A method for restoring access to transmission opportunities, communication devices, and computer-readable storage media.

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of wireless communication, and specifically to a method for recovering Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) and related equipment. This method comprises the following steps: First equipment receives the first frame from second equipment. First equipment recovers Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) based on the first frame. The first frame indicates that second equipment has ceased using the first time resource. This first time resource is allocated by first equipment to second equipment from the TXOP obtained using a single-user activation frame. According to the schemes of the invention, the first frame can indicate that second equipment has ceased using the allocated time resource (first time resource), so that first equipment can pre-claim / recover TXOP based on the indication of the first frame. This can improve channel resource utilization and the reliability of TXOP recovery.Devices for restoring access to transmission opportunities, communication equipment, communication systems, and computer-readable storage media are also revealed.

Description

Method and related device for recovering the right to use transmission opportunity

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on January 15, 2021, with application number 202110056633.4 and application name “Method and Related Device for Recovering the Right to Use Transmission Opportunities”. This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on April 22, 2021, with application number 202110437428.2 and application name “Method and Related Device for Recovering the Right to Use Transmission Opportunities”. The entire contents of both applications are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity and a related device. Background Art

[0003] The 802.11 protocol suite is a set of communication standards for wireless local area networks (WLANs) developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Beginning with IEEE 802.11a / b / g, and progressing through IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11ac, it has now evolved into discussions on IEEE 802.11ax and IEEE 802.11be.

[0004] Generally speaking, the physical layer (PHY) frame of the IEEE 802.11 series of standards is also called the physical layer protocol data unit (PHY protocol data unit, PPDU). Among them, the IEEE 802.11ax standard proposes four frame structures, namely: high-efficiency single user PPDU (HE SU PPDU), high-efficiency multiple user PPDU (HE MU PPDU), high-efficiency trigger-based PPDU (HE TB PPDU) and high-efficiency extended range PPDU (HE ER PPDU). Among them, in the IEEE 802.11ax standard, HE SU PPDU is suitable for scenarios where one station (STA) transmits data to another STA, and it can be applied to uplink and downlink transmissions. HE TB PPDU is used in scenarios where the access point (AP) sends a trigger frame (TF) to schedule a non-AP STA to send uplink transmissions.

[0005] In the current IEEE 802.11ax standard, trigger frames can only trigger HE TB PPDUs, not HE SU PPDUs. However, since APs often have stronger channel access capabilities, the next-generation IEEE 802.11be standard will need to support AP-triggered SU PPDUs. Therefore, to implement AP-triggered SU PPDUs, an AP can issue a single-user trigger frame to allocate some or all of the remaining time resources in a transmission opportunity (TXOP) to an associated STA (hereinafter referred to as the designated STA for ease of description), allowing the designated STA to communicate with other STAs or the AP itself within the allocated time resources. However, if the AP allocates a long-duration time resource to the designated STA and the designated STA completes its transmission after a period of use (i.e., there is still time remaining in the allocated time resource), or if the designated STA finds that the remaining time is insufficient to transmit a complete SU PPDU after using the resource for a period of time, the remaining time will waste channel resources and may cause other stations to compete for channel use, making it impossible for the AP to regain access to the TXOP. Therefore, how to improve channel utilization and enhance the reliability of TXOP recovery has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a method and related apparatus for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity, which can improve the utilization rate of channel resources and the reliability of TXOP usage right recovery.

[0008] The present application is introduced below from different aspects. It should be understood that the implementation methods and beneficial effects of the following different aspects can be referenced to each other.

[0009] In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a first device receives a first frame from a second device. The first device recovers the right to use the TXOP based on the first frame. The first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of a first time resource, which was allocated to the second device by the first device from a transmission opportunity TXOP obtained via a single-user trigger frame. In other words, the second device can return the right to use the TXOP by sending the first frame to the first device. The first device can be an AP, the second device can be an STA, or the second device can be another AP.

[0010] In the embodiments of the present application, by using the first frame to indicate to the second device that it has ended its use of the allocated time resource (i.e., the first time resource), the first device can reclaim / recover the right to use the TXOP in advance based on the first frame received from the second device, thereby improving channel resource utilization. Furthermore, this method of returning the right to use the TXOP by sending the first frame prevents other stations from competing for channel usage rights within the remaining duration of the first time resource, thereby improving the reliability of TXOP usage right recovery.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one feasible implementation, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) or for point-to-point (P2P) communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field being used to indicate the remaining time resource of the TXOP, and the second field being used to indicate the first time resource. In other words, this embodiment of the present application is applicable to scenarios supporting AP-triggered SU PPDUs, thereby improving channel resource utilization and TXOP recovery reliability in trigger-frame-based SU PPDU scenarios.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one feasible implementation, the first frame carries first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the second device that use of the first time resource has ended. That is, the first device parses the first indication information carried in the first frame and, based on the first indication information, prematurely reclaims / restores the right to use the TXOP, thereby improving channel resource utilization.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame further carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present application, by parsing the first indication information and the second indication information carried in the first frame, the first device can not only reclaim / restore the right to use the TXOP in advance, but also further learn whether the second device still has a time resource allocation requirement. For example, when the time resource (i.e., the first time resource) allocated by the first device to the second device is short in duration, if the second device has not completed the required transmission after using it for a period of time, but finds that the remaining duration of the first time resource is insufficient to send another complete SU PPDU, then by using the first frame carrying the first indication information and the second indication information, the first device can reclaim / restore the right to use the TXOP in advance, avoiding the waste of the remaining duration, and can apply for time resources from the first device again, saving the signaling overhead for applying for time resources.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one feasible implementation, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information. That is, the present application reduces the complexity of the solution implementation by enhancing / modifying the meaning of the A control field included in existing frame types (e.g., QoS Data frames or QoS Null Data frames) to indicate that the second device has ended use of the first time resource.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information. In other words, this embodiment of the present application increases the diversity of solution implementations by designing a new A control field for indicating that the second device has ended use of the first time resource.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field. The first indication information is carried in a reverse direction grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present application, by enhancing the existing A control field (i.e., CAS control field) to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource, or to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource and whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission, the complexity of the solution is further simplified.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one feasible implementation, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame, and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame, and the time resource handover frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. In other words, by designing a new frame type specifically for instructing the second device to hand over the right to use the TXOP, the embodiment of the present application increases the implementation flexibility of the solution and enhances the diversity of the solution.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a second device determining a first frame, and the second device sending the first frame to a first device. The first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of a first time resource. The first time resource was allocated to the second device from a transmission opportunity TXOP obtained by the first device via a single-user trigger frame.

[0021] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0022] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0023] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame further carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0024] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0025] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0026] In conjunction with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0027] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0028] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0030] In combination with the second aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is a new frame type specifically indicating handover, the first frame is allowed to be sent across the end time of the first time resource, thereby avoiding other stations from competing for the channel usage right within the first time resource, thereby improving the reliability of TXOP usage right recovery.

[0032] In a third aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a first device receives a second frame, and the first device recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP when the duration between the end time of transmission of the second frame and the end time of a first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The destination address of the second frame is the address of the second device, or the sending address of the second frame is the address of the second device and the second frame is a frame that does not request a response frame. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP. In other words, the first device can determine whether the right to use the TXOP can be recovered in advance by determining the relationship between the duration T' between the end time of the second frame received at any time and the end time of the first time resource and a time threshold (i.e., the preset duration T). This solution, which sets the time threshold T, can also recover the right to use the TXOP in advance when T' is less than T, thereby improving channel resource utilization.

[0033] In combination with the third aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than T, the first device receives a first frame from the second device, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0034] In this embodiment of the present application, when T' is greater than T, the first frame is used to indicate to the second device that use of the allocated time resource (i.e., the first time resource) has ended. This allows the first device to reclaim / recover the right to use the TXOP in advance based on the first frame received from the second device, thereby improving channel resource utilization. This also prevents other stations from competing for channel use rights within the remaining duration of the first time resource, thereby improving the reliability of TXOP use right recovery.

[0035] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one feasible implementation, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) or for point-to-point (P2P) communication. The single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field being used to indicate the remaining time resource of the TXOP, and the second field being used to indicate the first time resource. In other words, this embodiment of the present application is applicable to scenarios supporting AP-triggered SU PPDUs. Therefore, it can improve channel resource utilization and TXOP recovery reliability in trigger-frame-based SU PPDU scenarios.

[0036] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one feasible implementation, the first frame carries first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the second device that use of the first time resource has ended. That is, the first device parses the first indication information carried in the first frame and, based on the first indication information, prematurely reclaims / restores the right to use the TXOP, thereby improving channel resource utilization.

[0037] In combination with the third aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame further carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present application, by parsing the first indication information and the second indication information carried in the first frame, the first device can not only reclaim / restore the right to use the TXOP in advance, but also further learn whether the second device still has a time resource allocation requirement. For example, when the duration of the time resource (i.e., the first time resource) allocated by the first device to the second device is short, if the second device has not completed the required transmission after using it for a period of time, but finds that the remaining duration of the first time resource is insufficient to send another complete SU PPDU, then by using the first frame carrying the first indication information and the second indication information, the first device can reclaim / restore the right to use the TXOP in advance, avoiding the waste of the remaining duration, and can apply for time resources from the first device again, saving the signaling overhead for applying for time resources.

[0039] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one feasible implementation, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information. That is, the present application reduces the complexity of the solution implementation by enhancing / modifying the meaning of the A control field included in existing frame types (e.g., QoS Data frames or QoS Null Data frames) to indicate that the second device has ended use of the first time resource.

