Communication method and communication device based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method and a communication device based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. The application is applicable to wireless local area network systems supporting 802.11 series protocols such as next-generation Wi-Fi protocols of IEEE 802.11ax, e.g., 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, and next-generation protocols of 802.11be, e.g., Wi-Fi 8 or Wi-Fi AI, and may further be applicable to UWB-based wireless personal area network systems and sensing systems. The method includes receiving a first frame from an access point; and ignoring a NAV set by the access point for a first period after responding to the first frame with a second frame until one of the following conditions occurs: a transmission failure occurs at the station; the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after transmitting a third frame; or the station does not transmit a PPDU within a PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. This reduces interference.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202210946098.4, titled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS BASED ON TRIGGERED TRANSMISSION OPPORTUNITY SHARING MECHANISM", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 8, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Technical field This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication apparatus based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism.

Background Art

[0003] A Wi-Fi system (i.e., a system supporting the IEEE 802.11 standard) is deployed on an unlicensed spectrum, and multiple stations use channel resources through contention. For example, in a typical enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) contention mechanism, a station sends the first frame after completing channel backoff. If the first frame has a response frame, it indicates that channel contention was successful after the station successfully receives the response frame. Otherwise, the station needs to perform backoff again. If the first frame does not require a response frame, it indicates that channel contention was successful after the station sends the first frame. After successful channel contention, a station may reserve a time period for data transmission, which is called a transmission opportunity (TXOP). A station that successfully reserves a TXOP is called a TXOP holder. Within a TXOP, only the TXOP holder can actively transmit data; other stations can only receive data or send corresponding response frames.

[0004] The IEEE 802.11be standard extends the TXOP mechanism. Specifically, an AP acting as a TXOP holder may allocate a portion of the reserved time resources within the TXOP to a station (non-AP STA) via a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. This mechanism is now called triggered TXOP sharing. The triggered TXOP sharing mechanism has two allocation modes. In the first allocation mode (mode 1), the station may transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. In the second allocation mode (mode 2), the station may perform peer-to-peer (P2P) transmission with another station or transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. This mechanism can be used to reduce collisions caused by channel contention between stations and improve system efficiency. Currently, communication solutions based on the existing triggered TXOP sharing mechanism have the problem that stations may interfere with AP transmissions. Therefore, there is a need to study communication solutions based on the triggered TXOP sharing mechanism that can avoid interference with AP transmissions. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Embodiments of this application disclose a communication method and communication apparatus based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism for avoiding interference with AP transmissions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. This method is applied to a station and includes the steps of: receiving a first frame from an access point (AP), the first frame indicating that the access point allocates a first period to the station; and, after responding to the first frame with a second frame, ignoring the network allocation vector (NAV) set by the access point for the first period until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of the transmission opportunity (TXOP) shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a physical layer protocol data unit (PHY protocol data unit, PPDU) in the PCF interframe space (PIFS) after the transmission of a third frame, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. Optionally, the first frame is the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (or referred to as the MU-RTS TXS frame). Optionally, the second frame is the clear-to-send (CTS) frame. The NAV configured by the access point may include the station's intra-basic service set (BSS) NAV and / or basic NAV. Specifically, when the station is associated with the access point, the NAV is the intra-basic service set NAV. Otherwise, the NAV is the basic NAV. The NAV configured by the access point may be understood, for the station, as the NAV configured by the access point.PCF stands for point coordination function.

[0007] Alternatively, the method in the first embodiment may be replaced with the step of receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point has allocated a first period to the station, and based on the first frame, determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle if the NAV value is equal to 0 after the NAV set by the access point has been ignored for the first period and after a first condition has occurred during the first period, or determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy if the NAV value is not equal to 0, wherein the first condition is one of the following: the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has experienced a transmission failure; the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the Point Coordination Function Interframe Space (PIFS) since the transmission of a third frame, wherein the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the PIFS since receiving an immediate response from the access point. In this embodiment of the present application, the failure to transmit a PPDU may be considered as the failure to initiate PPDU transmission. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 may be replaced with determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when both the NAV (intraBSS NAV) value and the basic NAV value are equal to 0.

[0008] Alternatively, the method in the first embodiment may be replaced by the need for the station (STA) to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, for the duration of the period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, until one of the following conditions occurs after the station (STA) has transmitted a CTS of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame) from the AP: i.e., the STA has not initiated any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after the value of the TXOP shared mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and an immediate response has been received from the AP; i.e., the STA has not initiated any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after the value of the TXOP shared mode in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure has occurred at the STA. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After the relevant AP has sent a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the duration of the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until any of the following conditions occur: i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the relevant AP; i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; or i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0009] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period until any one of the above conditions occurs. This avoids interference with AP transmissions.

[0010] In possible implementations, a TXOP shared mode value equal to 1 in the first frame indicates that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP (i.e., access point) for the allocated time. The associated AP is the access point associated with the station, i.e., the access point that sends the first frame to the station. The statement "a TXOP shared mode value equal to 1 in the first frame" in the above description may be equivalently replaced with "a TXOP shared mode in the first frame means that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the allocated time."

[0011] According to a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. The method of the present application is applied to a station, and the method includes the steps of receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point has allocated a first period to the station, and responding to the first frame with a second frame, and then ignoring a NAV set by the access point until one of the following conditions occurs, i.e.: the first period has ended; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the PIFS since receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0012] Alternatively, the method in the second embodiment includes the step of receiving a first frame from an access point, which may be replaced by the step of determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0, or when the NAV value is not equal to 0, after a first condition has occurred, where the first condition includes the end of the first period, the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure has occurred at the station, the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the PIFS since a third frame was transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point, or the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station has not transmitted a PPDU in the PIFS since an immediate response from the access point was received.

[0013] Alternatively, the method in the second embodiment is to continue until one of the following conditions occurs after the station has transmitted the CTS of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP: MU-RTS TXS trigger frame Signaled Time allocation handUntil one of the following occurs, the STA may ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA: the process has finished; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and a frame that does not require an immediate response has been transmitted and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS; or the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1 and the STA experiences a transmission failure. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After sending a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS from the relevant AP, an STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP until any of the following conditions occur, namely: the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame ends; if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the relevant AP; if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; or if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0014] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored until one of the above conditions occurs. This avoids interference with AP transmissions.

[0015] In possible implementations, a TXOP shared mode value equal to 1 in the first frame indicates that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the allocated time. The phrase "a TXOP shared mode value equal to 1 in the first frame" in the above description may be equivalently replaced with "a TXOP shared mode in the first frame means that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the allocated time."

