A method for indicating bandwidth which is applied in wireless area networks and communication equipment.

Abstract

Invention details;

Description

Bandwidth indication method applied to wireless local area network and communication device

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202010366775.6 filed on April 30, 2020, and entitled "Bandwidth indication method applied to wireless local area network and communication device", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication, and in particular to a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network and a communication device. BACKGROUND

[0003] WLAN has gone through several generations since its inception, including 802.11a / b / g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and 802.11be (also known as Wi-Fi 7) which is currently under discussion. Among them, 802.11n standard is called HT (High Throughput), 802.11ac standard is called VHT (Very High Throughput), 802.11ax standard is called HE (High Efficient), and 802.11be standard is also called EHT (Extremely High Throughput).

[0004] In terms of bandwidth configuration, 802.11ax currently supports the following bandwidth configurations: 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, and 80+80MHz. Among them, the difference between 160MHz and 80+80MHz is that the former is a continuous frequency band, while the two 80MHz in the latter can be separated. In 802.11be, configurations such as 240MHz and 320MHz will be supported.

[0005] The allocation of user band resources is not in units of 20MHz channels, but in units of resource units (RUs). The RUs can be in the form of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, 484-tone RUs, or 996-tone RUs, etc. Tone refers to a subcarrier. For example, FIG. 1 is a diagram of subcarrier distribution and RU distribution for an 80MHz bandwidth. As shown in FIG. 1, when the bandwidth is 80MHz, the entire bandwidth is composed of 4 resource units of 242-tone RUs, and in particular, in the middle of the entire bandwidth, there is also a middle 26-tone RU composed of two 13-tone subunits. Alternatively, the entire bandwidth can be composed of a whole 996-tone RU, or various combinations of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, and 484-tone RUs.

[0006] Currently, the resource unit indication method of downlink (DL) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and downlink (DL) multiple user (MU) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) has been provided in 802.11ax. In 802.11ax, the sender sends a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) containing high efficient-signal field-A (HE-SIG-A) and high efficient-signal field-B (HE-SIG-B). HE-SIG-A is used to indicate the symbol length of HE-SIG-B, the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of HE-SIG-B, the bandwidth of the entire PPDU, etc. If the PPDU bandwidth is greater than 20MHz, HE-SIG-A is duplicated and transmitted on each 20MHz. The PPDU also contains HE-SIG-B, which provides resource indication information for DL MU MIMO and DL OFDMA. HE-SIG-B is separately encoded on each 20MHz. The encoding structure of HE-SIG-B on each 20MHz is shown in FIG. 2. The entire HE-SIG-B is divided into two parts, a common field and a user specific field. The common field contains 1-N resource unit allocation subfields (RU allocation subfield) and, when the bandwidth is greater than or equal to 80MHz, a center 26-tone resource unit indication field, followed by a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) for checking and a tail subfield (Tail) for cyclic decoding. In the user specific field, there are 1-M user fields in the order of resource unit allocation. M user fields are usually two in a group, and each two user fields are followed by a CRC and a Tail field, but the last group should be excluded. In the last group, there may be 1 or 2 user fields.

[0007] In 802.11ax, the concept of content channel (CC) is introduced. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the HE-SIG-B field when the PPDU bandwidth is 80MHz. As shown in FIG. 3, when the PPDU bandwidth is 80MHz, the HE-SIG-B field has 2 CCs, a total of 4 channels, and the overall structure is CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2 from low to high in frequency, which indicates the resource unit allocation information on the 4 channels. The first and third 242-tone RU range resource unit allocation subfields and the corresponding user fields are included in CC1; the second and fourth 242-tone RU range resource unit subfields and the corresponding user fields are included in CC2. In addition, the 80MHz middle 26-tone RU indication is carried on both CCs, indicating whether the resource unit is used for data transmission. Similarly, when the PPDU bandwidth is 160MHz, the HE-SIG-B field has 2 CCs, a total of 8 channels, and the overall structure is CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2 from low to high in frequency, which indicates the resource unit allocation information on the 8 channels. The first, third, fifth and seventh 242-tone RU range resource unit allocation subfields and the corresponding user fields are included in CC1; the second, fourth, sixth and eighth 242-tone RU range resource unit subfields and the corresponding user fields are included in CC2.

[0008] In summary, the prior art realizes resource unit indication in the case of 20MHz-160MHz, but the overhead is large. In the 802.11be standard (Wi-Fi7) or later standards (for example, Wi-Fi8), the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU can be 240MHz or 320MHz or larger, and the resource unit indication in the PPDU will increase exponentially. Therefore, how to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission is a problem to be solved at present.

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] The embodiments of the present application provide a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network and a communication device, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0011] In a first aspect, the present application provides a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network, the method comprising: generating, by an access point, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein a transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into multiple fragments, and the PPDU comprises a universal signaling (U-SIG) field carried in one fragment, and the U-SIG field comprises a bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field indicates a channel bandwidth in which resource units allocated to stations docked in the fragment are located; and transmitting, by the access point, the PPDU to the stations.

[0012] Based on the method described in the first aspect, by setting the bandwidth field of the fragment to indicate the channel bandwidth in which the resource units allocated to the stations docked in the fragment are located, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field of the fragment can correspond to the channel bandwidth in which the resource units allocated to the stations are located, and only resource indication information corresponding to the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field can be carried on the fragment, which is beneficial to reducing signaling overhead of PPDU transmission. Moreover, cross-fragment resources can be allocated to the stations, and compared with allocating only resource units of a fragment in which the stations are docked, the stations can be allocated resources more flexibly.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the PPDU further comprises an EHT-SIG field carried in one fragment; the EHT-SIG field comprises resource unit allocation subfields, and the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field corresponds to the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, and the resource unit allocation subfields are used to indicate resource units allocated to the stations docked in the fragment. By corresponding the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field of the fragment to the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, only resource indication information corresponding to the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field can be carried on the fragment, which is beneficial to reducing signaling overhead of PPDU transmission. Moreover, cross-fragment resources can be allocated to the stations, and compared with allocating only resource units of a fragment in which the stations are docked, the stations can be allocated resources more flexibly.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the U-SIG field further comprises a compression field, and if the compression field indicates a non-compression mode, the EHT-SIG field comprises the resource unit allocation subfields.

[0015] In a possible implementation, if the resources of the stations camping in the slice are used for OFDMA transmission, the compression field indicates the non-compression mode. Optionally, the resources of the stations camping in the slice are used for OFDMA transmission includes two cases, case 1: the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission. Case 2: the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission, and the resources of the stations camping in the slice are used for OFDMA transmission. In the optional manner, whether to compress the EHT-SIG field can be determined in the granularity of the slice, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0016] In a possible implementation, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field are transmitted on the 40 MHz bandwidth. Compared with transmitting the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field on the entire slice, this is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the correspondence between the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field and the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field includes one or more of the following: if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 1; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 2; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 80 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 4; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 160 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 8; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 240 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 12; or, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 320 MHz, the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 16. Based on the possible implementation, there is a sufficient number of resource unit allocation subfields to indicate the resources in the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncturing indication field, which is used to indicate the case that the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured. The number of bits required by the preamble puncturing indication field is less than the number of bits required by the resource unit allocation subfield, so the resource unit allocation subfield is replaced by the preamble puncturing indication field to indicate the resource unit allocation of the station, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the U-SIG field further includes a compression field, and the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncturing indication field if the compression field indicates a compression mode.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the compression field indicates the compression mode if the resource of the station docked in the slice is used for non-OFDMA transmission. In this optional mode, the EHT-SIG field can be compressed in the granularity of the slice, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of the PPDU transmission. Optionally, the resource of the station docked in the slice is used for non-OFDMA transmission includes two cases, case 1: the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for non-OFDMA transmission; and case 2: the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission, but the resource of the station docked in the slice is used for non-OFDMA transmission.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field can include a resource unit allocation subfield in the compression mode and the non-compression mode. In the compression mode, the resource unit allocation subfield is used to implement the function of the preamble puncturing indication field, that is, to indicate the case that the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured. In the non-compression mode, the resource unit allocation subfield is used to indicate the resource unit allocation of the station.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the U-SIG field is further used to indicate the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field, and the preamble puncturing indication field is further used to indicate the number of users of MU-MIMO. By implementing this possible implementation, the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field can be directly informed to the station, so that the station can accurately determine the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the U-SIG field is further used to indicate the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field, and the PPDU further includes a first field carried on the slice, the first field is used to indicate the number of users of multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO), and the first field is different from the preamble puncturing indication field. By implementing this possible implementation, the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field can be directly informed to the station, so that the station can accurately determine the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the PPDU further includes an EHT-SIG field carried on a slice, the U-SIG field further includes a compression field, the compression field indicates a compression mode if the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission, and the EHT-SIG field does not include a resource unit allocation subfield when the compression field indicates the compression mode. The EHT-SIG field can be compressed in the granularity of the entire transmission bandwidth of the PPDU, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of the PPDU transmission.

[0025] In a possible implementation, if the compression field indicates the compressed mode, the U-SIG field is further used to indicate the number of users of MU-MIMO.

[0026] In a possible implementation, if the compression field indicates the compressed mode, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncturing indication field, which is used to indicate the case where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured. In this possible implementation, the resource unit allocation of the station is indicated by the preamble puncturing indication field instead of the resource unit allocation subfield, which is beneficial to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the EHT-SIG fields included in the PPDU are the same and carried on multiple fragments. Based on this possible implementation, the reliability of EHT-SIG field transmission can be increased.

