Method, apparatus, and chip for establishing a multi-link connection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus, a device and a medium for establishing a multi-link connection in the field of communication technology. The method is performed by an access point multilink device, and includes: receiving a connection request frame sent from at least one station multilink device, each of the connection request frames including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the set of link MAC addresses including the link MAC addresses of the links to which the station multilink device requests to establish a connection; and sending a connection response frame to the at least one station multilink device according to the link MAC addresses in the connection request frame. The method, apparatus, device and medium can avoid the problem that the access point multilink device cannot distinguish link MAC addresses.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more particularly to a method, apparatus, device and medium for establishing a multi-link connection. [Background technology]

[0002] The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11be standard defines the ability to support multiple links. According to the definition of both ends of communication in IEEE 802.11, multiple links are established between a station (STA) multi-link device (MLD) and an access point (AP) MLD. The STA MLD and AP MLD can use the advantages of multi-links to transmit and receive data over multiple links to achieve benefits such as high throughput and low latency. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The embodiments of the present application relate to a method, apparatus, device and medium for establishing a multi-link connection that can avoid the problem that an access point multi-link device cannot distinguish link MAC addresses.

[0004] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a method for establishing a multilink connection, the method being performed by an access point multilink device, the method comprising:

[0005] receiving connection request frames transmitted from at least one station multilink device, each of said connection request frames respectively including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, said set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of links to which the station multilink device requests establishment of a connection;

[0006] transmitting a connection response frame to the at least one station multilink device based on a link MAC address in the connection request frame; Includes:

[0007] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a method for establishing a multi-link connection, the method being performed by a first station multi-link device, the method comprising:

[0008] sending a connection request frame to an access point multilink device, the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of links to which the first station multilink device requests establishment of a connection;

[0009] receiving a connection response frame transmitted from the access point multilink device, the connection response frame being transmitted based on the first set of link MAC addresses; Includes:

[0010] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a device for establishing a multi-link connection, the device comprising:

[0011] a first receiving module and a first transmitting module; The first receiving module is used to receive connection request frames sent from at least one station multi-link device, each of the connection request frames respectively including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, and the set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of links to which the station multi-link device requests to establish a connection;

[0012] The first sending module is used to send a connection response frame to the at least one station multi-link device based on a link MAC address in the connection request frame.

[0013] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a device for establishing a multi-link connection, the device comprising:

[0014] a second transmitting module and a second receiving module; The second transmitting module is used to transmit a connection request frame to an access point multilink device, the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including a link MAC address of a link to which the first station multilink device requests to establish a connection;

[0015] The second receiving module is used to receive a connection response frame sent from the access point multi-link device, and the connection response frame is sent based on the first set of link MAC addresses.

[0016] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-link device, the multi-link device including a processor and a transceiver connected to the processor,

[0017] The transceiver is used to receive connection request frames transmitted from at least one station multilink device, each of the connection request frames including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of links to which the station multilink device requests establishment of a connection;

[0018] The transceiver is used to transmit a connection response frame to the at least one station multilink device based on a link MAC address in the connection request frame.

[0019] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-link device, the multi-link device including a processor and a transceiver connected to the processor,

[0020] The transceiver is used to transmit a connection request frame to an access point multilink device, the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of links to which the first station multilink device requests establishment of a connection;

[0021] The transceiver is used to receive a connection response frame transmitted from the access point multi-link device, where the connection response frame is transmitted based on the first set of link MAC addresses.

[0022] Illustratively, the processor includes an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

[0023] Examples of the present application Some examplesAccording to the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and the computer program is used to realize the above-mentioned method for establishing a multi-link connection by being executed by a processor.

[0024] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, a chip is provided, the chip including a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, which, when the chip is operating, realizes the above-mentioned method for establishing a multi-link connection.

[0025] Examples of the present application Some examples According to the present invention, there is provided a computer program product or a computer program, the computer program product or the computer program including computer instructions, the computer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and a processor reading and executing the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, thereby realizing the method for establishing a multi-link connection. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly described below. The drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without making any inventive efforts.

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless local area network according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0028] [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-link connection between a station MLD and an access point MLD according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] [Figure 3]1 is a schematic diagram of a station MLD according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of establishing a multi-link connection between a station MLD and an access point MLD according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection request frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] [Figure 7] 2 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] [Figure 9] 2 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] [Figure 10] 2 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] [Figure 11] 2 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] [Figure 13]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] [Figure 18] 2 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] [Figure 19] 1 is a block diagram of a multi-link connection establishment device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] [Figure 20] 1 is a block diagram of a multi-link connection establishment device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] [Figure 21] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the following describes the embodiments of the present application in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0049] The network architectures and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can understand that with the evolution of network architectures and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to similar technical problems.

[0050] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), and other communication systems.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a wireless local area network according to one exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown, which may include a station (STA) MLD 10 and an access point (AP) MLD 20.

[0052] Here, a multi-link exists between the station MLD 10 and the access point MLD 20 .

[0053] The access point MLD 20 is a device deployed in a wireless local area network to provide wireless communication capabilities to the station MLD 10. The station MLD 10 may include a user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. As an option, the station MLD 10 may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, or a wearable device, although embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0054] In some scenarios, an AP may also be called an AP STA, that is, in a sense, an AP is also an STA.

[0055] In some scenarios, the STA is also called a non-AP STA (non-AP STA). The communication in the communication system may be communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, or communication between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA, or communication between a STA and a peer STA, where the peer STA refers to a device that communicates with the other side of the STA. For example, the peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0056] It should be understood that the role of an STA in a communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a non-AP STA, and when the mobile phone is used as a hotspot for other mobile phones, the mobile phone plays the role of an AP.

[0057] In the present embodiment, both the station MLD 10 and the access point MLD 20 support the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0058] In some embodiments, the non-AP STAs may support the 802.11be standard. The non-AP STAs may also support many current and future 802.11 family Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0059] In some embodiments, the AP may be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP may also be a device that supports many types of current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0060] In an embodiment of the present application, the STA may be a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless device in industrial control, a set-top box, a wireless device in self driving, an in-vehicle communication device, a wireless device in remote medical, a wireless device in a smart grid, a wireless device in transportation safety, a wireless device in a smart city, a wireless device in a smart home, a wireless communication chip / ASIC / SOC, etc. that supports WLAN / WiFi technology.

[0061] The AP and non-AP STA may be devices applied to the Internet of Vehicles, Internet of Things nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water meters, smart electricity meters, etc. in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0062] Before describing the technical solution of the present application, some technical knowledge related to the present application will be explained.

[0063] IEEE 802.11be defines a function that can support IEEE 802.11 multilink. According to the definition of both ends of communication in IEEE 802.11, one end is a station MLD and the other is an access point MLD. The station MLD and access point MLD that have established a multilink with each other can use the advantages of multilink to send and receive data over multiple links to achieve benefits such as high throughput and low latency.

[0064] In traditional single-link devices that support IEEE 802.11, each single-link device has a MAC (Medium Access Control) address, and this single-link device can be identified by this MAC address. In the MLD defined in IEEE 802.11be, since an MLD has multiple links, each link has an independent MAC address, and at the same time, one MLD has one MLD MAC address (multi-link device MAC address / device MAC address). Figure 2 is a reference model of the MLD defined in IEEE 802.11be. Figure 2 shows that there are two links, Link1 and Link2, between two MLDs (STA MLD and AP MLD / Non-AP MLD). In each MLD, in the MLD Lower MAC layer (the layer below the MAC layer / lower layer), each link has its own independent Link MAC Address, also called the WM (Wireless Medium) MAC Address. The link MAC address of the AP MLD in Link1 is w, the link MAC address of the AP MLD in Link2 is x, the link MAC address of the STA MLD in Link1 is y, and the link MAC address of the STA MLD in Link2 is z. At the same time, in the MLD Upper MAC layer (the layer above the MAC layer / upper layer), there is one MLD MAC Address. The multi-link device MAC address (also called the "device MAC address") of the AP MLD is M, and the device MAC address of the STA MLD is P.

