Multi-link communication method and device

Abstract

The present embodiment provides a multi-link communication method and device, which can ensure that the actual communication status of the links matches the link enable status. Specifically, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the AP MLD manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the APs attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The present embodiments relate to the field of communications, and more particularly to a multi-link communication method and device. [Background technology]

[0002] At present, multiple links may be established between one non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) and one access point multi-link device (AP MLD), but there may be differences in communication reachability between each of the multiple links, which may cause a problem where the actual communication status of the link does not match the enabled status of the link. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The present embodiment provides a multi-link communication method and device, which can ensure that the actual communication state of a link is consistent with the link enable state.

[0004] In a first aspect, there is provided a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0005] The non-AP MLD includes a step of initiating multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD's associated non-AP STAs and the AP MLD's associated access point APs corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, where M is a positive integer.

[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0007] The AP MLD receives a first association request frame or a second association request frame via an AP attached thereto;

[0008] The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an AP attached to an AP MLD of an attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD among the M links;

[0009] The second association request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are reachable for communication, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled;

[0010] M is a positive integer.

[0011] In a third aspect, there is provided a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0012] The non-AP MLD includes a step of managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an associated access point AP of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a multi-link communication method, the method comprising:

[0014] The method includes a step in which the AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, there is provided a non-AP MLD for carrying out the method in the first aspect above.

[0016] Specifically, the non-AP MLD includes a functional module for executing the method in the first aspect above.

[0017] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an AP MLD for carrying out the method in the second aspect above.

[0018] Specifically, the AP MLD comprises a functional module for executing the method in the above second aspect.

[0019] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a non-AP MLD for carrying out the method in the third aspect.

[0020] Specifically, the non-AP MLD includes a functional module for executing the method in the third aspect above.

[0021] In an eighth aspect, there is provided an AP MLD for carrying out the method in the fourth aspect above.

[0022] Specifically, the AP MLD comprises a functional module for executing the method in the above fourth aspect.

[0023] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a non-AP MLD comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor being used to cause the non-AP MLD to perform the method in the first aspect by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

[0024] In a tenth aspect, there is provided an AP MLD comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor being used to cause the AP MLD to perform the method in the second aspect by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

[0025] In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a non-AP MLD comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor being used to cause the non-AP MLD to perform the method in the third aspect by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

[0026] In a twelfth aspect, there is provided an AP MLD comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor being used to cause the AP MLD to perform the method in the fourth aspect by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

[0027] In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus for implementing the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0028] Specifically, the device includes a processor, and the processor is used to cause a device equipped with the device to perform the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects by calling up and executing a computer program from memory.

[0029] In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, the computer program causing a computer to perform the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0030] In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer program instructions to cause a computer to carry out the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0031] In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to carry out the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0032] According to the above technical solution, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the non-AP MLD manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the AP MLD manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the APs attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0033] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process depending on the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0034] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the non-AP MLD sets the enabled link among the N links that is unreachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD to a disabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes the enabled link among the N links that is unreachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication state of the link is consistent with the enabled state of the link.

[0035] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the AP MLD sets the enabled link of the N links that is unreachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a disabled state, or the AP MLD deletes the enabled link of the N links that is unreachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication state of the link is consistent with the enabled state of the link. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applied to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a non-AP MLD according to the present application obtaining information of an AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs; [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link establishment process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a station control field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic flowchart of another multi-link establishment according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another station control field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another station control field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a station information field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a maximum idle time period information field of a link enable period according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an idle option subfield during a link enable period according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]1 is a schematic diagram showing the presence of bitmap subfields according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a common information field according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic flowchart of multi-link management according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 10 is a schematic flowchart of another multi-link management according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 4 is a schematic flowchart of another multi-link communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 17] 10 is a schematic flowchart of yet another multi-link management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 10 is a schematic flowchart of yet another multi-link management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10 is a schematic flowchart of yet another multi-link communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 20] 10 is a schematic flowchart of yet another multi-link communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a non-AP MLD according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an AP MLD according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another non-AP MLD according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another AP MLD according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 26] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 27] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, but it is clear that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application and not all of the embodiments of the present application, and all other embodiments that a person skilled in the art can obtain without creative efforts are included in the scope of protection of the present application.

[0038] The technical solutions of the present embodiments may be applied to various communication systems, such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or other communication systems.

[0039] Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system may include an access point (AP) and a station (STA).

[0040] In some scenarios, an AP may also be referred to as an AP STA, i.e., in a sense, an AP is also a type of STA. In some scenarios, a STA may also be referred to as a non-AP STA.

[0041] In some embodiments, the STAs may include AP STAs and non-AP STAs. Communication in the communication system may be communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, communication between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA, or communication between a STA and a peer STA. Here, a peer STA may refer to a device that performs peer-to-peer communication with the STA. For example, a peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0042] AP is a bridge that connects wired and wireless networks, and its main role is to connect individual wireless network clients to one another and then access the wireless network to Ethernet. AP devices can be terminal devices (e.g., mobile phones) equipped with Wireless Fidelity (WIFI) chips, or network devices (e.g., routers).

[0043] It should be understood that the role of an STA in a communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, if a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a non-AP STA, and if the mobile phone acts as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone plays the role of an AP.

[0044] The AP and non-AP STA may be devices applied to the Internet of Vehicles, Internet nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, smart cameras in smart homes, smart remote controls, smart water meters, and electricity meters, and sensors in smart cities.

[0045] In some embodiments, a non-AP STA may support the 802.11be standard. A non-AP STA may also support multiple current and future 802.11 family wireless local area network standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0046] In some embodiments, the AP may be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP may also be a device that supports multiple current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0047] In this embodiment, the STA may be a mobile phone, tablet computer (Pad), computer, virtual reality (VR) device, augmented reality (AR) device, wireless device in industrial control, set-top box, wireless device in self driving, in-vehicle communication device, wireless device in remote medical, wireless device in smart grid, wireless device in transportation safety, wireless device in smart city or smart home, wireless communication chip, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), SOC (System on Chip), etc. that supports WLAN / WLAN technology.

[0048] Frequency bands that can be supported by WLAN technology may include, but are not limited to, low frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and high frequency bands (45 GHz, 60 GHz).

[0049] One or more links exist between a station and an access point. In some embodiments, the station and the access point support multi-band communication, for example, simultaneously communicating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands, or simultaneously communicating on different channels in the same frequency band (or different frequency bands), to improve communication throughput and / or reliability between the devices. Such devices are typically referred to as multi-band devices or multi-link devices (MLDs), and may also be referred to as multi-link entities or multi-band entities. A multi-link device may be an access point device or a station device. If the multi-link device is an access point device, it includes one or more APs. If the multi-link device is a station device, it includes one or more non-AP STAs.

[0050] A multi-link device including one or more APs may be referred to as an AP, and a multi-link device including one or more non-AP STAs may be referred to as a Non-AP.

[0051] In this embodiment, an AP may include multiple APs, and a non-AP may include multiple STAs. Multiple links may be formed between the APs in the AP and the STAs in the non-AP. Data communication may be performed between the APs in the AP and the corresponding STAs in the non-AP via the corresponding links.

[0052] An AP is a device deployed in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide wireless communication capabilities to STAs. A station may include a user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. Optionally, a station may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, or a wearable device, although the present application is not limited thereto.

[0053] Optionally, both the station and the access point support the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0054] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and / or" herein is merely a relational relationship describing related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " herein generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0055] It should be understood that the "instruction" referred to in the embodiments of the present application may be a direct instruction or an indirect instruction, or may represent an association relationship. For example, A instructing B may represent that A directly instructs B, or that B may obtain it through A, or that A indirectly instructs B, or that A instructs C, and B may obtain it through C, representing an association relationship between A and B.

[0056] The terms used in some of the embodiments of the present application are only intended to describe specific examples of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" in the specification, claims, and drawings of the present application are intended to distinguish different objects and not to describe a particular order. In addition, the terms "comprise" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion.

[0057] In the description of the present embodiment, the term "correspondence" may indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, an association between the two, or a relationship such as that between a pointing device and a pointed device, or a positioning device and a positioned device.

[0058] In this embodiment, "predefined" or "preconfigured" may be implemented by pre-storing a code, table, or other method for indicating related information in a device (e.g., including an STA and a network device), and the present application is not limited to the specific implementation method. For example, "predefined" may refer to something defined in a protocol.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the "protocol" may refer to a standard protocol in the communication field, for example, the WiFi protocol and related protocols applied to future WiFi communication systems, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0060] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below through specific examples. The following related arts can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as alternative solutions, and all of them fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application include at least some of the following contents:

[0061] A wireless device supports multi-band communication, for example, simultaneously communicating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands, or simultaneously communicating in different channels in the same frequency band (or different frequency bands), improving communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such devices are typically called multi-band devices or multi-link devices (MLDs), and are sometimes called multi-link entities or multi-band entities. A multi-link device may be an access point device or a station device. If the multi-link device is an access point device, it includes one or more APs. If the multi-link device is a station device, it includes one or more non-AP STAs.

[0062] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the multi-link discovery and multi-link establishment related to the present application will be described below.

[0063] As shown in Figure 2, before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD uses one of the following methods or combines several of the following methods to obtain information about the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs:

[0064] 1) Through each attached station of the non-AP MLD, a passive scanning process or an active scanning process related to non-multilink operation is performed.

[0065] 2) Obtain complete information about the AP MLD and its attached APs by transmitting a Multi-link probe request on any one link operated by the AP MLD via one of the non-AP MLD's attached stations.

[0066] As shown in Figure 2, non-AP MLD and AP MLD establish multi-links by exchanging Association Request / Response frames on one of the links requested for establishment. Here, both Association Request / Response frames carry Basic Multi-link elements for multi-link establishment. In the Association Request frame, non-AP MLD indicates the multiple links requested for establishment, their capabilities, and operational parameters. In the Association Response frame, AP MLD indicates the accepted and rejected links among the multiple links requested for establishment, as well as the capabilities and operational parameters of the requested links.

[0067] For successfully established links, the AP MLD assigns one Association Identifier (AID) to the non-AP MLD, and all attached STAs of the non-AP MLD have the same AID (i.e., the AID assigned to the non-AP MLD during the multi-link establishment process). After the multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD is completed, the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD establish multiple links for multi-link operation, and at the same time, the non-AP MLD associates with the AP MLD.

[0068] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the mapping from traffic identification to link related to the present application will be described below.

[0069] The traffic identification-to-link mapping (TID-to-link mapping) mechanism allows AP MLD and non-AP MLD to determine, during multi-link setup or after multi-link setup is complete, how upstream and downstream Quality of Service (QoS) traffic corresponding to a traffic identifier (TID) value is assigned and transmitted across established links for non-AP MLD. By default, all traffic identifiers (TIDs) are mapped to all established links in the downstream and upstream directions. Through traffic identification-to-link mapping and negotiation, a TID may be mapped to a link subset of established links. Furthermore, for one non-AP MLD, if at least one TID is mapped to one established link in either the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "enabled" or in an "enabled state," and if no TID is mapped to one established link in either the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "disabled" or in a "disabled state." Therefore, in the default mode, all established links are enabled.

[0070] For one non-AP MLD enabled link,

[0071] 1) Non-AP MLD is limited by the power status of the stations operating on the link, and the link may be used to exchange unicast frames (individually addressed frames). In addition, in response to TID-to-link mapping, only medium access control (MAC) service data units (MSDUs) or aggregate medium access control (MAC) service data units (A-MSDUs) corresponding to the TIDs mapped to the link may be transmitted downstream / upstream between the attached station of the non-AP MLD and the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the link.

[0072] 2) In response to the TID-to-link mapping, the MSDU or A-MSDU corresponding to the TID mapped to the link is transmitted downstream / upstream between the attached station of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link and the attached AP of the AP MLD according to the Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF) contention-based channel access (e.g., Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)).

[0073] 3) Unicast (individually addressed) management and control frames may be transmitted upstream or downstream between an attached station in a non-AP MLD corresponding to any enabled link and an attached AP in its associated AP MLD.

[0074] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the problems that the present application aims to solve will be described below.

[0075] Currently, when a non-AP MLD initiates multilink establishment with an AP MLD, as long as the attached station of the non-AP MLD corresponding to one of the requested links can communicate with the attached AP of the AP MLD within its reachable range, the non-AP MLD can obtain information about the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the other requested links. Even if the attached station of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the other requested links and the attached AP of the AP MLD are not within its reachable range, the multilink establishment including the other requested links can be completed via the link that can communicate within its reachable range. After multilink establishment is completed, by default, all traffic identifications (TIDs) are mapped to all established links in the downlink and uplink directions, including established links that may not be within the reachable range of the non-AP MLD. Therefore, since established links that are not within the communication range of non-AP MLD are also set to the enabled state, the actual communication state (i.e., communication disabled state) of the established links that are not within the communication range does not match the link management state (i.e., enabled state) corresponding to the mapping from the traffic identification of the link to the link.

