Communication method and device based on triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method and a communication device based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. The application is applicable to wireless local area network systems supporting 802.11 series protocols such as next-generation Wi-Fi protocols of IEEE 802.11ax, e.g., 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, and next-generation protocols of 802.11be, e.g., Wi-Fi 8 or Wi-Fi AI, and may further be applicable to UWB-based wireless personal area network systems and sensing systems. The method includes receiving a first frame from an access point; and ignoring a NAV set by the access point for a first period after responding to the first frame with a second frame until one of the following conditions occurs: a transmission failure occurs at the station; the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after transmitting a third frame; or the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. This reduces interference.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210946098.4, entitled "TRIGGERED TRANSMISSION OPPORTUNITY SHARING MECHANISM-BASED COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on August 8, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Technical Field The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and a communication device based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. [Background technology]

[0003] Wi-Fi systems (i.e., systems supporting the IEEE 802.11 standard) are deployed on unlicensed spectrum, and multiple stations use channel resources through contention. For example, in a common enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) contention mechanism, a station transmits its first frame after completing channel backoff. If the first frame includes a response frame, it indicates successful channel contention after the station successfully receives the response frame. Otherwise, the station must perform backoff again. If the first frame does not require a response frame, it indicates successful channel contention after the station transmits the first frame. After successful channel contention, a station may reserve a time period for data transmission, which is called a transmission opportunity (TXOP). A station that successfully reserves a TXOP is called a TXOP holder. Within a TXOP, only the TXOP holder can actively transmit data; other stations can only receive data or transmit corresponding response frames.

[0004] The IEEE 802.11be standard extends the TXOP mechanism. Specifically, an AP acting as a TXOP holder may allocate a portion of the time resources in a reserved TXOP to a station (non-AP STA) via an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. This mechanism is now called triggered TXOP sharing. The triggered TXOP sharing mechanism specifically has two allocation modes. In the first allocation mode (Mode 1), a station may transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. In the second allocation mode (Mode 2), a station may perform peer-to-peer (P2P) transmission with another station or transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. This mechanism can be used to reduce collisions caused by channel contention between stations and improve system efficiency. Currently, existing communication solutions based on the triggered TXOP sharing mechanism have a problem in that stations may interfere with the AP's transmission. Therefore, there is a need to research a communication solution based on the triggered TXOP sharing mechanism that can avoid interfering with the AP's transmission. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The embodiments of the present application disclose a communication method and a communication device based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism to avoid interference with the transmission of an AP. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. The method is applied to a station, and includes the steps of receiving a first frame from an access point (AP), where the first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; and, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, ignoring a network allocation vector (NAV) set by the access point for the first time period until one of the following conditions occurs: a value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; a value of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) in a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) after a third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or a value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. Optionally, the first frame is an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (or referred to as an MU-RTS TXS frame). Optionally, the second frame is a clear to send (CTS) frame. The NAV set by the access point may include the station's intra basic service set (BSS) NAV and / or basic NAV. Specifically, when the station is associated with the access point, the NAV is the intra basic service set NAV. Otherwise, the NAV is the basic NAV. The NAV set by the access point may be understood as the NAV set by the access point for the station.The PCF is a point coordination function.

[0007] Alternatively, the method in the first aspect may be replaced by the steps of: receiving a first frame from the access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; and determining, based on the first frame, that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 after ignoring a NAV set by the access point for the first time period and after a first condition occurs during the first time period, where the first condition includes any one of the following: a value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure has occurred at the station; a value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or a value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in a PIFS since receiving an immediate response from the access point. In this embodiment of the present application, the absence of a PPDU transmission may be considered as the absence of a PPDU transmission being initiated. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 may be replaced with determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when both the NAV (intra-BSS NAV) value and the basic NAV value are equal to 0.

[0008] Alternatively, the method in the first aspect may be replaced by a method in which, after a station (STA) transmits a CTS in an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame) from the AP, the STA must ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA for a period assigned via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response is transmitted; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA. The corresponding English translation may be: After sending a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the associated AP; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; or if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0009] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period of time until one of the above conditions occurs, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0010] In a possible implementation, a value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame equal to 1 indicates that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP (i.e., access point) during the allocated time. The associated AP is the access point associated with the station, i.e., the access point that transmits the first frame to the station. In the above description, the statement "the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame equal to 1" may be equivalently replaced with "the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame indicates that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time."

[0011] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, which is applied to a station, and includes: receiving a first frame from an access point, where the first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; and, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, ignoring a NAV set by the access point until one of the following conditions occurs: the first time period ends; the value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the station; the value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after transmitting a third frame, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of a TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0012] Alternatively, the method in the second aspect may be replaced with the steps of: receiving a first frame from the access point, where the first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; and after determining to ignore the NAV set by the access point based on the first frame, and after a first condition occurs, determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0, or determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value is not equal to 0, where the first condition includes any one of: the first time period has ended; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the station; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in a PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in a PIFS since receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0013] Alternatively, the method in the second aspect may be replaced by the STA ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the STA after the station has transmitted a CTS in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signal in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame has ended; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after transmitting a frame that does not require an immediate response; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA. The corresponding English translation may be: After sending a CTS requested by an MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame expires; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the associated AP; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0014] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored until one of the above conditions occurs, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame equal to 1 indicates that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time. The statement "the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame equal to 1" in the above description may be equivalently replaced with "the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time."

[0016] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, the method being applied to a station, the method including: receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; and, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, ignoring a NAV set by the access point during the first time period and skipping initiating channel contention during the first time period.

[0017] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period of time, and channel contention is not initiated for the first period of time, thereby reducing or avoiding interference with the AP's transmission.

[0018] In a possible implementation, a first field in the first frame indicates that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1. In the above description, the statement "The first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1" may be equivalently replaced with "The TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time."

[0020] In this implementation, the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield, and the value of the first field is 1, so whether to skip the start of channel contention during the first period is determined based on the first field.

