BANDWIDTH DETERMINATION METHOD, DEVICE, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT - Patent application

Abstract

A bandwidth determination method, a device, a storage medium, and a program product are provided, in which a first device receives a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from a second device, the PPDU is used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, and a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth. Then, if a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the first device determines a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits. If a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the determination of the bandwidth for communication is not abandoned. This avoids unnecessary retransmissions or channel contention.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of communications, and in particular to a bandwidth determination method, device, storage medium, and program product. [Background technology]

[0002] In a wireless local area network, a transmitting end and a receiving end are in different wireless channel environments. Before a transmitting end and a receiving end execute data communication, it is expected that a suitable bandwidth for communication between the two parties can be obtained through negotiation based on the channel availability status of the two parties. In addition, in the communication process, a corresponding frame and a trigger frame of the corresponding frame usually need to use the same bandwidth.

[0003] In existing solutions, to perform such negotiation, a transmitting end may transmit a channel bandwidth to a receiving end during data communication. For example, the transmitting end may jointly indicate the bandwidth using a group of bits in a scrambling sequence and a group of bits in a service field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bandwidth determination solution.

[0005] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a bandwidth determination method, the method including: a first device receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicating a bandwidth, and determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0006] In this specification, the PPDU received by the first device may carry a control frame or a management frame. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the received PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format, or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format. Examples of the carried control frame include, but are not limited to, a request to send (RTS) frame, a clear to send (CTS) frame, a power-saving poll (PS-Poll) frame, a contention-free end (CF-End) frame, a block acknowledgment request (BAR) frame, or a null data PPDU announcement (NDP) frame.

[0007] As used herein, the first group of bits and / or the second group of bits may include one or more bits, for example, the first group of bits may include bits B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence, and the second group of bits may include bit B7 in the service field.

[0008] Different values ​​of the first group of bits and the second group of bits may indicate different bandwidths. The bandwidth sizes may include, for example, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160(80+80) MHz, 320 MHz, or 480 MHz.

[0009] According to the solution of the present disclosure, when a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the first device can continue to try to determine the bandwidth for communication based on the first group of bits instead of simply discarding the frame. In this manner, the solution of the present disclosure can reduce unnecessary retransmissions or channel contention, save valuable air interface resources, and improve system efficiency.

[0010] In some embodiments of the first aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determining the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0011] In some embodiments of the first aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes: if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for communication is a first bandwidth; if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for communication is a second bandwidth; or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for communication is a third bandwidth.

[0012] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0013] For example, B5, B6, and B7 mentioned above indicate bandwidth mode, and those three bits can indicate up to eight types of bandwidth. Currently, the commonly used bandwidths mainly include 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160(80+80)MHz, and 320MHz. For example, when B5B6 is 0 and B7 is 0, it indicates 20MHz; when B5B6 is 1 and B7 is 0, it indicates 40MHz; when B5B6 is 2 and B7 is 0, it indicates 80MHz; when B5B6 is 3 and B7 is 0, it indicates 160MHz; when B5B6 is 0 and B7 is 1, it indicates 320MHz; or when B5B6 is 1, 2, or 3 and B7 is 1, it can indicate a reserved bandwidth, i.e., the bandwidth is temporarily not indicated. In the protocol, a sequence in which the least significant bit is transmitted first is used. For example, if B5B6 is 2, then the corresponding binary number is 10. In this case, B5=0 and B6=1.

[0014] In this example, if B5B6 is 1, 2, or 3, it can indicate a single corresponding bandwidth. For example, if B5B6 is 1, it indicates 40 MHz, if B5B6 is 2, it indicates 80 MHz, or if B5B6 is 3, it indicates 160 MHz. In this case, even if a check error occurs in B7, the first device can also determine the bandwidth for communication based on the unique bandwidth corresponding to B5B6.

[0015] In some embodiments of the first aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0016] In this specification, the bandwidth negotiation process indicates whether the bandwidth negotiation is accepted between the first device and the second device. The bandwidth negotiation process may include a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process. The dynamic bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station supporting dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 1 (indicating dynamic mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the network allocation vector (NAV) indicates idle and a candidate bandwidth equal to or less than the bandwidth of the RTS frame satisfies the following condition, the receiving station sends a clear to send (CTS) frame by using the candidate bandwidth. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of clear channel assessment (CCA) on the secondary channel of the candidate bandwidth is idle within a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0017] The bandwidth negotiation process may include a static bandwidth negotiation process. The static bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station that does not support dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 0 (indicating static mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the NAV indicates idle and the bandwidth of the RTS frame meets the following condition, the receiving station sends a CTS frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the RTS frame. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of the CCA on the secondary channel of the RTS bandwidth is idle within the PIFS time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0018] The bandwidth negotiation process may further include a no bandwidth negotiation process, which is as follows: When a station transmits a non-HT or non-HT PPDU carrying a content that is not an RTS frame, the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT indication is not used, in other words, the B4 in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence can be generated randomly under the assumption that the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are not all 0. In this case, the receiving station will return a response frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0019] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0020] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0021] For example, if B5B6 is 0 and B7 is 0 in the scrambling sequence, it indicates 20 MHz, or if B5B6 is 0 and B7 is 1, it indicates 320 MHz. That is, if B5B6 is 0, it indicates two possible bandwidths. In this case, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may select a smaller bandwidth from the two possible bandwidths. Based on this manner, direct discarding of PPDUs can be avoided, and system efficiency can be improved.

[0022] In some embodiments of the first aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process including a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0023] For example, through blind detection, the bandwidth can be determined autonomously in association with information obtained from the PPDU. For example, in the process of receiving the PPDU, an EHT (very high throughput) receiving station records the received signal strength on each 20 MHz subchannel in 320 MHz, performs cross-correlation between the received signals on each 20 MHz subchannel, or performs frame header synchronization on each 20 MHz subchannel separately. In this manner, it is determined whether there is a received signal only on the primary 20 MHz or on each 20 MHz in 320 MHz. Based on this manner, for example, if B5B6 is 0, it indicates 20 MHz and 320 MHz. In this case, the first device can distinguish whether the current bandwidth is 20 MHz or 320 MHz through blind detection.

[0024] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a bandwidth determination method, the method including: a first device receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth; and determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device if a check error occurs in the group of bits.