[0076] Furthermore, the establishment of a multilink between a non-AP MLD and an AP MLD, or the association of a non-AP MLD with an AP MLD, is primarily based on the association at the multilink device (MLD) level. Regarding multilink operation, the tentative premise established by the current multilink management mechanism is that as long as an attached station of a non-AP MLD corresponding to one established link can communicate within reach with an attached AP of an AP MLD, other attached stations of non-AP MLDs corresponding to other established links can also communicate within reach with other attached APs of the AP MLD.

[0077] Therefore, at present, during the multi-link establishment process or when multi-link operation is performed after multi-link establishment is completed, there is insufficient consideration given to the situation where one attached station of a non-AP MLD corresponding to one of the established links can communicate with one attached AP of the AP MLD within its reachable range, but the attached stations of the non-AP MLD corresponding to one or more other links cannot communicate with the attached AP of the AP MLD (out of their reachable range). In particular, if the operating frequency band of Wi-Fi links is extended to the millimeter wave frequency band in the future, the reachable range of the 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz operating frequency band will be significantly different from the reachable range of the millimeter wave operating fragment. During the multi-link establishment and operation process, it is necessary to consider the communication reachability issue of different links caused by the difference in communication reachable range of different non-AP MLD links.

[0078] Based on the above problem (i.e., the problem of the actual communication state of a link not matching the link enable state during the multi-link establishment and multi-link management process), the present application provides a multi-link communication scheme in which the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the AP MLD's attached AP, and / or manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs corresponding to each of the N established links and the AP MLD's attached AP, and / or manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the AP MLD's attached APs corresponding to each of the N established links and the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs.

[0079] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process depending on the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0080] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the non-AP MLD sets the enabled link among the N links that is unreachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD to a disabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes the enabled link among the N links that is unreachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication state of the link is consistent with the enabled state of the link.

[0081] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the AP MLD sets the enabled link of the N links that is unreachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a disabled state, or the AP MLD deletes the enabled link of the N links that is unreachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication state of the link is consistent with the enabled state of the link.

[0082] The technical solution of the present application will be described in detail below through specific examples.

[0083] 3 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link communication method 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-link communication method 200 may include at least some of the following contents:

[0084] In step S210, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, where M is a positive integer.

[0085] In this embodiment, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. That is, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0086] In this embodiment, a “field” may be called a “field” or a “subfield.” One field may occupy one or more bytes (byte / octet), or one field may occupy one or more bits (bits).

[0087] The present embodiment mainly targets the establishment and management of multi-links between AP MLD and non-AP MLD, but may also be extended to the establishment and management of multi-links between one non-AP MLD and another non-AP MLD, i.e., the AP MLD in the present embodiment is replaced with another non-AP MLD.

[0088] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD may acquire information about the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD. That is, the non-AP MLD may acquire information about the AP MLD and information about the attached APs of the AP MLDs corresponding to each of the M links before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD.

[0089] In some embodiments, the M links are some or all of the links over which the non-AP MLD is tentatively established.

[0090] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0091] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by another AP in the same co-located Basic Service Set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0092] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by another AP in the same Multiple BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable;

[0093] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0094] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0095] In some embodiments, the above step S210 specifically includes:

[0096] The non-AP MLD may include transmitting a first association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs associated therewith.

[0097] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links that is within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0098] That is, for non-AP STAs attached to non-AP MLDs that are within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the provisionally established link, corresponding link establishment is performed. That is, the links requested to be established that are conveyed in the association request frame during multi-link establishment include these links for which communication reachability has been determined. For non-AP STAs attached to non-AP MLDs that are not within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the provisionally established link, corresponding link establishment is not performed. That is, the links requested to be established that are conveyed in the association request frame during multi-link establishment do not include these links for which communication unreachability has been determined.

[0099] The non-AP MLD may transmit the first association request frame via a plurality of non-AP STAs attached thereto, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0100] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, non-AP MLD requests the establishment of a link among the M provisionally established links that is within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, according to the communication reachability between the non-AP MLD-attached non-AP STA and the AP attached to the AP MLD. That is, the links established according to the non-AP MLD request can reflect the actual communication status of the links. In other words, non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0101] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, STA1 of the non-AP MLD acquires information about the AP MLD and its associated AP via a beacon frame and / or a multilink probe response frame, checks the reachability of each of the provisionally established links (Link1, Link2, and Link3) (the reachability check method is as described above), and determines that Link1 and Link2 are reachable but Link3 is unreachable. In this case, the non-AP MLD initiates a multilink establishment association request, requesting only the establishment of Link1 and Link2, but not Link3. After the non-AP MLD and AP MLD complete the association request / response interaction, the establishment of Link1 and Link2 is completed.

[0102] In some embodiments, the above step S210 specifically includes:

[0103] The non-AP MLD may include transmitting a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs associated therewith.

[0104] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of the M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0105] That is, for each attached station of a link requested to be established in non-AP MLD, a corresponding link establishment is performed, but when non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, it indicates whether the link requested to be established is reachable and / or enabled.

[0106] The non-AP MLD may transmit the second association request frame via a plurality of non-AP STAs attached thereto, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0107] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests the establishment of M links by transmitting a second association request frame according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. The second association request frame carries information related to whether the M links are communication reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0108] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0109] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as unreachable and / or disabled.

[0110] Specifically, for example, for an attached station of a non-AP MLD that is within the reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the reachability of the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as "reachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "enabled." For an attached station of a non-AP MLD that is not within the reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the reachability of the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as "unreachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "disabled."

[0111] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field, where the M first indication fields correspond to the M links respectively, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not, and where the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0112] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element (TID-To-Link Mapping element).

[0113] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element.

[0114] Here, the station control field (STA Control field) in each station profile subelement (Per-STA Profile subelement) included in the link info field (Link Info field) of the basic multi-link element (Basic Multi-Link element) includes a link ID field and the first indication field (i.e., reachability field) corresponding to the link identified by the link ID field.

[0115] In some embodiments, the STA Control field in each Per-STA Profile subelement included in the Link Info field of the Basic Multi-Link element may be as shown in FIG. 5, and the STA Control field may include a reachability field. In addition, the station control field may further include the following information fields: a complete profile field, a STA medium access control (MAC) address present field, a beacon interval present field, a timing synchronization function (TSF) offset present field, a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) information present field, a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) link pair present field, and a BSS parameters change count present field.

[0116] Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the reachability field occupies one bit. For example, when the reachability field is 0, it indicates that the corresponding link is reachable, i.e., the reported station is within the reachable communication range of the peer station (peer sta), and when the reachability field is 1, it indicates that the corresponding link is unreachable, i.e., the reported station is outside the reachable communication range of the peer station (peer sta). Also, for example, when the reachability field is 1, it indicates that the corresponding link is reachable, i.e., the reported station is within the reachable communication range of the peer station (peer sta), and when the reachability field is 0, it indicates that the corresponding link is unreachable, i.e., the reported station is outside the reachable communication range of the peer station (peer sta).

[0117] In some embodiments, if it is determined that for an established link (set to Link-i), the associated station (set to STAi) of its corresponding non-AP MLD is within reachable communication range of the associated AP (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to the link, the traffic identification to link mapping element indicates that at least one TID is mapped to the link in either the uplink or downlink, i.e., the link is "enabled."

[0118] In some embodiments, if it is determined that for an established link (set to Link-j), the associated station (set to STAj) of the corresponding non-AP MLD is not within the reachable communication range of the associated AP (set to APj) of the AP MLD corresponding to the link, the traffic identification to link mapping element indicates that "there are no TIDs mapped to the link in either the uplink or downlink"; i.e., the link is "disabled."

[0119] Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 6, STA1 of the non-AP MLD obtains information about the AP MLD and its associated AP via a beacon frame and / or a multi-link probe response frame, and checks the reachability of each of the provisionally established links (Link1, Link2, and Link3) (the method for checking reachability is as described above), and confirms that Link1 and Link2 are reachable for communication, but Link3 is not reachable for communication. In this case, in the association request for multi-link establishment initiated by non-AP MLD, the corresponding links (Link1, Link2, Link3) are established for each attached station of the requested link. When non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the reachability of Link1 and Link2 is indicated as "reachable" in the association request, and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "enabled." For Link3, the reachability is indicated as "unreachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "disabled." After the association request / response interaction between non-AP MLD and AP MLD is completed, the establishment of Link1, Link2, and Link3 is completed.

[0120] Note that FIG. 6 only shows an example of indicating whether or not the related request and related response are enabled, but it is also possible to indicate whether or not they are reachable, or to indicate whether or not they are enabled and whether or not they are reachable at the same time, but the present embodiment is not limited to this.

[0121] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD and the APs of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M.

[0122] In this embodiment, the non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD, respectively, corresponding to the N established links. That is, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link management process according to the communication reachability of the established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0123] In some embodiments, the N links are some or all of the links over which the non-AP MLD is established.

[0124] In some embodiments, the N links may include links requested to be established by other association request frames other than the first association request frame and the second association request frame, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0125] In some embodiments, the step of managing the N established links by the non-AP MLD according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links includes:

[0126] The non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are communication unreachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD to a disabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes, among the N links, the links that are communication unreachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD.

[0127] In some embodiments, after multi-link establishment is completed, if communication is not reachable between the attached station (set as STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i and the attached station (set as APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i for the established link (set as Link-i), the non-AP MLD may adopt one of the following actions:

[0128] 1) The non-AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request to the AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "Disabled" state in consultation with the AP MLD, or the non-AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping notification to the AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "Disabled" state.

[0129] 2) The non-AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Request to the AP MLD and deletes Link-i in consultation with the AP MLD, or the non-AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Notification to the AP MLD and deletes Link-i.

[0130] In some embodiments, the manner in which the non-AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0131] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are not reachable for communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the links among the N links that are set to a non-enabled state refer to links that do not have a traffic identification (TID) mapping.

[0132] Specifically, for example, if at least one TID is mapped to an established link in the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "enabled" or in an "enabled state," and if no TID is mapped to an established link in the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "disabled" or in a "disabled state."

[0133] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, to a non-enabled state, an enabled link among the N links where communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD is unreachable, the non-AP MLD sets, to an enabled state, a link among the N links that was set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, if communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable.

[0134] For example, after multi-link establishment is completed, if communication is not possible between the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i and the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i for the established link (set to Link-i), the non-AP MLD sets the enabled Link-i to a non-enabled state. After a certain period of time has passed, due to movement of STAi or improvement in link quality, communication may become possible between STAi and APi. After communication is possible between STAi and APi, the non-AP MLD sets Link-i to an enabled state.

[0135] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD associated non-AP STA corresponding to the j-th link isj If at least one frame transmitted by the AP MLD attached to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the AP MLD attached to the j-th link are reachable, or

[0136] The non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all If a STA receives at least one frame transmitted by an AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link within the j-th link, the STA is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link, and the AP associated with the AP MLD is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the j-th link.

[0137] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0138] That is, duration T j may be the idle timeout limit of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all may be the idle timeout limit for the link enable period corresponding to all established links.

[0139] In some embodiments, the duration T j is the periodic duration, i.e., the duration T j may be the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link.

[0140] In some embodiments, the duration T jis determined or instructed by the non-AP MLD.

[0141] In some embodiments, the duration T all is the periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all may be the maximum idle time period of the link enable period corresponding to all established links.

[0142] In some embodiments, the duration T all is determined or instructed by the non-AP MLD.

[0143] Specifically, for example, after multi-link establishment is completed, if the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the established link (set to Link-i) does not receive any frame transmitted by the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i during the corresponding "maximum idle time period of the link enable period (sent by the non-AP MLD)" (if there is no frame type requirement), or if it does not receive a frame of a specified type transmitted by APi (if there is a frame type requirement), communication between STAi corresponding to Link-i and APi is unreachable.

[0144] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0145] Specifically, for example, the designated frame type for indicating the enabled or active state of a link may be a protected frame, i.e., only protected frames indicate the enabled or active state.

[0146] Specifically, and for example, the specified frame types for indicating the enabled or active state of a link may be protected and unprotected frames, i.e., both protected and unprotected frames may indicate the enabled or active state.

[0147] In some embodiments, the at least one frame includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a data frame, a Power Saving Poll (PS-Poll) frame, and a management frame corresponding to a TID mapped to the jth link.