[0040] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information. In other words, this embodiment of the present application increases the diversity of solution implementations by designing a new A control field for indicating that the second device has ended use of the first time resource.

[0041] In conjunction with the third aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status CAS control field. The first indication information is carried in the reverse direction grant RDG subfield in the CAS control field, or the first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present application, by enhancing the existing A control field (i.e., CAS control field) to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource, or to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource and whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission, the complexity of the solution is further simplified.

[0043] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one feasible implementation, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame, and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame, and the time resource handover frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. In other words, by designing a new frame type specifically for instructing the second device to hand over the right to use the TXOP, the embodiment of the present application increases the implementation flexibility of the solution and enhances the diversity of the solution.

[0044] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a second device receiving a second frame, or the second device sending a second frame, where the second frame is a frame that does not request a response frame. When the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of a first time resource is less than a preset duration T, the second device no longer sends a PPDU.

[0045] That is, when the second device receives a response frame (i.e., the second frame) sent to itself at any time within the first time resource, or sends a frame (i.e., the second frame) that does not request a response frame at any time within the first time resource, if it is determined that the duration T' between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T, the second device defaults to the first device resuming use of the TXOP, that is, the second device will no longer allow the sending of SU PPDUs during the remaining time of the first time resource, thereby avoiding the failure of the second device to send SU PPDUs.

[0046] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one feasible implementation, when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, the second device transmits a first frame to the first device. The first frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP.

[0047] That is, when T' is greater than T, the first frame is used to indicate to the second device that it has ended its use of the allocated time resource (i.e., the first time resource). This allows the first device to reclaim / recover the right to use the TXOP in advance based on the first frame received from the second device, thereby improving channel resource utilization. This also prevents other stations from competing for channel usage rights within the remaining duration of the first time resource, thereby improving the reliability of TXOP usage right recovery.

[0048] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0049] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0050] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame further carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0051] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0052] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0053] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0054] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0055] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0056] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0057] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0058] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is a new frame type specifically indicating handover, the first frame is allowed to be sent across the end time of the first time resource, thereby avoiding other stations from competing for the channel usage right within the remaining time duration included in the first time resource, thereby improving the reliability of TXOP usage right recovery.

[0059] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a first device sends a second frame, and the destination address of the second frame is the address of a second device. When the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the first device recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP. That is to say, in the UL scenario, the first device can also send a response frame (i.e., a second frame) with a destination address that is the address of the second device at any time within the first time resource, and by judging that the duration T' between the end moment of the response frame and the end moment of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the first device can recover the right to use the TXOP in advance, thereby improving the utilization rate of channel resources.

[0060] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource is greater than T, the first device receives a first frame from the second device, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0061] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0062] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0063] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the first frame further carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0064] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0065] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0066] In conjunction with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0067] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0068] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0069] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0070] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a second device receiving a second frame from a first device. When the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of a first time resource is less than a preset duration T, the second device no longer transmits a PPDU.

[0071] In conjunction with the sixth aspect, in one feasible implementation, when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, the second device sends a first frame to the first device. The first frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP.

[0072] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0073] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0074] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0075] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0076] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0077] In conjunction with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0078] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0079] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0080] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0081] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0082] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: a first device determining a third frame, and the first device sending the third frame to a second device. The third frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively recover the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0083] In an embodiment of the present application, when the AP needs to reclaim the right to use the TXOP for some reason (for example, an urgent service that needs to be transmitted immediately arrives), the AP can actively restore / reclaim the AP's right to use the TXOP by sending an active recovery frame (i.e., the third frame of the present application).

[0084] In conjunction with the seventh aspect, in a feasible implementation, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present application, by enhancing the BA control field in the existing BA frame to instruct the first device to actively resume the right to use the TXOP, the complexity of the solution implementation can be reduced.

[0086] In conjunction with the seventh aspect, in one feasible implementation, the third frame is an aggregated frame, obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume use of the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0087] In the embodiment of the present application, other frames (ie, the fourth frame) are aggregated and sent with the BA frame to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP, thereby increasing the diversity of the solution implementation.

[0088] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0089] In the embodiment of the present application, when designing the fourth frame, the existing Qos Data frame or Qos Null Data including the A control field is enhanced to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP, thereby reducing the implementation complexity of the solution.

[0090] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0091] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0092] In the embodiment of the present application, a fourth frame of a new frame type is designed to specifically instruct the first device to actively resume the right to use the TXOP, thereby increasing the diversity of the solution implementation.

[0093] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The method includes: when a second device receives a third frame from a first device, the second device no longer sends data frames, or the second device sends k data frames again, wherein the third frame is used to instruct the first device to actively recover the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP, and k is an integer greater than 0.

[0094] In conjunction with the eighth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0095] In conjunction with the eighth aspect, in one feasible implementation, the third frame is an aggregated frame, obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume use of the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0096] In combination with the eighth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0097] In combination with the eighth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0098] In combination with the eighth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0099] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity may be a first device or a chip in the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a transceiver unit for receiving a first frame from a second device, the first frame being used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of a first time resource; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from an acquired transmission opportunity TXOP, and the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device through a single-user trigger frame; a processing unit for recovering the right to use the TXOP according to the first frame.

[0100] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0101] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0102] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0103] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0104] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0105] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control domain is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control domain is an instruction and status CAS control domain; the first indication information is carried in the reverse authorization RDG subfield in the CAS control domain; or the first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control domain, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control domain.

[0106] In combination with the ninth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0107] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a transmission opportunity usage right recovery device, which can be a second device or a chip in the second device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The transmission opportunity usage right recovery device includes: a processing unit, configured to determine a first frame, where the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of a first time resource; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from an acquired transmission opportunity TXOP, and the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device via a single-user trigger frame; and a transceiver unit, configured to send the first frame to the first device.

[0108] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0109] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0110] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0111] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0112] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0113] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control domain is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control domain is an instruction and status CAS control domain; the first indication information is carried in the reverse authorization RDG subfield in the CAS control domain; or the first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control domain, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control domain.

[0114] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0115] In combination with the tenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, if the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, the second device executes the sending of the first frame to the first device when the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource.

[0116] In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity may be a first device or a chip in the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a transceiver unit for receiving a second frame; a processing unit for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity TXOP when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The destination address of the second frame is the address of the second device, or the sending address of the second frame is the address of the second device and the second frame is a frame that does not request a response frame. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP.

[0117] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the transceiver unit is also used to receive a first frame from the second device when the time length between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than T, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0118] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0119] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0120] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0121] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0122] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0123] In conjunction with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status CAS control field. The first indication information is carried in a reverse direction grant RDG subfield in the CAS control field, or the first indication information is carried in an RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from bit 4 to bit 8 of the CAS control field.

[0124] In combination with the eleventh aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0125] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity can be a second device or a chip in the second device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a transceiver unit for receiving a second frame, or sending a second frame, where the second frame is a frame that does not request a response frame. When the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T, the second device no longer sends a PPDU.

[0126] In conjunction with the twelfth aspect, in one feasible implementation, the second device further includes a processing unit, configured to, when determining that a duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, transmit a first frame to the first device via the transceiver unit. The first frame indicates the end of the second device's use of the first time resource. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP.

[0127] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0128] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0129] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0130] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0131] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0132] In conjunction with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0133] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0134] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0135] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0136] In combination with the twelfth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0137] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity can be a first device or a chip in the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a transceiver unit for sending a second frame, wherein the destination address of the second frame is the address of the second device. A processing unit for recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP when determining that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP.

[0138] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the processing unit is also used to receive a first frame from the second device through the transceiver unit when it is determined that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than T, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0139] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0140] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0141] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0142] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0143] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0144] In conjunction with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0145] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0146] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0147] In combination with the thirteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0148] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity can be a second device or a chip in the second device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a transceiver unit configured to receive a second frame from a first device; and a processing unit configured to determine that if the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T, the second device no longer transmits a PPDU.

[0149] In conjunction with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to, when determining that a duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, transmit a first frame to the first device via the transceiver unit. The first frame is used to indicate the end of use of the first time resource by the second device; the first time resource is allocated by the first device to the second device from the acquired TXOP.

[0150] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0151] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0152] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0153] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0154] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0155] In conjunction with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0156] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0157] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0158] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0159] In combination with the fourteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, when the first frame is a quality of service null data Qos Null Data frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0160] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity. The device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity can be a first device or a chip within the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a processing unit configured to determine a third frame, and a transceiver unit configured to send the third frame to a second device. The third frame is configured to instruct the first device to proactively restore the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0161] In conjunction with the fifteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0162] In conjunction with the fifteenth aspect, in one feasible implementation, the third frame is an aggregated frame, obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume use of the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0163] In combination with the fifteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0164] In combination with the fifteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0165] In combination with the fifteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0166] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity, which may be a second device or a chip in the second device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. The device for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes: a processing unit, configured to determine whether, when the second device receives a third frame from the first device, the second device no longer sends data frames through a transceiver unit, or sends k data frames through the transceiver unit again, wherein the third frame is used to instruct the first device to actively recover the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP, and k is an integer greater than 0.

[0167] In conjunction with the sixteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0168] In conjunction with the sixteenth aspect, in one feasible implementation, the third frame is an aggregated frame, obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume use rights of the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0169] In combination with the sixteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0170] In combination with the sixteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation manner, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0171] In combination with the sixteenth aspect, in a feasible implementation method, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0172] In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, specifically the first device of the first aspect, third aspect, fifth aspect, or seventh aspect, comprising a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to support the first device in performing the corresponding functions of the above-mentioned method. The transceiver is used to support communication with the first device and receive or transmit information, frames, or instructions involved in the above-mentioned method. The first device may also include a memory, which is coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the first device.