[0065] MLD is divided into the MLD Lower MAC layer and the MLD Upper MAC layer. In MLD, some functions are independent for each link, i.e., link level functionality, and some functions are shared by all links, i.e., MLD level functionality (multi-link device level functionality). In this way, link level functionality can be identified by link MAC address, and MLD level functionality can be identified by MLD MAC address.

[0066] In IEEE 802.11be, different MLDs are identified using the MLD MAC address, but in the 802.11 frames that the MLD transmits on each link, they are identified using the Link / WM MAC address (Link / Wireless Media Access Control address) corresponding to that link. As shown in Figure 3, a STA MLD has three links, STA1 / STA2 / STA3, each of which has its own Link / WM MAC address, and the entire STA MLD is identified using the MLD MAC address.

[0067] In IEEE 802.11be, when a STA MLD and an AP MLD establish a multi-link connection, i.e., in the case of a multi-link setup between the STA MLD and the AP MLD, the connection status functions between these two MLDs, such as authentication, association, and reassociation, are MLD-level functionality and are identified by the MLD MAC address. In the case of a multi-link setup between the STA MLD and the AP MLD, the STA MLD and the AP MLD are allowed to perform the connection process on only one of the links, and the information exchanged during the connection process on this link is used to negotiate connection parameters on other links and establish link connections on those other links. For example, as shown in Figure 4, a multi-link setup process is performed on Link 1 between the STA MLD and the AP MLD. The STA MLD first sends an Association Request (connection request frame), and the connection request frame carries the MLD MAC address of the STA MLD, an indication of which link the STA MLD wants to establish a connection with the AP MLD, and the Link / WM MAC addresses of STA1 / 2 / 3 corresponding to the STA MLD on each link.After the AP MLD accepts the STA MLD multi-link connection request, the Association Response (connection response frame) returned to the STA MLD carries the MLD MAC address of the corresponding AP MLD and the Link / WM MAC addresses of AP1 / 2 / 3 corresponding to the AP MLD on each link.

[0068] As shown in Figure 5, this is part of the information carried in the Associate Request frame sent by the STA MLD, in which the MLD Level Information (multi-link device level information) related field carries the MLD MAC Address of the STA MLD, and the Link Level Information related field carries related information on each Link to which the STA MLD is expected to establish a connection, including the Link ID (link number) of the corresponding Link and the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on each Link, where Address is abbreviated as "ADDR".

[0069] As shown in Figure 6, this is part of the information carried by the Associate Response frame sent by the AP MLD. The MLD Level Information related field carries the MLD MAC address of the AP MLD, and also includes a Status Code indicating whether the AP MLD has accepted the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD. The Link Level Information related field carries related information on each link to which the STA MLD is expected to establish a connection. The related information includes the Link ID of the corresponding link and the Link MAC address corresponding to the AP MLD on each link, and also includes a Status Code indicating whether the AP MLD has accepted the STA MLD compatible connection request on each link.

[0070] In the current IEEE 802.11be, the AP MLD maintains an association state using the MLD MAC address of a STA MLD, but does not detect the Link / WM MAC addresses on each corresponding link in the STA MLD. As a result, the following occurs: there are two STA MLDs, STA MLD 0 and STA MLD 1, which have different MLD MAC addresses, but STA MLD 0 and STA MLD 1 have the same Link / WM MAC address on a given link.

[0071] As shown in Figure 7, STA MLDThe MLD MAC Address of STA MLD 0 is X, the Link MAC Address on Link 0 is A and the Link MAC Address on Link 1 is B, and the MLD MAC Address of STA MLD 1 is Y, the Link MAC Address on Link 0 is C and the Link MAC Address on Link 1 is also B. When STA MLD 0 first attempts to perform a multi-link connection setup with the AP MLD on Link 0, STA MLD 0 sends a connection request frame to the AP MLD, and the connection request frame carries the MLD MAC Address of STA MLD 0 = X. The AP MLD detects that an existing connection with MLD MAC Address = X is not currently recorded, so the AP MLD accepts the connection request and establishes a multi-link with STA MLD 0 on Link 0 / Link 1. The AP MLD then recognizes this connection as MLD MAC Address = X and sends a connection response frame to STA MLD 0, which marks the successful establishment of a multi-link connection between the AP MLD and STA MLD 0. When STA MLD 1 attempts to establish a multilink connection with AP MLD on Link 0, STA MLD 1 sends a connection request frame to AP MLD. The connection request frame carries STA MLD 1's MLD MAC Address=Y. The AP MLD detects that an existing connection with MLD MAC ADDR=Y is not currently recorded, so the AP MLD accepts the connection request and establishes a multilink with STA MLD 1 on Link 0 / Link 1. The AP MLD then recognizes this connection as MLD MAC ADDR=Y and sends a connection response frame to STA MLD 1, marking the connection response frame to indicate that the AP MLD and STA MLD 1 have successfully established a multilink connection.

[0072] As shown in Figure 7, after STA MLD 0 and STA MLD 1 establish a connection with the AP MLD, the corresponding Link MAC Addresses on Link 1 of STA MLD 0 and STA MLD 1 are the same. Therefore, when the AP MLD receives an 802.11 frame on Link 1 and the 802.11 frame carries LINK MAC ADDR=B, the AP MLD cannot distinguish whether the 802.11 frame is from STA MLD 0 or STA MLD 1. Similarly, when the AP MLD sends an 802.11 frame carrying LINK MAC ADDR=B, both STA MLD 0 and STA MLD 1 will determine that the 802.11 frame is intended for them.

[0073] In response to the above problem, in the embodiment of the present application, when establishing a multi-link connection, the link MAC addresses of different stations may be the same. Therefore, a connection response frame is sent based on the link MAC address carried in the connection request frame sent by the station multi-link device, and whether to accept the connection request is determined based on whether the link MAC address in the connection request frame is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, thereby achieving a connection. response Provides a method for generating and transmitting frames.

[0074] As shown in Figure 8, STA MLDThe MLD MAC Address of STA MLD 0 is X, the Link MAC Address on Link 0 is A, and the Link MAC Address on Link 1 is B, and the MLD MAC Address of STA MLD 1 is Y, the Link MAC Address on Link 0 is C, and the Link MAC Address on Link 1 is also B. After the connection between STA MLD 0 and AP MLD is established, STA MLD 1 sends a connection request to the AP MLD, and the connection request carries the two link MAC addresses of STA MLD 1, namely Link MAC Address=C and Link MAC Address=B. The AP MLD informs the AP that Link MAC Address=B is the address of the already connected STA. MLD It can be found that the Link MAC Address of Link 0 is the same as that of Link 1, and that no other connected station has the same Link MAC Address as Link MAC Address C. Based on this case, the AP MLD can generate a connection response frame indicating that the connection is successful, and indicate to the STA MLD 1 that the connection is successful on Link 0 and that the connection is unsuccessful on Link 1, or the AP MLD can generate a connection response frame indicating that the connection is unsuccessful.