[0025] In this specification, the PPDU received by the first device may carry a control frame or a management frame. In some embodiments of the second aspect, the received PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format, or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format. Examples of the carried control frame include, but are not limited to, a request to send (RTS) frame, a clear to send (CTS) frame, a power-saving poll (PS-Poll) frame, a contention-free end (CF-End) frame, a block acknowledgment request (BAR) frame, or a null data PPDU announcement (NDP) frame. In this specification, the group of bits in the service field may include one or more bits. For example, the group of bits may include the seventh bit B7 in the service field.

[0026] In this specification, the bandwidth negotiation process indicates whether the bandwidth negotiation is accepted between the first device and the second device. The bandwidth negotiation process may include a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process. The dynamic bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station supporting dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 1 (indicating dynamic mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the network allocation vector (NAV) indicates idle and a candidate bandwidth equal to or less than the bandwidth of the RTS frame satisfies the following condition, the receiving station sends a clear to send (CTS) frame by using the candidate bandwidth. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of clear channel assessment (CCA) on the secondary channel of the candidate bandwidth is idle within a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0027] The bandwidth negotiation process may include a static bandwidth negotiation process. The static bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station that does not support dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 0 (indicating static mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the NAV indicates idle and the bandwidth of the RTS frame meets the following condition, the receiving station sends a CTS frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the RTS frame. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of the CCA on the secondary channel of the RTS bandwidth is idle within the PIFS time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0028] The bandwidth negotiation process may further include a no bandwidth negotiation process, which is as follows: When a station transmits a non-HT or non-HT PPDU carrying a content that is not an RTS frame, the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT indication is not used, in other words, the B4 in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence can be generated randomly under the assumption that the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are not all 0. In this case, the receiving station will return a response frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0029] According to the solution of the present disclosure, when a check error occurs in a group of bits in the service field, the first device can continue to try to determine a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process, rather than simply discarding the PPDU. In this manner, the solution of the present disclosure can reduce unnecessary retransmissions or channel contention, save valuable air interface resources, and improve system efficiency.

[0030] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0031] In some embodiments of the second aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes determining a preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process. In some embodiments of the second aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz. In this manner, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the bandwidth can be determined more simply and efficiently.

[0032] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicating a bandwidth. Determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0033] In certain embodiments of the second aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits includes, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on the bandwidth negotiation process.

[0034] In some embodiments of the second aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0035] In some embodiments of the second aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0036] For example, if B5B6 in the scrambling sequence is 0 and B7 in the service field is 0, it indicates 20 MHz, or if B5B6 is 0 and B7 is 1, it indicates 320 MHz. That is, if B5B6 is 0, it indicates two possible bandwidths. In this case, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may select a smaller bandwidth from the two possible bandwidths. Based on this manner, direct discarding of PPDUs can be avoided, and system efficiency can be improved.

[0037] In some embodiments of the second aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection if the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, where the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0038] For example, through blind detection, the bandwidth can be determined autonomously in association with information obtained from the PPDU. For example, in the process of receiving the PPDU, an EHT (very high throughput) receiving station records the received signal strength on each 20 MHz subchannel in 320 MHz, performs cross-correlation between the received channels on each 20 MHz subchannel, or performs frame header synchronization on each 20 MHz subchannel separately. In this manner, it is determined whether there is a received signal only on the primary 20 MHz or on each 20 MHz in 320 MHz. Based on this manner, for example, if B5B6 is 0, it indicates 20 MHz or 320 MHz. In this case, the first device can distinguish whether the current bandwidth is 20 MHz or 320 MHz through blind detection.

[0039] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0040] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0041] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device, the first device including: a receiving unit configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, where a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth, and a processing unit configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0042] In certain embodiments of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0043] In some embodiments of the third aspect, if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a first bandwidth, if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a second bandwidth, or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a third bandwidth.

[0044] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0045] In certain embodiments of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0046] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0047] In certain embodiments of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0048] In certain embodiments of the third aspect, the processing unit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, which includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0049] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0050] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device, the first device including: a receiving unit configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth, and a processing unit configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the apparatus and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device if a check error occurs in the group of bits.

[0051] In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to determine the preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for the communication if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0052] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0053] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicating a bandwidth. The processing unit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for the communication based on the bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0054] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process.

[0055] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0056] In certain embodiments of the fourth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0057] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the processing unit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, which includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0058] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0059] In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0060] A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device. The first device includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, where a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth. The processor is configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits. Optionally, the first device further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store instructions executed by the processor. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is capable of determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0061] In certain embodiments of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0062] In some embodiments of the fifth aspect, if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a first bandwidth, if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a second bandwidth, or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a third bandwidth.

[0063] In some embodiments of the fifth aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0064] In certain embodiments of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0065] In some embodiments of the fifth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0066] In certain embodiments of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0067] In certain embodiments of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process including a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0068] In some embodiments of the fifth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0069] A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device. The first device includes a transceiver and a processor. The receiver is configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth. The processor is configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device if a check error occurs in the group of bits. Optionally, the first device further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store instructions executed by the processor. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is capable of determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device if a check error occurs in the group of bits.

[0070] In certain embodiments of the sixth aspect, the processor is further configured to determine the preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for the communication if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0071] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0072] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicating a bandwidth. The processing unit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for the communication based on the bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0073] In certain embodiments of the sixth aspect, the processor is further configured to, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process.

[0074] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0075] In certain embodiments of the sixth aspect, the processor is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0076] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the processor is further configured to determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, which includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0077] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0078] In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0079] A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device including an input interface and a processing circuit. The input interface is configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, where a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth. The processing circuit is configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0080] In certain embodiments of the seventh aspect, the processing circuit is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0081] In some embodiments of the seventh aspect, if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a first bandwidth, if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a second bandwidth, or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a third bandwidth.

[0082] In some embodiments of the seventh aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0083] In some embodiments of the seventh aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0084] In some embodiments of the seventh aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0085] In certain embodiments of the seventh aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0086] An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first device, the first device including an input interface and a processing circuit, the input interface configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth, the processing circuit configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device if a check error occurs in the group of bits.

[0087] In certain embodiments of the eighth aspect, the processing circuit is further configured to determine the preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for the communication when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0088] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0089] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicating a bandwidth. The processing unit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for the communication based on the bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0090] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determine a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process.

[0091] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0092] In certain embodiments of the eighth aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to select a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0093] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the processing circuit is further configured to determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, which includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0094] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0095] In some embodiments of the eighth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0096] A ninth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon one or more computer instructions that are used by a processor to execute a method including: a first device receiving a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicating a bandwidth; and, if a check error occurs in the second group of bits, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits.

