Channel access method and apparatus, communication equipment

Abstract

Embodiments of this application provide a channel access method and apparatus, a communication device, the method comprising a first device transmitting a first frame, the first frame including a first field, the first field being used to indicate the channel occupancy time of a first channel, the first field being used by a second device to set or update a network allocation vector NAV, the NAV being used by the second device to determine the busy time of the first channel, and all or part of the channel occupancy time being used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, the third device belonging to the first type device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communication technologies, and specifically, to a channel access method and apparatus, and a communication device.

Background Art

[0002] The use of unlicensed spectrum is an important deployment scenario in a cellular communication system. When using unlicensed spectrum, a communication device needs to perform channel access (or channel contention) before occupying a channel to perform data transmission in order to ensure the fairness of channel usage. However, some types of communication devices do not support a channel access mechanism, and thus cannot realize channel access by themselves. How these types of communication devices occupy channels for communication is a problem to be solved.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The channel access method provided in the embodiments of this application is The first device transmits a first signal, which is used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, which is used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belongs to the first type device.

[0007] The channel access method provided in the embodiments of this application is The third device receives a first signal transmitted by the first device, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or the third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device being a first type device.

[0008] The channel access device provided in the embodiment of this application is applied to a first device, and the device, Includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first frame, the first frame including a first field used to indicate the channel occupancy time of a first channel, the first field used by a second device to set or update a NAV, the NAV used by the second device to determine the busy time of the first channel, and all or part of the channel occupancy time used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, the third device belonging to the first type device.

[0009] The channel access device provided in the embodiment of this application is applied to a first device, and the device, A determination unit configured to determine channel access parameters related to a first type of device or a third type of device, wherein the third device belongs to the first type of device, An access unit configured to perform channel access on a first channel based on the channel access parameters and obtain channel occupancy time for the first channel, wherein all or part of the channel occupancy time is used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, and the third device belongs to the first type device.

[0010] The channel access device provided in the embodiment of this application is applied to a first device, and the device, The system includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type of device or a third type of device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type of device or the third type of device to communicate on a first channel, and the third type of device being a first type of device.

[0011] The channel access device provided in the embodiment of this application is applied to a third device, and the device is The system includes a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first device, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belonging to the first type device.

[0012] The communication device provided in the embodiment of this application includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to store computer programs, and the processor is configured to call and execute the computer programs stored in the memory to perform the channel access method described above.

[0013] The chip provided in the embodiment of this application is configured to realize the channel access method described above.

[0014] Specifically, the chip includes a processor configured to call and execute a computer program from memory, causing the device on which the chip is installed to perform the channel access method described above.

[0015] The computer-readable storage medium provided in the embodiment of this application is configured to store a computer program that causes a computer to perform the channel access method described above.

[0016] The computer program product provided in the embodiment of this application includes computer program instructions that cause a computer to execute the channel access method described above.

[0017] When the computer program provided in the embodiment of this application is executed on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the channel access method described above.

[0018] The technical solution of the embodiment of this application enables, on the one hand, a first device to determine channel access parameters related to a first type device or a third device, to perform channel access on a first channel based on these channel access parameters and to acquire channel occupancy time on the first channel, thereby enabling the first device to perform channel access for a first type device or a third device, and the first device to share all or part of the acquired channel occupancy time with the first type device or a third device, so that the first type device or a third device can communicate on the first channel using all or part of the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device, even if they do not support the channel access mechanism. Since the channel access parameters can represent the priority of channel access, it can be understood that the first device can perform channel access based on channel access parameters related to a first type device or a third device, and thus perform channel access of a specific priority for the first type device or a third device, thereby meeting the communication needs of the first type device or a third device. On the other hand, the first device notifies the channel occupancy time of the first channel by a first field included in the first frame, and in this way, the second device can set or update its NAV based on the first field, thereby determining the busy time of the first channel, delaying access to the first channel based on that, and reserving all or part of the channel occupancy time of the first channel to the first or third device, and the first or third device can communicate on the first channel by all or part of the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device, even if it does not support a channel access mechanism. On the other hand, the first device notifies the third device of the channel reservation time of the first or third device by a first signal, and the third device can communicate on the first channel by borrowing the channel reservation time acquired by the first device, even if it does not support a channel access mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a diagram of a communication system architecture applied to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 2] It is another communication system architecture diagram applied to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 3] It is a schematic structural diagram of a PPDU. [Figure 4] It is a schematic structural diagram of a MAC frame. [Figure 5] It is a timing chart of a CSMA / CA operation mechanism. [Figure 6] It is a schematic flowchart of a channel access method according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 7-1] It is a timing chart of an AP transmitting a beacon frame according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 7-2] It is a first schematic diagram of an AP performing channel occupancy according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 7-3] It is a second schematic diagram of an AP performing channel occupancy according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 8-1] It is a schematic structural diagram of a PPDU header of an NDP CMAC PPDU frame according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 8-2] It is a schematic structural diagram of a SIGNAL field according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 9-1] It is a schematic diagram of performing channel occupancy by a beacon frame according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 9-2] It is a basic flowchart of an RTS / CTS protocol according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 9-3] It is a schematic diagram of performing channel occupancy by an RTS frame according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 10] It is a schematic diagram of the format of a first signal according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 11] It is a first schematic structural diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 12] It is a second schematic structural diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to the embodiments of this application. [Figure 13]This is a third structural schematic diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 14] This is a fourth structural schematic diagram of the configuration of the channel access device according to the embodiment of this application. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip according to an embodiment of this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The drawings described herein are provided for further understanding of this application and constitute part of this application. The exemplary embodiments and descriptions herein are used for interpretation of this application and do not constitute an unreasonable limitation to this application.

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems and cellular systems.

[0022] Figure 1 shows an example of a communication system architecture applied to the embodiment of this application.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system may include an access point (AP) 110 and a station (STA) 120 that accesses the network via the access point 110. In some scenarios, the AP 110 may also be called an AP STA, meaning that in a sense, the AP 110 is also an STA. In some scenarios, the STA 120 is called a non-AP STA. In some scenarios, the STA 120 may include both AP STAs and non-AP STAs. Communication within the communication system may include communication between the AP 110 and the STA 120, or between the STA 120 and the STA 120, or between the STA 120 and a peer STA, where the peer STA can refer to a device that communicates with the other side of the STA 120, and for example, the peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0024] Here, AP110 can be used as a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network, its main role being to connect each wireless network client and then allow the wireless network to access Ethernet®. AP110 may be a terminal device (e.g., a mobile phone) or a network device (e.g., a router) with a WiFi® chip.

[0025] It should be explained that the role of STA120 in a communication system is not absolute; that is, the role of STA120 in a communication system can be switched between AP and STA. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is an STA, and when the mobile phone becomes a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone acts as an AP.

[0026] In some embodiments, AP110 and STA120 may be devices applied to a car network, IoT nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, smart cameras, smart remotes, smart water meters and electricity meters in a smart home, and sensors in a smart city.

[0027] In some embodiments, AP110 may be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. AP may be a device that supports current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. In some embodiments, STA120 may support the 802.11be standard. STA may also support current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0028] In some embodiments, the AP110 and / or STA120 can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted, on water (such as on a ship), or in the air (such as on an airplane, balloon, or satellite).

[0029] In some embodiments, STA120 may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver functionality, virtual reality (VR) equipment, augmented reality (AR) equipment, wireless equipment in industrial control, set-top box, wireless equipment in self-driving, in-vehicle communication equipment, wireless equipment in remote medical, wireless equipment in smart grids, wireless equipment in transportation safety, wireless equipment in smart cities or smart homes, in-vehicle communication equipment, wireless communication chip / application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) / system-level chip (SoC), etc. that supports WLAN / WiFi technology.

[0030] Exemplary, STA120 may be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for wearable equipment such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes that are smartly designed for everyday wear using wearable technology. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functionality through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Wearable smart devices in a broad sense include smartwatches and smart glasses that are fully functional, large in size, and can perform all or part of their functions without relying on a smartphone, as well as various smart bracelets and smart accessories that perform physical condition monitoring and focus only on certain types of application functions and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones.

[0031] It should be understood that Figure 1 is merely an example of the present application and should not be understood as a limitation of this application. For example, Figure 1 illustrates one AP and two STAs. In some embodiments, the communication system may include multiple APs and other numbers of STAs, and is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0032] Figure 2 shows an example of another communication system architecture applied to the embodiments of this application.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the communication system may include a terminal device 210 and a network device 220. The network device 220 can communicate with the terminal device 210 via an air interface. Multi-service transmission is supported between the terminal device 210 and the network device 220.

[0034] It should be understood that the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application can be applied to a variety of communication systems, including Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems, enhanced Machine-Type Communications (eMTC) systems, 5G communication systems (also known as New Radio (NR) communication systems), or future communication systems.

[0035] In the communication system shown in Figure 1, the network device 220 may be an access network device that communicates with terminal devices 210. The access network device can provide communication coverage to a specific geographic area and can communicate with terminal devices 210 (e.g., UEs) located within that coverage area.

[0036] The network device 220 may be a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG RAN) device, or a base station (gNB) in an NR system, or a radio controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or the network device 220 may be a relay station, access point, in-vehicle device, wearable device, hub, switch, bridge, router, or network device in a future evolving Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

[0037] The terminal device 210 may be any terminal device, and may include, but is not limited to, a terminal device connected to the network device 220 or other terminal devices by wire or wireless connection.

[0038] For example, the terminal equipment 210 may refer to an access terminal, user equipment (UE), user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. An access terminal may be a cellular phone, cordless phone, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, IoT device, satellite handheld terminal, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle device, wearable device, terminal equipment in a 5G network, or terminal equipment in a future evolving network.

[0039] Terminal device 210 may be used for device-to-device (D2D) communication.