[0028] In a second aspect, a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network is provided, and the method includes: receiving, by a station, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) sent by an access point, wherein a transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into multiple fragments, the PPDU includes a universal signaling (U-SIG) field carried on one fragment, the U-SIG field includes a bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field indicates a channel bandwidth of a resource unit allocated to a station docked in the fragment; and determining, by the station, the channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated according to the received U-SIG field.

[0029] The beneficial effects and possible implementation manners of the second aspect can be refer to the description in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0030] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be an access point, a device in the access point, or a device capable of being used with the access point. The communication apparatus can also be a chip system. The communication apparatus can execute the method in the first aspect. The functions of the communication apparatus can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above functions. The unit can be software and / or hardware. The operations and beneficial effects of the communication apparatus can be refer to the method and beneficial effects of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0031] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be a station, a device in the station, or a device capable of being used in conjunction with the station. The communication apparatus can also be a chip system. The communication apparatus can perform the method of the second aspect. The functions of the communication apparatus can be implemented by hardware, or by corresponding software executed by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the functions described above. The units can be software and / or hardware. The operations and advantages of the communication apparatus can be found in the method of the second aspect and the advantages described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0032] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes at least one processor, and when the processor invokes a computer program in a memory, the method performed by the access point in the method of the first aspect is performed.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes at least one processor, and when the processor invokes a computer program in a memory, the method performed by the station in the method of the second aspect is performed.

[0034] In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor and a memory, the memory being configured to store a computer program, and the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus performs the method performed by the access point in the method of the first aspect.

[0035] In an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor and a memory, the memory being configured to store a computer program, and the processor being configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus performs the method performed by the station in the method of the second aspect.

[0036] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to receive signals or transmit signals, the memory being configured to store a computer program, and the processor being configured to invoke the computer program from the memory to perform the method performed by the access point in the method of the first aspect.

[0037] In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to receive signals or transmit signals, the memory being configured to store a computer program, and the processor being configured to invoke the computer program from the memory to perform the method performed by the station in the method of the second aspect.

[0038] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor and a communication interface, the communication interface is configured to receive a computer program and transmit the computer program to the processor; the processor executes the computer program to perform the method executed by the access point in the method of the first aspect.

[0039] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor and a communication interface, the processor executes a computer program to perform the method executed by the station in the method of the second aspect.

[0040] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium is configured to store instructions, when the instructions are executed, the method executed by the access point in the method of the first aspect is implemented.

[0041] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium is configured to store instructions, when the instructions are executed, the method executed by the station in the method of the second aspect is implemented.

[0042] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, when the instructions are executed, the method executed by the access point in the method of the first aspect is implemented.

[0043] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, when the instructions are executed, the method executed by the station in the method of the second aspect is implemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0045] Fig. 1 is a 80MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Fig. 2 is an encoding structure of HE-SIG-B on 20MHz provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of HE-SIG-B field when PPDU bandwidth is 80MHz provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig. 4 is a 20MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a 40MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a frame structure of an HE MU PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an HE-SIG-B field when a bandwidth of an HE MU PPDU is 20MHz according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an HE-SIG-B field when a bandwidth of an HE MU PPDU is 40MHz according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG. 9 is a diagram of an HE-SIG-B field when a bandwidth of an HE MU PPDU is 160MHz according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a frame structure of an EHT MU PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a slice according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 14 is a diagram of allocation of a channel and a channel bandwidth of a station parked in a slice 1 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG. 15 is a diagram of allocation of a channel and a channel bandwidth of a station parked in a slice 2 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG. 16 is a diagram of allocation of a channel and a channel bandwidth of a station parked in a slice 3 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG. 17 is a diagram of allocation of a channel and a channel bandwidth of a station parked in a slice 4 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a frame structure of a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG. 19 is a diagram of another frame structure of a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG. 20 is a diagram of another frame structure of a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an EHT-SIG field 1 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an EHT-SIG field 2 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of an EHT-SIG field 3 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of an EHT-SIG field 4 according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of another PPDU frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of another PPDU frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of another PPDU frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of another PPDU frame structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG. 30a is a schematic diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG. 30b is a schematic diagram of yet another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the descriptive terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth,” etc. are to be construed, at least in some instances, as interchangeable, to avoid limitations of a specific sequential or chronological order. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and the like are to be construed in an open-ended fashion, and should be interpreted to mean the foregoing recited elements or process steps are by no means limiting of the structure, function, or use of the application. In addition, the terms “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and the like used in the context of describing certain structures, functions, or uses of the application are not used to mean that the structures, functions, or uses are in any way exclusive of additional structures, functions, or uses.

[0077] Reference herein to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they necessarily all referring to a common set of embodiments, to the exclusion of other embodiments. It is expressly understood that that the embodiments described herein with either the directly or indirectly related dependencies are intended to be combined with other embodiments in their entirety.

[0078] "Multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0079] To facilitate understanding of the relevant content of the embodiments of this application, some background knowledge is introduced below.

[0080] 1. WLAN bandwidth configuration

[0081] WLAN has evolved through several generations, including 802.11a / b / g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and the currently discussed 802.11be. Among these, the 802.11n standard is called HT (High Throughput), the 802.11ac standard is called VHT (Very High Throughput), the 802.11ax standard is called HE (High Efficient), and the 802.11be standard is called EHT (Extremely High Throughput). The bandwidth configurations supported by the PPDU of each of these WLAN standards are shown in Table 1 below.

[0082] Table 1

[0083]

[0084] 2. Resource Unit (RU)

[0085] User bandwidth resources are not allocated in units of 20MHz channels, but in units of resource units (RUs). RUs can take the form of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, 484-tone RUs, or 996-tone RUs, etc., where tone represents a subcarrier.

[0086] For example, FIG. 4 is a diagram of a 20MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, when the bandwidth is 20MHz, the entire bandwidth can be composed of one entire 242-tone RU, or various combinations of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, and 106-tone RUs. The bandwidth includes not only RUs for transmitting data, but also some guard subcarriers, null subcarriers (the subcarrier where 1 is located in the figure is a null subcarrier, where 1 represents that the number of null subcarriers is 1), or direct current (DC) subcarriers.

[0087] For another example, FIG. 5 is a diagram of a 40MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, when the bandwidth is 40MHz, the entire bandwidth is approximately equivalent to a copy of the 20MHz subcarrier distribution, and the entire bandwidth can be composed of one entire 484-tone RU, or various combinations of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, and 242-tone RUs.

[0088] For another example, FIG. 1 is a diagram of an 80MHz subcarrier distribution and RU distribution provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, when the bandwidth is 80MHz, the entire bandwidth is composed of four 242-tone RUs, and in particular, there is a middle 26-tone RU composed of two 13-tone subunits in the middle of the entire bandwidth. The entire bandwidth can be composed of one entire 996-tone RU, or various combinations of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, and 484-tone RUs.

[0089] When the bandwidth is 160MHz or 80+80MHz, the entire bandwidth can be regarded as a copy of two 80MHz subcarrier distributions, and the entire bandwidth can be composed of one entire 2*996-tone RU, or various combinations of 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, 484-tone RUs, and 996-tone RUs.

[0090] 3. Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission and non-OFDMA transmission

[0091] OFDMA transmission is a multi-user communication mechanism, which is applicable to data frame exchange between access points (APs) and non-AP stations (non-AP STAs) in the 802.11ax standard and later, and the entire transmission bandwidth can be divided into multiple RUs, which are respectively allocated to different users. In non-OFDMA transmission, the entire transmission bandwidth is used as a whole for single user (SU) or multiple user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) transmission. For non-OFDMA transmission, after performing preamble puncturing, the remaining part that is not punctured forms multiple RUs, and the multiple RUs are combined as a whole. The multiple RU combination supported by non-OFDMA transmission is equivalent to the preamble puncturing combination supported by non-OFDMA transmission.

[0092] 4. High efficient multiple user physical layer protocol data unit (HE MU PPDU)

[0093] The HE MU PPDU is mainly used for DL OFDMA and DL MU-MIMO transmission in 802.11ax. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the HE MU PPDU. As shown in FIG. 6, the HE MU PPDU is divided into a preamble and a data field part, wherein the preamble part includes two HE signaling fields, i.e., a high efficient-signal field-A (HE-SIG-A) and a high efficient-signal field-B (HE-SIG-A). The related description of HE-SIG-A and HE-SIG-B can be referred to the description in the background art.

[0094] Among them, the resource unit allocation subfield in HE-SIG-B is 8 bits, which indicates all possible resource unit arrangement combinations in a 242-tone RU by indexing. In addition, for RUs with a size greater than or equal to 106-tone, the number of users (i.e., the number of STAs) for SU / MU-MIMO transmission in the RU is indicated by indexing. The index of the resource unit allocation subfield is shown in Table 2:

[0095] Table 2

[0096]

[0097]

[0098] As shown in Table 2, the first column represents the 8-bit index of the resource unit allocation subfield, and the middle columns #1-#9 represent the different resource unit permutations. Each row in Table 2 represents a RU allocation case. For example, the index 00111y2y1y0 indicates that 52-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 26-tone RU, and 106-tone RU are allocated. In addition, the number in Table 2 is used to indicate the number of users contained in the 106-tone RU. For example, the number corresponding to 00010y2y1y0 is 8, because y2y1y0 is used to indicate the number of users (i.e., stations) in the 106-tone RU in addition to indicating the resource unit allocation. Each value of y2y1y0 can be 0 or 1.