[0097] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determining the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0098] In certain embodiments of the ninth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes: if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a first bandwidth; if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a second bandwidth; or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a third bandwidth.

[0099] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0100] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0101] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0102] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0103] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes a step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process including a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0104] In some embodiments of the ninth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0105] A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon one or more computer instructions that are used by a processor to execute a method including: a first device receiving a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth; and if a check error occurs in the group of bits, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0106] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes determining a preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0107] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0108] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, and the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicate a bandwidth. Determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0109] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits includes, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on the bandwidth negotiation process.

[0110] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0111] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0112] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes a step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection if the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, wherein the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0113] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0114] In some embodiments of the tenth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0115] An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer program product, which when run on a computer enables the computer to execute a method, including: a first device receiving a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicating a bandwidth, and determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0116] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, determining the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0117] In certain embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes: if the value of the first group of bits is 1, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a first bandwidth; if the value of the first group of bits is 2, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a second bandwidth; or if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for the communication is a third bandwidth.

[0118] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

[0119] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits includes, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0120] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0121] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0122] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths includes a step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, wherein the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0123] In some embodiments of the eleventh aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0124] A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer program product, which when run on a computer enables the computer to execute a method, including: a first device receiving a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth; and if a check error occurs in the group of bits, determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0125] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes a step of determining a preset bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0126] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the preset bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0127] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the group of bits is a third group of bits, and the PPDU is further used to determine a fourth group of bits in the scrambling sequence, and the third group of bits and the fourth group of bits indicate a bandwidth. Determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device includes determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits.

[0128] In certain embodiments of the twelfth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication based on a bandwidth negotiation process and the fourth group of bits includes, if the fourth group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining a bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on the bandwidth negotiation process.

[0129] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, if the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0130] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0131] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process includes a step of determining a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection if the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, wherein the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process includes a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

[0132] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

[0133] In some embodiments of the twelfth aspect, the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format.

[0134] The Summary is provided to describe a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the specific embodiments that follow. It is not intended to identify key or essential features of the disclosure or to limit the scope of the disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0135] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which like or similar reference numerals represent like or similar elements.

[0136] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication environment in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart of a bandwidth determination process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary non-HT replicated PPDU in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary non-HT replicated PPDU in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of checking a second group of bits according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart of a bandwidth determination process according to certain other embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a first device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 11 is a schematic block diagram of a first device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example device suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0137] In the various accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numbers represent the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0138] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Although some embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the attached drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided for a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the attached drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are only used as examples and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0139] In describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "comprising" and similar terms should be understood as a non-exclusive inclusion, i.e., "including, but not limited to." The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on." The term "one embodiment" or "this embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment." Terms such as "first," "second," and the like may refer to separate or the same object. Other explicit and implied definitions may also be included hereinafter.

[0140] Example communication environment IEEE 802.11 is one of the mainstream wireless access standards and has been widely used in commercial applications in the past decade. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication environment 100 in which an embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented. As shown in Figure 1, in the communication environment 100, an access point AP110 accesses the Internet in a wired or wireless manner. The access point AP110 can be associated with one or more stations STA120. The access point AP110 and the associated stations STA120 perform uplink and downlink communication by using a preset protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocol).

[0141] In some embodiments, the access point AP110 may be, for example, a wireless router. The station STA120 may include a wireless mobile device, examples of which include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, an intelligent wearable device, an in-vehicle mobile device, and the like.

[0142] In the IEEE802.11a standard, only 20MHz is supported. In the subsequent standard evolution process, the bandwidth continues to increase. In the IEEE802.11n standard, up to 40MHz is supported. In the IEEE802.11ac / ax standard, up to 160(80+80)MHz is supported. In standards after IEEE802.11a, in order to ensure backward compatibility, some MAC frames are transmitted in a non-high throughput non-HT replication manner on channels with a bandwidth larger than 20MHz. In other words, a frame in IEEE802.11a format is transmitted on each 20MHz channel, and the content on multiple 20MHz channels is repeated. In this manner, it is also possible for an IEEE802.11a station to smoothly analyze the frame. Since the frame format of IEEE802.11a is 20MHz, it is not possible for a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT or non-HT replication format to carry bandwidth information. Therefore, it is not possible for a receiving end to know exactly the bandwidth currently used by a transmitting end.

[0143] In wireless local area networks, since hidden nodes usually exist, a channel is usually secured in a manner of dialogue using RTS (request to send) / CTS (clear to send). The RTS and CTS frames are transmitted in a non-HT duplication manner on a bandwidth larger than 20 MHz. Since the transmitting station and the receiving station are located in various wireless channel environments, it is very useful for data communication if the available bandwidth for the two parties can be obtained through negotiation based on the current channel availability status of the two parties before data communication. However, if neither the RTS frame nor the CTS frame can carry the bandwidth information, the bandwidth negotiation cannot be performed when the channel is secured.

[0144] To solve this problem, in the IEEE802.11ac standard, two bits B5 and B6 in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are set in the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field to indicate bandwidth information. However, the four statuses of the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT field are all exhausted, and as a result, B5 and B6 cannot indicate a bandwidth larger than 160 MHz.

[0145] In the bandwidth extension mode, one or more bits in B7 to B15 in the SERVICE field in the data part are used together with B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence to indicate the bandwidth. The first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are a non-zero random sequence. In the IEEE 802.11ac standard, the bandwidths indicated by different values ​​of B5B6 are shown in Table 1.

[0146] [Table 1]

[0147] In this table, CBW20, CBW40, CBW80, and CBW160 represent bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz, respectively.

[0148] In addition, to allow the receiving station to know whether the transmitting station includes CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT information in the scrambling sequence, the transmitting end uses the signaling TA (transmit address) for indication. The signaling TA means that the unicast / multicast bit in the transmit address TA is set to 1 to indicate that the scrambling sequence of the PPDU carries CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT information. If the unicast / multicast bit in the TA is set to 0, it indicates that the scrambling sequence for transmitting the PPDU does not carry CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT information. The unicast / multicast bit (b0) is also called the individual / group bit in the standard.

[0149] In the IEEE 802.11be standard, to support 320 MHz bandwidth, one or more bits (e.g., B7) in the service field are used together with B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence to indicate the bandwidth. Table 2 shows an example of a specific indication format.

[0150] [Table 2]

[0151] In this table, CBW20, CBW40, CBW80, CBW160, and CBW320 represent bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz, respectively.