[0075] Referring to Figure 9, a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The method can be applied to AP MLD in the communication system shown in Figure 1. The method includes the following steps:

[0076] In step 901, receive connection request frames sent from at least one station multilink device, each connection request frame including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, and the set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of links to which the station multilink device requests establishment of a connection.

[0077] Illustratively, the access point device receives at least one connection request frame transmitted from at least one station multilink device.

[0078] When an access point device receives a connection request frame sent from a station multi-link device, the access point device sends a connection response frame to the station multi-link device based on a set of link MAC addresses in the connection request frame.

[0079] When the access point device receives at least two connection request frames transmitted from at least two station multilink devices, the access point device transmits a connection response frame to each station multilink device based on at least two sets of link MAC addresses in the at least two connection request frames.

[0080] For example, the access point multilink device may simultaneously or non-simultaneously receive connection request frames transmitted from at least two station multilink devices, i.e., the time difference between the reception of the at least two connection request frames by the access point multilink device is less than a time threshold. For example, the access point multilink device simultaneously processes the at least two connection request frames and respectively determines at least two connection response frames that need to be transmitted.

[0081] The connection request frame is used to request the access point multilink device to establish a multilink connection, and carries the link MAC address of the link to which the station multilink device requests to establish a connection.

[0082] The link MAC address is also called the wireless medium MAC address, Link MAC Address, or WM MAC Address.

[0083] 5, the connection request frame includes multilink device level information (station multilink device level information) and link level information (station link level information). The multilink device level information includes the multilink device MAC address (MLD MAC Address) of the station multilink device, which is also called the device MAC address. The link level information includes information corresponding to each link requested by the station multilink device, and the information corresponding to one link includes a link identifier (Link ID) and the link MAC address of the station multilink device on that link.

[0084] For example, the access point multilink device broadcasts the link identifier of the access point multilink device to the station multilink device, and when the station multilink device needs to establish a multilink connection, the connection request frame carries the link identifier to which the connection is to be established and the link MAC address of the station multilink device on that link.

[0085] Illustratively, the set of link MAC addresses includes at least one link MAC address of at least one link to which the station multi-link device requests establishment of a connection, or the set of link MAC addresses includes at least two link MAC addresses of at least two links to which the station multi-link device requests establishment of a connection.

[0086] In step 902, a connection response frame is sent to at least one station multilink device based on the link MAC address in the connection request frame.

[0087] For example, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to each station multilink device based on the link MAC addresses in all received connection request frames, or the access point device sends a connection response frame to one station multilink device (for example, the first station multilink device) based on the link MAC address in the connection request frame of the station multilink device.

[0088] The connection response frame is used to feed back the connection result of the multilink connection to the station multilink device.

[0089] Illustratively, the connection response frame includes a connection status code, which is used to identify the connection result, for example, the connection status code includes connection failure information or connection success information.

[0090] Illustratively, if the connection fails, the connection status code may be used to indicate the cause of the connection failure, for example, the cause of the connection failure is a link MAC address conflict.

[0091] Illustratively, the connection status code includes a device-level connection status code, or the connection status code includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code.

[0092] The device-level connection status code is used to identify whether the station multilink device and the access point multilink device have successfully established a multilink connection, or whether the station multilink device and the access point multilink device have successfully established a connection on the first link (the link that transmits the connection request frame).

[0093] The link level connection status code is used by station multilink devices and access point multilink devices to identify whether a connection has been successfully established on a link.

[0094] 6, if the connection is successful, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code 601, multilink device-level information (access point multilink device-level information), and link-level information (access point link-level information). If the connection is unsuccessful, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and multilink device-level information, or the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code, multilink device-level information, and link-level information. That is, if the connection is unsuccessful, the connection response frame may include link-level information corresponding to each link requested in the connection request frame, or may not include link-level information corresponding to each link requested in the connection request frame.

[0095] If the connection is successful, the access point multilink device indicates the connection status on each link to the station multilink device. If the connection is unsuccessful, the access point multilink device can indicate to the station multilink device whether the connection on each link is successful, or the access point multilink device does not indicate to the station multilink device whether the connection on each link is successful.

[0096] The multilink device level information in the connection response frame includes the multilink device MAC address of the access point multilink device.

[0097] The link level information in the connection response frame includes, for each link in the connection request frame, a link identifier, a link MAC address of the access point multi-link device on that link, and a link level connection status code for that link.

[0098] Exemplarily, if link level information is present in the connection response frame, the link level information in the connection response frame corresponds one-to-one to the link level information in the connection request frame. Exemplarily, the link identifier in the connection response frame corresponds one-to-one to the link identifier in the connection request frame.

[0099] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the link level information in the connection request frame includes the Link ID of Link 0, the link MAC address of the STA MLD on Link 0, the Link ID of Link 1, and the link MAC address of the STA MLD on Link 1. As shown in Figure 6, the link level information in the connection response frame includes the Link ID of Link 0, the link MAC address of the AP MLD on Link 0, the link level connection status code of Link 0, the Link ID of Link 1, the link MAC address of the AP MLD on Link 1, and the link level connection status code of Link 1.

[0100] As described above, in the method of this embodiment, when establishing a multilink connection, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame based on the link MAC address carried in the connection request frame of the station multilink device. To address the problem that different station multilink devices may have the same link MAC address, the access point multilink device can determine whether there is another station's link MAC address that is the same as the link MAC address in the connection request frame, and then decide whether to accept the connection request and transmit a connection response frame to the station multilink device.

[0101] Referring to Figure 10, a flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-link connection according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The method can be applied to the STA MLD in the communication system shown in Figure 1. The STA MLD may be a first station multi-link device. The method includes the following steps:

[0102] In step 1001, a connection request frame is sent to an access point multilink device, the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of links to which the first station multilink device requests to establish a connection.

[0103] Illustratively, the first set of link MAC addresses are link MAC addresses corresponding to station multi-link devices on the first set of links, and the first set of links are links to which the first station multi-link device requests to establish a connection. Illustratively, the connection request frame sent from the first station multi-link device includes a link identifier for each link in the first set of links and a link MAC address corresponding to the first station multi-link device on that link.

[0104] Illustratively, the first set of link MAC addresses are link MAC addresses to which the first station multi-link device requests to establish a connection.

[0105] In step 1002, the access point receives a connection response frame sent from a multilink device, the connection response frame being sent based on a first set of link MAC addresses.

[0106] As described above, in the method of this embodiment, when establishing a multilink connection, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame based on the link MAC address carried in the connection request frame of the station multilink device. To address the problem that different station multilink devices may have the same link MAC address, the access point multilink device can determine whether there is a linked station's link MAC address that is the same as the link MAC address in the connection request frame, and then decide whether to accept the connection request and transmit a connection response frame to the station multilink device.

[0107] For illustrative purposes, the following two cases will be described below with examples.

[0108] (1) The access point multi-link device determines the connection response frame of a station multi-link device based on the connection request frame sent from the station multi-link device.

[0109] (2) The access point multi-link device determines a connection response frame of one station multi-link device based on the connection request frames sent from the multiple station multi-link devices.

[0110] Regarding (1), the station multi-link device is called the first station multi-link device.

[0111] The connection request frame sent from the first station multilink device includes a first set of link MAC addresses, and the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the link MAC address of the already-connected station.

