Information indication method and communication device

Abstract

The present application discloses an information indication method and a communication device. A non-AP MLD or a first STA in a non-AP MLD generates a first frame. The first frame includes indication information for indicating a padding duration for a channel switching delay in an initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of a control response frame. A non-AP MLD or a first STA in a non-AP MLD transmits a first frame. A first AP or a different AP in an AP MLD or an AP MLD receives the first frame. The AP MLD or the first AP determines a padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information. Based on the above solution, the padding duration of the initial control frame can be accurately determined, so that the first STA can complete switching of a corresponding number of transmission channels before a subsequent data frame arrives.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202110485965.4, titled "INFORMATION INDICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on April 30, 2021, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202110375411.9, titled "INFORMATION INDICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on April 7, 2021, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to an information indication method and a communication apparatus.

Background Art

[0003] With the development of wireless technologies, more and more wireless devices are becoming capable of supporting multi-link communication. A non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) can monitor multiple links. After an initial control frame transmitted to a non-AP MLD or a non-access point station (non-AP STA) within the non-AP MLD is received by the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA on a link, a receive chain on another link can be switched to the link, so that after the initial control frame is received, a data frame can be received at a higher rate.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission channel switching process. When the number of receiving channels of a non-AP MLD on a link is switched from A to B (B > A, and in FIG. 1, the number of receiving channels is switched from 1 to 2), a certain amount of time is required. Therefore, an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) or an access point (AP) within the AP MLD needs to add padding bits to the transmitted initial control frame, so that there is sufficient time for the non-AP MLD to switch the receiving channel after receiving the initial control frame. After receiving the content part of the initial control frame, the non-AP MLD can start the execution of the switching as long as the switching is completed before the subsequent data frame arrives. If the switching delay required by the non-AP MLD is longer, more padding bits need to be added to the initial control frame.

[0005] When the AP MLD or the AP within the AP MLD transmits the initial control frame, it is necessary to determine the padding duration so that the non-AP MLD can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives. However, currently, there is no corresponding solution for determining the padding duration. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0006] This application provides an information indication method and a communication device for accurately determining the padding duration of an initial control frame so that the non-AP MLD can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0007] According to a first aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD generates a first frame, where the first frame includes indication information, and the indication information indicates a padding duration for a channel switching delay in an initial control frame, and the padding duration is determined based on the duration of a control response frame; and a step in which the non-AP MLD or the first STA or another STA within the non-AP MLD transmits the first frame. In this aspect, the padding duration of the initial control frame can be accurately determined, so that the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0008] In one possible embodiment, the indication information is carried in an extended multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or an extended multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0009] In another possible embodiment, the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information. Each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates a padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. In this embodiment, the non-AP MLD or the non-AP STA can transmit a plurality of pieces of indication information to the AP MLD or the AP. Each piece of indication information indicates a padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. The AP MLD or the AP can determine the corresponding padding duration of the initial control frame based on the actual transmission rate of the initial control frame.

[0010] In another possible embodiment, the method further includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines the duration of the control response frame.

[0011] In another possible implementation, the method further includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines a minimum value of the duration of a control response frame. In this implementation, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame is the minimum duration of the control response frame. The non-AP MLD or the first STA determines the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame. Therefore, a maximum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame can be determined, and the delay required to switch the corresponding number of transmission channels of the first STA can be satisfied.

[0012] In another possible implementation, the step of determining the duration of the control response frame includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines the rate of the control response frame, and a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. In this implementation, the length of the control response frame is associated with the format of the control response frame, and the duration of the control response frame = the length of the control response frame / the rate of the control response frame.

[0013] In another possible implementation, the step of determining the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame, and a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD determines the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. In this implementation, the length of the control response frame is associated with the format of the control response frame, and the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame = the length of the control response frame / the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. In this embodiment, the basic service set basic rate set includes one or more basic rates that can be supported by the first STA. The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. Thus, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame can be obtained based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame, and the minimum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame can be determined. The maximum rate of the initial control frame is variable.

[0015] In another possible embodiment, when the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set. In this embodiment, the maximum rate of the initial control frame can be fixed at 24 Mbps. The basic service set basic rate set includes one or more basic rates that can be supported by the first STA. The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to 24 Mbps. Thus, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame can be obtained based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame, and the minimum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame can be determined.

[0016] In another possible embodiment, the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0017] In another possible embodiment, the maximum value of the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

[0018] In another possible embodiment, the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at the maximum rate, or the padding duration is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at 24 Mbps, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at any rate, or the padding duration is the maximum value of the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at all rates.

[0019] According to a second aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method includes: a step in which an AP MLD or a first AP or another AP within the AP MLD receives a first frame, the first frame includes indication information, the indication information indicates a padding duration required for a channel switching delay in an initial control frame, and the padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame; and a step in which the AP MLD or the first AP determines the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0020] In one possible embodiment, the indication information is carried in the extended multi-link single radio delay field and / or the extended multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0021] In another possible embodiment, the first frame includes a plurality of indication information. Each of the plurality of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. The step in which the first AP determines the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the first frame includes the step of determining the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0022] In another possible embodiment, the duration of the control response frame is determined based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0023] In another possible embodiment, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame is determined based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0024] In another possible embodiment, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

[0025] In another possible embodiment, when the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set.

[0026] In another possible embodiment, the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0027] In another possible embodiment, the maximum value of the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

[0028] In another possible implementation, the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at the maximum rate, or the padding duration is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at 24 Mbps, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at any rate, or the padding duration is the maximum value of the padding durations required when the initial control frame is transmitted at all rates.