[0148] In some embodiments, the duration T j When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of the link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

[0149] That is, the third indication field included in the association request frame indicates that the AP MLD is to be j may be used to indicate

[0150] Alternatively, the associated request frame may be the above-mentioned first associated request frame or the above-mentioned second associated request frame.

[0151] In addition, the number of third indication fields included in the association request frame may be different from the number of links requested to be established by the association request frame, that is, the non-AP MLD may indicate, via the association request frame, the maximum idle time information of some of the links requested to be established or link enable fields corresponding to some of the links.

[0152] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0153] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0154] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0155] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0156] In some embodiments, the duration T j is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T jis the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link, the third indication field is a maximum idle time period information field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enabled period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time period information presence field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information presence subfield of the link enabled period.

[0157] In some embodiments, the STA Control field in each Per-STA Profile subelement included in the Link Info field of the Basic Multi-Link element may be as shown in Figure 7, and the STA Control field may include a Max Idle Period Info for Link Enabled Present field. Optionally, based on Figure 7, the STA Control field may further include the above-mentioned reachability field, as shown in Figure 8. 7 and 8, the station control field may further include information fields such as a complete profile field, a STA medium access control (MAC) address present field, a beacon interval present field, a timing synchronization function (TSF) offset present field, a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) information present field, a non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) link pair present field, and a BSS parameters change count present field.

[0158] Specifically, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the link enabled period maximum idle time period information present field occupies 1 bit. For example, when the link enabled period maximum idle time period information present field is 0, it indicates that the STA Info field in each station profile subelement includes the link enabled period maximum idle time period information (max idle period info for link enabled) field corresponding to the link identified by the link ID field, and when the link enabled period maximum idle time period information present field is 1, it indicates that the STA Info field in each station profile subelement does not include the link enabled period maximum idle time period information (max idle period info for link enabled) field corresponding to the link identified by the link ID field. For example, when the "Max idle time period information present for link enabled period" field is set to 1, it indicates that the station information field (STA Info field) in each station configuration subelement (Per-STA Profile subelement) includes the "Max idle time period information for link enabled" field corresponding to the link identified by the "Link ID field," and when the "Max idle time period information present for link enabled period" field is set to 0, it indicates that the station information field (STA Info field) in each station configuration subelement (Per-STA Profile subelement) does not include the "Max idle time period information for link enabled" field corresponding to the link identified by the "Link ID field."

[0159] In some embodiments, a station information field in each Per-STA Profile subelement included in a Link Info field of a Basic Multi-Link element may be as shown in Figure 9, where the STA Info field includes a Max Idle Period Info for Link Enabled field. Also, as shown in Figure 9, the STA Info field may further include at least one of a Station Info Length field, a STA MAC Address field, a Beacon Interval field, a TSF Offset field, a DTIM Info field, an NSTR Indication Bitmap field, and a BSS Parameters Change Count field.

[0160] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0162] In some embodiments, the duration T j is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T j is the maximum idle time period for the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link, the first subfield is a max idle period for link enabled subfield, the second subfield is an idle options subfield for the link enabled period, the first field is a Protected Keep-enabled Required field, and the second field is an expected operation beyond max space time field.

[0163] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a "max idle period info for link enabled" field. In this case, the "max idle period info for link enabled" field may be as shown in FIG. 10 and may include a "max idle period for link enabled" subfield and a "link enabled period idle options" subfield. Optionally, the "link enabled period idle options" subfield may be as shown in FIG. 11 and may include a "protected keep-enabled required" field and an "expected operation beyond max space time" field.

[0164] 10, the max idle period for link enabled subfield is used to indicate the idle timeout limit of the link enabled period, and adopts the unit of 1000 TUs, and its value "0" is reserved. For a non-AP STA, i.e., the max idle period information subfield of the link enabled period is sent by the non-AP MLD to which the non-AP STA is attached, and the non-AP STA considers the link to be kept enabled only if it should receive at least one frame (e.g., a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, or a management frame whose TID mapped to the link corresponds, and at the same time, meets the frame requirement indicated by the subfield required for maintaining protected enabled) transmitted by the attached AP corresponding to its associated AP MLD within the max idle period of the link enabled period indicated by the max idle period subfield of the link enabled period. For an AP, i.e., the Maximum Idle Time Period Information subfield of the link enabled period is sent by the AP MLD to which the AP is attached, and the AP considers the link to be maintained in an enabled state only if it should receive at least one frame (e.g., a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, or a management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, and at the same time, meets the frame requirements indicated by the subfield required for protected enabled maintenance) transmitted by an attached non-AP STA corresponding to its associated non-AP MLD within the maximum idle period of the link enabled period indicated by the Maximum Idle Time Period subfield of the link enabled period.

[0165] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, the Protected Keep-enabled Required field occupies one bit. For example, when the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is set to 1, it indicates that only protected frames indicate the enabled or active state, and when the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is set to 0, it indicates that both protected and unprotected frames can indicate the enabled or active state. Also, for example, when the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is set to 0, it indicates that only protected frames indicate the enabled or active state, and when the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is set to 1, it indicates that both protected and unprotected frames can indicate the enabled or active state.

[0166] Specifically, for example, for a non-AP STA, the Maximum Idle Time Period Information field of the Link Enabled Period is sent by the non-AP MLD to which the non-AP STA belongs, and the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is used to indicate the frame requirements that the associated AP transmits to the non-AP STA. For an AP, the Maximum Idle Time Period Information field of the Link Enabled Period is sent by the AP MLD to which the AP belongs, and the Protected Keep-enabled Required field is used to indicate the frame requirements that the associated non-AP STA transmits to the AP.

[0167] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, the expected operation beyond maximum spatial time field occupies one bit. For example, when the expected operation beyond maximum spatial time field is set to 0, it indicates that the link is expected to be set to "disabled" if no frame (satisfying the frame requirement indicated by the subfield required to maintain protected enabled) transmitted from a peer station on the corresponding link is received for a duration equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "maximum idle time period in link enabled period" subfield. When the expected operation beyond maximum spatial time field is set to 1, it indicates that the link is expected to be deleted if no frame (satisfying the frame requirement indicated by the subfield required to maintain protected enabled) transmitted from a peer station on the corresponding link is received for a duration equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "maximum idle time period in link enabled period" subfield. For example, a value of 1 in the expected operation over maximum spatial time field indicates that the link is expected to be set to "Disabled" if no frame (meeting the frame requirements indicated by the subfield required to maintain protected enablement) transmitted from a peer station on the corresponding link is received for a duration equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "Maximum idle time period in link enablement period" subfield, and a value of 0 in the expected operation over maximum spatial time field indicates that the link is expected to be deleted if no frame (meeting the frame requirements indicated by the subfield required to maintain protected enablement) transmitted from a peer station on the corresponding link is received for a duration equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "Maximum idle time period in link enablement period" subfield.

[0168] Specifically, for example, for a non-AP STA, the "Expected Operation Over Maximum Spatial Time" field indicates that the non-AP MLD expects to take action if it does not receive any frame (meeting the frame requirement indicated by the "Required to Keep Protected Enabled" subfield) transmitted from the peer station of the link (i.e., the corresponding AP) on the corresponding link to which the "Maximum Idle Time Period Information" subfield applies, whose duration is equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "Maximum Idle Time Period" subfield. For an AP, the "Expected Operation Over Maximum Spatial Time" field indicates that the AP MLD expects to take action if it does not receive any frame (meeting the frame requirement indicated by the "Required to Keep Protected Enabled" subfield) transmitted from the peer station of the link (i.e., the corresponding non-AP STA) on the corresponding link to which the "Maximum Idle Time Period Information" subfield applies, whose duration is equal to or greater than the time indicated by the "Maximum Idle Time Period" subfield.

[0169] In some embodiments, the duration T all When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all the established links.

[0170] That is, the fourth indication field included in the association request frame indicates that the AP MLD is to be all may be used to indicate

[0171] Alternatively, the associated request frame may be the above-mentioned first associated request frame or the above-mentioned second associated request frame.

[0172] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0173] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0174] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0175] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0176] In some embodiments, the duration T j is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all may be the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to all established links, the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time period information field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enabled period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time period information presence field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information presence subfield of the link enabled period.

[0177] In some embodiments, the Presence Bitmap subfield of the Multi-Link Control field of a Basic Multi-Link element may be as shown in Figure 12, where the Presence Bitmap subfield includes a Max Idle Period Info for Link Enabled Present field. Also, as shown in Figure 12, the Presence Bitmap subfield may further include the following information fields: Link ID Info Present field, BSS Parameters Change Count Present field, Medium Synchronization Delay Information Present field, Enhanced Multi-Link (EML) Capabilities Present field, MLD Capabilities and Operations Present field, and AP MLD Identification Present field.

[0178] In some embodiments, a Common Info field in a Multi-Link Control field of a Basic Multi-Link element may be as shown in Figure 13, where the Common Info field includes a max idle period info for link enabled field. As shown in Figure 13, the Common Info field may further include at least one of a Common Info Length field, an MLD MAC Address field, a Link ID Info field, a BSS Parameters Change Count field, a Medium Synchronization Delay Information field, an EML Capabilities field, an MLD Capabilities and Operations field, and an AP MLD Identity field.

[0179] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element is unreachable.

[0180] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0181] In some embodiments, the duration T j is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all is the maximum idle time period for the link enabled period corresponding to all established links, the third subfield is a max idle period for link enabled subfield, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield for the link enabled period, the third field is a Protected Keep-enabled Required field, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0182] The format of the third sub-field may be the same as the format of the first sub-field described above, the format of the fourth sub-field may be the same as the format of the second sub-field described above, the format of the third field may be the same as the format of the first field described above, and the format of the fourth field may be the same as the format of the second field described above, but this will not be repeated here.

[0183] In some embodiments, during a multi-link establishment period, if one attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD includes a maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period in each station configuration subelement of a multi-link element carried by an association request frame, the value of each subfield of the maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period applies to the link corresponding to each station configuration subelement (i.e., identified by the carried Link ID), and if one attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD includes a maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period in the general information field of a multi-link element carried by an association request frame, the value of each subfield of the maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period applies to all links indicated by the multi-link element or the link on which the multi-link element is transmitted. Here, for a link to which the maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enabled period transmitted by the non-AP MLD applies, the link is considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the non-AP STA corresponding to the link should receive at least one frame (e.g., a data frame, PS-Poll frame, or management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, which at the same time meets the frame requirements indicated by the subfield (if any) required for maintaining protected enabled indicated by the subfield) transmitted by the attached AP corresponding to its associated AP MLD (i.e., the AP corresponding to the link) within the maximum idle period of the link enabled period indicated by the subfield)

[0184] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD acquires information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD. When the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the basic multi-link element in the association request frame carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, which is used to indicate that the link is considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the corresponding non-AP STA should receive at least one frame transmitted by the attached AP corresponding to the associated AP MLD within the maximum idle period of the link enabled period (e.g., a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, or a management frame whose TID mapped to the link corresponds, and which simultaneously satisfies the frame requirement indicated by the subfield required for protected enablement). Optionally, the AP MLD may also carry the "Maximum Idle Time Period Information of Link Enable Period" of the link requested to be established in the basic multilink element in the associated response frame, which is used to indicate that the link is considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the non-AP station should transmit at least one frame that maintains the enabled state of the link to the AP associated with the AP MLD (e.g., a data frame, PS-Poll frame, or management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, which at the same time meets the frame requirements indicated by the subfield required for protected enablement maintenance) within the maximum idle period of the link enable period indicated by the subfield.

[0185] Optionally, after the multi-link establishment is completed, for the non-AP MLD, for an enabled link therein (i.e., an enabled link, set to Link-i), if the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i does not receive any frame transmitted by the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i during the corresponding "maximum idle time period of the link enable period (sent by the non-AP MLD)" (if there is no frame type requirement), or if it does not receive a frame of a specified type transmitted by APi (if there is a frame type requirement), the non-AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request to the AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "disabled" state in consultation with the AP MLD, or the non-AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping notification to the AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "disabled" state. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 14, before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD obtains information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs. When the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the basic multi-link element in the association request frame carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T1 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 14. At the same time, the basic multi-link element in the association response frame also carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" (optional) of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T2 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 14.After the multi-link establishment is completed, for the enabled link Link3, if STA3 does not receive any frame (without frame type requirement) transmitted by AP3 during the corresponding "maximum idle time period of the link enable period" (i.e., T1 in FIG. 14) after entering the enabled state, or if STA3 does not receive a frame of the specified type (with frame type requirement) transmitted by AP3 during the T1 period, the non-AP MLD will initiate a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request via Link1 and set Link3 to the "disabled" state in consultation with the non-AP MLD.