[0099] It should be noted that the order of the users in the user-specific field is consistent with the order of the RUs divided in the corresponding resource unit allocation subfield. A user can identify whether the user field belongs to itself by reading the station identifier in the user field. In combination with the position of the user field and the corresponding resource unit allocation subfield, the user can know the RU allocation case of itself.

[0100] Most of the RU allocations in Table 2 are in the range of 242-tone. In addition, a small number of indices indicate that the RU is 242-tone RU, 484-tone RU, or 996-tone RU.

[0101] 5. Content Channel (CC)

[0102] In units of 242-tone RUs, the left side of FIG. 1, FIG. 4, or FIG. 5 can be regarded as the lowest frequency, and the right side of the figure can be regarded as the highest frequency. From left to right, the 242-tone RUs can be labeled as 1#, 2#, …, 8#.

[0103] 802.11ax introduces the concept of content channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the bandwidth of the HE MU PPDU is only 20 MHz, the HE-SIG-B field only contains one content channel CC1, which contains one resource unit allocation subfield, used to indicate the resource unit allocation indication in the data part 242-tone RU range.

[0104] For example, as shown in Figure 8, when the HE MU PPDU bandwidth is 40MHz, the HE-SIG-B field includes two content channels, namely CC1 and CC2. CC1 contains the resource unit allocation subfield within the first 242-tone RU range and the corresponding user field; CC2 contains the resource unit allocation subfield within the second 242-tone RU range and the corresponding user field.

[0105] For example, as shown in Figure 3, when the HE MU PPDU bandwidth is 80MHz, the HE-SIG-B field still includes two CCs, for a total of four channels. Therefore, the resource unit allocation information is indicated on the four channels in a structure of CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, from low to high frequency. Specifically, CC1 contains the resource unit allocation sub-fields within the first and third 242-tone RU ranges, along with the corresponding user fields within those ranges; CC2 contains the resource unit sub-fields within the second and fourth 242-tone RU ranges, along with the corresponding user fields within those ranges. Additionally, both CCs carry an 80MHz intermediate 26-tone RU indication, indicating whether the resource unit is used for data transmission.

[0106] For example, as shown in Figure 9, when the HE MU PPDU bandwidth is 160MHz, the HE-SIG-B field still includes two CCs, for a total of eight channels. Therefore, the resource unit allocation information is indicated on the eight channels in a structure of CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, CC1, CC2, CC2, from low to high frequency. Specifically, CC1 includes the resource unit allocation subfields within the first, third, fifth, and seventh 242-tone RU ranges, along with the corresponding user fields within those ranges; CC2 includes the resource unit subfields within the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth 242-tone RU ranges, along with the corresponding user fields within those ranges. Additionally, both CCs carry an 80MHz intermediate 26-tone RU indication, indicating whether the resource unit is used for data transmission.

[0107] 6. Extremely high throughput multiple user physical layer protocol data unit (EHT MU PPDU)

[0108] An EHT MU PPDU is introduced in 802.11be. The EHT MU PPDU is mainly used for DL OFDMA and DL MU-MIMO transmission in 802.11be. As shown in FIG. 10, the frame structure of the currently proposed EHT MU PPDU mainly includes a legacy short training (L-STF) field, a legacy long training (L-LTF) field, a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, a repeated legacy signal (RL-SIG) field, a universal signal (U-SIG) field, an extremely high throughput-signal (EHT-SIG) field, an EHT short training (EHT-STF) field, an EHT long training (EHT-LTF) field, and a data field. The EHT-SIG field can include two parts, a first part common field containing 1-N resource unit allocation subfields, and a second part user specific field, according to the order of resource unit allocation, there are 1-M user fields.

[0109] As described above, 802.11ax realizes resource unit indication in the case of 20M-160MHz, but the overhead is large, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the transmission bandwidth of the HE MU PPDU is 160MHz, 4 resource unit allocation sub-indication fields are included on each CC, and 4 user fields inside all 242-tone RUs are included, the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission is large. In the 802.11be standard or later standards, when the transmission bandwidth of the EHT MU PPDU is larger, the signaling overhead will further increase. In order to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission, the embodiments of the present application provide a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network and a communication device.

[0110] In order to facilitate understanding of the scheme described in the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture of the embodiments of the present application is described first as follows:

[0111] It should be noted that the technical scheme of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a wireless local area network WLAN using 802.11be or a standard after 802.11be, and can also be applied to other communication systems supporting large bandwidth OFDM transmission.

[0112] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the system architecture can include access point (AP) type stations and non-AP type stations (non-AP stations, non-AP STAs). For ease of description, the access point type stations are referred to herein as access points (APs), and the non-AP type stations are referred to herein as stations (STAs). The system architecture can include one or more access points and one or more stations. FIG. 11 takes an example in which the system architecture includes one access point and three stations.

[0113] The access point can be an access point for a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) to enter a wired (or wireless) network, and is mainly deployed in a home, a building, and a park, and has a typical coverage radius of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, the access point can also be deployed outdoors. The access point serves as a bridge connecting a wired network and a wireless network, and mainly functions to connect various wireless network clients together and then access the wireless network to an Ethernet. Specifically, the access point can be a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip. The access point can be a device supporting the 802.11be standard. The access point can also be a device supporting multiple wireless local area network (WLAN) standards of the 802.11 family, such as the 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a standards. The access point in the present application can be a high efficient (HE) AP or an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP, and can also be an access point applicable to a future generation of WiFi standards.

[0114] The station can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal, and can also be referred to as a user. For example, the station can be a mobile phone supporting a WiFi communication function, a tablet computer supporting a WiFi communication function, a set-top box supporting a WiFi communication function, a smart television supporting a WiFi communication function, a smart wearable device supporting a WiFi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication device supporting a WiFi communication function, and a computer supporting a WiFi communication function, and the like. Optionally, the station can support the 802.11be standard. The station can also support multiple WLAN standards of the 802.11 family, such as the 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a standards.

[0115] For example, the access point and the station can be devices applied in vehicle networking, Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, sensors, etc. in Internet of Things, smart cameras, smart remote controllers, smart water meters, and sensors, etc. in smart cities.

[0116] The technical solution of the present application can be applied to data communication between an access point and one or more stations, also applied to communication between an access point and multiple access points, and also applied to communication between a station and multiple stations. The technical solution of the present application will be described below taking data communication between an access point and multiple stations as an example.

[0117] Please refer to FIG. 12, which is a flowchart of a bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12, the bandwidth indication method applied to the wireless local area network includes the following steps 1201-1203. The method execution subject shown in FIG. 12 can be an access point and a station. Alternatively, the method execution subject shown in FIG. 12 can be a chip in the access point and a chip in the station. FIG. 12 takes an access point and a station as the execution subject as an example.

[0118] 1201, the access point generates a PPDU, wherein the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into multiple fragments, the PPDU includes a U-SIG field carried on one fragment, the U-SIG field includes a bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field indicates the channel bandwidth where the resource unit allocated to the station docked in the fragment is located.

[0119] In the embodiment of the present application, the PPDU can be an EHT MU PPDU, or the PPDU can be a PPDU in other standards of 802.11, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The transmission bandwidth of the PPDU can be 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz / 80+80MHz, 240MHz or 320MHz, etc.

[0120] The names of various fields in the entire text of the embodiment of the present application can also be other names, for example, the U-SIG field and the bandwidth field can be called in 802.11be, but can also be called other field names in standards after 802.11be. The "field" described in the text can also be called "domain", "information", etc. The "subfield" can be called "subdomain", "information", etc.

[0121] The following first introduces the two concepts of fragment and the channel bandwidth where the resource unit allocated to the station is located:

[0122] 1. Fragment

[0123] In the embodiments of the present application, the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into multiple fragments. One fragment can be 80 MHz. Alternatively, one fragment can also be 20 MHz or 40 MHz or 160 MHz, etc. One or more stations are docked in part or all of the multiple fragments.

[0124] For example, taking the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU as 320 MHz and one fragment as 80 MHz. As shown in FIG. 13, 320 MHz includes 16 channels, and one channel is equivalent to 20 MHz. The transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into fragment 1 to fragment 4, each of which is 80 MHz. Station 1 to station 5 are docked in fragment 1, station 6 and station 7 are docked in fragment 2, station 8 is docked in fragment 3, and station 9 is docked in fragment 4.

[0125] Alternatively, the bandwidth sizes of different fragments can also be different. For example, the 320 MHz transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into fragment 1 to fragment 3, fragment 1 is 80 MHz, fragment 2 is 80 MHz, and fragment 3 is 160 MHz.

[0126] 2. Channel bandwidth where the resource unit allocated to the station is located

[0127] For the stations docked in different fragments, the channels and channel bandwidths of the stations docked in each fragment can be defined in advance.

[0128] For example, FIG. 14 shows the allocation of the channels and channel bandwidths of the stations docked in fragment 1. As shown in FIG. 14, the pre-defined channels of the stations docked in fragment 1 include: primary 20 MHz channel (or simply primary channel, Primary 20MHz, P20), secondary 20 MHz channel (Secondary 20MHz, S20), secondary 40 MHz channel (Secondary 40MHz, S40), secondary 80 MHz (Secondary 80MHz, S80) channel and secondary 160 MHz (Secondary 160MHz, S40) channel. Channel 13 corresponds to the primary 20 MHz channel. Channel 14 corresponds to the secondary 20 MHz channel. Channel 15 and channel 16 are combined into the secondary 40 MHz channel. Channels 9 to 12 are combined into the secondary 80 MHz channel. Channels 1 to 8 are combined into the secondary 160 MHz channel.