[0016] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism. The method is applied to a station and includes the steps of receiving a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point has allocated a first period to the station, and responding to the first frame with a second frame, and then ignoring the NAV set by the access point for the first period and skipping initiating channel contention for the first period.

[0017] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period, and channel contention is not initiated for the first period. This reduces or avoids interference to AP transmissions.

[0018] In possible implementations, the first field within the first frame indicates that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the allocated time.

[0019] In possible implementations, the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1. The statement in the above description, "the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1," may be equivalently replaced with, "TXOP shared mode in the first frame means that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the duration of the allocated time."

[0020] In this implementation, the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and its value is 1. Therefore, during the first period, whether or not to skip the start of channel contention is determined based on the first field.

[0021] The method in the third aspect may be replaced by the station ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame after the station has transmitted a CTS frame for the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP, and the station not initiating channel contention for the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After the relevant AP has transmitted a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocated signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. The STA shall not initiate channel contention for the time allocated signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield is equal to 1.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device. The communication device has functions to implement the behavior in the embodiment of the method in the first aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of a communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware running corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transmit / receive module and a processing module. The transmit / receive module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point (AP), the first frame indicating that the access point has allocated a first period to the station. The transmit / receive module is further configured to respond to the first frame with a second frame. The processing module is configured to ignore the NAV set by the access point for a first period after the first frame has been responded to with the second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs: the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station experiences a transmission failure; the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point.

[0023] For possible implementations of the communication device in the fourth embodiment, please refer to the possible implementations in the first embodiment.

[0024] For the technical effects achieved by possible implementations of the fourth aspect, please refer to the description of the technical effects of the first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0025] According to the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device. This communication device has a function of implementing the behavior in the method embodiment in the second aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of a communication device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware or by hardware that executes corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point, and the first frame indicates that the access point allocates a first period to the station. The transceiver module is further configured to respond to the first frame with a second frame. After the first frame is responded to with the second frame, the processing module is configured to ignore the NAV set by the access point until any one of the following conditions occurs, that is: the first period has ended; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs at the station; the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and after a third frame is transmitted, the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; or the value of the TXOP sharing mode in the first frame is equal to 1 and after receiving an immediate response from the access point, the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS.

[0026] For a possible implementation of the communication device in the fifth aspect, refer to the possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0027] For the technical effects achieved by the possible implementation of the fifth aspect, refer to the description of the technical effects of the second aspect or the possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0028] According to the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device having the function of implementing the behavior in the embodiment of the method in the third aspect. The communication device may be a communication device, a component of a communication device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware running corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions described above. In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a transmit / receive module and a processing module. The transmit / receive module is configured to receive a first frame from an access point, the first frame indicating that the access point has allocated a first period to the station. The processing module is configured to determine not to initiate channel contention during the first period when a first field in the first frame indicates that the station is not permitted to perform peer-to-peer transmission during the allocated time.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1.

[0030] For possible implementations of the communication device in the sixth aspect, please refer to the possible implementations in the third aspect.

[0031] For the technical effects achieved by possible implementations of the sixth aspect, please refer to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0032] According to the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another communication device, the communication device including a processor, the processor being coupled to memory, the memory being configured to store a program or instructions, the communication device being able to perform a method according to the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or the communication device being able to perform a method according to the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or the communication device being able to perform a method according to the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0033] In this embodiment of the present application, the process of transmitting information (or signals) in the method may be understood as the process of outputting information based on instructions from a processor. When information is output, the processor outputs the information to a transceiver, and as a result, the transceiver transmits the information. After the information is output by the processor, it may be necessary to perform further processing on the information before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver receives that information and inputs it to the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the information, it may be necessary to perform further processing on the information before it reaches the processor.

[0034] Unless otherwise specified, or provided that the operation is consistent with the actual function or the internal logic of the operation in the relevant description, the operation of the processor, such as sending and / or receiving, can generally be understood as an output based on processor instructions.

[0035] In the implementation process, the processor may be a processor specifically configured to perform these methods, or it may be a processor that executes computer instructions in memory to perform these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be further configured to execute a program stored in memory. Once the program is executed, the communication device becomes capable of performing the method according to the first embodiment or any one of the possible implementations of the first embodiment.

[0036] In possible implementations, memory is located outside the communication device. In possible implementations, memory is located inside the communication device.

[0037] In possible implementations, the processor and memory may be integrated into a single device, that is, the processor and memory may be integrated together.

[0038] In possible implementations, the communication device further includes a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive signals, transmit signals, and so on.

[0039] According to the eighth aspect, the present application provides another communication device comprising a processing circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to acquire data or output data. The processing circuit is configured to perform a method according to any one of the first aspect or a possible implementation of the first aspect, or a method according to any one of the second aspect or a possible implementation of the second aspect, or a method according to any one of the third aspect or a possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0040] According to the ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed, the computer is able to perform a method according to any one of the first aspect or a possible implementation thereof, or a method according to any one of the second aspect or a possible implementation thereof, or a method according to any one of the third aspect or a possible implementation thereof.

[0041] According to the tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed, the computer is able to perform a method according to one of the first aspect or a possible implementation of the first aspect, or a method according to one of the second aspect or a possible implementation of the second aspect, or a method according to one of the third aspect or a possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0042] According to the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system including a station and access points in either the fourth aspect or a possible implementation of the fourth aspect. Alternatively, the communication system includes a station and access points in either the fifth aspect or a possible implementation of the fifth aspect. Alternatively, the communication system includes a station and access points in either the sixth aspect or a possible implementation of the sixth aspect.

[0043] According to the twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip including a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored in memory via the communication interface and performs a method according to any one of the first aspect or a possible implementation of the first aspect, or a method according to any one of the second aspect or a possible implementation of the second aspect, or a method according to any one of the third aspect or a possible implementation of the third aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0044] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or background of this application, the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiments or background of this application are briefly described below. [Figure 1] This figure shows a WLAN communication system as an example of a wireless communication system applicable to the technical means described in this application. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the process by which the AP allocates a portion of the time resources within the reserved TXOP to STA1 via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. [Figure 3] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 4] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] This is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the structure of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of this application. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing the structure of another communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the structure of another communication device 110 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0045] The terms “first,” “second,” etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used solely to distinguish different subjects and are not intended to describe a particular order. In addition, terms such as “includes” and “have,” and any other variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device including a series of steps or units may, optionally, further include other unlisted steps or units, or optionally, further include other specific steps or units of the process, method, product, or device.

