Wireless communication method, device, and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

A wireless communication method is disclosed, the method including the steps of: receiving, by a physical layer module of a wireless communication device, a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field; and transmitting, by the physical layer module, auxiliary information to a medium access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device, enabling the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being obtained based on the PPDU in response to a protocol version conforming to the PPDU indicated by a value of the PV field being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to fifth generation (5G) communications, sixth generation (6G) communications, or wireless LANs. [Background technology]

[0002] In wireless communication systems, new communication protocols are usually designed to be backward compatible with previous protocols. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax is defined as being backward compatible with IEEE 802.11ac, which is designed to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11n, which is designed to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11g / a. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] SUMMARY This specification relates to wireless communication methods, systems, and computer program products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method, in one embodiment, the wireless communication method includes the steps of: receiving, by a physical layer module of a wireless communication device, a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field; and transmitting, by the physical layer module, auxiliary information to a medium access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device to enable the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being obtained based on the PPDU in response to a protocol version conforming to the PPDU indicated by a value of the PV field being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0005] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication method, in one embodiment, the wireless communication method including: receiving, by a media access control (MAC) module of a wireless communication device, auxiliary information from a physical layer module of the wireless communication device, the auxiliary information being obtained based on a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) received by the physical layer module in response to a protocol version conforming to the PPDU, indicated by a value of a PV field of the PPDU, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device; and performing MAC processing by the MAC module according to the auxiliary information obtained based on the PPDU.

[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device includes a communication unit and a processor. The processor is configured to: cause a physical layer module of the wireless communication device to receive a Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field; and cause the physical layer module to transmit auxiliary information to a Medium Access Control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device, enabling the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being obtained based on the PPDU in response to a protocol version conforming to the PPDU indicated by a value of the PV field being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device includes a communication unit and a processor. The processor is configured to: a media access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device receive auxiliary information from a physical layer module of the wireless communication device; and the MAC module performs MAC processing according to the auxiliary information obtained based on a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) received by the physical layer module in response to a protocol version conforming to the PPDU indicated by a value of a PV field of the PPDU being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0008] Various embodiments may preferably implement the following features.

[0009] Preferably, the auxiliary information is: the bandwidth used by said PPDU; the protection duration indicated in said PPDU; an identifier of a transmitter transmitting the PPDU and a basic service set identifier BSSID associated with the transmitter; Transmission direction indication, the duration of said PPDU; the value of the PV field of the PPDU, or an indication that the value of the PV field is not supported; or a received signal strength indicator RSSI obtained based on the received portion of the PPDU or a portion of the received portion.

[0010] Preferably, the RSSI is obtained by measuring a portion of the PPDU transmitted before the PV field.

[0011] Preferably, a general signaling symbol in the PPDU indicates at least one of the bandwidth used by the PPDU, the protection duration indicated in the PPDU, the identifier of the transmitter of the PPDU and the BSSID associated with the transmitter, an indication of the transmission direction, or the duration of the PPDU.

[0012] Preferably, the physical layer module marks the PPDU as an unknown format in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or only partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0013] Preferably, the physical layer module notifies the MAC module that it has received a PPDU of an unknown format in response to the wireless communication device not fully supporting or only partially supporting the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field.

[0014] Preferably, in response to the wireless communication device not fully supporting or only partially supporting the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, the physical layer module continues receiving the PPDU, or stops receiving the PPDU and returns to listening mode to check channel availability or receive another PPDU, or enters snooze mode.

[0015] Preferably, in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device, the physical layer module continues receiving the PPDU, or stops receiving the PPDU and returns to listening mode to check channel availability or receive another PPDU, or enters snooze mode, in accordance with the request received from the MAC module.

[0016] Preferably, the physical layer module is adapted to send an indication indicating the end of reception of the PPDU.

[0017] Preferably, the physical layer module instructs the MAC module on an operation of the physical layer module, including one of the following: continuing to receive the PPDU, stopping reception of the PPDU and returning to listening mode, or entering snooze mode.

[0018] Preferably, the physical layer module transmits second auxiliary information to the MAC module, the second auxiliary information being obtained during reception of a portion of the PPDU, the portion of the PPDU being received after the PV field.