[0021] The method in the third aspect may be replaced by the following: after a station transmits a CTS frame in an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP, the station shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the station during the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, and the station shall not initiate channel contention during the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: after transmitting a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from an associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. The STA shall not initiate channel contention during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device has a function of implementing the behavior of the embodiment of the method in the first aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of the communication device (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functionality of the communication device. The functionality of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software may include one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-mentioned functionality. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point (AP), the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station. The transceiver module is further configured to respond to the first frame with a second frame. The processing module is configured to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a first period of time after the first frame is responded to with the second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after transmitting a third frame, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0023] For possible implementations of the communication device in the fourth aspect, please refer to the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0024] For technical effects achieved by possible implementations of the fourth aspect, please refer to the description of the technical effects of the first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0025] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device. The communication device has a function of implementing the behavior of the embodiment of the method in the second aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of the communication device (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functionality of the communication device. The functionality of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software may include one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first period to the station. The transceiver module is further configured to respond to the first frame with a second frame. The processing module is configured to ignore the NAV set by the access point until one of the following conditions occurs after the first frame is responded to with the second frame: the first period ends; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after transmitting a third frame, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0026] For possible implementations of the communication device in the fifth aspect, please refer to the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0027] For technical effects achieved by possible implementations of the fifth aspect, please refer to the description of the technical effects of the second aspect or possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0028] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device. The communication device has a function of implementing the behavior of the embodiment of the method in the third aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of the communication device (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functionality of the communication device. The functionality of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software may include one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-mentioned functionality. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station. The processing module is configured to determine not to initiate channel contention during the first time period when a first field in the first frame indicates that the station is not permitted to perform peer-to-peer transmission during the allocated time.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield for a station, and the value of the first field is equal to 1.

[0030] For possible implementations of the communication device in the sixth aspect, please refer to the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0031] For technical effects achieved by possible implementations of the sixth aspect, please refer to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0032] According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device. The communication device includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory. The memory is configured to store a program or instructions. When the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device is enabled to perform a method according to the first aspect or any one of possible implementations of the first aspect, or the communication device is enabled to perform a method according to the second aspect or any one of possible implementations of the second aspect, or the communication device is enabled to perform a method according to the third aspect or any one of possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0033] In this embodiment of the present application, in the process of performing the method, the process of transmitting information (or a signal) in the method may be understood as a process of outputting information based on an instruction from a processor. When the information is output, the processor outputs the information to the transceiver, which then transmits the information. After the information is output by the processor, other processing may need to be performed on the information before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver receives the information and inputs the information to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the information, other processing may need to be performed on the information before it is input to the processor.

[0034] Operations such as sending and / or receiving related to a processor may generally be understood as output based on instructions of the processor, unless otherwise specified or provided that the operations do not contradict the actual function or internal logic of the operations in the related description.

[0035] In the implementation process, the processor may be a processor specially configured to perform these methods, or may be a processor, such as a general-purpose processor, that executes computer instructions in a memory to perform these methods. For example, the processor may be further configured to execute a program stored in the memory. When the program is executed, the communication device is enabled to perform a method according to the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the memory is located external to the communication device. In a possible implementation, the memory is located within the communication device.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the processor and memory may alternatively be integrated into one device, ie, the processor and memory may alternatively be integrated together.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to receive signals, transmit signals, etc.

[0039] According to an eighth aspect, the present application provides another communication device. The communication device comprises a processing circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to acquire data or output data. The processing circuit is configured to perform a method according to the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method according to the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method according to the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0040] According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed, the computer is enabled to perform a method according to the first aspect or any one of possible implementations of the first aspect, or to perform a method according to the second aspect or any one of possible implementations of the second aspect, or to perform a method according to the third aspect or any one of possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0041] According to a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions that, when executed, enable a computer to perform a method according to the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method according to the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or to perform a method according to the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0042] According to an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system including a station and an access point according to the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect. Alternatively, the communication system includes a station and an access point according to the fifth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fifth aspect. Alternatively, the communication system includes a station and an access point according to the sixth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the sixth aspect.

[0043] According to a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip including a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor reads instructions stored in a memory via the communication interface and performs a method according to the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or a method according to the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or a method according to the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] In order to describe the technical solutions in the embodiments or background of the present application more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings for describing the embodiments or background of the present application. [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a WLAN communication system as an example of a wireless communication system to which the technical means of the present application can be applied. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a process in which an AP allocates a portion of the time resources in a reserved TXOP to STA1 via an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. [Figure 3] 1 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 4] 4 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 5] 4 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6] 4 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] 4 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8] 4 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram of the structure of another communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram of the structure of another communication device 110 according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] Terms such as "first," "second," etc. in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used merely to distinguish different objects and are not used to describe a particular order. In addition, terms such as "comprise" and "have," as well as any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the recited steps or units, and may optionally further include other unrecited steps or units, or may optionally further include other inherent steps or units of the process, method, product, or device.

[0046] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Phrases appearing in various places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they an embodiment that is exclusive, independent, or an alternative to another embodiment. It can be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that an embodiment described herein may be combined with another embodiment.

[0047] The terms used in the following embodiments of the present application are intended to describe particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular terms "one," "a," "the," "the foregoing," "this," and "the one" are also intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and / or" as used in this specification should also be understood to mean and include any or all possible combinations of one or more listed items. For example, "A and / or B" may represent three cases: only A is present, only B is present, or both A and B are present, and A and B may be singular or plural. In this specification, "plurality" means two or more.

[0048] In the embodiments of the present application, it may be understood that "B corresponding to A" indicates that there is a correspondence between A and B, and B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining (or generating) B based on (or based on) A does not mean that B is determined (or generated) based on (or based on) A only, and B may alternatively be determined (or generated) based on (or based on) A and / or other information.

[0049] The following first describes the terms and technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application.