[0152] However, the conventional receiving end does not have a check mechanism for one or more bits (e.g., B7) in the service field. As a result, the receiving end is not able to determine whether a transmission error occurs in one or more bits. After the check mechanism is added, based on the general design, if a check error occurs, the receiving end will consider the information to be received incorrectly and will not perform corresponding or subsequent processing. This will result in retransmission or channel contention at the transmitting end.

[0153] It should be noted here that bits B5B6 in the current scrambling sequence correspond to the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT parameter. After B7 in the service field is used together with B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence to indicate the bandwidth, there are two description formats.

[0154] In one style, the three bits including B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence and B7 in the service field together correspond to the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT parameter. In this description style, B5B6 correspond to two bits in CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT, and B7 corresponds to the other bit in CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT.

[0155] In the other version, B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence correspond to the CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT parameter. If the values ​​of B7 are different, the same CH_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT value corresponds to different bandwidths.

[0156] The implementation solutions of this patent are not limited to either of those described modes.

[0157] First embodiment of the present disclosure Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved solution for a first device to determine a bandwidth. Specifically, in some embodiments, the first device receives a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU is used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, and a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth. Then, if a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the first device determines a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits. In this manner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, if a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the determination of the bandwidth for communication is not abandoned. This avoids unnecessary retransmissions or channel contention.

[0158] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 2 is a flowchart of a bandwidth determination process 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0159] As shown in FIG. 2, in block 202, a first device receives a PPDU from a second device, where the PPDU is used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, where a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first device may include, for example, a station STA120 shown in Fig. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include an access point AP110 shown in Fig. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the STA120 may determine a bandwidth for communication between the STA120 and the access point AP110 based on a PPDU transmitted from the access point AP110.

[0161] In another embodiment, the first device may alternatively include, for example, the access point AP110 shown in Fig. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include the station STA120 shown in Fig. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the access point AP110 may determine a bandwidth for communication between the access point AP110 and the station STA120 based on a PPDU received from the station STA120.

[0162] In yet another embodiment, the first device may alternatively include, for example, the station STA1 shown in FIG. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include the station STA2 shown in FIG. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the STA1 is a station STA Based on the PPDU received from STA1 and station 2, STA 2.

[0163] In some embodiments, the PPDU received by the first device may carry a control frame or a management frame. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the received PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format, or a PPDU in a non-high throughput replicated non-HT replicated format. Examples of the control frame carried include, but are not limited to, a request to send (RTS) frame, a clear to send (CTS) frame, a power-saving poll (PS-Poll) frame, a contention-free end (CF-End) frame, a block acknowledgment request (BAR) frame, or a null data PPDU announcement (NDP) frame.

[0164] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams 300A and 300B of an example non-HT replicated PPDU according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3A is an entity diagram 300A of transmitting a non-HT replicated PPDU on an 80 MHz channel. The non-HT replicated PPDU is transmitted on each 20 MHz channel by using the IEEE 802.11a frame format, and specifically includes four parts: L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, and Data. The Data further includes four parts: SERVICE field, PSDU (scrambled PSDU), Tail bit, and Padding bit. The non-HT replicated PPDU is transmitted in a full repetition manner on four 20 MHz channels of the 80 MHz.

[0165] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram 300B of transmitting a non-HT replicated PPDU on a channel larger than 160 MHz, for example 320 MHz. The principle of transmitting a non-HT replicated PPDU is similar to that of transmitting a non-HT replicated PPDU on 80 MHz shown in Figure 3A, except that as the bandwidth increases, the number of repeated copies increases.

[0166] The non-HT replicated PPDU includes a physical layer preamble, a signal field, and a data portion. The signal portion carries the signal indication and parity bits required for the data portion. If the result of performing the check by using the parity bits is correct, the data portion is subsequently analyzed by using the indication information in the signal field. On the contrary, if the result of performing the check by using the parity bits is incorrect, it indicates that the physical layer signaling is incorrectly received, and the following data portion is no longer analyzed. The data portion includes a SERVICE field, a PSDU field, a tail field, and padding bits.

[0167] The PSDU field carries the content of the MAC layer frame. The content of the MAC layer frame includes the FCS field, which is used to check whether the PSDU content is correct. If the FCS field is correct, it indicates that the frame is received correctly. In this case, the receiving station continues to respond based on the content of the MAC frame according to the protocol procedure. If the FCS field is incorrect, it indicates that the frame is received incorrectly. In this case, the receiving station discards the frame. The parity bit error is now described. The parity bit in the signal field is used to check the first 17 bits (RATE field, spare bit, and LENGTH field). An even parity check is used. Specifically, when the transmitting end sends the signal field, it ensures that the parity bit and the number of bits set to 1 among the first 17 bits are even. If the receiving end finds that the received parity bit and the number of bits set to 1 among the first 17 bits received are odd, it indicates that a check error occurs. If the number is even, it indicates that no check error has occurred. In a frame check sequence (FCS) check, the receiving station generates a check sequence based on the content to be checked in the received PSDU and an FCS algorithm, and determines whether the check sequence is the same as the received FCS check sequence. If the check sequence is the same as the received FCS check sequence, no FCS check error has occurred. If not, an FCS check error has occurred.

[0168] In some embodiments, when the second device is to transmit a non-HT replica or a non-HT PPDU, the second device may scramble the data portion by using a scrambling sequence and include the scrambled data portion in the PPDU to be transmitted. Correspondingly, when receiving the PPDU, the first device may determine the scrambling sequence used by the transmitting end based on the scrambled data portion, and descramble the scrambled data portion by using the scrambling sequence to obtain the data portion.

[0169] In the data portion, the service field includes 16 bits, denoted as bits 0 to 15 (represented as B0 to B15), respectively. Bit 0 is transmitted first in terms of time. Bits 0 to 6 in the service field are set to 0 for the receiving end to synchronize the descrambling. The remaining 9 bits in the service field (bits B7 to B15) are reserved fields and are set to 0. Bits B7 to B15 in the service field can be ignored by stations of standards earlier than IEEE 802.11be. The service field is carried in all PPDUs transmitted in non-HT or non-HT duplicated formats. Therefore, the service field is not limited by a specific MAC frame structure and is universal. The service field is originally designed to support the scrambling operation of the physical layer, which is a common operation for all MAC frames. Therefore, the service field is present in all MAC frames. In some embodiments, the second device may indicate the bandwidth using a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence (e.g., bits B5 and B6) and a second group of bits in the service field (e.g., bit B7), thereby allowing more bandwidth to be indicated.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first group of bits and / or the second group of bits may include one or more bits. For example, as shown in Table 3, the first group of bits may include bits B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence, and the second group of bits may include bit B7 in the service field.