[0019] Preferably, the physical layer module notifies the MAC module that it has received a PPDU of an unknown format in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or only partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0020] Preferably, in response to the wireless communication device not fully supporting or partially supporting the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, the MAC module transmits a request to the physical layer module to control the physical layer module to continue receiving the PPDU, or to stop receiving the PPDU and return to listening mode to confirm channel availability or receive another PPDU, or to enter snooze mode.

[0021] Preferably, the MAC module receives an indication from the physical layer module indicating the end of reception of the PPDU.

[0022] Preferably, the MAC module receives second auxiliary information from the physical layer module, and the second auxiliary information corresponds to a portion of the PPDU following the PV field.

[0023] The present disclosure relates to a computer program product having stored thereon a computer readable program medium code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the wireless communication method according to any one of the above methods.

[0024]

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide features that will become apparent with reference to the following description and with reference to the drawings. According to multiple embodiments, the present specification discloses exemplary systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products. However, these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art reading this disclosure that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0025] Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and uses described and illustrated herein. Moreover, the specific order or sequence of steps in the methods disclosed herein is merely exemplary. The specific order or sequence of steps in the disclosed methods or processes may be rearranged according to design preferences without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present individual steps or acts in an exemplary order, and that unless otherwise expressly stated, the disclosure is not limited to the particular order or sequence presented.

[0026] The above examples and other aspects and embodiments thereof are described in more detail in the drawings, specification and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a physical protocol data unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a protocol version field according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates an example of a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart of a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Standards design is required to provide a backward compatibility mechanism for new or revised standards. For example, the currently under development IEEE 802.11be standard is required to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11ax, which will be designed to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11ac, which will be designed to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11n, which will be designed to be backward compatible with IEEE 802.11g / a. This method will allow IEEE 802.11be-compliant devices to recognize IEEE 802.11ax-compliant signals, IEEE 802.11ac-compliant signals, IEEE 802.11n-compliant signals, etc. However, IEEE 802.11ax-compliant devices may not be able to recognize IEEE 802.11be-compliant signals, and IEEE 802.11ac-compliant devices may not be able to recognize IEEE 802.11ax-compliant signals.

[0029] In some embodiments, a station (STA) includes a physical layer (PHY) module and a medium access control (MAC) module. In some embodiments, the PHY module is configured to perform radio frequency (RF) transmission / reception (TX / RX), PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) TX / RX, and / or baseband operations. In some embodiments, the MAC module is configured to perform higher layer operations.

[0030] In some embodiments, the functions of the PHY module and / or MAC module may be performed using, but are not limited to, one or more processors.

[0031] In some embodiments, the PPDU may include a preamble portion and a data portion. In some embodiments, the preamble portion may include a Protocol Version (PV) field and other signaling fields.

[0032] In some embodiments, the bit values ​​of the PV field are set to specific values ​​corresponding to a specific protocol version that defines the detailed format of the PPDU.

[0033] In some embodiments, if a PPDU is received with the PV field set to a particular value, and this particular value indicates that the STA does not support (e.g., is not fully supported or is partially supported by) the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, the STA's PHY module may recognize the PPDU as a frame conforming to the protocol corresponding to the protocol version indicated by the value of the PV field and mark the PPDU with an identifier for further PHY processing.

[0034] In some embodiments, if the value of the PV field indicates that the PPDU is for a protocol version that is not supported by the STA (e.g., not fully supported or partially supported), the further PHY processing referred to may include recognizing or obtaining information from the PPDU including at least one of the following, and then reporting the recognized information (e.g., auxiliary information) to a MAC module for further MAC processing: -Bandwidth used by PPDU - protection duration indicated in the PPDU, indicating the guaranteed duration of PPDU transmission -An identifier of the sender of the PPDU and a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) associated with the sender of the PPDU -Indication of the transmission direction of the PPDU (e.g., to an AP (Access Point) or a non-AP STA) - PPDU duration indicating the actual duration of PPDU transmission - an indication that the value of the PV field of the PPDU or the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, is not supported, and / or -Received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of PPDU

[0035] In some embodiments, the RSSI of the PPDU is achieved or obtained by measuring a portion of the PPDU before the PV field.

