Communication methods, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media

Abstract

This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology and discloses communication methods, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media. This application is applicable to wireless local area network systems supporting the next generation of 802.11be, such as the IEEE 802.11ax next-generation Wi-Fi protocol, e.g., 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, or, as another example, 802.11 series protocols such as Wi-Fi 8, UHR, or Wi-Fi AI, and may be further applicable to ultra-wideband (UWB) based wireless personal area network systems and sensing systems. In this application, a first communication device establishes a preemption session with a second communication device. During the preemption session, the first and second communication devices may preferentially transmit data packets of low-latency services in preemption transmission mode to improve the communication effectiveness of low-latency services.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310245072.1, titled "Communication Method, Communication Device, Communication System, and Storage Medium", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on March 7, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and particularly to communication methods, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media.

Background Art

[0003] In the field of wireless communication, the IEEE 802. protocol is one of the current mainstream wireless access standards, and uplink communication and downlink communication are performed between communication devices via the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

[0004] During communication, some services have high requirements regarding latency. For example, in some actual application scenarios such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), industrial Internet of Things (IoT), and telemedicine, there are requirements for low - latency services. However, the current low - latency mechanism in the IEEE 802.11 protocol cannot meet the requirements of low - latency services.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium for improving the communication effect of low - latency services.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to a first aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication method which can be applied to a first communication device in a communication system. The communication method may include: the first communication device sends a preemption setup request message to a second communication device in order to establish a preemption session with the second communication device, and receives a preemption setup response message sent by the second communication device.

[0007] In the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application, a first communication device establishes a preemption session with a second communication device. During the preemption session, the first and second communication devices may preferentially transmit data packets of low-latency services in preemption transmission mode in order to improve the communication effectiveness of the low-latency services.

[0008] In one possible embodiment, a preemption setup request message includes preemption type information, which indicates the preemption transmission mode of a first communication device, and the preemption transmission mode includes some or all of the following: a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) level transmit-end transmission mode, a PPDU level receive-end transmission mode, a transmit opportunity (TXOP) level bidirectional transmit-end transmission mode, a TXOP level bidirectional receive-end transmission mode, a TXOP level hybrid transmit-end transmission mode, and a TXOP level hybrid receive-end transmission mode.

[0009] In the PPDU-level transmit-end mode, during the process of sending a first data packet to a second communication device, the first communication device interrupts the transmission of the first data packet and sends a second data packet to the second or third communication device, the second data packet containing data for a low-latency service, which is a service where the transmission latency of the data packet must be less than or equal to a specified latency value.

[0010] In the PPDU-level receive-end transmit mode, the first communication device receives a third data packet sent by the second communication device, and the third data packet is sent back to the first communication device by the second communication device after the second communication device interrupts sending the fourth data packet in the process of sending the fourth data packet back to the third communication device, and the third data packet contains data for low latency services.

[0011] In TXOP-level bidirectional transmit-end mode, the first communication device sends a fifth data packet to the second communication device after acquiring a TXOP, and after the transmission of the fifth data packet is completed, it receives a sixth data packet sent by the second communication device, the sixth data packet containing low-latency service data that arrives at the second communication device while the second communication device is receiving the fifth data packet.

[0012] In TXOP-level bidirectional receive-end transmit mode, if a low-latency service that has not yet been sent arrives after the second communication device has acquired a TXOP and while the first communication device is receiving the seventh data packet sent by the second communication device, the first communication device will directly send an eighth data packet to the second communication device, and the eighth data packet will contain the data packet of the low-latency service that has not yet been sent.

[0013] In a TXOP-level hybrid transmit-end mode, the first communication device sends a 9th data packet to the second communication device after receiving a TXOP, and if a low-latency service from the third communication device that has not yet been sent arrives at the second communication device while the 9th data packet is being sent, the second communication device sends a 10th data packet directly to the third communication device, and the 10th data packet contains the data packet of the low-latency service that has not yet been sent by the third communication device.

[0014] In a TXOP-level hybrid receive-end transmit mode, if, after the second communication device has acquired a TXOP, the first communication device is receiving the 11th data packet sent by the second communication device, and a low-latency service that has not yet been sent by the third communication device arrives, the first communication device will directly send the 12th data packet to the third communication device, and the 12th data packet will contain the data packet of the low-latency service that has not yet been sent by the third communication device.

[0015] The first communication device may transmit data to the second communication device using any one of the preemption transmission modes described above.

[0016] In one possible embodiment, if the first communication device can use a preemption transmit mode specified during a preemption session after receiving a preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device, the first communication device disables the intra-PPDU power save function within a specified period, where the specified preemption transmit mode is a PPDU-level receive-end transmit mode.

[0017] In the embodiment described above, the first communication device disables the device power saving function within a specified period. Specifically, the first communication device does not enter sleep mode when it receives data packets that it does not need to receive. When the second communication device sends data packets of a non-low latency service to the third communication device, if the second communication device interrupts sending the data packets of the non-low latency service and sends data packets of a low latency service to the first communication device by preemption transmission, the first communication device does not enter sleep mode, and therefore the first communication device can receive the low latency service data packets sent by the second communication device in order to reduce the loss of low latency service data packets.

[0018] In one possible embodiment, the preemption type information includes multiple indicator fields, each corresponding to a preemption transmit mode, and each indicator field indicates whether the first communication device uses the corresponding preemption transmit mode; or the preemption type information includes one indicator field, where different values ​​of the indicator field indicate different combinations of preemption transmit modes used by the first communication device; or the preemption type information includes a PPDU indicator field or a TXOP indicator field, where the PPDU indicator field indicates whether the first communication device uses a PPDU-level transmit mode, and the TXOP indicator field indicates whether the first communication device uses a TXOP-level transmit mode; or the preemption type information includes a transmit-end indicator field or a receive-end indicator field, where the transmit-end indicator field indicates whether the first communication device uses a preemption transmit mode when acting as a transmit-end, and the receive-end indicator field indicates whether the first communication device uses a preemption transmit mode when acting as a receive-end.

[0019] A preemption setup request message sent from the first communication device to the second communication device may carry preemption type information in a different manner.

[0020] In one possible embodiment, a preemption setup request message includes at least one of first traffic identifier information, second traffic identifier information, or first preemption duration information. The first traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that allows the first communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode. The second traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the first communication device to interrupt transmission. The first preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the first communication device allows an acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the first communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0021] In the embodiment described above, the preemption setup request message carries the preemption transmission parameter information of the first communication device in order to enable the second communication device to transmit data with the first communication device based on the preemption transmission parameter information of the first communication device during communication.

[0022] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup response message includes status indicator information, which indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup response message further includes at least one of the following: preemption type information for a second communication device, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, or second preemption duration information.

[0024] The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device. The third traffic identifier information is the traffic identifier of the low latency service that enables the second communication device to transmit data packets in the preemption transmission mode. The fourth traffic identifier information is the traffic identifier of the non-low latency service that enables the second communication device to allow transmission to be interrupted. The second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that enables the second communication device to have the acquired TXOP occupied by a communication device other than the second communication device in the preemption transmission mode.

[0025] In the foregoing embodiment, the preemption setup response message conveys the preemption transmission parameter information of the second communication device in order to enable the first communication device to perform data transmission with the second communication device based on the preemption transmission parameter information of the second communication device during communication.

[0026] [[ID=%]]

[0027] ​The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device. The third traffic identifier information is the traffic identifier of the low-latency service that enables the second communication device to transmit data packets in the preemption transmission mode. The fourth traffic identifier information is the traffic identifier of the non-low-latency service that enables the second communication device to have its transmission interrupted. The second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that enables the second communication device to have the acquired TXOP occupied by a communication device other than the second communication device in the preemption transmission mode.

[0028] In the foregoing embodiment, the second communication device may notify the first communication device of the preemption transmission parameter information of the second communication device by broadcasting a beacon frame.

[0029] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup request message is a target wake time TWT setup request message, and the preemption setup response message is a TWT setup response message.

[0030] In one possible embodiment, the TWT setup request message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to request the use of preemption transmission during the corresponding restricted target wake time service period restricted TWT SP.

[0031] In the foregoing embodiment, the preemption transmission process between communication devices may be implemented during the restricted TWT SP.

[0032] In one possible embodiment, the first communication device is a terminal device, the second communication device is an access point device, and before sending a preemption setup request message to the second communication device, the method further includes:

[0033] A step of receiving a beacon frame sent by a second communication device, wherein the beacon frame includes a restricted TWT element, the restricted TWT element includes second instruction information, and the second instruction information indicates that preemption transmission is enabled.