[0050] 1. Access points and stations The embodiments of the present application are mainly described using examples in which a WLAN network, particularly a network to which the IEEE 802.11 system standard is applied, is deployed. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various aspects of the present application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth, high performance radio (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard and primarily used in Europe), and wide area networks (WANs, personal area networks, PANs), or other networks now known or developed in the future. Therefore, various aspects provided in the present application are applicable to any suitable wireless network, regardless of the coverage area and wireless access protocol used.

[0051] Embodiments of the present application are further applicable to wireless local area network systems, such as Internet of Things (IoT) or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) networks. Of course, embodiments of the present application are also applicable to other possible communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth generation (5G) communication systems, and future sixth generation (6G) communication systems.

[0052] The above-mentioned communication systems to which the present application is applicable are merely examples for the purpose of explanation, and the communication systems to which the present application is applicable are not limited thereto, which will be uniformly described here and will not be described in detail again below.

[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN communication system as an example of a wireless communication system applicable to the technical solution of the present application. The communication system includes an AP (only AP1 is illustrated) and one or more STAs (only STA1, STA2, and STA3 are illustrated). Both the access point and the STAs support the WLAN protocol. The WLAN protocol may include IEEE 802.11be (also called Wi-Fi 7 or EHT protocol) and may further include protocols such as IEEE 802.11ax and IEEE 802.11ac. Of course, with the continuous evolution and development of communication technologies, the WLAN protocol may further include next-generation protocols such as IEEE 802.11be. WLAN is used as an example. An apparatus for implementing the method in the present application may be an access point or STA in the WLAN, or a chip or processing system mounted on the access point or STA. As shown in FIG. 1, STA1 and STA2 in a basic service set may perform channel contention to preempt channel resources.

[0054] An access point is a device having wireless communication capabilities, supports communication according to a WLAN protocol, and has the capability of communicating with other devices (e.g., stations or other access points) in a WLAN network. Of course, an access point may also have the capability of communicating with other devices. A WLAN system includes one or more AP stations and one or more non-access point stations (non-AP STAs). For convenience of explanation, in this specification, an access point station will be referred to as an access point (AP), and a non-access point station will be referred to as a station (STA).

[0055] An access point may be an entire device, or may be a chip or processing system mounted on the entire device. A device mounted with a chip or processing system may implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system (i.e., AP). An AP in the embodiments of the present application is a device that provides services to stations (STAs) and may support 802.11 series protocols, such as 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, or their next-generation protocols. For example, an AP may be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, or a bridge. The AP may include a macro base station, a micro base station (also called a small cell), a pico base station, a femto base station, a relay station, an access point, a gNB, a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB or Home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a Wi-Fi access point (AP), an integrated access and backhaul (IAB), etc. Of course, the AP may alternatively be a chip and processing system in various forms of devices to implement the methods and functions in the embodiments of the present application.

[0056] A station is a device having wireless communication capabilities, supports communication according to a WLAN protocol, and has the ability to communicate with other stations or access points in a WLAN network. For example, a STA is any communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and further communicate with a WLAN. A communication device may be an entire device, or may be a chip or processing system mounted on the entire device. A device in which a chip or processing system is installed may implement the methods and functions in the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system (i.e., a station). The STA may include a mobile phone, a mobile station (MS), a tablet computer (PAD), a computer with wireless transmission and reception capabilities (e.g., a notebook computer), a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a subscriber unit, a cellular phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, etc. The station may include various handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, or computing devices with wireless communication capabilities, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem.Optionally, the station may be a handheld device (handset), an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal in an Internet of Things or vehicle-to-everything network, or any form of terminal having wireless communication capabilities in a 5G or post-5G evolved communication system, etc. This is not a limitation in this application. The station may support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11 series protocols, e.g., 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, or their next-generation standards.

[0057] 2. Triggered TXOP sharing mechanism The IEEE 802.11be standard extends the TXOP mechanism. Specifically, an AP acting as a TXOP holder may allocate a portion of the time resources in the reserved TXOP (the first period in FIG. 1 below) to a station (hereinafter referred to as the first station) via an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. This mechanism is currently called Triggered TXOP Sharing. The first station is any station associated with the AP acting as the TXOP holder. The Triggered Transmission Opportunity Sharing mechanism specifically has two allocation modes. In the first allocation mode (Mode 1), the first station may transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. In the second allocation mode (Mode 2), the first station may either perform P2P transmission with the second station or transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. The TXOP Sharing Mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame indicates the allocation mode. For example, if the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1, the first station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time, or if the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 2, the first station is allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP and P2P transmissions with the second station during the allocated time. It should be understood that when the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1, the TXOP sharing mode corresponds to the first allocation mode (mode 1), or when the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 2, the TXOP sharing mode corresponds to the second allocation mode (mode 2). In this specification, a P2P link used for P2P transmissions is established by two non-AP stations via a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) or according to another P2P protocol.In other technical descriptions, P2P may be referred to as device-to-device (D2D), TDLS, etc. P2P, D2D, TDLS, etc. are essentially the same. This is not a limitation in this patent.