[0029] According to a third aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method includes a step in which a non-AP MLD or a first STA within the non-AP MLD generates a first frame, where the first frame includes indication information, and the indication information indicates a delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value, and a step in which the non-AP MLD or the first STA or another STA within the non-AP MLD transmits the first frame. In this aspect, the non-AP MLD or the first STA within the non-AP MLD indicates the delay required by the AP to switch the corresponding number of transmission channels, so that as a result, the AP satisfies the delay when setting the padding duration of the initial control frame, and the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the indication information is carried in the extended multi-link single radio delay field and / or the extended multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0031] According to a fourth aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method includes a step in which an AP MLD or a first AP or another AP within the AP MLD receives a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information indicating a delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of a first STA from a first value to a second value, and a step in which the first AP determines a padding duration of an initial control frame, the padding duration of the initial control frame being determined based on the delay.

[0032] In one possible embodiment, the padding duration is associated with the delay, a first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, a second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0033] In another possible embodiment, the duration of the control response frame is associated with the rate of the control response frame.

[0034] In another possible embodiment, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the rate of the initial control frame.

[0035] In another possible embodiment, the sum of the padding duration and the first inter-frame space is greater than the processing delay of the initial control frame.

[0036] According to a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device can implement the information indication method according to the first aspect. For example, the communication device may be a chip, a non-AP MLD, or a non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD. The foregoing method can be implemented by software, hardware, or hardware that executes corresponding software.

[0037] In one possible embodiment, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to generate a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates a padding duration required for a channel switching delay in an initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of a control response frame. The transceiver unit is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0038] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine the duration of a control response frame.

[0039] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine a minimum value of the duration of a control response frame.

[0040] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine the rate of a control response frame and determine the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0041] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine a maximum value of the rate of a control response frame and determine a minimum value of the duration of the control response frame based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0042] When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a non-AP STA and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is disposed in the non-AP STA, and a plurality of non-AP STAs may share one processing unit. When the communication device is a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0043] According to the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may implement the information indication method according to the second aspect. For example, the communication device may be a chip, an AP MLD, or an AP within the AP MLD. The aforementioned method may be implemented by software, hardware, or hardware that executes the corresponding software.

[0044] In one possible embodiment, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is configured to receive a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame. The processing unit is configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0045] Optionally, the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information. Each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. The processing unit is further configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0046] When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes an AP and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is disposed within the AP, and a plurality of APs may share one processing unit. When the communication device is an AP within the AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0047] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may implement the information indication method according to the third aspect. For example, the communication device may be a chip, a non-AP MLD, or a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD. The foregoing method may be implemented by software, hardware, or hardware that executes corresponding software.

[0048] In one possible embodiment, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to generate a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates a delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value. The transceiver unit is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0049] When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a non-AP STA and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is disposed in the non-AP STA, and a plurality of non-AP STAs may share one processing unit. When the communication device is a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0050] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may implement the information indication method according to the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device may be a chip, an AP MLD, or an AP within an AP MLD. The foregoing method may be implemented by software, hardware, or hardware that executes corresponding software.

[0051] In another possible embodiment, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is configured to receive a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates a delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value. The processing unit is configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame. The padding duration of the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0052] When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes an AP and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is disposed within the AP, and multiple APs may share one processing unit. When the communication device is an AP within the AP MLD, the communication device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit.

[0053] In one possible embodiment, the communication device of the fifth to eighth embodiments includes a processor coupled to a memory. The processor is configured to support the device when executing the corresponding functions in the foregoing information indication method. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to store programs (instructions) required for the device and / or data required for the device. Optionally, the communication device may further include a communication interface configured to support communication between the device and another network element. Optionally, the memory may be disposed inside or outside the communication device.

[0054] In another possible implementation, the communication devices according to the fifth to eighth aspects include a processor and a transceiver device. The processor is coupled to the transceiver device. The processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions to control the transceiver device to transmit and receive information. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions, the processor is further configured to implement the foregoing method by using a logic circuit or executing code instructions. The transceiver device may be a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or an input / output interface, and is configured to receive a signal from a communication device other than the present communication device and transmit the signal to the processor, or transmit a signal from the processor to a communication device other than the present communication device. When the communication device is a chip, the transceiver device is a transceiver circuit or an input / output interface.

[0055] When the communication device according to the fifth to eighth aspects is a chip, the transmitting unit may be an output unit, such as an output circuit or a communication interface, and the receiving unit may be an input unit, such as an input circuit or a communication interface. When the communication device is a terminal, the transmitting unit may be a transmitter, i.e., a transceiver, and the receiving unit may be a receiver, i.e., a receiver.

[0056] According to the ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the method of the foregoing aspect is implemented.

[0057] According to the tenth aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device is capable of executing the method of the foregoing aspect.

[0058] According to the eleventh aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a communication device according to the fifth aspect and a communication device according to the sixth aspect.

[0059] According to the 12th aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a communication device according to the 7th aspect and a communication device according to the 8th aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0060]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0061] The following describes embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0062] The following explains some basic concepts in the present application.

[0063] Multi-link device (MLD) The multi-link device may simultaneously execute communications in bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, or may simultaneously execute communications in different channels of the same band. This improves the communication speed between devices.

[0064] The multi-link device usually includes a plurality of stations (STA). Each STA operates in a specific frequency band or channel. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a multi-link device. The multi-link device may be an AP MLD100 or a non-AP MLD200. When the device is an AP MLD, the device includes one or more APs (for example, APs 1 to APn in the figure), and each STA in the AP MLD is an AP. When the device is a non-AP MLD, the device includes one or more non-AP STAs (for example, STAs 1 to STAn in the figure), and each STA in the non-AP MLD is a non-AP STA. One or more non-AP STAs in the non-AP MLD and one or more APs in the AP MLD can communicate after establishing an association relationship.