[0034] In one possible embodiment, after receiving a preemption setup response message returned by a second communication device, the first communication device may further receive a first data packet sent by the second communication device, the first data packet containing preemption instruction information. The first communication device may send data for low-latency services to the second communication device by preemption transmission based on the preemption instruction information in the first data packet.

[0035] In one possible embodiment, preemption instruction information indicates that a first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving a first data packet, or that a preemption transmission mode is enabled to be used by the first communication device after receiving a first data packet.

[0036] In the embodiment described above, as the receiving end of the first data packet, the first communication device may determine, based on preemption instruction information in the received first data packet, whether the first communication device can immediately send data for low-latency services after receiving the first data packet.

[0037] In one possible embodiment, after receiving a preemption setup response message returned by a second communication device, the first communication device may further receive a first data packet sent by the second communication device. If the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the first communication device sends the low-latency service data to the second communication device via preemption transmission.

[0038] In the embodiment described above, as the receiving end of the first data packet, the first communication device may determine, based on the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the received first data packet, whether the first communication device can immediately send data for low-latency services after receiving the first data packet.

[0039] In one possible embodiment, the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device within a pre-configured time after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet, the second data packet containing low-latency service data, the pre-configured time being less than a short interframe space (SIFS), or the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device, the second data packet containing an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet and low-latency service data, or the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet, the acknowledgment frame carrying continuous transmission instruction information, which indicates that a data packet should be further sent to the second communication device after the acknowledgment frame has been sent, and the second data packet containing low-latency service data.

[0040] In the embodiment described above, as the transmitting end of the first data packet, after sending the first data packet, the second communication device may know that after the second communication device sends the first data frame, the receiving end should immediately send a data packet for the low-latency service, and the second communication device waits to receive the low-latency service data without sending any further data to avoid conflict.

[0041] According to a second aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applicable to a first communication device. The communication method includes the steps of receiving a first data packet sent by a second communication device, and sending low-latency service data to the second communication device by preemption transmission based on a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet, or based on preemption instruction information in the first data packet.

[0042] In one possible embodiment, preemption instruction information indicates that a first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving a first data packet, or that a preemption transmission mode is enabled to be used by the first communication device after receiving a first data packet.

[0043] In one possible embodiment, if the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the first communication device may send data for low-latency services to the second communication device by preemption transmission, the fourth traffic identifier information being a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the second communication device to interrupt the transmission.

[0044] In one possible embodiment, the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device within a pre-configured time after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet to the second communication device, the second data packet containing low-latency service data, the pre-configured time being less than a short interframe space (SIFS), or the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device, the second data packet containing an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet and low-latency service data, or the first communication device may send a second data packet to the second communication device after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet, the acknowledgment frame carrying continuous transmission instruction information, which indicates that a data packet should be further sent to the second communication device after the acknowledgment frame has been sent, and the second data packet containing low-latency service data.

[0045] According to a third aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applicable to a second communication device. The communication method may include:

[0046] The steps include receiving a preemption setup request message sent by a first communication device,

[0047] The steps include sending a preemption setup response message to the first communication device in order to establish a preemption session with the first communication device.

[0048] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup response message includes status indicator information, which indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established.

[0049] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup response message further includes at least one of the following: preemption type information for a second communication device, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, or second preemption duration information.

[0050] The preemption type information indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device. The third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that the second communication device allows data packets to be transmitted in preemption transmission mode. The fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that the second communication device allows transmission to be interrupted. The second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the second communication device allows an acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the second communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0051] In one possible embodiment, the preemption transmission mode includes some or all of the following: Physical layer protocol data unit PPDU level transmit end transmit mode, PPDU level receive-end transmit mode, Transmit opportunity TXOP level bidirectional transmit end transmit mode, TXOP level bidirectional receive-end transmit mode, TXOP level hybrid transmit-end mode, and TXOP level hybrid receive-end transmit mode.

[0052] In one possible embodiment, the second communication device is an access point device, and the first communication device is a terminal device, and before receiving a preemption setup request message sent by the first communication device, the method further includes: A step of sending a beacon frame by broadcast, wherein the beacon frame includes at least one of the following: preemption type information of a second communication device, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, or second preemption duration information.

[0053] The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device. The third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that the second communication device allows data packets to be transmitted in preemption transmission mode. The fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that the second communication device allows transmission to be interrupted. The second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the second communication device allows an acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the second communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0054] In one possible embodiment, the preemption setup request message is a target wake time TWT setup request message, and the preemption setup response message is a TWT setup response message.

[0055] In one possible embodiment, the first communication device is a terminal device, and the second communication device is an access point device, and before receiving a preemption setup request message sent by the first communication device, the method further includes: A step of sending a beacon frame by broadcast, wherein the beacon frame includes a restricted TWT element, the restricted TWT element includes a second instruction information, the second instruction information indicates that preemption transmission is enabled.

[0056] In one possible embodiment, after sending a preemption setup response message to the first communication device, the method further includes: A step of sending a first data packet to a first communication device, wherein the first data packet includes preemption instruction information, the preemption instruction information instructs the first communication device to enable preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, or the preemption instruction information instructs the first communication device to enable a preemption transmission mode to be used after receiving the first data packet; The steps include receiving data for a low-latency service sent by a first communication device via preemption transmission.

[0057] In one possible embodiment, after sending a preemption setup response message to the first communication device, the method further includes: The steps include sending a first data packet to a first communication device, A step of receiving low-latency service data sent by a first communication device via preemption transmission, wherein the low-latency service data is sent by the first communication device to a second communication device via preemption transmission when the first communication device determines that a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in a first data packet is included in fourth traffic identifier information.

[0058] According to a fourth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applicable to a second communication device. The communication method may include: The steps include sending a first data packet to a first communication device, A step of receiving low-latency service data sent by a first communication device via preemption transmission.

[0059] In one possible embodiment, the first data packet includes preemption instruction information which indicates that a first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, or that a preemption transmission mode is enabled to be used by the first communication device after receiving the first data packet.

[0060] In one possible embodiment, data for a low-latency service is sent by the first communication device to the second communication device by preemption transmission when the first communication device determines that the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the fourth traffic identifier information being a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service which the second communication device is allowed to interrupt.

[0061] According to a fifth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication device including a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program. The processor is configured to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory in order to enable any method provided in the first aspect or any method provided in the second aspect to be performed.

[0062] According to a sixth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication device including a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program. The processor is configured to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory in order to enable any method provided in the third aspect or any method provided in the fourth aspect to be performed.

[0063] According to the seventh aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication system including a plurality of communication devices. The communication devices may be the communication devices provided in the third or fourth aspect.

[0064] According to the eighth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform any method provided in the first or second aspect.

[0065] According to the ninth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform any method provided in the third or fourth aspect.

[0066] According to the tenth aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform any method provided in the first or second aspect.

[0067] According to the eleventh aspect, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product including computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform any method provided in the third or fourth aspect.

[0068] For technical effects that can be achieved in any one of the second through eleventh embodiments, please refer to the description of beneficial effects in the first embodiment. Details will not be explained again here. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0069] [Figure 1] This is a diagram of a communication system according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating interaction in a communication method according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 3] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 1 according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 2 according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 3 according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 4 according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 5 according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 8] This is a diagram of a preemption transmission mode 6 according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9] This is a diagram of a TWT service process according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 10] This is a diagram of a limited TWT element according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11] This is a diagram illustrating interaction in another communication method according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart of a communication method according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart of another communication method according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart of another communication method according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 15] This is a flowchart of another communication method according to one embodiment of this application. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing the structure of a communication device according to one embodiment of this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0070] To further clarify the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms used in the embodiments of this application are intended solely to describe specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0071] Before describing the specific solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, some terms used in this application will be explained, not to limit the terminology used in this application, but to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0072] (1) Preemption transmission: Used to meet the data transmission requirements of low-latency or ultra-low-latency services. In the preemption transmission process, data currently being transmitted for non-low-latency services is interrupted, data for low-latency services is given priority, and data transmission for non-low-latency services is resumed after the transmission for low-latency services is completed. Low-latency and non-low-latency services are defined in relation to each other. A low-latency service may be a service in which the transmission latency of data packets must be less than or equal to a specified latency value. A non-low-latency service may also have latency requirements, but the latency required for a non-low-latency service is longer than the latency required for a low-latency service.