[0173] In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, specifically the second device of the second aspect, fourth aspect, sixth aspect, or eighth aspect, comprising a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to support the second device in performing the corresponding functions of the above-mentioned method. The transceiver is used to support communication with the second device and receive or transmit information, frames, or instructions involved in the above-mentioned method. The second device may also include a memory, which is coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the second device.

[0174] In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides an apparatus, implemented in the form of a chip product, comprising an input / output interface and a processing circuit. The apparatus is a chip in the first device described in the first, third, fifth, or seventh aspects above. The input / output interface is configured to receive or transmit information, frames, or instructions involved in the above method, and the processing circuit is configured to support the first device in executing the corresponding functions of the above method.

[0175] In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides an apparatus, implemented as a chip product, comprising an input / output interface and a processing circuit. The apparatus is a chip in the second device described in the second, fourth, sixth, or eighth aspects above. The input / output interface is configured to receive or transmit information, frames, or instructions involved in the above method, and the processing circuit is configured to support the second device in executing the corresponding functions of the above method.

[0176] In the twenty-first aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program instructions. When the program instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method for recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity described in the first aspect, or the third aspect, or the fifth aspect, or the seventh aspect; or, when the program instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method for recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity described in the second aspect, or the fourth aspect, or the sixth aspect, or the eighth aspect.

[0177] In aspect 22, the present application provides a computer program product comprising program instructions, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method for recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity described in aspect 1, aspect 3, aspect 5, or aspect 7 above; or, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method for recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity described in aspect 2, aspect 4, aspect 6, or aspect 8 above.

[0178] In aspect 23, an embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication system, which includes the first device described in aspect 9, or aspect 11, or aspect 13, or aspect 15 above and the second device described in aspect 10, or aspect 12, or aspect 14, or aspect 16 above.

[0179] By implementing the embodiments of the present application, the first frame can be used to indicate to the second device that the use of the allocated time resources (i.e., the first time resources) has ended, so that the first device can reclaim / recover the right to use the TXOP in advance according to the instruction of the first frame, thereby improving the channel resource utilization and the reliability of the recovery of the TXOP usage rights. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0180] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of the communication system architecture provided by this application;

[0181] FIG1b is a schematic structural diagram of an access point provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0182] Figure 1c shows a schematic diagram of a STA structure with a single antenna / radio;

[0183] FIG2 a is a schematic diagram of a single-user triggered frame applied to a P2P scenario;

[0184] FIG2 b is a schematic diagram of a single-user trigger frame applied to a UL transmission scenario;

[0185] Figure 2c is a schematic diagram of the remaining time;

[0186] FIG3 is a flow chart of a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0187] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of a first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0188] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of TXOP usage right recovery in a UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0189] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0190] FIG7 is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0191] FIG8 is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0192] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of TXOP usage right recovery in a UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0193] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0194] FIG11( a ) is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0195] FIG11( b ) is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0196] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a frame control field structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0197] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a SU END frame allows cross-border transmission in a UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0198] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a SU END frame allows cross-border transmission in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0199] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0200] FIG16 is another flow chart of a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0201] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the TXOP usage right is restored based on a preset duration T in a P2P scenario provided by the present application;

[0202] FIG18 is another flow chart of a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0203] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the TXOP usage right is restored based on a preset duration T in a UL scenario provided by the present application;

[0204] FIG20 is another flow chart of a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0205] FIG21 is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of an enhanced BA frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0206] FIG22 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario in which a first device proactively recovers TXOP usage rights provided by the present application;

[0207] FIG23 is a schematic diagram of another application scenario in which the first device proactively recovers the TXOP usage right provided by the present application;

[0208] FIG24 is a schematic diagram of another application scenario in which the first device proactively recovers the TXOP usage right provided by the present application;

[0209] FIG25 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmission opportunity usage right recovery device 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0210] FIG26 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0211] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0212] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this article is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. Words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit them to be different.

[0213] In this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0214] The technical solution provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as systems that adopt the IEEE 802.11 standard. Exemplarily, the IEEE 802.11 standard includes but is not limited to: the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, or the next generation 802.11 standard. The scenarios to which the technical solution of this application is applicable include: communication between an AP and one or more STAs, communication between APs, and communication between STAs. For example, please refer to Figure 1a, which is a schematic diagram of the communication system architecture provided in this application. As shown in Figure 1a, the communication system may include an AP and two STAs (such as STA1 and STA2 in Figure 1a), wherein the AP can communicate with STA1, or the AP can also communicate with STA2.

[0215] The access point (AP) involved in this application is a device with wireless communication capabilities that supports communication using wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols and has the ability to communicate with other devices in the WLAN network (such as stations or other access points). Of course, it can also have the ability to communicate with other devices. In a WLAN system, an access point can be called an access point station (AP STA). The device with wireless communication capabilities can be a complete device, or it can be a chip or processing system installed in the complete device. The device installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application under the control of the chip or processing system. The AP in the embodiments of this application is a device that provides services for STAs and can support the 802.11 series of protocols. For example, the AP can be a communication entity such as a communication server, router, switch, bridge, etc.; the AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, the AP can also be the chip and processing system in these various forms of devices, thereby implementing the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application.

[0216] The station (STA) involved in this application is a device with wireless communication capabilities that supports communication using the WLAN protocol and has the ability to communicate with other stations or access points in the WLAN network. In a WLAN system, a station can be referred to as a non-access point station (non-AP STA). For example, a STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and, in turn, with a WLAN. The device with wireless communication capabilities can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device. The device installed with these chips or processing systems can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application under the control of the chip or processing system. For example, a STA can be a tablet computer, desktop, laptop, notebook computer, ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), handheld computer, netbook, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, or other user device that can be connected to the Internet, or an IoT node in the Internet of Things, or an in-vehicle communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, or an entertainment device, gaming device or system, or a global positioning system device. A STA can also be the chip and processing system in these terminals.

[0217] WLAN systems can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission. As WLAN application scenarios continue to evolve, WLAN systems will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry, the banking industry, corporate offices, sports stadiums and exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, production workshops and warehouses, etc. Of course, devices supporting WLAN communication (such as access points or stations) can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, and smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, displays, televisions, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, speakers, and speakers), Internet of Vehicles devices, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation kiosks in supermarkets, self-service cash registers, self-service ordering machines, etc.), and equipment in large sports and music venues, etc. The specific forms of STAs and APs in the embodiments of this application are not limited and are only illustrative.

[0218] It should be understood that the 802.11 standard focuses on the physical layer (PHY) layer and the media access control (MAC) layer. In one example, see Figure 1b, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the access point provided in an embodiment of the present application. The AP can be multi-antenna / multi-radio or a single antenna / single radio, and the antenna / radio is used to send / receive data packets. In one implementation, the antenna or radio part of the AP can be separated from the main body of the AP, forming a remote layout structure. In Figure 1b, the AP can include a physical layer processing circuit and a media access control processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit can be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit can be used to process MAC layer signals. In another example, see Figure 1c, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the site provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1c shows a schematic diagram of the STA structure of a single antenna / radio. In actual scenarios, the STA can also be multi-antenna / multi-radio, and can be a device with more than two antennas, and the antenna / radio is used to send / receive data packets. In one implementation, the antenna or radio part of the STA can be separated from the main body of the STA, forming a remote layout structure. In FIG1c , the STA may include a PHY processing circuit and a MAC processing circuit. The physical layer processing circuit may be used to process physical layer signals, and the MAC layer processing circuit may be used to process MAC layer signals.

[0219] In order to better understand the technical solution provided by the present application, the application scenario of the method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided in an embodiment of the present application is briefly introduced below.

[0220] The transmission opportunity usage right recovery method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to point-to-point (P2P) communication scenarios and uplink (UL) transmission scenarios, etc., without limitation herein. The data transmission format used in the P2P and UL scenarios in the embodiments of the present application is SU PPDU, etc., without limitation herein.

[0221] It should be understood that the trigger frame in the current IEEE 802.11ax standard is designed for simultaneous uplink TB PPDU transmission by multiple users. Therefore, the current trigger frame needs to indicate information such as the coding and modulation scheme (MCS), resource unit (RU), and transmit power. Among them, since APs often have stronger channel access capabilities, it is necessary for the next-generation IEEE 802.11be standard to support AP-triggered SU PPDUs. Currently, to implement AP-triggered SU PPDUs, the AP can issue a single-user trigger frame to allocate a portion of the time resources in the TXOP to an associated STA (hereinafter referred to as the designated STA or target STA for convenience of description), so that the designated STA can communicate with other STAs or the AP itself within the allocated time resources. Among them, the communication between the designated STA and other STAs can be understood as P2P communication or P2P transmission, and the communication between the designated STA and the AP can be understood as UL communication or UL transmission.

[0222] For example, please refer to Figure 2a, which is a schematic diagram of a single-user trigger frame applied to a P2P scenario. As shown in Figure 2a, after obtaining a TXOP, the AP can allocate all or part of the remaining time resources in the TXOP (such as the first time resource in Figure 2a) to a designated STA (such as STA1 in Figure 2a) through a single-user trigger frame (such as the modified multi-user request to send (mMU-RTS) frame in Figure 2a). In the following embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned first time resource may also be referred to as a single user service period (SUSP), which is not limited here. The above-mentioned mMU-RTS frame can carry information such as STA1, the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the duration of the first time resource allocated to the STA1. Thus, within the allocated first time resource, STA1 can send a SU PPDU to STA2, and STA2 can send a block acknowledgement (BA) frame of the SU PPDU to STA1. It is not difficult to understand that in the embodiment of the present application, the start time of the first time resource is not earlier than the start time of the TXOP, and the end time of the first time resource is not later than the end time of the TXOP. In other words, the start time of the first time resource is greater than or equal to the start time of the TXOP, and the end time of the first time resource is less than or equal to the end time of the TXOP.