[0058] Figure 2 shows the process by which the AP allocates a portion of the time resources within the reserved TXOP (i.e., the first period in Figure 1) to STA1 via an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. As shown in Figure 2, a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS-to-self) frame sent by the AP is used to reserve a TXOP. The AP then sends an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to STA1, where the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame allocates a portion of the time resources within the reserved TXOP (i.e., the first period in Figure 1). After receiving the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, STA1 responds with a CTS to the AP. After responding with a CTS to the AP, STA1 transmits a non-TB PPDU. The AP then sends a block acknowledgement (Block ACK, BA) for the non-TB PPDU from STA1. According to the existing NAV rules, when a NAV is set for a STA, the STA can only respond to frames transmitted to it by the TXOP holder, e.g., send an ACK or BA response to data transmitted to the STA by the AP, or transmit a TB PPDU on a resource unit (RU) allocated by the AP via a basic trigger frame. If the STA's NAV value is not 0, the STA is not allowed to actively transmit, for example, a single-user (SU) PPDU. To solve this problem, one method is to allow the STA to ignore the NAV set for the STA by the AP during the first period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS frame. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: After transmitting a solicited CTS via the MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA that transmits a responsive CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0059] 3. Channel Access A WLAN system operates in an unlicensed band, and its radio channels are shared. Channel access is required before a station can transmit. Before a station needs to transmit a radio frame, it must sense whether another station is transmitting. If the channel sense result indicates a busy state, the transmission is temporarily suspended until the channel becomes idle. After the channel becomes idle, the station must first perform a random backoff before transmitting data to address collisions between multiple potential transmitting stations (i.e., stations transmitting data). When the channel is idle, the station can transmit a radio frame after the random backoff procedure is completed. To further reduce throughput loss caused by collisions, a short control frame, such as a request to send (RTS) / CTS, may be exchanged with the target station before transmitting data to the target station. After a collision occurs in a short frame exchange, the transmitting station can know that a collision has occurred as soon as possible and can then access the channel again after performing another random backoff. This avoids the direct transmission of a long data frame from interfering with the transmission of the entire data frame when a collision occurs.

[0060] 4.NAV settings In a WLAN system, a station needs to perform sensing before performing channel access. Sensing is classified into physical carrier sensing and virtual carrier sensing. Physical carrier sensing is to sense the energy on the channel and the strength of the WLAN radio frame signal. When the received energy or received strength of the WLAN radio frame is less than a threshold, the physical carrier sensing is idle; otherwise, the physical carrier sensing is busy. Virtual carrier sensing is implemented by setting a NAV, and the virtual carrier sensing maintains a single NAV. When the NAV value is not 0, the virtual carrier sensing is busy, or when the NAV value is 0, the virtual carrier sensing is idle. Generally, a station is allowed to access the channel and transmit a radio frame only when both the physical carrier sensing and the virtual carrier sensing are idle.

[0061] In early WLAN systems, a station only has one NAV. After correctly receiving a radio frame, the station may update its NAV based on information about the duration field in the radio frame. If the recipient address of the received frame is the Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the received frame, the station does not update its NAV. For another radio frame, if the value of the duration field in the radio frame is greater than the station's current NAV value, the NAV is updated based on the value of the duration field. The NAV mechanism can effectively solve the collision problem caused by hidden nodes. A hidden node is a station that is not within the signal coverage of the transmitting station but whose transmission may interfere with the receiving station (i.e., the station receiving data). In the process of transmitting a radio frame by the transmitting station, the hidden node cannot sense the transmitting station's transmission and therefore also transmits a radio frame at the same time. As a result, the receiving station cannot correctly receive the radio frame due to the interference. By using virtual carrier sense, after successfully contending for the channel, the transmitting station first exchanges short frames with the receiving station, and then NAVs are set for non-target stations around the transmitting station and the receiving station based on the duration fields of the two exchanged short frames. Therefore, it is guaranteed that hidden nodes will no longer contend for the channel or transmit wireless frames within the time protected by NAV. This period protected by NAV is usually called TXOP.

[0062] The IEEE 802.11ax standard introduces two NAVs for more detailed management: one called intra-BSS NAV and the other called basic NAV. The intra-BSS NAV is updated based on intra-BSS PPDUs, while the basic NAV is updated based on inter-BSS PPDUs or PPDUs that cannot be distinguished as intra-BSS PPDUs or inter-BSS PPDUs. An inter-BSS PPDU is simply a PPDU sent from a station outside the current BSS, while an intra-BSS PPDU is simply a PPDU sent from a station within the current BSS. For specific methods of distinguishing between inter-BSS PPDUs and intra-BSS PPDUs, refer to the IEEE 802.11ax standard and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] A station that is not the TXOP holder updates its intra-BSS NAV only when the received frame (i.e., the radio frame received by the station) meets all of the following conditions:

[0064] The received frame is an intra-BSS PPDU.

[0065] The value of the Duration field in the received frame is greater than the station's current Intra-BSS NAV value.

[0066] The recipient address of the received frame is not the MAC address of the station, or the received frame does not trigger the station to make an immediate response, or the received frame is a trigger frame.

[0067] A station updates its basic NAV only when the received frame meets all of the following conditions:

[0068] Inability to distinguish whether a received frame is an inter-BSS PPDU, or whether a received frame is an intra-BSS PPDU or an inter-BSS PPDU.

[0069] The value of the Duration field in the received frame is greater than the station's current base NAV value.

[0070] The receiver address of the received frame is not the station's MAC address.

[0071] When both the intra-BSS NAV value and the basic NAV value are equal to 0, the virtual carrier sense is idle. In this case, the station can perform channel contention. When a station is triggered to make an immediate response by an associated AP, the station can only respond if the station's physical carrier sense is idle and the basic NAV value is 0. If the basic NAV value is not 0, the station cannot return a response even if the physical carrier sense result is idle.

[0072] 5. Transmission Network Allocation Vector (TXNAV) TXNAV is a timer maintained internal to the TXOP holder. TXNAV is initialized based on the duration / ID field in the last successfully transmitted frame by the TXOP holder. In other words, the duration of TXNAV is equal to the remaining duration of the current TXOP. TXNAV starts timing from the end of the PPDU carrying the frame.

[0073] In one implementation, a station is permitted to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the station during the time period allocated to the station via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, i.e., the station is permitted to make autonomous transmissions. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: After sending a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0074] However, now, the AP is also permitted to resume permission to control the TXOP when certain conditions are met. In this case, the station is not permitted to continue autonomous transmission. If an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP determines that an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame with the TXOP sharing mode subfield equal to 1 has been successfully transmitted to a non-AP EHT STA (see 26.2.6.2 (MU-RTS Trigger Frame Transmission)), the AP is not permitted to transmit any PPDUs for the allocated time specified in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame unless the PPDU carries an immediate response solicited by the non-AP STA. The Carrier Sense (CS) mechanism indicates that the medium is idle on a TxPIFS boundary after the end of transmission of an immediate response frame sent to the STA or after the end of reception of a frame that does not require an immediate response from the STA. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: If an EHT AP determines that it has successfully transmitted an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to a non-AP EHT STA with the TXOP sharing mode subfield equal to 1 (see 26.2.6.2 (MU-RTS Trigger Frame Transmission)), the AP shall not transmit any PPDUs for the allocated time specified in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame unless the PPDU carries an immediate response solicited by the non-AP STA, and the CS mechanism shall indicate that the medium is idle at a TxPIFS slot boundary after the end of either the transmission of the immediate response frame sent to that STA or the reception of a frame from that STA that did not require an immediate response.