[0065] In one embodiment, each non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver unit / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations in this application, such as operations like generation and determination. The transceiver unit / transceiver is located within the AP MLD or in the AP MLD and is configured to communicate with the AP associated with the non-AP STA. Therefore, the non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD may perform the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0066] In another embodiment, each non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD includes only a transceiver unit / transceiver, the non-AP MLD includes a processing unit / processor, and all non-AP STAs within the non-AP MLD may share the processing unit / processor. Therefore, the non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD may perform the transmission / reception operations in this application, and the non-AP MLD may perform the processing operations in this application.

[0067] In another embodiment, the non-AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver unit / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations in this application, such as operations like generation and determination. The transceiver unit / transceiver is configured to communicate with the AP MLD. Therefore, the non-AP MLD may perform the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0068] For the sake of clear and simple description, this application is described using an example where the non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD performs the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0069] In one embodiment, each AP in the AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver unit / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations in this application, such as operations like making decisions. The transceiver unit / transceiver is configured to communicate with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA associated with the AP that is within the non-AP MLD. Thus, the APs in the AP MLD may perform the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0070] In another embodiment, each AP in the AP MLD includes only a transceiver unit / transceiver, the AP MLD includes a processing unit / processor, and all the APs in the AP MLD may share the processing unit / processor. Thus, the APs in the AP MLD may perform the transmission / reception operations in this application, and the AP MLD may perform the processing operations in this application.

[0071] In another embodiment, the AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver unit / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations in this application, such as operations like making decisions. The transceiver unit / transceiver is configured to communicate with the non-AP MLD. Thus, the AP MLD may perform the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0072] For the sake of clear and simple explanation, this application is described using an example where the APs in the AP MLD perform the processing and transmission / reception operations in this application.

[0073] Extended Multi-Link Operation In extended multi-link operation, the non-AP MLD may monitor multiple links. After an initial control frame transmitted to the non-AP MLD is received on a link, the receive channel on another link may be switched to the link, and as a result, after the initial control frame is received, data frames may be received at a higher rate.

[0074] Enhanced multi-link operation includes enhanced multi-link single-radio (EMLSR) operation and enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) operation. In EMLSR operation, a non-AP MLD can monitor multiple links, but can perform data communication on only one link. In EMLMR operation, a non-AP MLD can monitor multiple links and can also perform data communication on multiple links. The common point is that the number of receiving channels during monitoring is A, the number of receiving channels during data transmission is B, and B is greater than A.

[0075] The solution of this application is mainly applied to wireless local area networks. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system in this application includes an AP MLD 100 and a non-AP MLD 200. One or more non-AP STAs within the non-AP MLD 200 and one or more APs within the AP MLD can communicate after establishing an association relationship.

[0076] It should be noted that the terms "system" and "network" can be used interchangeably in the embodiments of this application. "A plurality of" means two or more. Considering this, "a plurality of" can also be understood as "at least two" in the embodiments of this application. The term "and / or" describes the relationship for explaining related objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 1, the time during which the non-AP MLD can switch the transmission channel includes the padding duration of the initial control frame, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the duration occupied by the control response frame, and the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame. However, the duration occupied by the control response frame depends on the transmission rate of the initial control frame. Therefore, before receiving the initial control frame, the STA cannot determine the duration occupied by the control response frame, and thus cannot determine the padding duration of the initial control frame.

[0078] One embodiment of the present application provides a solution for information indication. The first STA within the non-AP MLD generates a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay within the initial control frame, and the padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame, or the indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels from the first number of channels to the second number of channels, or the indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from the first value to the second value. The non-AP MLD or the first STA or another STA within the non-AP MLD transmits the first frame. The AP MLD or the first AP or another AP within the AP MLD receives the first frame and determines the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information. Based on the above solution, the padding duration of the initial control frame can be accurately determined, and as a result, the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0079] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an information indication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes the following steps.

[0080] S101: The first STA generates a first frame.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the number of transmission channels is switched from 1 to 2. Before the switch, both the non-AP STA1 on link 1 and the non-AP STA2 on link 2 have the ability to receive one spatial stream, or both the non-AP STA1 and the non-AP STA2 have one transmission channel. In this application, the transmission channel may also be referred to as a transmission channel, a transmission module, a spatial stream, etc. The AP1 on link 1 transmits an initial control frame to the non-AP STA1. The initial control frame includes a content part and a padding part (i.e., padding bits). After receiving the content part of the initial control frame transmitted by the AP1, the non-AP STA1 may start to execute the switch as long as the switch is completed before the subsequent data frame arrives. The non-AP STA1 starts to execute the switch. In this case, the non-AP STA2 switches the transmission module to link 1, and link 2 loses its transmission ability. Of course, this is for the EMLSR. For the EMLMR, the non-AP STA2 may have multiple transmission modules. After one transmission module is switched to the non-AP STA1, the non-AP STA2 may further perform data communication using another transmission module.

[0082] After receiving the content part of the initial control frame transmitted by AP1, non-AP STA1 can start to execute the switching. Therefore, the time during which non-AP STA1 can switch the transmission channel includes the padding duration of the initial control frame transmitted by AP1, the first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration during which non-AP STA1 transmits the control response frame. The first inter-frame space and the second inter-frame space are short inter-frame spaces (SIFS). The short inter-frame space is generally 16 μs. Therefore, the key to determining the padding duration of the initial control frame is to determine the duration of the control response frame.