[0040] The wireless communication system may further include core network equipment 230 that communicates with a base station, and the core network equipment 230 may be 5G Core (5GC) equipment such as an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a User Plane Function (UPF), or a Session Management Function (SMF). Optionally, the core network equipment 130 may be an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) device of an LTE® network, for example, a Session Management Function + Core Packet Gateway (SMF+PGW-C) device. It should be understood that SMF+PGW-C can simultaneously implement the functions that SMF and PGW-C can implement. In the course of network evolution, the above-described core network equipment may be called by other names, or new network entities may be formed by dividing the functions of the core network, and are not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0041] Figure 2 illustrates one base station, one core network device, and two terminal devices, but the wireless communication system may optionally include multiple base station devices, and the coverage range of each base station may include other numbers of terminal devices, and is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0042] It should be noted that Figures 1 and 2 are merely illustrative examples of systems to which this application may apply, and of course, the methods shown in the embodiments of this application may be applicable to other systems. Also, the terms “system” and “network” as used herein are always interchangeable. The terms “and / or” as used herein simply describe a relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships are possible. For example, A and / or B can indicate three situations: A exists independently, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists independently. Furthermore, the symbol “ / ” as used herein generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an “or” relationship. It should also be understood that “indication” in the embodiments of this application may be direct, indirect, or indicate a related relationship. For example, A directing B could indicate that A directly directs B, for example, that B can be obtained by A; or it could indicate that A indirectly directs B, for example, that A directs C and B can be obtained by C; or it could indicate that there is a related relationship between A and B. Furthermore, it should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, “correspondence” can indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or that there is a related relationship between the two, and may be a relationship such as directing and being directed, or configuring and being configured. Furthermore, it should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, “predefined” or “predefined rules” can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables within the equipment (including, for example, terminal equipment and network equipment), or by other means for directing related information, and this application does not limit the specific implementation methods. For example, predefined may refer to those defined in a protocol. Furthermore, it should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, “protocol” can refer to, and is not limited to, standard protocols in the field of communications, which may include, for example, LTE protocols, NR protocols, and related protocols applicable to future communication systems.

[0043] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, related technologies of the embodiments of this application are described below. The following related technologies can be optionally combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application as selectable solutions, and all fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application.

[0044] Classification of zero-power devices

[0045] Based on their energy source and usage method, zero-power terminals are classified into the following types:

[0046] (1) Passive zero-power terminal

[0047] Zero-power terminals do not require a built-in battery. When a zero-power terminal is in close proximity to network equipment, it is within the range of the near-field formed by the antenna radiation of the network equipment. As a result, the antenna of the zero-power terminal generates an induced current through electromagnetic induction. This induced current drives the low-power chip circuit of the zero-power terminal, enabling operations such as demodulation of the forward link signal and modulation of the reverse link signal. For backscatter links, the zero-power terminal transmits signals using a backscatter realization method.

[0048] As can be seen from the above, passive zero-power terminals, whether forward or backward links, do not require an internal battery to operate and are truly zero-power terminals.

[0049] Because passive zero-power terminals do not require batteries, their radio frequency and baseband circuits are very simple. For example, they do not require low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), crystal oscillators, or analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), resulting in many advantages such as small size, light weight, low cost, and long service life.

[0050] (2) Semi-passive zero-power terminals

[0051] The semi-passive zero-power terminal itself does not have a conventional battery. It collects radio wave energy using an energy collection module and stores the collected energy in an energy storage unit (such as a capacitor). After the energy storage unit acquires energy, it drives the zero-power terminal's low-power computing module (i.e., a low-power chip circuit) to operate, enabling operations such as demodulation of the forward link signal and modulation of the reverse link signal. For backscatter links, the zero-power terminal transmits signals using a backscatter realization method.

[0052] As can be seen from the above, semi-passive zero-power terminals, whether forward or backward links, do not require an internal battery to operate. While they use energy stored in a capacitor during operation, this energy is obtained from radio wave energy collected by an energy collection module, making them truly zero-power terminals.

[0053] Semi-passive zero-power terminals inherit many of the advantages of passive zero-power terminals, resulting in numerous benefits such as smaller size, lighter weight, lower cost, and longer lifespan.

[0054] (3) Active zero-power terminals

[0055] Zero-power terminals used in some scenarios may be active zero-power terminals, which can have a built-in battery. The battery powers the zero-power terminal's low-power computing module (i.e., low-power chip circuitry) to perform operations such as demodulating forward link signals and modulating reverse link signals. However, for backscatter links, the zero-power terminal uses a backscatter implementation method for signal transmission. Therefore, the zero-power aspect of this type of terminal mainly refers to the fact that it does not require its own power for signal transmission on the back link and uses a backscatter method.

[0056] Active zero-power terminals utilize an internal battery to power the radio frequency chip, increasing communication range and improving communication reliability. Therefore, they can be applied to scenarios with relatively high requirements regarding communication range and latency.

[0057] Cellular passive mono network

[0058] As industrial applications increase, the types of connected devices and application scenarios become more diverse, and the demands on the price and power consumption of communication equipment also increase. The application of battery-free, low-cost passive Internet of Things (IoT) devices will become a crucial technology for cellular networks, enriching the types and number of network link terminals and truly realizing the interconnectivity of all things. Here, passive IoT devices can be expanded based on zero-power terminals to be suitable for cellular networks.

[0059] Equipment based on environmental energy

[0060] NR and WiFi systems support low-cost, high-volume deployment and maintenance-free operation of IoT devices due to their battery-free and low-cost nature. Current standards are researching how NR and WiFi systems can support environmentally energy-based IoT devices, also known as ambient IoT devices or AMP IoT devices. The energy required to operate these types of devices is obtained through the collection of environmental energy, which can be radio signals, solar energy, thermal energy, etc. These types of devices are similar to passive zero-power terminals or semi-passive zero-power terminals in zero-power communications.

[0061] PPDU in WiFi systems

[0062] In a WiFi system, information is transmitted based on Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frames. As shown in Figure 3, a PPDU frame includes a PPDU header and a data portion. Here, the PPDU header includes three fields: a Short Training Field (STF), a Long Training Field (LTF), and a Signal. The STF mainly consists of 10 short symbols (denoted as t1-t10), each with a duration of 0.8us, and primarily implements frame synchronization and coarse frequency synchronization. Here, t1-t7 mainly implement signal detection, automatic gain control (AGC), and diversity selection functions, while t8-t10 mainly implement coarse frequency synchronization, offset estimation, and timing synchronization functions. The LTF mainly implements fine frequency synchronization and channel estimation. SIGNAL carries information related to the data portion, including data transmission speed, data packet length information, reserved bits, and tail bits.

[0063] The data portion of a PPDU frame carries a MAC frame, as shown in Figure 4. The frame structure of a MAC frame includes several parts: the MAC header, the frame body, and the Frame Check Sequence (FCS). Here, the MAC header includes the Frame Control field, Duration field, Address 1 field (A1), Address 2 field (A2), Address 3 field (A3), Sequence Control field, Address 4 field (A4), Quality of Service Control (QoS Control) field, High-Throughput Control (HT Control) field, Frame Body field, and Frame Check Sequence (FCS). It should be noted that different MAC frames may contain different fields, and not all of the fields listed above will appear in a MAC frame. The Duration field occupies 2 bytes (i.e., 16 bits) and is used to indicate the channel occupancy time (i.e., how much of the channel the current transmission is occupying). If the 15th bit of the field is set to 0, the field is used to set or update the NAV, which represents how many microseconds of the channel (or medium) the current transmission is using.

[0064] Unauthorized spectrum

[0065] Unlicensed spectra are spectra that can be used for communication by radio equipment, which are divided by country or region. These spectra are generally considered shared spectra, meaning that communication equipment in different communication systems can use them without applying to the government for a dedicated spectrum license, provided that they meet the legal requirements set by the country or region for that spectrum. In order for each communication system that uses unlicensed spectra to conduct wireless communication to coexist peacefully on that spectrum, some countries and regions have legal requirements that must be met for the use of unlicensed spectra. For example, in the European region, communication equipment follows the "listen-before-talk (LBT)" principle, meaning that communication equipment must first perform channel sensing before transmitting a signal on an unlicensed spectrum channel. As a result of channel sensing, the communication equipment can only transmit a signal if the channel is idle, and as a result of channel sensing by communication equipment on an unlicensed spectrum channel, the communication equipment cannot transmit a signal if the channel is busy. Furthermore, to ensure fairness, the duration for which a communication device transmits a signal using an unauthorized spectrum channel during a single transmission cannot exceed the Maximum Channel Occupation Time (MCOT).

[0066] Currently, the use of unlicensed spectrum is standardized in cellular communication systems, for example, using unlicensed spectrum below 7 GHz. Subsequent technological advancements will consider the use of unlicensed spectrum in higher frequency bands, such as 52.6 GHz-71 GHz. Widely used WiFi technology is also a communication technology that uses unlicensed spectrum.

[0067] Channel access mechanism

[0068] In the 802.11 protocol, the fundamental channel access protocol is the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF), which, through the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA) mechanism, allows different compatible STAs to share and use a channel, thereby reducing the probability of collisions. DCF mainly includes the following four core mechanisms.

[0069] (1) Career sense mechanism

[0070] The carrier sense mechanism is divided into physical carrier sense and virtual carrier sense, and if either sense result indicates that the channel is busy, then the channel is busy.

[0071] The physical carrier sense mechanism employs three channel idle detection methods: energy detection, carrier detection, and energy-carrier hybrid detection, collectively known as Clear Channel Assessment (CCA). Energy detection determines the magnitude of the energy of the received signal; if the power of the received signal is greater than the threshold ED_threshold defined by the physical layer, the channel is considered occupied. Carrier detection detects the preamble portion of the signal within the channel and determines whether the channel is occupied based on the detection result.