[0112] Regarding (2), the first station multilink device among the plurality of station multilink devices is taken as an example, and the remaining station multilink devices among the plurality of station multilink devices can be processed by referring to the method exemplified by the first station multilink device, that is, the plurality of station multilink devices are divided into the first station multilink device and the remaining station multilink devices, and the remaining station multilink devices include at least one station multilink device.

[0113] The connection request frame sent from the first station multilink device includes a link MAC address of the first set, and the connection request frames sent from the remaining station multilink devices all include a link MAC address of the third set. The access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the link MAC address of the first set is the same as the link MAC address of the fourth set, where the link MAC address of the fourth set includes the link MAC address of the third set and the link MAC address of the already connected station.

[0114] (1) The access point multi-link device determines the connection response frame of a station multi-link device based on the connection request frame sent from the station multi-link device.

[0115] 11, a flowchart of a method for establishing a multilink connection according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The method can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1, which includes a first station multilink device and an access point multilink device. The method includes the following steps:

[0116] In step 1101, a first station multilink device sends a connection request frame to an access point multilink device, where the connection request frame includes a first set of link MAC addresses.

[0117] For example, in this embodiment, the access point multilink device receives connection request frames transmitted from multiple station multilink devices, and does not exclude the case where the access point multilink device performs independent processing for each of the connection request frames, that is, the access point multilink device receives at least two connection request frames, and transmits a connection response frame to one station multilink device based on the link MAC address in the connection request frame transmitted from one station multilink device.

[0118] Illustratively, the connection request frame further includes the station multilink device MAC address of the first station multilink device.

[0119] Illustratively, the first set of link MAC addresses is a link MAC address of a first station multi-link device on the first set of links requesting the establishment of a connection, where the first set of links includes the first link transmitting the connection request frame, or the first set of links includes the first link transmitting the connection request frame and the remaining links.

[0120] That is, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, where the first link is the link that transmits the connection request frame.

[0121] Alternatively, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0122] In step 1102, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0123] Illustratively, the access point multi-link device checks whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0124] The second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device. Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of station devices and / or station multilink devices that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0125] Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses includes at least one link MAC address. Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses may be an empty set / empty, i.e., there are no link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0126] The access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0127] Illustratively, if the first set of link MAC addresses is completely different from the second set of link MAC addresses and the access point multilink device can accept the connection request on the first set of links, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating a successful connection, where the first set of link MAC addresses being completely different from the second set of link MAC addresses means that for any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses, there is no link MAC address in the second set that is the same as that link MAC address.

[0128] For example, if the first set of link MAC addresses contains at least one link MAC address different from the second set of link MAC addresses and the link MAC addresses can accept the connection request on the different link, the access point multi-link device will send a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device indicating a successful connection, or will send a connection response frame to the station multi-link device indicating a failed connection. Here, the presence of at least one link MAC address different from the second set of link MAC addresses in the first set means that the first set of link MAC addresses contains at least one link MAC address different from any of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0129] For example, the access point multi-link device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device indicating a connection failure if the second set of link MAC addresses includes the first set of link MAC addresses, where the second set of link MAC addresses including the first set of link MAC addresses means that the first set of link MAC addresses is a subset of the second set of link MAC addresses, or that for any of the first set of link MAC addresses, there exists a link MAC address that is the same as any of the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0130] Illustratively, the connection request frame further includes a station multilink device MAC address of the first station multilink device. The access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on the station multilink device MAC address and the first set of link MAC addresses.

[0131] If there is no device MAC address in the already connected device MAC addresses that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address, the access point multilink device performs step 1102, where the already connected device MAC addresses include the device MAC addresses of stations (station devices and / or station multilink devices) that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0132] Illustratively, if there is no device MAC address of a connected station or station multilink device that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0133] If the access point multilink device has a device MAC address that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address among the already connected device MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0134] Illustratively, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first link MAC address is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, or the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first link MAC address is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses and whether the remaining link MAC addresses are the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0135] Illustratively, the remaining links include at least one link, that is, the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address.

[0136] Referring to Table 1, in the embodiment of the present application, the following six cases are listed regarding whether the first link MAC address is the same as the link MAC address in the second set, and whether the remaining link MAC addresses are the same as the link MAC addresses in the second set. Each of the six cases is described below. The embodiment of the present application is not limited to the following six cases. [Table 1]

[0137] Case 1

[0138] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, where the first link is the link that transmits the connection request frame.

[0139] If the first link MAC address of the access point multilink device is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the second set of link MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0140] Illustratively, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device if the first link MAC address is different from any of the link MAC addresses in the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0141] For example, if the link MAC address of the link transmitting the connection request frame is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating that the connection has failed. If the link MAC addresses of the links transmitting the connection request frame are all different from the link MAC addresses of the already connected station, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating that the connection has succeeded.

[0142] Exemplarily, the connection response frame may carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, or may not carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, where the link level information includes a link level connection status code.

[0143] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code, or the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0144] Illustratively, a device-level connection status code can be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict, and a link-level connection status code of a failed link can also be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0145] That is, if the AP MLD checks that the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on the link (first link) sending the Association Request is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD (Station Multi-link Device) or STA (Station Device) with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD rejects the Multi-Link Setup of the STA MLD, and indicates that this Multi-Setup was not successful in the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD. In other words, the AP MLD sets the Status Code (connection status code) of the MLD Level (Multi-link Device Level) as unsuccessful information (connection failure information) in the Association Response frame, and the AP MLD can select whether the Link Level information corresponding to each link requested by the STA MLD is not carried in the Association Response, or whether the Link Level information corresponding to each link requested by the STA MLD is carried, and fills in the Status Code of each corresponding link. AP MLD can express the unsuccessful information carried in the Status Code as a Link MAC Address conflict.

[0146] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the Association Response sent by the AP MLD carries only a device-level connection status code, which includes connection failure information 1201 indicating that the AP MLD rejects the entire multi-link setup request (Multi-Link Setup), and the Association Response does not carry link-level information, i.e., the link-level connection status code is not carried.

[0147] 13, the Association Response sent by the AP MLD carries a device-level connection status code, which includes connection failure information 1201 indicating that the AP MLD rejects the entire multi-link connection request, and also carries corresponding link level information on each link requested by the STA MLD, and includes a status code on each link, i.e., link level connection status code 1301. Suppose the STA MLD sends an Association Request frame on Link 0, and the link MAC address of Link 0 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, and the link MAC address of Link 1 is different from the link MAC address of the already connected station, then the AP MLD indicates connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 0 (link level connection status code 1301) in the Association Response frame, and indicates connection success information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 1.

[0148] Case 2

[0149] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0150] If the first link MAC address of the access point multi-link device is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the second set of link MAC addresses, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0151] Illustratively, the first link MAC address being the same as one of the link MAC addresses in the second set means that there is a link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses that is the same as the first link MAC address.

[0152] The remaining link MAC addresses being all different from the link MAC addresses in the second set means that for any of the remaining link MAC addresses, there is no link MAC address in the second set that is the same as this link MAC address.

[0153] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate the successful connection of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0154] That is, if the AP MLD detects that the link MAC addresses of the remaining links requested by the STA MLD are all different from the link MAC addresses corresponding to any STA MLD or STA with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, and the AP MLD can accept the connection request of the corresponding STA MLD on these remaining links, the AP MLD accepts the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD, and the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD indicates that this multi-link connection is successful. That is, the AP MLD sets the MLD Level Status Code as connection success information in the Association Response frame, and the Association Response frame carries the corresponding link level information on each link requested by the STA MLD and fills in the status code on each corresponding link.