[0083] The step of determining the duration of the control response frame includes the step of determining the rate of the control response frame and the step of determining the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. Therefore, the padding duration of the initial control frame = switching delay - the first inter-frame space - the duration of the control response frame - the second inter-frame space. The switching delay can be set for the first STA before factory shipment. Optionally, the time that can be used to switch the transmission channel further includes a specific margin △. Therefore, the padding duration of the initial control frame = switching delay - the first inter-frame space - the duration of the control response frame - the second inter-frame space - △. The margin △ may be, for example, the preamble part of the data frame.

[0084] Furthermore, in order to maximize the switching delay, the maximum value of the padding duration can be determined. The maximum value of the padding duration is determined based on the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame. The minimum value of the duration of the control response frame may also be referred to as the minimum duration of the control response frame.

[0085] Specifically, the step in which the first STA determines the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame includes: determining the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame; and determining the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. Therefore, the maximum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame space - minimum value of the duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame space. The maximum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame is the padding duration of the initial control frame when the first AP transmits the initial control frame at the maximum rate. Optionally, the time that can be used to switch the transmission channel further includes a specific margin △. Therefore, the maximum value of the padding duration of the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame space - minimum value of the duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame space - △.

[0086] Regarding the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame, in one embodiment, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the highest rate within the Basic Service Set Basic Rate Set (BSSBasicRateSet) that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. The BSSBasicRateSet is a parameter broadcast by the AP MLD before the link is established. The AP MLD notifies non-AP MLDs that want to establish a link with the AP MLD by broadcasting. If a non-AP MLD has the ability to receive data when the AP MLD transmits data at any rate within the BSSBasicRateSet, the non-AP MLD may establish a link with the AP MLD. The rates included in the BSSBasicRateSet may be, for example, {6, 12, 24, 48}. The maximum rate of the initial control frame may be variable. The maximum rate of the initial control frame does not exceed the highest rate in the BSSBasicRateSet. For example, if the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is 24. In another example, if the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 12, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is 12.

[0087] In another embodiment, the maximum rate of the initial control frame is a fixed value, for example, 24 Mbps. Therefore, the maximum rate of the control response frame = min{24 Mbps, the highest rate in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter}. For example, if the highest rate in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is 48, the maximum rate of the control response frame = min{24 Mbps, 48 Mbps}. In other words, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is 24 Mbps.

[0088] In addition, the duration of the control response frame is further associated with the format of the control response frame. Therefore, based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame, the format of the control response frame, and the length of the control response frame, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame can be determined.

[0089] In one embodiment, when the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, the control response frame is a CTS frame. The MU-RTS frame is one type of trigger frame. When the value of the trigger type in the trigger frame is 3, it indicates that the trigger frame is a MU-RTS frame. The format of the MU-RTS frame is shown in FIG. 4. The MU-RTS frame includes fields of frame control, duration, receiving address (RA), transmitting address (TA), common information, user info list, padding, and frame check sequence (FCS). The common information field further includes a plurality of fields. The user info list field includes one or more pieces of user information.

[0090] In the common information field, the following fields are reserved fields (not used in the MU-RTS frame): uplink length, guard interval and long training field type (GI and LTF type), multi-user multi-input multi-output long training field mode (MU-MIMO LTF mode), number of high-efficiency long training field symbols and midamble periodicity, uplink space-time block code (UL STBC), low-density parity-check code extra symbol segment, access point transmission power (AP TX power), pre-forward error correction padding factor, packet extension ambiguity (PE disambiguity), uplink spatial reuse, Doppler, and reserved uplink high-efficiency signal field A2 (UL HE-SIG-A2 reserved).

[0091] In the user information field, the following fields are reserved fields: uplink high-efficiency modulation and coding scheme (UL HE-MCS), uplink FEC coding type, uplink dual carrier modulation (UL DCM), synchronization offset allocation / random access RU information (SS allocation / RA-RU information), and uplink target received signal strength indicator (UL target RSSI).

[0092] The initial control frame includes a content part and padding bits. After a non-AP STA receives user information within the initial control frame transmitted by an AP and the content of the previous fields (including fields such as the frame control, duration, receiver address, transmitter address, and common information), the non-AP STA is considered to have received the content part of the initial control frame. The padding bits of the initial control frame include another user information part and a padding field within the initial control frame. In particular, the FCS field may be considered as part of the content of the initial control frame or as part of the padding bits of the initial control frame.

[0093] When the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, the control response frame is a CTS frame. The format of the transmitted CTS frame can be a non-HT or non-HT duplicate format. The frame format of the non-HT PPDU is shown in FIG. 5. The CTS frame includes fields for a physical layer preamble, a signal, and data. The physical layer preamble occupies 12 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, the signal occupies 1 OFDM symbol, and the number of OFDM symbols occupied by the data is variable. It takes 20 μs to transmit the physical layer preamble field and the signal field. The data field includes a 16-bit service field, an 112-bit (i.e., 14-byte) PSDU field, and a 6-bit tail field, for a total of 16 + 112 + 6 = 134 bits. The frame structure of the CTS frame is shown in FIG. 6. The physical layer service data unit (PSDU) includes a frame control field, a duration field, a receiving address (RA) field, and an FCS field. The four fields occupy 2 bytes, 2 bytes, 6 bytes, and 4 bytes respectively, for a total of 14 bytes occupied. For example, when the rate of the control response frame is 24 Mbps, the duration required to transmit 134 bits is 134 / 24 = 5.583 μs. Since the length of the data portion (i.e., the data field) needs to be an integer multiple of 4 μs, the length of the data field is actually 8 μs. In a specific implementation, bits are added to the pad bit field to reach 8 μs. Therefore, the duration of the control response frame is 20 + 8 = 28 μs.As another example, when the rate of the control response frame is 6 Mbps, the duration required to transmit 134 bits is 134 / 6 = 22.33 μs, and it needs to be aligned to 24 μs. Therefore, the total duration is 20 + 24 = 44 μs.