[0223] Optionally, the mMU-RTS frame may also carry information such as whether the specified STA needs to reply to a Clear to Send (CTS) frame. For example, please refer to Figure 2a. When STA1 receives the mMU-RTS frame sent by the AP, if STA1 parses the mMU-RTS frame and determines that the AP has allocated a first time resource for itself and requires STA1 to reply to a CTS frame before sending a SU PPDU, then STA1 may first send a CTS frame within the allocated first time resource, and then send a SU PPDU to STA2, and then receive a BA frame of the SU PPDU returned by STA2 to STA1. It should be understood that in a P2P scenario, the above-mentioned AP needs to resume the right to use the TXOP after the end of the first time resource. Among them, the AP restores the right to use the TXOP, which can be understood as the AP can use the period from the end time of the first time resource to the end time of the TXOP (such as Ts in Figure 2a) to send a PPDU (the PPDU shown in Figure 2a), or to allocate it to other STAs for use, etc., which is determined according to the actual application scenario and is not restricted here.

[0224] For example, see Figure 2b, which is a schematic diagram of a single-user trigger frame applied to a UL transmission scenario. As shown in Figure 2b, after obtaining a TXOP, the AP can allocate all or part of the remaining time resources (the first time resource in Figure 2b) within the TXOP to a designated STA (STA1 in Figure 2b) using a single-user trigger frame (such as the mMU-RTS frame in Figure 2b). The mMU-RTS frame can carry information such as STA1, the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the duration of the first time resource allocated to STA1. Thus, within the allocated first time resource, STA1 can send a SU PPDU to the AP, and the AP can send a BA frame for the SU PPDU to STA1. Optionally, if the mMU-RTS frame also carries information that the designated STA needs to reply to a CTS frame, then after receiving the MU-RTS frame, STA1 needs to first send a CTS frame and then send a SU PPDU to the AP. It should be understood that in the UL transmission scenario, the AP also needs to resume use of the TXOP after the end of the first time resource. For example, referring to FIG. 2 b , the AP sends the PPDU at the end time of the first time resource.

[0225] It should be understood that if the duration of the first time resource allocated by the AP to a designated STA is long, and the designated STA completes its transmission after using the first time resource for a period of time, a period of time will remain unused by the designated STA. For example, refer to Figure 2c, which is a schematic diagram of the remaining time. As shown in Figure 2c, if the duration of the first time resource allocated by the AP to a designated STA (such as STA1 in Figure 2c) is long, and STA1 completes all transmissions at time t1 in Figure 2c, a period of time (the period between t1 and t2 in Figure 2c) will remain unused by the designated STA. Optionally, if the duration of the first time resource allocated by the AP to a designated STA is short, and if the designated STA has used the first time resource for a period of time, but has not yet completed its transmission, but the remaining time of the first time resource is insufficient to send a complete SU PPDU, the remaining time of the first time resource will no longer be used by the designated STA. Understandably, regardless of the circumstances that lead to the remaining duration of the first time resource, this remaining duration will result in a waste of channel resources and may cause other STAs to compete for channel usage rights during the remaining duration, while the AP is unable to recover the right to use the TXOP. Therefore, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity. This method can improve channel resource utilization and the reliability of TXOP recovery by recovering the right to use the transmission opportunity in advance.

[0226] The technical solution provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to more drawings.

[0227] It should be noted that the first device in this application can be an AP, and the second device in this application can be a non-access point station (i.e., a non-AP STA) or an access point AP. For ease of description, the following description of this application uses the first device and the second device as examples.

[0228] It is also understandable that the first device and the second device in this application both support the 802.11be protocol (also known as Wi-Fi 7, EHT protocol), and may also support other WLAN communication protocols, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, and the like. It is understood that the first device and the second device in this application may also support the next generation protocol of 802.11be. In other words, the method provided in this application is not only applicable to the 802.11be protocol, but may also be applicable to the next generation protocol of 802.11be.

[0229] An embodiment of the present application provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity, wherein a first device can recover / reclaim the right to use a TXOP by receiving a first frame sent by a second device to indicate TXOP handover.

[0230] Specifically, see Figure 3, which is a flow chart of a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0231] S101: A first device receives a first frame from a second device.

[0232] In some feasible implementations, the first device may receive a first frame from the second device. The first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. It should be understood that the first time resource may be allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP via a single-user trigger frame. Specifically, after the first device acquires the TXOP, the first device may immediately allocate all or part of the time resources from the TXOP to the second device via a single-user trigger frame. Alternatively, after the first device acquires the TXOP, the first device may use a portion of the time resources itself and then allocate all or part of the remaining time resources in the TXOP to the second device via a single-user trigger frame.

[0233] Generally speaking, after the second device is allocated the first time resource, the second device may use the first time resource to transmit an uplink single-user PPDU or for P2P communication. A single-user trigger frame may include a first field and a second field. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP. Specifically, the first field may be a Duration field, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource. In other words, the single-user trigger frame may carry information indicating the remaining duration of the TXOP, as well as information indicating the first time resource. The single-user trigger frame in the embodiment of the present application may be designed based on or utilizing a multi-user (MU) request to send (RTS) frame (hereinafter referred to as a modified or improved MU-RTS frame or mMU-RTS frame in this application for the convenience of description). Alternatively, the single-user trigger frame may also be a new type of trigger frame, which is determined based on the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0234] In some feasible implementations, the first frame received by the first device from the second device may carry first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. In a UL scenario, the first frame may be a Quality of Service Data (QoS Data) frame, or a Quality of Service Null Data (QoS Null Data) frame. In a P2P scenario, the first frame may be a QoS Null Data frame. Both QoS Data and QoS Null Data frames are MAC layer frames (i.e., MAC frames), and when encapsulated at the physical layer, they both need to be encapsulated in a SU PPDU for transmission. It is understood that a QoS Null Data frame is a special type of QoS Data frame. In other words, a QoS Null Data frame is a QoS Data frame that does not carry service data, where the service data may be voice data, video data, file data, etc., without limitation herein. It should be understood that both QoS Data and QoS Null Data frames include an A control field. The control identification field of the A control field is used to indicate the control field type of the A control field. For example, when the control identifier of the A control field is 6 (i.e., the second value in this application), it indicates that the A control field is specifically a CAS control field. In this embodiment of the application, "field" can also be referred to as "field", so the A control field can also be referred to as the A control field.

[0235] In some feasible implementations, when the A control domain is a CAS control domain (i.e., when the control identification field in the A control domain = 6), the meaning of the value of the reverse direction grant (RDG) / More PPDU (RDG / More PPDU) subfield in the CAS control domain can be enhanced to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. That is, when the A control domain is a CAS control domain, the first indication information is the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the CAS control domain. Among them, "enhancement" in this application can be understood as modifying / adjusting the meaning of the value of RDG / More PPDU in the original standard protocol (i.e., the IEEE 802.11ax standard protocol) so that the RDG / More PPDU subfield can be used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. It is understandable that the embodiment of the present application can also simply describe the "RDG / More PPDU subfield" as the "RDG subfield".

[0236] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. Among them, the first frame is a QoS Data frame with an enhanced CAS control field. As shown in Figure 4, the QoS Data frame may include a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, an address 1 (Address 1) field, an address 2 (Address 2) field, an address 3 (Address 3) field, a sequence control (Sequence Control) field, an address 4 (Address 4) field, a quality of service (QoS Control) field, an A-Control (A-Control) field, a frame body (Frame Body) field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field. Among them, the A-Control field includes 30 bits, which can carry one or more control field types, each control field type includes a 4-bit control identifier (Control ID) field and control information (control information) of a specific length. That is, a Control ID can be used to indicate a control field type, and the field length of the Control Information field corresponding to each Control ID is fixed length, but the field length of the control information field corresponding to different control IDs may be different. For example, as shown in Figure 4, when the control flag = 6, it indicates that the A control domain is a CAS control domain. Specifically, in the CAS control domain, the field length of the control information field is 8 bits. Among them, the first bit in the control information field of the CAS control domain represents the access type constraint (AC Constraint) subfield, the second bit represents the reverse direction grant / more PPDU (RDG / More PPDU) subfield, the third bit represents the parameter-based spatial multiplexing transmission (PSRT PPDU) subfield, and bits 4 to 8 represent the reserved (Reserved) field.

[0237] In the IEEE 802.11ax standard, the values ​​of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the CAS control field and their meanings are shown in Table 1.

[0238] Table 1

[0239]

[0240] The first column in Table 1 indicates the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield, the second column indicates the identity / role of the STA sending the PPDU containing the RDG / More PPDU subfield (i.e., the role of the transmitting STA), and the third column indicates the specific meaning of the value. As shown in Table 1, when the transmitting STA's role is not a reverse responder, setting the RDG / More PPDU subfield to 0 indicates that there is no reverse grant. When the transmitting STA's role is a reverse responder, setting the RDG / More PPDU subfield to 0 indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the reverse responder. Correspondingly, when the transmitting STA's role is a reverse initiator, setting the RDG / More PPDU subfield to 1 indicates that a reverse grant has occurred. When the transmitting STA's role is a reverse responder, setting the RDG / More PPDU subfield to 1 indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame is followed by another PPDU.