[0155] 14, the Association Response frame sent by the AP MLD carries a device-level connection status code, which includes connection success information 1401 indicating that the AP MLD accepts the entire multi-link connection request, and at the same time, the Association Response frame carries corresponding link level information on each link requested by the STA MLD, and includes a status code on each link, i.e., link level connection status code 1301. Suppose the STA MLD sends an Association Request frame on Link 0, and the link MAC address of Link 0 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, and the link MAC address of Link 1 is different from the link MAC address of the already connected station, then the AP MLD will indicate connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 0 in the Association Response frame, and indicate connection success information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 1.

[0156] Case 3

[0157] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0158] If the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses of the second set, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0159] Illustratively, the first link MAC address being the same as one of the link MAC addresses in the second set means that there is a link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses that is the same as the first link MAC address.

[0160] The presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses in the second set means that the presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from all of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0161] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate the successful connection of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0162] That is, if the AP MLD detects that, among the remaining links requested by the STA MLD, there is one link whose Link MAC Address (remaining link MAC address) is different from the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to any STA MLD or STA to which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, and if the AP MLD can accept the connection request of the corresponding STA MLD on that link, the AP MLD accepts the multi-link connection request of that STA MLD, and the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD indicates that this multi-link connection was successful; that is, the AP MLD sets the MLD Level Status Code as connection success information in the Association Response frame, and the Association Response frame includes corresponding Link Level information on each Link requested by the STA MLD and fills in the Status Code on each corresponding Link.

[0163] Case 4

[0164] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0165] If the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0166] Illustratively, a first link MAC address being different from a second set of link MAC addresses means that any link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses is different from the first link MAC address.

[0167] The presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set means that the presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as one of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0168] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate the successful connection of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0169] That is, if AP MLD detects that the Link MAC Address (first link MAC address) corresponding to the STA MLD on the link (first link) sending the Association Request is different from the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to any of the STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in AP MLD, but the corresponding Link MAC Addresses (remaining link MAC addresses) on the remaining links requested by the STA MLD are the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD or STA with which a connection has already been established in AP MLD, then AP MLD accepts the multi-link establishment request of the STA MLD, and the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD indicates that this multi-link connection was successful. That is, AP MLD sets the MLD Level Status Code as connection success information in the Association Response frame, and the Association Response frame carries the Link Level information corresponding to each Link requested by the STA MLD, and fills in the Status Code on each Link.

[0170] 15, the Association Response frame sent by the AP MLD carries a device-level connection status code, which includes connection success information 1401 indicating that the AP MLD has accepted the entire multi-link connection request, as well as corresponding link level information on each link requested by the STA MLD, and further includes a status code on each link, i.e., link level connection status code 1301. Suppose the STA MLD sends an Association Request frame on Link 0, and the link MAC address of Link 0 is different from the link MAC address of the already connected station, but the link MAC address of Link 1 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, then the AP MLD will indicate connection success information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 0 in the Association Response frame, and indicate connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 1.

[0171] Case 5

[0172] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0173] If the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0174] Illustratively, a first link MAC address being different from a second set of link MAC addresses means that any link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses is different from the first link MAC address.

[0175] The presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set means that the presence of at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as one of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0176] For example, the connection response frame may carry link level information of each link requested by the first station multi-link device, or may not carry link level information of each link requested by the first station multi-link device, and the link level information may include a link level connection status code.

[0177] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code, or the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0178] Illustratively, a device-level connection status code can be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict, and a link-level connection status code of a failed link can also be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0179] That is, if the Link MAC Address (first link MAC address) corresponding to the STA MLD on the link (first link) sending the Association Request by the AP MLD is different from the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to any of the STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, but the Link MAC Addresses (remaining link MAC addresses) corresponding to the remaining links requested by the STA MLD are the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD or STA with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD rejects the multi-link establishment request of the STA MLD, and the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD indicates that this multi-link connection has failed. That is, the AP MLD sets the MLD Level Status Code as connection failure information in the Association Response frame, and the AP MLD can select whether the Association Response frame does not include corresponding Link Level information on each Link requested by the STA MLD, or includes corresponding Link Level information on each Link requested by the STA MLD, and fills in the Status Code (link level connection status code) on each Link. AP MLD can express the connection failure information carried in the Status Code as a Link MAC Address conflict.

[0180] 16, the Association Response frame sent by the AP MLD carries a device-level connection status code, which carries connection failure information 1201 indicating that the AP MLD rejects the entire multi-link connection request, and also carries corresponding link level information on each link requested by the STA MLD, and further includes a status code on each link, i.e., link level connection status code 1301. Suppose the STA MLD sends an Association Request frame on Link 0, and the link MAC address of Link 0 is different from the link MAC address of the already connected station, but the link MAC address of Link 1 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, then the AP MLD will indicate connection success information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 0 in the Association Response frame, and indicate connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 1.

[0181] Case 6

[0182] If there is one link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses that is the same as any of the link MAC addresses in the second set, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0183] For example, if there is one link MAC address in the first set that is the same as any of the link MAC addresses in the second set, this means that the link MAC addresses in the first set are a subset of the link MAC addresses in the second set, or that the link MAC addresses in the second set include the link MAC addresses in the first set.

[0184] That is, there is a link MAC address in the second set that is the same as the first link MAC address, and for any of the remaining link MAC addresses, there is one link MAC address that is the same as all of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0185] Exemplarily, the connection response frame may carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, or may not carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, where the link level information includes a link level connection status code.

[0186] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code, or the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0187] Illustratively, a device-level connection status code can be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict, and a link-level connection status code of a failed link can also be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0188] That is, if the Link MAC Address on a link requested by the STA MLD by the AP MLD is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to one or more STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD rejects the multilink connection request of the STA MLD and indicates that the current multilink connection has failed in the Association Response frame returned to the STA MLD. That is, the AP MLD sets the MLD Level Status Code as connection failure information in the Association Response frame, and the AP MLD can select whether the corresponding Link Level information on each link requested by the STA MLD is not carried or is carried in the Association Response frame, and enters the Status Code on each corresponding link. The AP MLD can represent the connection failure information included in the Status Code as a Link MAC Address conflict.

[0189] 17, the Association Response frame sent by the AP MLD carries a device-level connection status code, which includes connection failure information 1201 indicating that the AP MLD rejects the entire multi-link connection request, and at the same time, the STA MLD carries corresponding link level information on each link requested, and further includes a status code on each link, i.e., link level connection status code 1301. Assuming that the STA MLD sends an Association Request frame on Link 0, and the link MAC address of Link 0 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, and the link MAC address of Link 1 is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, the AP MLD indicates the connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 0 in the Association Response frame, and indicates the connection failure information in the Link Level Status Code of Link 1.

[0190] As described above, in the method according to this embodiment, while the STA MLD and AP MLD are performing the Multi-Link Setup process, the AP MLD needs to detect the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to all links requested by the STA MLD and determine whether they are the same as the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to one or more STA MLDs or STAs that have already established a connection with the AP MLD.

[0191] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on the link transmitting the Association Request frame is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD or STA with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD will reject the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD, or the AP MLD will conditionally accept the connection request of the STA MLD on some links.

[0192] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on the remaining links other than the link that transmits the Association Request frame is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to one or more other STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD will reject the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD, or the AP MLD will conditionally accept the connection request of the STA MLD on some of the links.

[0193] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on all links is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to one or more other STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, the AP MLD rejects the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD.