[0094] In another embodiment, when the initial control frame is a BSRP frame, the control response frame is a QoS-Null frame. The frame structure of the BSRP frame is the same as that of the MU-RTS frame. Please refer to FIG. 4. When the value of the trigger type in the trigger frame is 4, it indicates that the trigger frame is a BSRP frame. In addition, the fields reserved in the MU-RTS frame are used in the BSRP frame and are no longer reserved fields. The format of the QoS-Null frame is shown in FIG. 7. The QoS-Null frame includes fields of frame control, duration, address 1, address 2, address 3, sequence control, address 4, quality of service control (QoS control), high throughput control (HT control), and frame check sequence (FCS). The QoS-Null frame needs to be transmitted in the HE TB PPDU format or the EHT TB PPDU format. The preambles of both formats are long, and the preamble part exceeds 50 μs. Therefore, when the control response frame is a QoS-Null frame, the duration of the QoS-Null frame is longer than the duration of the control response frame which is a CTS frame, and the requirement for the padding duration of the initial control frame is lower. Therefore, in this embodiment, an example where the control response frame is a CTS frame can be used to report the padding duration of the initial control frame.

[0095] After determining the padding duration of the initial control frame, the first STA may generate the first frame.

[0096] In one embodiment, the first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration of the channel switching delay within the initial control frame. Optionally, the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at the maximum rate, or the padding duration is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at 24 Mbps, or the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at any rate, or the padding duration is the maximum value of the padding durations required when the initial control frame is transmitted at all rates.

[0097] Specifically, in one example, the relationship between one or more padding durations and the indication information can be predefined or pre-negotiated by the first STA and the first AP. This relationship is described in Table 1 below.

[0098] [Table 1]

[0099] According to Table 1, when the indication information is the first value, it indicates that the padding duration is 0 μs; when the indication information is the second value, it indicates that the padding duration is 32 μs or less; when the indication information is the third value, it indicates that the padding duration is 64 μs or less. The rest can be inferred by analogy.

[0100] In another example, the relationship between one or more padding durations and the indication information can be predefined or pre-negotiated by the first STA and the first AP. This relationship is described in Table 2 below.

[0101] [Table 2]

[0102] In another embodiment, the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information. Each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame.

[0103] For example, the first STA transmits the first frame to the first AP. The first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information.

[0104] The first piece of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 6 Mbps.

[0105] The second piece of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 12 Mbps.

[0106] The third piece of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 24 Mbps.

[0107] Based on Table 1, the first STA can determine which piece of indication information indicates the padding duration of a different initial control frame. For example, if the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 6 Mbps is greater than 0 μs and less than or equal to 32 μs, it indicates the first piece of indication information. If the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 12 Mbps is greater than 32 μs and less than or equal to 64 μs, it indicates the second piece of indication information. If the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 24 Mbps is greater than 64 μs and less than or equal to 96 μs, it indicates the third piece of indication information.

[0108] S102: The first STA transmits the first frame. Correspondingly, the first AP associated with the first STA receives the first frame.

[0109] The first frame contains indication information. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary format of the first frame. The first frame includes fields for frame control, duration, receiver address, transmitter address, frame body, and frame check sequence. The frame body further includes fields such as a multi-link element. The multi-link element field further includes fields for element identifier, length, element ID extension, multi-link control, common information, and user information. The common information field further includes fields such as extended multi-link single radio delay (EMLSR delay) and / or extended multi-link multi-radio delay (EMLMR delay). The indication information can be carried in the EMLSR delay field and / or the EMLMR delay field.

[0110] When the first frame contains multiple pieces of indication information, the multiple pieces of indication information may alternatively be carried in fields other than the EMLSR delay field and / or the EMLMR delay field.

[0111] S103: The first AP determines the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0112] The first AP receives the first frame and analyzes the indication information from the first frame. The padding duration of the initial control frame can be determined based on the indication information.

[0113] In the foregoing embodiment, the first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration of the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. In this case, the first AP may determine the padding duration indicated by the indication information based on a pre-stored relationship between one or more padding durations shown in Table 1 and the indication information. For example, when the indication information is a second value, the first AP may determine, according to Table 1, that the maximum value of the padding duration indicated by the indication information is 32 μs.

[0114] In the foregoing embodiment, the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information. Each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. In this case, after receiving the plurality of pieces of indication information, the first AP may determine the padding duration based on the transmission rate of the initial control frame. For example, assuming that the rate of the initial control frame actually used by the first AP is 12 Mbps, it may be determined that the maximum value of the padding duration corresponding to the rate is 64 μs.

[0115] Furthermore, after determining the padding duration of the initial control frame, the first AP may fill the initial control frame with corresponding bits and transmit the initial control frame.

[0116] Furthermore, after the first STA receives the initial control frame transmitted at the maximum rate and sends a reply to the control response frame, and after the second frame space, the first STA has the ability to receive a data frame via a second number of transmission channels; or, after the first STA receives the initial control frame transmitted at any rate and sends a reply to the control response frame, and after the SIFS, the first STA needs to have the ability to communicate via a second number of transmission channels.

[0117] Since the padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame, when the first AP transmits the initial control frame, regardless of which rate is used, the first STA can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0118] Furthermore, after receiving the data frame, the first STA transmits an acknowledgment (ACK) / block-ACK frame to the first AP. After the first STA determines that the transmission opportunity (TXOP) on Link 1 has ended, the second STA may switch back to the original transmission module to restore the transmission ability.