[0129] The channel bandwidth of the station camping in the predefined slice 1 can include one or more of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 240MHz and 320MHz. If the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is greater than 320MHz, the predefined channel bandwidth can also be greater than 320MHz. FIG. 14 takes an example in which the channel bandwidth of the station camping in the predefined slice 1 includes 80MHz, 160MHz, 240MHz and 320MHz. As shown in FIG. 14, if the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is in the slice 1 and not in the slices 2-4, the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is located is 80MHz. If the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is in the slice 2 and not in the slices 3 and 4, the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is located is 160MHz. If the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is in the slice 3 and not in the slice 4, the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is located is 240MHz. If the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is in the slice 4, the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 1 is located is 320MHz.

[0130] The allocation of the channel and the channel bandwidth of the station camping in the slice 2 is shown in FIG. 15. The allocation of the channel and the channel bandwidth of the station camping in the slice 3 is shown in FIG. 16, and the allocation of the channel and the channel bandwidth of the station camping in the slice 4 is shown in FIG. 17. The principle of determining the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice 2 or the slice 3 or the slice 4 is located is the same as that of the slice 1, and thus is not described herein.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present application, the PPDU further includes a data part of the station camping in the slice. The resource unit allocated to the station is used to carry the data part received by the station, and the station can receive its own data on the allocated resource unit. Therefore, the bandwidth field indicating the channel bandwidth in which the resource unit allocated to the station camping in the slice is located can also be equivalent to the bandwidth field indicating the channel bandwidth in which the data part of the station camping in the slice is located.

[0132] The frame structure of the PPDU in the embodiments of the present application is described below by taking a specific example:

[0133] For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is 320MHz, the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into 4 slices, and each slice has a size of 80MHz, and each slice includes 4 channels. The predefined channel bandwidths of the slices 1-4 are shown in FIGS. 14-17.

[0134] The PPDU includes a U-SIG field 1 carried on fragment 1, which includes a bandwidth field 1. The PPDU may also include an EHT-SIG field 1 carried on fragment 1, used to indicate the resource elements allocated to the stations docked within fragment 1. The PPDU also includes a data portion 1 for transmission to stations 1 through 5. The channel bandwidth for data portion 1 is 80 MHz (i.e., the channel bandwidth for the resource elements allocated to stations 1 through 5 is 80 MHz). Therefore, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 1 is 80 MHz.

[0135] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 2 carried on fragment 2, which includes a bandwidth field 2. The PPDU may also include an EHT-SIG field 2 carried on fragment 2, indicating the resource elements allocated to the stations docked within fragment 2. The PPDU also includes a data portion 2 for transmission to station 6 and a data portion 3 for transmission to station 7. The channel bandwidth for data portions 2 and 3 is 80 MHz (i.e., the channel bandwidth for the resource elements allocated to stations 6 and 7 is 80 MHz). Therefore, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 2 is 80 MHz.

[0136] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 3 carried on fragment 3, which includes a bandwidth field 3. The PPDU may also include an EHT-SIG field 3 carried on fragment 3, used to indicate the resource element allocated to the station docked within fragment 3. The PPDU also includes a data portion 4 for transmission to station 8. This data portion 4 exists in both fragment 3 and fragment 4; therefore, the channel bandwidth of this data portion 4 is 160MHz (i.e., the channel bandwidth of the resource element allocated to station 8 is 160MHz). Therefore, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 3 is 160MHz.

[0137] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 4 carried on fragment 4, which includes a bandwidth field 4. The PPDU may also include an EHT-SIG field 4 carried on fragment 4, indicating the resource element allocated to the station docked within fragment 4. The PPDU also includes a data portion 5 for transmission to station 9. The channel bandwidth of this data portion 5 is 80MHz (i.e., the channel bandwidth of the resource element allocated to station 9 is 80MHz). Therefore, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 4 is 80MHz.

[0138] In one possible implementation, the PPDU may include only the U-SIG and EHT-SIG fields from a portion of the fragment.

[0139] For example, if site 9, which is docked within segment 4, is not allocated a resource unit, then the PPDU may not include the U-SIG field 4 and EHT-SIG field 4 carried on segment 4. That is, the access point does not need to send the U-SIG field 4 and EHT-SIG field 4 on segment 4, which helps to save signaling overhead in PPDU transmission. Of course, the PPDU can also include the U-SIG field and EHT-SIG field from all segments.

[0140] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG and EHT-SIG fields can be transmitted on a portion of the channel in the fragmentation in the following three cases.

[0141] Case 1: If the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field of the fragment is greater than or equal to the size of the fragment, but the channel of the fragment is punctured, then the U-SIG field and EHT-SIG field carried on the fragment are transmitted on that part of the channel.

[0142] For example, as shown in Figure 19, although bandwidth field 1 indicates 80MHz, the resource units allocated to sites 1 through 5 are on channels 15 and 16 of segment 1, meaning that 40MHz of the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 1 is punctured. Therefore, U-SIG field 1 can be transmitted only on channels 15 and 16 of segment 1. Similarly, although bandwidth field 4 indicates 80MHz, the resource units allocated to site 9 are on channels 3 and 4 of segment 4, which is equivalent to 40MHz of the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 4 being punctured. Therefore, U-SIG field 4 can be transmitted only on channels 3 through 4 of segment 4. Of course, as shown in Figure 18, when the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 1 is punctured, U-SIG field 1 and EHT-SIG field 1 can also be transmitted on all channels of segment 1. When the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 4 is punctured, U-SIG field 4 and EHT-SIG field 4 can also be transmitted on all channels of segment 4. This increases the reliability of U-SIG and EHT-SIG field transmission.

[0143] Case 2: If the bandwidth field of the fragment indicates a channel bandwidth of 40MHz, then the U-SIG field and EHT-SIG field carried on the fragment are transmitted on that 40MHz.

[0144] For example, as shown in Figure 20, bandwidth field 1 indicates a channel bandwidth of 40MHz. Therefore, U-SIG field 1 and EHT-SIG field 1 can be transmitted only on channels 13 and 14 of segment 1. Similarly, bandwidth field 4 indicates a channel bandwidth of 40MHz. Therefore, U-SIG field 4 and EHT-SIG field 4 can be transmitted only on channels 1 to 2 of segment 4. Of course, U-SIG field 1 and EHT-SIG field 1 can also be transmitted on all channels of segment 1, and U-SIG field 4 and EHT-SIG field 4 can also be transmitted on all channels of segment 4, which can increase the reliability of U-SIG field and EHT-SIG field transmission.

[0145] Case 3: If the bandwidth field of the fragment indicates a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, then the U-SIG and EHT-SIG fields carried on that fragment are transmitted on that 20MHz. The implementation principle of Case 3 is the same as when the bandwidth field of the fragment indicates a channel bandwidth of 40MHz, and will not be repeated here.

[0146] 1202. The access point sends a PPDU to the site.

[0147] In this embodiment of the application, after the access point generates a PPDU, it sends the PPDU to the site.

[0148] 1203. The station determines the channel bandwidth of the allocated resource unit based on the received U-SIG field.

[0149] In this embodiment, the station receives PPDUs on the segment where it is docked. After receiving the U-SIG field, the station determines the channel bandwidth where the allocated resource element is located based on the U-SIG field. Then, the station can determine the resource element allocated to it within that channel bandwidth and receive the data portion of the PPDU intended for transmission to the station on that resource element.

[0150] For example, in Figure 18, stations 1 to 5 receive U-SIG field 1 on slice 1 and determine the channel bandwidth of their allocated resource element to be 80MHz based on U-SIG field 1. After determining the resource element allocated to stations 1 to 5 within this 80MHz based on EHT-SIG field 1, stations 1 to 5 receive data portion 1 of the PPDU on that resource element. The same applies to stations in other slices, and will not be elaborated here.

[0151] In 802.11ax, the bandwidth field of the HE-SIG-A field transmitted on each channel is used to indicate the total transmission bandwidth of the PPDU. For example, if the total transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is 320MHz, the HE-SIG-B field in the PPDU includes CC1 and CC2. CC1 and CC2 each include 8 resource element allocation subfields. CC1 and CC2 are transmitted on 8 channels respectively, meaning that 8 resource element allocation subfields are transmitted on each channel, resulting in very high signaling overhead for PPDU transmission. By implementing the method described in Figure 12, the total transmission bandwidth of the PPDU can be fragmented, and the bandwidth field of each fragment can be set to indicate the channel bandwidth where the resource element allocated to the station within that fragment is located. Therefore, the number of resource element allocation subfields included in the HE-SIG field of that fragment can correspond to the channel bandwidth where the resource element allocated to the station is located. This allows the fragment to carry only the resource indication information corresponding to the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field, thus reducing the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission. Furthermore, it can allocate cross-shard resources to sites, which is more flexible than the previous method of allocating resources to the shards to which a site is located.

[0152] The following sections describe the possible implementations of the EHT-SIG field:

[0153] (i) The EHT-SIG field includes (or contains) a resource element allocation subfield, and the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field corresponds to the number of resource element allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field. By corresponding the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field of the fragment to the number of resource element allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, resource indication information corresponding to the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field can be carried on the fragment, which helps to reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission. Furthermore, cross-fragment resources can be allocated to stations, providing greater flexibility in resource allocation compared to only allocating resource elements to the fragments where the station is located.