[0194] When establishing a multi-link connection, check whether the link MAC address of the link requested by the station multi-link device is the same as the link MAC address of the connected station, and send a connection response frame to check whether they are the same, thereby preventing the stations that have established a connection with the access point multi-link device from correspondingly having the same link MAC address, and avoiding frame interaction failure caused by the link MAC addresses being the same.

[0195] (2) The access point multi-link device determines a connection response frame of one station multi-link device based on the connection request frames sent from the multiple station multi-link devices.

[0196] 18, a flowchart of a method for establishing a multilink connection according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The method can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1, where the communication system includes a first station multilink device, remaining station multilink devices, and an access point multilink device, where the remaining station multilink devices include at least one station multilink device. The method includes the following steps:

[0197] In step 2101, the first station multilink device and the remaining station multilink devices each send a connection request frame to the access point multilink device, and the connection request frame sent from the first station multilink device carries a first set of link MAC addresses.

[0198] Illustratively, the connection request frame sent from the first station multilink device further includes the station multilink device MAC address of the first station multilink device, and at least one connection request frame sent from each of the remaining station multilink devices both includes a third set of link MAC addresses.

[0199] Illustratively, the first set of link MAC addresses are link MAC addresses on the first set of links to which the first station multi-link device requests connection establishment, where the first set of links includes the first link transmitting the connection request frame, or the first set of links includes the first link transmitting the connection request frame and the remaining links.

[0200] That is, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, where the first link is the link that transmits the connection request frame.

[0201] Alternatively, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0202] In step 2102, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0203] Illustratively, the access point multi-link device checks whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0204] The fourth set of link MAC addresses includes the second set of link MAC addresses and the third set of link MAC addresses. The second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device. Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of station devices and / or station multilink devices that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0205] Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses includes at least one link MAC address. Illustratively, the second set of link MAC addresses may be an empty set / empty, i.e., there are no link MAC addresses in the second set. The third set of link MAC addresses includes at least one link MAC address. Illustratively, the third set of link MAC addresses may be an empty set / empty, i.e., there are no link MAC addresses in the third set.

[0206] The access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0207] Illustratively, if the access point multilink device has a link MAC address in the first set that is completely different from the link MAC address in the fourth set and the access point multilink device can accept the connection request on the first set of links, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating a successful connection, where the link MAC address in the first set that is completely different from the link MAC address in the fourth set means that for any link MAC address in the first set, there is no link MAC address in the fourth set that is the same as this link MAC address.

[0208] For example, if the first set of link MAC addresses contains at least one link MAC address that is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the access point multilink device can accept a connection request on a link with a different link MAC address, the access point multilink device will send a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating a successful connection, or send a connection response frame to the station multilink device indicating a failed connection. Here, the presence of at least one link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses that is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses means that the first set of link MAC addresses contains at least one link MAC address that is different from all of the link MAC addresses in the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0209] For example, the access point multi-link device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device indicating a connection failure if the fourth set of link MAC addresses includes a first set of link MAC addresses, where the fourth set of link MAC addresses including a first set of link MAC addresses means that the first set of link MAC addresses is a subset of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, or that for any of the first set of link MAC addresses, there exists a link MAC address that is the same as any of the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0210] Illustratively, the connection request frame further includes a station multilink device MAC address of the first station multilink device. The access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on the station multilink device MAC address and the first set of link MAC addresses.

[0211] If there is no device MAC address in the already connected device MAC addresses that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address, the access point multilink device performs step 2102, where the already connected device MAC addresses include the device MAC addresses of stations (station devices and / or station multilink devices) that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0212] Illustratively, if there is no device MAC address of the already connected station or station multilink device that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0213] If the access point multilink device has a device MAC address that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address among the already connected device MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0214] Illustratively, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first link MAC address is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses, or the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first link MAC address is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses and whether the remaining link MAC addresses are the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0215] Illustratively, the remaining links include at least one link, that is, the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address.

[0216] Similar to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 11, six cases are illustrated regarding whether the first link MAC address is the same as the link MAC address in the fourth set, and whether the remaining link MAC addresses are the same as the link MAC addresses in the fourth set, and the six cases are described below, respectively. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the following six cases.

[0217] Case 1

[0218] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, where the first link is the link that transmits the connection request frame.

[0219] If the first link MAC address of the access point multilink device is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0220] Illustratively, if the first link MAC address is different from any of the link MAC addresses in the fourth set of link MAC addresses, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0221] For example, if the link MAC address of the link transmitting the connection request frame is the same as the link MAC address of the already connected station, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating that the connection has failed. If the link MAC addresses of the links transmitting the connection request frame are all different from the link MAC addresses of the already connected station, the access point multilink device transmits a connection response frame to the first station multilink device indicating that the connection has succeeded.

[0222] Exemplarily, the connection response frame may carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, or may not carry link level information for each link requested by the first station multi-link device, where the link level information includes a link level connection status code.

[0223] The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code, or the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, where the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of the device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0224] Illustratively, a device-level connection status code can be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict, and a link-level connection status code of a failed link can also be used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0225] Case 2

[0226] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0227] If the first link MAC address of the access point multi-link device is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the fourth set and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the link MAC addresses of the fourth set, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0228] Case 3

[0229] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0230] The access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses of the fourth set, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0231] Case 4

[0232] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0233] If the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0234] Case 5

[0235] The first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, where the first link is a link that transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set other than the first link MAC address.

[0236] If the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses, the access point multi-link device sends a connection response frame to the first station multi-link device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0237] Case 6

[0238] If there is one link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses that is the same as any of the link MAC addresses in the fourth set, the access point multilink device sends a connection response frame to the first station multilink device, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0239] For example, for the description of the six cases in this embodiment, refer to the description of the six cases in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 11, and after replacing "the second set of link MAC addresses" in the six cases in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 with "the fourth set of link MAC addresses", the description of the six cases in this embodiment is also applied in the same way. Therefore, the description in this embodiment will be omitted.

[0240] As described above, in the method according to this embodiment, while the STA MLD and AP MLD are performing the Multi-Link Setup process, the AP MLD needs to detect the corresponding Link MAC Addresses on all links requested by the STA MLD and determine whether they are the same as the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to one or more STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, or whether they are the same as the Link MAC Addresses corresponding to one or more STA MLDs or STAs requesting the establishment of another connection.

[0241] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on the link transmitting the Association Request frame is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD or STA with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, or the Link MAC Address corresponding to another STA MLD or STA requesting the establishment of another connection, the AP MLD will reject the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD, or the AP MLD will conditionally accept the connection request of the STA MLD on some links.

[0242] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on the remaining links other than the link that transmits the Association Request frame is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to one or more other STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, or the Link MAC Address corresponding to one other STA MLD or STA requesting the establishment of another connection, the AP MLD will reject the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD, or the AP MLD will conditionally accept the connection request of the STA MLD on some of the links.

[0243] If the Link MAC Address corresponding to the STA MLD on all links is the same as the Link MAC Address corresponding to one or more other STA MLDs or STAs with which a connection has already been established in the AP MLD, or the Link MAC Address corresponding to one other STA MLD or STA requesting the establishment of another connection, the AP MLD rejects the multi-link connection request of the STA MLD.

[0244] When establishing a multi-link connection, the link MAC address of the link requested by the station multi-link device is checked to see if it is the same as the link MAC address of the station already connected or the link MAC address of the station requesting the establishment of another connection, and a connection response frame is sent based on whether they are the same, thereby preventing stations that have established a connection with the access point multi-link device from having the same corresponding link MAC addresses, and avoiding frame interaction failures caused by the same link MAC addresses.