[0186] Optionally, after multi-link establishment is complete, for a non-AP MLD, for an enabled link (i.e., an enabled link, set to Link-i), if the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i does not receive any frame transmitted by the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i during the corresponding "Maximum Idle Time Period (sent by the non-AP MLD)" (if there is no frame type requirement), or if it does not receive a frame of a specified type transmitted by APi (if there is a frame type requirement), the non-AP MLD initiates a link reconfiguration request to the AP MLD and deletes Link-i in consultation with the AP MLD, or the non-AP MLD initiates a link reconfiguration notification to the AP MLD and deletes Link-i. Here, if there are other enabled links in the non-AP MLD, the non-AP MLD remains associated with the AP MLD. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 15, before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD obtains information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs. When the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the basic multi-link element in the association request frame carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T1 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 15. At the same time, the basic multi-link element in the association response frame also carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" (optional) of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T2 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 15.After the multi-link establishment is completed, if STA3 does not receive any frame (without frame type requirement) transmitted by AP3 during the corresponding "Maximum Idle Time Period of Link Enablement Period" (T1 in Figure 15) after entering the enabled state for enabled link Link3, or if STA3 does not receive any frame of the specified type (with frame type requirement) transmitted by AP3 during the T1 period, the non-AP MLD will initiate a link reconfiguration request via Link1, negotiate with the AP MLD, and delete Link3. Since enabled links Link1 and Link2 still exist, the non-AP MLD will remain associated with the AP MLD.

[0187] Optionally, the maximum idle time period T2 of the link enabled period is greater than the maximum idle time period T1 of the link enabled period.

[0188] Therefore, in this embodiment, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the non-AP MLD manages the N links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0189] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process depending on the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0190] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the non-AP MLD sets the N links that are unreachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD to an inactive state, or the non-AP MLD deletes the N links that are unreachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0191] The non-AP MLD side embodiment of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 3 to 15, and the AP MLD side embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 16 to 18. It will be understood that the AP MLD side embodiment corresponds to the non-AP MLD side embodiment, and similar descriptions may refer to the non-AP MLD side embodiment.

[0192] 16 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link communication method 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the multi-link communication method 300 may include at least some of the following contents:

[0193] S310: The AP MLD receives a first association request frame or a second association request frame through one of its associated APs, where the first association request frame is used to request establishment of M links within a reachable communication range of the associated AP of the AP MLD of an associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD, where the second association request frame is used to request establishment of the M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are reachable for communication, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled, where M is a positive integer.

[0194] In this embodiment, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD. Specifically, the non-AP MLD transmits the first association request frame or the second association request frame according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD. That is, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0195] In this embodiment, a “field” may be called a “field” or a “subfield.” One field may occupy one or more bytes (byte / octet), or one field may occupy one or more bits (bits).

[0196] The present embodiment mainly targets the establishment and management of multi-links between AP MLD and non-AP MLD, but may also be extended to the establishment and management of multi-links between one non-AP MLD and another non-AP MLD, i.e., the AP MLD in the present embodiment is replaced with another non-AP MLD.

[0197] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0198] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by another AP in the same co-located Basic Service Set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0199] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame (e.g., a beacon frame or other frame) transmitted by another AP in the same Multiple BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable;

[0200] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0201] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0202] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD receives a first association request frame through one of its associated APs, the first association request frame is determined based on the communication reachability between the associated non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD and the associated APs of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M tentatively established links.

[0203] That is, for non-AP STAs attached to non-AP MLDs that are within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the provisionally established link, corresponding link establishment is performed. That is, the links requested to be established that are conveyed in the association request frame during multi-link establishment include these links for which communication reachability has been determined. For non-AP STAs attached to non-AP MLDs that are not within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the provisionally established link, corresponding link establishment is not performed. That is, the links requested to be established that are conveyed in the association request frame during multi-link establishment do not include these links for which communication unreachability has been determined.

[0204] The non-AP MLD may transmit the first association request frame via a plurality of non-AP STAs attached thereto, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0205] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, non-AP MLD requests the establishment of a link among the M provisionally established links that is within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, according to the communication reachability between the non-AP MLD-attached non-AP STA and the AP attached to the AP MLD. That is, the links established according to the non-AP MLD request can reflect the actual communication status of the links. In other words, non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0206] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, STA1 of the non-AP MLD acquires information about the AP MLD and its associated AP via a beacon frame and / or a multilink probe response frame, checks the reachability of each of the provisionally established links (Link1, Link2, and Link3) (the reachability check method is as described above), and determines that Link1 and Link2 are reachable but Link3 is unreachable. In this case, the non-AP MLD initiates a multilink establishment association request, requesting only the establishment of Link1 and Link2, but not Link3. After the non-AP MLD and AP MLD complete the association request / response interaction, the establishment of Link1 and Link2 is completed.

[0207] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD receives a second association request frame through one of its associated APs, the second association request frame is determined based on the communication reachability between the associated non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD and the associated APs of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M tentatively established links.

[0208] That is, for each attached station of a link requested to be established in non-AP MLD, a corresponding link establishment is performed, but when non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, it indicates whether the link requested to be established is reachable and / or enabled.

[0209] The non-AP MLD may transmit the second association request frame via a plurality of non-AP STAs attached thereto, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0210] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests the establishment of M links by transmitting a second association request frame according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. The second association request frame carries information related to whether the M links are communication reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0211] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0212] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as unreachable and / or disabled.

[0213] Specifically, for example, for an attached station of a non-AP MLD that is within the reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the reachability of the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as "reachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "enabled." For an attached station of a non-AP MLD that is not within the reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the reachability of the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as "unreachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "disabled."

[0214] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field, where the M first indication fields correspond to the M links respectively, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not, and where the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0215] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element (TID-To-Link Mapping element).

[0216] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0217] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0218] For the format of the second association request frame, the relevant description of the multi-link communication method 200 in FIG. 5 may be referred to, but will not be repeated here.

[0219] Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 6, STA1 of the non-AP MLD obtains information about the AP MLD and its associated AP via a beacon frame and / or a multi-link probe response frame, and checks the reachability of each of the provisionally established links (Link1, Link2, and Link3) (the method for checking reachability is as described above), and confirms that Link1 and Link2 are reachable for communication, but Link3 is not reachable for communication. In this case, in the association request for multi-link establishment initiated by non-AP MLD, the corresponding links (Link1, Link2, Link3) are established for each attached station of the requested link. When non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the reachability of Link1 and Link2 is indicated as "reachable" in the association request, and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "enabled." For Link3, the reachability is indicated as "unreachable" and / or the link is accordingly indicated as "disabled." After the association request / response interaction between non-AP MLD and AP MLD is completed, the establishment of Link1, Link2, and Link3 is completed.

[0220] Note that FIG. 6 only shows an example of indicating whether or not the related request and related response are enabled, but it is also possible to indicate whether or not they are reachable, or to indicate whether or not they are enabled and whether or not they are reachable at the same time, but the present embodiment is not limited to this.

[0221] In some embodiments, the AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between the AP MLD's attached AP and the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M.

[0222] In this embodiment, the AP MLD manages the N established links according to the communication reachability between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, corresponding to each of the N established links. That is, the AP MLD can optimize the multi-link management process according to the communication reachability of the established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0223] In some embodiments, the N links are some or all of the links over which the AP MLD is established.

[0224] In some embodiments, the step of managing the N established links by the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links includes:

[0225] The method includes a step in which the AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are communication unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or the AP MLD deletes, among the N links, links that are communication unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD.

[0226] In some embodiments, after the multi-link establishment is completed, if communication is not reachable between the attached station (set as STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i and the attached station (set as APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i for the established link (set as Link-i), the AP MLD may adopt one of the following actions:

[0227] 1) AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request to non-AP MLD and sets Link-i to "Disabled" state in consultation with non-AP MLD, or AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping notification to non-AP MLD and sets Link-i to "Disabled" state.

[0228] 2) The AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Request to the non-AP MLD and deletes Link-i after consultation with the non-AP MLD, or the AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Notification to the non-AP MLD and deletes Link-i.

[0229] In some embodiments, the manner in which the AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0230] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the corresponding AP MLD's attached AP and the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STA to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification (TID) mapping.

[0231] Specifically, for example, if at least one TID is mapped to an established link in the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "enabled" or in an "enabled state," and if no TID is mapped to an established link in the uplink or downlink, the established link is defined as "disabled" or in a "disabled state."

[0232] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link where communication is not reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, for a link among the N links that was set to a non-enabled state due to communication being not reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, if communication is reachable between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link, the AP MLD sets the link to an enabled state.

[0233] For example, after multi-link establishment is completed, if communication is not possible between the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i and the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i for the established link (set to Link-i), the AP MLD sets the enabled Link-i to a non-enabled state. After a certain period of time has passed, due to movement of STAi or improvement in link quality, communication may become possible between STAi and APi. After communication is possible between STAi and APi, the AP MLD sets Link-i to an enabled state.

[0234] In some embodiments, the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is j ’If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD are communicatively reachable, or

[0235] The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, communication between the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD is reachable;

[0236] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0237] That is, duration T j ’ may be the idle timeout limit of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all ’ may be the idle timeout limit for the link enable period corresponding to all established links.

[0238] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is the periodic duration, i.e., the duration T j ’may be the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link.

[0239] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is determined or directed by the AP MLD.

[0240] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’ is the periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all ’ may be the maximum idle time period of the link enable period corresponding to all established links.

[0241] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’ is determined or directed by the AP MLD.

[0242] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0243] Specifically, for example, the designated frame type for indicating the enabled or active state of a link may be a protected frame, i.e., only protected frames indicate the enabled or active state.

[0244] Specifically, and for example, the specified frame types for indicating the enabled or active state of a link may be protected and unprotected frames, i.e., both protected and unprotected frames may indicate the enabled or active state.

[0245] In some embodiments, the at least one frame includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a data frame, a Power Saving Poll (PS-Poll) frame, and a management frame corresponding to a TID mapped to the jth link.

[0246] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the associated response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs is S ’ The third instruction field is included, and the S ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to a link, where the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for multi-link establishment, and S ’ is a positive integer.

[0247] That is, the third indication field included in the association response frame indicates that non-AP MLD is to be j ’ may be used to indicate

[0248] Alternatively, the associated response frame may be an associated response frame to the first associated request frame, or an associated response frame to the second associated request frame.

[0249] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0250] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0251] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0252] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0253] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link, the third indication field is a maximum idle time period information field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enabled period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time period information presence field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information presence subfield of the link enabled period.

[0254] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when communication between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0255] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0256] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time period for the link enabled period corresponding to the jth link, the first subfield is a max idle period for link enabled subfield, the second subfield is an idle options subfield for the link enabled period, the first field is a Protected Keep-enabled Required field, and the second field is an expected operation beyond max space time field.

[0257] For specific formats of the first presence field and the third indication field, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of the multi-link communication method 200 shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, which will not be repeated here.

[0258] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the jth link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the jth link based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to the association request frame for multi-link establishment.

[0259] That is, the fourth indication field included in the association response frame indicates that the AP MLD all ’ may be used to indicate

[0260] Alternatively, the associated response frame may be an associated response frame corresponding to the first associated request frame, or may be an associated response frame corresponding to the second associated request frame.

[0261] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0262] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0263] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0264] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0265] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all ’ may be the maximum idle time period of the link enabled period corresponding to all established links, the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time period information field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enabled period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time period information presence field of the link enabled period or a maximum idle time period information presence subfield of the link enabled period.

[0266] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable.

[0267] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0268] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is a periodic duration, i.e., the duration T all ’ is the maximum idle time period for the link enabled period corresponding to all established links, the third subfield is a max idle period for link enabled subfield, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield for the link enabled period, the third field is a Protected Keep-enabled Required field, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0269] For specific formats of the second presence field and the fourth indication field, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of the multi-link communication method 200 in FIGS. 12 and 13, which will not be repeated here.

[0270] In some embodiments, during a multi-link establishment period, if one attached AP of the AP MLD includes a maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period in each station configuration sub-element of a multi-link element carried by an association response frame, the value of each sub-field of the maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period applies to the link corresponding to each station configuration sub-element (i.e., identified by the carried Link ID), and if one attached AP of the AP MLD includes a maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period in the general information field of a multi-link element carried by an association response frame, the value of each sub-field of the maximum idle time period information subfield for the link enabled period applies to all links indicated by the multi-link element or the link on which the multi-link element is transmitted. Here, for a link to which the maximum idle time period information subfield of the link enable period transmitted by the AP MLD applies, the link is considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the non-AP station to which the link corresponds should send at least one frame to maintain the enabled state of the link to its associated AP (i.e., the AP corresponding to the link) within the maximum idle period of the link enable period indicated by the subfield (e.g., a data frame, PS-Poll frame, or management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, and at the same time, satisfy the frame requirements indicated by the subfield (if any) required for maintaining the protected enabled state indicated by the subfield).

