24 or 25.

29. After the AP MLD obtains the transmission opportunity for the first link, the wireless communication method includes: The method further includes a step in which the AP MLD transmits a fourth frame to the non-access point device on the first link, the fourth frame being used to indicate that a network allocation vector of the first link is a third length of time, the third length of time being equal to or greater than a second length of time, and the second length of time being a length of time required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

29. The wireless communication method of claim 28.

30. After the AP MLD obtains the transmission opportunity for the first link, the wireless communication method includes: The method further includes transmitting at least one fifth frame to the non-access point device on the first link by the AP MLD, wherein a transmission time length of the at least one fifth frame is equal to or greater than a second time length, and the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation to the third operation.

29. The wireless communication method of claim 28.

31. The fifth frame is Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) and Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP); CTS to self frame, QoS-null frame, at least one of the data frames, 31. The wireless communication method of claim 30.

32. The first rule is including at least one of a set frame format and a set transmission rate; 29. The wireless communication method of claim 28.

33. The third frame includes fifth instruction information, and the fifth instruction information is used to request the AP MLD to transmit a data frame.

29. The wireless communication method of claim 28.

34. The third frame includes an A-Control field, the A-Control field includes a control identification field and a control information field, and when the value of the control identification field is a fifth value, the control information field includes a first field, and the fifth indication information is the first field whose value is a sixth value.

34. The wireless communication method of claim 33.

35. The wireless communication method includes: the AP MLD further includes switching from the third operation to the first operation. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 24 to 34.

36. The time length during which the AP MLD switches from the third operation to the first operation is equal to or shorter than a fourth time length.

36. The wireless communication method of claim 35.

37. The trigger occasion for the AP MLD to switch to the first operation is: The AP MLD actively completes the transmission of the data frame; When an immediate reply to the data frame received by the AP MLD is not required, a media access control (MAC) layer of the AP MLD does not receive sixth indication information transmitted from a physical layer of the AP MLD within a fifth time length after the AP MLD receives the data frame, the sixth indication information being used to indicate that a first confirmation frame has been received, the first confirmation frame being used to respond to the transmitted data frame, and the fifth time length being the time required to receive the first confirmation frame; When an immediate reply is required for the data frame received by the AP MLD, the MAC layer of the AP MLD does not receive the sixth indication information within the fifth time period after the AP MLD completes transmission of the first confirmation frame; If an immediate reply is required for the data frame received by the AP MLD, the AP MLD does not transmit the first confirmation frame within one short inter-frame space (SIFS); 37. A wireless communication method according to claim 35 or 36.

38. The wireless communication method includes: The method further includes the step of transmitting a sixth frame to the non-access point device by the AP MLD, wherein the sixth frame includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 37.

39. the seventh indication information is located in a second field of the sixth frame, the second field is located in a basic multilink element, and the second field is a configured field or an enhanced multilink (EML) capability field; 39. The wireless communication method of claim 38.

40. the second field further includes at least one of a second length of time, a fourth length of time, and a first length of time; the second time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation in the first mode to the third operation in the first mode; the fourth time length is a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the third operation to the first operation, The first time length is a valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to instruct the AP MLD to start or end the first mode.

40. The wireless communication method of claim 39.

41. If the second field is a set field and the value of the set third field in the basic multilink element is a seventh value, the basic multilink element includes the set field, and the third field is used to indicate whether the basic multilink element includes the set field.

41. A wireless communication method according to claim 39 or 40.

42. the set field includes a first sub-field and at least one sub-field from a second sub-field, a third sub-field, and a fourth sub-field; the first sub-field is used to indicate the seventh indication information, the second sub-field is used to indicate a second time length, the third sub-field is used to indicate a fourth time length, and the fourth sub-field is used to indicate a first time length; 42. The wireless communication method of claim 41.

43. If the second field is an EML capability field and the value of the EML capability presence field in the basic multilink element is the eighth value, the basic multilink element includes the EML capability field; 41. A wireless communication method according to claim 39 or 40.

44. the second field is an EML capability field, the seventh indication information is located in a fourth field of the EML capability field, and the fourth field is an Enhanced Multi-Link Single Radio EML SR Support field or a reserved field of the EML capability field; 44. A wireless communication method according to claim 39, 40 or 43.

45. An EMLSR Padding Delay field of the EML Capability field is used to indicate a second time length, the second time length being a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from the first operation or the second operation of the first mode to the third operation of the first mode.

45. A wireless communication method according to claim 39, 40, 43 or 44.

46. an EMLSR Transition Delay field in the second EML Capability field is used to indicate a fourth time length, the fourth time length being a time length required for the AP MLD to switch from a third operation in the first mode to a first operation in the first mode; A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 39, 40, and 43 to 45.

47. A Transition Timeout field of the second EML capability field is used to indicate a first time length, the first time length being a valid time length of a first frame transmitted by the AP MLD, and the first frame is used to indicate that the AP MLD starts or ends the first mode. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 39, 40, and 43 to 46.

48. The first link is a primary link of the AP MLD link, and the second link is a secondary link of the AP MLD link; A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 47.

49. The non-access point device is a non-access point multilink device (Non-AP MLD) or a non-AP station device; A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 48.

50. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: The method includes a step of a non-access point device exchanging frames with an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) over a first link, wherein a link mode of the AP MLD includes a first mode, and when the AP MLD is in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a first quantity, and when the AP MLD is not in the first mode, a number of spatial streams available for reception or transmission on the first link includes a second quantity, and the first quantity is greater than the second quantity.

51. The wireless communication method includes: The method further includes receiving a first frame transmitted by the non-access point device from the AP MLD, the first frame being used to instruct the AP MLD to start or end the first mode.

51. The wireless communication method of claim 50.

52. the first frame is a configured frame or an Enhanced Multilink Operational Mode Notification (EML OMN) frame; 52. The wireless communication method of claim 51.

53. the first mode includes a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation; In the first operation, the first link and the second link are in a monitoring state, and the second link is a link other than the first link among the links of the AP MLD; In the second operation, the first link performs a frame exchange employing no more than the second number of spatial streams, and the second link has available spatial streams and is usable for frame exchange; In the third operation, the first link performs frame exchange using spatial streams greater than the second quantity and less than or equal to the first quantity, and the second link cannot be used for frame exchange. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 50 to 52.

54. The wireless communication method includes: The method further includes receiving a sixth frame transmitted from the AP MLD by the non-access point device, the sixth frame including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to indicate that the AP MLD supports the first mode. A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 50 to 53.

55. The first link is a primary link of the AP MLD link, and the second link is a secondary link of the AP MLD link; A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 50 to 54.

56. The non-access point device is a non-access point multilink device (Non-AP MLD) or a non-AP station device; A wireless communication method according to any one of claims 50 to 55.

57. An access point multi-link device (AP MLD) comprising: a processor; and a memory; The memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls and executes the computer program stored in the memory, thereby causing the AP MLD to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 49.

58. A non-access point device comprising: a processor; and a memory; A non-access point device, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor calls and executes the computer program stored in the memory, thereby causing the non-access point device to perform the method described in any one of claims 50 to 56.

59. A chip, A chip comprising a processor that calls up and executes a computer program from a memory, thereby causing a device equipped with the chip to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 49.

60. A chip, A chip comprising a processor that calls up and executes a computer program from a memory, thereby causing a device equipped with the chip to perform the method according to any one of claims 50 to 56.

61. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 49.

62. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 50 to 56.

63. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions for causing a computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 49.

64. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions for causing a computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 50 to 56.

65. A computer program causing a computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 49.

66. A computer program causing a computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 50 to 56.

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