[0245] The following are apparatus embodiments of the present application, which can be used to carry out method embodiments of the present application. For details not disclosed in the apparatus embodiments of the present application, reference is made to the method embodiments of the present application.

[0246] Referring to Figure 19, a block diagram of a device for establishing a multilink connection according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The device has a function for implementing the above method, and the function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The device may be the above-mentioned access point multilink device. The device comprises:

[0247] a first receiving module 1801 and a first transmitting module 1802; The first receiving module 1801 is used to receive connection request frames sent from at least one station multi-link device, each of the connection request frames respectively including a set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, and the set of link MAC addresses includes the link MAC addresses of the links to which the station multi-link device requests to establish a connection;

[0248] The first sending module 1802 is used for sending a connection response frame to the at least one station multi-link device based on a link MAC address in the connection request frame.

[0249] In one alternative embodiment, the at least one station multilink device includes a first station multilink device, and the connection request frame transmitted from the first station multilink device includes a first set of link MAC addresses;

[0250] The first transmitting module 1802 is used to transmit the connection response frame to the first station multi-link device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, and the second set of link MAC addresses includes the link MAC addresses of stations that have already established a connection with the access point multi-link device.

[0251] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, the first link being a link transmitting the connection request frame;

[0252] The first transmitting module 1802 is used to transmit the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0253] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0254] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0255] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0256] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses, and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is different from the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0257] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0258] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0259] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link that transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0260] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses.

[0261] In one alternative embodiment, the first transmitting module 1802 is used to transmit the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device if, for any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses, there is one link MAC address that is the same as any of the link MAC addresses in the second set.

[0262] In one alternative embodiment, the at least one station multilink device includes a first station multilink device and a remaining station multilink device, a connection request frame transmitted from the first station multilink device includes a first set of link MAC addresses, and at least one connection request frame transmitted from the remaining station multilink device includes a third set of link MAC addresses;

[0263] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame to the first station multi-link device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a fourth set of link MAC addresses;

[0264] Here, the fourth set of links includes the second set of link MAC addresses and the third set of link MAC addresses, and the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established connections with the access point multi-link device.

[0265] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, the first link being a link over which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame;

[0266] The first transmitting module 1802 is used to transmit the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0267] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0268] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0269] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0270] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0271] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0272] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0273] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0274] The first sending module 1802 is used to send the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device when the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses.

[0275] In one alternative embodiment, the first transmitting module 1802 is used to transmit the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multi-link device if, for any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses, there is one link MAC address that is the same as any of the link MAC addresses in the fourth set.

[0276] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code;

[0277] Alternatively, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code;

[0278] Here, the device level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of a device, and the link level connection status code is used to indicate a connection result of a link.

[0279] In one alternative embodiment, the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0280] In one alternative embodiment, the link level connection status code of the failed link is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0281] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, the device-level connection status code being used to indicate successful device connection, and the link-level connection status code being used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0282] In one alternative embodiment, the connection request frame further includes a station multilink device MAC address of the station multilink device;

[0283] The first sending module 1802 is used to perform the step of sending a connection response frame to the at least one station multilink device based on the link MAC address in the connection request frame when there is no device MAC address that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address among the already connected device MAC addresses.

[0284] Here, the connected device MAC address includes a device MAC address of a station that has already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0285] Referring to Figure 20, a block diagram of a multi-link connection establishment device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The device has a function for implementing the above method, and the function may be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The device may be the first station multi-link device described above. The device includes a second transmitting module 1902 and a second receiving module 1901;

[0286] The second transmitting module 1902 is used to send a connection request frame to an access point multilink device, the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including a link MAC address of a link to which the first station multilink device requests to establish a connection;

[0287] The second receiving module 1901 is used to receive a connection response frame sent from the access point multi-link device, and the connection response frame is sent based on the first set of link MAC addresses.

[0288] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame is transmitted based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a second set of link MAC addresses, and the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established connections with the access point multi-link device.

[0289] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, the first link being a link over which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame;

[0290] The connection response frame is sent if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0291] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0292] The connection response frame is sent if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0293] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0294] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is the same as one of the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0295] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0296] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0297] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0298] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0299] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame is sent when, for any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses, there is one link MAC address that is the same as any link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0300] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame is sent based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a fourth set of link MAC addresses;

[0301] Here, the fourth set of links includes the second set of link MAC addresses and the third set of link MAC addresses, the second set of link MAC addresses includes the link MAC addresses of stations that have already established connections with the access point multi-link device, and the third set of link MAC addresses includes the link MAC addresses in connection request frames of the remaining station multi-link devices received by the access point multi-link device.

[0302] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, the first link being a link over which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame;

[0303] The connection response frame is sent if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0304] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0305] The connection response frame is sent if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0306] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0307] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is the same as one of the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses include at least one link MAC address that is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0308] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0309] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a successful connection.

[0310] In one alternative embodiment, the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the first link being a link through which the first station multi-link device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address;

[0311] The connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0312] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame is sent when, for any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses, there is one link MAC address that is the same as any link MAC address in the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

[0313] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code;

[0314] Alternatively, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code;

[0315] Here, the device level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of a device, and the link level connection status code is used to indicate a connection result of a link.

[0316] In one alternative embodiment, the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0317] In one alternative embodiment, the link level connection status code of the failed link is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict.

[0318] In one alternative embodiment, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, the device-level connection status code being used to indicate successful device connection, and the link-level connection status code being used to indicate the connection result of the link.

[0319] In one alternative embodiment, the connection request frame further includes a station multilink device MAC address of the station multilink device;

[0320] The connection response frame is transmitted based on the first set of link MAC addresses if there is no device MAC address that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address among the already connected device MAC addresses;

[0321] Here, the already connected device MAC address includes a device MAC address of a station that has already established a connection with the access point multilink device.

[0322] It should be noted that when the device according to the above embodiment realizes its functions, only the division of each of the above functional modules is taken as an example for description. In actual applications, the above functions are realized by different functional modules according to actual needs, that is, the device configuration is divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0323] Regarding the apparatus in the above embodiment, the specific manner in which each module performs an operation will be described in detail in the embodiment relating to the method, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0324] 21 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application. The multi-link device may include a processor 2001, a receiver 2002, a transmitter 2003, a memory 2004, and a bus 2005.

[0325] The processor 2001 includes one or more processing cores, and the processor 2001 executes various functional applications and multi-link connection establishment methods by running software programs and modules.

[0326] The receiver 2002 and the transmitter 2003 can be implemented as a single transceiver 2006, which may be a communications chip.

[0327] The memory 2004 is connected to the processor 2001 via a bus 2005 .

[0328] To realize each step performed by the access point multilink device or the station multilink device in the above method embodiments, the memory 2004 can be used to store a computer program, and the processor 2001 can be used to execute the computer program.

[0329] Additionally, memory 2004 may be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof, including, but not limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other solid memory, read-only disk (CD-ROM), high-density digital video disk (DVD) or other optical storage device, tape cartridge, magnetic tape, disk storage device or other magnetic storage device.

[0330] The processor and transceiver according to the embodiment of the present application can perform the steps performed by the multi-link device in the method shown in any of Figures 9, 10, and 11 above, and the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0331] In an embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is further provided, in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is executed by a processor of a multi-link device to realize the above-mentioned method for establishing a multi-link connection.