[0072] The virtual carrier sense mechanism is provided by the MAC layer, and the 802.11 standard uses a NAV to implement virtual carrier sense. Specifically, an STA that occupies a channel declares how long it will still occupy the channel using the Duration field in the MAC frame, where the Duration field is used to indicate the channel occupancy time (which may also be called "duration"). An STA that does not occupy a channel sets or updates its NAV based on the Duration field in the received MAC frame. The NAV is a timer that defines how long the current channel needs to be occupied, and the NAV countdown ends when it reaches 0. If the NAV value is 0 and the physical carrier sense indicates that the channel is idle, the current channel is considered idle.

[0073] (2) Interframe Space (IFS) mechanism

[0074] To avoid collisions as much as possible, 802.11 stipulates that all STAs (including AP STAs and non-AP STAs) must wait a very short time after completing the transmission of one frame before transmitting the next (continuing to listen). This time is commonly called the interframe interval. The length of the interframe interval depends on the type of frame the STA is transmitting. Higher priority frames have a shorter waiting time and can therefore gain the right to transmit preferentially, while lower priority frames must wait for a longer time. If a lower priority frame has not yet been transmitted and another higher priority frame has been transmitted to the channel, the channel becomes busy and can only postpone the transmission of the lower priority frame. This reduces the chance of collisions occurring.

[0075] Interframe interval lengths are categorized based on channel access priority, with shorter intervals indicating higher priority. Interframe interval lengths are listed below, from smallest to largest:

[0076] 1. Short Interframe Interval (SIFS): SIFS is the shortest interframe interval and is used to separate frames that require an immediate response, such as control frames (RTS / CTS / ACK). Using SIFS between two sequential transmissions in frame exchange prevents other STAs waiting for a channel from attempting to use it.

[0077] 2. Centralized Coordination Function Interframe Interval (PIFS): Only STAs operating in Point Coordination Function (PCF) mode can use this function.

[0078] 3. Distributed Coordination Function Interframe Interval (DIFS): Only STAs operating in DCF mode can use this function.

[0079] 4. Extended Interframe Interval (EIFS): If an error occurs in the previous frame, the transmitting node must delay the next frame by EIFS, rather than DIFS.

[0080] (3) Random backoff mechanism

[0081] 802.11 uses a binary exponential backoff method to determine the time needed for backoff when a node fails to transmit or a collision occurs. The node selects a random number as the baseline random backoff count value during a contention window (CW). After the random backoff count value is selected, a backoff timer is set; that is, the initial value of the backoff timer is the selected random backoff count value. The random backoff count value begins counting down, and the countdown process is as follows: After each slot time, the node performs channel sensing. If the channel is idle, the backoff timer counts down by 1 per slot time. If the channel is busy, the backoff timer freezes the remaining time, waits for the channel to become idle, and after another DIFS (Disconnection Firm System) has elapsed, resumes counting down from the remaining time. When the backoff timer value decreases to 0, the node can access the channel and transmit information over it. The CW value is the value between the minimum competition window CWmin and the maximum competition window CWmax for physical feature values, and is used to define the range within which a node selects a random backoff count value.

[0082] (4) RTS / CTS Handshake Mechanism

[0083] The Request To Send / Clear To Send (RTS / CTS) protocol is a mechanism used in 802.11 to reduce collisions caused by the hidden node problem. The basic idea of ​​the RTS / CTS mechanism is to reserve a channel with a short control packet, so that a transmitting station must first send one RTS frame to send a message to a receiving station. After receiving this RTS frame, stations around the transmitting station set or update their NAV based on the Duration field in the frame. After receiving this RTS frame, the receiving station replies with one CTS frame. Stations with a NAV value that is not 0 cannot compete for the channel, thus avoiding transmission collisions between the transmitting and receiving stations.

[0084] To facilitate understanding of the CSMA / CA operating mechanism, the timing chart shown in Figure 5 will be used as an example to illustrate the CSMA / CA operating mechanism. As shown in Figure 5, the CSMA / CA operating mechanism can broadly include the following processes.

[0085] 1. If STA1 and STA2 each have data and need to send data through a conflicting channel, they must first wait for the DIFS time. If the channel remains idle during the DIFS time, the backoff process can be performed.

[0086] 2. When STA1 and STA2 enter the backoff process, they must first select a random number from the conflict window as the reference random backoff count value. In the 802.11 protocol, the default initial conflict window is 31, meaning the range of the random backoff count value is [0, 31]. In Figure 5, STA1 selects 8 as the random backoff count value, and STA2 selects 2 as the random backoff count value.

[0087] 3. During the backoff process, the node senses the channel after each slot time has elapsed. If the channel is idle, the value of the corresponding backoff timer is decremented by 1. As shown in Figure 5, after three slot times have elapsed, the backoff timer for STA1 is decremented from 8 to 5, and the backoff timer for STA2 is decremented from 2 to 0.

[0088] 4. When a node's backoff timer counts down to 0, the node can compete for a channel and thereby transmit data. As shown in Figure 5, STA2's backoff timer counts down to 0, it acquires the channel first, and transmits data to the AP. After receiving the data, the AP verifies the data using the CRC mechanism, and if the verification is successful, the AP feeds back an acknowledgment (ACK) frame after SIFS time.

[0089] 5. The transmission is completed when STA2 successfully transmits the data and, after the SIFS time, successfully receives an ACK frame corresponding to the data.

[0090] 6. After this transmission is complete, the node must wait for the DIFS time again before restarting the backoff process. If the node has just sent data, at the start of the backoff process, a random number must be re-selected from the conflict window as the random backoff count value. If there is no data to send to the node, the backoff timer continues counting directly from the previous countdown result. As shown in Figure 5, STA1 is unable to obtain a channel due to conflict, so during the second backoff process, the backoff timer counts directly down to 4 based on the previous 5.

[0091] The use of unlicensed spectrum is a significant deployment scenario in cellular communication systems. When using unlicensed spectrum, some types of communication equipment (e.g., zero-power equipment) do not support the complex channel access mechanisms described above and therefore cannot achieve channel access on their own. How these types of communication equipment occupy channels and communicate while reducing collisions and interference is a problem that needs to be solved. Therefore, the following technical solutions of this embodiment are proposed.

[0092] Here, communication devices such as zero-power devices have less complexity requirements due to their power consumption limitations. For example, a receiver may only support simple modulation / demodulation schemes, such as amplitude shift modulation (ASK) and frequency shift modulation (FSK), and not orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Regarding the use of unauthorized spectrum, in order to ensure fairness in channel use, if this type of communication device needs to occupy a channel and transmit data, it must similarly perform corresponding channel contention. Therefore, this type of communication device must support the CSMA / CA mechanism in order to coexist with existing equipment in a compatible manner. This requires that this type of communication device be able to detect PPDU frames transmitted based on OFDM in order to satisfy the support for physical carrier sense, virtual carrier sense, and the RTS / CTS mechanism. However, this type of communication device cannot achieve this and cannot implement channel access on its own. Therefore, the technical solution of the embodiments of this application proposes a channel access method.

[0093] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. The related technologies described above can be optionally combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application as selectable solutions, and all of them fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application. The embodiments of this application include at least some of the following:

[0094] In the embodiments of this application, the first device is a device that supports a channel access mechanism. In some embodiments, the first device is a non-zero power device. In a WiFi system, the first device may be an AP or STA. In a cellular system, the first device may be a base station or UE. In a zero-power communication system, the first device may be an energy supply device or a control node.

[0095] In the embodiments of this application, the second device is a different device from the first device, and the second device may be a device that supports a channel access mechanism. In some embodiments, the second device is a non-zero power device. In a WiFi system, the second device may be an STA or an AP. In a cellular system, the second device may be an UE or a base station.

[0096] In the embodiments of this application, Type 1 equipment generally refers to equipment that does not support a channel access mechanism, such as zero-power equipment. Type 3 equipment refers to one specific piece of equipment from Type 1, such as one specific zero-power equipment. From the standpoint of power supply, zero-power equipment types include environmentally friendly energy-based equipment (such as AMP IoT equipment), battery-free terminals, and maintenance-free terminals. Zero-power equipment can be communication terminals in WiFi systems or cellular network systems.

[0097] It should be noted that the terms "channel occupancy" as described in the embodiments of this application may also be described as "media occupancy," "channel idle" may also be described as "media idle," and "channel busy" may also be described as "media busy."

[0098] Figure 6 is a first schematic flowchart of a channel access method provided in an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in Figure 6, the channel access method includes the following steps.

[0099] In step 601, the first device transmits a first frame, the first frame containing a first field, which is used to indicate the channel occupancy time of the first channel, which the second device uses to set or update the NAV, which the second device uses to determine the busy time of the first channel, where all or part of the channel occupancy time is used for a first-class device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, and the third device belongs to the first-class device.

[0100] In the embodiments of this application, the first device is a device that acquires channel access for transmission of a first type device or a third type device. The first device performs channel access according to a conventional method, for example, according to the CSMA / CA mechanism defined in the 802.11 protocol. For the CSMA / CA mechanism, refer to the related description above.

[0101] In some embodiments, the following step 600 is further included before step 601.

[0102] In step 600, the first device determines channel access parameters associated with the first type of device or the third device, and performs channel access on the first channel based on those channel access parameters.

[0103] In some embodiments, the above channel access parameters are: The first parameter indicates the size of the conflict window (CW), It includes at least one of the following: a second parameter indicating the size or type of interframe interval corresponding to the latency.

[0104] Here, the size of the conflict window can reflect the priority of channel access; the smaller the conflict window, the higher the priority of channel access. The size or type of the interframe interval can also reflect the priority of channel access; the smaller the interframe interval, the higher the priority of channel access.

[0105] Taking beacon frames in a WiFi system as an example, to ensure that the AP has a high channel access priority when transmitting beacon frames, the protocol defines the AP's latency as PIFS (corresponding to the second parameter) and sets CW=0 (corresponding to the first parameter) during beacon frame transmission, ensuring that the AP has a higher channel access priority than other devices when transmitting beacon frames. As shown in Figure 7-1, the latency PIFS before the AP transmits a beacon frame is shorter than the STA's latency DIFS. If the channel is idle during the PIFS period, the AP enters the backoff process first after the PIFS ends and selects a random number within the range of [0, CW] as the reference random backoff counter value. Since CW=0, the selected random backoff counter value is 0, and the AP can immediately transmit beacon frames.