[0271] In some embodiments, the AP MLD also carries the "Maximum Idle Time Period Information of Link Enable Period" of the link requested to be established in the Basic Multilink Element of the Association Response frame to indicate that the link is considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the non-AP station should transmit at least one frame that maintains the enabled state of the link (e.g., a data frame, PS-Poll frame, or management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, and that simultaneously meets the frame requirements indicated by the Required for Protected Enablement Subfield) to the AP associated with the AP MLD within the Maximum Idle Time Period of the Link Enable Period indicated by the subfield. Optionally, the non-AP MLD acquires information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs before initiating multilink establishment with the AP MLD. When a non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the basic multi-link element in the association request frame carries the "maximum idle time period information of link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, which is used to indicate that the link will be considered to be maintained in an enabled state only if the corresponding non-AP STA should receive at least one frame transmitted by the attached AP corresponding to its associated AP MLD within the maximum idle period of the link enabled period (e.g., a data frame, PS-Poll frame, or management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the link, and at the same time, the frame requirement indicated by the subfield required for protected enabled maintenance is met).

[0272] Alternatively, for AP MLD, for an enabled link (i.e., Enabled Link, set to Link-i) established with non-AP MLD, if the attached station (set to APi) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i does not receive any frame transmitted by the attached station (set to STAi) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i during the corresponding "Maximum Idle Time Period of Link Enabled Period (sent by AP MLD)" (if there is no frame type requirement), or if it does not receive a frame of a specified type transmitted by STAi (if there is a frame type requirement), the AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request to the non-AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "Disabled" state in consultation with the non-AP MLD, or the AP MLD initiates a traffic identification to link mapping notification to the non-AP MLD and sets Link-i to the "Disabled" state. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 17, before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD obtains information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs. When the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, it conveys, in the basic multi-link element of the association request frame, the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" (optional) of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T1 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 17. At the same time, the AP MLD also conveys, in the basic multi-link element of the association response frame, the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T2 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 17.After the multi-link establishment is completed, for AP MLD, after the enabled link Link3 enters the enabled state, if AP3 does not receive any frame (without frame type requirement) transmitted by STA3 during the corresponding "maximum idle time period of the link enabled period" (T2 in the figure), or if it does not receive a frame of the specified type (with frame type requirement) transmitted by STA3 during the T2 period, AP MLD will initiate a traffic identification to link mapping (TID-To-Link Mapping) request via Link1 and set Link3 to the "disabled" state in consultation with the non-AP MLD.

[0273] Alternatively, for an AP MLD, for an enabled link (i.e., an enabled link, set to Link-i) established with a non-AP MLD, if the attached station (set to AP i) of the AP MLD corresponding to Link-i does not receive any frame transmitted by the attached station (set to STA i) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to Link-i during the corresponding "Maximum Idle Time Period of the Link Enabled Period (sent by the AP MLD)" (if there is no frame type requirement), or if it does not receive a frame of a specified type transmitted by STA i (if there is a frame type requirement), the AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Request to the non-AP MLD and deletes Link-i in consultation with the non-AP MLD, or the AP MLD initiates a Link Reconfiguration Notification to the non-AP MLD and deletes Link-i. Here, if there are other enabled links in the non-AP MLD, the non-AP MLD remains associated with the AP MLD. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 18, before initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD obtains information from the AP MLD and each of its interested attached APs. When the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment, the basic multi-link element in the association request frame carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" (optional) of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T1 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 18. At the same time, the basic multi-link element in the association response frame also carries the "maximum idle time period information of the link enabled period" of the link requested to be established, i.e., the maximum idle time period T2 of the link enabled period corresponding to link 3 in Figure 18.After the multi-link establishment is completed, if AP3 does not receive any frame (without frame type requirement) transmitted by STA3 during the corresponding "Maximum Idle Time Period of Link Enablement Period" (T2 in Figure 15) after entering the enabled state for enabled link Link3, or if AP3 does not receive any frame of the specified type (with frame type requirement) transmitted by STA3 during the T2 period, AP MLD will initiate a Link Reconfiguration Request via Link1, negotiate with non-AP MLD, and delete Link3. Since enabled links Link1 and Link2 still exist, non-AP MLD will remain associated with AP MLD.

[0274] Therefore, in this embodiment, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and / or the AP MLD manages the N links depending on the communication reachability between the APs attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0275] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process depending on the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0276] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the AP MLD sets the N links that are unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to an inactive state, or the AP MLD deletes the N links that are unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0277] An embodiment of the non-AP MLD side of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 3 to 15, and another embodiment of the non-AP MLD side of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 19. It will be understood that the embodiments of the non-AP MLD side correspond to each other, and similar descriptions may refer to the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 15 above.

[0278] 19 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link communication method 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 19, the multi-link communication method 400 may include at least some of the following contents:

[0279] S410, the non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between the associated non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD and the associated APs of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer.

[0280] In some embodiments, the step of managing the N established links by the non-AP MLD according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links includes:

[0281] The non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are communication unreachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD to a disabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes, among the N links, the links that are communication unreachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD.

[0282] In some embodiments, the manner in which the non-AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0283] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are not reachable for communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the links among the N links that are set to a non-enabled state refer to links that do not have a traffic identification (TID) mapping.

[0284] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets an enabled link among the N links, which is communication unreachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, to an unenabled state, the method includes:

[0285] The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that has been set to a non-enabled state due to communication inaccessibility between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD, setting the link to an enabled state by the non-AP MLD if communication is reachable between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD.

[0286] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD associated non-AP STA corresponding to the j-th link is j If at least one frame transmitted by the AP MLD attached to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the AP MLD attached to the j-th link are reachable, or

[0287] The non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all If a STA receives at least one frame transmitted by an AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link within the j-th link, the STA is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link, and the AP associated with the AP MLD is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the j-th link.

[0288] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0289] In some embodiments, the duration T j is the periodic duration, and / or the duration T all is the periodic duration.

[0290] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0291] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0292] The frame includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to a TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0293] In some embodiments, the duration T j When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of the link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

[0294] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0295] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0296] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0297] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0298] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0300] In some embodiments, the duration T all When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all the established links.

[0301] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0302] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0303] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0304] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0305] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element is unreachable.

[0306] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0307] In some embodiments, before the non-AP MLD manages the N links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links and the APs of the AP MLD, the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs of the AP MLD, where M is a positive integer and M≧N.

[0308] In some embodiments, the step of initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD in response to communication reachability between the non-AP MLD-attached non-AP STAs and the AP MLD-attached APs corresponding to each of the M links tentatively established with the non-AP MLD includes:

[0309] The non-AP MLD includes transmitting a first association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto.

[0310] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links that is within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0311] In some embodiments, the step of initiating multi-link establishment with the AP MLD in response to communication reachability between the non-AP MLD-attached non-AP STAs and the AP MLD-attached APs corresponding to each of the M links tentatively established with the non-AP MLD includes:

[0312] The non-AP MLD sends a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto.

[0313] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of the M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0314] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0315] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0316] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field, wherein the M first indication fields correspond to the M links respectively, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not, and wherein the second indication fields are used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0317] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0318] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0319] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0320] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0321] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0322] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0323] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0324] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0325] Therefore, in this embodiment, the non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, and / or the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the APs attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0326] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD of the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests establishment of M links depending on the communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD, corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process depending on the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0327] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the non-AP MLD sets the N links that are unreachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD to an inactive state, or the non-AP MLD deletes the N links that are unreachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the APs attached to the AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0328] An embodiment of the AP MLD side of the present application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 16 to 18, and another embodiment of the AP MLD side of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 20. It is understood that the embodiments of the AP MLD side correspond to each other, and similar descriptions may refer to the embodiments shown in Figures 16 to 18 above.

[0329] 20 is a schematic flowchart of a multi-link communication method 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the multi-link communication method 500 may include at least some of the following contents:

[0330] S510, the AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between the APs of the AP MLD and the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer.

[0331] In some embodiments, the step of managing the N established links by the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links includes:

[0332] The method includes a step in which the AP MLD sets, among the N links, enabled links that are communication unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or the AP MLD deletes, among the N links, links that are communication unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD.

[0333] In some embodiments, the manner in which the AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0334] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the associated AP of the corresponding AP MLD and the associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping.

[0335] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between the corresponding AP MLD's attached AP and the corresponding non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STA, in a non-enabled state, which is communication unreachable, the method includes:

[0336] The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that has been set to a non-enabled state due to communication inaccessibility between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, setting the link to an enabled state when communication is reachable between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link.

[0337] In some embodiments, the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is j ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD are communicatively reachable, or

[0338] The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, communication between the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD is reachable;

[0339] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0340] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is the periodic duration, and / or the duration T all ’ is the periodic duration.

[0341] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0342] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0343] The j-th link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to the traffic identification TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0344] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the associated response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs is S ’ The third instruction field is included, and the S ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to a link, where the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for multi-link establishment, and S ’ is a positive integer.

[0345] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0346] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0347] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0348] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0349] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when communication between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0350] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0351] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the jth link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the jth link based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to the association request frame for multi-link establishment.

[0352] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0353] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0354] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0355] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0356] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable.

[0357] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0358] In some embodiments, the AP MLD receives a first association request frame via one of its attached APs before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between the APs of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLDs corresponding to each of the N links.

[0359] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0360] In some embodiments, before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between the APs of the AP MLD and the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLDs corresponding to each of the N links, the AP MLD receives a second association request frame via one of the APs attached to it.

[0361] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0362] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0363] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD associated with the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0364] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field.

[0365] Here, the M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not.

[0366] Here, the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0367] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes a basic multilink element, wherein a station control field in each station configuration subelement included in a link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and the first instruction field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0368] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0369] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0370] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0371] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0372] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0373] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0374] Therefore, in this embodiment, the AP MLD manages the N established links according to the communication reachability between the AP MLD's attached AP and the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs corresponding to each of the N established links, and / or the non-AP MLD initiates multi-link establishment with the AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STAs corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the AP MLD's attached AP, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0375] Specifically, during the multi-link establishment process, the non-AP MLD requests the establishment of M links within the reachable communication range of the AP MLD-attached AP of the corresponding non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD-attached AP corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links. Alternatively, the non-AP MLD requests the establishment of M links according to the communication reachability between the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD-attached AP corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, and reports information related to whether the M links are reachable and / or whether the M links are enabled, thereby reflecting the actual communication status of the links. In other words, the non-AP MLD can optimize the multi-link establishment process according to the communication reachability of the provisionally established links, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links matches the enabled status of the links.

[0376] Specifically, after the multi-link establishment is completed, the AP MLD sets the N links that are unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to an inactive state, or the AP MLD deletes the N links that are unreachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, thereby ensuring that the actual communication status of the links is consistent with the enabled status of the links.

[0377] Above, method embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 20, and below, apparatus embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to Figures 21 to 27. It is understood that apparatus embodiments correspond to method embodiments and similar descriptions may refer to method embodiments.

[0378] 21 is a schematic block diagram of a non-AP MLD 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 21, the non-AP MLD 600

[0379] The communication unit 610 is used to initiate multi-link establishment between an associated non-AP station (non-AP STA) of a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and an associated access point (AP) of the access point multi-link device (AP MLD) according to communication reachability between the associated non-AP station (non-AP STA) of the non-AP MLD and the associated access point (AP), where M is a positive integer.

[0380] In some embodiments, the communication unit 610 specifically includes:

[0381] It is used to send the first association request frame via one non-AP STA attached to it.

[0382] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links that is within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0383] In some embodiments, the communication unit 610 specifically includes:

[0384] It is used to transmit a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached to it.

[0385] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of the M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0386] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0387] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0388] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field.

[0389] Here, the M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not.

[0390] Here, the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0391] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0392] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0393] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0394] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0395] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0396] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0397] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0398] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0399] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD 600:

[0400] The device further includes a processing unit 620, which is used to manage the N established links according to communication reachability between the associated non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD and the associated APs of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M.

[0401] In some embodiments, the processing unit 620 specifically:

[0402] It is used to set, among the N links, enabled links that are not communicatively reachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLDs and the APs attached to the AP MLDs to a non-enabled state, or to delete, among the N links, links that are not communicatively reachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLDs and the APs attached to the AP MLDs.

[0403] In some embodiments, the manner in which the non-AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0404] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping.

[0405] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, to a non-enabled state, an enabled link among the N links where communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD is unreachable, the processing unit 620 is further used to set, to an enabled state, a link among the N links that was set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD, if communication between the associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the link is reachable.