[0046] The “embodiments” as used herein mean that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. Phrases found in various parts of this specification do not necessarily mean the same embodiment and are not exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiments of another embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0047] The terms used in the following embodiments of this application are intended solely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The singular terms “one,” “a,” “the,” “the foregoing,” “this,” and “the one” used herein and in the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless explicitly specified in the context. Furthermore, the term “and / or” as used herein should be understood to mean, and include, any or all possible combinations of one or more enumerated items. For example, “A and / or B” may represent three cases: A only exists, B only exists, or both A and B exist, where A and B may be singular or plural. In this specification, “plural” means two or more.

[0048] In the embodiments of this application, "B corresponding to A" may be understood to indicate that there is a correspondence between A and B, and that B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining (or generating) B based on (or based on) A does not mean that B is determined (or generated) solely based on (or based on) A, and that B may alternatively be determined (or generated) based on (or based on) A and / or other information.

[0049] The following will first explain the terminology and technical solutions used in the embodiments of this application.

[0050] 1. Access points and stations Embodiments of this application will be primarily illustrated by using examples in which WLAN networks, particularly networks to which the IEEE 802.11 system standard applies, are deployed. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various embodiments of this application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth, high-performance radio (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard and primarily used in Europe), and wide area networks (WANs), personal area networks (PANs), or other networks currently known or to be developed in the future. Therefore, regardless of the coverage used and the wireless access protocol used, the various embodiments provided in this application are applicable to any suitable wireless network.

[0051] Embodiments of this application are further applicable to wireless local area network systems such as the Internet of Things (IoT) or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) networks. Of course, embodiments of this application are further applicable to other possible communication systems, such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, and future 6th generation (6G) communication systems.

[0052] The above-mentioned communication systems to which this application is applicable are merely illustrative examples, and the communication systems to which this application is applicable are not limited thereto. This will be explained uniformly here, and further details will not be explained again below.

[0053] Figure 1 shows a WLAN communication system as an example of a wireless communication system applicable to the technical solution of this application. The communication system includes an AP (only AP1 is shown) and one or more STAs (only STA1, STA2, and STA3 are shown). Both the access point and the STAs support the WLAN protocol. The WLAN protocol may include IEEE 802.11be (or referred to as Wi-Fi 7 or EHT protocol) and may further include protocols such as IEEE 802.11ax and IEEE 802.11ac. Of course, with the continuous evolution and development of communication technology, the WLAN protocol may further include next-generation protocols such as IEEE 802.11be. The WLAN is used as an example. The apparatus for implementing the method in this application may be an access point or STA in the WLAN, or a chip or processing system mounted on the access point or STA. As shown in Figure 1, STA1 and STA2 in the basic service set may perform channel contention to preempt channel resources.

[0054] An access point is a device having wireless communication capabilities, supporting communication in accordance with the WLAN protocol, and having the ability to communicate with other devices (e.g., stations or other access points) within a WLAN network. Of course, an access point may also have the ability to communicate with other devices. A WLAN system includes one or more AP stations and one or more non-access point stations (non-AP STAs). For convenience of explanation, in this specification, access point stations are referred to as access points (APs), and non-access point stations are referred to as stations (STAs).

[0055] An access point may be an entire device, or it may be a chip or processing system mounted on the entire device. A device equipped with a chip or processing system may implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application under the control of the chip or processing system (i.e., AP). The AP in the embodiments of this application is a device that provides services to a station (STA) and may support 802.11 series protocols, such as 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, or their next generation. For example, the AP may be a communication entity such as a communication server, router, switch, or bridge. APs may include macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small cells), pico base stations, femto base stations, relay stations, access points, gNBs, transmission reception points (TRPs), evolved node Bs (eNBs), radio network controllers (RNCs), home base stations (e.g., home evolved node B or home node B, HNB), baseband units (BBUs), Wi-Fi access points (APs), integrated access and backhaul (IABs), etc. Of course, APs may alternatively be chips and processing systems in various forms of devices to implement the methods and functions in the embodiments of this application.

[0056] A station is a device having wireless communication capabilities, supporting communication in accordance with the WLAN protocol, and having the ability to communicate with other stations or access points within a WLAN network. For example, an STA is any communication device that enables a user to communicate with an AP and further communicate with the WLAN. The communication device may be an entire device, or it may be a chip or processing system mounted on the entire device. A device on which a chip or processing system is installed may implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application under the control of the chip or processing system (i.e., the station). STA may include mobile phones, mobile stations (MS), tablet computers (pads), computers with wireless transmission and reception capabilities (e.g., notebook computers), virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in telemedicine, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, subscriber units, cellular phones, wireless data cards, personal digital assistant (PDA) computers, tablet computers, laptop computers, machine type communication (MTC) terminals, etc. Stations may include various handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices or computing devices with wireless communication capabilities, or other processing devices connected to wireless modems.Optionally, the station may be a handheld device (handset), an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal in the Internet of Things or a vehicle-to-everything network, or any form of terminal in a 5G or later advanced communication system having wireless communication capabilities. This is not limited to the present application. The station may support multiple WLAN standards such as the 802.11 series protocols, e.g., 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, or their next generation.

[0057] 2. Triggered TXOP sharing mechanism The IEEE 802.11be standard extends the TXOP mechanism. Specifically, an AP acting as a TXOP holder may allocate a portion of the reserved time resources within the TXOP (the first period in Figure 1 below) to a station (hereinafter referred to as the first station) via a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. This mechanism is now called Triggered TXOP sharing. The first station is any station associated with an AP acting as a TXOP holder. The Triggered TXOP sharing mechanism has two allocation modes. In the first allocation mode (Mode 1), the first station may transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. In the second allocation mode (Mode 2), the first station may either perform P2P transmission with the second station or transmit uplink data to the AP within the allocated time. The TXOP sharing mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame indicates the allocation mode. For example, if the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1, the first station is permitted to transmit only frames with the associated AP during the allocated time, or if the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 2, the first station is permitted to transmit frames with the associated AP and P2P transmissions with the second station during the allocated time. It should be understood that when the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 1, the TXOP shared mode corresponds to the first assigned mode (mode 1), or when the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is equal to 2, the TXOP shared mode corresponds to the second assigned mode (mode 2). In this specification, the P2P link used for P2P transmission is set up by two non-AP stations via a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) or according to another P2P protocol.P2P is sometimes referred to as device-to-device (D2D), TDLS, etc., in other technical descriptions. P2P, D2D, TDLS, etc., are essentially the same thing. This is not limited to the present patent.