[0106] Therefore, the size of the competition window (CW) and the length of the latency can reflect the priority of channel access. In embodiments of this application, channel access parameters related to a first-type device or a third-type device can be set so that the first device performs channel access of a specific priority for the first-type device or the third-type device in order to meet the communication needs of the first-type device or the third-type device.

[0107] For example, if the first device is an AP, when the AP acquires channel access for transmission by a first-class device or a third-class device, it can set channel access parameters (latency, CW, etc.) related to the first-class device or the third-class device to guarantee a certain channel access priority. As shown in Figure 7-2, in order to perform channel access, the AP can set the latency to DIFS and CW=0. The AP waits for DIFS, and if the channel is idle during the DIFS period, the AP enters the backoff process after DIFS ends and selects a random number within the range of [0, CW] as the reference random backoff count value. Since CW=0, the selected random backoff count value is 0, and the AP can immediately occupy the channel.

[0108] For example, if the first device is an AP, when the AP acquires channel access for transmission by a first-class device or a third-class device, it can set channel access parameters (latency, CW, etc.) related to the first-class device or the third-class device to guarantee a certain channel access priority. As shown in Figure 7-3, in order to perform channel access, the AP can set the latency to PIFS and CW=1. The AP waits for PIFS, and if the channel is idle during the PIFS period, the AP enters the backoff process after PIFS and selects a random number within the range [0, CW] as the reference random backoff count value. Since CW=1, the range of the selected random backoff count value is [0, 1]. Assuming the selected random backoff count value is 1, the AP monitors the channel for one slot time period after PIFS, and if the channel is idle, it decrements the random backoff count value by 1. If the random backoff count value is 0, the AP can occupy the channel.

[0109] In the above solution, the corresponding time that the first device occupies a channel is called the channel occupancy time, and the second device can consider the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device as the channel busy time. Using Figures 7-2 and 7-3 as examples, STA is the second device, and STA considers the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device as the channel busy time, and during this period, STA does not occupy the channel.

[0110] In some embodiments, channel access parameters associated with a Type 1 or Type 3 device are determined based on at least one of the following for the Type 1 or Type 3 device: device type, device group, data type transmitted, type of PPDU frame transmitted, channel access time, target wake time, and restricted access time. Here, the channel access time is determined based on the target wake time and / or restricted access time. Here, the restricted access time may be a restricted access window (RAW) of the Type 1 or Type 3 device, or a RAW slot within the RAW assigned to the Type 1 or Type 3 device.

[0111] Specifically, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access may be related to the device type of the zero-power device. For example, for zero-power device types with high data transmission priority, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access can be guaranteed to have a high channel access priority. Zero-power devices with high data transmission priority include sensor devices for hazard monitoring and zero-power devices with high real-time data transmission requirements. Conversely, for zero-power device types with low data transmission priority, it is not required to guarantee a high channel access priority so that the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access are the same as the channel access parameters used by the second device to perform channel access. Here, the type of zero-power device can be identified by a device type ID.

[0112] Specifically, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access may be related to the zero-power device group. For different zero-power device groups, the first device will use correspondingly different channel access parameters to perform channel access. Here, the zero-power device group may be identified by the device group ID.

[0113] Specifically, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access may be related to the data type transmitted by the zero-power device. Different data types correspond to different channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access. Here, different data types have different QoS levels. Data types can be identified by a data type ID.

[0114] Specifically, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access may be related to the type of PPDU frame transmitted by the zero-power device. Different PPDU frame types correspond to different channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access. Here, PPDU frame types include management frames, control frames, data frames, etc. For example, control frames have a high channel access priority, and data frames have a low channel access priority, and the first device corresponds to different frame types and uses different channel access parameters to achieve different channel access priorities. Here, the PPDU frame type may be identified by a frame type ID.

[0115] Specifically, the channel access parameters used by the first device to perform channel access may relate to the zero-power device's channel access time, the zero-power device's target wake time, and the zero-power device's limited access time. Here, the zero-power device's channel access time is also related to the zero-power device's target wake time and / or limited access time.

[0116] The target wake time and limited access time are described below.

[0117] To conserve power, 802.11ah introduces a Target Wake Time (TWT), and the AP and STA protocol periodically exchange TWTs. When the TWT arrives, the STA wakes up, receives a trigger frame sent from the AP, and performs a single data exchange. Once this transmission is complete, the STA returns to sleep mode.

[0118] To mitigate channel access conflicts, 802.11ah introduces a restricted access window (RAW), where each RAW is only accessible to certain STAs (Staff). Each RAW can be divided into one or more RAW slots, and STAs perform channel access only in their assigned RAW slots, thereby reducing channel access conflicts.

[0119] Transmission of zero-power devices may be scheduled within time windows such as TWT periods or RAWs. When a TWT or RAW arrives, the zero-power device performs channel access to ensure that the channel for the corresponding TWT or RAW period is available to the zero-power device. That is, it relates to the zero-power device's channel access time and the TWT or RAW. For different times, the first device can use different channel access parameters. Specifically, for different channel access times, the first device can use different channel access parameters. For different TWTs or TWT types or TWT periods, the first device can use different channel access parameters. For different RAWs or RAW cycles, the first device can use different channel access parameters, respectively. Here, for TWT types such as individual TWTs, broadcast TWTs, and opportunity PSs, the first device can use different channel access parameters when these three TWTs arrive. Because the first device can use different channel access parameters at different times, the opportunity or probability that the zero-power device will acquire a channel that is contested by the first device and transmit will differ at different times.

[0120] It should be explained that the term "zero-power equipment" as used in the above solutions may generally refer to Type 1 equipment, or it may refer to specific Type 3 equipment.

[0121] In embodiments of this application, after the first device performs channel access for transmission by a first type device or a third device and obtains channel occupancy time, the first device transmits a first frame, the first frame containing a first field, the first field used to indicate channel occupancy time on the first channel, the first field used by the second device to set or update the NAV, the NAV used by the second device to determine the busy time on the first channel, where all or part of the channel occupancy time is used for communication on the first channel by a first type device or a third device, and the third device belongs to the first type device.

[0122] Here, "channel occupancy time" may also be written as "duration."

[0123] Here, the second device monitors all possible frames. For example, if the second device monitors the first frame transmitted from the first device, the second device sets or updates its NAV based on the first field in the first frame. The NAV is a timer that defines how long the current channel will be occupied, and it counts down until it reaches zero. If the NAV value is zero and physical carrier sensing indicates that the channel is idle, the current channel is considered idle. Therefore, the time corresponding to the NAV counting down to zero belongs to the channel busy time.

[0124] In the embodiments of this application, the first frame is a PPDU frame, the first field is a Duration field (or Duration / ID field), and the Duration field is used to indicate the channel occupancy time (which may also be called "duration"), where the channel occupancy time refers to the time that the first device continues to occupy the channel after transmitting the first frame, and the unit of the Duration field is microseconds.

[0125] The following describes some of the frame structures of a PPDU frame, including the first field.

[0126] In some embodiments, the PPDU frame includes a PPDU header, and the PPDU header includes a first field. Specifically, the PPDU header includes a short training field, a long training field, and a signal field, and the signal field includes the first field.

[0127] In one example, the first frame is an NDP CMAC PPDU frame. An NDP CMAC PPDU frame has no data portion and contains only a PPDU header. The full name of NDP CMAC is Null Data PPDU Carrying Medium Access Control. The structure of the PPDU header of an NDP CMAC PPDU frame includes a short training (STF) field, a long training (LTF) field, and a signal (SIGNAL) field, as shown in Figure 8-1. Here, the structure of the signal (SIGNAL) field includes an NDP CMAC PPDU body field, an NDP Indication field, a CRC field, and a tail field, as shown in Figure 8-2. The NDP CMAC PPDU body field contains NDP CMAC PPDU type information and associated control information. For example, if the NDP CMAC PPDU type information indicates that the NDP is a CTS, then the control information carried by the NDP is CTS information, and the NDP frame is an NDP CTS frame. The NDP CMAC PPDU body field includes a Duration field (i.e., the first field).

[0128] The NDP CMAC PPDU frame described above is merely one example of a first frame, and is not limited to it. The first frame may also be an NDP CF-End frame, an NDP ACK frame, an NDP PS-Poll-Ack frame, a VHT NDP Announcement frame, or the like. These types of frames contain only a PPDU header, and the PPDU header contains a Duration field (i.e., the first field).

[0129] In some embodiments, a PPDU frame includes a PPDU header and a MAC frame, the MAC frame includes a first field. Specifically, the MAC frame includes a MAC header, the MAC header includes a first field. Here, the frame type of the MAC frame includes at least one of a data frame, a control frame, and a management frame.

[0130] In one example, the first device is an AP, and the first frame is a beacon frame. The AP needs to periodically perform channel access in order to periodically transmit beacon frames. The AP sets a certain channel occupancy time in the Duration field (i.e., the first field) in the MAC header of the beacon frame. In the prior art, the Duration field is set to 0, indicating that the AP will not persistently occupy the channel after completing the transmission of the beacon frame. In the solution of this application, the Duration field is set to a non-zero value, indicating that the AP will persistently occupy the channel after completing the transmission of the beacon frame, and the duration of persistent channel occupancy is the channel occupancy time indicated by the Duration field. The AP can share and use all or part of this channel occupancy time with the first or third device. As shown in Figure 9-1, the AP waits for a PIFS, and if the channel is idle during the PIFS period, after the PIFS ends the AP enters a backoff process, and if the random backoff count value of the selected criterion is 0, the AP can immediately occupy the channel and transmit beacon frames. The Duration field in the MAC header of a beacon frame sets the channel occupancy time. After monitoring and obtaining the Duration field in the MAC header of the beacon frame, the STA (i.e., second device) sets or updates its NAV based on the Duration field, and considers the time corresponding to the NAV counting down to 0 as the channel busy time. During the channel busy time, the STA is in a suspended state and does not attempt to access the channel. A zero-power device may dedicate all or part of the channel occupancy time to its channel reservation time, which may also be described as a transmission opportunity (TXOP), service period (SP), or available time.