[0406] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD associated non-AP STA corresponding to the j-th link is j If at least one frame transmitted by the AP MLD attached to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the AP MLD attached to the j-th link are reachable, or

[0407] The non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all If a STA receives at least one frame transmitted by an AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link within the j-th link, the STA is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link, and the AP associated with the AP MLD is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the j-th link.

[0408] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0409] In some embodiments, the duration T j is the periodic duration, and / or the duration T all is the periodic duration.

[0410] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0411] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0412] The frame includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to a TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0413] In some embodiments, the duration T j When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of the link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

[0414] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0415] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0416] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0417] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0418] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0419] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0420] In some embodiments, the duration T allWhen determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all the established links.

[0421] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0422] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0423] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0424] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0425] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element is unreachable.

[0426] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0427] In some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0428] It is understood that the non-AP MLD 600 according to the present embodiment may correspond to the non-AP MLD in the method embodiment of the present application, and the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the non-AP MLD 600 are for realizing the corresponding process of the non-AP MLD in the method 200 shown in FIG. 3, respectively, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0429] 22 is a schematic block diagram of an access point multi-link device AP MLD 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 22, the AP MLD 700 includes:

[0430] It comprises a communication unit 710, which is used for receiving the first association request frame or the second association request frame via one access point AP attached thereto.

[0431] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links within the reachable communication range of the associated AP of the AP MLD of the associated non-AP station (non-AP STA) of the corresponding non-AP multilink device (non-AP MLD).

[0432] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0433] Here, M is a positive integer.

[0434] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0435] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0436] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field.

[0437] Here, the M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not.

[0438] Here, the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled.

[0439] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0440] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0441] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0442] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0443] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0444] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0445] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0446] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0447] In some embodiments, the AP MLD 700:

[0448] The wireless LAN controller 700 further includes a processing unit 720, which is used to manage the N established links according to communication reachability between the associated APs of the AP MLD and the associated non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M.

[0449] In some embodiments, the processing unit 720 specifically:

[0450] This is used to set, among the N links, enabled links that are not communicatively reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or to delete, among the N links, links that are not communicatively reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD.

[0451] In some embodiments, the manner in which the AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0452] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the associated AP of the corresponding AP MLD and the associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping.

[0453] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between the corresponding AP MLD's attached AP and the corresponding non-AP MLD's attached non-AP STA, in a non-enabled state, which is communication unreachable, the method includes:

[0454] The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that has been set to a non-enabled state due to communication inaccessibility between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, setting the link to an enabled state when communication is reachable between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link.

[0455] In some embodiments, the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is j ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD are communicatively reachable, or

[0456] The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, communication between the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD is reachable;

[0457] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0458] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is the periodic duration, and / or the duration Tall ’ is the periodic duration.

[0459] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0460] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0461] The j-th link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to the traffic identification TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0462] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the associated response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs is S ’ The third instruction field is included, and the S ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ It is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enabled period corresponding to this link.

[0463] Here, the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for establishing a multi-link, and S ’ is a positive integer.

[0464] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0465] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0466] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0467] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0468] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when communication between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0469] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0470] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the jth link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the jth link based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to the association request frame for multi-link establishment.

[0471] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0472] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0473] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0474] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0475] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable.

[0476] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0477] In some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0478] It is understood that the AP MLD 700 according to the present embodiment may correspond to the AP MLD in the method embodiment of the present application, and the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the AP MLD 700 are for realizing the corresponding process of the AP MLD in the method 300 shown in FIG. 16, respectively, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0479] 23 is a schematic block diagram of a non-AP MLD 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 23, the non-AP MLD 800

[0480] The apparatus further includes a processing unit 810 that is used to manage the N established links according to communication reachability between an associated non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links and an associated access point AP of an access point multi-link device AP MLD, where N is a positive integer.

[0481] In some embodiments, the processing unit 810 specifically:

[0482] It is used to set, among the N links, enabled links that are not communicatively reachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLDs and the APs attached to the AP MLDs to a non-enabled state, or to delete, among the N links, links that are not communicatively reachable between the non-AP STAs attached to the corresponding non-AP MLDs and the APs attached to the AP MLDs.

[0483] In some embodiments, the manner in which the non-AP MLD handles a link among the N links that is not reachable for communication between the non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD is determined by consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0484] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping.

[0485] In some embodiments, when the non-AP MLD sets, to a non-enabled state, an enabled link among the N links where communication between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD is unreachable, the processing unit 810 is further used to set, to an enabled state, a link among the N links that has been set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between the associated non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD, if communication between the associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and the associated AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the link is reachable.

[0486] In some embodiments, the non-AP MLD associated non-AP STA corresponding to the j-th link is j If at least one frame transmitted by the AP MLD attached to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the AP MLD attached to the j-th link are reachable, or

[0487] The non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all If a STA receives at least one frame transmitted by an AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link within the j-th link, the STA is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link, and the AP associated with the AP MLD is in communication reachable with the non-AP MLD associated with the j-th link.

[0488] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0489] In some embodiments, the duration T j is the periodic duration, and / or the duration T all is the periodic duration.

[0490] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0491] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0492] The frame includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to a TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0493] In some embodiments, the duration T j When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of the link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

[0494] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0495] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0496] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0497] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0498] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0499] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0500] In some embodiments, the duration T all When determining the communication reachability between the non-AP STAs attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the APs attached to the AP MLD based on the above, the associated request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all the established links.

[0501] In some embodiments, the associated request frame for multilink establishment includes basic multilink elements.

[0502] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0503] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0504] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0505] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element is unreachable.

[0506] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0507] In some embodiments, before the non-AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLDs and the APs of the AP MLDs corresponding to each of the N links, the non-AP MLD 800:

[0508] The non-AP MLD further includes a communication unit 810, which is used to initiate multi-link establishment between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA and the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, where M is a positive integer and M≧N.

[0509] In some embodiments, the communication unit 810 specifically includes:

[0510] It is used to send the first association request frame via one non-AP STA attached to it.

[0511] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links that is within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0512] In some embodiments, the communication unit 810 specifically includes:

[0513] It is used to transmit a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached to it.

[0514] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of the M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0515] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0516] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0517] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field.

[0518] Here, the M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not.

[0519] Here, the second indication fields are used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled.

[0520] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0521] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0522] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0523] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0524] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0525] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0526] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0527] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0528] In some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0529] It is understood that the non-AP MLD 800 according to the present embodiment may correspond to the non-AP MLD in the method embodiment of the present application, and the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the non-AP MLD 800 are for realizing the corresponding process of the non-AP MLD in the method 400 shown in FIG. 19, respectively, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0530] 24 is a schematic block diagram of an access point multi-link device AP MLD 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 24, the AP MLD 900

[0531] The system further includes a processing unit 910 that is used to manage the N established links according to communication reachability between an associated access point AP of an AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and an associated non-access point station non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD, where N is a positive integer.

[0532] In some embodiments, the processing unit 910 specifically:

[0533] This is used to set, among the N links, enabled links that are not communicatively reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or to delete, among the N links, links that are not communicatively reachable between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD.

[0534] In some embodiments, the AP MLD determines a handling method for a link among the N links for which communication is not possible between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD through consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

[0535] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the associated AP of the corresponding AP MLD and the associated non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping.

[0536] In some embodiments, when the AP MLD sets, to a non-enabled state, an enabled link among the N links where communication between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is unreachable, the processing unit 910 is further used to set, to an enabled state, a link among the N links that has been set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between the AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, if communication between the AP attached to the AP MLD and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link is reachable.

[0537] In some embodiments, the attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is j ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD are communicatively reachable, or

[0538] The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is all’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within the j-th link, communication between the AP associated with the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA associated with the non-AP MLD is reachable;

[0539] Here, the j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T j ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the jth link, and the duration T all ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

[0540] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’ is the periodic duration, and / or the duration T all ’ is the periodic duration.

[0541] In some embodiments, the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of the link.

[0542] In some embodiments, the at least one frame comprises:

[0543] The j-th link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to the traffic identification TID mapped to the j-th link.

[0544] In some embodiments, the duration T j ’When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the associated response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs is S ’ The third instruction field is included, and the S ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ It is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enabled period corresponding to this link.

[0545] Here, the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for establishing a multi-link, and S ’ is a positive integer.

[0546] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0547] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station control field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0548] In some embodiments, if the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, then the station information field in each station location subelement includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0549] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the first presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0550] In some embodiments, the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, where the first subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period of the corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, where the first field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when communication between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable.

[0551] In some embodiments, the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0552] In some embodiments, the duration T all ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the jth link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the jth link based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its associated APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate the maximum idle time information of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to the association request frame for multi-link establishment.

[0553] In some embodiments, the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0554] Here, the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0555] In some embodiments, if the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, then the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

[0556] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information field, and the second presence field is a link enabled period maximum idle time information presence field.

[0557] In some embodiments, the fourth indication field includes a third subfield and a fourth subfield, where the third subfield is used to indicate the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth subfield includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate frame type information of an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate the operation of the AP MLD when the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable.

[0558] In some embodiments, the third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enabled period, the fourth subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enabled period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field.

[0559] In some embodiments, before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between the APs of the AP MLDs and the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLDs corresponding to each of the N links, the AP MLD 900:

[0560] It further comprises a communication unit 920, which is used for receiving a first association request frame via one AP attached thereto.

[0561] Here, the first association request frame is used to request the establishment of a link among the M links within the reachable communication range of the attached AP of the AP MLD of the attached non-AP STA of the corresponding non-AP MLD.

[0562] In some embodiments, before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between the APs of the AP MLDs and the non-AP STAs of the non-AP MLDs corresponding to each of the N links, the AP MLD 900:

[0563] It further comprises a communication unit 920, which is used to receive a second association request frame via one AP attached thereto.

[0564] Here, the second associated request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second associated request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled.

[0565] In some embodiments, for a non-AP STA associated with a non-AP MLD that is within reachable communication range of an associated AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as reachable and / or enabled.

[0566] For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of the AP attached to the AP MLD associated with the tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled.

[0567] In some embodiments, the second associated request frame includes M first indication fields and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field.

[0568] Here, the M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not.

[0569] Here, the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled or not.

[0570] In some embodiments, the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element.

[0571] Here, the station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multi-link element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

[0572] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a reachability field and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

[0573] In some embodiments, if an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; and / or

[0574] If a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame sent by another AP in the same location basic service set BSS as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable; and / or

[0575] If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification BSSID set as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD are communicatively reachable;

[0576] Here, the i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

[0577] In some embodiments, the preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

[0578] In some embodiments, the communication unit may be a communication interface or transceiver, or an input / output interface of a communication chip or a system-on-chip. The processing unit may be one or more processors.

[0579] It is understood that the AP MLD 900 according to the present embodiment may correspond to the AP MLD in the method embodiment of the present application, and the above and other operations and / or functions of each unit in the AP MLD 900 are for realizing the corresponding process of the AP MLD in the method 500 shown in FIG. 20, respectively, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0580] 25 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 shown in FIG. 25 includes a processor 1010, which may implement the method according to the embodiment of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0581] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 25, the communication device 1000 may further include a memory 1020. Here, the processor 1010 may implement the method in the embodiments of the present application by calling and executing a computer program from the memory 1020.

[0582] Here, the memory 1020 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1010 or may be integrated into the processor 1010.

[0583] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 25, the communication device 1000 may further include a transceiver 1030, and the processor 1010 may control the transceiver 1030 to communicate with other devices, specifically to transmit information or data to other devices or to receive information or data transmitted from other devices.

[0584] Here, the transceiver 1030 may include a transmitter and a receiver, and may further include an antenna, of which the number may be one or more.

[0585] In some embodiments, the processor 1010 may implement the functionality of a processing unit in non-AP MLD, or the processor 1010 may implement the functionality of a processing unit in AP MLD, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0586] In some embodiments, the transceiver 1030 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in non-AP MLD, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0587] In some embodiments, the transceiver 1030 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in AP MLD, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0588] In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 may specifically be an AP MLD of the present embodiment, and the communication device 1000 may implement the corresponding process implemented by the AP MLD in each method of the present embodiment, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0589] In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 may specifically be a non-AP MLD of the present embodiment, and the communication device 1000 may implement the corresponding process implemented by the non-AP MLD in each method of the present embodiment, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0590] Fig. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1100 shown in Fig. 26 includes a processor 1110, which may implement the method according to the embodiment of the present invention by calling and executing a computer program from a memory.

[0591] 26, the device 1100 may further include a memory 1120. The processor 1110 may call and execute a computer program from the memory 1120 to implement the method of the present embodiment.