[0171] [Table 3]

[0172] It should be understood that the bandwidths shown in Table 3 are examples only. For example, 480 MHz can be further indicated by using B5B6 being 1 and B7 being 1. This disclosure is not intended to be limiting on how the first group of bits and the second group of bits are used to indicate a bandwidth.

[0173] In block 302, if no FCS check error occurs in the PPDU, the first device checks the second group of bits to determine whether a check error occurs in the second group of bits. In some embodiments, for example, the first device may check the second group of bits by using one or more other bits in the service field. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, B7 to B9 may be checked based on B10 in the service field by using a parity check method.

[0174] It should be understood that the second group of bits may alternatively be checked by using any other suitable bits and / or any other suitable checking manner, and this disclosure is not intended to be limited to a particular manner for checking the second group of bits.

[0175] In block 304, if a check error occurs in the second group of bits, the first device determines a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits.

[0176] In some embodiments, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the single candidate bandwidth is determined as the bandwidth for communication. In the example in Table 3, if the value of B5B6 is 1, 2, or 3, it can indicate a single candidate bandwidth regardless of the value of B7. On the contrary, if the value of B5B6 is 0, it indicates two candidate bandwidths, namely, 20 MHz and 320 MHz. Therefore, if the value of B5B6 is determined to be 1, 2, or 3, the first device can uniquely determine the bandwidth for communication regardless of whether a check error occurs in B7.

[0177] For example, the first device may determine the bandwidth based on a pre-established mapping relationship between the first group of bits and the corresponding bandwidth. Still refer to the example in Table 3. For example, when a check error occurs in B7, the first device may determine the bandwidth based on the first group of bits (B5B6 in the scrambling sequence) according to Table 4.

[0178] [Table 4]

[0179] In some embodiments, if the first group of bits indicates multiple candidate bandwidths, the first device may further determine a bandwidth for communication from the multiple candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0180] The bandwidth negotiation process indicates whether bandwidth negotiation is accepted between the first device and the second device. In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may include a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process. The dynamic bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station supporting dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 1 (indicating dynamic mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the network allocation vector (NAV) indicates idle and a candidate bandwidth equal to or less than the bandwidth of the RTS frame satisfies the following condition, the receiving station sends a clear to send (CTS) frame by using the candidate bandwidth. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of clear channel assessment (CCA) on the secondary channel of the candidate bandwidth is idle within a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0181] In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may include a static bandwidth negotiation process. The static bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station that does not support dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 0 (indicating static mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the NAV indicates idle and the bandwidth of the RTS frame meets the following condition, the receiving station transmits a CTS frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the RTS frame. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of the CCA on the secondary channel of the RTS bandwidth is idle within a PIFS time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0182] In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may further include a no bandwidth negotiation process, which is as follows: When a station transmits a non-HT or non-HT PPDU carrying a content that is not an RTS frame, the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT indication is not used, in other words, the B4 in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence may be generated randomly under the assumption that the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are not all zero. In this case, the receiving station will return a response frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0183] In this specification, the static bandwidth negotiation process and the no bandwidth negotiation process are collectively referred to as "non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process" given that both require the receiving station to accurately identify the bandwidth of the received frame and set the bandwidth of the response frame to be the same as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0184] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0185] In some embodiments, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may select a minimum candidate bandwidth from multiple candidate bandwidths. See still the example in Table 3. When the value of B5B6 is 0 and the first device determines that the bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device is a dynamic negotiation process, the first device may select a smaller bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) from the two candidate bandwidths (e.g., 20 MHz bandwidth and 320 MHz bandwidth) indicated by B5B6 as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0186] In another example, if the value of B5B6 is 1 and the value of B7 is 0, it indicates 40 MHz, or if the value of B5B6 is 1 and the value of B7 is 1, it indicates 480 MHz. In this case, if a check error occurs in B7 and the value of B5B6 is 1, the first device may use the smaller 40 MHz bandwidth of the two bandwidths as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0187] In this manner, although some bandwidth may be lost, the first device can successfully establish data communication between the first device and the second device, instead of simply regarding the PPDU as having a check error and not responding, which can avoid retransmission or channel contention at the transmitting end, save valuable air interface resources, and improve system efficiency.

[0188] In some embodiments, alternatively, the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the first group of bits based on a pre-established mapping relationship between the first group of bits and the corresponding bandwidth. For example, a mapping table (e.g., Table 5) corresponding to the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be pre-established, so that the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the different values ​​of the first group of bits in the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process based on the mapping table.

[0189] [Table 5]

[0190] In some embodiments, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind sensing.

[0191] In some embodiments, blind detection may be performed based on information obtained by the physical layer in the receiving process. For example, in the process of receiving a PPDU, the EHT receiving station records the received signal strength on each 20 MHz subchannel in 320 MHz, performs cross-correlation between the received channels on each 20 MHz subchannel, or performs frame header synchronization on each 20 MHz subchannel separately. In this manner, it is determined whether there is a received signal only on the primary 20 MHz or on each 20 MHz in 320 MHz. It should be understood that any suitable blind detection technology may be used, and the present disclosure is not intended to limit the specific manner of blind detection.

[0192] It should be understood that the difference from the traditional method for directly determining the bandwidth based on blind detection is that, for example, the selection is performed from 20 MHz and 320 MHz through blind detection, because the first device only needs to identify two types of bandwidth, 20 MHz and 320 MHz, and the difference between the values ​​of the two types of bandwidth is huge, and the accuracy of blind detection is greatly improved.

[0193] Similar to the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, in some embodiments, the first device may alternatively directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the first group of bits based on a pre-established mapping relationship between the first group of bits and the corresponding bandwidth. For example, a mapping table (e.g., Table 6) corresponding to the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be pre-established, so that the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the different values ​​of the first group of bits in the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process based on the mapping table.

[0194] [Table 6]

[0195] In some embodiments, in order to reduce bandwidth waste caused in a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process in which a smaller bandwidth is directly used as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device, the correspondence between the first group of bits, the second group of bits, and the bandwidth may be further adjusted at the transmitting end and the receiving end.

[0196] The example that B5B6 in the scrambling sequence and B7 in the service field indicate the bandwidth mode is still used, and the mapping relationship between B5B6, B7 and the bandwidth can be expressed as, for example, the mapping relationship in Table 7. The difference from the mapping relationship in Table 3 is that 320MHz can be indicated by using the value of B5B6 which is 3 and the value of B7 which is 1.