[0241] It is understandable that in order for the present application to enable the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the enhanced CAS control field to be used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource, it is necessary to modify / enhance the meaning of the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the original CAS control field based on Table 1. The values ​​and meanings of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the enhanced CAS control field are shown in Table 2 below.

[0242] Table 2

[0243]

[0244] The first column in Table 2 indicates the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield, the second column in Table 2 indicates the identity / role of the STA that sends the PPDU containing the RDG / More PPDU subfield (i.e., the role of the transmitting STA), and the third column in Table 2 indicates the specific meaning of the value. As shown in Table 2, the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the modified / enhanced CAS control field means: when the role of the transmitting STA is neither a reverse responder nor a target STA of a SUSP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that there is no reverse grant; when the role of the transmitting STA is a reverse responder, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the reverse responder; when the role of the transmitting STA is a target STA in a SUSP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the target STA in the SUSP. Accordingly, when the transmitting STA's role is a reverse initiator, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 1, it indicates that a reverse grant has occurred. When the transmitting STA's role is a reverse responder or a target STA of a SUSP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 1, it indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame will be followed by another PPDU.

[0245] It should be understood that the aforementioned "the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission by the target STA in the SUS P" can be understood as the end of the target STA's (i.e., the second device in this application) use of the first time resource. Since the first device is the allocator of the SUS P (i.e., the first time resource in this application), that is, the first device can allocate the first time resource to the second device from the acquired transmission opportunity TXOP via a single-user trigger frame, the first device knows which device can use the first time resource. It is understandable that when the first device receives the first frame within the first time resource, if the first device determines that the first frame is sent to the second device, and the first device determines that the second device is the second device allocated the first time resource (i.e., the second device is the designated STA / target STA), the first device parses the first frame. If the first device parses the first frame and finds that the value of the RDG subfield in the CAS control field is 0, it means that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission by the target STA in the SUS P, that is, the first device can determine that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0246] Optionally, in order to enable the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the enhanced CAS control field to be used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource, the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the enhanced CAS control field and the meaning of the value can also be found in Table 3 below.

[0247] Table 3

[0248]

[0249] The first column in Table 3 indicates the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield, the second column in Table 3 indicates the identity / role of the STA that sends the PPDU containing the RDG / More PPDU subfield (i.e., the role of the transmitting STA), and the third column in Table 3 indicates the specific meaning of the value. As shown in Table 3, the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield in the modified / enhanced CAS control field means: when the role of the transmitting STA is neither a reverse responder nor a target STA of a SUSP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that there is no reverse grant; when the role of the transmitting STA is a reverse responder, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the reverse responder; when the role of the transmitting STA is a target STA in a SUSP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 0, it indicates that the PPDU carrying the frame will be followed by another PPDU. Accordingly, when the transmitting STA's role is a reverse initiator, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 1, it indicates that a reverse grant has occurred. When the transmitting STA's role is a reverse responder, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 1, it indicates that the PPDU carrying this frame will be followed by another PPDU. When the transmitting STA's role is a target STA in a SU SP, if the value of the RDG / More PPDU subfield is set to 1, it indicates that the PPDU carrying this frame is the last transmission of the target STA in the SU SP.

[0250] It should be understood that the above-mentioned "the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the target STA in the SU SP" means that the target STA (i.e., the second device in this application) has ended its use of the first time resource. Specifically, when the second device receives the first frame from the first device, if the second device determines that the first device is the target STA, the second device parses the first frame. If the first device parses the value of the RDG subfield in the CAS control field in the first frame to be 1, it means that the PPDU carrying the frame is the last transmission of the target STA in the SU SP, that is, the first device can determine that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource, and therefore the first device can resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0251] For ease of understanding, please refer to FIG5 , which is a schematic diagram of an application scenario for TXOP usage right recovery in a UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , in a UL scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in FIG5 ) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in FIG5 ) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as the AP in FIG5 ) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in FIG5 ) can refer to the process described in FIG2 b above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when STA1 sends the last SU PPDU to the AP in the SU SP and carries the enhanced CAS control field in this SU PPDU, the RDG subfield (i.e., the RDG / More PPDU subfield) in the CAS control field of the SU PPDU can be used to indicate to the AP that the current SU PPDU is the last SU PPDU transmission of this SU SP. Therefore, after receiving a SU PPDU with an enhanced CAS control field, the AP may wait for a short inter-frame space (SIFS) duration before responding with a BA frame to STA1. After sending the BA, the AP may wait for the SIFS duration to resume using the TXOP. It is understood that if the SU PPDU with an enhanced CAS control field does not require the AP to respond with a BA frame, the AP may wait for the SIFS duration after receiving the SU PPDU with an enhanced CAS control field to resume using the TXOP (as shown in the AP sending the PPDU in Figure 5). The last SU PPDU described above is a SU PPDU encapsulated with a QoS Data frame.

[0252] For ease of understanding, please also refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of an application scenario for TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, in the P2P scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in Figure 6) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 6) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as STA2 in Figure 6) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 6) can refer to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when STA1 sends the last SU PPDU to STA2 in the SU SP, if STA1 successfully receives the BA frame sent by STA2, STA1 can wait for the SIFS period after receiving the BA frame and then send a QoS Null Data frame carrying an enhanced CAS control field to the AP to indicate to the AP that STA1 has ended its use of this SU SP. It should be understood that the above-mentioned QoS Null Data frame will also be transmitted in the format of a SU PPDU. Therefore, when the AP receives the SU PPDU encapsulating the QoS Null Data frame of the enhanced CAS control field, it can immediately resume the right to use the TXOP after an interval of SIFS (such as the AP sending the PPDU in FIG6 ).

[0253] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, when the first frame is a QoS Data frame, or the first frame is a Qos Null Data frame, a new A control field can be designed to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. For example, refer to Figure 7, which is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 7, the QoS Data frame may include a frame control field, a duration field, an address 1 field, an address 2 field, an address 3 field, a sequence control field, an address 4 field, a quality of service control field, an A-control field, a frame body field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field. Among them, the A control field includes 30 bits, which can carry one or more control field types, each control field type including a 4-bit control identifier (Control ID) field and control information of a specific length. That is to say, a Control ID can be used to indicate a control domain type. The field length of the Control Information field corresponding to each Control ID is fixed, but the field length of the control information field corresponding to different control IDs may be different. It is understandable that in an embodiment of the present application, when designing a new A control domain, the field length of the control information field of the new A control domain can be designed to be 8 bits. Among them, among the 8 bits included in the control information field, at least one bit can be set to represent the single user end (SU END) subfield, and the other bits except for the bits used to indicate the single user end subfield are used to indicate the reserved (Reserved) subfield. As shown in Figure 7, among the 8 bits included in the control information field, the first bit can be used to indicate the single user end (SU END) subfield, and the second to eighth bits can be used to indicate the reserved subfield. Among them, when the value of the control identifier is the first value (for example, when the control identifier = 7), the first value indicates that the A control domain includes the first indication information. It is understandable that the control identifier of the above-mentioned new A control domain can be set to other identifiers that have not been used in the standard protocol. For example, the control identifier of the new A control domain can also be set to 8 to indicate that the control domain type is a new A control domain. The specific determination is based on the actual application scenario and is not limited here.Optionally, when designing a new A control domain, the field length of the control information field of the new A control domain may be designed to be 0 bits, that is, the new A control domain does not have a control information field, which is not limited here.

[0254] It is understandable that when a new A control field is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource, the first indication information may be the control identification field in the A control field (i.e., when the control information field of the new A control field is designed to be 0 bits, it indicates that the new A control field does not have a control information field, and therefore, carrying the Control ID itself means carrying the first indication information), or the first indication information may also be the control identification field and the control information field in the A control field (i.e., when the control information field of the new A control field is designed to be non-zero bits, it indicates that the new A control field includes a control information field, and therefore, the control identification field and the control information field are used to jointly indicate the function of the new control field). That is, when the first device receives the first frame from the second device, if the first device parses the first frame and finds that the value of the control identification field in the A control field of the first frame is the first value, the second device may determine, based on the first value, that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. Alternatively, when the first device receives a first frame from the second device, if the first device parses the first frame and finds that the value of the control identification field in the A control field of the first frame is a first value, and the control information in the A control field includes information used to indicate that the first frame is a return frame (i.e., a single-user end subfield), then the second device can determine that the second device's use of the first time resource has ended based on the first value and the value of the single-user end subfield in the control information.

[0255] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, in addition to using the first indication information in the A control field of an existing frame type (such as a Qos Data frame or a Qos Null Data frame) to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource, a special control frame can also be designed to indicate the resumption of TXOP (i.e., the end of the second device's use of the first time resource). In the present application, this special control frame may be referred to as a single user end (SU END) frame, or a time resource handover frame, etc., which is not limited here. In other words, the first frame in the present application may also be a new type of frame, and the new frame type is used for the second device to return the right to use the TXOP. Specifically, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame, and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame, and the time resource handover frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource.

[0256] For example, please refer to Figure 8, which is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, the first frame (i.e., the SU END frame in Figure 8) may include a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, a receiver address (RA) field, a transmitter address (TA) field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field, etc., wherein the frame control field includes a protocol version (Protocol Version) field, a frame type (Type) field, and a frame subtype (Subtype) field. When the value of the frame type (Type) field is 01, it indicates that the frame is a control frame, and the frame subtype field indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame. As shown in Figure 8, the value of the frame subtype (Subtype) field can be set to 1111, indicating that the frame is a SU END frame or a time resource handover frame. It is understandable that the present application does not limit the specific value of the frame subtype field. For example, the value of the frame subtype field can also be 0000, or 0001, or 0010, or 1111, etc., which is not limited here.