[0592] Here, the memory 1120 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1110 or may be integrated into the processor 1110.

[0593] In some embodiments, the device 1100 may further include an input interface 1130. Here, the processor 1110 may control the input interface 1130 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may receive information or data transmitted from other devices or chips. Optionally, the processor 1110 may be located on or off the chip.

[0594] In some embodiments, the processor 1110 may implement the functionality of a processing unit in non-AP MLD, or the processor 1110 may implement the functionality of a processing unit in AP MLD, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0595] In some embodiments, the input interface 1130 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in a non-AP MLD, or the input interface 1130 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in an AP MLD.

[0596] In some embodiments, the device 1100 may further include an output interface 1140. Here, the processor 1110 may control the output interface 1140 to communicate with other devices or chips, and in particular, may output information or data to other devices or chips. Optionally, the processor 1110 may be located on-chip or off-chip.

[0597] In some embodiments, output interface 1140 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in non-AP MLD, or output interface 1140 may implement the functionality of a communication unit in AP MLD.

[0598] In some embodiments, the device may be applied to non-AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the device may implement the corresponding processes implemented by non-AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0599] In some embodiments, the device may be applied to AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the device may implement the corresponding processes implemented by AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0600] In some embodiments, the apparatus referred to in the present embodiments may be a chip, such as a system level chip, a system chip, a system on a chip, or a system on a chip.

[0601] 27 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 1200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 27, the communication system 1200 includes a non-AP MLD 1210 and an AP MLD 1220.

[0602] Here, the non-AP MLD 1210 may be used to realize the corresponding functions realized by the non-AP MLD in the above method, and the AP MLD 1220 may be used to realize the corresponding functions realized by the AP MLD in the above method, but for the sake of brevity, this will not be repeated here.

[0603] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments may be completed by a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or by instructions in software form. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware assembly. Each method, step, and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the combination of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as being executed and completed by a hardware decoding processor, or may be executed and completed using a combination of hardware modules and software modules in the hardware decoding processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with the hardware.

[0604] It is understood that the memory in the present embodiments may be volatile or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Here, nonvolatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. Many forms of RAM are available, including, by way of example and not limitation, static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronously linked dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM). It is intended that the memory of the systems and methods described herein include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0605] It is understood that the above memory descriptions are exemplary and not limiting, and that, for example, the memory in the present embodiments may also be static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM, DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronously linked dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM), etc. That is, the memory in the present embodiments is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0606] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program.

[0607] In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program causes a computer to execute corresponding processes implemented by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0608] In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to non-AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program causes a computer to execute corresponding processes realized by non-AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0609] Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product including computer program instructions.

[0610] In some embodiments, the computer program product may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause a computer to perform corresponding processes implemented by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0611] In some embodiments, the computer program product may be applied to non-AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause a computer to perform corresponding processes implemented by non-AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0612] The present embodiment further provides a computer program.

[0613] In some embodiments, the computer program may be applied to the AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, it causes the computer to perform corresponding processes implemented by the AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0614] In some embodiments, the computer program may be applied to non-AP MLD in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, it causes the computer to perform corresponding processes realized by non-AP MLD in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0615] Those skilled in the art can imagine that various exemplary units and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be realized in electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may realize the described functions by using different methods for each specific application, but such realization should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0616] For convenience and brevity of explanation, the specific operation processes of the above-mentioned systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments, but will not be repeated here, as can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

[0617] In some embodiments provided by the present application, it is understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be realized in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely exemplary, and the division of the units described above is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, there may be other divisions, for example, multiple units or assemblies may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. In other respects, the shown or discussed couplings or direct couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be indirect couplings or communication connections via some interfaces, which may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0618] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Depending on actual needs, some or all of the units may be selected to achieve the objectives of the solution of this embodiment.

[0619] Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit.

[0620] When the functions are realized in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. In light of this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application, whether inherently or in part contributing to existing technology, or part of the technical solutions, may be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or part of the method steps described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0621] The above is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, and the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any modifications or replacements that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be governed by the scope of protection set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-link communication method, comprising: The method includes a step of initiating a multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the AP MLD attached to the AP MLD, where M is a positive integer; A multi-link communication method comprising:

2. The step of initiating a multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the AP MLD includes: The non-AP MLD transmits a first association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto; The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD of an attached non-AP STA of a corresponding non-AP MLD among the M links; 2. The method of claim 1 .

3. The step of initiating a multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links and the AP MLD includes: the non-AP MLD transmitting a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto; the second association request frame is used to request establishment of the M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled; 2. The method of claim 1 .

4. For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as communication reachable and / or enabled; For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or disabled; 4. The method of claim 3.

5. The second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field; The M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not; the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled; 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4.

6. the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 6. The method of claim 5.

7. The first indication field is a reachability field, and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6.

8. If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same location basic service set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification (BSSID) set as an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and an AP attached to an AP MLD is reachable; The i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are connected to a first electrode.

9. The preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

9. The method of claim 8.

10. The method comprises: The method further includes a step of managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M; 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The step of managing the N established links by the non-AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, includes: The non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not communicatively reachable between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes, among the N links, a link that is not communicatively reachable between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD; 11. The method of claim 10.

12. A method for the non-AP MLD to handle a communication-unreachable link between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD among the N links is determined by a consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

12. The method of claim 11 .

13. When the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link set to a non-enabled state among the N links refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping; 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12.

14. When the non-AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD, in a non-enabled state, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to an AP MLD, setting the link to an enabled state when communication reachability is available between a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to an AP MLD; 14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

15. The non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link continues to receive the data for a duration of T ｊ If at least one frame transmitted by an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a certain period, the communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; or The non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link continues to receive the data for a duration of T ａｌｌ If at least one frame transmitted by an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a predetermined time, communication between an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; The j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T ｊ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the j-th link, and the duration T ａｌｌ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14.

16. The duration T ｊ is a periodic duration, and / or the duration T ａｌｌ is the periodic duration, 16. The method of claim 15.

17. the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of a link; 17. The method according to claim 15 or 16.

18. The at least one frame comprises: The jth link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the jth link.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. The duration T ｊ When determining communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of an AP MLD based on the above, an association request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one attached non-AP STA includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18.

20. the associated request frame for multi-link establishment includes a basic multi-link element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 20. The method of claim 19.

21. When the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

21. The method of claim 20.

22. the third indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 22. The method of claim 20 or 21.

23. the third instruction field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of a corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate an operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable; 23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22.

24. the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enable period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field; 24. The method of claim 23.

25. The duration T ａｌｌ When determining communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of the AP MLD based on the above, an association request frame for multi-link establishment transmitted by the non-AP MLD through one attached non-AP STA includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to all established links.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18.

26. the associated request frame for multi-link establishment includes a basic multi-link element; the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field; 26. The method of claim 25.

27. When the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

27. The method of claim 26.

28. the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 28. The method of claim 26 or 27.

29. the fourth indication field includes a third sub-field and a fourth sub-field, the third sub-field is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth sub-field includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate an operation of the non-AP MLD when communication is unreachable between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element.

29. The method of any of claims 26 to 28.

30. The third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the fourth subfield is an idle option subfield of a link enable period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is a field of expected operation exceeding maximum space time.

30. The method of claim 29.

31. A multi-link communication method, comprising: The method includes receiving a first association request frame or a second association request frame by an access point multi-link device AP MLD via one of the access points AP attached thereto; The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD of an attached non-AP station non-AP STA of a corresponding non-AP multi-link device non-AP MLD, among the M links; the second association request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled; M is a positive integer, A multi-link communication method comprising:

32. For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as communication reachable and / or enabled; For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or disabled; 32. The method of claim 31 .

33. The second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field; The M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not; the second indication field is used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled; 33. The method of claim 31 or 32.

34. the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 34. The method of claim 33.

35. The first indication field is a reachability field, and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

35. The method of claim 33 or 34.

36. If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same location basic service set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification (BSSID) set as an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and an AP attached to an AP MLD is reachable; The i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

36. The method of any one of claims 31 to 35.

37. The preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

37. The method of claim 36.

38. The method comprises: The method further includes a step of managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, where N is a positive integer and N≦M; 38. The method of any one of claims 31 to 37.

39. The step of managing the N established links by the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, includes: The AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link between an attached AP of the corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD, which is incommunication unreachable, to an inactive state, or the AP MLD deletes, among the N links, a link between an attached AP of the corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD, which is incommunication unreachable, 39. The method of claim 38.

40. A method for the AP MLD to handle a communication-unreachable link between an AP attached to a corresponding AP MLD and a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD among the N links is determined by a consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

40. The method of claim 39.

41. When the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the corresponding AP attached to the AP MLD and the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link set to a non-enabled state among the N links refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping; 41. The method of claim 39 or 40.

42. When the AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between the corresponding AP attached to the AP MLD and the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, which is incommunicable, to a non-enabled state, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between an attached AP of a corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD, the AP MLD sets the link to an enabled state when communication reachability between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link is available; 42. The method of any one of claims 39 to 41.

43. The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is ｊ ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a certain period, communication between the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is reachable; or The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is ａｌｌ ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a predetermined time, communication between the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is reachable; The j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T ｊ ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the j-th link, and the duration T ａｌｌ ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

43. The method of any of claims 38 to 42.

44. The duration T ｊ ’ is a periodic duration, and / or the duration T ａｌｌ ’ is the periodic duration, 44. The method of claim 43.

45. the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of a link; 45. The method of claim 43 or 44.

46. The at least one frame comprises: The traffic identification TID mapped to the j-th link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame.

46. ​​The method of any of claims 43 to 45.

47. The duration T ｊ ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its attached APs is ’ a third instruction field, ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to the link; The association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for establishing a multi-link, and S ’ is a positive integer, 47. The method of any of claims 43 to 46.

48. the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 48. The method of claim 47.

49. If the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

49. The method of claim 48.

50. the third indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 50. The method of claim 48 or 49.

51. the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of a corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate an operation of the AP MLD when communication between an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable; 51. The method of any of claims 47 to 50.

52. the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enable period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field; 52. The method of claim 51 .

53. The duration T ａｌｌ ’ When determining communication reachability between an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD based on the above, an association response frame transmitted by the AP MLD through one of its attached APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for multi-link establishment.

47. The method of any of claims 43 to 46.

54. the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element; the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field; 54. The method of claim 53.

55. When the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

55. The method of claim 54.

56. the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 56. The method of claim 54 or 55.

57. the fourth indication field includes a third sub-field and a fourth sub-field, the third sub-field is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth sub-field includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate an operation of the AP MLD when an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable for communication; 57. The method of any of claims 54 to 56.

58. The third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the fourth subfield is an idle option subfield of a link enable period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is a field of expected operation exceeding maximum space time.

58. The method of claim 57.

59. A multi-link communication method, comprising: The non-AP MLD manages the N established links according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and an attached access point AP of the access point multi-link device AP MLD, where N is a positive integer; A multi-link communication method comprising:

60. The step of managing the N established links by the non-AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, includes: The non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not communicatively reachable between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, or the non-AP MLD deletes, among the N links, a link that is not communicatively reachable between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD; 60. The method of claim 59.

61. A method for the non-AP MLD to handle a communication-unreachable link between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD among the N links is determined by a consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

61. The method of claim 60.

62. When the non-AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link set to a non-enabled state among the N links refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping; 62. The method of claim 60 or 61.

63. When the non-AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between a non-AP STA attached to the corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to the corresponding AP MLD, in a non-enabled state, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to an AP MLD, setting the link to an enabled state when communication reachability is available between a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD and an AP attached to an AP MLD; 63. The method of any of claims 60 to 62.

64. The non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link continues to receive the data for a duration of T ｊ If at least one frame transmitted by an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a certain period, the communication between the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; or The non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link continues to receive the data for a duration of T ａｌｌ If at least one frame transmitted by an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a predetermined time, communication between an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of the AP MLD is reachable; The j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T ｊ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the j-th link, and the duration T ａｌｌ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

64. The method of any of claims 59 to 63.

65. The duration T ｊ is a periodic duration, and / or the duration T ａｌｌ is the periodic duration, 65. The method of claim 64.

66. the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of a link; 66. The method of claim 64 or 65.

67. The at least one frame comprises: The jth link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame corresponding to the TID mapped to the jth link.

67. The method of any of claims 64 to 66.

68. The duration T ｊ When determining communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of an AP MLD based on the above, an association request frame for multi-link establishment sent by the non-AP MLD through one attached non-AP STA includes S third indication fields, and the S third indication fields are used to indicate maximum idle time information of link enable periods corresponding to the S links, respectively, where S is a positive integer.