[0036] In some embodiments, a common signaling symbol in the PPDU indicates at least one of the following information: the bandwidth used by the PPDU, the protection duration indicated in the PPDU, the identifier of the transmitter of the PPDU and the BSSID associated with the transmitter, an indication of the transmission direction, or the duration of the PPDU.

[0037] In some embodiments, the MAC module performs media access operations according to the auxiliary information. In some embodiments, the MAC module performs radio environment awareness according to the auxiliary information. In some embodiments, the MAC module performs an access control scheme according to the auxiliary information. In some embodiments, the MAC module performs bandwidth and / or channel management, including bandwidth adjustment and / or channel switching, according to the auxiliary information.

[0038] Advantages that may be introduced by such a configuration include, but are not limited to:

[0039] a) To ensure fair medium access based on the current MAC mechanism, devices are allowed to measure the RSSI of radio frames conforming to the new protocol.

[0040] b) By enabling devices to obtain radio environment information from radio frames that comply with the new protocol, the devices can perform better radio environment awareness and better access control schemes based on the current MAC mechanism, which means that APs can perform better bandwidth and channel management, including bandwidth adjustment and channel switching.

[0041] The following paragraphs will provide a detailed description with reference to examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples.

[0042] In some embodiments, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Basic Service Set (BSS) includes an AP and multiple non-AP STAs associated with the AP, both of which can be understood as WLAN devices.

[0043] In some embodiments, both AP and non-AP STAs support STA operations including transmission and reception of PPDUs.

[0044] In some embodiments, the PPDU may include a preamble portion and a data portion, as shown in Figure 1. The preamble portion includes at least one of a legacy preamble portion, general signaling symbols, and / or a version-dependent portion.

[0045] In some embodiments, the general signaling symbol includes version-independent information, such as a 3-bit protocol version field, as shown in FIG.

[0046] In some embodiments, newer transmission / reception protocol versions may define values ​​for the 3-bit protocol version field that are not used in legacy protocols as protocol versions.

[0047] For example, as shown in Table 1 below, the protocol version field for a WLAN device conforming to protocol version 0 may be defined as "000."

[0048] [Table 1]

[0049] As another example, as shown in Table 2, the protocol version field for a WLAN device that complies with protocol version 2 may be defined as "010."

[0050] [Table 2]

[0051] In some embodiments, if a WLAN device receives a PPDU and the PHY module of the WLAN device successfully decodes the legacy preamble portion and identifies a generic signaling symbol with an undefined PV field value (e.g., the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the PV field value, is not fully supported or is partially supported by the WLAN device), the PHY module may mark the PPDU as having an unknown format.

[0052] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the PHY module may measure the signal strength of the signal portion of the received PPDU that precedes the general signaling, and use this measurement as the legacy RSSI.

[0053] In some embodiments, the PHY module may continue to recognize information in the generic signaling symbols if the PPDU is recognized as being of an unknown format (e.g., the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, is not fully supported or is only partially supported by the WLAN device), and then the PHY module notifies the MAC module that it has received a PPDU of unknown format, the PPDU carrying at least one of the following auxiliary information for further processing by the MAC module: - an indication that the value of the PV field of the PPDU or the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field, is not supported -Bandwidth information indicated in the general signaling symbols of the PPDU - a protection duration indicated in the general signaling symbol of the PPDU, indicating the guaranteed duration of the PPDU transmission - the BSSID identifier associated with the transmitter, as indicated in the general signaling symbol of the PPDU -Indication of the transmission direction (e.g., to the AP or non-AP STA) as indicated in the general signaling symbols of the PPDU the duration of the PPDU indicated in the general signaling symbols of the PPDU, which indicates the actual duration of the PPDU transmission, and / or -Legacy RSSI

[0054] In some embodiments, in addition to transmitting the auxiliary information to the MAC module (e.g., after transmitting the auxiliary information to the MAC module), the PHY module may maintain a receive mode (or listening mode) to receive the PPDU until the end of the PPDU.

[0055] In some embodiments, in addition to transmitting the aiding information to the MAC module (e.g., after transmitting the aiding information to the MAC module), the PHY module may stop receiving any remaining signals and return to a listening mode to confirm channel availability or receive other PPDUs, and resume a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) or other channel condition detection process.