[0257] For ease of understanding, please refer to FIG. 9 , which is a schematic diagram of another application scenario for TXOP usage right recovery in a UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9 , in the UL scenario, the process from when the first device (such as the AP in FIG. 9 ) sends an mMU-RTS frame to when the second device (such as STA1 in FIG. 9 ) sends a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as the AP in FIG. 9 ) using a first time resource (such as the SU SP in FIG. 9 ) can be referred to as the process described in FIG. 2 b above and will not be further described here. Assume that the time at which STA1 completes transmission of the last SU PPDU to be transmitted and receives the BA frame for the SU PPDU is time t1 as shown in FIG. 9 , the end time of the SU SP is time t2 as shown in FIG. 9 , and the duration for the STA to send a SU END frame is Tsu_end. Therefore, when STA1 determines that t1+SIFS+Tsu_end≤t2, STA1 may send a SU END frame to the AP at time t1+SIFS. After receiving the SU END frame, the AP waits for the SIFS duration before recovering the right to use the TXOP. Generally speaking, the specific value of Tsu_end can be determined according to the modulation and coding strategy, spatial stream, bandwidth and the duration corresponding to the transmission of the SU END frame under the PPDU format, and is not limited here.

[0258] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of another application scenario for TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, in a P2P scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in Figure 10) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 10) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as STA2 in Figure 10) using a first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 10) can be referred to the process described in Figure 2a above and will not be repeated here. Assume that the SU PPDU usage end time of STA1 is t1, the SU SP end time is t2, and the duration for the STA to send a SU END frame is Tsu_end. Therefore, when STA1 determines that t1+SIFS+Tsu_end≤t2, STA1 can send a SU END frame to the AP at time t1+SIFS. After receiving the SU END frame, the AP waits for the SIFS duration to resume the right to use the TXOP. Generally speaking, the specific value of Tsu_end can be determined according to the modulation and coding strategy, spatial stream, bandwidth and the duration corresponding to the transmission of the SU END frame under the PPDU format, and is not limited here.

[0259] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, in addition to carrying the first indication information, the first frame may also carry second indication information. The second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission. When the first frame is a QoS Data frame or a QoS Null Data frame, and the A control field of the QoS Data frame or the QoS Null Data frame is a CAS control field, the first indication information is the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information may be at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit in the CAS control field. When the first frame is a QoS Data frame or a QoS Null Data frame, and the A control field of the QoS Data frame or the QoS Null Data frame is a frame with a new A control field, the first indication information may be a control identifier in the new A control field, and the second indication information may be at least one bit from the 2nd bit to the 8th bit in the control information field in the new A control field. When the first frame is a SU END frame (i.e., the first frame is a special control frame), the first indication information may be the frame subtype field in the frame control field, and the second indication information may be at least one reserved field selected from the reserved fields in the frame control field, etc., which is not limited here.

[0260] For ease of understanding, the first indication information and the second indication information will be explained below by taking the first frame as a QoS Data frame and the A control field of the QoS Data frame as a CAS control field as an example. Please refer to Figure 11(a), which is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11(a), when the control identifier = 6, it indicates that the A control field is a CAS control field. Specifically, in the CAS control field, the first bit in the control information field represents the access type constraint (AC Constraint) subfield, the second bit represents the reverse grant / more PPDU (RDG / More PPDU) subfield, the third bit represents the parameter-based spatial multiplexing transmission (PSRT PPDU) subfield, and the fourth to eighth bits represent the reserved (Reserved) field. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present application, at least one bit from the fourth to eighth bits can be used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission. That is, in the present application, the reserved field of at least one bit can be used as a demand field for requesting time resources again. Here, taking a one-bit reserved field (such as the 4th bit in Figure 11(a)) as the requirement field as an example, when the requirement field is set to 1, it can indicate that the second device still needs a SUSP, and therefore requests the AP to continue to allocate time resources to this device in the future; when the requirement field is set to 0, it is used to indicate that the second device no longer needs a SUSP. Optionally, it can also be stipulated that when the requirement field is set to 0, it is used to indicate that the second device still needs a SUSP, and therefore requests the AP to continue to allocate time resources to this device in the future; when the requirement field is set to 1, it is used to indicate that the second device no longer needs a SUSP. The specific determination depends on the actual application scenario and is not limited here. It should be understood that when a one-bit reserved field is used as the requirement field, the requirement field can also be any bit from the 4th to the 8th bit in the CAS control field, which is determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0261] For another example, refer to Figure 11(b), which is another schematic diagram of the frame structure of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 11(b), when the A control domain is a CAS control domain, the first bit in the control information field in the CAS control domain represents the access type constraint (AC Constraint) subfield, the second bit represents the reverse direction grant / more PPDU (RDG / More PPDU) subfield, the third bit represents the parameter-based spatial multiplexing transmission (PSRT PPDU) subfield, and bits 4 to 8 represent the reserved (Reserved) field. Among them, if a two-bit reserved field (such as the 4th and 5th bits in Figure 11(b)) is used as the requirement field, when the value of the requirement field is 00 (that is, the value of the 4th bit is 0 and the value of the 5th bit is 0), it can be used to indicate that the STA does not need a SUSP (that is, the STA does not need a SUSP for UL transmission and also does not need a SUSP for P2P transmission). When the value of the requirement field is 01 (that is, the value of the 4th bit is 0 and the value of the 5th bit is 1), it can be used to indicate that the STA needs a SUSP for UL transmission (that is, the STA needs a SUSP for UL transmission and does not need a SUSP for P2P transmission). When the value of the requirement field is 10 (that is, the value of the 4th bit is 1 and the value of the 5th bit is 0), it can be used to indicate that the STA needs a SUSP for P2P transmission (that is, the STA needs a SUSP for P2P transmission and does not need a SUSP for UL transmission). When the value of the requirement field is 11 (i.e., the value of the 4th bit is 1 and the value of the 5th bit is 1), it can be used to indicate that the STA requires a SU SP for both UL transmission and P2P transmission (i.e., the STA requires both a SU SP for UL transmission and a SU SP for P2P transmission). It is understandable that the specific meanings represented by different values ​​can be determined according to actual application scenarios and are not limited here.

[0262] Optionally, when a two-bit reserved field is used as the required field, the required field may also be any two consecutive bits from bits 4 to 8 in the CAS control field (for example, bits 4 and 5, or bits 5 and 6, or bits 6 and 7, or bits 7 and 8). Optionally, when a two-bit reserved field is used as the required field, the required field may also be any two discontinuous bits from bits 4 to 8 in the CAS control field. The aforementioned two discontinuous bits may be two bits separated by one bit, for example, bits 4 and 6, or bits 5 and 7, or bits 6 and 8. Optionally, the aforementioned two discontinuous bits may also be two bits separated by two bits, for example, bits 4 and 7, or bits 5 and 8. Optionally, the aforementioned two discontinuous bits may also be two bits separated by three bits, for example, bits 4 and 8, etc., without limitation herein.

[0263] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, whether in a P2P scenario or a UL scenario, the 802.11 standard protocol stipulates that the second device can only transmit a SU PPDU carrying service data within the duration of a first time resource. Transmitting a SU PPDU carrying service data within the duration of the first time resource includes completing the transmission of the SU PPDU and the transmission of a BA frame requesting a response before the end of the first time resource. Therefore, in a UL scenario, when the first frame is a QoS Data frame (the QoS Data frame is a QoS Data frame carrying an enhanced CAS control field, or a QoS Data frame carrying a new A control field), the QoS Data frame must still be transmitted before the end of the first time resource. However, when the first frame does not carry service data (i.e., the first frame is not a QoS Data frame), it may be stipulated that the frame is allowed to extend beyond the end of the first time resource, i.e., cross-border transmission is permitted. For example, in a P2P scenario or a UL scenario, when the first frame is a SU END frame, the transmission of the SU END frame may be permitted beyond the end of the first time resource. That is, the end time of the SU END frame is allowed to be later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the SU END frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource. For example, in a P2P scenario, when the first frame is a QoS Null Data frame, the transmission of the QoS Null Data frame can also be allowed to exceed the end time of the first time resource. That is, the end time of the QoS Null Data frame is allowed to be later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the QoS Null Data frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource.

[0264] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 13, which is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the SU END frame allows cross-border transmission in the UL scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 13, in the UL scenario, the first device (such as the AP in Figure 13) sends an mMU-RTS frame, and the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 13) sends a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as the AP in Figure 13) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 13) The process can be referred to the process described in Figure 2b above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when STA1 completes the transmission of the last SU PPDU in the first time resource and successfully receives the BA frame sent by the AP. After receiving the BA frame and waiting for the SIFS time, if it does not exceed the end time of the first time resource, STA1 immediately sends a SU END frame to the AP to indicate to the AP that the use of this first time resource has ended. Among them, when the first device (such as the AP in Figure 13) receives the SU END frame, it immediately resumes the use of the TXOP after the SIFS time.