68. The method of any of claims 64 to 67.

69. the associated request frame for multi-link establishment includes a basic multi-link element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 69. The method of claim 68.

70. If the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

70. The method of claim 69.

71. the third indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 71. The method of claim 69 or 70.

72. the third instruction field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of a corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate an operation of the non-AP MLD when communication between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable; 72. The method of any of claims 68 to 71.

73. the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enable period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field; 73. The method of claim 72.

74. The duration T ａｌｌ When determining communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached AP of the AP MLD based on the above, an association request frame for multi-link establishment transmitted by the non-AP MLD through one attached non-AP STA includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to all established links.

68. The method of any of claims 64 to 67.

75. the associated request frame for multi-link establishment includes a basic multi-link element; the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field; 75. The method of claim 74.

76. When the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

76. The method of claim 75.

77. the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 77. The method of claim 75 or 76.

78. the fourth indication field includes a third sub-field and a fourth sub-field, the third sub-field is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth sub-field includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate an operation of the non-AP MLD when communication is unreachable between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD and an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element.

78. The method of any of claims 75 to 77.

79. The third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the fourth subfield is an idle option subfield of a link enable period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is a field of expected operation exceeding maximum space time.

79. The method of claim 78.

80. Before the non-AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links and an attached AP of the AP MLD, the method includes: The method further includes a step of initiating multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links, where M is a positive integer and M≧N; 80. The method of any of claims 59 to 79.

81. The step of initiating multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links includes: The non-AP MLD transmits a first association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto; The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD of an attached non-AP STA of a corresponding non-AP MLD among the M links; 81. The method of claim 80.

82. The step of initiating multi-link establishment between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD attached to the AP MLD corresponding to each of the M provisionally established links includes: the non-AP MLD transmitting a second association request frame via one of the non-AP STAs attached thereto; the second association request frame is used to request establishment of the M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled; 81. The method of claim 80.

83. For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as communication reachable and / or enabled; For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or disabled; 83. The method of claim 82.

84. The second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field; The M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not; The second indication fields are used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled.

84. The method of claim 82 or 83.

85. the second association request frame includes a basic multilink element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and the first indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 85. The method of claim 84.

86. The first indication field is a reachability field, and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

86. The method of claim 84 or 85.

87. If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same location basic service set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification (BSSID) set as an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and an AP attached to an AP MLD is reachable; The i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

87. The method of any of claims 80 to 86.

88. The preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

88. The method of claim 87.

89. A multi-link communication method, comprising: The method includes a step of managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an associated access point AP of the AP MLD and an associated non-AP station non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, wherein N is a positive integer; A multi-link communication method comprising:

90. The step of managing the N established links by the AP MLD according to communication reachability between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, includes: The AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link between an attached AP of the corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD, which is incommunication unreachable, to an inactive state, or the AP MLD deletes, among the N links, a link between an attached AP of the corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD, which is incommunication unreachable, 90. The method of claim 89.

91. A method for the AP MLD to handle a communication-unreachable link between an AP attached to a corresponding AP MLD and a non-AP STA attached to a corresponding non-AP MLD among the N links is determined by a consultation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD.

91. The method of claim 90.

92. When the AP MLD sets, among the N links, an enabled link that is not reachable for communication between the corresponding AP attached to the AP MLD and the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD to a non-enabled state, the link set to a non-enabled state among the N links refers to a link that does not have a traffic identification TID mapping; 92. The method of claim 90 or 91.

93. When the AP MLD sets an enabled link, among the N links, between the corresponding AP attached to the AP MLD and the corresponding non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD, which is incommunicable, to a non-enabled state, the method further comprises: The method further includes a step of, for a link among the N links that is set to a non-enabled state due to communication unreachability between an attached AP of a corresponding AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD, the AP MLD sets the link to an enabled state when communication reachability between the attached AP of the AP MLD and the attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the link is available; 93. The method of any of claims 90 to 92.

94. The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is ｊ ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a certain period, communication between the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is reachable; or The AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is ａｌｌ ’ If at least one frame transmitted by a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link is received within a predetermined time, communication between the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD is reachable; The j-th link is the j-th link among all established links, and the duration T ｊ ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to the j-th link, and the duration T ａｌｌ ’ is the maximum idle time of the link enable period corresponding to all established links, and j is a positive integer.

94. The method of any of claims 89 to 93.

95. The duration T ｊ ’ is a periodic duration, and / or the duration T ａｌｌ ’ is the periodic duration, 95. The method of claim 94.

96. the at least one frame type is a designated frame type for indicating an enabled or active state of a link; 96. The method of claim 94 or 95.

97. The at least one frame comprises: The traffic identification TID mapped to the j-th link includes at least one of a data frame, a PS-Poll frame, and a management frame.

97. The method of any of claims 94 to 96.

98. The duration T ｊ ’ When determining the communication reachability between the AP of the AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and the non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD based on the above, the association response frame sent by the AP MLD through one of its attached APs is ’ a third instruction field, ’ The third instruction fields are S ’ is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to the link; The association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for establishing a multi-link, and S ’ is a positive integer, 98. The method of any of claims 94 to 97.

99. the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element; a station control field in each station location sub-element included in the link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and a first presence field, and the first presence field is used to indicate whether the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field; 99. The method of claim 98.

100. If the value of the first presence field is used to indicate that the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field, the station information field in each station location sub-element includes the third indication field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

100. The method of claim 99.

101. the third indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the first presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 101. The method of claim 99 or 100.

102. the third indication field includes a first subfield and a second subfield, the first subfield is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period of a corresponding link, the second subfield includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the second field is used to indicate an operation of the AP MLD when communication between an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to the corresponding enabled link is unreachable; 102. The method of any of claims 98 to 101.

103. the first subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the second subfield is an idle options subfield of a link enable period, the first field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the second field is an expected operation beyond maximum space time field; 103. The method of claim 102.

104. The duration T ａｌｌ ’ When determining communication reachability between an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to the j-th link and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD based on the above, an association response frame transmitted by the AP MLD through one of its attached APs includes a fourth indication field, and the fourth indication field is used to indicate maximum idle time information of a link enable period corresponding to all established links, and the association response frame is an association response frame corresponding to an association request frame for multi-link establishment.

98. The method of any of claims 94 to 97.

105. the associated response frame includes a basic multilink element; the presence bitmap subfield in the multilink control field of the basic multilink element includes a second presence field, and the second presence field is used to indicate whether the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field; 105. The method of claim 104.

106. When the value of the second presence field is used to indicate that the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field, the general information field in the multilink control field includes the fourth indication field.

106. The method of claim 105.

107. the fourth indication field is a maximum idle time information field of a link enable period, and the second presence field is a maximum idle time information presence field of a link enable period; 107. The method of claim 105 or 106.

108. the fourth indication field includes a third sub-field and a fourth sub-field, the third sub-field is used to indicate a maximum idle time of a link enable period corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element, the fourth sub-field includes a third field and a fourth field, the third field is used to indicate type information of a frame in an enabled or active state, and the fourth field is used to indicate an operation of the AP MLD when an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to all links indicated by the basic multilink element are unreachable for communication; 108. The method of any of claims 105 to 107.

109. The third subfield is a maximum idle time subfield of a link enable period, the fourth subfield is an idle option subfield of a link enable period, the third field is a field required for maintaining protected enablement, and the fourth field is a field of expected operation exceeding maximum space time.

109. The method of claim 108.

110. Before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links, the method includes: The AP MLD further includes receiving a first association request frame via an AP attached thereto; The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD of an attached non-AP STA of a corresponding non-AP MLD, among the M links; 110. The method of any of claims 89 to 109.

111. Before the AP MLD manages the N links according to communication reachability between an attached AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N links, the method includes: The AP MLD further includes receiving a second association request frame via an AP attached thereto; the second association request frame is used to request establishment of M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled; 110. The method of any of claims 89 to 109.

112. For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD corresponding to a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is indicated as communication reachable and / or enabled; For a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD that is not within reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD associated with a tentatively established link, the corresponding tentatively established link is designated as communication unreachable and / or not enabled; 112. The method of claim 111.

113. The second associated request frame includes M first indication fields, and / or the second associated request frame includes a second indication field; The M first indication fields respectively correspond to the M links, and the M first indication fields are used to indicate whether the corresponding links are communicatively reachable or not; The second indication fields are used to indicate whether each link among the M links is enabled.

113. The method of claim 111 or 112.

114. The second association request frame includes a basic multilink element, and a station control field in each station location sub-element included in a link information field of the basic multilink element includes a link identification field and the first instruction field corresponding to the link identified by the link identification field.

114. The method of claim 113.

115. The first indication field is a reachability field, and / or the second indication field is a traffic identification to link mapping element.

115. The method of claim 113 or 114.

116. If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same location basic service set (BSS) as the AP attached to the AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th tentatively established link and the AP attached to the AP MLD is reachable; and / or If a non-AP STA attached to a non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link receives a frame transmitted by another AP in the same multi-basic service set identification (BSSID) set as an AP attached to an AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link within a predetermined time, communication between the non-AP STA attached to the non-AP MLD corresponding to the i-th provisionally established link and an AP attached to an AP MLD is reachable; The i-th provisionally established link is the i-th link among the M links, where i is a positive integer and 1≦i≦M.

116. The method of any of claims 110 to 115.

117. The preset time is configured or indicated by the AP MLD, or the preset time is determined by negotiation between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, or the preset time is agreed upon by a protocol.

117. The method of claim 116.

118. A non-AP MLD (non-access point multi-link device), a communication unit used to initiate multi-link establishment between an attached non-AP station (non-AP STA) of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of M provisionally established links and an attached access point (AP) of the access point multi-link device (AP MLD) according to communication reachability between the non-AP MLD and the attached access point (AP), where M is a positive integer; A non-AP MLD is a non-access point multi-link device.

119. An access point multi-link device AP MLD, comprising: a communication unit adapted to receive the first association request frame or the second association request frame via an access point AP associated therewith; The first association request frame is used to request establishment of a link within a reachable communication range of an attached AP of an AP MLD of an attached non-AP station non-AP STA of a corresponding non-AP multi-link device non-AP MLD, among the M links; the second association request frame is used to request the establishment of M links, and the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are communicatively reachable, and / or the second association request frame includes information related to whether the M links are enabled; M is a positive integer, 1. An access point multilink device AP MLD, comprising:

120. A non-AP MLD (non-access point multi-link device), a processing unit used for managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an attached non-AP STA of a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links and an attached access point AP of an access point multi-link device AP MLD, wherein N is a positive integer; A non-AP MLD is a non-access point multi-link device.

121. An access point multi-link device AP MLD, comprising: a processing unit used for managing the N established links according to communication reachability between an attached access point AP of the AP MLD and an attached non-access point station non-AP STA of the non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N established links, wherein N is a positive integer; 1. An access point multilink device AP MLD, comprising:

122. A non-AP MLD (non-access point multi-link device), A non-AP MLD includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to cause the non-AP MLD to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 30 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory. A non-AP MLD is a non-access point multi-link device.

123. An access point multi-link device AP MLD, comprising: A processor and a memory are provided, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to cause the AP MLD to execute the method according to any one of claims 31 to 58 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

1. An access point multilink device AP MLD, comprising:

124. A non-AP MLD (non-access point multi-link device), The non-AP MLD includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to cause the non-AP MLD to execute the method according to any one of claims 59 to 88 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory. A non-AP MLD is a non-access point multi-link device.

125. An access point multi-link device AP MLD, comprising: A processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, the processor being used to cause the AP MLD to execute the method according to any one of claims 89 to 117 by calling and executing the computer program stored in the memory.

1. An access point multilink device AP MLD, comprising:

126. A chip, The chip includes a processor, and the processor is used to cause a device equipped with the chip to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, the method according to any one of claims 31 to 58, the method according to any one of claims 59 to 88, or the method according to any one of claims 89 to 117 by calling and executing a computer program from a memory. A chip characterized by:

127. 1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising: A method for storing a computer program, the method being executed to implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, a method according to any one of claims 31 to 58, a method according to any one of claims 59 to 88, or a method according to any one of claims 89 to 117. A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

128. 1. A computer program product comprising: comprising computer program instructions which, when executed, effect the method of any one of claims 1 to 30, or the method of any one of claims 31 to 58, or the method of any one of claims 59 to 88, or the method of any one of claims 89 to 117.

1. A computer program product comprising:

129. A computer program comprising: When the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, the method according to any one of claims 31 to 58, the method according to any one of claims 59 to 88, or the method according to any one of claims 89 to 117 is realized. A computer program characterized by:

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