[0073] Preemption transmission can be classified into preemption at the physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) level and preemption at the transmission opportunity (TXOP) level.

[0074] In PPDU-level preemption, if a buffer data packet newly arriving at the transmitting end contains a data packet for a low-latency service while a long packet (long PPDU) of a non-low-latency service is being transmitted, the transmitting end may interrupt the transmission of the long packet for the non-low-latency service and transmit the data packet for the low-latency service. After the transmission of the data packet for the low-latency service is complete, the transmitting end will continue to transmit any remaining long packets of the non-low-latency service that have not yet been transmitted. A long packet is a data packet with a long duration.

[0075] In TXOP-level preemption, within a TXOP, if the transmitting end first sends a data frame PPDU1 for a non-low-latency service, and there are transmission requirements for data packets for low-latency services (including requirements at the transmitting end, receiving end, or another communication device), the data packets for low-latency services may be sent within the same TXOP after the transmission of PPDU1 is complete.

[0076] (2) Target Wake Time (TWT): A technology defined in WiFi 6 for power saving. The core idea of ​​TWT is to set several periodic periods so that, in order to save power, the communication device only needs to be active within the TWT SP and can sleep during other periods. These periods may be called Target Wake Time Service Periods (TWT SPs).

[0077] TWTs can be classified into individual TWTs and broadcast TWTs. In individual TWTs, each terminal device can establish a separate TWT agreement with the access point device. Therefore, each terminal device can have its own active and sleep periods. In broadcast TWTs, the access point device can establish a public TWT agreement for a group of terminal devices. A group of terminal devices includes multiple terminal devices, and these multiple terminal devices operate within the same active period and sleep during different periods.

[0078] In embodiments of this application, “multiple” means two or more. With this in mind, in embodiments of this application, “multiple” may also be understood as “at least two.” “At least one” is understood as one or more, and may be understood as, for example, one, two, or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two, or more, and is not limited to the specific items included. For example, including at least one of A, B, and C may mean including A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C. “And / or” describes a relationship between the related subjects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases: the case where only A exists, the case where both A and B exist, and the case where only B exists. In addition, the letter “ / ” usually indicates an “or” relationship between the related subjects unless otherwise specified.

[0079] Unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "First" and "Second" in the embodiments of this application are intended to distinguish between multiple subjects and are not intended to limit the order, chronological order, priority, or importance of the multiple subjects.

[0080] The communication methods provided in the embodiments of this application may be applied to a communication system. The communication system may be a wireless local area network, a long-term evolution (LTE) system or a fifth-generation (5G) communication system, a universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) system, an evolved UTRA (E-UTRAN) system, a new radio (NR) technology system, a GSM / EDGE radio access network-circuit switched (GERAN-CS) domain system, a GSM / EDGE radio access network-packet switched (GERAN-PS) domain system, a code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000-1xRTT system, a multi-radio access technology dual-connectivity (MR-DC) system, or a hybrid architecture of multiple communication systems, for example, a hybrid architecture of LTE and 5G.

[0081] Figure 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication system. The communication system may include at least one access point (AP) device and at least one terminal device. The terminal device may be called a station (STA) or a non-AP STA. Figure 1 shows one access point device 100 and three terminal devices, namely terminal device 200, terminal device 201, and terminal device 202. The three terminal devices are connected to the access point device 100 and access the communication network through the access point device 100. In Figure 1, there are three terminal devices connected to the access point device 100. In actual application, there may be more or fewer terminal devices than three. This is not limited in this application.

[0082] The access point device 100 may be understood as a communication device, and is a relay node in a communication network for transmitting data or information between devices. For example, the access point device 100 may be a general base station (e.g., NodeB or eNB), a new radio controller (NR controller), a gNodeB (gNB) or en-gNB in ​​a 5G system, a central unit, a new radio base station, a remote radio module, a micro base station, a relay, a distributed unit, or a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), or any other radio access device, such as a switch, router, or bridge. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application. A terminal device may communicate with multiple base stations using different technologies. For example, a terminal device may communicate with base stations supporting an LTE network, or with base stations supporting a 5G network, or may support dual connectivity between LTE network base stations and 5G network base stations.

[0083] Terminal devices may include user equipment (UE), access terminals, subscriber units, subscriber stations, mobile stations, mobile consoles, remote stations, remote terminals, mobile devices, wireless terminals, user agents, or user equipment. The terminal device may alternatively include cellular phones, cordless phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, mobile phones, tablet computers (Pads), computers with transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminals, augmented reality (AR) terminals, wireless terminals for industrial control, in-vehicle terminals, wireless terminals for self-driving, wireless terminals for remote medical care, wireless terminals for smart grids, wireless terminals for transportation safety, wireless terminals for smart cities, wireless terminals for smart homes, wearable devices, terminals for future 5G networks, terminals for future evolved PLMNs, and the like. The terminal device may also be fixed or mobile, and may be deployed on land, on water, or in the air.

[0084] In addition, the terminal device in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be a terminal in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is a key part of future information technology development. The main technical feature of IoT is the connection of objects to a network by using communication technology to implement intelligent networks of human-computer interconnection and interconnection between things. The terminal in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be a machine-type communication (MTC) terminal. The terminal in this application may alternatively be an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle assembly, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit located in the vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle may implement the method of this application by an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle assembly, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit located in the vehicle. Therefore, embodiments of this application may also be applied to vehicle internet, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X), long-term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V), or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V). The application scenarios for terminal devices are not limited to embodiments of this application.

[0085] In the communication system shown in Figure 1, both terminal devices and access point devices can be referred to as communication devices or network elements. The communication devices shown in Figure 1 can communicate via the IEEE 802.11 protocol. During communication, some services have high latency requirements.

[0086] To improve the communication effectiveness of low-latency services, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. The communication method may be performed by a first communication device, which may be an access point device or a terminal device. The first communication device sends a preemption setup request message to a second communication device so that the first communication device establishes a preemption session with a second communication device, and receives a preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device. During the preemption session, the first and second communication devices may preferentially transmit data packets of low-latency services in preemption transmission mode to improve the communication effectiveness of low-latency services.

[0087] Figure 2 is a diagram of interaction in a communication method according to one embodiment of the present application. The first communication device shown in Figure 2 may be an access point device or a terminal device. If the first communication device is an access point device, the second communication device may be a terminal device. If the first communication device is a terminal device, the second communication device may be a terminal device or an access point device. As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments, the interaction process between the first communication device and the second communication device may include the following steps.

[0088] S201: The first communication device sends a preemption setup request message to the second communication device.

[0089] A preemption setup request message may include preemption type information. The preemption type information indicates the preemption transmit mode of the first communication device. The preemption transmit mode of the first communication device may be a preemption transmit mode requested by the first communication device for use, or a preemption transmit mode supported by the first communication device. The preemption transmit mode may include some or all of the following: PPDU-level transmit-end transmit mode, PPDU-level receive-end transmit mode, TXOP-level bidirectional transmit-end transmit mode, TXOP-level hybrid transmit-end transmit mode, and TXOP-level hybrid receive-end transmit mode.

[0090] The preemption transmission mode is described separately below.

[0091] Preemption transmission mode 1: A PPDU-level transmit-end transmission mode. In this mode, during the process of sending a first data packet to a second communication device, the first communication device interrupts the transmission of the first data packet and sends a second data packet to the second or third communication device. The second data packet contains data for low-latency services. Low-latency services are services where the transmission latency of the data packet must be less than or equal to a specified latency value. For example, the specified latency value may be a few milliseconds or a few microseconds.

[0092] For example, as shown in Figure 3, the original plan is as follows: The first communication device sends PPDU1 to the second communication device, and after the transmission is complete, the second communication device returns an acknowledgment frame to the first communication device, which may be a block acknowledgment (block ACK, BA). In practice, the following occurs: If a low-latency service arrives during the process of the first communication device sending PPDU1 to the second communication device, the first communication device may interrupt the transmission of PPDU1 and send PPDU2 to the second or third communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service.

[0093] Preemption transmission mode 2: A PPDU-level receiving-end transmission mode. In this mode, the first communication device may receive a second data packet sent by the second communication device. The second data packet is sent by the second communication device to the first communication device after the second communication device has interrupted sending the second data packet in the process of sending the second data packet to the third communication device. The second data packet contains data for low-latency services.