[0154] Optionally, the correspondence between the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field and the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field includes one or more of the following: if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 1; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 2; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 80 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 4; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 160 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 8; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 240 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 12; or, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 320 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 16.

[0155] The following example illustrates the correspondence between the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field and the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field:

[0156] For example, as shown in Figure 18, the PPDU includes a U-SIG field 1 and an EHT-SIG field 1 carried on segment 1. The U-SIG field 1 includes a bandwidth field 1. The bandwidth field 1 indicates a channel bandwidth of 80MHz. Since each 20MHz bandwidth corresponds to a resource element allocation subfield, the EHT-SIG field 1 includes four resource element allocation subfields. As shown in Figure 18, the EHT-SIG field 1 may include CC11 and CC12. Transmission is performed on the four channels of segment 1 according to the structure CC11, CC12, CC11, CC12. As shown in Figure 21, CC11 on segment 1 includes a resource element allocation subfield 1 within the first 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 3 within the third 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field. CC12 on segment 1 includes a resource element allocation subfield 2 within the second 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 4 within the fourth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field.

[0157] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 2 and an EHT-SIG field 2 carried on segment 2. The U-SIG field 2 includes a bandwidth field 2. The bandwidth field 2 indicates a channel bandwidth of 80MHz. Therefore, the EHT-SIG field 2 includes four resource element allocation subfields. As shown in Figure 18, the EHT-SIG field 2 may include CC21 and CC22. Transmission is performed on the four channels of segment 2 according to the structure CC21, CC22, CC21, CC22. As shown in Figure 22, CC21 on segment 2 includes a resource element allocation subfield 5 within the fifth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 7 within the seventh 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field. CC22 on segment 2 includes a resource element allocation subfield 6 within the sixth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 8 within the eighth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field.

[0158] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 3 and an EHT-SIG field 3 carried on fragment 3. The U-SIG field 3 includes a bandwidth field 3. The bandwidth field 3 indicates a channel bandwidth of 160MHz. Therefore, the EHT-SIG field 3 includes eight resource element allocation subfields. As shown in Figure 18, the EHT-SIG field 3 may include CC31 and CC32, transmitted on the four channels of fragment 3 according to the structure CC31, CC32, CC31, CC32. As shown in Figure 23, CC31 on fragment 3 includes a resource element allocation subfield 9 within the ninth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 11 within the eleventh 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 13 within the thirteenth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 15 within the fifteenth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific fields. CC32 on shard 3 includes resource unit allocation subfield 10 in the tenth 242-tone RU range, resource unit allocation subfield 12 in the twelfth 242-tone RU range, resource unit allocation subfield 14 in the fourteenth 242-tone RU range, resource unit allocation subfield 16 in the sixteenth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific fields.

[0159] The PPDU also includes a U-SIG field 4 and an EHT-SIG field 4 carried on segment 4. The U-SIG field 4 includes a bandwidth field 4. The bandwidth field 4 indicates a channel bandwidth of 80MHz. Therefore, the EHT-SIG field 4 includes four resource element allocation subfields. As shown in Figure 18, the EHT-SIG field 4 may include CC41 and CC42. Transmission is performed on the four channels of segment 4 according to the structure CC41, CC42, CC41, CC42. As shown in Figure 24, CC41 on segment 4 includes a resource element allocation subfield 17 within the thirteenth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 19 within the fifteenth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field. CC42 on segment 4 includes a resource element allocation subfield 18 within the fourteenth 242-tone RU range, a resource element allocation subfield 20 within the sixteenth 242-tone RU range, and the corresponding user-specific field.

[0160] It should be noted that the ranges from the first 242-tone RU to the sixteenth 242-tone RU mentioned above refer to the entire bandwidth of the PPDU. The intermediate 26-tone RU indicator field may also be excluded from each of the aforementioned CCs. Resource unit allocation subfields 13 to 16 may be the same as or different from resource unit allocation subfields 17 to 20.

[0161] Referring to Figures 18 and 21-24, it can be observed that CCs transmitted on channels 1-4 and 9-16 each include only two resource element allocation subfields and the corresponding user-specific fields. CCs transmitted on channels 5-8 each include only four resource element allocation subfields and the corresponding user-specific fields. In contrast, with 802.11ax, when the PPDU transmission bandwidth is 320MHz, CCs transmitted on all 16 channels in 802.11ax include eight resource element allocation subfields and the corresponding user-specific fields. Therefore, by corresponding the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field to the number of resource element allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, it is beneficial to reduce the number of CCs transmitted on each channel that include resource element allocation subfields, thus saving overhead.

[0162] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field may also include a compression field. When the compression field indicates a non-compressed mode, the EHT-SIG field includes (or has) a resource unit allocation subfield. When the compression field indicates a compressed mode, the EHT-SIG field does not include (or does not have) a resource unit allocation subfield. Alternatively, the U-SIG field may not include a compression field, and the EHT-SIG field may always include a resource unit allocation subfield.

[0163] Optionally, the compression field may include 1 bit. For example, as shown in Figure 25, a value of 1 in the compression field indicates compression mode. In compression mode, the EHT-SIG field does not include the resource unit allocation subfield. As shown in Figure 26, a value of 0 in the compression field indicates uncompressed mode. In uncompressed mode, the EHT-SIG field includes the resource unit allocation subfield. Alternatively, the compression field can also have a value of 1 indicating uncompressed mode and a value of 0 indicating compression mode.

[0164] In one possible implementation, resources of stations docked within a fragment are used for OFDMA transmission, and the compression field indicates uncompressed mode. Conversely, resources of stations docked within a fragment are used for non-OFDMA transmission, and the compression field indicates compressed mode. In this alternative approach, whether to compress the EHT-SIG field can be determined at the fragment granularity, which is more beneficial for saving signaling overhead in PPDU transmission.

[0165] The resources of stations docked within a segment used for OFDMA transmission can include the following two scenarios:

[0166] Case 1: The channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission, and the resources of the stations docked within the slice are also used for OFDMA transmission. For example, as shown in Figure 27, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 3 is used for OFDMA transmission (that is, the 160MHz channel is allocated to stations 8, 9, and 10 for OFDMA transmission), and the resources of the stations within slice 3 (i.e., the resource units where data portions 4 and 5 are located) are used for OFDMA transmission (i.e., the resources of the stations within slice 3 are allocated to stations 8 and 9 for OFDMA transmission). Therefore, the compression field in U-SIG field 3 indicates uncompressed mode.

[0167] Scenario 2: The channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission. For example, in Figure 27, the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 2 is used for OFDMA transmission (i.e., the 80MHz channel is allocated to sites 6 and 7 for OFDMA transmission). Therefore, the compression field in U-SIG field 2 can indicate uncompressed mode.

[0168] The resources of stations docked within a segment used for non-OFDMA transmission can include the following two scenarios:

[0169] Scenario 1: The channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission, but the resources of the stations docked within this segment are used for non-OFDMA transmission. For example, as shown in Figure 18, although the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field 3 is used for OFDMA transmission (that is, the 160MHz channel is allocated to stations 8 and 9 for OFDMA transmission), the resources of the stations within segment 3 (i.e., the resource unit where data portion 4 is located) are used for non-OFDMA transmission (i.e., the resources of the stations in segment 3 are only allocated to station 8 for non-OFDMA transmission). Therefore, the compression field in U-SIG field 3 can indicate the compression mode.

[0170] Case 2: The channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for non-OFDMA transmission. For example, in Figure 18, the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 1 is used for non-OFDMA transmission; therefore, the compression field in U-SIG field 1 can indicate the compression mode.

[0171] In one possible implementation, the compression field indicates an uncompressed mode, provided that the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for OFDMA transmission. For example, in Figure 18, the channel bandwidths indicated by bandwidth fields 2 to 4 are all used for OFDMA transmission; therefore, the compression fields in U-SIG fields 2 to 4 can indicate an uncompressed mode.

[0172] In one possible implementation, the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is used for non-OFDMA transmission, but this bandwidth is punctured, and the compression field can indicate an uncompressed mode. Since multiple discrete resource units may exist after puncturing, a resource unit allocation subfield can be used to indicate the site's resource allocation. For example, in Figure 18, although the channel bandwidth indicated by bandwidth field 1 is used for non-OFDMA transmission, it is punctured. Therefore, the compression field in U-SIG field 1 can indicate an uncompressed mode.

[0173] (ii) The EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which indicates whether the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field has been punctured, or whether the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU has been punctured. The name of the preamble puncture indication field can also be replaced with channel puncture field, puncture field, or other names.

[0174] In this implementation, the EHT-SIG field may include a preamble puncture indicator field when the compression field indicates a compression mode. When the compression field indicates a compression mode is explained in the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. Alternatively, the U-SIG field may not include a compression field, and the EHT-SIG field will always include a preamble puncture indicator field. The number of bits required for the preamble puncture indicator field is less than the number of bits required for the resource unit allocation subfield. Therefore, using the preamble puncture indicator field to replace the resource unit allocation subfield to indicate the resource unit allocation status of the site helps reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0175] Optionally, the preamble punch indication field may appear at the same point as the starting point of the resource unit allocation subfield.