[0119] According to the information indication method provided in this embodiment of the present application, the non-AP STA generates a first frame. The first frame includes indication information for indicating the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame and / or the maximum rate of the initial control frame. The non-AP STA transmits the first frame. The AP receives the first frame. The first AP determines the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information. Therefore, the padding duration of the initial control frame can be accurately determined, and as a result, the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0120] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of another information indication method according to an embodiment of the present application. This method may include the following steps.

[0121] S201: The first STA generates a first frame.

[0122] The first frame includes the first indication information.

[0123] In one embodiment, the first indication information indicates a first delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value. For example, in FIG. 1, the number of the first channels is 1, the number of the second channels is 2, and the first indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels from 1 to 2. The first delay may be a value pre-set in the first STA before factory shipment.

[0124] The correspondence between one or more switching delays and the first indication information may be pre-defined. The correspondence may be described in Table 1 or Table 2. For example, when the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value is 32 μs, the corresponding first indication information is the second value. When the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value is 64 μs, the corresponding first indication information is the third value.

[0125] The first STA generates a first frame. The first frame includes the first indication information. Specifically, the format of the first frame may be shown in FIG. 8. The first indication information may be carried in the EMLSR delay field and / or the EMLMR delay field.

[0126] In another embodiment, the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information. The first indication information indicates a first delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value. The second indication information indicates a second delay required to switch the number of transmission channels from the second number of channels to the first number of channels, that is, the delay required for the first STA to switch back to the first number of channels after receiving the data frame.

[0127] In yet another embodiment, the first frame includes a third indication information. The third indication information indicates a larger value between the first delay and the second delay, that is, max{the first delay, the second delay}.

[0128] S202: The first STA transmits the first frame. Correspondingly, the first AP receives the first frame.

[0129] The first AP receives the first frame, analyzes the aforementioned field in the first frame, and obtains the first delay.

[0130] S203: The first AP determines the padding duration of the initial control frame, and the padding duration of the initial control frame is determined based on the first delay.

[0131] After obtaining the first indication information, the first AP may determine the padding duration based on the first delay.

[0132] Specifically, when the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, the determined padding duration is Padding duration = First delay - 2 × SIFS - Duration of the control response frame including.

[0133] The duration of the control response frame is determined based on the rate of the control response frame. The rate of the control response frame is determined based on the rate of the initial control frame and the BSSBasicRateSet parameter. Specifically, the rate of the control response frame is within the BSSBasicRateSet and is the highest rate below the rate of the initial control frame, that is, min{Rate of the initial control frame, Highest rate in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter}.

[0134] After the rate of the control response frame is determined, the duration of the control response frame is the duration required to transmit the control response frame at the rate of the control response frame.

[0135] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between the padding duration of the trigger frame and the processing delay. When the initial control frame is a BSRP frame, the padding duration is determined, and the sum of the padding duration and the first frame space must be greater than the processing delay of the trigger frame (the initial control frame in this specification). The padding duration = max{the processing delay of the trigger frame, the switching delay - 2×SIFS - the duration of the control response frame}.

[0136] Furthermore, after receiving the data frame, the first STA transmits an acknowledgment (ACK) / block acknowledgment (block-ACK) frame to the first AP. After the first STA determines that the transmission opportunity on Link 1 has ended, the second STA may switch back to the original transmission module to restore the transmission ability. After the second delay ends, the second AP transmits a frame, for example, an initial control frame, to the second STA on Link 2 to start the next transmission. In other words, before the second delay ends, the second AP cannot transmit a frame to the second STA on Link 2.

[0137] According to the information indication method provided in this embodiment of the present application, the first STA generates a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the first STA from the first value to the second value. The first STA transmits the first frame. The first AP receives the first frame and can accurately determine the padding duration of the initial control frame. As a result, the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0138] Regarding the problems that occurred in the background art of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide another method and apparatus for determining the padding duration.

[0139] First, two types of initial control frames are described.

[0140] When the initial control frame transmitted by the AP in the AP MLD or the AP MLD is the second initial control frame, for example, the MU-RTS, the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD returns a CTS frame and transmits the CTS frame in the non-HT or non-HT duplicate format. Two formats of CTS frames are used. The non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD does not need to complete the channel number switching. In other words, the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD may switch the channel number within the transmission time of the control response frame (here, the CTS frame).

[0141] When the initial control frame is the first initial control frame, for example, the Trigger frame, the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD returns a HE TB PPDU or an EHT TB PPDU. There is a high requirement for the ability to transmit PPDUs in two formats. The non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD needs to complete the channel number switching before transmitting the control response frame (here, the HE TB PPDU or the EHT TB PPDU). When the initial control frames are different (or when the frame formats of the control response frames are different), it can be seen that the required padding durations of the initial control frames are also different. In one embodiment, the first initial control frame is the BSRP Trigger frame.

[0142] Therefore, one embodiment of this application provides a method for determining the padding duration.

[0143] Method 1: S1001: The non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD reports a first duration, and the first duration is the padding duration that needs to be included in the first initial control frame (or the first duration is the larger or smaller value between the padding duration that needs to be included in the first initial control frame and the padding duration that needs to be included in the second initial control frame).

[0144] S1002: When the AP MLD or the AP within the AP MLD transmits the first initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD, the first initial control frame includes padding bits, and the padding duration is the first duration reported in S1001.

[0145] S1003: When the AP MLD or the AP within the AP MLD transmits the second initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD, the second initial control frame includes padding bits, and the padding duration is the second duration, and the second duration is determined based on the first duration. For example, the second duration is the first duration minus (or plus) a fixed time. For example, the fixed time may be 60 μs, or the fixed time may be another value specified by the standard, or the fixed time may be transmitted by the non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD to the AP MLD or the AP within the AP MLD.