[0075] When the AP satisfies certain conditions, the STA cannot initiate channel contention for the remaining allocated time. However, according to the rules of the current protocol, the STA may ignore the NAV set by the AP for the entire allocated time. The STA may initiate channel contention during the remaining allocated time, thereby interfering with the AP's transmission. In other words, after the AP resumes permission to control the TXOP, the station ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station during the time allocated to the station via the MU-RTS TXS frame. This may cause interference with the AP's transmission. An example of a communication solution based on the existing triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism is as follows: After the AP allocates a first period to the STA via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame for non-TB PPDU transmission, if the AP again obtains permission to use the TXOP within the first period, the STA may ignore the NAV set by the AP for the remaining time of the first period, thereby interfering with the AP's transmission. It can be seen that the current communication solution based on the existing triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism has a problem in that the station may interfere with the AP's transmission. Therefore, there is a need to research a communication solution based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism that can avoid interference with the AP's transmission. The communication solution based on the triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism provided in the present application can avoid interference with the AP's transmission. The main principle of the communication solution based on the triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism provided in the embodiments of the present application is to determine the conditions under which a STA loses permission to use the period allocated to it by the AP via the MU-RTS TXS frame. Correspondingly, during the remaining period, the STA is not allowed to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA.

[0076] The communication solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0077] 3 is an interaction flowchart of a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

[0078] 301: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0079] In response, the station (STA) receives a first frame from the AP. The first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first time period to the station. For example, the first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first time period within a reserved TXOP to the station. Optionally, the first frame is an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. Alternatively, the first frame may be another radio frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station. This is not limited in this application. The first time period may be any time period within the TXOP that is allocated to the station by the AP. This is not limited in this application.

[0080] In a possible implementation, a first field in the first frame indicates that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with the access point during the allocated time (i.e., the first period). Optionally, the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1.

[0081] 302: The station responds to the first frame with a second frame to the AP.

[0082] The second frame indicates that the station has successfully received the first frame. The second frame may be a CTS frame or another frame. The embodiment of the present application does not limit that the station must respond to the AP with a CTS frame in response to the first frame.

[0083] 303: Ignore the NAV set by the AP for a first period of time until one of the following conditions occurs:

[0084] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure, i.e., the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is such that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time, and the station experiences a transmission failure.

[0085] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, i.e., the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is such that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with the associated AP during the allocated time, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0086] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, i.e., the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame means that the station is only allowed to transmit frames with the corresponding AP during the allocated time, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0087] In the above description, the statement "the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1" may be equivalently replaced with "the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is such that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with its associated AP for the allocated time." In the above description, the PIFS may be equivalently replaced with a preset duration. It may be understood that the PIFS is merely an example of a preset duration, and the preset duration may be configured based on a request.

[0088] In other words, the station will not ignore the NAV set by the access point if any one of the following conditions occurs during the first period. These conditions are:

[0089] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure.

[0090] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0091] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0092] Ignoring the NAV set by the access point may be understood as meaning that if the current NAV (which may be the intra-BSS NAV in particular) is set based on a frame transmitted by the associated access point, the station may treat the NAV value as 0 even if the current NAV value is not 0, or if the current NAV is not set based on a frame transmitted by the associated access point, the station should consider the current virtual carrier sense result to be busy when the NAV value is not 0.

[0093] The fact that the NAV set by the access point is not ignored may be understood as meaning that the station must consider the current virtual carrier sense result to be busy unless the current NAV value is 0, regardless of whether the value of the current NAV (which may be the intra-BSS NAV specifically) is set based on a frame transmitted by the associated access point.

[0094] When a STA has intra-BSS NAV and basic NAV, the detailed virtual carrier sense results can be summarized in the table below. [Table 1]

[0095] Table 1 shows the virtual carrier sense result obtained when a STA has an intra-BSS NAV and a basic NAV. From the third line of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is not ignored, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the basic NAV value is 0, the station determines the virtual carrier sense result to be busy. From the fourth line of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is not ignored, if the NAV value not set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the basic NAV value is 0, the station determines the virtual carrier sense result to be busy. From the ninth line of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is ignored, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the basic NAV value is 0, the station determines the virtual carrier sense result to be idle. From the 10th line of Table 1, it can be seen that when ignoring the NAV set by the access point, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the basic NAV value is 0, the station determines that the virtual carrier sense result is busy. Here, only the meaning represented by the four lines of Table 1 will be explained. The meaning of each line of Table 1 may be interpreted in the same way, and the meaning of each line will not be explained again here.

[0096] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 303. Step 303 may be understood as the station ignoring the NAV set by the access point for a first period before any one of the above conditions occurs. In other words, the station may perform autonomous transmission for a first period before any one of the above conditions occurs. The NAV set by the access point may be understood as the NAV set by the access point for the station. The NAV set by the access point may include the station's intra-BSS NAV and / or basic NAV. The third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point, i.e., the Ack Policy subfield in the third frame is set to No Ack. A transmission failure at the station means that the station transmits a frame requiring an immediate response but fails to receive a response frame a short inter-frame space (SIFS) time after the end of frame transmission. In this case, the transmission is determined to have failed.