[0131] In one example, the first device is either an STA or an AP, and the first frame is an RTS frame. The basic process of the RTS / CTS protocol is described below. As shown in Figure 9-2, before STA2 can send data to AP, it must first send an RTS frame to AP. Since RTS frames are transmitted on the broadcast channel, STA3 can also receive the RTS frame, and STA3 sets or updates its NAV based on the Duration field in the MAC header of the RTS frame. After receiving the RTS frame, AP replies to STA2 with a CTS frame. Since CTS frames are transmitted on the broadcast channel, STA1 can also receive the CTS frame, and STA1 sets or updates its NAV based on the Duration field in the MAC header of the CTS frame. Next, STA2 sends a data frame to AP, and AP sends an ACK frame to STA2. Here, the NAV clear time for STA1 and STA3 is the same, i.e., the clear time is after the ACK frame transmitted between AP and STA2. In the prior art, the Duration field in the MAC header of the RTS frame is set to T1 time, indicating that the channel is continuously occupied for T1 time after the transmission of the RTS frame is complete, and that T1 time is the channel reservation time for STA2. In the solution of this application, the Duration field in the MAC header of the RTS frame is set to T time, where T time = T1 time + T2 time, where T1 time is the channel reservation time for STA2 and T2 time is the channel reservation time for zero-power equipment. As shown in Figure 9-3, STA2 waits for DIFS, and if the channel is idle during the DIFS period, STA2 enters the backoff process after DIFS ends, with a random backoff count value of 3 based on a selected criterion. STA2 monitors the channel during each slot time period after PIFS, and if the channel is idle, the random backoff count value is deducted by 1. If the random backoff count value is 0, STA2 can perform channel occupation and transmit the RTS frame.The Duration field in the MAC header of the RTS frame is set to T time, which is the channel occupancy time, where T time = T1 time + T2 time, where T1 time is the channel reservation time for STA2 and T2 time is the channel reservation time for the zero-power device, where the channel reservation time can also be described as TXOP, SP, or available time. After STA3 monitors the Duration field in the MAC header of the RTS frame, it sets or updates its NAV based on the Duration field, and considers the time corresponding to the NAV counting down to 0 as the channel busy time. During the channel busy time, STA3 is in a suspended state and does not attempt to access the channel. The zero-power device can set T2 time within the channel occupancy time as its channel reservation time, where the channel reservation time can also be described as TXOP, SP, or available time. Of course, T1 time does not have to exist, in which case the purpose of STA2 sending the RTS frame is not to reserve the channel for itself, but to reserve the channel for the zero-power device. The channel occupancy time can be understood as the channel reservation time for the zero-power device.

[0132] In some embodiments, the transmission coverage range of RTS frames can be extended to allow as many second devices as possible to receive the RTS frames, thereby enabling them to set up NAVs and avoid channel access collisions. For example, the first device may transmit RTS frames at higher power or lower data rates, and may transmit RTS frames repeatedly. Here, later transmitted RTS frames within a series of repeated RTS frames do not affect the NAV settings of the second device based on previously transmitted RTS frames. That is, the clear time for NAVs set based on repeated RTS frames remains the same.

[0133] The beacon and RTS frames described above are just some examples of the first frame, and are not limited to these. The first frame may also be other types of frames, such as data frames, other types of administrative or control frames, including, but not limited to, trigger frames such as QoS Null / QoS data frames, sync frames, acknowledgment (ACK) frames, poll frames, grant frames, grant acknowledgment (Grant Ack) frames, CTS frames, non-conflict termination (CF-End) frames, S1G beacon frames, service period request (SPR) frames, DMG beacon frames, DMG (Directional multi-gigabit) CTS frames, DMG DTS (Denial to Send) frames, SSW (Sector sweep) frames, SSW Feedback frames, SSW-Ack frames, Beamforming Report Poll frames, TACK frames, QoS(+) CF-Poll frames, etc. Some of these frames are sent by APs, and some are sent by STAs.

[0134] In embodiments of this application, the first frame may be called a NAV-setting frame. By transmitting a frame of this type, the first device can cause the second device to set the NAV, thereby reserving channel occupancy time for the first or third device. The first frame may be a PPDU frame compatible with existing devices. Optionally, if zero-power communication is supported in a new frequency band, a corresponding frame for reserving channel occupancy time for zero-power devices may be defined. This application does not limit specific implementations of the type of first frame.

[0135] In the embodiments of this application, the first field in the first frame is used to indicate the channel occupancy time (which may also be called "duration"). Here, channel occupancy time refers to the time, in microseconds, that the first device continuously occupies the channel after it has finished transmitting the first frame. Therefore, the sender of the first frame (i.e., the first device) needs to calculate the duration of continuous channel occupancy after the end of the first frame and set the value of the first field based on this.

[0136] In some embodiments, the length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of a first time and the length of a second time, where the first time is the channel reservation time for the first device and the second time is the channel reservation time for the first type of device or the third device.

[0137] Here, when the first device occupies a channel for the first or third device through its own transmission, the channel occupancy time = T1 time + T2 time, where T1 time (i.e., the first time) is the channel reservation time of the first device, T2 time (i.e., the second time) is the channel reservation time of the first or third device, and T2 time can be understood as the TXOP, SP, or available time of the first or third device. Here, the channel reservation time of the first device is related to the transmission of the first device. Taking the first frame as an example, the channel reservation time of the first device is the sum of the transmission time of the CTS frame, the transmission time of the data frame, the transmission time of the ACK frame, and the three SIFSs. Taking the first frame as an example, the channel reservation time of the first device is the sum of the transmission time of the ACK frame and one SIFS.

[0138] In some embodiments, the length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of a second time, which is the channel reservation time for a first-type or third-type device.

[0139] Here, when the first device specifically occupies a channel for the transmission of either the first or third device, the channel occupancy time is T2 time, and T2 time (i.e., the second time) is the channel reservation time for the first or third device. It can be understood that T2 time is the TXOP, SP, or available time of the first or third device.

[0140] In the above solution, the position of the second time is determined based on the position of the target wake time and / or the limited access time of the first or third type of equipment.

[0141] Here, the target wake time for the Type 1 or Type 3 device is TWT, which appears periodically. The limited access time for the Type 1 or Type 3 device is RAW or a RAW slot within RAW allocated to the Type 1 or Type 3 device. The position of the second time should cover as much of the TWT, RAW, or RAW slot allocated to the Type 1 or Type 3 device as possible, so that when the TWT, RAW, or RAW slot allocated to the Type 1 or Type 3 device arrives, the Type 1 or Type 3 device can effectively occupy the channel and communicate by the second time.

[0142] In some embodiments, the following step 602 is further included.

[0143] In step 602, the first device transmits a first signal, and the third device receives the first signal transmitted by the first device. The first signal is used to determine the channel reservation time for either the first or third device.

[0144] Here, the channel reservation time is used for the first or third type of device to communicate on the first channel. The channel reservation time of the first or third type of device may be all or part of the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device. If the length of the channel occupancy time in the above solution is determined based on the length of the first time and the length of the second time, the channel reservation time of the first or third type of device is part of the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device. If the length of the channel occupancy time in the above solution is determined based on the length of the second time, the channel reservation time of the first or third type of device is all of the channel occupancy time acquired by the first device.

[0145] Here, the channel reservation time for a Type 1 or Type 3 device can also be understood as the TXOP, SP, or available time for the Type 1 or Type 3 device.

[0146] In the embodiments of this application, the first device performs channel access and indicates channel occupancy time by a first field in the first frame. The first frame is transmitted based on a conventional physical layer air interface technique (referred to as the second physical layer air interface technique), which is the physical layer air interface technique supported by the second device. Thus, the second device receives the first frame and can set or update its NAV based on the first field in the first frame. For the first type device or the third device, since the first type device or the third device does not support the second physical layer air interface technique, it cannot receive the first frame. In order for the first type device or the third device to obtain relevant information about channel reservation time, the first device transmits a first signal based on the first physical layer air interface technique, and correspondingly, the third device receives the first signal transmitted by the first device based on the first physical layer air interface technique. The first physical layer air interface technique is the physical layer air interface technique supported by the third device. Thus, the third device receives the first signal and can determine its available channel reservation time based on the first signal.

[0147] In the embodiments of this application, the first physical layer air interface technology is different from the second physical layer air interface technology. For example, the second physical layer air interface technology may be a conventional modulation / demodulation scheme and / or a conventional coding solution, where the conventional modulation / demodulation scheme is, for example, a modulation scheme such as OFDM. The first physical layer air interface technology may be a simple modulation / demodulation scheme and / or a simple coding solution, where the simple modulation / demodulation scheme is, for example, a modulation scheme such as ASK or FSK, and the simple coding solution is, for example, a modulation scheme such as iterative coding, Manchester coding, block coding, or packet coding.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first signal is The first piece of information to indicate channel occupancy time, Second information to indicate the equipment or group of equipment that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information to indicate the channel reservation time of Type 1 or Type 3 equipment within the channel occupancy time, The information includes at least one of the following: a fourth piece of information indicating that channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device.

[0149] Here, the first piece of information may indicate one or more of the start point, end point, and length of the channel occupancy time.

[0150] Here, the second piece of information may be a device ID or a device group ID.

[0151] Here, the third piece of information may indicate one or more of the start, end, and length of the channel reservation time for the first or third type of equipment. Here, the channel reservation time may also be described as TXOP, SP, or available time, etc.