[0094] In contrast to preemption transmission mode 1, preemption transmission mode 2 involves the first and second communication devices swapping roles. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the original plan is as follows: the second communication device sends PPDU1 to the third communication device, and after the transmission is complete, the third communication device returns an acknowledgment frame to the second communication device. In practice, however, if a low-latency service that should be sent to the first communication device arrives during the process of the second communication device sending PPDU1 to the third communication device, the second communication device may interrupt the transmission of PPDU1 and send PPDU2 to the first communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service that should be sent to the first communication device.

[0095] Preemption transmission mode 3: A bidirectional transmit-end mode at the TXOP level. In some embodiments, this mode may be as follows: The first communication device sends a first data packet to the second communication device after acquiring a TXOP, and after the transmission of the first data packet is completed, it receives a second data packet sent by the second communication device. The second data packet contains low-latency service data arriving at the second communication device while the second communication device is receiving the first data packet. In some other embodiments, this mode may be as follows: The first communication device sends a first data packet to the second communication device after acquiring a TXOP, and after the transmission of the first data packet is completed, it receives a response message for the first data packet and a second data packet sent by the second communication device. The second data packet contains low-latency service data arriving at the second communication device while the second communication device is receiving the first data packet.

[0096] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the original plan is as follows: The first communication device sends PPDU1 to the second communication device after obtaining a TXOP. After the transmission is complete, the second communication device returns an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the first communication device. The first communication device then sends PPDUn to the second communication device. After the transmission is complete, the second communication device returns an acknowledgment frame BAn to the first communication device. In practice, the following occurs: In the process of the second communication device receiving PPDU1 sent by the first communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to the first communication device arrives, the second communication device may, after returning an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the first communication device, directly send PPDU2 to the first communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service to be sent to the first communication device. After the transmission of PPDU2 is complete, the first communication device sends an acknowledgment frame BA2 to the second communication device. In another embodiment, in the process of a second communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a first communication device, if a low-latency service that should be sent to the first communication device arrives, the second communication device may, instead, send a PPDU2 directly to the first communication device.

[0097] Preemption transmission mode 4: A bidirectional receive-end transmission mode at the TXOP level. In some embodiments, this mode may be as follows: After the second communication device has acquired a TXOP, and while the first communication device is receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device arrives, the first communication device may send a second data packet directly to the second communication device, the second data packet containing the data packet of the low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device. In some other embodiments, this mode may be as follows: After the second communication device has acquired a TXOP, and while the first communication device is receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device arrives, the first communication device sends a response message for the first data packet to the second communication device, and then sends a second data packet directly to the second communication device, the second data packet containing the data packet of the low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device.

[0098] In preemption transmission mode 3, preemption transmission mode 4 involves the first and second communication devices swapping roles. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the original plan is as follows: The second communication device sends PPDU1 to the first communication device after receiving TXOP. After the transmission is complete, the first communication device returns acknowledgment frame BA1 to the second communication device. The second communication device then sends PPDUn to the first communication device. After the transmission is complete, the first communication device returns acknowledgment frame BAn to the second communication device. In practice, the following scenario occurs: In the process of a first communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device arrives, the first communication device may, after returning an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the second communication device, directly send a PPDU2 to the second communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device. After the sending of PPDU2 is complete, the second communication device sends an acknowledgment frame BA2 to the first communication device. In another embodiment, in the process of a first communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to the second communication device arrives, the first communication device may, alternatively, directly send a PPDU2 to the second communication device.

[0099] Preemption transmission mode 5: TXOP-level hybrid transmit-end transmission mode. In some embodiments, this mode may be as follows: The first communication device sends a first data packet to the second communication device after receiving a TXOP. If a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives at the second communication device while the first data packet is being transmitted, the second communication device may send a second data packet directly to the third communication device, the second data packet containing the data packet of the low-latency service to be sent to the third communication device. In some other embodiments, this mode may be as follows: The first communication device sends a first data packet to the second communication device after receiving a TXOP. If, while the first data packet is being transmitted, a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives at the second communication device, the second communication device sends a response message for the first data packet to the first communication device, and then directly sends the second data packet to the third communication device, the second data packet containing the low-latency service data packet to be sent to the third communication device.

[0100] For example, as shown in Figure 7, the original plan is as follows: The first communication device sends PPDU1 to the second communication device after obtaining a TXOP. After the transmission is complete, the second communication device returns an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the first communication device. The first communication device then sends PPDUn to the second communication device. After the transmission is complete, the second communication device returns an acknowledgment frame BAn to the first communication device. In practice, the following occurs: In the process of the second communication device receiving PPDU1 sent by the first communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives, the second communication device may, after returning an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the first communication device, directly send PPDU2 to the third communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service to be sent to the third communication device. After the transmission of PPDU2 is complete, the third communication device sends an acknowledgment frame BA2 to the second communication device. In another embodiment, in the process of a second communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a first communication device, if a low-latency service that should be sent to a third communication device arrives, the second communication device may, instead, send a PPDU2 directly to the third communication device.

[0101] Preemption transmission mode 6: TXOP-level hybrid receiver-end transmission mode. In some embodiments, this mode may be as follows: After the second communication device has obtained a TXOP, and while the first communication device is receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives, the first communication device may send a second data packet directly to the third communication device, the second data packet containing the data packet of the low-latency service to be sent to the third communication device. In some other embodiments, this mode may be as follows: After the second communication device has obtained a TXOP, and while the first communication device is receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives, the first communication device may send a response message for the first data packet to the second communication device, and then send a second data packet directly to the third communication device, the second data packet containing the data packet of the low-latency service to be sent to the third communication device.

[0102] In preemption transmission mode 5, preemption transmission mode 6 involves the first and second communication devices swapping roles. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the original plan is as follows: The second communication device sends PPDU1 to the first communication device after receiving TXOP. After the transmission is complete, the first communication device returns acknowledgment frame BA1 to the second communication device. The second communication device then sends PPDUn to the first communication device. After the transmission is complete, the first communication device returns acknowledgment frame BAn to the second communication device. In practice, the following scenario occurs: In the process of a first communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives, the first communication device may, after returning an acknowledgment frame BA1 to the second communication device, directly send a PPDU2 to the third communication device, which contains the data for the low-latency service to be sent to the third communication device. After the sending of PPDU2 is complete, the third communication device sends an acknowledgment frame BA2 to the first communication device. In another embodiment, in the process of a first communication device receiving a PPDU1 sent by a second communication device, if a low-latency service to be sent to a third communication device arrives, the first communication device may, alternatively, directly send a PPDU2 to the third communication device.

[0103] The preemption type information in the preemption setup request message indicates one or more of the preemption transmission modes described above.

[0104] In some embodiments, the preemption type information may include multiple instruction fields, each corresponding to a preemption transmission mode, and each instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses the corresponding preemption transmission mode. For example, the preemption type information may include six instruction fields corresponding to the six preemption transmission modes described above, each instruction field indicating whether the first communication device uses the corresponding preemption transmission mode. For example, the first instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 1, where a value of "0" in the first instruction field indicates that the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 1, and a value of "1" in the first instruction field indicates that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission mode 1. The second instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 2, where a value of "0" in the second instruction field indicates that the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 2, and a value of "1" in the second instruction field indicates that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission mode 2, and so on.

[0105] In some other embodiments, the preemption type information may include one indicator field, where different values ​​of the indicator field represent different combinations (up to 2) of preemption transmission modes used by the first communication device. 6 This indicates a combination of possible combinations. For example, a value of "01" in the instruction field indicates that the first communication device will use preemption transmission mode 1, a value of "04" indicates that the first communication device will use preemption transmission mode 1 and preemption transmission mode 2, and a value of "64" indicates that the first communication device will use all six of the aforementioned preemption transmission modes.

[0106] In some other embodiments, the preemption type information may include a PPDU indicator field that indicates whether the first communication device uses PPDU-level transmission modes. For example, a value of "0" in the PPDU indicator field indicates that the first communication device uses PPDU-level transmission modes, specifically, that the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 1 and preemption transmission mode 2, while a value of "2" in the PPDU indicator field indicates that the first communication device does not use PPDU-level transmission modes, specifically, that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission mode 1 or preemption transmission mode 2.