[0265] Optionally, please refer to Figure 14, which is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the SU END frame allows cross-border transmission in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 14, in a P2P scenario, the first device (such as the AP in Figure 14) sends an mMU-RTS frame, and the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 14) sends a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as STA2 in Figure 14) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 14) The process can be referred to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when STA1 completes the transmission of the last SU PPDU in the first time resource and successfully receives the BA frame sent by STA2. After receiving the BA frame and waiting for the SIFS time, if it does not exceed the end time of the first time resource, STA1 immediately sends a SU END frame to the AP to indicate to the AP that the use of this first time resource has ended. Among them, after receiving the SU END frame, the AP immediately resumes the use of the TXOP after an interval of SIFS time.

[0266] Alternatively, please refer to FIG. 15 , which is a schematic diagram of another application scenario for TXOP usage right recovery in a P2P scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 15 , in a P2P scenario, the process from when the first device (such as the AP in FIG. 15 ) sends an mMU-RTS frame to when the second device (such as STA1 in FIG. 15 ) sends a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as STA2 in FIG. 15 ) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in FIG. 15 ) can be referred to the process described in FIG. 2 a above, and will not be repeated here. Specifically, after STA1 completes sending the last SU PPDU in the SU SP and successfully receives the BA frame sent by STA2, if the time reached after STA1 receives the BA frame and waits for the SIFS duration does not exceed the end time of the SU SP, STA1 immediately sends a QoS Null Data frame to the AP to indicate to the AP that the use of this SU SP has ended. Specifically, after receiving the QoS Null Data frame, the AP immediately resumes the use of the TXOP after the SIFS duration.

[0267] In an embodiment of the present application, the first frame may be a frame carrying a Frame Control field, and the second device indicates whether to terminate use of the first time resource through the More Data subfield in the Frame Control. When More Data is set to 1, it indicates that use of the first time resource has been terminated, and when it is set to 0, it indicates that use of the first time resource has not been terminated. In another example, when More Data is set to 0, it indicates that use of the first time resource has been terminated, and when it is set to 1, it indicates that use of the first time resource has not been terminated.

[0268] The structure of the Frame Control field is shown in Figure 12. The More Data subfield currently exists in frames sent by the AP to stations that support power saving. It is used to indicate whether the AP has more cached data for the target STA. A value of 1 indicates that there is more cached data, and a value of 0 indicates that there is no more cached data. Similarly, a TDLS station can also use the More Data subfield to indicate whether it has more cached data for a TDLS receiving station in power saving mode. In the prior art, the More Data subfield is not used in scenarios where a non-AP STA sends data to an associated AP and is set to 0.

[0269] Specifically, in a possible implementation, the first device is an AP, and the second device may include two cases: one is a non-AP STA associated with the first device, and the other is an Overlapping Basic Service Set (OBSS) AP.

[0270] When the second device is a non-AP STA associated with the first device, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is that the non-AP STA uses the More Data subfield in the frame sent to the associated AP to indicate whether to end the use of the first time resource. At this time, when the More Data subfield is set to 0, it no longer means that the non-AP STA does not use the More Data subfield, but indicates that the use of the first time resource is not ended. When the non-AP STA sends to a station other than the associated AP, the value of the More Data subfield does not indicate whether the use of the first time resource is ended. In this scenario, the specific meaning of the value of the More Data subfield can follow the function of indicating whether there is cached data in the existing protocol, or it can be redefined, and this application does not limit it. Among them, the station other than the associated AP can be a non-AP STA or an AP, and this application does not limit it here.

[0271] When the second device is an OBSS AP, the technical solution of an embodiment of the present application is to use the More Data subfield in the frame sent by the OBSS AP to the first device to indicate whether to end the use of the first time resource. Exemplarily, when the More Data subfield is set to 0, it means that the use of the first time resource is not ended. When the OBSS AP sends to a site other than the first device, the value of the More Data subfield does not indicate whether the use of the first time resource is ended. In this scenario, the specific meaning of the value of the More Data subfield can follow the function of indicating whether there is cached data in the existing protocol, or it can be redefined, and this application does not limit it. Among them, the site other than the first device can be a non-AP STA or an AP, and this application does not limit it here.

[0272] It should be noted that since the More Data subfield can be used to indicate whether to terminate the use of the first time resource, this function is different from the original function of More Data, so it may be named differently, such as More Data / TXOP Sharing Termination. It should be understood that whether the name is changed does not affect the use of its function.

[0273] By implementing this technical solution, the existing More Data subfield is used to indicate whether to end the use of the first-time resources. This can maximize the use of the existing fields in the More Data subfield without adding new fields, saving indication overhead and being more conducive to product implementation.

[0274] S102: The first device recovers the right to use the TXOP according to the first frame.

[0275] In some feasible implementations, when the first device receives a first frame from the second device, the first device may parse the first frame to obtain first indication information carried in the first frame, and then, based on the first indication information, restore the right to use the TXOP. Optionally, when the first device receives a first frame from the second device, if the first device parses the first frame to obtain first indication and second indication information carried in the first frame, the first device may restore the right to use the TXOP based on the first indication information, and continue to allocate new time resources to the second device from the remaining time of the TXOP based on the second indication information.

[0276] In an embodiment of the present application, the first frame is used to indicate to the second device that the use of the allocated time resources (i.e., the first time resources) has ended, so that the first device can reclaim or restore the right to use the TXOP in advance according to the instruction of the first frame, thereby improving the channel resource utilization and the reliability of the recovery of the TXOP usage rights.

[0277] In addition, an embodiment of the present application also provides a method for recovering the right to use a transmission opportunity, which mainly introduces that when the standard protocol does not allow any frame to be sent and received beyond the end time of the first time resource, the first device can recover or reclaim the right to use the TXOP by setting a preset duration T (i.e., time threshold T).

[0278] Specifically, see Figure 16, which is another flowchart of the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 16, the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0279] S201: A first device receives a second frame.

[0280] In some feasible implementations, upon receiving a second frame at any time within the first time resource, the first device may determine whether to restore the right to use the TXOP based on the relationship between the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource and a preset time T. In other words, the first device needs to determine in real time whether the received second frame meets the conditions for restoring the right to use the TXOP. The second frame may be a frame whose destination address (also called the receiving address) is the address of the second device, or the second frame may be a frame whose sending address is the address of the second device and does not request a response frame.

[0281] For example, in a P2P scenario, the second frame whose destination address is the second device address and received by the first device may be a BA frame sent by the SU PPDU receiver (i.e., another station STA) to the second device. As shown in FIG17 , STA1 sends a SU PPDU to STA2, and STA2 replies with a BA frame to STA1. In other words, the destination address of the BA frame is STA1 (correspondingly understood as the second device described in the embodiment of the present application), and the BA frame may also be understood as the second frame in the embodiment of the present application. In the WLAN system, since the communication mode between the devices is broadcast, the first device (e.g., the AP in FIG17 ) may also receive a BA frame sent by the SU PPDU receiver (e.g., STA2 in FIG17 ) to the second device. Optionally, in a P2P scenario, the second frame whose sending address is the second device address and received by the first device may be a SU PPDU sent by the second device to the SU PPDU receiver without requesting a BA frame, or the second frame may also be a management frame sent by the second device, etc., which may be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0282] For example, in a UL scenario, the first device receives a second frame addressed to the second device, and the second frame does not request a response frame. For example, the second frame may be a SU PPDU sent by the second device to the first device that does not request a BA frame, or the second frame may be a management frame sent by the second device, etc., without limitation. Optionally, in a UL scenario, since the first device is the recipient of the SU PPDU, the first device may also determine whether to reclaim the right to use the TXOP based on the duration between the end time of the BA frame sending the SU PPDU and the end time of the first time resource.

[0283] S202: When the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the first device recovers the right to use the TXOP.

[0284] In some feasible implementations, after the first device receives the second frame, if the first device determines that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T, the first device restores the right to use the TXOP. Conversely, if the first device determines that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than the preset duration T, the first device does not restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0285] Specifically, in a P2P scenario, when a first device receives a response frame at any time within a first time resource, if it determines that the destination address of the response frame is the address of a designated STA of the first time resource (i.e., the address of the second device), the first device may determine whether the time between the end time of the response frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T. If so, the first device immediately resumes use of the TXOP after a SIFS. Conversely, if it is greater than T, the first device does not resume use of the TXOP. Alternatively, when the first device receives a frame that does not request a response frame at any time within the first time resource, if the sender address of the frame that does not request a response frame is the address of a designated STA of the first time resource (i.e., the address of the second device), the first device may determine whether the time between the end time of the frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T. If so, the first device may immediately resume use of the TXOP after a SIFS. Conversely, if it is greater than T, the first device does not resume use of the TXOP.

[0286] Specifically, in the UL scenario, when the first device receives a frame that does not request a response frame at any time within the first time resource, if the sending address of the frame that does not request a response frame is the address of a designated STA of the first time resource (i.e., the address of the second device), the first device determines whether the time between the end time of the frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T. If it is less than T, the first device can immediately resume the right to use the TXOP after the SIFS. Conversely, if it is greater than T, the first device does not resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0287] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 17, which is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the TXOP usage right is restored based on a preset duration T in a P2P scenario provided by this application. As shown in Figure 17, in a P2P scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in Figure 17) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 17) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as STA2 in Figure 17) in the first time resource (such as the SUS P in Figure 17) can refer to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when the AP receives a BA frame at any time within the first time resource, and the destination address of the BA frame is the address of STA1, if the AP determines that the time from the end time of the BA frame to the end time of the SUS P (such as T' in Figure 17) is less than the preset duration T, the AP can immediately restore the right to use the TXOP after SIFS. On the contrary, if T' is greater than T, the AP does not restore the right to use the TXOP. Accordingly, for STA1, if STA1 receives a BA frame addressed to itself at any time within the first time resource, and STA1 determines that the duration T' between the end time of the BA frame and the end time of the SUSP is less than T, STA1 assumes that the AP will resume use of the TXOP, that is, the STA will no longer be allowed to send SU PPDUs during the remaining time of the SUSP. Conversely, if STA1 determines that the duration T' is greater than T, the STA can continue to use the SUSP.