[0058] Figure 2 illustrates the process by which the AP allocates a portion of the time resources within the reserved TXOP (i.e., the first period in Figure 1) to STA1 via a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. As shown in Figure 2, a clear-to-send-to-self (CTS-to-self) frame sent by the AP is used to reserve the TXOP. The AP sends a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to STA1, which is used to allocate a portion of the time resources within the reserved TXOP (i.e., the first period in Figure 1) to STA1. After receiving the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, STA1 responds to the AP with a CTS. After responding to the AP with a CTS, STA1 sends a non-TB PPDU. The AP makes a block acknowledgment (block ACK, BA) for the non-TB PPDU from STA1. According to existing NAV rules, when NAV is set for an STA, the STA will only respond to frames sent to the STA by the TXOP holder, for example, by sending an ACK or BA response to data sent to the STA by the AP, or by sending a TB PPDU on a resource unit (RU) allocated by the AP via a basic trigger frame. If the STA's NAV value is not 0, the STA is not permitted to actively send, for example, a single user (SU) PPDU. To solve this problem, one way is to allow the STA to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA during the first period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS frame. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: After an STA sends a CTS requested by the MU-RTS TXS from the relevant AP, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP during the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0059] 3. Channel Access The WLAN system operates on unlicensed bandwidth, and the WLAN system's radio channels are shared. Channel access is required before a station can perform a transmit. Before a station needs to transmit a radio frame, it must sense whether another station is performing a transmit. If the channel sense result is busy, the transmit is temporarily suspended until the channel becomes idle. After the channel becomes idle, the station must first perform a random backoff before transmitting data, to address collisions between multiple potential transmitting stations (i.e., stations sending data) via the random backoff. When the channel is idle, the station can transmit a radio frame after the random backoff procedure is complete. In addition, to further reduce throughput loss caused by collisions, a short control frame exchange with the target station, such as a request to send (RTS) / CTS, may be performed before sending data to the target station. After a collision of short frame exchanges occurs, the transmitting station can know that a collision has occurred as soon as possible and, therefore, can access the channel again after performing another random backoff. This avoids the transmission failure of the entire data frame by direct transmission of a long data frame when a collision occurs.

[0060] 4.NAV settings In a WLAN system, a station must perform sensing before performing channel access. Sensing is classified into physical carrier sensing and virtual carrier sensing. Physical carrier sensing involves sensing the energy on the channel and the strength of the WLAN radio frame signal. When the received energy or received strength of the WLAN radio frame is below a threshold, the physical carrier sensing is idle; otherwise, the physical carrier sensing is busy. Virtual carrier sensing is implemented by setting a NAV, which maintains one NAV. When the NAV value is not 0, the virtual carrier sensing is busy, or when the NAV value is 0, the virtual carrier sensing is idle. Generally, a station is only permitted to access the channel and transmit radio frames when both the physical and virtual carrier sensing are idle.

[0061] In early WLAN systems, a station has only one NAV. After successfully receiving a radio frame, the station may update its NAV based on information in the duration field within the radio frame. If the receiver address of the received frame is the medium access control (MAC) address of the received frame, the station does not update its NAV. For another radio frame, if the value of the duration field within the radio frame is greater than the station's current NAV value, the NAV is updated based on the value of the duration field. The NAV mechanism can effectively resolve collision problems caused by hidden nodes. A hidden node is a station that is not within the signal coverage of the transmitting station, but whose transmissions may interfere with those of the receiving station (i.e., the station receiving the data). In the process of the transmitting station sending a radio frame, a hidden node cannot sense the transmitting station's transmission and therefore also transmits a radio frame simultaneously. As a result, the receiving station may not be able to correctly receive the radio frame due to interference. Using virtual carrier sense, after successfully consolidating a channel, the transmitting station first exchanges a short frame with the receiving station, and based on the duration field of the two exchanged short frames, NAV is set for non-target stations around the transmitting and receiving stations. Thus, it is ensured that hidden nodes will no longer compete for the channel or transmit radio frames within the time protected by NAV. This period protected by NAV is usually called TXOP.

[0062] The IEEE 802.11ax standard introduces two NAVs for more granular control: one called the IntraBSS NAV and the other called the Basic NAV. The IntraBSS NAV is updated based on IntraBSS PPDUs, while the Basic NAV is updated based on InterBSS PPDUs, or PPDUs that cannot be distinguished as either IntraBSS PPDUs or InterBSS PPDUs. InterBSS PPDUs are simply PPDUs transmitted from STAs outside the current BSS, while IntraBSS PPDUs are simply PPDUs transmitted from stations within the current BSS. For specific methods of distinguishing between InterBSS PPDUs and IntraBSS PPDUs, refer to the IEEE 802.11ax standard; details are not provided here.

[0063] A station that is not a TXOP holder will update the intraBSS NAV only when the received frame (i.e., the radio frame received by the station) satisfies all of the following conditions:

[0064] The received frame must be an intra-BSS PPDU.

[0065] The value of the duration field in the received frame is greater than the station's current intraBSS NAV value.

[0066] The receiver address of the received frame is not the station's MAC address, or the received frame does not trigger the station to provide an immediate response, or the received frame is a trigger frame.

[0067] The station updates the basic NAV only when the received frame meets all of the following conditions:

[0068] It is impossible to distinguish whether a received frame is an interBSS PPDU, or whether a received frame is an intraBSS PPDU or an interBSS PPDU.

[0069] The value of the duration field in the received frame is greater than the station's current base NAV value.

[0070] The recipient address of the received frame is not the MAC address of the station.

[0071] When both the intraBSS NAV value and the base NAV value are equal to 0, the virtual carrier sense is idle. In this case, the station can perform channel contention. When the station is triggered to make an immediate response by the associated AP, the station can only respond if the station's physical carrier sense is idle and the base NAV value is 0. If the base NAV value is not 0, the station cannot return a response, even if the physical carrier sense result is idle.

[0072] 5. Transmission network allocation vector (TXNAV) TXNAV is a timer maintained within the TXOP holder. TXNAV is initialized based on the duration / ID field in the last successfully transmitted frame by the TXOP holder. In other words, the duration of TXNAV is equal to the remaining duration of the current TXOP. TXNAV begins timing from the end of the PPDU carrying the frame.