[0176] The preamble puncture indicator field can carry an index to indicate the puncture status. The mapping relationship between the index and the puncture pattern can be predefined. For example, one mapping relationship between the index and the puncture pattern is shown in Table 3 below. When the index carried by the preamble puncture indicator field is 0, the puncture pattern is X111. When the index carried by the preamble puncture indicator field is 1, the puncture pattern is 1X11. The same applies when the preamble puncture indicator field carries other indices, which will not be elaborated here. Each bit in the puncture pattern represents 20MHz. X indicates the puncture position. For example, if the puncture pattern is X111, it means the first 20MHz MHz in the 80MHz range is punctured. The RU size column in Table 3 indicates the size of the RU after puncturing. For example, "484+242" indicates that a 484-tone RU and a 242-tone RU are merged. "-+996+996" indicates that two 996-tone RUs are merged. "-" indicates empty. The RU size column may or may not be present in Table 3. It is worth mentioning that the mapping relationship shown in Table 3 can be applied to cases where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured, and also to cases where the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured.

[0177] Table 3

[0178] The index RU size punching pattern is as follows: 0484+242X1111484+2421X112484+24211X13484+242111X4484+996XX11 11115484+99611XX 11116484+9961111 XX117484+9961111 11XX8484+242+996X111 11119484+242+9961X11 111110484+242+99611X1 111111484+242+996111X 111112484+242+9961111 X11113484+242+9961111 1X1114484+242+9961111 11X115484+242+9961111 111X16484+996+996XX11 1111 111117484+996+99611XX 1111 111118484+996+9961111 XX11 111119484+996+9961111 11XX 1111

[0179] 20484+996+9961111 1111 111124-+996+996XXXX 1111 111123-+996+9961111 XXXX 111125484+996+996+996XX11 1111 1111 111126484+996+996+99611XX 1111 1111 111127484+996+996+9961111 XX11 1111 111128484+996+996+9961111 11XX 1111 111129484+996+996+9961111 1111 XX11 111130484+996+996+9961111 1111 11XX 111131484+996+996+9961111 1111 1111 XX1132484+996+996+9961111 1111 1111 11XX33-+996+996+996XXXX 1111 1111 111134-+996+996+9961111 XXXX 1111 111135-+996+996+996XXXX 1111 1111 111136-+996+996+9961111 1111 1111 XXXX37 No drilling

[0180] Table 4 shows another mapping relationship between indexes and puncturing patterns provided in the embodiments of this application. The mapping relationship shown in Table 4 can be used to indicate when the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured. For example, if the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 80MHz, the mapping relationship corresponding to 80MHz in Table 4 can be used to indicate the channel bandwidth puncturing situation. If the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 160MHz, the mapping relationship corresponding to 160MHz in Table 4 can be used to indicate the channel bandwidth puncturing situation. If the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 240MHz, the mapping relationship corresponding to 240MHz in Table 4 can be used to indicate the channel bandwidth puncturing situation. If the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 320MHz, the mapping relationship corresponding to 320MHz in Table 4 can be used to indicate the channel bandwidth puncturing situation. It should be noted that Table 4 can also be split into four tables, each table expressing the puncturing situation under one bandwidth.

[0181] Table 4

[0182]

[0183]

[0184]

[0185] In one possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field can include a resource element allocation subfield in both compressed and uncompressed modes. In compressed mode, the resource element allocation subfield functions as the preamble puncturing indication field described above, indicating whether the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field has been punctured. In uncompressed mode, the resource element allocation subfield indicates the resource element allocation status of the site.

[0186] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field, and the preamble punch indicator field is also used to indicate the number of MU-MIMO users. That is, the PPDU indicates both the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field and the number of MU-MIMO users. By implementing this possible implementation, the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field can be directly communicated to the site, enabling the site to accurately determine the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field.

[0187] For example, as shown in Table 5, the mapping relationship between indices, puncturing modes, and the number of MU-MIMO users can be predefined. When the index carried by the preamble puncturing indicator field is 0, the puncturing mode is X111 and the number of MU-MIMO users is 1. When the index carried by the preamble puncturing indicator field is 1, the puncturing mode is X111 and the number of MU-MIMO users is 2. The same applies when the preamble puncturing indicator field carries other indices, which will not be elaborated here. It should be noted that in Table 5, indices 16-31 correspond to the number of MU-MIMO users 1, 2, 3, ..., 16 in ascending order of index number. Similarly, indices 32-47 correspond to the number of MU-MIMO users 1, 2, 3, ..., 16 in ascending order of index number. The number of users corresponding to indices after 32-47 is similar and will not be elaborated here.

[0188] Table 5

[0189]

[0190]

[0191] In 802.11ax, in uncompressed mode, the HE-SIG-A field indicates the symbol count of the HE-SIG-B field. In compressed mode, the HE-SIG-A field indicates the number of MU-MIMO users. In compressed mode, the symbol count of the HE-SIG-B field is calculated based on the number of MU-MIMO users. However, in this embodiment, due to multiple fragments, the symbol counts of the EHT-SIG field on each fragment need to be aligned. For example, the transmission bandwidth of a PPDU is divided into four fragments. The symbol counts of EHT-SIG field 1 on fragment 1 to EHT-SIG field 4 on fragment 4 must be consistent. If the access point calculates the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 1 to be 7 based on the number of MU-MIMO users in fragment 1, and calculates the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 2 to be 5 based on the number of MU-MIMO users in fragment 2, and calculates the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 3 to be 4 based on the number of MU-MIMO users in fragment 3... The access point calculates the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 4 as 4 based on the number of users in MU-MIMO of fragment 4. Therefore, when generating a PPDU, to align the symbol counts of EHT-SIG field 1 to EHT-SIG field 4 of fragment 4, the access point needs to pad the symbol counts of EHT-SIG field 2 to EHT-SIG field 4 to 7 symbols. After receiving EHT-SIG field 2, the station in fragment 2 calculates the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 2 as 5 based on the number of users in MU-MIMO. In reality, the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 2 is 7, but the station in fragment 2 will mistakenly believe that the symbol count of EHT-SIG field 2 is 5. Stations in fragment 3 and fragment 4 will also incorrectly determine the symbol count of their EHT-SIG fields. Therefore, in this embodiment, by carrying the symbol count of the EHT-SIG field in the U-SIG field, the station can be directly informed of the symbol count of the EHT-SIG field, enabling the station to accurately determine the symbol count of the EHT-SIG field.

[0192] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field. The PPDU also includes a first field carried in the fragment, which indicates the number of MU-MIMO users. This first field is different from the preamble puncture indicator field. Alternatively, in this possible implementation, the number of MU-MIMO users can also be indicated by a field in the PPDU that is different from the preamble puncture indicator field. By implementing this possible implementation, the access point can directly inform the site of the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field, enabling the site to accurately determine the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field.

[0193] The above section introduced how to compress the EHT-SIG field at the fragmentation level. The following section describes how to compress the EHT-SIG field at the entire transmission bandwidth of the PPDU:

[0194] In one possible implementation, if the PPDU's transmission bandwidth is used for non-OFDMA transmission, the compression field indicates the compression mode. That is, the compression field indicates the compression mode only when the entire transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmission. This helps save signaling overhead in PPDU transmission. For example, as shown in Figure 28, the 320MHz transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is allocated as a whole to sites 1 through 5 for MU-MIMO transmission. The compression fields in fragments 1 through 4 all indicate the compression mode, and the EHT-SIG field 1 in fragment 1 through the EHT-SIG field 4 in fragment 4 do not include the resource unit allocation subfield.

[0195] In one possible implementation, the PPDU includes the same EHT-SIG field carried on multiple fragments. For example, EHT-SIG fields 1 to 4 shown in Figure 28 are identical. Based on this possible implementation, stations 1 to 5 can also receive the EHT-SIG field on other fragments, which can increase the reliability of EHT-SIG field transmission.

[0196] In one possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field of the same fragment is identical across different channels within that fragment. For example, as shown in Figure 28, EHT-SIG field 1 has the same content on channels 13 to 16. EHT-SIG field 2 has the same content on channels 9 to 12. EHT-SIG field 3 has the same content on channels 5 to 8. EHT-SIG field 4 has the same content on channels 1 to 4. Based on this possible implementation, the reliability of EHT-SIG field transmission can be increased.

[0197] In one possible implementation, the compression field indicates the compression mode, and the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of MU-MIMO users. In this possible implementation, the U-SIG field of each slice indicates the number of MU-MIMO users. By implementing this possible implementation, the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field can be accurately determined based on the number of MU-MIMO users, without carrying additional signaling to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field, which helps to reduce signaling overhead.

[0198] In one possible implementation, the compression field indicates the compression mode, and the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which indicates whether the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured. The mapping relationship in Table 3 above can be used to indicate whether the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured. In this possible implementation, replacing the resource unit allocation subfield with the preamble puncture indication field to indicate the resource unit allocation status of the site helps reduce the signaling overhead of PPDU transmission.

[0199] Please refer to Figure 29, which shows a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device shown in Figure 29 can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the access point in the method embodiment described in Figure 12 above. This device can be an access point, a device within an access point, or a device compatible with an access point. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 29 may include a communication unit 2901 and a processing unit 2902. This communication unit can also be called a transceiver unit, or it may include a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 2902 is used for data processing. Wherein:

[0200] Processing unit 2902 is used to generate physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into multiple fragments, the PPDU includes a general signaling U-SIG field carried on a fragment, the U-SIG field includes a bandwidth field, the bandwidth field indicates the channel bandwidth where the resource unit allocated to the station in the fragment is located; communication unit 2901 is used to send the PPDU to the station.

[0201] In one possible implementation, the PPDU also includes an EHT-SIG field carried on a fragment; the EHT-SIG field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field corresponds to the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, which are used to indicate the resource units allocated to the sites docked within the fragment.

[0202] In one possible implementation, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, then the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field are transmitted over the 40 MHz bandwidth.