[0146] In this method, alternatively, the first duration is the padding duration that needs to be added to the initial control frame when the non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD replies with the first frame format, and the second duration is the padding duration that needs to be added to the initial control frame when the non-AP MLD or the STA within the non-AP MLD replies with the second frame format.

[0147] The second frame format may be a non-HT format or a non-HT duplicate format.

[0148] The first frame format may be a HE TB format or an EHT TB format.

[0149] Method 2: S2001: The STA within the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD reports the first duration and the second duration. The first duration is the padding duration that needs to be included in the first initial control frame, and the second duration is the padding duration that needs to be included in the second initial control frame.

[0150] S2002: When the AP within the AP MLD or AP MLD transmits the first initial control frame to the STA within the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD, the first initial control frame includes padding bits, and the padding duration is the first duration reported in S2001.

[0151] S2003: When the AP within the AP MLD or AP MLD transmits the second initial control frame to the STA within the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD, the second initial control frame includes padding bits, and the padding duration is the second duration reported in S2001.

[0152] Method 3: S3001: The STA within the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD reports the switching delay. The switching delay is the switching delay required to switch the STA from the first channel number to the second channel number.

[0153] S3002: The AP within the AP MLD or AP MLD determines the length of the padding bits that need to be added to the initial control frame based on the type of the initial control frame.

[0154] S3003: The AP in the AP MLD or the AP MLD transmits an initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD, and the length of the padding bits added to the initial control frame is determined in S3002.

[0155] Possible embodiments of S3002 include the following.

[0156] For the first initial control frame, the duration of the padding bits = switching delay - 16 μs.

[0157] For the second initial control frame, the duration of the padding bits = switching delay - 76 μs.

[0158] The first initial control frame may be a BSRP Trigger frame, and the second initial control frame may be a MU-RTS frame.

[0159] Alternatively, S3002 may be replaced as follows: The AP in the AP MLD or the AP MLD determines the length of the padding bits that need to be added to the initial control frame based on the frame format of the control response frame that the STA expects a reply for. When the AP transmits the first frame format to the STA, the padding duration = switching delay - 76 μs. When the AP transmits the second frame format to the STA, the padding duration = switching delay - 16 μs. The first frame format may be a non-HT format or a non-HT duplicate format. The second frame format may be a HE TB format or an EHT TB format.

[0160] Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus capable of implementing the foregoing method. The apparatus is configured to implement any one of the foregoing methods. The apparatus may have multiple product forms. For specific product forms, refer to the types described below in the present application. Details will not be described again here.

[0161] The method provided in the embodiment of the present application has been described above. To implement this method, it will be understood that a communication device (for example, an AP, a non-AP STA, an AP MLD, or a non-AP MLD) includes a corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing this method. Those skilled in the art can recognize that the present application can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0162] The communication device provided in this embodiment of the present application can be divided into functional modules based on the foregoing method. For example, the communication device may correspond to the functional modules of each step of the method, or two or more steps may be integrated into one functional module. The foregoing functional modules may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, the division into functional modules is only an example and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, another division method may be used. Hereinafter, an example in which each step corresponds to one functional module will be used for the sake of explanation.

[0163] FIG. 11 is a possible schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device. The communication device 1000 includes a processing unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12.

[0164] In one embodiment, the communication device may be a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD. The processing unit 11 is configured to generate a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0165] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine the duration of the control response frame.

[0166] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

[0167] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine the rate of the control response frame and determine the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0168] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and determine the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0169] In another embodiment, the communication device may be an AP MLD or an AP within the AP MLD. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive the first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame. The processing unit 11 is configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0170] Optionally, the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information. Each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame. The processing unit 11 is further configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0171] In another embodiment, the communication device may be a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA within the non-AP MLD. The processing unit 11 is configured to generate a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0172] In another embodiment, the communication device may be an AP MLD or an AP within the AP MLD. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value. The processing unit 11 is configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame. The padding duration of the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0173] FIG. 12 is a possible schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device. The communication device 2000 may be a non-AP MLD. The communication device 2000 includes a first STA and a processing unit 22. The communication device 2000 may further include more non-AP STAs. The first STA includes a transceiver unit 21.

[0174] In one embodiment, the processing unit 22 of the non-AP MLD generates a first frame, the first frame includes indication information, the indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame, and the padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame; and is configured to transmit the first frame to the transceiver unit 21 of the first STA. The transceiver unit 21 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0175] In another embodiment, the processing unit 22 of the non-AP MLD generates a first frame, the first frame includes indication information, the indication information indicates the delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value; and is configured to transmit the first frame to the transceiver unit 21 of the first STA. The transceiver unit 21 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0176] FIG. 13 is a possible schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device. The communication device 3000 may be an AP MLD. The communication device 3000 includes a first AP and a processing unit 32. The first AP includes a transceiver unit 31. The communication device 300 may further include more APs.

[0177] In one embodiment, the transceiver unit 31 is configured to receive a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates the padding duration required for the channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The padding duration is determined based on the duration of the control response frame. The transceiver unit 31 is further configured to transmit the first frame to the AP MLD. Accordingly, the processing unit 32 in the AP MLD is configured to determine the padding duration of the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0178] In another embodiment, the transceiver unit 31 is configured to receive a first frame. The first frame includes indication information. The indication information indicates a delay required to switch the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value. The transceiver unit 31 is further configured to transmit the first frame to the AP MLD. Accordingly, the processing unit 32 in the AP MLD determines the padding duration of the initial control frame. The padding duration of the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0179] For example, when the transmitting end has the structure shown in FIG. 12, correspondingly, the receiving end may have the structure shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 13. When the receiving end has the structure shown in FIG. 13, correspondingly, the transmitting end may have the structure shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12.