[0073] In one implementation, a station is permitted to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the station during the period allocated to the station via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame; that is, the station is permitted to perform autonomous transmission. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: After the relevant AP sends a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0074] However, APs are now further permitted to reinstate permission to control TXOPs when certain conditions are met. In this case, the station is not permitted to continue autonomous transmission. If an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP determines that a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame with a TXOP shared mode subfield equal to 1 has been successfully transmitted to a non-AP EHT STA (see 26.2.6.2 (MU-RTS Trigger Frame Transmission)), the AP is not permitted to transmit any PPDUs for the allocated time specified in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame unless a PPDU carries an immediate response requested by the non-AP STA. The Carrier Sense (CS) mechanism indicates that the media at the TxPIFS boundary is idle after the transmission of immediate response frames sent to the STA has ended, or after the reception of frames from the STA that do not require an immediate response has ended. The corresponding English explanation is as follows: If an EHT AP determines that it has successfully transmitted a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to a non-AP EHT STA whose TXOP shared mode subfield is equal to 1 (see 26.2.6.2 (MU-RTS Trigger Frame Transmission)), the AP shall not transmit any PPDUs for the allocated time specified in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame unless a PPDU carries an immediate response requested by the non-AP STA, and the CS mechanism shall indicate that the media is idle at the TxPIFS slot boundary after either the transmission of the immediate response frame sent to that STA or the reception of any frames from that STA that did not require an immediate response has ended.

[0075] When the AP meets certain conditions, the STA cannot initiate channel contention for the remainder of the allocated time. However, according to the rules of the current protocol, the STA may ignore the NAV set by the AP for the entire allocated time. The STA may initiate channel contention within the remainder of the allocated time, thereby interfering with the AP's transmission. In other words, after the AP resumes authorization to control TXOP, the station ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station for the time allocated to the station via the MU-RTS TXS frame. This can result in interference with the AP's transmission. An example of a communication solution based on the existing triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism is as follows: If the AP allocates the first period to the STA via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame for non-TB PPDU transmission, and the AP again obtains authorization to use TXOP within the first period, the STA may ignore the NAV set by the AP for the remainder of the first period, thereby potentially interfering with the AP's transmission. Currently, it is clear that communication solutions based on the existing triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism have the problem that the station may interfere with the AP's transmission. Therefore, there is a need to study communication solutions based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism that can avoid interference with AP transmissions. The communication solution based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism provided in this application can avoid interference with AP transmissions. The main principle of the communication solution based on a triggered transmission opportunity sharing mechanism provided in embodiments of this application is to determine the conditions under which the STA loses permission to use the period allocated to the STA by the AP via the MU-RTS TXS frame. Correspondingly, for the remainder of the period, the STA is not permitted to ignore the NAV set by the AP for the STA.

[0076] The communication solution provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0077] Figure 3 is a dialogue flowchart of a communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the method includes the following steps.

[0078] 301: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0079] In response, the station (STA) receives a first frame from the access point (AP). The first frame indicates that the access point is allocating a first period to the station. For example, the first frame indicates that the access point is allocating a first period within a reserved TXOP to the station. Optionally, the first frame is a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. Alternatively, the first frame may be another radio frame indicating that the access point is allocating a first period to the station. This is not limited to the present application. The first period may be any period within a TXOP that is allocated to the station by the AP. This is not limited to the present application.

[0080] A possible implementation is that the first field in the first frame indicates that the station is permitted to transmit frames only to the access point during the allocated time (i.e., the first period). Optionally, the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and the value of the first field is equal to 1.

[0081] 302: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0082] The second frame indicates that the station has successfully received the first frame. The second frame may be a CTS frame or another frame. The requirement that the station respond to the AP with a CTS frame in response to the first frame is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0083] 303: Ignore the NAV set by the AP for the duration of the first period until one of the following conditions occurs:

[0084] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station. In other words, the TXOP shared mode in the first frame means that the station is permitted to transmit only frames with the associated AP for the allocated time, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0085] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted. That is, the TXOP shared mode in the first frame allows the station to transmit only frames with the associated AP for the allocated time, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0086] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP. In other words, the TXOP shared mode in the first frame allows the station to transmit only frames with the corresponding AP for the allocated time, and the station does not transmit a PPDU in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0087] The statement in the above description that "the value of TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1" may be equivalently replaced with "TXOP shared mode in the first frame means that the station is permitted to transmit only frames with the associated AP for the allocated time." PIFS in the above description may be equivalently replaced with a pre-configured duration. PIFS is merely an example of a pre-configured duration, and it should be understood that a pre-configured duration may be configured on request.

[0088] In other words, if any one of the following conditions occurs during the first period, the station will not ignore the NAV set by the access point. These conditions are as follows:

[0089] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0090] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU in PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0091] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0092] The ignoring of the NAV set by the access point can be understood as follows: if the current NAV (which may specifically be the intraBSS NAV) is set based on frames transmitted by the relevant access point, the station may treat the current NAV value as 0, even if the current NAV value is not 0; or, if the current NAV is not set based on frames transmitted by the relevant access point, the station must consider the current virtual carrier sense result to be busy if the NAV value is not 0.

[0093] The fact that the NAV set by the access point is not ignored can be understood as meaning that, regardless of whether the current NAV value (which may specifically be the intraBSS NAV) is set based on frames transmitted by the relevant access point, the station must consider the current virtual carrier sense result to be busy unless the current NAV value is 0.

[0094] When the STA has an intraBSS NAV and a basic NAV, the detailed virtual carrier sense results can be summarized in the table below. [Table 1]

[0095] Table 1 shows the virtual carrier sense results obtained when the STA has an intraBSS NAV and a base NAV. From the third row of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is not ignored, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the base NAV value is 0, the station determines that the virtual carrier sense result is busy. From the fourth row of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is not ignored, if the NAV value not set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the base NAV value is 0, the station determines that the virtual carrier sense result is busy. From the ninth row of Table 1, it can be seen that when the NAV set by the access point is ignored, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the base NAV value is 0, the station determines that the virtual carrier sense result is idle. From row 10 of Table 1, it can be seen that when ignoring the NAV set by the access point, if the NAV value set by the AP is not 0 (i.e., non-zero) and the base NAV value is 0, the station will determine that the virtual carrier sense result is busy. Here, we will only explain the meaning represented by the four rows of Table 1. The meaning of each row in Table 1 can be interpreted similarly, and the meaning of each row will not be explained again here.

[0096] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 303. Step 303 may be understood as the station ignoring the NAV set by the access point during the first period before any of the above conditions occur. In other words, the station may perform autonomous transmission during the first period before any of the above conditions occur. The NAV set by the access point may be understood as the NAV set by the access point for the station. The NAV set by the access point may include the station's intraBSS NAV and / or basic NAV. The third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point; i.e., the Ack Policy subfield in the third frame is set to No Ack. A transmission failure at the station means that the station transmits a frame that requires an immediate response, but does not receive a response frame after a short inter-frame space (SIFS) time after the transmission of the frame has finished. In this case, the transmission is determined to have failed.