[0203] In one possible implementation, the correspondence between the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field and the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field includes one or more of the following: if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 1; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 2; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 80 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 4; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 160 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 8; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 240 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 12; or, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 320 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 16.

[0204] In one possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which is used to indicate the situation where the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured.

[0205] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field also includes a compression field, which, when indicating a compression mode, includes the preamble punch indication field.

[0206] In one possible implementation, when the resources of a station docked within a fragment are used for non-OFDMA transmission, the compression field indicates the compression mode.

[0207] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field, and the preamble punch indicator field is also used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO).

[0208] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field. The PPDU also includes a first field carried on the fragment, which is used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) program. This first field is different from the preamble punch indication field.

[0209] In one possible implementation, the PPDU also includes an EHT-SIG field carried on a fragment, and the U-SIG field also includes a compression field, which indicates the compression mode if the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-OFDMA transmission.

[0210] In one possible implementation, if the compression field indicates a compression mode, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) system.

[0211] In one possible implementation, if the compression field indicates a compression mode, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which is used to indicate whether the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured.

[0212] In one possible implementation, the PPDU includes the same EHT-SIG field carried on multiple fragments.

[0213] Please refer to Figure 29, which shows a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device shown in Figure 29 can be used to perform some or all of the functions of a station in the method embodiment described in Figure 12 above. This device can be a station, a device within a station, or a device compatible with a station. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 29 may include a communication unit 2901 and a processing unit 2902. This communication unit can also be called a transceiver unit, or it may include a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 2902 is used for data processing. Wherein:

[0214] Communication unit 2901 is used to receive physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) sent by access point, wherein the transmission bandwidth of PPDU is divided into multiple segments, and PPDU includes a general signaling U-SIG field carried on a segment. The U-SIG field includes a bandwidth field, which indicates the channel bandwidth where the resource unit allocated to the station in the segment is located. Processing unit 2902 is used to determine the channel bandwidth where the allocated resource unit is located based on the received U-SIG field.

[0215] In one possible implementation, the PPDU also includes an EHT-SIG field carried on a fragment; the EHT-SIG field includes a resource unit allocation subfield, and the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field corresponds to the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field, which are used to indicate the resource units allocated to the sites docked within the fragment.

[0216] In one possible implementation, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, then the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field are transmitted over the 40 MHz bandwidth.

[0217] In one possible implementation, the correspondence between the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field and the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field includes one or more of the following: if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 1; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 2; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 80 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 4; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 160 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 8; if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 240 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 12; or, if the bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is 320 MHz, then the number of resource unit allocation subfields included in the EHT-SIG field is 16.

[0218] In one possible implementation, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which is used to indicate the situation where the channel bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth field is punctured.

[0219] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field also includes a compression field, which, when indicating a compression mode, includes the preamble punch indication field.

[0220] In one possible implementation, when the resources of a station docked within a fragment are used for non-OFDMA transmission, the compression field indicates the compression mode.

[0221] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field, and the preamble punch indicator field is also used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO).

[0222] In one possible implementation, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of symbols in the EHT-SIG field. The PPDU also includes a first field carried on the fragment, which is used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) program. This first field is different from the preamble punch indication field.

[0223] In one possible implementation, the PPDU also includes an EHT-SIG field carried on a fragment, and the U-SIG field also includes a compression field, which indicates the compression mode if the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-OFDMA transmission.

[0224] In one possible implementation, if the compression field indicates a compression mode, the U-SIG field is also used to indicate the number of users in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) system.

[0225] In one possible implementation, if the compression field indicates a compression mode, the EHT-SIG field includes a preamble puncture indication field, which is used to indicate whether the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is punctured.

[0226] In one possible implementation, the PPDU includes the same EHT-SIG field carried on multiple fragments.

[0227] Figure 30a shows a communication device 300 provided in an embodiment of this application, used to implement the functions of a station or access point in the method embodiment described in Figure 12 above; the device can be a station or access point, or the device can be a device for a station or a device for an access point. The device for a station can be a chip system or chip within the station. The device for an access point can be a chip system or chip within the access point. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0228] The communication device 300 includes at least one processor 3020 for implementing the data processing functions of the station or access point in the bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network described above.

[0229] The device 300 may also include a communication interface 3010 for implementing the transmit and receive operations of the station or access point in the bandwidth indication method applied to a wireless local area network described above.

[0230] In this embodiment, the communication interface can be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface, used for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium. For example, communication interface 3010 is used so that the device in device 300 can communicate with other devices. Processor 3020 uses communication interface 3010 to send and receive data and to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0231] The device 300 may further include at least one memory 3030 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 3030 is coupled to the processor 3020. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 3020 may operate in conjunction with the memory 3030. The processor 3020 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 3030. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0232] This embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the communication interface 3010, processor 3020, and memory 3030. In Figure 30a, the memory 3030, communication interface 3020, and communication interface 3010 are connected via a bus 3040, which is represented by a thick line. The connection methods between other components are merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting. The bus can be categorized as an address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 30a, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0233] When device 300 is specifically used for a site or access point, for example, when device 300 is specifically a chip or chip system, the communication interface 3010 may output or receive baseband signals. When device 300 is specifically a site or access point, the communication interface 3010 may output or receive radio frequency signals. In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field-programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, which can implement or execute the various methods, steps and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0234] As an example, Figure 30b is a schematic diagram of another site 3000 provided in an embodiment of this application. This site can perform the operations performed by the site in Figure 12 above.

[0235] For ease of explanation, Figure 30b only shows the main components of the station. As shown in Figure 30b, station 3000 includes a processor, memory, radio frequency (RF) circuitry, antenna, and input / output devices. The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and data, controlling the entire station, executing software programs, and processing software program data, such as supporting the station in performing the operations described in Figure 12. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The RF circuitry is mainly used for converting baseband signals to RF signals and processing RF signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Station 3000 may also include input / output devices, such as a touchscreen, display screen, and keyboard, mainly used for receiving user input data and outputting data to the user. It should be noted that some types of stations may not have input / output devices.

[0236] Once the station is powered on, the processor can read the software program from the storage unit, interpret and execute the software program, and process the software program's data. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then processes the baseband signal and transmits the RF signal outward as electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the station, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal back into data and processes the data.

[0237] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for ease of explanation, Figure 30b shows only one memory and processor. In a real site, multiple processors and memories may exist. Memory may also be referred to as storage medium or storage device, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0238] As an optional implementation, the processor may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU is mainly used for controlling the entire site, executing software programs, and processing data from those programs. Optionally, the processor may also be a network processor (NP) or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor may further include hardware chips. These hardware chips may be application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or combinations thereof. The PLDs may be complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), generic array logic (GALs), or any combination thereof. Memory may include volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM); memory may also include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid-state drive (SSD); memory may also include combinations of the above types of memory.

[0239] For example, in the embodiments of this application, as shown in FIG30b, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver function can be regarded as the communication unit 3001 of the station 3000, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing unit 3002 of the station 3000.

[0240] The communication unit 3001, also known as a transceiver, transceiver device, or transceiver unit, is used to implement transmission and reception functions. Optionally, the device in the communication unit 3001 used for receiving functions can be considered a receiving unit, and the device in the communication unit 3001 used for transmitting functions can be considered a transmitting unit; that is, the communication unit 3001 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. For example, the receiving unit can also be called a receiver, receiver circuit, or receiving device, and the transmitting unit can be called a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit.

[0241] In some embodiments, the communication unit 3001 and the processing unit 3002 may be integrated into one device or separated into different devices. In addition, the processor and the memory may also be integrated into one device or separated into different devices.

[0242] The communication unit 3001 can be used to perform the sending and receiving operations of the station in the above method embodiment. The processing unit 3002 can be used to perform the data processing operations of the station in the above method embodiment.

[0243] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when run on a processor, are used to execute the methods executed at the site in the above method embodiments.

[0244] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when run on a processor, are used to execute the method executed by the access point in the above method embodiments.

[0245] This application also provides a computer program product, which, when run on a processor, is used to execute the site execution method described in the above method embodiments.

[0246] This application also provides a computer program product, which, when running on a processor, is used to execute the access point execution method described in the above method embodiments.

[0247] Based on the same inventive concept, the principles of the various devices provided in the embodiments of this application for solving the problem are similar to those of the method embodiments of this application. Therefore, the implementation of each device can be referred to the implementation of the method. For the sake of brevity, it will not be described in detail here.

[0248] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0249] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this application can be referenced mutually. Each embodiment has its own emphasis, and parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the sake of convenience and brevity, for example, the functions and execution steps of the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application can be referred to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The method embodiments and the device embodiments can also be referenced, combined or cited from each other.

[0250] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. Communication instrument, which consists of: a processing unit configured to create Physical Layer Protocol Unit (PPDU) data units, where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into many segments; the PPDU contains a universal U-SIG channel with at least one U-SIG field group; the U-SIG contains the bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field specifies the channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated to the station docked in the segment; and a communication unit configured to transmit the PPDU to the station.