[0152] Here, the fourth piece of information may be the BSSID of the first device, or a compressed SSID or STA ID, or another identifier that can identify the first device.

[0153] In some embodiments, the first signal is transmitted after the first frame. After the first device performs channel access, the first device transmits the first frame, and then the first device transmits the first signal.

[0154] In some embodiments, the first signal is transmitted before the first frame. After the first device performs channel access, the first device transmits the first signal, and then the first device transmits the first frame.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first signal includes a preamble and a payload, the preamble being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload being used to carry information within the first signal.

[0156] As an example, Figure 10 shows the format of a first signal including a preamble and a payload, where the preamble may also be called a zero-power preamble, and the payload includes at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth pieces of information described above.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first device transmits a second signal, and in response, the third device receives the second signal transmitted by the first device. Here, the first device may transmit the second signal during a second time period, where the second time period refers to the channel reservation time of the first or third device. It should be noted that, in addition to transmitting the first signal described above at the beginning of the second time period, the first device may transmit another signal (referred to as the second signal) during the second time period. Here, the second signal is: Fifth piece of information to indicate that one channel usage time is to be allocated to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. The seventh piece of information for responding to the transmission from the third device, Information number eight to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The ninth piece of information for the third device to perform time synchronization, This may include at least one of the data transmitted from the first device to the third device.

[0158] Here, in one case, the second time is the channel reservation time of the third device, in which case the third device can use the channel reservation time as its own channel usage time. In another case, the second time is the channel reservation time of the first type of device, in which case the first device can dynamically allocate one channel usage time to the third device within the second time range. Specifically, the first device can indicate that it will allocate one channel usage time to the third device by fifth information, and / or the first device can realize the usage time allocation information for the third device by sixth information, where sixth information may also be called channel allocation information, and is used to allocate one channel usage time to the third device.

[0159] Here, the seventh piece of information is used to respond to the transmission of a data frame from the third device, and correspondingly, the seventh piece of information is an ACK frame, but is not limited to this; the seventh piece of information may be used to respond to the transmission of any other frame from the third device that needs to be responded to.

[0160] Here, the eighth piece of information may be paging information or traffic indication map (TIM) information, and is used to indicate that the first device has cached data that needs to be transmitted to the third device.

[0161] Here, the ninth piece of information may be synchronization information such as Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) information, and is used by the third device to perform time synchronization.

[0162] Similar to the transmission method of the first signal, the first device transmits the second signal based on the first physical layer air interface technology, which is the physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device, and thus the third device can receive the second signal. Correspondingly, the third device receives the second signal transmitted by the first device based on the first physical layer air interface technology.

[0163] In some embodiments, the following step 603 is further included.

[0164] In step 603, the third device transmits the third signal, and the first device receives the third signal transmitted by the third device.

[0165] Here, after the first device transmits the first signal described above in the initial stage of the second time period, during the channel reservation period of the third device, the third device transmits the third signal to the first device using the first channel, and in response, the first device receives the third signal transmitted by the third device on the first channel. Here, the third signal is, Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Information number 11 for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Information number 12 for requesting the first device to send cache data to the third device, It may include at least one of the data transmitted from the third device to the first device.

[0166] Here, the tenth piece of information is used to respond to a transmission of a data frame from the first device, and correspondingly, the tenth piece of information is an ACK frame. Alternatively, the tenth piece of information is used to respond to a transmission of a grant frame from the first device, and correspondingly, the tenth piece of information is a grant ACK frame. In addition, the tenth piece of information may be used to respond to any other transmission of a frame that the first device needs to respond to.

[0167] Here, the 11th piece of information may be trigger information for requesting or triggering the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device. Here, the channel usage time may also be called TXOP, SP, available time window, or available time period, etc.

[0168] Here, the twelfth piece of information may be a Poll frame requesting the first device to send cached data to the third device.

[0169] Similar to the transmission method of the first signal, the third device transmits the third signal based on the first physical layer air interface technology, and correspondingly, the first device receives the third signal transmitted by the third device based on the first physical layer air interface technology. The first physical layer air interface technology is the physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0170] In the above solution, the second time is the channel reservation time for either the first or third type of equipment, and this channel reservation time may be exclusively for the third type of equipment or may be shared with the first type of equipment.

[0171] Option 1) If the channel reservation time is reserved exclusively for the third device, the third device will determine that channel reservation time as its own channel usage time.

[0172] Option 2) If the channel reservation time is shared among the first type of device, the third device determines its own channel usage time within that channel reservation time.

[0173] In one implementation, the third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on the energy detection result for the first channel. For example, during the second time period, the third device performs CCA detection on the first channel, and if the channel is idle, the current time is considered to belong to its channel usage time, and it is deemed capable of performing transmission, thus avoiding collisions with transmissions from other devices.

[0174] In one implementation, a third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on the first rule, which is used to divide the channel reservation time into multiple channel usage times, with different channel usage times belonging to different devices. For example, the channel reservation time is divided into multiple channel usage times, and different devices transmit during different channel usage times. The channel usage time division rule can be related to the device ID. The third device determines its own channel usage time based on its ID and can further transmit during its own channel usage time, avoiding collisions with transmissions from other devices.

[0175] It should be noted that, in the above solution, the solutions related to step 600, step 601, step 602, and step 603 can be implemented individually or in any combination.

[0176] The technical solution of the embodiment of this application realizes a channel access method in which a first device having channel access capability performs channel occupancy for a first type device or a third device that does not have channel access capability, thereby the first type device or the third device obtaining channel usage time. The first device indicates the channel occupancy time by a first field in the first frame, and the second device can set or update its NAV based on this, and avoid transmission collisions by not occupying the channel for a period of time corresponding to the NAV counting down to 0. The technical solution ensures compatibility with the channel access mechanism of conventional devices and enables communication of the third device.

[0177] Preferred embodiments of this application are described in detail above in conjunction with the drawings, but this application is not limited to the specific details of the embodiments described above. Within the scope of the technical idea of ​​this application, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this application, and all such simple modifications fall within the scope of protection of this application. For example, each specific technical feature described in the specific embodiments described above can be combined in any suitable manner, provided that they do not conflict. To avoid unnecessary repetition, this application does not describe any further possible combinations. As another example, various different embodiments of this application can be combined in any way and should be considered to be disclosed in this application, provided that they do not contradict the idea of ​​this application. As yet another example, provided that there is no conflict, each embodiment and / or technical feature in each embodiment described in this application can be combined in any way with the prior art, and the technical solution obtained after such combination should also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0178] Furthermore, it should be understood that in the various embodiments of the methods of this application, the magnitude of the sequence number of each process described above does not indicate the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, without constituting any limitation on the implementation processes of the embodiments of this application. Also, in the embodiments of this application, the terms “downlink,” “uplink,” and “sidelink” are used to indicate the direction of signal or data transmission, where “downlink” is used to indicate a first direction in which the signal or data is transmitted from the site to the user equipment in the cell; “uplink” is used to indicate a second direction in which the signal or data is transmitted from the user equipment in the cell to the site; and “sidelink” is used to indicate a third direction in which the signal or data is transmitted from user equipment 1 to user equipment 2. For example, “downlink signal” indicates that the transmission direction of the signal is the first direction. Also, in the embodiments of this application, the terms “and / or” are merely related relationships that describe the associated objects, and it is shown that three relationships may exist. Specifically, A and / or B can represent three situations: A existing independently, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing independently. Furthermore, the symbol " / " in this specification generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects.

[0179] Figure 11 is a first structural schematic diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a first device, and as shown in Figure 11, the channel access device is The system includes a transmitting unit 1101 configured to transmit a first frame, the first frame including a first field used to indicate the channel occupancy time of a first channel, the first field used by a second device to set or update a network allocation vector NAV, the NAV used by the second device to determine the busy time of the first channel, where all or part of the channel occupancy time is used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, the third device belonging to the first type device.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first frame is a PPDU frame, the PPDU frame includes a PPDU header, and the PPDU header includes a first field.

[0181] In some embodiments, the PPDU header includes a short training field, a long training field, and a signal field, the signal field including the first field.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first frame is a PPDU frame, the PPDU frame includes a PPDU header and a media access control MAC frame, the MAC frame includes the first field.

[0183] In some embodiments, the MAC frame includes a MAC header, and the MAC header includes the first field.

[0184] In some embodiments, the frame type of the MAC frame includes at least one of a data frame, a control frame, and a management frame.

[0185] In some embodiments, the length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of a first time and the length of a second time, or the length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of a second time, where the first time is the channel reservation time of the first device and the second time is the channel reservation time of the first type of device or the third device.

[0186] In some embodiments, the position of the second time is determined based on the position of the target wake time and / or the limited access time of the first type of device or the third device.

[0187] In some embodiments, the apparatus further, A determination unit 1102 configured to determine channel access parameters related to the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment, The system includes an access unit 1103 configured to perform channel access on the first channel based on the channel access parameters.

[0188] In some embodiments, the channel access parameters are determined based on at least one of the following for the first type of device or third type of device: device type, device group, data type to be transmitted, type of PPDU frame to be transmitted, channel access time, target wake time, and limit access time.

[0189] In some embodiments, the channel access time is determined based on the target wake time and / or the limited access time.

[0190] In some embodiments, the channel access parameter is: The first parameter indicates the size of the conflict window, It includes at least one of the following: a second parameter indicating the size or type of interframe interval corresponding to the latency.

[0191] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1101 is further configured to transmit a first signal, which is used to determine the channel reservation time for the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment.

[0192] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1101 is configured to transmit a first signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first signal is First information for indicating the channel occupancy time, Second information for indicating a device or group of devices that can use the aforementioned channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The information includes at least one of the following fourth pieces of information indicating that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first signal includes a preamble and a payload, the preamble being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload being used to carry information within the first signal.

[0195] In some embodiments, the first signal is transmitted after the first frame, or the first signal is transmitted before the first frame.