[0197] [Table 7]

[0198] Correspondingly, the mapping relationship in the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process described above may be expressed as the mapping relationship in Table 8, and the mapping relationship in the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be expressed as the mapping relationship in Table 9.

[0199] [Table 8]

[0200] [Table 9]

[0201] In the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, it can be known that if a check error occurs in B7 and the value of B5B6 is 3, the first device can determine that the bandwidth is 160 MHz, i.e., respond by using 160 MHz instead of 20 MHz. In this way, the bandwidth loss can be reduced.

[0202] Second embodiment of the present disclosure Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved solution for a first device to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and a second device. Specifically, in some embodiments, the first device receives a PPDU from the second device, and the PPDU is used to determine a group of bits in a service field that is associated with a bandwidth. Then, if a check error occurs in the group of bits, the first device determines a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device. In this manner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, if a check error occurs in the group of bits, the determination of the bandwidth for communication is not abandoned. This avoids unnecessary retransmissions or channel contention.

[0203] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 5 is a flowchart of a bandwidth determination process 500 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0204] As shown in FIG. 5, in block 502, a first device receives a PPDU from a second device, and the PPDU is used to determine a group of bits associated with a bandwidth and in a service field.

[0205] In some embodiments, the first device may include, for example, a station STA120 shown in Fig. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include an access point AP110 shown in Fig. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the STA120 may determine a bandwidth for communication between the STA120 and the access point AP110 based on a PPDU transmitted from the access point AP110.

[0206] In another embodiment, the first device may alternatively include, for example, the access point AP110 shown in Fig. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include the station STA120 shown in Fig. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the access point AP110 may determine a bandwidth for communication between the access point AP110 and the station STA120 based on a PPDU received from the station STA120.

[0207] In yet another embodiment, the first device may alternatively include, for example, the station STA1 shown in FIG. 1. Correspondingly, the second device may include the station STA2 shown in FIG. 1. According to the solution of the present disclosure, the STA1 is a station STA Based on the PPDU received from STA1 and station 2, STA 2.

[0208] In some embodiments, the PPDU received by the first device may carry a control frame or a management frame. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the received PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput non-HT format, or a PPDU in a non-high throughput duplicate non-HT duplicate format. Examples of the carried control frame include, but are not limited to, a request to send (RTS) frame, a clear to send (CTS) frame, a power-saving poll (PS-Poll) frame, a contention-free end (CF-End) frame, a block acknowledgment request (BAR) frame, or a null data PPDU announcement (NDP announcement) frame. For the specific structure of the non-HT frame and the non-HT duplicate frame, please refer to the above description on FIG. 3. Details will not be described again here.

[0209] In some embodiments, when the second device is to transmit a non-HT replica or a non-HT PPDU, the second device may scramble the data portion by using a scrambling sequence and include the scrambled data portion in the PPDU to be transmitted. Correspondingly, when receiving the PPDU, the first device may determine the scrambling sequence used by the transmitting end based on the scrambled data portion, and descramble the scrambled data portion by using the scrambling sequence to obtain the data portion.

[0210] In the data portion, the service field includes 16 bits, respectively shown as bits 0 to 15. Bit 0 is transmitted first in terms of time. Bits 0 to 6 in the service field are set to 0 for the receiving end to synchronize the descrambling. The remaining 9 bits in the service field (bits B7 to B15) are reserved and set to 0. Bits B7 to B15 in the service field can be ignored for pre-IEEE 802.11be standard stations. The service field is carried in all PPDUs transmitted in non-HT or non-HT duplicated formats. Therefore, the service field is not limited by a specific MAC frame structure and is universal. The service field is originally designed to assist the physical layer scrambling operation. This is a common operation for all MAC frames. Therefore, the service field is present in all MAC frames. In some embodiments, the second device may indicate the bandwidth using a group of bits in the scrambling sequence (e.g., bits B5 and B6) and a group of bits in the service field (e.g., bit B7), so that more bandwidth can be indicated.

[0211] [Table 10]

[0212] In some embodiments, the group of bits in the service field may include one or more bits. For example, as shown in Table 10, the group of bits in the scrambling sequence may include bits B5 and B6 in the scrambling sequence, and the group of bits in the service field may include bit B7 in the service field.

[0213] It should be understood that the bandwidths shown in Table 10 are examples only. For example, 480 MHz may be further indicated by using B5B6 being 1 and B7 being 1. This disclosure is not intended to be limiting on how bits are used to indicate bandwidths.

[0214] At block 504, if no FCS check error occurs in the PPDU, the first device checks the group of bits to determine whether a check error occurs in the group of bits. In some embodiments, for example, the first device may check the group of bits by using one or more other bits in the service field. Similarly, as described in connection with FIG. 4, the first device may check B7 through B9 based on B10 in the service field by using a parity check method.

[0215] It should be understood that the groups of bits may alternatively be checked by using any other suitable bits and / or any other suitable checking manner, and this disclosure is not intended to be limited to a particular manner for checking the groups of bits.

[0216] In block 506, if a check error occurs in the group of bits, the first device determines a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

[0217] The bandwidth negotiation process indicates whether bandwidth negotiation is accepted between the first device and the second device. In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may include a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process. The dynamic bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station supporting dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 1 (indicating dynamic mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the network allocation vector (NAV) indicates idle and a candidate bandwidth equal to or less than the bandwidth of the RTS frame satisfies the following condition, the receiving station sends a clear to send (CTS) frame by using the candidate bandwidth. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of clear channel assessment (CCA) on the secondary channel of the candidate bandwidth is idle within a point coordination function interframe space (PIFS) time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0218] In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may include a static bandwidth negotiation process. The static bandwidth negotiation process is as follows: When transmitting an RTS frame, a station that does not support dynamic bandwidth negotiation sets B4 (indicating DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence to 0 (indicating static mode), and after the receiving station receives the RTS frame, if the NAV indicates idle and the bandwidth of the RTS frame meets the following condition, the receiving station transmits a CTS frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the RTS frame. Otherwise, no CTS is returned. The condition that needs to be met is that the detection result of the CCA on the secondary channel of the RTS bandwidth is idle within a PIFS time before the RTS is transmitted.