[0107] In some other embodiments, the preemption type information may include a TXOP indicator field that indicates whether the first communication device uses TXOP-level transmission modes. For example, a value of "0" in the TXOP indicator field indicates that the first communication device uses TXOP-level transmission modes, specifically, that the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 3, preemption transmission mode 4, preemption transmission mode 5, and preemption transmission mode 6, while a value of "1" in the TXOP indicator field indicates that the first communication device does not use TXOP-level transmission modes, specifically, that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission mode 3, preemption transmission mode 4, preemption transmission mode 5, or preemption transmission mode 6.

[0108] In some other embodiments, the preemption type information may include a transmitter-end indicator field that indicates whether to use preemption transmission modes when the first communication device is acting as a transmitter. For example, a value of "0" in the transmitter-end indicator field indicates that the first communication device will use preemption transmission modes when acting as a transmitter, specifically that the first communication device will use preemption transmission mode 1, preemption transmission mode 3, and preemption transmission mode 5, while a value of "1" in the transmitter-end indicator field indicates that the first communication device will not use preemption transmission modes when acting as a transmitter, specifically that the first communication device will not use preemption transmission mode 1, preemption transmission mode 3, or preemption transmission mode 5.

[0109] In some other embodiments, the preemption type information may include a receiving end indicator field that indicates whether the first communication device uses preemption transmission modes when acting as a receiving end. For example, a value of "0" in the receiving end indicator field indicates that the first communication device uses preemption transmission modes when acting as a receiving end, specifically that the first communication device uses preemption transmission mode 2, preemption transmission mode 4, and preemption transmission mode 6, while a value of "1" in the receiving end indicator field indicates that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission modes when acting as a receiving end, specifically that the first communication device does not use preemption transmission mode 2, preemption transmission mode 4, or preemption transmission mode 6.

[0110] In some embodiments, the preemption setup request message may include one or more of the following: first traffic identifier information, second traffic identifier information, and first preemption duration information.

[0111] The first traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that enables the first communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode. The first traffic identifier information may be in the form of a traffic identifier bitmap or a traffic identifier list. If the first traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier bitmap, it may include a downlink traffic identifier bitmap, or it may include an uplink traffic identifier bitmap, or it may include both a downlink traffic identifier bitmap and an uplink traffic identifier bitmap. The uplink traffic identifier bitmap indicates the uplink service that is enabled by the first communication device to transmit in preemption transmission mode. The downlink traffic identifier bitmap indicates the downlink service that is enabled by the first communication device to transmit in preemption transmission mode.

[0112] The second traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low latency service that the first communication device allows to interrupt transmission. The second traffic identifier information may be in the form of a traffic identifier bitmap or a traffic identifier list. If the second traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier bitmap, it may include a downlink traffic identifier bitmap, or it may include an uplink traffic identifier bitmap, or the first traffic identifier information may include both a downlink traffic identifier bitmap and an uplink traffic identifier bitmap. The uplink traffic identifier bitmap indicates an uplink service that the first communication device allows to interrupt transmission. The downlink traffic identifier bitmap indicates a downlink service that the first communication device allows to interrupt transmission.

[0113] The first preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the first communication device allows an acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the first communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0114] For example, the frame structure of the data frame for a preemption setup request message may be shown in Table 1.

[0115] [Table 1]

[0116] As shown in Table 1, the preemption setup request message may include the following fields:

[0117] The value of the category field indicates that the data frame is a UHR action frame.

[0118] UHR action field: The value of the UHR action field being the specified value indicates that the dataframe is a preemption setup request message.

[0119] The preemption control field may carry preemption type information and first preemption duration information. The TID bitmap field may be a field corresponding to first traffic identifier information, and the low TID bitmap field may be a field corresponding to second traffic identifier information.

[0120] S202: The second communication device sends a preemption setup response message to the first communication device.

[0121] The preemption setup response message indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established. The preemption setup response message may include status indication information. This status indication information indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established. This status indication information may be a status code.

[0122] In some embodiments, the preemption setup response message may further include one or more of the following: preemption type information for a second communication device, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, and second preemption duration information.

[0123] The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device. The preemption transmission mode of the second communication device may be a preemption transmission mode that the second communication device allows the first communication device to use, or a preemption transmission mode supported by the second communication device. For information on setting the type of preemption transmission mode of the second communication device and the format of the preemption type information, please refer to the preemption setup request message. Further details are not provided here.

[0124] The third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that enables the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption mode. For example, the third traffic identifier information may be a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that enables the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption mode, or the third traffic identifier information may be a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that enables the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption mode. The third traffic identifier information may be in the form of a traffic identifier bitmap or a traffic identifier list. If the third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier bitmap, the third traffic identifier information may include a downlink traffic identifier bitmap, or the third traffic identifier information may include an uplink traffic identifier bitmap, or the third traffic identifier information may include both a downlink traffic identifier bitmap and an uplink traffic identifier bitmap. The uplink traffic identifier bitmap indicates the uplink service that is enabled by the second communication device to transmit in preemption mode. The downlink traffic identifier bitmap indicates a downlink service that is to be transmitted by a second communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0125] The fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low latency service that the second communication device allows to interrupt transmission. For example, the fourth traffic identifier information may be a traffic identifier for a non-low latency service that the first communication device allows to interrupt transmission and the second communication device agrees to, or the fourth traffic identifier information may be a traffic identifier for a non-low latency service that the second communication device allows to interrupt transmission. The fourth traffic identifier information may be in the form of a traffic identifier bitmap or a traffic identifier list. If the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier bitmap, the fourth traffic identifier information may include a downlink traffic identifier bitmap, or the fourth traffic identifier information may include an uplink traffic identifier bitmap, or the fourth traffic identifier information may include both a downlink traffic identifier bitmap and an uplink traffic identifier bitmap. The uplink traffic identifier bitmap indicates the uplink service that the second communication device allows to interrupt transmission. The downlink traffic identifier bitmap indicates the downlink service that the second communication device allows to interrupt transmission.

[0126] The second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the second communication device allows the acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the second communication device in preemption transmission mode.

[0127] For example, the frame structure of the data frame for the preemption setup response message may be shown in Table 2.

[0128] [Table 2]

[0129] As shown in Table 2, the preemption setup response message may include the following fields:

[0130] The value of the category field indicates that the data frame is a UHR action frame.

[0131] UHR action field: The value of the UHR action field being the specified value indicates that the data frame is a preemption setup response message.

[0132] The status code field indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established.

[0133] The preemption control field may carry preemption type information and second preemption duration information for a second communication device. The TID bitmap field may be a field corresponding to third traffic identifier information, and the low TID bitmap field may be a field corresponding to fourth traffic identifier information.

[0134] In some other embodiments, if the second communication device is an access point device, the access point device may periodically broadcast beacon frames to terminal devices. The beacon frame may include one or more of the second communication device's preemption type information, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, and second preemption duration information. If the first communication device is a terminal device, the first communication device may receive a beacon frame sent by the second communication device via broadcast and obtain the second communication device's preemption type information, third traffic identifier information, fourth traffic identifier information, or second preemption duration information carried in the beacon frame.

[0135] During communication, while a second communication device is sending a long data packet of a non-low-latency service to a third communication device, the first communication device may also receive the data packet. To better conserve power, the first communication device decides, based on information in the data packet's preamble, that it does not need to receive the data packet and enters a sleep state. This sleep state continues until the data packet's end-of-transmission time. The end-of-transmission time can be predicted by the first communication device based on the data packet's length. If, before the end-of-transmission time arrives, the second communication device interrupts sending the data packet of the non-low-latency service and sends the data packet of the low-latency service to the first communication device, the first communication device, being in a sleep state, may not be able to properly receive the low-latency service data packet, and the data packet may be lost.

[0136] To reduce the occurrence of cases where the receiving end communication device is in a sleep state and therefore unable to successfully receive data packets of low-latency services, in some embodiments, if the first communication device can use the aforementioned preemption transmission mode 2, the first communication device disables the intra-PPDU power save function within a specified period after the preemption session has been successfully established. For example, the specified period may be the period corresponding to the preemption session.

[0137] The first communication device disables its power saving function within a specified period. Specifically, the first communication device does not enter sleep mode when it receives data packets that it does not need to receive. When the second communication device sends data packets of a non-low latency service to the third communication device, if the second communication device interrupts sending the non-low latency service data packets and sends low latency service data packets to the first communication device via preemption transmission, the first communication device does not enter sleep mode, and therefore the first communication device can receive low latency service data packets sent by the second communication device in order to reduce the loss of low latency service data packets.