2. Communication instrument, which consists of: a communication unit configured to receive Physical Layer Protocol Unit (PPDU) data units transmitted by the access point, where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into many segments; the PPDU contains a universal U-SIG channel operating on the segment; the U-SIG field contains the bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field specifies the channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated to the station docked in the segment; and a processing unit configured to determine the channel bandwidth of the allocated resource unit based on the received U-SIG field. 3.The device under claim 1 or 2, where the PPDU also contains an EHT-SIG channel with very high throughput signals operated in that segment; the EHT-SIG field contains the resource allocation sub-field; the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth channel corresponds to the amount of the resource allocation sub-field containing the EHT-SIG field, and the resource allocation sub-field is used to specify the resources allocated to stations docked in segment 4. The device under claim 3, where if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth channel is 40MHz, the U-SIG and EHT-SIG channels are forwarded at a bandwidth of 40MHz. 5.A tool pursuant to claim clause 3 or 4 may have contact between the bandwidth specified by at least one bandwidth field and the number of resource allocation sub-fields contained in the EHT-SIG field. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz MH2, the quantity of resource allocation sub-fields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 1. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz MH2, the quantity of resource allocation sub-fields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 2. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 40 MHz MH2, the quantity of resource allocation sub-fields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 2. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 80MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields comprised in the EHT-SIG field is 4. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 160MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields comprised in the EHT-SIG field is 8. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 240MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields comprised in the EHT-SIG field is 12. Or if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 320MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields comprised in the EHT-SIG field is 166.Instruments under Claim 1 or 2 where the PPDU incorporates an EHT-SIG field with a very high throughput signal carried on the segment; the EHT-SIG field contains a penetration indication field, and the penetration indication field is used to indicate the penetration status of the bandwidth channel specified by the bandwidth channel 7. Instruments under Claim 6 where the EHT-SIG field contains an additional compression field, and if the compression field specifies the compression mode, the EHT-SIG field contains a penetration indication field 8. Instruments under Claim 7 where, if the station resource parked in the segment is used for non-OFDMA transmission, the compression field specifies the compression mode 9. Instruments under Claim 6 to: either one where the EHT-SIG field is used additionally to indicate the number of EHT-SIG symbols, and the penetration indication field is used additionally to indicate the number of multiple user inputs, multiple MU-MIMO user outputs 10.The instrument under claims 6 through 8, where the b-SIG channel is used in addition to specify the number of EHT-SIGPPDU symbols, shall consist of the first field on the segment. The first field is used to specify the number of MU-MIMO users with multiple outputs, multiple inputs, and multiple users, and the first field shall differ from the prefix indication field.

11. The method of indicating the bandwidth used in a wireless local area network by such method consists of: created by the physical layer protocol data unit access point (PPDU), where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into segments; the PPDU consists of the b-sIG field, the universal signal carried on the segment; the U-SIG field consists of the bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field indicates the channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated to the stations docked in the segment and transmitted by the PPDU access point to the stations. 12.The method of specifying bandwidth used in wireless local area networks consists of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) received by a single station and transmitted by an access point, where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into segments. The PPDU contains a universal U-SIG channel that operates on the segment. The U-SIG field consists of a bandwidth field, and the bandwidth field specifies the channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated to the station docked in the segment and is determined by the station. The channel bandwidth of the resource unit allocated is determined by the received U-SIG field.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, where the PPDU also contains an EHT-SIG field with a very high throughput signal that operates on the segment. The EHT-SIG field consists of a sub-field for resource allocation bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field, which corresponds to the amount of the sub-field for resource allocation consisting of the EHT-SIG field, and the sub-field for resource allocation is used to specify the resource unit allocated to the station docked in the segment.14.The method according to claim 13 states that if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 40MHz, the SIG and EHT-SIG fields will be transmitted at a bandwidth of 40MHz.15.The method under claim 3 or 14 may involve contact between the bandwidth specified by at least one bandwidth field and the number of resource allocation subfields comprising the EHT-SIG fields as follows: If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 20 MHz M12, the quantity of resource allocation subfields comprising the EHT-SIG field is 1; if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 40 MI2, the quantity of resource allocation subfields comprising the EHT-SIG field is 2; if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 40 MI2, the quantity of resource allocation subfields comprising the EHT-SIG field is 2. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 80MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 4. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 160MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 8. If the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 240MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 12. Or if the bandwidth specified by the bandwidth field is 320MHz, the quantity of the resource allocation subfields contained in the EHT-SIG field is 1616.Methods under Claim 11 or 12, where the PPDU incorporates an EHT-SIG field with a very high throughput signal being processed on the segment, the EHT-SIG field incorporates a penetration indication field, and the penetration indication field is used to indicate the penetration status of the bandwidth channel specified by the bandwidth channel.

17. Methods under Claim 16, where the U-SIG field incorporates an additional compression field, and if the compression field specifies the compression mode, the EHT-SIG field incorporates a penetration indication field.

18. Methods under Claim 17, where if the station resource parked in the segment is used for non-OFDMA transmission, the compression field specifies the compression mode.

19. Methods under either Claim 16 or 18, where the U-SIG field is additionally used to specify the number of EHT-SIG symbols, and the penetration indication field is additionally used to specify the number of multi-user multi-user input / multi-user MU-MIMO multi-output. 20.The method according to one of the claims 16 to 18, where the b-SIG field is used in addition to specify the number of EHT-SIG symbols, the PPDU includes the first field on the segment and uses the first field to specify the number of MU-MIMO users with multiple outputs, multiple inputs, and multiple users, and the first field differs from the prefix penetration indication field 21. Communication instrument, where the communication instrument consists of: a processing unit configured to create a physical layer protocol data unit; a PPDU, where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into many segments; the PPDU consists of universal U-SIG and EHT-SIG channels, very high throughput signals, fields with at least one operation in the majority group, the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-OFDMA transmission; the EHT-SIG field does not contain the resource allocation subfield; the b-SIG field specifies the number of EHT-SIG symbols, the PPDU includes the first field with at least one segment of the majority group, and the first field specifies the number of MU-MIMO users with multiple outputs, multiple inputs, and multiple users, and a communication unit configured to send the PPDU to station 22.A communication instrument consisting of: a communication unit configured to receive data units, a physical layer protocol PPDU, where the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is divided into many segments; the PPDU contains the U-SIG universal signal field and the EHT-SIG high throughput signal field, with at least one operation in the majority segment; the transmission bandwidth of the PPDU is used for non-OFDMA transmission; the EHT-SIG field does not contain the resource allocation subfield; the B-SIG field specifies the number of EHT-SIG symbols, the PPDU includes the first field with at least one segment of the majority segment, and the first field specifies the number of MU-MIMO users with multiple outputs, multiple inputs, and processors configured to determine the number of EHT-SIG symbols and the number of MU-MIMO users according to the U-SIG field and the first field, respectively.

23. An instrument pursuant to claim 21 or 22 where the EHT-SIG fields operated in the different segments of the PPDU are identical.

24. An instrument pursuant to either claim 21 to 23 where the EHT-SIG fields with different channels in the same segment of the PPDU are identical. 25.The PPDU transmission method used in wireless local area networks involves: a PPDU built by a physical layer protocol data unit interface point, where the PPDU's transmission bandwidth is divided into segments. The PPDU mainly consists of the universal U-SIG and EHT-SIG signal fields, which are very high-volume fields where the U-SIG and EHT-SIG fields are operated on at least one segment of the multi-segment main segment. The PPDU's transmission bandwidth is used for non-OFDMA transmission. The EHT-SIG field does not contain the resource allocation subfield. The U-SIG field specifies the number of EHT-SIG symbols. The PPDU also includes an additional first field, which is operated on at least one segment of the multi-segment main segment, and the first field specifies the number of MU-MIMO users with multiple inputs, multiple outputs, and is transmitted by the PPDU interface point to station 26.The PPDU transmission method used in wireless local area networks involves: being received by one station, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), where the PPDU's transmission bandwidth is divided into many segments. The PPDU contains the universal U-SIG signal field and the EHT-SIG signal field. The signal throughput is very high, where the U-SIG and EHT-SIG fields operate at least one segment of multiple segments. The PPDU's transmission bandwidth is used for non-OFDMA transmissions. The EHT-SIG field does not contain subfield resources. The U-SIG field specifies the number of E symbols. The HT-SIG PPDU consists of a first field where the first field is operated on at least one segment of the main segment, and the first field specifies the number of MU-MIMO users, multiple outputs, multiple inputs, and by the station, determines the number of EHT-SIG symbols and the number of MU-MIMO users according to the U-SIG channel and the first channel, respectively.

27. Method according to claim 25 or 26 where the EHT-SIG fields operated in different sections of the PPDU are the same.

28. Method according to either claim 25 to 27 where the EHT-SIG fields with different channels in the same section of the PPDU are the same. 29.

30. A communication device in which the communication device consists of a processor and memory, where the memory is configured to store computer instructions and the processor is configured to execute the computer instructions stored in memory so that the communication device performs any one of the methods under claims 11 through 20 or claims 25 through 28.

31. A communication device in which the communication device consists of a processor, memory, and a transceiver, where the transceiver is configured to receive or transmit signals, the memory is configured to store computer programs, and the processor is configured to retrieve the computer programs from memory to perform any one of the methods under claims 11 through 20 or claims 25 through 28. 32.

32. A communication device consisting of a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is configured to receive computer programs and send computer programs to the processor, and the processor executes computer executable instructions to perform any of the methods under Claims 11 through 20 or Claims 25 through 28.

33. A computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium is configured to store computer executable instructions, and when the computer executable instructions are executed, any of the methods under Claims 11 through 20 or Claims 25 through 28 are applied.

34. A computer program product, where the computer program product consists of a computer program, and when the computer program is run, any of the methods under Claims 11 through 20 or Claims 25 through 28 are applied.

35. A communication device, where the communication device is configured to perform any of the methods under Claims 11 through 20 or Claims 25 through 28.

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