[0219] In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process may further include a no bandwidth negotiation process, which is as follows: When a station transmits a non-HT or non-HT PPDU carrying a content that is not an RTS frame, the DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT indication is not used, in other words, the B4 in the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence may be generated randomly under the assumption that the first seven bits of the scrambling sequence are not all zero. In this case, the receiving station will return a response frame by using the same bandwidth as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0220] In this specification, the static bandwidth negotiation process and the no bandwidth negotiation process are collectively referred to as "non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process" given that both require the receiving station to accurately identify the bandwidth of the received frame and set the bandwidth of the response frame to be the same as the bandwidth of the received frame.

[0221] In some embodiments, the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter (e.g., DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT) or based on the value of the preset parameter indicated by the PPDU. For example, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is not indicated in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a no bandwidth negotiation process, if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 0 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a static bandwidth negotiation process, or if the parameter DYN_BANDWIDTH_IN_NON_HT is indicated as 1 in the PPDU, the bandwidth negotiation process may be determined to be a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

[0222] In some embodiments, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the preset bandwidth is determined as the bandwidth for communication. For example, the preset bandwidth may be 20 MHz. Based on this manner, when a check error occurs in a group of bits in the service field, the first device may directly determine 20 MHz as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device. In this manner, on the one hand, the case that the first device does not directly respond to the PPDU may be avoided, and on the other hand, the processing complexity of the first device may be reduced.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first device may further determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device in association with both the bandwidth negotiation process and the group of bits in the scrambling sequence. For ease of description, in this embodiment, the group of bits in the service field is referred to as a third group of bits (e.g., B7 in the service field) and the group of bits in the scrambling sequence is referred to as a fourth group of bits (e.g., B5B6 in the scrambling sequence).

[0224] Correspondingly, when the fourth group of bits indicates multiple candidate bandwidths, the first device may determine a bandwidth for communication from the multiple candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process, whereas when the fourth group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the first device may determine the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

[0225] In some embodiments, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may select a minimum candidate bandwidth from multiple candidate bandwidths. See still the example in Table 10. When the value of B5B6 is 0 and the first device determines that the bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device is a dynamic negotiation process, the first device may select a smaller bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) from the two candidate bandwidths (e.g., 20 MHz and 320 MHz) indicated by B5B6 as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0226] In another example, if the value of B5B6 is 1 and the value of B7 is 0, it indicates 40 MHz, or if the value of B5B6 is 1 and the value of B7 is 1, it indicates 480 MHz. In this case, if a check error occurs in B7 and the value of B5B6 is 1, the first device may use the smaller 40 MHz bandwidth of the two bandwidths as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device.

[0227] In this manner, although some bandwidth may be lost, the first device can successfully establish data communication between the first device and the second device, instead of simply regarding the PPDU as having a check error and not responding, which can avoid retransmission or channel contention at the transmitting end, save valuable air interface resources, and improve system efficiency.

[0228] In some embodiments, alternatively, the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the fourth group of bits based on a pre-established mapping relationship between the fourth group of bits and the corresponding bandwidth. For example, a mapping table (e.g., Table 11) corresponding to the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be pre-established, so that the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the different values ​​of the fourth group of bits in the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process based on the mapping table.

[0229] [Table 11]

[0230] In some embodiments, when the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the first device may determine a bandwidth for communication from a plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind sensing.

[0231] In some embodiments, blind detection may be performed based on information obtained by the physical layer in the receiving process. For example, in the process of receiving a PPDU, the EHT receiving station records the received signal strength on each 20 MHz subchannel in 320 MHz, performs cross-correlation between the received channels on each 20 MHz subchannel, or performs frame header synchronization on each 20 MHz subchannel separately. In this manner, it is determined whether there is a received signal only on the primary 20 MHz or on each 20 MHz in 320 MHz. It should be understood that any suitable blind detection technology may be used, and the present disclosure is not intended to limit the specific manner of blind detection.

[0232] It should be understood that the difference from the traditional method for directly determining the bandwidth based on blind detection is that, for example, the selection is performed from 20 MHz and 320 MHz through blind detection, because the first device only needs to identify two types of bandwidth, 20 MHz and 320 MHz, and the difference between the values ​​of the two types of bandwidth is huge, and the accuracy of blind detection is greatly improved.

[0233] Similar to the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, in some embodiments, the first device may alternatively directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the fourth group of bits based on a pre-established mapping relationship between the fourth group of bits and the corresponding bandwidth. For example, a mapping table (e.g., Table 12) corresponding to the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be pre-established, so that the first device may directly determine the bandwidth corresponding to the different values ​​of the fourth group of bits in the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process based on the mapping table.

[0234] [Table 12]

[0235] In some embodiments, in order to reduce bandwidth waste caused in a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process in which a smaller bandwidth is directly used as the bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device, the correspondence between the third group of bits, the fourth group of bits, and the bandwidth may be further adjusted at the transmitting end and the receiving end.

[0236] The example that B5B6 in the scrambling sequence and B7 in the service field indicate the bandwidth mode is still used, and the mapping relationship between B5B6, B7 and the bandwidth can be expressed as the mapping relationship in Table 13, for example. The difference from the mapping relationship in Table 3 is that 320MHz can be indicated by using the value of B5B6 which is 3 and the value of B7 which is 1.

[0237] [Table 13]

[0238] Correspondingly, the mapping relationship in the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process described above may be expressed as the mapping relationship in Table 14, and the mapping relationship in the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process may be expressed as the mapping relationship in Table 15.

[0239] [Table 14]

[0240] [Table 15]

[0241] In the dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, it can be known that if a check error occurs in B7 and the value of B5B6 is 3, the first device can determine that the bandwidth is 160 MHz, i.e., respond by using 160 MHz instead of 20 MHz. In this way, the bandwidth loss can be reduced.

[0242] Exemplary Apparatus and Exemplary Device 6 is a schematic block diagram of a first device 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, the first device 600 includes a receiving unit 610 and a processing unit 620. The receiving unit 610 is configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, the PPDU is used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, and a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicate a bandwidth. The processing unit 620 is configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the apparatus and the second device based on the first group of bits when a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

[0243] It should be understood that the receiving unit 610 and the processing unit 620 in the first device 600 can be further configured to implement other processes or steps in the bandwidth determination described in the above first embodiment. For specific details, please refer to the above related descriptions. The details will not be described again here.

[0244] 7 is a schematic block diagram of a first device 700 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, the first device 700 includes a receiving unit 710 and a processing unit 720. The receiving unit 710 is configured to receive a PPDU from a second device, where the PPDU is used to determine a group of bits in a service field associated with a bandwidth. The processing unit 720 is configured to determine a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device when a check error occurs in the group of bits.