[0196] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1101 is configured to further transmit a second signal, the second signal being: Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using the ninth piece of information, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the first device to the third device.

[0197] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1101 is configured to transmit a second signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0198] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a receiving unit 1104 configured to receive a third signal transmitted by the third device, the third signal being: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the third device to the first device.

[0199] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1104 is configured to receive a third signal transmitted by the third device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0200] In some embodiments, the first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology, the second physical layer air interface technology being the physical layer air interface technology supported by the second device.

[0201] Those skilled in the art should understand that the relevant description of the channel access device in the embodiments of this application can be understood by referring to the relevant description of the channel access method in the embodiments of this application.

[0202] Figure 12 is a second structural schematic diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to the first device, and as shown in Figure 12, the channel access device is A determination unit 1201 configured to determine channel access parameters related to a first-class or third-class device, The system includes an access unit 1202 configured to perform channel access on a first channel based on the channel access parameters and obtain channel occupancy time for the first channel, wherein all or part of the channel occupancy time is used for a first type of device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, and the third device belongs to the first type of device.

[0203] In some embodiments, the channel access parameters are determined based on at least one of the following for the first type of device or third type of device: device type, device group, data type to be transmitted, type of PPDU frame to be transmitted, channel access time, target wake time, and limit access time.

[0204] In some embodiments, the channel access time is determined based on the target wake time and / or the limited access time.

[0205] In some embodiments, the channel access parameter is: The first parameter indicates the size of the conflict window, It includes at least one of the following: a second parameter indicating the size or type of interframe interval corresponding to the latency.

[0206] Those skilled in the art should understand that the relevant description of the channel access device in the embodiments of this application can be understood by referring to the relevant description of the channel access method in the embodiments of this application.

[0207] Figure 13 is a third structural schematic diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to the first device, and as shown in Figure 13, the channel access device is The system includes a transmitting unit 1301 configured to transmit a first signal, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type of device or a third type of device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type of device or the third type of device to communicate on a first channel, and the third type of device being a third type of device.

[0208] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1301 is configured to transmit a first signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0209] In some embodiments, the first signal is The first piece of information to indicate channel occupancy time, Second information to indicate the equipment or group of equipment that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The information includes at least one of the fourth pieces of information indicating that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device.

[0210] In some embodiments, the first signal includes a preamble and a payload, the preamble being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload being used to carry information within the first signal.

[0211] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1301 is configured to further transmit a second signal, the second signal being: Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using the ninth piece of information, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the first device to the third device.

[0212] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1301 is configured to transmit a second signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0213] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a receiving unit 1302 configured to receive a third signal transmitted by the third device, the third signal being: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the third device to the first device.

[0214] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1302 is configured to receive a third signal transmitted by the third device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0215] In some embodiments, the first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology, the second physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by a second device.

[0216] Those skilled in the art should understand that the relevant description of the channel access device in the embodiments of this application can be understood by referring to the relevant description of the channel access method in the embodiments of this application.

[0217] Figure 14 is a fourth structural schematic diagram of the configuration of a channel access device according to an embodiment of this application, which is applied to the third device, and as shown in Figure 14, the channel access device is The system includes a receiving unit 1401 configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first device, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belonging to the first type device.

[0218] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1401 is configured to receive a first signal transmitted by the first device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0219] In some embodiments, the first signal is The first piece of information to indicate channel occupancy time, Second information to indicate the equipment or group of equipment that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The information includes at least one of the fourth pieces of information indicating that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device.

[0220] In some embodiments, the first signal includes a preamble and a payload, the preamble being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload being used to carry information within the first signal.

[0221] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1401 is further configured to receive a second signal transmitted by the first device, the second signal being Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using the ninth piece of information, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the first device to the third device.

[0222] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1401 is configured to receive a second signal transmitted by the first device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0223] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a transmitting unit 1402 configured to transmit a third signal, the third signal being: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data includes at least one of the data transmitted from the third device to the first device.

[0224] In some embodiments, the transmitting unit 1402 is configured to transmit a third signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, the first physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology, the second physical layer air interface technology being a physical layer air interface technology supported by a second device.

[0226] In some embodiments, the device further includes a decision unit configured to determine the channel reservation time as its own channel usage time if the channel reservation time is exclusive to the third device, or a decision unit configured to determine its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time if the channel reservation time is shared by the first type of device.

[0227] In some embodiments, the decision unit is configured to determine its channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on the energy detection result for the first channel.

[0228] In some embodiments, the decision unit is configured to determine its channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on a first rule, the first rule is used to divide the channel reservation time into multiple channel usage times, where different channel usage times belong to different devices.

[0229] Those skilled in the art should understand that the relevant description of the channel access device in the embodiments of this application can be understood by referring to the relevant description of the channel access method in the embodiments of this application.

[0230] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the communication device 1500 according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1500 shown in Figure 15 includes a processor 1510, which can call and execute a computer program from memory to realize the method in the embodiment of this application.

[0231] Selectively, as shown in Figure 15, the communication device 1500 may further include a memory 1520. Here, the processor 1510 can call and execute a computer program from the memory 1520 to implement the method in the embodiment of this application.

[0232] Here, the memory 1520 may be a standalone device independent of the processor 1510, or it may be integrated into the processor 1510.

[0233] Selectively, as shown in Figure 15, the communication device 1500 may further include a transceiver 1530, and the processor 1510 can control the transceiver 1530 to communicate with other devices, specifically, to transmit information or data to other devices or to receive information or data transmitted by other devices.

[0234] Here, the transceiver 1530 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 1530 may further include an antenna, and the number of antennas may be one or more.

[0235] Selectively, the communication device 1500 may specifically be the first device of the embodiment of this application, and the communication device 1500 can implement the corresponding process implemented by the first device in each method of the embodiment of this application, which will not be described again here for the sake of brevity.

[0236] Selectively, the communication device 1500 may specifically be the third device of the embodiment of this application, which can implement the corresponding process implemented by the third device in each method of the embodiment of this application, which will not be described again here for the sake of brevity.

[0237] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the chip according to an embodiment of this application. The chip 1600 shown in Figure 16 includes a processor 1610, which can call and execute a computer program from memory to implement the method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0238] Selectively, as shown in Figure 16, the chip 1600 may further include a memory 1620. Here, the processor 1610 can call and execute a computer program from the memory 1620 to implement the method in the embodiment of this application.

[0239] Here, the memory 1620 may be a standalone device independent of the processor 1610, or it may be integrated into the processor 1610.

[0240] Selectively, the chip 1600 may further include an input interface 1630, where the processor 1610 can control the input interface 1630 to communicate with other devices or chips, specifically, to acquire information or data transmitted by other devices or chips.

[0241] Selectively, the chip 1600 may further include an output interface 1640, where the processor 1610 can control the output interface 1640 to communicate with other devices or chips, specifically, to output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0242] Selectively, the chip may be applied to the first apparatus in the embodiments of this application, and the chip may implement the corresponding process implemented by the first apparatus in each method of the embodiments of this application, which will not be described again here for the sake of brevity.

[0243] Selectively, the chip may be applied to a third device in the embodiments of this application, and the chip may implement the corresponding process implemented by the third device in each method of the embodiments of this application, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0244] It should be understood that the chips referred to in the embodiments of this application may also be called system-level chips, system chips, chip systems, or system chip-on-chip, etc.

[0245] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the embodiments of the above method may be completed via hardware integrated logic circuits within the processor or via instructions in the form of software. The above processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates, or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Each method, step and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented directly as being executed and completed by a hardware decoding processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules within the decoding processor. The software module may reside in a mature storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, or electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. The storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads the information in memory and combines it with its hardware to complete the steps of the method described above.

[0246] Understandably, the memory in the embodiments of this application may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Here, non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By illustrative rather than restrictive description, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous-connected dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein includes, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0247] It should be understood that the above-mentioned memories are illustrative but not limiting. For example, the memories in the embodiments of this application may include static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synch-linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM). In other words, the memories in the embodiments of this application are intended to include, but not be limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0248] Embodiments of this application further provide a computer-readable storage medium configured to store computer programs.

[0249] Selectively, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to the first device in the embodiments of this application, and the computer program causes the computer to execute the corresponding process implemented by the first device in each method of the embodiments of this application, which for the sake of brevity will not be repeated here.

[0250] Selectively, the computer-readable storage medium may be applied to a third device in the embodiments of this application, the computer program causing the computer to execute the corresponding process implemented by the third device in each method of the embodiments of this application, which for the sake of brevity will not be repeated here.

[0251] The embodiments of this application further provide a computer program product that includes computer program instructions.

[0252] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to the first device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the first device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeatedly described here for the sake of brevity.

[0253] Optionally, the computer program product may be applied to the third device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions cause the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the third device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeatedly described here for the sake of brevity.

[0254] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program.

[0255] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to the first device in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, it causes the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the first device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeatedly described here for the sake of brevity.

[0256] Optionally, the computer program may be applied to the third device in the embodiments of the present application, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, it causes the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the third device in each method of the embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeatedly described here for the sake of brevity.

[0257] Although it is obvious to those skilled in the art, each example unit and algorithm step described with reference to the embodiments disclosed in this specification can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in the form of hardware or software is determined by the specific application of the technical solution and the design constraints. Those skilled in the art may use different methods according to each specific application to implement the described functions, but such implementation should not be regarded as exceeding the protection scope of this application.

[0258] As is clearly understood by those skilled in the art, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the method embodiments above, and will not be repeatedly described here.

[0259] In some embodiments provided by this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of the above units is only a logical functional division, and there may be other division modes when actually implemented. Also, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Also, the shown or discussed mutual coupling, direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some communication interfaces, devices or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0260] The units described as the separated components may or may not be physically separated, and the members represented as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0261] Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment of this application may be integrated into a single processing unit, the individual units may exist physically independently, and two or more units may be integrated into a single unit.