[0097] Step 303 may be replaced by determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0 after the NAV set by the access point begins to be ignored during a first period of time and after a first condition occurs during the first period of time, and determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0. The first condition includes any one of the following:

[0098] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0099] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0100] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0101] Alternatively, step 303 may be replaced by the STA ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the STA for the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response is transmitted; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA.

[0102] The method steps of FIG. 3 may be described as follows: after a station (STA) sends a CTS in response to an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame) from the AP, the STA needs to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA for the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response is transmitted; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA. The corresponding English translation may be: After sending a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the associated AP; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0103] In a possible implementation, after any one of the above conditions occurs, the station may perform the following operation: start channel contention after detecting that the virtual carrier sense is idle during the first period. In other words, the station does not start channel contention before detecting that the virtual carrier sense is idle. This can avoid interference with the AP's transmission, and can reduce or avoid interference with the AP's transmission.

[0104] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period of time until one of the above conditions occurs, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0105] 4 is an interaction flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method steps of FIG. 4 are basically the same as those of FIG. 3, but have a different description method from those of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, this method includes the following steps:

[0106] 401: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0107] For step 401, please refer to step 301.

[0108] 402: The station responds to the AP with the second frame for the first frame.

[0109] For step 402, please refer to step 302.

[0110] 403: The station ignores the NAV set by the AP until one of the following conditions occurs:

[0111] The first period ends.

[0112] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure.

[0113] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0114] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0115] In other words, a station will not ignore the NAV set by an access point if any one of the following conditions occurs. These conditions are:

[0116] The first period ends.

[0117] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure.

[0118] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0119] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0120] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 403. Step 403 may be understood as the station ignoring the NAV set by the access point before any one of the above conditions occurs. That is, the station may perform autonomous transmission before any one of the above conditions occurs. For an explanation of terms or nouns in Figure 4, please refer to Figure 3. Details will not be described again here.

[0121] Step 403 may be replaced by determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 after the NAV set by the access point begins to be ignored and after a first condition occurs, or determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value is equal to 0. The first condition includes any one of the following:

[0122] The first period ends.

[0123] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure.

[0124] The value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0125] The value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0126] Alternatively, step 403 may be replaced by the STA ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the STA during the period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signal in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame ends, i.e., the first period ends; the TXOP sharing mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the TXOP sharing mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after transmitting a frame that does not require an immediate response; or the TXOP sharing mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA.

[0127] The method steps of FIG. 4 may be described as follows: after a station (STA) sends a CTS in response to the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame) from the AP, the STA ignores the NAV set by the AP for the STA until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signal in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame ends; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after an immediate response is received from the AP; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response is transmitted; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs in the STA. The corresponding English translation could be: After sending a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from the associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame expires; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the associated AP; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0128] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding with the second frame for the first frame, the station ignores the NAV set by the access point until one of the above conditions occurs, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0129] 5 is an interaction flowchart of another triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method steps of FIG. 5 are a possible implementation of the method described in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. In this implementation, when a station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station. This can avoid interfering with the transmission of the AP. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following steps:

[0130] 501: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0131] For step 501, please refer to step 301.

[0132] 502: The station responds to the AP with the second frame for the first frame.

[0133] For step 502, please refer to step 302.

[0134] 503: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a first period of time.

[0135] After responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station performs step 503. Step 503 may be understood as the station starting to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station starts to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start time of the first period.

[0136] 504: The station transmits a third frame to the AP.

[0137] In response, the AP receives a third frame from the station. The third frame may be any wireless frame, such as a PPDU, that does not require an immediate response from the AP. In other words, the AP does not need to provide an immediate response to the third frame.

[0138] 505: When the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is 1 and no PPDU is transmitted within the PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, the station determines not to ignore the NAV set by the access point for the second period.

[0139] The start time of the second period may be the time when the station determines that no PPDU has been transmitted within a PIFS since the third frame was transmitted, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period. In actual applications, the PIFS may be replaced with another duration. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present application. When a case occurs (is detected) in which no PPDU has been transmitted within a PIFS since the third frame was transmitted, the station no longer continues to ignore the NAV set by the access point and cannot continue autonomous transmission.

[0140] Alternatively, step 505 may be replaced by the station determining that virtual carrier sensing is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 if no PPDU has been transmitted within a PIFS since the third frame was transmitted, or by the station determining that virtual carrier sensing is busy when the NAV value is not equal to 0. Determining that virtual carrier sensing is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 may be replaced by determining that virtual carrier sensing is idle when both the station's intra BSS NAV value and primary NAV value are equal to 0. Determining that virtual carrier sensing is busy when the NAV value is not equal to 0 may be replaced by determining that virtual carrier sensing is busy when at least one of the station's intra BSS NAV value and primary NAV value is not equal to 0.

[0141] Alternatively, step 505 may be replaced by the station continuing to ignore the NAV set by the access point when any PPDU is transmitted within a PIFS after the third frame is transmitted.

[0142] In this embodiment of the present application, when a station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after the third frame is transmitted, the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0143] Figure 6 is an interaction flowchart of another triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method steps in Figure 6 are a possible implementation of the method described in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In this implementation, when a transmission failure occurs (transmission failure occurs), the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmission. As shown in Figure 6, the method includes the following steps:

[0144] 601: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0145] For step 601, please refer to step 301.

[0146] 602: The station responds to the AP with a second frame for the first frame.

[0147] For step 602, please refer to step 302.

[0148] 603: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a first period of time.

[0149] After responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station performs step 603. Step 603 may be understood as the station starting to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station starts to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start time of the first period.

[0150] 604: The station transmits a second PPDU to the AP.

[0151] In response, the AP receives a second PPDU from the station. The second PPDU may be a PPDU that requires an immediate response from the AP, or may be a PPDU that does not require an immediate response from the AP. This is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Step 604 is not required but optional. When the second PPDU is a PPDU that requires an immediate response from the AP, the station may receive an immediate response for the second PPDU from the AP after transmitting the second PPDU to the AP.

[0152] 605: When the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs, the station determines not to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a second period of time.