[0056] In some embodiments, the PHY module may enter snooze mode in addition to transmitting the aiding information to the MAC module (eg, after transmitting the aiding information to the MAC module).

[0057] In some embodiments, the MAC module may send a request to the PHY module to control the PHY module to continue receiving the PPDU, stop receiving the PPDU and return to listening mode, or enter snooze mode in response to the WLAN device not fully supporting or partially supporting the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field.

[0058] For example, in some embodiments, the MAC module may instruct the PHY module to continue receiving the remaining portions of the PPDU according to the request (eg, including the specified parameters).

[0059] In some embodiments, the MAC module may instruct the PHY module to stop receiving and resume CCA or other media access processes via another request (e.g., including specified parameters).

[0060] In some embodiments, the MAC module may instruct the PHY module to enter snooze mode via another request (eg, including specified parameters).

[0061] In some embodiments, upon receiving an instruction or request (e.g., specified parameters) from the MAC module, the PHY module may perform the operation requested by the instruction or request in accordance with the specified parameters.

[0062] In some embodiments, the PHY module may send an indication to the MAC module when it has finished receiving the PPDU, hi some embodiments, this indication indicates the end of PPDU reception.

[0063] In some embodiments, the PHY module may report second aiding information acquired or obtained during reception of the remainder of the PPDU (eg, the portion of the PPDU after the PV field) to the MAC module.

[0064] In some embodiments, the MAC module may instruct the PHY module to transmit second aiding information acquired or obtained during reception of the remainder of the PPDU.

[0065] In some embodiments, the second aiding information may include, for example, the RSSI of the remainder of the PPDU.

[0066] In some embodiments, the PHY module stops receiving and resumes the CCA or other media access process upon receiving an indication from the MAC module.

[0067] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PHY module marks a PPDU as having an unknown format if the PPDU contains an undefined value for the PV field.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PHY module notifies the MAC module that it has received a PPDU of an unknown format.

[0069] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PHY module recognizes information in the generic signaling symbols and reports the recognized information along with unknown format information to the MAC module.

[0070] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PHY module reports a legacy RSSI obtained or acquired in measurements of the signal portion of the PPDU before the general signaling symbol.

[0071] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the MAC module may instruct the PHY module to continue receiving the remaining portions of the PPDU according to parameters specified by the PHY module.

[0072] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PHY module may report to the MAC module information acquired or obtained during reception of the remaining portion of the PPDU as requested by the MAC module.

[0073] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device 30 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 30 may be, but is not limited to, a station (STA), an access point (AP), or a non-access point (non-AP). The wireless communication device 30 may include a processor 300, such as a microprocessor or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a storage unit 310, and a communication unit 320. The storage unit 310 may be any data storage device that stores program code 312 that the processor 300 accesses and executes. Examples of storage for the code 312 include, but are not limited to, a subscriber identity module (SIM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, random-access memory (RAM), a hard disk, and an optical data storage device. The communication unit 320 may be a transceiver that transmits and receives signals (e.g., messages or data packets) according to the processing results of the processor 300. In one embodiment, the communication unit 320 transmits and receives signals via at least one antenna 322.

[0074] In one embodiment, the storage unit 310 and the program code 312 may be omitted, and the processor 300 may include a storage unit that stores the program code.

[0075] The processor 300 may, for example, execute the program code 312 to cause the wireless communication device 30 to perform any of the steps of the embodiments.

[0076] The communication unit 320 may be a transceiver. Alternatively or additionally, the communication unit 320 may combine a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit being configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from other wireless communication devices, respectively.

[0077] In some embodiments, wireless communication device 30 may include a physical layer module and a MAC module. In some embodiments, the functionality of the physical layer module may be performed by processor 300. In some embodiments, the functionality of the MAC module may be performed by processor 300.

[0078] In some embodiments, wireless communication device 30 may be used to perform the operations of an AP, a non-AP STA, or a WLAN device described above. In some embodiments, processor 300 and communication unit 320 cooperate to perform the operations described above. For example, processor 300 may operate with communication unit 320 to send and receive signals, messages, and / or information.