[0262] If the aforementioned functions are implemented in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, they may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of this application may be essentially, or contribute to the prior art, or a part of such technical solutions may be embodied in the form of a computer software product, which is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of this application. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash disks, mobile hard disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0263] The above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present application, and the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art will readily conceive of any variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed herein, and all such variations or substitutions should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A channel access method, A channel access method comprising: a first device transmitting a first frame, the first frame including a first field used to indicate the channel occupancy time of a first channel; the first field used by a second device to set or update a network allocation vector (NAV); the NAV used by the second device to determine the busy time of the first channel; and all or part of the channel occupancy time used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, wherein the third device belongs to the first type device.

2. The first frame is a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) frame, the PPDU frame includes a PPDU header, and the PPDU header includes the first field. The channel access method according to claim 1.

3. The PPDU header includes a short training field, a long training field, and a signal field, and the signal field includes the first field. The channel access method according to claim 2.

4. The first frame is a PPDU frame, the PPDU frame includes a PPDU header and a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, and the MAC frame includes the first field. The channel access method according to claim 1.

5. The MAC frame includes a MAC header, and the MAC header includes the first field. The channel access method according to claim 4.

6. The frame type of the MAC frame is characterized by including at least one of a data frame, a control frame, and a management frame. The channel access method according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of the first time and the length of the second time, or The length of the channel occupancy time is determined based on the length of the second time. The first time is the channel reservation time of the first device, and the second time is the channel reservation time of the first type of device or the third device. A channel access method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The position of the second time is determined based on the position of the target wake time and / or the limited access time of the first type of device or the third device. The channel access method according to claim 7.

9. Before the first device transmits the first frame, the channel access method, The first device further comprises determining channel access parameters related to the first type of device or the third device, and performing channel access on the first channel based on the channel access parameters. A channel access method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The channel access parameters are determined based on at least one of the following for the first type of device or the third type of device: device type, device group, data type to be transmitted, type of PPDU frame to be transmitted, channel access time, target wake time, and limited access time. The channel access method according to claim 9.

11. The channel access time is determined based on the target wake time and / or limited access time. The channel access method according to claim 10.

12. The channel access parameters are: The first parameter indicates the size of the competing window, It is characterized by including at least one of a second parameter that indicates the size or type of interframe interval corresponding to the latency. A channel access method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

13. The channel access method further, The first device transmits a first signal, and the first signal is used to determine the channel reservation time of the first type of device or the third device. A channel access method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The first device transmitting the first signal means that The first device transmits a first signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 13.

15. The first signal is, First information for indicating the channel occupancy time, Second information for indicating a device or group of devices that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The information includes at least one of the following fourth pieces of information, which indicates that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device. The channel access method according to claim 13 or 14.

16. The first signal comprises a preamble section and a payload section, the preamble section being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload section being used to carry the information within the first signal. A channel access method according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. The first signal is transmitted after the first frame, or The first signal is characterized by being transmitted before the first frame. A channel access method according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. The channel access method further, The first device transmits a second signal, the second signal is: Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using ninth information, The data transmitted from the first device to the third device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The first device transmitting the second signal means that The first device transmits a second signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 18.

20. The channel access method further, The first device receives a third signal transmitted by the third device, and the third signal is: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data transmitted from the third device to the first device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The first device receiving the third signal transmitted by the third device means that The first device receives a third signal transmitted by the third device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 20.

22. The first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology in that the second physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the second device. A channel access method according to any one of claims 14, 19, or 21.

23. A channel access method, A channel access method comprising: a first device determining channel access parameters related to a first type of device or a third device; performing channel access on a first channel based on the channel access parameters to obtain channel occupancy time for the first channel, wherein all or part of the channel occupancy time is used by the first type of device or the third device to communicate on the first channel, and the third device belongs to the first type of device.

24. The channel access parameters are determined based on at least one of the following for the first type of device or the third type of device: device type, device group, data type to be transmitted, type of PPDU frame to be transmitted, channel access time, target wake time, and limited access time. The channel access method according to claim 23.

25. The channel access time is determined based on the target wake time and / or limited access time. The channel access method according to claim 24.

26. The channel access parameters are: The first parameter indicates the size of the competing window, It is characterized by including at least one of a second parameter that indicates the size or type of interframe interval corresponding to the latency. A channel access method according to any one of claims 23 to 25.

27. A channel access method, A channel access method comprising: a first device transmitting a first signal, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belonging to the first type device.

28. The first device transmitting the first signal means that The first device transmits a first signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 27.

29. The first signal is, The first piece of information to indicate channel occupancy time, Second information to indicate the equipment or group of equipment that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The system is characterized by including at least one of the following: a fourth piece of information indicating that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device. The channel access method according to claim 27 or 28.

30. The first signal comprises a preamble section and a payload section, the preamble section being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload section being used to carry the information within the first signal. A channel access method according to any one of claims 27 to 29.

31. The channel access method further, The first device transmits a second signal, the second signal is: Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using ninth information, The data transmitted from the first device to the third device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 27 to 30.

32. The first device transmitting the second signal means that The first device transmits a second signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 31.

33. The channel access method further, The first device receives a third signal transmitted by the third device, and the third signal is: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data transmitted from the third device to the first device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 27 to 32.

34. The first device receiving the third signal transmitted by the third device means that The first device receives a third signal transmitted by the third device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 33.

35. The first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology in that the second physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the second device. A channel access method according to any one of claims 28, 32, or 34.

36. A channel access method, A channel access method comprising: a third device receiving a first signal transmitted by a first device, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belonging to the first type device.

37. The third device receiving the first signal transmitted by the first device means that The third device includes receiving a first signal transmitted by the first device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 36.

38. The first signal is, The first piece of information to indicate channel occupancy time, Second information to indicate the equipment or group of equipment that can use the channel occupancy time, Third information for indicating the channel reservation time of the first type of equipment or the third type of equipment within the channel occupancy time, The system is characterized by including at least one of the following: a fourth piece of information indicating that the channel occupancy time is obtained by the first device. The channel access method according to claim 36 or 37.

39. The first signal comprises a preamble section and a payload section, the preamble section being used to identify and / or synchronize the first signal, and the payload section being used to carry the information within the first signal. A channel access method according to any one of claims 36 to 38.

40. The channel access method further, The third device receives a second signal transmitted by the first device, and the second signal is: Fifth piece of information indicating that one channel usage time is to be assigned to the third device, The sixth piece of information is the channel usage time allocation information for the third device. Seventh information for responding to the transmission of the third device, Eighth piece of information to indicate that the first device has cache data that needs to be transmitted to the third device, The third device performs time synchronization using ninth information, The data transmitted from the first device to the third device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 36 to 39.

41. The third device receiving the second signal transmitted by the first device means that The third device includes receiving a second signal transmitted by the first device based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 40.

42. The channel access method further, The third device transmits a third signal, the third signal is: Tenth piece of information for responding to the transmission of the first device, Eleventh piece of information for requesting the first device to allocate one channel usage time to the third device, Twelfth piece of information for requesting the first device to transmit cache data to the third device, The data transmitted from the third device to the first device is characterized by including at least one of the above. A channel access method according to any one of claims 36 to 41.

43. The third device transmitting the third signal means that The third device transmits a third signal based on a first physical layer air interface technology, wherein the first physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the third device. The channel access method according to claim 42.

44. The first physical layer air interface technology differs from the second physical layer air interface technology in that the second physical layer air interface technology is a physical layer air interface technology supported by the second device. A channel access method according to any one of claims 37, 41, or 43.

45. The channel access method further, If the channel reservation time is exclusively for the third device, the third device determines the channel reservation time as its own channel usage time, or If the channel reservation time is shared among the first type of device, the third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time, which is a characteristic feature. A channel access method according to any one of claims 36 to 44.

46. The third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time, The third device is characterized by determining its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on the energy detection result for the first channel. The channel access method according to claim 45.

47. The third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time, The third device determines its own channel usage time within the channel reservation time based on the first rule, wherein the first rule is used to divide the channel reservation time into multiple channel usage times, and different channel usage times belong to different devices. The channel access method according to claim 45.

48. A channel access device applicable to the first device, A channel access device comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first frame, wherein the first frame includes a first field, the first field is used to indicate the channel occupancy time of a first channel, the first field is used by a second device to set or update the NAV, the NAV is used by the second device to determine the busy time of the first channel, and all or part of the channel occupancy time is used by a first type device or a third device to communicate on the first channel, the third device belonging to the first type device.

49. A channel access device applicable to the first device, A determination unit configured to determine channel access parameters related to a first type of device or a third type of device, wherein the third device belongs to the first type of device, A channel access device comprising: an access unit configured to perform channel access on a first channel based on the channel access parameters and obtain channel occupancy time for the first channel, wherein all or part of the channel occupancy time is used by a first type of equipment or a third equipment to communicate on the first channel, and the third equipment belongs to the first type of equipment; and

50. A channel access device applicable to the first device, A channel access device comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type of device or a third type of device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type of device or the third type of device to communicate on a first channel, and the third type of device belonging to the first type of device.

51. A channel access device applicable to the third device, A channel access device comprising a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first device, the first signal being used to determine a channel reservation time for a first type device or a third device, the channel reservation time being used for the first type device or the third device to communicate on a first channel, and the third device belonging to the first type device.

52. A communication device comprising a processor and memory, wherein the memory is configured to store computer programs, and the processor is configured to call and execute the computer programs stored in the memory to cause the terminal device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35 or the method according to any one of claims 36 to 47.

53. A chip including a processor, wherein the processor calls and executes a computer program from memory, causing a device on which the chip is mounted to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35 or the method according to any one of claims 36 to 47.

54. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 35, or the method described in any one of claims 36 to 47.

55. A computer program product comprising a computer program instruction that causes a computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 35, or the method described in any one of claims 36 to 47.

56. A computer program that causes a computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 35, or the method described in any one of claims 36 to 47.

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