[0153] The occurrence of a transmission failure may be referred to as the occurrence of a transmission failure. The start time of the second period may be the time when the station determines that a transmission failure has occurred, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period.

[0154] Alternatively, step 605 may be replaced by the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when a transmission failure occurs and the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0, or the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0.

[0155] In this embodiment of the present application, when a transmission failure occurs, the station no longer ignores the NAV set for the station by the AP, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0156] 7 is an interaction flowchart of another triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method steps in FIG. 7 are a possible implementation of the method described in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. In this implementation, when the STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, the STA no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the STA. This can avoid interfering with the transmission of the AP. As shown in FIG. 7, the method includes the following steps:

[0157] 701: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0158] For step 701, please refer to step 301.

[0159] 702: The station responds to the AP with the second frame for the first frame.

[0160] For step 702, please refer to step 302.

[0161] 703: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a first period of time.

[0162] After responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station performs step 703. Step 703 may be understood as the station starting to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP in the second frame for the first frame, the station starts to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start time of the first period.

[0163] 704: The station transmits the first PPDU to the AP.

[0164] In response, the AP receives a first PPDU from the station. The first PPDU is any PPDU to which the AP must respond with an immediate response. Optionally, the first PPDU is a non-TB PPDU, which requires the AP to respond with an immediate response.

[0165] 705: The AP responds to the station with an immediate response to the first PPDU.

[0166] In response, the station receives an immediate response returned by the AP to the station for the first PPDU.

[0167] 706: When the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and no PPDU is transmitted within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, the station determines not to ignore the NAV set by the access point for the second period.

[0168] The start time of the second period may be the time from when the station receives an immediate response from the AP to when it determines that no PPDU has been transmitted within the PIFS, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period.

[0169] Step 706 may be replaced by the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when no PPDU is transmitted within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP and the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0, or by the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0 may be replaced by determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when both the station's intra-BSS NAV value and basic NAV value are 0. Optionally, the station initiates channel contention after determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle. In other words, the station cannot initiate channel contention before determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle.

[0170] Alternatively, step 706 may be replaced by the station continuing to ignore the NAV set by the access point when a PPDU is transmitted within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0171] In this embodiment of the present application, when a STA does not start any PPDU transmission within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, the STA no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the STA, thereby avoiding interference with the AP's transmission.

[0172] 8 is an interaction flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method steps of FIG. 8 are different in technical essence from the method steps of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the method includes the following steps:

[0173] 801: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0174] For step 801, refer to step 301. The first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first period of time to the station.

[0175] In a possible implementation, a first field in the first frame indicates that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time. Optionally, the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1. In this implementation, because the first field is a TXOP sharing mode subfield and the value of the first field is equal to 1, whether to skip initiating channel contention during the first time period is determined based on the first field.

[0176] 802: The station responds to the first frame with a second frame to the AP.

[0177] For step 802, please refer to step 302.

[0178] 803: The station ignores the NAV set by the AP during the first period and does not initiate channel contention during the first period.

[0179] The implementation in which the station does not initiate channel contention during the first period is not limited to the embodiments of the present application. In other words, any method that can achieve the technical objective of the station not initiating channel contention during the first period falls within the scope of protection of the present application. Optionally, the station sets the basic NAV to a value greater than 0 and keeps the value unchanged. Optionally, the station sets the basic NAV to a value greater than the duration of the first period.

[0180] Step 803 may be replaced by the station not initiating channel contention for the time allocated in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1.

[0181] The method steps of Figure 8 may be described as follows: After a station transmits a CTS frame in an MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP, the station shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the station during the time period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, and if the value of the XOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1, the station shall not initiate channel contention during the time period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After transmitting a CTS solicited by an MU-RTS TXS from an associated AP, a STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. A STA shall not initiate channel contention during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the TXOP sharing mode subfield value is equal to 1.

[0182] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored during the first period, and no channel contention is initiated during the first period, thereby reducing or avoiding interference with the AP's transmission.

[0183] With reference to the drawings, the following describes the structure of a communication device that can implement the communication method with triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0184] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may correspondingly implement functions or steps implemented by a station in the above-described method embodiments, or may correspondingly implement functions or steps implemented by an access point in the above-described method embodiments. The communication device may include a processing module 910 and a transceiver module 920. Optionally, a storage unit may be further included. The storage unit may be configured to store instructions (codes or programs) and / or data. The processing module 910 and the transceiver module 920 may be coupled to the storage unit. For example, the processing module 910 may read the instructions (codes or programs) and / or data in the storage unit to implement the corresponding method. The above-mentioned units may be independently located or may be partially or fully integrated. For example, the transceiver module 920 may include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module may be a transmitter, and the receiving module may be a receiver. The entity corresponding to the transceiver module 920 may be a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0185] In some possible implementations, the communication device 900 can correspondingly implement the operations and functions of a station in the above-described method embodiments. For example, the communication device 900 may be a station, or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) used in a station. For example, the transceiver module 920 may be configured to perform all receiving or transmitting operations performed by the station in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 8 and / or may be configured to support other processes of the techniques described herein. The processing module 910 is configured to perform all operations other than receiving or transmitting operations performed by the station in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 8.

[0186] In some possible implementations, the communication device 900 can correspondingly implement the operations and functions of an access point in the above-described method embodiments. For example, the communication device 900 may be an access point or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) used in an access point. For example, the transceiver module 920 may be configured to perform all receiving or transmitting operations performed by the access point in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 8 and / or may be configured to support other processes of the techniques described herein. The processing module 910 is configured to perform all operations other than receiving or transmitting operations performed by the access point.

[0187] 10 is a structural diagram of another communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device of FIG. 10 may be the station mentioned above, or may be the access point mentioned above.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 10, the communications device 100 includes at least one processor 1010 and a transceiver 1020.

[0189] In some embodiments of the present application, the processor 1010 and the transceiver 1020 may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc. performed by a station. For example, the transceiver 1020 performs all receive or transmit operations performed by a station in the embodiments of Figures 3 through 8. For example, the processor 1010 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by a station in the embodiments of Figures 3 through 8.