[0245] It should be understood that the receiving unit 710 and the processing unit 720 in the first device 700 can be further configured to implement other processes or steps in the bandwidth determination described in the above second embodiment. For specific details, please refer to the above related descriptions. The details will not be described again here.

[0246] It should be understood that first device 600 and / or first device 700 may be implemented using application specific integrated circuits, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuitry, or any combination of circuits, chips, boards, communication devices, etc. capable of performing various processes of the present disclosure.

[0247] 8 is a simplified block diagram of an example device 800 suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device 800 may be configured to implement a first device in the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the device 800 includes one or more processors 810 and a transceiver 840 coupled to the processor 810.

[0248] The transceiver 840 is configured to implement the functions of the receiving unit in Figures 6 and 7. For specific details, please refer to the above description. The details will not be described again here.

[0249] The processor 810 is configured to implement the functions of the processing units in Figures 6 and 7. For specific details, please refer to the above description. The details will not be described again here.

[0250] Optionally, the first device 800 further includes a memory 820 coupled to the processor 810. The memory 820 is configured to store instructions to be executed by the processor. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor can perform the functions of the processing units in Figures 6 and 7. For specific details, please refer to the above description. The details will not be described again here.

[0251] The transceiver 840 may be configured to perform bidirectional communication. The transceiver 840 may have at least one communication interface used for communication. The communication interface may include any interface necessary to communicate with another device.

[0252] The processor 810 may be any type of processor suitable for a local technical network, including, but not limited to, one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microcontroller, a digital signal controller (DSP), and a controller-based multi-core controller architecture. The device 800 may have multiple processors, e.g., application specific integrated circuit chips, belonging to clocks that are synchronized in time with the main processor.

[0253] The memory 820 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, read only memory (ROM) 824, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disks, compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), and other magnetic and / or optical storage. Examples of volatile memories include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) 822, and other volatile memories that do not persist during power outages.

[0254] A computer program 830 includes computer-executable instructions that are executed by an associated processor 810. The program 830 may be stored in the ROM 824. The processor 810 may perform any suitable actions and operations by loading the program 830 into the RAM 822.

[0255] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by using a program 830 that may cause the device 800 to perform any of the processes described in connection with Figures 2 to 6. The embodiments of the present disclosure may alternatively be implemented by using hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

[0256] In some embodiments, the program 830 may be tangibly included in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be included in the device 800 (e.g., in the memory 820) or in another storage device that can be accessed by the device 800. The program 830 may be loaded from the computer-readable medium into the RAM 822 for execution. The computer-readable medium may include any type of tangible non-volatile memory, such as a ROM, an EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, a CD, or a DVD.

[0257] In general, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by using hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented by using hardware, and other aspects may be implemented by using firmware or software, and may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or another computing device. Although various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and illustrated as block diagrams, flowcharts, or other diagrams, it should be understood that the blocks, apparatus, systems, technologies, or methods described herein may be implemented as, by way of example and not limitation, hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuits, logic, general-purpose hardware, controllers, other computing devices, or combinations thereof.

[0258] The present disclosure further provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, e.g., instructions included in program modules, that execute on a target real or virtual processor device to perform the processes / methods described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In various embodiments, functionality of program modules may be combined or partitioned as desired. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed locally or in distributed devices. In distributed devices, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0259] The computer program code used to implement the methods disclosed in this disclosure can be written in one or more programming languages. The computer program code can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or another programmable data processing device, so that when the program code is executed by the computer or another programmable data processing device, the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams are performed. The program code can be executed entirely on the computer, partially on the computer, as a separate software package, partially on the computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server.

[0260] In the context of the present disclosure, computer program code or associated data may be carried by any suitable carrier that enables a device, apparatus, or processor to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer readable media, etc. Examples of signals may include propagated signals in electrical, optical, radio, acoustic, or other forms, such as carrier waves and infrared signals.

[0261] A computer-readable medium may be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program used for or associated with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. A computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media include an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0262] In addition, although the operations of the methods disclosed in this disclosure are described in a particular order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that these operations must be performed in that particular order, or that all of the illustrated operations must be performed to achieve a desired result. Rather, the order of execution of steps illustrated in the flowcharts may be changed. Additionally or optionally, some steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step for execution, and / or one step may be decomposed into multiple steps for execution. Furthermore, it should be noted that the features and functions of two or more devices according to the present disclosure may be specified in one device. Conversely, the features and functions of one device described above may be further specified in multiple devices through classification.

[0263] The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. The above description is illustrative, not exhaustive, and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations are apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The choice of terms used in this specification is intended to well explain the implementation principle, practical application, or improvement to the technology in the market, or to enable others with ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. 1. A method for determining a bandwidth, comprising: receiving, by a first device, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from a second device, the PPDU being used to determine a scrambling sequence and a service field, a first group of bits in the scrambling sequence and a second group of bits in the service field indicating a bandwidth; and determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits if a check error occurs in the second group of bits.

2. determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits; 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, if the first group of bits indicates a single candidate bandwidth, the single candidate bandwidth as the bandwidth for communication.

3. determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits; if the value of said first group of bits is 1, it indicates that said bandwidth for communication is a first bandwidth; if the value of said first group of bits is 2, it indicates that said bandwidth for communication is a second bandwidth; or 2. The method of claim 1, comprising: if the value of the first group of bits is 3, it indicates that the bandwidth for communication is a third bandwidth.

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first bandwidth is 40 MHz, the second bandwidth is 80 MHz, and the third bandwidth is 160 MHz.

5. determining a bandwidth for communication between the first device and the second device based on the first group of bits; 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the first group of bits indicates a plurality of candidate bandwidths, determining the bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths based on a bandwidth negotiation process between the first device and the second device.

6. The step of determining the bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths comprises:

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of selecting a minimum candidate bandwidth from the plurality of candidate bandwidths if the bandwidth negotiation process is a dynamic bandwidth negotiation process.

7. The step of determining the bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths comprises:

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining the bandwidth for communication from the plurality of candidate bandwidths through blind detection if the bandwidth negotiation process is a non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process, the non-dynamic bandwidth negotiation process including a static bandwidth negotiation process or a no bandwidth negotiation process.

8. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bandwidth negotiation process is determined depending on whether the PPDU indicates a preset parameter or based on a value of a preset parameter indicated by the PPDU.

9. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PPDU is a PPDU in a non-high throughput, non-HT format or a PPDU in a non-high throughput, replicated, non-HT replicated format.

10. A first device comprising a unit adapted to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. 10. A computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the program causing, when executed by a processor, to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer program comprising computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

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