[0097] Step 303 may be replaced with determining that virtual carrier sense is idle if the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0 after the NAV set by the access point has begun to be ignored during the first period and after the first condition has occurred during the first period, and determining that virtual carrier sense is busy if the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0. The first condition includes one of the following:

[0098] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0099] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is 1, and the station does not send a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0100] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is 1, and the station does not send a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0101] Alternatively, step 303 may be replaced with the STA ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the STA for a time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response has been transmitted; or the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA experiences a transmission failure.

[0102] The procedure in Figure 3 may also be described as follows: After a station (STA) sends a CTS in response to a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame) from an AP, the STA must ignore the NAV set by the AP for the time allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after a frame that does not require an immediate response has been transmitted; or the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA experiences a transmission failure. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After the relevant AP has sent a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the duration of the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame until one of the following conditions occurs: i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the relevant AP; i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; i.e., if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0103] In a possible implementation, after any one of the above conditions occurs, the station may perform the following action: namely, after detecting that the virtual carrier sense is idle during the first period, initiate channel contention. In other words, the station does not initiate channel contention before detecting that the virtual carrier sense is idle. This can avoid interference with AP transmissions, and reduce or avoid interference with AP transmissions.

[0104] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period until any one of the above conditions occurs. This avoids interference with AP transmissions.

[0105] Figure 4 is an interaction flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method procedure in Figure 4 is essentially the same as that in Figure 3, but has a different description. As shown in Figure 4, the method includes the following steps:

[0106] 401: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0107] For step 401, please refer to step 301.

[0108] 402: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0109] For step 402, please refer to step 302.

[0110] 403: The station ignores the NAV set by the AP until one of the following conditions occurs:

[0111] The first period ends.

[0112] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0113] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU in PIFS after the third frame has been sent, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0114] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0115] In other words, the station will not ignore the NAV set by the access point if any one of the following conditions occurs. These conditions are as follows:

[0116] The first period ends.

[0117] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0118] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU in PIFS after the third frame has been sent, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0119] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0120] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 403. Step 403 may be understood as the station ignoring the NAV set by the access point before any of the above conditions occur. That is, the station may perform autonomous transmission before any of the above conditions occur. For explanations of terms or nouns in Figure 4, please refer to Figure 3. Further details are not explained again here.

[0121] Step 403 may be replaced with determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0, or that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value is equal to 0, after the NAV set by the access point has begun to be ignored and after the first condition has occurred. The first condition includes one of the following:

[0122] The first period ends.

[0123] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and a transmission failure occurs at the station.

[0124] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU in PIFS after the third frame has been sent, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the AP.

[0125] The TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not send a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP.

[0126] Alternatively, step 403 continues until one of the following conditions occurs, i.e., within the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame Signaled Time allocation handUntil one of the following occurs, i.e., the first period ends; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; or the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and the STA experiences a transmission failure, the STA may be replaced with ignoring the NAV set by the AP for the STA during the period allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0127] The procedure in Figure 4 may also be described as follows: After the station (STA) transmits a CTS from the AP for the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (corresponding to the first frame), the STA continues until one of the following conditions occurs, i.e., within the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame Signaled Time allocation handThe NAV set by the AP for the STA will be ignored until one of the following occurs: the process ends; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and an immediate response is received from the AP, and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS after that; the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a frame that does not require an immediate response is transmitted, and the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS after that; or the TXOP shared mode value in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1 and a transmission failure occurs on the STA. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After the relevant AP sends a CTS requested by the MU-RTS TXS, the STA sending a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP until one of the following conditions occurs: the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame ends; if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the relevant AP; if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions in the PIFS after sending a frame that does not require an immediate response; or if the TXOP shared mode subfield value is equal to 1, a transmission failure occurs.

[0128] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the station ignores the NAV set by the access point until any one of the above conditions occurs. This avoids interference with AP transmissions.

[0129] Figure 5 is an interactive flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method procedure in Figure 5 is a possible implementation of the method described in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In this implementation, after the third frame has been transmitted, if the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS, the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station. This avoids interference with the AP's transmission. As shown in Figure 5, the method includes the following steps:

[0130] 501: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0131] For step 501, please refer to step 301.

[0132] 502: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0133] For step 502, please refer to step 302.

[0134] 503: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point during the first period.

[0135] After responding to the AP with the second frame for the first frame, the station performs step 503. Step 503 can be understood as the station beginning to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP with the second frame for the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP with the second frame for the first frame, the station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start of the first period.

[0136] 504: The station transmits the third frame to the AP.

[0137] In response, the AP receives a third frame from the station. The third frame may be any radio frame that does not require an immediate response from the AP, such as a PPDU. In other words, the AP does not need to provide an immediate response to the third frame.

[0138] 505: If the TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is 1, and no PPDU is transmitted within the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, the station determines that it will not ignore the NAV set by the access point during the second period.

[0139] The start time of the second period may be the time after the third frame has been transmitted when the station determines that no PPDU has been transmitted within the PIFS, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period. In actual application, the PIFS may be replaced with other durations. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application. When a case occurs (is detected) in which no PPDU has been transmitted within the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, the station can no longer continue to ignore the NAV set by the access point and can no longer continue autonomous transmission.

[0140] Alternatively, step 505 may be replaced with the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle if the NAV value is equal to 0, or if the NAV value is not equal to 0, when no PPDU has been transmitted in the PIFS since the third frame was transmitted. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value is equal to 0 may be replaced with determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when both the station's intraBSS NAV value and base NAV value are equal to 0. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value is not equal to 0 may be replaced with determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when at least one of the station's intraBSS NAV value and base NAV value is not 0.

[0141] Alternatively, step 505 may be replaced with the station continuing to ignore the NAV set by the access point when any PPDU is transmitted within the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted.

[0142] In this embodiment of the present application, if the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after the third frame has been transmitted, the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station. This avoids interference with the AP's transmission.

[0143] Figure 6 is an interactive flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method procedure in Figure 6 is a possible implementation of the method described in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In this implementation, when a transmission failure occurs (a transmission failure has occurred), the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station. This avoids interference with the AP's transmission. As shown in Figure 6, the method includes the following steps:

[0144] 601: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0145] For step 601, please refer to step 301.

[0146] 602: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0147] For step 602, please refer to step 302.

[0148] 603: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point during the first period.

[0149] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 603. Step 603 can be understood as the station beginning to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start of the first period.

[0150] 604: The station transmits the second PPDU to the AP.