[0079] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method is also provided. In one embodiment, the wireless communication method may be performed by a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device may be implemented using, but is not limited to, the wireless communication device 30 described above.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, a wireless communication method includes the steps of: a physical layer module of a wireless communication device receiving a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field; and the physical layer module sending auxiliary information to a media access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device to enable the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information, wherein the auxiliary information is obtained based on the PPDU in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

[0081] For more details on this, please refer to the above paragraphs, and we will not go into detail here.

[0082] Another wireless communication method is also provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the wireless communication method may be performed by a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device may be implemented using, but is not limited to, the wireless communication device 30 described above.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, a wireless communication method includes the steps of: a media access control (MAC) module of a wireless communication device receiving auxiliary information from a physical layer module of the wireless communication device, the auxiliary information being obtained based on the PPDU received by the physical layer module in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms being indicated by a value of a PV field of the physical protocol data unit (PPDU) being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device; and a step of the MAC module performing MAC processing according to the auxiliary information obtained based on the PPDU.

[0084] For more details on this, please refer to the above paragraphs, and we will not go into detail here.

[0085] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example and not limitation. Similarly, various figures may depict example architectures or configurations provided to enable those skilled in the art to understand exemplary features and functionality of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, and the present invention may be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Furthermore, one or more features of one embodiment may be combined with one or more features of other embodiments described herein. Therefore, the scope and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the above-described examples.

[0086] It should also be understood that any reference herein to elements using terms such as "first," "second," etc., generally does not limit the number or order of those elements. Instead, these terms may be used herein as a convenient means to distinguish between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, reference to a first element and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in any way precede the second element.

[0087] Also, any of a number of different techniques and technologies may be used to represent information and signals. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, and symbols that may be referred to in the above description may be represented by, for example, voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0088] Any of the various schematic logical blocks, units, processors, devices, circuits, methods, and functions described with reference to the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., digital implementations, analog implementations, or a combination of both), firmware, various forms of program or design code including instructions (which for convenience may be referred to herein as "software" or "software units"), or any combination of these technologies.

[0089] To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware, firmware, and software, various schematic components, blocks, units, circuits, and steps have been described above according to their functionality. Whether the functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, software, or a combination of these technologies depends on the particular application and design constraints for the overall system. Engineers may implement the described functionality in various ways for each particular application, and such implementation decisions do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. According to various embodiments, a processor, device, component, circuit, structure, machine, unit, etc. may be configured to perform one or more functions described herein. The terms “configured” or “configured to,” as used herein with respect to a particular operation or function, refer to a processor, device, component, circuit, structure, machine, unit, etc. that is physically constructed, programmed, and / or implemented to perform the particular operation or function.

[0090] Furthermore, various schematic logical blocks, units, devices, components, and circuits described herein may be implemented in or performed by an integrated circuit (IC). The integrated circuit (IC) may include 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, or any combination thereof. The logical blocks, units, and circuits may further include an antenna and / or transceiver for communicating with various components within a network or device. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration for performing the functions described herein. If the functions are implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Thus, the steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be implemented as software stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0091] Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media, and communication media includes any medium that can transfer a computer program or code from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. Such computer-readable media may include, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

[0092] In this document, the term "unit" as used herein refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of these elements for performing the associated functions described herein. Also, for purposes of discussion, each unit is described as a discrete unit. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that two or more units may be combined to form a single unit that performs associated functions according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0093] Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure may employ memory or other storage devices and communication components. In the above description, for clarity, embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to different functional units and processors. However, any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processing logic elements, or domains may be used without departing from the present disclosure. For example, functions illustrated as being performed by separate processing logic elements or controllers may be performed by the same processing logic element or controller. Thus, references to specific functional units are merely to suitable apparatus for providing the described functionality and do not indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

[0094] Various modifications of the embodiments described in this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the novel features and principles disclosed herein, such as the broadest scope set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: receiving a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field by a physical layer module of the wireless communication device; A wireless communication method comprising: a step in which the physical layer module transmits auxiliary information to a media access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device, enabling the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being obtained based on the PPDU in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

2. The auxiliary information is the bandwidth used by the PPDU; the protection duration indicated in the PPDU; an identifier of a transmitter transmitting the PPDU and a basic service set identifier BSSID associated with the transmitter; Transmission direction indication, the duration of the PPDU; an indication that the value of the PV field of the PPDU, or the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms as indicated by the value of the PV field, is not fully supported or is partially supported by the wireless communication device; or 10. The wireless communication method of claim 1, comprising at least one of a received portion of the PPDU or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) obtained based on a portion of the received portion.