[0180] FIG. 14 is a structural diagram of a possible product form of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 14 is a specific form of the communication device shown in FIG. 11.

[0181] In one possible product form, the communication device may be an information transmission device / information transmission substrate. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory. The processor is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 11 in FIG. 11. The transceiver is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 12 in FIG. 11.

[0182] In another possible product form, the communication device may be a chip. The communication device includes a processing circuit and a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage medium. The processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 11 in FIG. 11. The communication interface is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 12 in FIG. 11.

[0183] FIG. 15 is a structural diagram of a possible product form of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 15 is a specific form of the communication device shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13.

[0184] In one possible product form, the communication device may be an information transmission device / information transmission substrate. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory. The processor is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 22 in FIG. 12, and the transceiver is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 21 in FIG. 12. Alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 32 in FIG. 13, and the transceiver is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 31 in FIG. 13.

[0185] In another possible product form, the communication device may be a chip. The communication device includes a processing circuit and a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage medium. The processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 22 in FIG. 12, and the communication interface is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 21 in FIG. 12. Alternatively, the processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps executed by the processing unit 32 in FIG. 13, and the communication interface is configured to execute the method steps executed by the transceiver unit 31 in FIG. 13.

[0186] In another possible product form of the foregoing embodiments, the communication device may alternatively be implemented using one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, logic gates, individual hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits capable of performing the various functions described in this application.

[0187] The processor may be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or another programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The processor may implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described with reference to the content disclosed in this application. Alternatively, the processor may be a combination of processors implementing computing functions, for example, a combination of one or more microprocessors, or a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor. The bus may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus may be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used to represent the bus in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15, but this does not mean that only one bus or only one type of bus exists.

[0188] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps of the method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The program instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program instructions are executed, the steps of the method embodiments are executed. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.

[0189] According to one aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a readable storage medium. The readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed, a device (which may be a single-chip microcomputer, a chip, a controller, etc.) or a processor can execute the steps of the service instruction method provided in the present application.

[0190] According to one aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium. At least one processor of the device can read the computer-executable instructions from the computer-readable storage medium. At least one processor executes the computer-executable instructions, and as a result, the device executes the steps of the service instruction method provided in the present application.

[0191] For the sake of simplicity of description, those skilled in the art should clearly understand that for the detailed working processes of the aforementioned systems, devices, and units, reference should be made to the corresponding processes of the method embodiments described above. Details will not be described again here.

[0192] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, dividing into units is merely a logical function division, and in actual implementation, it may be divided in other ways. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. The displayed or considered mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be implemented via some interfaces. The indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be implemented in electronic form, mechanical form, or other forms.

[0193] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units. In other words, they may be located in one place or distributed among multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

[0194] All or part of the above embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted using a computer-readable storage medium. The computer instructions may be transmitted in a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, or microwave) manner from any website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center. The computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or a data center that integrates one or more usable media. The usable media may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, or an optical medium, such as a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state disk (SSD).

Description of Reference Numerals

[0195] 11 Processing Unit 12 Transceiver Unit 21 Transceiver Unit 22 Processing Unit 31 Transceiver Unit 32 Processing Unit 100 Access Point Multi-Link Device (AP MLD) 200 Non-Access Point Multi-Link Device (non-AP MLD) 1000 Communication Device 2000 Communication Device 3000 Communication Device

Claims

1. An information indication method, wherein the method comprises: a step of generating, by a communication device, a first frame, wherein the first frame includes indication information, the indication information indicates a padding duration required for channel switching delay in an initial control frame, the padding duration of the initial control frame is determined based on a duration of a control response frame that responds to the initial control frame, and the duration of the control response frame has a minimum value; a step of transmitting the first frame; An information indication method comprising the above.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication information is carried in an extended multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information, and each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame.

4. The method further comprises: a step of determining, by the communication device, the duration of the control response frame.

5. The step of determining, by the communication device, the duration of the control response frame comprises: a step of determining, by the communication device, a rate of the control response frame; and a step of determining, by the communication device, the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and a length of the control response frame. The method according to claim 4 comprising the above.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a highest rate equal to or lower than a maximum rate of the initial control frame within a basic service set basic rate set.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a smaller value between 24 Mbps and the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, a first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, a second inter-frame space between the control response frame and a data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at the maximum rate.

10. The padding duration is The method according to claim 1, wherein the padding duration is determined based on a minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control response frame is a CTS frame, and a format of the CTS frame is a non-HT format.

12. A communication device, wherein the device A processing unit configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information indicating a padding duration required for a channel switching delay in an initial control frame, the padding duration of the initial control frame being determined based on a duration of a control response frame that responds to the initial control frame, the duration of the control response frame having a minimum value; and A transceiver unit configured to transmit the first frame. A communication device comprising the above.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the indication information is carried in an extended multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the first frame includes a plurality of pieces of indication information, and each of the plurality of pieces of indication information indicates the padding duration of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame.

15. The processing unit is further configured to determine the duration of the control response frame. The device according to claim 12.

16. The processing unit Determines a rate of the control response frame, The device according to claim 12, further configured to determine the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and a length of the control response frame.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein a maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a highest rate below a maximum rate of the initial control frame within a basic service set basic rate set.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the highest rate within the basic service set basic rate set.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the padding duration is associated with the switching delay, a first inter-frame space between the initial control frame and the control response frame, a second inter-frame space between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the padding duration is the padding duration required when the initial control frame is transmitted at the maximum rate.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the padding duration is determined based on the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

22. The communication apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

23. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, wherein when the computer program or the instructions are executed by the communication apparatus, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented.

24. A chip system, comprising a processor, and a memory storing computer instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication apparatus comprising the chip system to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The chip system comprising the above.

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