[0151] In response, the AP receives a second PPDU from the station. The second PPDU may be a PPDU that requires an immediate response from the AP, or it may not be a PPDU that requires an immediate response from the AP. This is not limited to the embodiments of this application. Step 604 is optional, not mandatory. When the second PPDU is a PPDU that requires an immediate response from the AP, the station may receive an immediate response from the AP for the second PPDU after transmitting it to the AP.

[0152] 605: If the TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1 and a transmission failure occurs, the station decides not to ignore the NAV set by the access point during the second period.

[0153] The occurrence of a transmission failure may also be called a transmission failure. The start time of the second period may be the time when the station determines that a transmission failure has occurred, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period.

[0154] Alternatively, step 605 may be replaced with the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0, or determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0.

[0155] In this embodiment of the present application, when a transmission failure occurs, the station no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station. This makes it possible to avoid interference with the AP's transmission.

[0156] Figure 7 is an interactive flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method procedure in Figure 7 is a possible implementation of the method described in Figure 3 or Figure 4. In this implementation, after receiving an immediate response from the AP, if the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS, the STA no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the STA. This avoids interference with the AP's transmissions. As shown in Figure 7, the method includes the following steps:

[0157] 701: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0158] For step 701, please refer to step 301.

[0159] 702: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0160] For step 702, please refer to step 302.

[0161] 703: The station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point during the first period.

[0162] After responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station performs step 703. Step 703 can be understood as the station beginning to ignore the NAV set by the access point after responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame. In other words, after responding to the AP with the second frame in response to the first frame, the station begins to ignore the NAV set by the access point at the start of the first period.

[0163] 704: The station transmits the first PPDU to the AP.

[0164] In response, the AP receives the first PPDU from the station. The first PPDU is any PPDU that the AP must respond to with an immediate response. Optionally, the first PPDU is a non-TB PPDU, which requires the AP to respond with an immediate response.

[0165] 705:AP responds to the station with an immediate response to the first PPDU.

[0166] In response, the station receives an immediate response from the AP to the first PPDU.

[0167] 706: If the TXOP shared mode value in the first frame is equal to 1, and no PPDU is sent in PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, the station determines that it will not ignore the NAV set by the access point during the second period.

[0168] The start time of the second period may be the time from when the station receives an immediate response from the AP until it determines that no PPDU has been transmitted within the PIFS, and the end time of the second period is the end time of the first period. The second period is included in the first period.

[0169] Step 706 may be replaced by the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when no PPDU is sent in the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, and the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0, or by the station determining that the virtual carrier sense is busy when the NAV value set by the access point is not equal to 0. Determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when the NAV value set by the access point is equal to 0 may be replaced by determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle when both the station's intraBSS NAV value and base NAV value are 0. Optionally, the station initiates channel contention after determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle. In other words, the station cannot initiate channel contention before determining that the virtual carrier sense is idle.

[0170] Alternatively, step 706 may be replaced by the station continuing to ignore the NAV set by the access point when it receives an immediate response from the AP and then sends the PPDU within the PIFS.

[0171] In this embodiment of the present application, if the STA does not initiate any PPDU transmissions within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the AP, the STA no longer ignores the NAV set by the AP for the STA. This avoids interference with the AP's transmissions.

[0172] Figure 8 is an interaction flowchart of another trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism-based communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method procedure in Figure 8 differs in technical essence from the method procedure in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 8, the method includes the following steps:

[0173] 801: The AP transmits the first frame to the station.

[0174] For step 801, please refer to step 301. The first frame indicates that the access point allocates the first period to the station.

[0175] In possible implementations, the first field within the first frame indicates that the station is permitted to transmit frames only with the associated AP for the allocated time. Optionally, the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield, and its value is equal to 1. In this implementation, since the first field is the TXOP shared mode subfield and its value is equal to 1, the decision of whether to skip initiating channel contention during the first period is based on the first field.

[0176] 802: The station responds to the AP in the second frame for the first frame.

[0177] For step 802, please refer to step 302.

[0178] 803: The station ignores the NAV set by the AP during the first period and does not initiate channel contention during the first period.

[0179] Implementations in which the station does not initiate channel contention during the first period are not limited to the embodiments of this application. In other words, any method that can achieve the technical objective of the station not initiating channel contention during the first period is within the scope of protection of this application. Optionally, the station sets the base NAV to a value greater than 0 and holds that value unchanged. Optionally, the station sets the base NAV to a value greater than the duration of the first period.

[0180] Step 803 may be replaced by the station not initiating channel contention for the time allocated in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the TXOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1.

[0181] The method procedure in Figure 8 can be described as follows: After the station transmits a CTS frame for the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the AP, the station ignores the NAV set by the AP for the station for the duration allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, and if the value of the XOP shared mode subfield in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is 1, the station does not initiate channel contention for the duration allocated via the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. The corresponding English translation may be as follows: After the relevant AP transmits a CTS requested by MU-RTS TXS, the STA transmitting a response CTS shall ignore the NAV set by the AP for the duration of the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. The STA shall not initiate channel contention for the duration of the time allocation signaled in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame if the value of the XOP shared mode subfield is equal to 1.

[0182] In this embodiment of the present application, after responding to the first frame with the second frame, the NAV set by the access point is ignored for a first period, and channel contention is not initiated for a first period. This reduces or avoids interference to AP transmissions.

[0183] Referring to the drawings, the structure of a communication device capable of implementing the communication method using a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism according to an embodiment of this application will be described below.

[0184] Figure 9 shows the structure of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may implement corresponding functions or steps implemented by the station in the embodiment of the method described above, or corresponding functions or steps implemented by the access point in the embodiment of the method described above. The communication device may include a processing module 910 and a transceiver module 920. Optionally, a storage unit may be further included. The storage unit may be configured to store instructions (code or program) and / or data. The processing module 910 and the transceiver module 920 may be coupled to the storage unit. For example, the processing module 910 may read instructions (code or program) and / or data in the storage unit and implement corresponding methods. The above units may be arranged independently, or they may be partially or entirely integrated. For example, the transceiver module 920 may include a transmit module and a receive module. The transmit module may be a transmitter, and the receive module may be a receiver. The entity corresponding to the transceiver module 920 may be a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0185] In several possible implementations, the communication device 900 can implement corresponding station operations and functions in embodiments of the methods described above. For example, the communication device 900 may be a station or a component used in a station (e.g., a chip or circuit). For example, the transceiver module 920 may be configured to perform all receive or transmit operations performed by the station in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8, and / or to support other processes of the technology described herein. The processing module 910 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by the station in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8.