3. The wireless communication method of claim 2 , wherein the RSSI is obtained by measuring a portion of the PPDU transmitted before the PV field.

4. 4. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein a general signaling symbol in the PPDU indicates at least one of the bandwidth used by the PPDU, the protection duration indicated in the PPDU, an identifier of the transmitter of the PPDU and the BSSID associated with the transmitter, an indication of the transmission direction, or the duration of the PPDU.

5. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the physical layer module marks the PPDU as an unknown format in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

6. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the physical layer module notifies the MAC module that it has received a PPDU of an unknown format in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the physical layer module continues receiving the PPDU, or stops receiving the PPDU and returns to listening mode, or enters snooze mode, in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

8. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, is not fully supported or is partially supported by the wireless communication device, the physical layer module continues receiving the PPDU, or stops receiving the PPDU and returns to listening mode to confirm channel availability or receive another PPDU, or enters snooze mode, in accordance with the request received from the MAC module.

9. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the physical layer module is used to send an indication indicating completion of reception of the PPDU.

10. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the physical layer module transmits second auxiliary information to the MAC module, the second auxiliary information being acquired during reception of a portion of the PPDU, the portion of the PPDU being received after the PV field.

11. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: a step of receiving, by a media access control (MAC) module of a wireless communication device, auxiliary information from a physical layer module of the wireless communication device, the auxiliary information being obtained based on a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) received by the physical layer module in response to a protocol version (PV) field value of the PPDU indicating that the protocol version conforming to the PPDU is not fully supported or is partially supported by the wireless communication device; and the MAC module performing MAC processing according to the auxiliary information obtained based on the PPDU.

12. The auxiliary information is the bandwidth used by the PPDU; the protection duration indicated in the PPDU; an identifier of a transmitter transmitting the PPDU and a basic service set identifier BSSID associated with the transmitter; Transmission direction indication, the duration of the PPDU; an indication that the value of the PV field of the PPDU, or the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms as indicated by the value of the PV field, is not fully supported or is partially supported by the wireless communication device; or 12. The wireless communication method of claim 11, comprising at least one of a received portion of the PPDU or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) obtained based on a portion of the received portion.

13. 13. The wireless communication method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the physical layer module notifies the MAC module that the physical layer module has received a PPDU of an unknown format in response to the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, being not fully supported or partially supported by the wireless communication device.

14. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, in response to the wireless communication device detecting that the protocol version conforming to the PPDU indicated by the value of the PV field is not fully supported or is partially supported, the MAC module sends a request to the physical layer module to control the physical layer module to continue receiving the PPDU, or to stop receiving the PPDU and return to listening mode to confirm channel availability or receive another PPDU, or to enter snooze mode.

15. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the MAC module receives an indication indicating completion of reception of the PPDU from the physical layer module.

16. The wireless communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the MAC module receives second auxiliary information from the physical layer module, and the second auxiliary information corresponds to a portion of the PPDU following the PV field.

17. A wireless communication device, a communication unit and a processor, The processor: a physical layer module of the wireless communication device receiving a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a protocol version (PV) field; The physical layer module is configured to send auxiliary information to a media access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device, enabling the MAC module to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information; A wireless communication device, wherein the auxiliary information is obtained based on the PPDU in response to the fact that the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, indicated by the value of the PV field, is not fully supported or is partially supported by the wireless communication device.

18. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to perform the wireless communication method according to any one of claims 2 to 10.

19. A wireless communication device, a communication unit and a processor, The processor: a media access control (MAC) module of the wireless communication device receiving auxiliary information from a physical layer module of the wireless communication device; The MAC module is configured to perform MAC processing according to the auxiliary information obtained based on a physical protocol data unit (PPDU); A wireless communication device, wherein the auxiliary information is obtained based on the PPDU received by the physical layer module in response to the wireless communication device not fully supporting or partially supporting the protocol version to which the PPDU conforms, as indicated by the value of the PV field of the PPDU.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to perform the wireless communication method of any one of claims 12 to 16.

21. A computer program product having stored thereon a computer readable program medium code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the wireless communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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