[0138] In this embodiment of the present application, the first communication device may disable the intra-PPDU power save function in order to implement preemption transmission mode 2. After disabling the intra-PPDU power save function, the first communication device may notify the second communication device. For example, in some embodiments, after a preemption session has been successfully established, the first communication device may disable the intra-PPDU power save function and send notification information to the second communication device to notify the second communication device that the first communication device has disabled the intra-PPDU power save function. In some other embodiments, the first communication device may, alternatively, disable the intra-PPDU power save function without establishing a preemption session with the second communication device and send notification information to the second communication device to notify the second communication device that the first communication device has disabled the intra-PPDU power save function. After receiving the notification information sent by the first communication device, the second communication device may send data for low-latency services in preemption transmission mode 2 to the first communication device. The notification information may be carried in the A-Control field of the HT-Control field in the message sent from the first communication device to the second communication device, or in the EHT OM Control field or UHR OM Control field in the management frame or data frame. For example, the structure of the EHT OM Control field may be shown in Table 3.

[0139] [Table 3]

[0140] As shown in Table 3, the EHT OM Control field may include the Receive Spatial Stream Extension (Rx NSS Extension) field, the Channel Width Extension field, the Transmit Spatial Stream Extension (Rx NSS Extension) field, the intra-PPDU power save Disable field, and the Reserved field. The intra-PPDU power save Disable field is notification information sent from the first communication device to the second communication device.

[0141] In the above-described embodiment, a preemption session is established and the intra-PPDU power save function is disabled within a specified time, so that the successful execution of preemption communication can be determined and the loss of data packets for low-latency services can be avoided.

[0142] In some other embodiments, preemption transmissions may be restricted to a restricted target waketime service period (restricted TWT SP, R-TWT SP). For example, TWTs may be classified into individual TWTs and broadcast TWTs. An individual TWT means that a TWT Requesting Station (TWT Requesting STA, abbreviated as Requesting Station) sends a TWT Request message to a TWT Responding Station (TWT Responding Station, abbreviated as Responding Station) to request waketime setup. After receiving the TWT Request message, the Responding Station sends a TWT Response message to the Requesting Station. After the interaction is successful, a TWT agreement is established between the Requesting Station and the Responding Station. Both the Requesting Station and the Responding Station are communication devices. After reaching a TWT agreement, both the Requesting Station and the Responding Station must remain active for the agreed period to send and receive data. Outside of this period, the Requesting Station and the Responding Station may sleep to conserve power. A terminal device may send a TWT agreement setup request to an access point device. Specifically, the terminal device is the Requesting Station, and the access point device is the Responding Station. Naturally, the access point device may alternatively initiate a TWT agreement setup request to the terminal device. After the TWT agreement is established, the agreed-upon active period is called the TWT Service Period (SP). As shown in Figure 9, each TWT agreement may include multiple periodically occurring TWT Service Periods with equal durations.

[0143] Unlike individual TWTs, broadcast TWTs provide a "batch management" mechanism. An access point device can establish a series of periodically occurring TWT service periods with multiple terminal devices. During a TWT service period, multiple terminal devices must remain active in order to communicate with the access point device.

[0144] An access point device may include information about one or more broadcast TWTs in a Beacon frame, each broadcast TWT being represented by a broadcast TWT identifier and the MAC address of the access point device. If a terminal device receives a Beacon frame and wishes to join a broadcast TWT, the terminal device may send a broadcast TWT setup request message to the access point device to join the broadcast TWT. When establishing a broadcast TWT, the terminal device must specify a broadcast TWT identifier (ID) to request to join a particular broadcast TWT. After joining a particular broadcast TWT, the terminal device may wake up to communicate with the access point device based on the service period indicated by the TWT parameter set of the broadcast TWT. Note that if a terminal device supports broadcast TWTs but does not explicitly join a particular broadcast TWT, the terminal device will join the broadcast TWT with a broadcast TWT ID of 0 by default.

[0145] Similar to individual TWTs, the parameter set for broadcast TWTs also specifies the frequency of TWT service periods and the duration of each TWT service period. In addition, the parameters for broadcast TWTs further include the broadcast TWT lifecycle. The lifecycle is measured in units of Beacon interframe space and indicates the duration of an established broadcast TWT.

[0146] A restricted target wake time (restricted TWT) is a special type of broadcast TWT, and the R-TWT SP defined by a restricted TWT is used to provide low latency services. Access point devices may include a TWT element within a Beacon frame to declare the service time of a restricted TWT. As shown in Figure 10, to represent a restricted TWT, the value of the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field in the Request Type field of the TWT Parameter Information of the TWT element may be set to 4.

[0147] After the access point device declares a restricted TWT in a Beacon frame, the terminal device may send a request frame (TWT setup frame) to the access point device to request access to the restricted TWT and become a member of the restricted TWT in order to send data packets for low-latency services to the R-TWT SP.

[0148] When preemption transmission is restricted to the R-TWT SP, the communication device disables the intra-PPDU power save function at the R-TWT SP and uses the intra-PPDU power save function only outside the R-TWT SP.

[0149] In some embodiments, an access point device may periodically broadcast Beacon frames. The access point device may include R-TWT element indication information in the Beacon frame, which indicates whether a preemption transmission mode can be used for data transmission in the R-TWT SP corresponding to the R-TWT element. In other words, the access point device may include indication information in a restricted TWT element within the Beacon frame to indicate whether a preemption mechanism can be used for transmission in the R-TWT SP corresponding to the restricted TWT element. Alternatively, a restricted TWT element may carry preemption type information to indicate the preemption transmission mode that can be used in the R-TWT SP. The types of preemption transmission modes have been described in the embodiments described above and will not be described again in detail here.

[0150] In another embodiment, when establishing a restricted TWT session (establish restricted TWT membership), the terminal device may specify whether preemption transmission is enabled, the preemption transmission mode, and the parameters in the preemption transmission. The parameters in the preemption transmission may include at least one of first traffic identifier information, second traffic identifier information, or first preemption duration information.

[0151] For example, as shown in Figure 11, the process of establishing a restricted TWT session may include the following steps:

[0152] S1101: The first communication device sends a TWT setup request message to the second communication device.

[0153] A TWT setup request message may also be called a TWT setup frame and may be understood as a preemption setup request message. A TWT setup frame is used to request the establishment of restricted TWT membership. The TWT setup frame carries instructional information to instruct the first communication device to request the corresponding R-TWT SP to transmit data in preemption transmission mode.

[0154] S1102: The second communication device sends a TWT setup response message to the first communication device.

[0155] The TWT setup response message, also known as the TWT setup response frame, can be understood as a preemption setup response message. The TWT setup response frame indicates that a restricted TWT has been successfully established.

[0156] If the first communication device instructs the first communication device to use preemption transmission or PPDU-level preemption transmission, the first communication device disables the intra-PPDU power save function in the SP corresponding to the established restricted TWT.

[0157] For example, suppose the first communication device is a terminal device and the second communication device is an access point device. When the terminal device is associated with the access point device, the terminal device may include instruction information in the sent TWT setup frame to indicate whether the terminal device uses preemption transmission or to indicate the preemption transmission mode used by the terminal device. Then, after establishing a restricted TWT session with the access point device, the terminal device may disable the intra-PPDU power save function in the corresponding restricted TWT SP.

[0158] In the above-described embodiment, the preemption function is used only for restricted TWT SPs to implement low-latency communication, and the intra-PPDU power save function may be used outside of SPs to achieve low power consumption.

[0159] In some embodiments, after the first and second communication devices establish a preemption session using the preemption setup process shown in Figure 2 or Figure 11, the first and second communication devices may transmit data in preemption transmission mode.

[0160] During data transmission, the first communication device may receive a first data packet sent by the second communication device. In one embodiment, the first communication device may determine, based on a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet, whether it is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet. For example, if the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the first communication device may determine that it is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, and therefore, the first communication device can send data for a low-latency service to the second communication device by preemption transmission.

[0161] In another embodiment, the first communication device may determine, based on preemption instruction information contained in the first data packet, whether it is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet. The preemption instruction information in the first data packet indicates that the first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet. Alternatively, the preemption instruction information in the first data packet indicates a preemption transmission type, specifically, a preemption transmission mode that the first communication device is enabled to use after receiving the first data packet. The first communication device may send data for a low-latency service to the second communication device by performing a preemption transmission based on the preemption instruction information in the first data packet.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first data packet is assumed to be a PPDU1. Preemption instruction information may be carried in the MPDU or A-MPDU within the PPDU1, or it may be carried in the physical layer preamble (e.g., the UHR-SIG field) within the PPDU1. When preemption instruction information is carried in the MPDU or A-MPDU, it may specifically be carried in the HT-Control field within the MAC Header.