[0186] In several possible implementations, the communication device 900 can implement corresponding operations and functions of the access point in the embodiments of the method described above. For example, the communication device 900 may be an access point, or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) used in an access point. For example, the transceiver module 920 may be configured to perform all receive or transmit operations performed by the access point in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8, and / or to support other processes of the technology described herein. The processing module 910 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by the access point.

[0187] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the structure of another communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device in Figure 10 may be the station described above, or it may be the access point described above.

[0188] As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 100 includes at least one processor 1010 and a transceiver 1020.

[0189] In some embodiments of this application, the processor 1010 and the transceiver 1020 may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc., that are performed by the station. For example, the transceiver 1020 performs all receive or transmit operations performed by the station in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8. For example, the processor 1010 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by the station in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8.

[0190] In some embodiments of this application, the processor 1010 and the transceiver 1020 may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc., performed by the access point. For example, the transceiver 1020 performs all receive or transmit operations performed by the access point in the embodiments of Figures 3 to 8. The processor 1010 is configured to perform all operations other than receive or transmit operations performed by the access point.

[0191] The transceiver 1020 is configured to communicate with other devices / equipment via a transmission medium. The processor 1010 is configured to receive or transmit data and / or signaling via the transceiver 1020 and implement the method in the embodiment of the method described above. The processor 1010 may implement the functions of the processing module 910, and the transceiver 1020 may implement the functions of the transmit / receive module 920.

[0192] Optionally, the transceiver 1020 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is mainly configured to convert baseband signals to radio frequency signals and to process radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of radio waves. Input / output devices, such as a touchscreen, display, or keyboard, are mainly configured to receive data entered by the user and output data to the user.

[0193] Optionally, the communication device 100 may further include at least one memory 1030 configured to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1030 is coupled to the processor 1010. The coupling in the embodiments of this application is an indirect coupling or a communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms and is used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1010 may cooperate with the memory 1030. The processor 1010 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1030. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0194] After the power to the communication device 100 is turned on, the processor 1010 can read the software program in the memory 1030, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When it is necessary to transmit data wirelessly, the processor 1010 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and then outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves via the antenna. When transmitting data to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal via the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1010. The processor 1010 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0195] In an alternative implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antennas may be located independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antennas may be located remotely, independently of the communication equipment.

[0196] The specific connecting medium between the transceiver 1020, the processor 1010, and the memory 1030 is not limited to the embodiments of this application. In this embodiment of this application, the memory 1030, the processor 1010, and the transceiver 1020 are interconnected via a bus 1040 in Figure 10. The bus is represented by a thick line in Figure 10. Other ways of connecting components are merely illustrative examples and are not limited thereto. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, the bus is represented by only one thick line in Figure 10. However, this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0197] In embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component that may implement or perform the methods, steps and logic block diagrams disclosed in embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in relation to embodiments of this application may be performed directly by the hardware processor or by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0198] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the structure of another communication device 110 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11, the communication device shown in Figure 11 includes a logic circuit 1101 and an interface 1102. The processing module 910 in Figure 9 may be implemented via the logic circuit 1101, and the transceiver module 920 in Figure 9 may be implemented via the interface 1102. The logic circuit 1101 may be a chip, processing circuit, integrated circuit, system on chip (SoC), etc. The interface 1102 may be a communication interface, input / output interface, etc. In this embodiment of the present application, the logic circuit and the interface may be further coupled to each other. The specific method of connecting the logic circuit and the interface is not limited to the embodiment of the present application.

[0199] In some embodiments of this application, logic circuits and interfaces may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc., that are performed by the station.

[0200] In some embodiments of this application, logic circuits and interfaces may be configured to perform functions, operations, etc., that are performed by access points.

[0201] This application further provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer programs or instructions. When a computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing the methods of the embodiments described above. The computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more usable media. The usable media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives, SSDs), etc. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or another programmable device.

[0202] It should be noted that a person skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the method in the embodiment may be implemented by a program that directs the relevant hardware. The program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium includes read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical disc memory, magnetic disc memory, magnetic tape memory, or any other computer-readable medium that can be configured to carry or store data.

[0203] This application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes instructions or a computer program. When the instructions or computer program are executed on a computer, the method of the embodiment described above is performed. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, all or part of the procedure or function described above in the embodiment of this application is generated.

[0204] All or part of the embodiments described above may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, all or part of the embodiments described above may be implemented in the form of a computer program product.

[0205] This application further provides a communication system including the aforementioned station and the aforementioned access point.

[0206] The technical solutions of this application, either in essence or in part with respect to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solutions, may be implemented in the form of a software product. The computer program product is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a device (which may be a terminal device, a network device, an in-vehicle device, a router, a server, a robot, a chip, or a robot) to perform all or part of the steps of the method in the embodiments of this application.

[0207] The foregoing description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modification or substitution readily understood by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical scope disclosed herein shall be within the scope of protection of this application. Accordingly, the scope of protection of this application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method based on a trigger transmission opportunity sharing mechanism, which is applied to a station, A step of receiving a first frame from an access point, wherein the first frame indicates that the access point has allocated a first period to the station, After responding to the first frame with the second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs, i.e., The value of the Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) Shared Mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and after the third frame is transmitted, the station does not transmit a Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) in the Point Adjustment Function Interframe Space (PIFS), where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point, or The value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. The steps include: ignoring the network allocation vector (NAV) set by the access point during the first period until one of the following occurs; Methods that include...

2. The NAV is an intra-basic service set (BSS) NAV. The method according to claim 1.

3. Any one of the above conditions is: The first period ends, The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. A communication device, said device is a station or is applied to a station, A transmit / receive module configured to receive a first frame from an access point, wherein the first frame indicates that the access point has allocated a first period to the station, and the transmit / receive module After the first frame is responded to with the second frame, until one of the following conditions occurs, i.e., The value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and after the third frame is transmitted, the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS, where the third frame does not require an immediate response from the access point, or The value of the TXOP shared mode in the first frame is equal to 1, and the station does not transmit a PPDU within the PIFS after receiving an immediate response from the access point. A processing module configured to ignore the NAV set by the access point during the first period until one of the following occurs: Communication devices, including

5. The NAV is an intraBSS NAV. The apparatus according to claim 4.

6. Any one of the above conditions is: The first period ends, The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

7. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and when the program instructions are executed, the computer is able to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. A communication device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured such that when it executes an instruction, the communication device is able to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The device further comprises a memory, the memory being configured to store the instruction. The apparatus according to claim 8.

10. A chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor reads instructions stored in memory via the communication interface and performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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