[0190] In some embodiments of the present application, the processor 1010 and the transceiver 1020 may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc. performed by an access point. For example, the transceiver 1020 performs all receive or transmit operations performed by the access point in the embodiments of Figures 3 through 8. The processor 1010 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by the access point.

[0191] The transceiver 1020 is configured to communicate with other devices / apparatuses via a transmission medium. The processor 1010 is configured to receive or transmit data and / or signaling via the transceiver 1020 and to implement the methods in the above-described method embodiments. The processor 1010 may implement the functionality of the processing module 910, and the transceiver 1020 may implement the functionality of the transmitting / receiving module 920.

[0192] Optionally, the transceiver 1020 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is mainly configured to convert between baseband signals and radio frequency signals and process the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of radio waves. The input / output device, such as a touch screen, display, or keyboard, is mainly configured to receive data input by a user and output data to a user.

[0193] Optionally, the communication device 100 may further include at least one memory 1030 configured to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1030 is coupled to the processor 1010. A coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in an electrical, mechanical, or other form and is used for information exchange between the devices, units, or modules. The processor 1010 may cooperate with the memory 1030. The processor 1010 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1030. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0194] After the communication device 100 is powered on, the processor 1010 can read the software program in the memory 1030, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1010 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and then outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves via an antenna. When data is to be transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal via the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal to a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1010. The processor 1010 converts the baseband signal to data and processes the data.

[0195] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located independently of the processor that performs the baseband processing, e.g., in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna may be located remotely independent of the communication device.

[0196] The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1020, the processor 1010, and the memory 1030 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment of the present application, the memory 1030, the processor 1010, and the transceiver 1020 are connected to each other via a bus 1040 in FIG. 10. The bus is represented by a thick line in FIG. 10. The connection method of the other components is merely an example for explanation and is not limited thereto. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For convenience of representation, the bus is represented by only one thick line in FIG. 10. However, this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0197] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, which may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be performed directly by a hardware processor, or may be performed by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor.

[0198] FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of another communication device 110 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication device shown in FIG. 11 includes a logic circuit 1101 and an interface 1102. The processing module 910 of FIG. 9 may be implemented via the logic circuit 1101, and the transceiver module 920 of FIG. 9 may be implemented via the interface 1102. The logic circuit 1101 may be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, a system on chip (SoC), etc. The interface 1102 may be a communication interface, an input / output interface, etc. In this embodiment of the present application, the logic circuit and the interface may be further coupled to each other. The specific connection method between the logic circuit and the interface is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0199] In some embodiments of the present application, the logic and interfaces may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc. performed by a station.

[0200] In some embodiments of the present application, the logic and interfaces may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc. performed by an access point.

[0201] The present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method of the above-described embodiment. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive, SSD), etc. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or another programmable device.

[0202] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that all or part of the steps of the methods in the embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium includes read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or another optical disc memory, magnetic disk memory, magnetic tape memory, or any other computer-readable medium that can be configured to carry or store data.

[0203] The present application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes instructions or a computer program. When the instructions or the computer program are executed on a computer, the method of the above-described embodiment is performed. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the above-described procedures or functions in the embodiments of the present application are generated.

[0204] All or part of the above-described embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, all or part of the above-described embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product.

[0205] The present application further provides a communication system including such a station and such an access point.

[0206] The technical solutions of the present application may be essentially implemented in the form of a software product, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions. The computer program product is stored in a storage medium and includes some instructions for instructing a device (which may be a terminal device, a network device, an in-vehicle device, a router, a server, a robot, a chip, or a robot) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods in the embodiments of the present application.

[0207] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications or replacements that are easily understood by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, applied to a station, the method comprising: receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; After responding to the first frame with a second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of a transmission opportunity TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station has not transmitted a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) within a point coordination function inter-frame space (PIFS) since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point; ignoring a network allocation vector NAV set by the access point during the first period of time until one of the following occurs: A method comprising:

2. 1. A communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, applied to a station, the method comprising: receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; After responding to the first frame with a second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the first period has ended; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU within a PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point; Ignoring the NAV set by the access point until one of the following occurs: A method comprising:

3. 1. A communication method based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, applied to a station, the method comprising: receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to the station; after responding to the first frame with a second frame, ignoring a NAV set by the access point during the first period and skipping initiating channel contention during the first period; A method comprising:

4. a first field in the first frame indicating that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time; The method of claim 3.

5. the first field is a TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1; The method of claim 4.

6. A communication device, a transceiver module configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to a station; After the first frame is responded to with a second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU within a PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point; a processing module configured to ignore a NAV set by the access point during the first period of time until one of 2. A communication device comprising:

7. A communication device, a transceiver module configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to a station; After the first frame is responded to with a second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the first period has ended; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU within a PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point; a processing module configured to ignore a NAV set by the access point until one of the following occurs:

2. A communication device comprising:

8. A communication device, a transceiver module configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first time period to a station; a processing module configured to ignore a NAV set by the access point during the first period after the first frame is acknowledged with a second frame and to skip initiating channel contention during the first period; 2. A communication device comprising:

9. a first field in the first frame indicating that the station is only permitted to transmit frames with its associated AP during the allocated time; 9. The apparatus of claim 8.

10. the first field is a TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1; 10. The apparatus of claim 9.

11. 1. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed, enable a computer to perform the method of claim 1 or 2, or that, when executed, enable a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 3 to 5.

12. 10. A communications device comprising a processor, the processor being configured, when executing instructions, to enable the communications device to perform a method according to claim 1 or 2, or to enable the communications device to perform a method according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

13. the apparatus further comprising a memory configured to store the instructions; 13. The apparatus of claim 12.

14. A chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor reads instructions stored in a memory via the communication interface to execute the method of claim 1 or 2 or the method of any one of claims 3 to 5.

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