[0163] In an optional embodiment, the preemption instruction information may be "preemption allowed," which may occupy one bit to indicate whether preemption transmission is enabled. If preemption transmission is enabled, the first communication device may perform preemption transmission by one or more types of TXOP-level preemption transmissions. In particular, the first communication device may perform preemption transmission in the preemption transmission mode 4 or preemption transmission mode 6 described above.

[0164] In another optional embodiment, the preemption instruction information may be a preemption type, which may occupy one bit to indicate a preemption transmission type. The preemption transmission type may include one or more types of TXOP-level preemption transmissions. For example, a preemption type of a first value indicates that preemption transmission mode 4 is enabled, and a preemption type of a second value indicates that preemption transmission mode 6 is enabled.

[0165] In some other embodiments, preemption instruction information may be carried in the CAS Control field. For example, the CAS Control field shown in Table 4 carries preemption allowed, and the CAS Control field shown in Table 5 carries preemption type.

[0166] [Table 4]

[0167] [Table 5]

[0168] After the first communication device has determined that it is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, the first communication device may send the low-latency service data to the second communication device in one of the following ways:

[0169] Method 1: After sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet to the second communication device, the second data packet is sent to the second communication device within a predetermined time, and the second data packet contains data for the low-latency service. The acknowledgment frame may be a BA frame, and the predetermined time may be less than the short inter-frame space (SIFS). For example, the predetermined time may be the reduced inter-frame space (RIFS).

[0170] Method 2: A second data packet is sent to a second communication device, and the second data packet includes an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet and low-latency service data. The acknowledgment frame for the first data packet and low-latency service data may be in the same A-MPDU.

[0171] Method 3: After sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet to the second communication device, the second data packet is sent to the second communication device. The acknowledgment frame carries continuous transmission instruction information, which indicates that further data packets should be sent to the second communication device after the acknowledgment frame has been sent. The second data packet contains data for low-latency services.

[0172] Using one of the aforementioned methods, after sending the first data packet, the second communication device knows that it has been preempted, and the second communication device waits to receive the second data packet without sending any further data.

[0173] The communication methods provided in embodiments of this application may be applied to wireless local area network systems supporting the next generation of 802.11be, such as the IEEE 802.11ax next-generation Wi-Fi protocol, e.g., 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, or, as another example, the 802.11 series protocol such as Wi-Fi 8, UHR, or Wi-Fi AI, and may be further applied to ultra-wideband (UWB) based wireless personal area network systems and sensing systems.

[0174] Based on the method embodiments described above, in some embodiments, a communication method performed by the first communication device may be shown in Figure 12. The first communication device may be any network element in a communication system. Specifically, the first communication device may be a terminal device or an access point device. As shown in Figure 12, the method may include the following steps.

[0175] S1201: Send a preemption setup request message to the second communication device.

[0176] S1202: Receive the preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device in order to complete the preemption session setup process with the second communication device.

[0177] The preemption setup request message may include preemption type information, which indicates the preemption transmission mode of the first communication device.

[0178] In some embodiments, the preemption setup request message may be a target wake time TWT setup request message, and the preemption setup response message may be a TWT setup response message.

[0179] In some other embodiments, as shown in Figure 13, the communication method performed by the first communication device may include the following steps:

[0180] S1301: Receive the first data packet sent by the second communication device.

[0181] S1302: Send low-latency service data to a second communication device by preemption transmission based on a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet, or based on preemption instruction information in the first data packet.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first data packet includes preemption instruction information which indicates that a first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, or that a preemption transmission mode is enabled to be used by the first communication device after receiving the first data packet.

[0183] In some other embodiments, the first communication device may send low-latency service data to the second communication device by preemption transmission based on a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet. For example, if the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the first communication device may send low-latency service data to the second communication device by preemption transmission, where the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that the second communication device allows to interrupt transmission.

[0184] Based on the method embodiments described above, in some embodiments, a communication method performed by a second communication device may be shown in Figure 14. The second communication device may be any network element in a communication system. Specifically, the second communication device may be a terminal device or an access point device. As shown in Figure 14, the method may include the following steps.

[0185] S1401: Receive a preemption setup request message sent by the first communication device.

[0186] S1402: A preemption setup response message is sent to the first communication device to establish a preemption session with the first communication device.

[0187] The preemption setup response message includes status information, which indicates whether the preemption session was successfully established.

[0188] In some other embodiments, as shown in Figure 15, the communication method performed by the second communication device may include the following steps:

[0189] S1501: Send the first data packet to the first communication device.

[0190] S1502: Receive low-latency service data sent by the second communication device via preemption transmission.

[0191] Based on the same technical concept as the embodiments described above, one embodiment of this application further provides a communication device. The communication device may be a terminal device or an access point device as shown in Figure 1. The communication device may be configured to perform the functions of the method embodiments described above, and thus can achieve the beneficial effects of the method embodiments described above.

[0192] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 16, the structure of the communication device 1600 may include a processor 1601 and a memory 1602 connected to the processor 1601. The processor 1601 and the memory 1602 may be connected to each other via a bus. The processor 1601 acts as the host processor of the communication device 1600, i.e., as the control core of the communication device 1600. The bus may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. The specific connection medium between the processor 1601 and the memory 1602 is not limited to this embodiment of the present application.

[0193] Memory 1602 may include the aforementioned memories. Memory 1602 may be volatile memory, such as random access memory, or alternatively, non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory ROM, flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid-state drive (SSD), or memory 1602 may be any other medium accessible to the computer that can carry or store expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures. Memory 1602 may be a combination of the aforementioned memories. Memory 1602 may be configured to store software programs and modules.

[0194] The processor 1601 may include one or more processors. The processor 1601 executes software programs and modules stored in the memory 1602 to perform various functional applications and data processing of the communication device 1600, such as the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0195] It can be understood that the structures shown in this embodiment of the present application do not constitute a specific limitation on computing devices. In some other embodiments of the present application, computing devices may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figures, or some components may be combined, or some components may be divided, or the components may be arranged differently. The components shown in the figures may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0196] One embodiment of this application further provides a communication system. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system may include a plurality of communication devices, which may include access point devices and terminal devices. The configuration of the communication devices is shown in Figure 16. Further details are not described here.

[0197] The method steps in embodiments of this application may be carried out by hardware or by a processor that executes a computer program or instructions. The computer program or instructions may constitute a computer program product. One embodiment of this application further provides a computer program product that includes computer executable instructions. In one embodiment, computer executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform the functions in the method embodiment shown in any one of Figures 12 to 15.

[0198] Computer executable instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. One embodiment of this application further provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores executable instructions. In one embodiment, the computer executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform the functions in the method embodiment shown in any one of Figures 12 to 15.

[0199] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this embodiment of the present application may be random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), register, hard disk drive, removable hard disk drive, CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium known in the art.

[0200] Computer executable instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, a computer program or instruction may be transmitted by wire or wirelessly from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible to a computer, or a data storage device that integrates one or more available media, such as a server or data center. The available media may be magnetic media, such as floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes; optical media, such as digital video discs (DVDs); or semiconductor media, such as solid-state drives.

[0201] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or unless a logical inconsistency arises, terminology and / or descriptions in different embodiments are consistent and may refer to one another, and technical features in different embodiments may be combined in new embodiments based on the internal logical relationships between the technical features. In addition, the terms “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a set of steps or units. A method, system, product, or device is not necessarily limited to the steps or units explicitly listed, and may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or specific to such process, method, product, or device.

[0202] While this application is described with reference to certain features and embodiments, it is evident that various modifications and combinations of features and embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Accordingly, this specification and the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative descriptions of the solutions defined by the accompanying claims and are deemed to cover any or all of the modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of this application.

[0203] Clearly, a person skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of this application. In this case, this application is intended to cover such modifications and variations of the embodiments of this application, insofar as they fall within the scope of the claims of this application and the equivalent art thereto. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0204] 100 access point devices 200 terminal devices 201 Terminal Devices 202 Terminal Devices 1600 communication devices 1601 Processor 1602 memory

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a first communication device, wherein the method is The steps include sending a preemption setup request message to a second communication device, The steps include: receiving a preemption setup response message sent by the second communication device in order to establish a preemption session with the second communication device; A communication method that includes this.