[0332] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium includes read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), solid-state drives (SSD), optical disks, etc. Here, random-access memory includes resistance random-access memory (ReRAM) and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).

[0333] In an embodiment of the present application, a chip is further provided, the chip including a programmable logic circuit and / or program instructions, which implements the above-mentioned method for establishing a multi-link connection when the chip operates on a multi-link device.

[0334] In an embodiment of the present application, a computer program product or a computer program is further provided, the computer program product or the computer program including computer instructions, the computer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and a processor of a multi-link device reading and executing the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium to realize the above-mentioned method for establishing a multi-link connection.

[0335] In the present embodiment, the processor comprises an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

[0336] It should be understood that the term "show" used in the embodiments of the present application may mean directly showing, indirectly showing, or showing that there is a related relationship. For example, when A shows B, it may mean that A directly shows B, for example, B can be obtained by A, or that A indirectly shows B, for example, A shows C, and B can be obtained by C, or that there is a related relationship between A and B.

[0337] In describing the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may mean that there is a direct corresponding relationship or an indirect corresponding relationship between the two, or that there is an association relationship between the two, or may be a relationship such as showing and being shown, or constituting and being constituted.

[0338] As used herein, "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes a relation between related objects and indicates that three relationships can exist; for example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The symbol " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0339] Furthermore, the step numbers described herein are only an example of a possible execution order between steps, and in some other embodiments, the steps may not be executed in numerical order, such as two differently numbered steps being executed simultaneously or two differently numbered steps being executed in the reverse order of that shown, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0340] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions described in the embodiments of the present application, in one or more examples above, can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented using software, these functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media and communication media, where communication media includes any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0341] The above are merely illustrative examples of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and scope of the present application are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. It is performed by the Access Point Multilink device, Receive a connection request frame transmitted from at least one station multilink device (901), the at least one station multilink device including a first station multilink device, the connection request frame transmitted from the first station multilink device including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including a link MAC address of a link to which the first station multilink device requests establishment of a connection, the link MAC address of the link being a STA wireless medium WM MAC address of a station STA connected to the link; Sending a connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a second set of link MAC addresses (1102), wherein the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device; Including, A method for establishing a multi-link connection, comprising:

2. transmitting the connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a second set of link MAC addresses; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses, transmitting the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device, the first link being the link through which the first station multilink device transmits a connection request frame; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set, send the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device, the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses in the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; or transmitting the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device if there is one link MAC address in the second set of link MAC addresses that is the same as any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses; including any of the following:

2. The method of claim 1 .

3. transmitting the connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a second set of link MAC addresses; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the link MAC addresses of the second set, transmit the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, wherein the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses, and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses of the second set, send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, where the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; or If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set, send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, the first link is a link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; including any of the following:

2. The method of claim 1 .

4. The at least one station multilink device further includes a remaining station multilink device, and at least one connection request frame transmitted from the remaining station multilink device both includes a third set of link MAC addresses; The method comprises: and transmitting the connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a fourth set of link MAC addresses (2102); Wherein the fourth set of links includes the second set of link MAC addresses and the third set of link MAC addresses, and the second set of link MAC addresses includes link MAC addresses of stations that have already established connections with the access point multi-link device; 2. The method of claim 1 .

5. transmitting the connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a fourth set of link MAC addresses; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, transmitting the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device, the first link being the link through which the first station multilink device transmits a connection request frame; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the fourth set, send the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device, the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses in the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; or transmitting the connection response frame indicating a connection failure to the first station multilink device if there is one link MAC address in any of the fourth set of link MAC addresses that is the same as any link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses; including any of the following:

5. The method of claim 4.

6. transmitting the connection response frame to the first station multilink device based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a fourth set of link MAC addresses; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the link MAC addresses of the fourth set, transmit the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, wherein the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device transmits a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the fourth set of link MAC addresses, and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses of the fourth set, send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, where the first link is the link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; or If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, and if the first link MAC address is different from the fourth set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the fourth set, send the connection response frame indicating a successful connection to the first station multilink device, the first link is a link from which the first station multilink device sends a connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; including any of the following:

5. The method of claim 4.

7. the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code; Alternatively, the connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code; wherein the device-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection failure of a device, and the link-level connection status code is used to indicate a connection result of a link; 3. The method of claim 2.

8. The device-level connection status code is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict; or the link level connection status code of the failed link is used to indicate a link MAC address conflict; At least one of the following is present:

8. The method of claim 7.

9. The connection response frame includes a device-level connection status code and a link-level connection status code, the device-level connection status code being used to indicate the success of the device connection, and the link-level connection status code being used to indicate the connection result of the link.

4. The method of claim 3.

10. The connection request frame further includes a station multilink device MAC address of a station multilink device; The method further includes: if there is no device MAC address that is the same as the station multilink device MAC address among already connected device MAC addresses, sending a connection response frame to the at least one station multilink device based on a link MAC address in the connection request frame; Wherein, the already connected device MAC address includes a device MAC address of a station that has already established a connection with the access point multilink device; 2. The method of claim 1 .

11. Executed by a first station multilink device, Sending a connection request frame to an access point multilink device (1001, 1101, 2101), the connection request frame including a first set of link (media access control) MAC addresses, the first set of link MAC addresses including a link MAC address of a link to which the first station multilink device requests establishment of a connection, the link MAC address of the link being a STA wireless medium WM MAC address of a station STA connected to the link; receiving a connection response frame transmitted from the access point multilink device (1002), the connection response frame being transmitted based on whether the first set of link MAC addresses is the same as a second set of link MAC addresses, the second set of link MAC addresses including link MAC addresses of stations that have already established a connection with the access point multilink device; Including, A method for establishing a multi-link connection, comprising:

12. If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address of a first link, the connection response frame is sent if the first link MAC address is the same as one of the link MAC addresses of the second set of link MAC addresses, the connection response frame indicates a connection failure, and the first link is the link from which the first station multi-link device sends the connection request frame; or If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set, the connection response frame indicates a connection failure, the first link is a link from which the first station multi-link device sends the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses in the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address, or If the connection response frame is transmitted when there is a link MAC address in the first set of link MAC addresses that is the same as one link MAC address in any of the second set of link MAC addresses, the connection response frame indicates a connection failure.

12. The method of claim 11 .

13. When the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the connection response frame is transmitted when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and the remaining link MAC addresses are all different from the link MAC addresses of the second set, the connection response frame indicates a successful connection, the first link is the link from which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address, or If the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the connection response frame is sent when the first link MAC address is the same as one link MAC address of the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is different from the link MAC addresses of the second set, the connection response frame indicates a successful connection, the first link is the link from which the first station multi-link device sends the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses of the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address, or When the first set of link MAC addresses includes a first link MAC address and remaining link MAC addresses of a first link, the connection response frame is transmitted when the first link MAC address is different from the second set of link MAC addresses and there is at least one link MAC address among the remaining link MAC addresses that is the same as a link MAC address in the second set, the connection response frame indicates a successful connection, the first link is a link from which the first station multi-link device transmits the connection request frame, and the remaining link MAC addresses include link MAC addresses in the first set of link MAC addresses other than the first link MAC address; 12. The method of claim 11 .

14. A method for implementing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising: A multi-link connection establishment device characterized by:

15. A method for implementing a method according to claim 11, comprising: a module for performing the steps of the method according to claim 13; A multi-link connection establishment device characterized by:

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