2. The preemption setup request message includes preemption type information, the preemption type information indicates the preemption transmission mode of the first communication device, and the preemption transmission mode is Physical layer protocol data unit PPDU level transmit end transmit mode, PPDU level receive-end transmit mode, Transmit opportunity TXOP level bidirectional transmit end transmit mode, TXOP level bidirectional receive-end transmit mode, TXOP level hybrid transmit-end mode, and TXOP level hybrid receive-end transmit mode The method according to claim 1, comprising some or all of the above.

3. After receiving the preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device, the method: If the first communication device uses a preemption transmission mode specified during the preemption session, the step of disabling the intra-PPDU power save function within a specified period, wherein the specified preemption transmission mode is the PPDU level receiving end transmission mode. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

4. The preemption type information includes a plurality of instruction fields, each instruction field corresponding to one preemption transmission mode, and each instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses the corresponding preemption transmission mode, or The preemption type information includes one instruction field, and different values ​​of the instruction field indicate different combinations of preemption transmission modes used by the first communication device, or The preemption type information includes a PPDU instruction field or a TXOP instruction field, wherein the PPDU instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses a PPDU-level transmission mode, and the TXOP instruction field indicates whether the first communication device uses a TXOP-level transmission mode, or The preemption type information includes a transmit-end indicator field or a receive-end indicator field, wherein the transmit-end indicator field indicates whether to use a preemption transmit mode when the first communication device acts as a transmit-end, and the receive-end indicator field indicates whether to use a preemption transmit mode when the first communication device acts as a receive-end. The method according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The preemption setup request message includes at least one of the following: first traffic identifier information, second traffic identifier information, or first preemption duration information. The first traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that enables the first communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode; the second traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that enables the first communication device to interrupt transmission; and the first preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration for which the first communication device enables the acquired TXOP to be occupied by a communication device other than the first communication device in preemption transmission mode. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the preemption setup response message includes status indicator information, the status indicator information indicates whether the preemption session has been successfully established.

7. The preemption setup response message further includes at least one of the preemption type information of the second communication device, the third traffic identifier information, the fourth traffic identifier information, or the second preemption duration information. The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device; the third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that allows the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode; the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the second communication device to interrupt transmission; and the second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that allows the second communication device to occupy an acquired TXOP in preemption transmission mode by a communication device other than the second communication device. The method according to claim 6.

8. The first communication device is a terminal device, and the second communication device is an access point device, and before sending the preemption setup request message to the second communication device, the method Steps of receiving a beacon frame sent by the second communication device via broadcast, wherein the beacon frame includes at least one of the preemption type information of the second communication device, a third traffic identifier information, a fourth traffic identifier information, or a second preemption duration information. It further includes, The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device; the third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that allows the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode; the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the second communication device to interrupt transmission; and the second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that allows the second communication device to occupy an acquired TXOP in preemption transmission mode by a communication device other than the second communication device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the preemption setup request message is a target wake time TWT setup request message, and the preemption setup response message is a TWT setup response message.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the TWT setup request message includes first instruction information, the first instruction information is used to request the use of preemption transmission for the corresponding restricted target waketime service period restricted TWT SP.

11. The first communication device is a terminal device, and the second communication device is an access point device, and before sending the preemption setup request message to the second communication device, the method A step of receiving a beacon frame sent by the second communication device, wherein the beacon frame includes a restricted TWT element, the restricted TWT element includes second instruction information, and the second instruction information indicates that preemption transmission is enabled. The method according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising:

12. After receiving the preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device, the method: A step of receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, wherein the first data packet includes preemption instruction information, The steps include sending data for a low-latency service to the second communication device by sending a preemption transmission based on the preemption instruction information in the first data packet, and The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising:

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the preemption instruction information indicates that the first communication device is enabled to perform a preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, or the preemption instruction information indicates that a preemption transmission mode to be used by the first communication device after receiving the first data packet is enabled.

14. After receiving the preemption setup response message returned by the second communication device, the method: The steps include receiving a first data packet sent by the second communication device, If the traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information, the steps include sending the low-latency service data to the second communication device by preemption transmission. The method according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising:

15. The step of sending the data of the low-latency service to the second communication device by preemption transmission is: A step of sending a second data packet to the second communication device within a pre-configured time after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet to the second communication device, wherein the second data packet contains the data of the low-latency service, and the pre-configured time is shorter than a short interframe space SIFS, or A step of sending a second data packet to the second communication device, wherein the second data packet includes an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet and the data for the low-latency service, or A step of sending a second data packet to a second communication device after sending an acknowledgment frame for the first data packet to the second communication device, wherein the acknowledgment frame carries continuous transmission instruction information, which indicates that a data packet should be further sent to the second communication device after the acknowledgment frame has been sent, and the second data packet contains the data of the low-latency service. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, including the method described in any one of claims 11 to 14.

16. A communication method applicable to a second communication device, wherein the method is The steps include receiving a preemption setup request message sent by a first communication device, The steps include: sending a preemption setup response message to the first communication device in order to establish a preemption session with the first communication device; A communication method that includes this.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the preemption setup response message includes status indicator information, the status indicator information indicates whether the preemption session has been successfully established.

18. The preemption setup response message further includes at least one of the preemption type information of the second communication device, the third traffic identifier information, the fourth traffic identifier information, or the second preemption duration information. The preemption type information indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device; the third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that allows the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode; the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the second communication device to interrupt transmission; and the second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that allows the second communication device to occupy an acquired TXOP in preemption transmission mode by a communication device other than the second communication device. The method according to claim 17.

19. The aforementioned preemption transmission mode is: Physical layer protocol data unit PPDU level transmit end transmit mode, PPDU level receive-end transmit mode, Transmit opportunity TXOP level bidirectional transmit end transmit mode, TXOP level bidirectional receive-end transmit mode, TXOP level hybrid transmit-end mode, and TXOP level hybrid receive-end transmit mode The method according to claim 18, comprising some or all of the above.

20. The second communication device is an access point device, and the first communication device is a terminal device, and before receiving the preemption setup request message sent by the first communication device, the method A step of sending a beacon frame by broadcast, wherein the beacon frame includes at least one of the preemption type information of the second communication device, a third traffic identifier information, a fourth traffic identifier information, or a second preemption duration information. It further includes, The preemption type information of the second communication device indicates the preemption transmission mode of the second communication device; the third traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a low-latency service that allows the second communication device to transmit data packets in preemption transmission mode; the fourth traffic identifier information is a traffic identifier for a non-low-latency service that allows the second communication device to interrupt transmission; and the second preemption duration information indicates the maximum duration that allows the second communication device to occupy an acquired TXOP in preemption transmission mode by a communication device other than the second communication device. The method according to claim 16 or 17.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the preemption setup request message is a target wake time TWT setup request message, and the preemption setup response message is a TWT setup response message.

22. The first communication device is a terminal device, the second communication device is an access point device, and before receiving the preemption setup request message sent by the first communication device, the method A step of broadcasting a beacon frame, wherein the beacon frame includes a restricted TWT element, the restricted TWT element includes a second instruction information, and the second instruction information indicates that preemption transmission is enabled. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

23. After sending the preemption setup response message to the first communication device, the method A step of sending a first data packet to a first communication device, wherein the first data packet includes preemption instruction information, the preemption instruction information instructs the first communication device to enable preemption transmission after receiving the first data packet, or the preemption instruction information instructs the first communication device to enable a preemption transmission mode to be used after receiving the first data packet; The steps include receiving data for a low-latency service sent by the first communication device via preemption transmission, and The method according to any one of claims 16 to 22, further comprising:

24. After sending the preemption setup response message to the first communication device, the method The steps include sending a first data packet to the first communication device, A step of receiving data of a low-latency service sent by the first communication device by preemption transmission, wherein the data of the low-latency service is sent by the first communication device to the second communication device by preemption transmission when the first communication device determines that a traffic identifier corresponding to the data in the first data packet is included in the fourth traffic identifier information. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

25. A communication device comprising memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory in order to enable the method according to any one of claims 1 to 24 to be performed.

26. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices, wherein the communication devices are the communication devices described in claim 25.

27. A computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

28. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions, wherein the computer executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 24.

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