[0288] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, when the first device determines that the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T, the first device may choose to restore the right to use the TXOP, or the first device may choose not to restore the right to use the TXOP, which is determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0289] Accordingly, for the second device, when the duration between the end time of the second frame received by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, or the duration between the end time of the second frame sent by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the second device no longer sends the PPDU. Conversely, when the duration between the end time of the second frame received by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is greater than the preset duration T, or the duration between the end time of the second frame sent by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is greater than the preset duration T, the second device may continue to use the first time resource.

[0290] Specifically, in a UL or P2P scenario, when a second device receives a response frame addressed to itself at any time within a first time resource, the second device may determine whether the time between the end time of the response frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T. If so, the second device defaults to the first device resuming use of the TXOP, meaning that the second device will no longer allow SU PPDUs to be sent during the remainder of the first time resource. Conversely, if the time is greater than T, the STA may continue to use the SU SP. Alternatively, when the second device sends a frame that does not request a response frame at any time within the first time resource, the second device may determine whether the time between the end time of the sent frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than T. If the time is less than T, the second device defaults to the first device resuming use of the TXOP, meaning that the second device will no longer send SU PPDUs during the remainder of the first time resource. Conversely, if the time is greater than T, the second device may continue to use the first time resource.

[0291] It is understood that when the duration between the end time of the second frame received by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T, or when the duration between the end time of the second frame sent by the second device and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T, whether the second device chooses to continue using the first time resource should be consistent with whether the first device chooses to resume the right to use the TXOP in this situation. For example, if the first device is required to resume the right to use the TXOP when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T, then the second device needs to choose not to send a PPDU when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T. Correspondingly, if the first device is required to not resume the right to use the TXOP when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T, then the second device can be required to resume the right to use the first time resource when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is equal to the preset duration T.

[0292] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, when the second frame is the last SU PPDU sent by the second device when the second device is using the first time resource, or the second frame is the BA frame of the last SU PPDU sent by the second device when the second device is using the first time resource, if the second device determines that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than the preset duration T, then in order not to waste channel resources, the second device may also send a first frame to the first device to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. Accordingly, the first device can recover the right to use the TXOP based on the first frame by receiving the first frame from the first device and parsing the information of the first frame. In this embodiment of the present application, the solution for the second device to send the first frame to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource can be referred to the process described in the above-mentioned implementation one, and will not be repeated here.

[0293] In the embodiments of the present application, in P2P and UL scenarios, the first device can determine whether to restore or reclaim the first device's right to use the TXOP by determining the relationship between the duration T' between the end time of receiving the second frame at any time and the end time of the first time resource and the time threshold (i.e., the preset duration T in the present application). By adopting the solution of the embodiments of the present application, when T' is less than T, the right to use the TXOP is restored, and the right to use the TXOP can also be restored in advance, thereby improving channel resource utilization and the reliability of restoring the TXOP.

[0294] Furthermore, in the UL scenario, the first device may also send a second frame and determine whether to restore or reclaim the first device's right to use the TXOP based on the relationship between the duration T' between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource and the time threshold (that is, the preset duration T in this application).

[0295] Specifically, see Figure 18, which is another flowchart of the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 18, the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0296] S301: The first device sends a second frame.

[0297] In some feasible implementations, in a UL scenario, the first device may further send a second frame to the second device, and determine whether to restore the right to use the TXOP based on the relationship between the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource and the preset time T. Generally speaking, the second frame sent by the first device in a UL scenario is a BA frame that the first device returns to the second device based on the SU PPDU received from the second device. Accordingly, for the second device in the UL scenario, the second device may determine whether to continue using the first time resource based on the relationship between the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource and the preset time T by receiving the BA frame sent by the first device to the second device.

[0298] S302: When the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the first device recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0299] In some feasible implementations, the first device resumes use of the transmission opportunity TXOP when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from the acquired TXOP. Accordingly, when the second device determines that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than the preset duration T, the second device defaults to the first device resuming use of the TXOP, i.e., the second device is no longer allowed to send a SU PPDU during the remaining time of the SU SP.

[0300] Optionally, in some feasible implementations, when the second device determines that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than T, in order to avoid wasting resources, the second device may send a first frame to the first device to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource. Accordingly, the first device receives the first frame from the second device and parses the first frame to restore the right to use the TXOP based on the first frame. In particular, the solution of the second device sending the first frame to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to the process described in the above-mentioned implementation one, and will not be repeated here.

[0301] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 19, which is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the TXOP usage right is restored based on a preset duration T in the UL scenario provided by this application. As shown in Figure 19, in the UL scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in Figure 19) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 19) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as the AP in Figure 19) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 19) can refer to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when the AP sends a BA frame to STA1 at any time within the first time resource, if the AP determines that the time distance between the end time of the BA frame and the end time of the SU SP (such as T' in Figure 19) is less than the preset duration T, the AP can immediately restore the right to use the TXOP after SIFS. Conversely, if T' is greater than T, the AP does not restore the right to use the TXOP. Accordingly, for STA1, if STA1 receives a BA frame addressed to itself at any time within the first time resource, and STA1 determines that the duration T' between the end time of the BA frame and the end time of the SUSP is less than T, STA1 assumes that the AP will resume use of the TXOP, that is, the STA will no longer be allowed to send SU PPDUs during the remaining time of the SUSP. Conversely, if STA1 determines that the duration T' is greater than T, the STA can continue to use the SUSP.

[0302] In an embodiment of the present application, in a UL scenario, the first device can determine whether to restore or reclaim the first device's right to use the TXOP by sending a second frame and based on the relationship between the duration T' between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource and the time threshold (i.e., the preset duration T in this application). By adopting the solution in this embodiment of the present application, when T' is less than T, the right to use the TXOP is restored, and the right to use the TXOP can be restored in advance, thereby improving channel resource utilization and the reliability of TXOP restoration.

[0303] In addition, the present application also provides an embodiment. When an AP needs to reclaim the right to use a TXOP for some reason (e.g., the arrival of an urgent service that requires immediate transmission), the AP can proactively restore / reclaim the AP's right to use the TXOP by sending an active recovery frame (i.e., the third frame of the present application). The following description uses the UL scenario as an example. It is understood that the embodiment can also be applied to other scenarios and is not limited by the present application.

[0304] Specifically, see Figure 20, which is another flow chart of the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 20, the method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0305] S401: The first device determines a third frame.

[0306] In some feasible implementations, if the AP needs to reclaim the right to use the TXOP for some reason (e.g., when an urgent service requiring immediate transmission arrives), the AP may send a third frame to inform the second device that the first device will immediately reclaim or will soon reclaim the right to use the TXOP. Therefore, after receiving the third frame, the second device will no longer transmit a SU PPDU within the remaining time of the first time resource.

[0307] The third frame may be an enhanced BA frame. That is, the present application may modify the frame structure of the BA frame fed back by the first device to the second device so that the enhanced BA frame not only indicates that the BA frame is a response frame from the first device based on the SU PPDU received from the second device, but also indicates that the first device proactively resumes its right to use the TXOP. It is understood that the present application may modify the BA Control field so that the BA Control field is used to indicate that the first device proactively resumes its right to use the TXOP. Specifically, at least one bit included in the reserved field of the BA Control field may be set as a TXOP Recovery Indication field. For example, assuming that a bit included in the reserved field of the BA Control field is set as a TXOP Recovery Indication field, it may be specified that when this field is set to 1, it indicates that the first device will immediately resume its right to use the TXOP, and when this field is set to 0, it indicates that the first device will not resume its right to use the TXOP. Alternatively, it may be specified that when this field is set to 0, it indicates that the first device will immediately resume its right to use the TXOP, and when this field is set to 1, it indicates that the first device will not resume its right to use the TXOP. This is not limited here.

[0308] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 21, which is a schematic diagram of the frame structure of the enhanced BA frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 21, the BA frame may include a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, a receiving address (RA) field, a transmitting address (TA) field, a BA control (BA Control) field, a BA information (BA Information) field, and a frame detection sequence (FCS) field. Among them, the existing standard protocol (i.e., 802.11ax) stipulates that the BA control field may include 16 bits, of which the first bit represents the block acknowledgment policy (BA Ack Policy) field, the second to fifth bits represent the block acknowledgment type (BA Type) field, the sixth to twelfth bits represent the reserved (Reserved) field, and the thirteenth to sixteenth bits represent the service identification information (TID_INFO) field. Among them, it is an enhanced BA field, so at least one bit from the sixth to twelfth bits in the BA control field can be used to represent the TXOP recovery indication field. For example, assuming that one bit included in the reserved field of the BA control field is used to represent the TXOP resumption indication field, any bit from bit 6 to bit 12 can be set as the TXOP resumption indication field. For example, in Figure 21, bit 6 in the BA control field is set as the TXOP resumption indication field.

[0309] Further, please refer to Figure 22, which is a schematic diagram of an application scenario in which the first device actively recovers the right to use the TXOP provided by the present application. As shown in Figure 22, in the UL scenario, the process from the first device (such as the AP in Figure 22) sending the mMU-RTS frame to the second device (such as STA1 in Figure 22) sending the SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (such as the AP in Figure 22) in the first time resource (such as the SU SP in Figure 22) can be referred to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. When the AP needs to actively recover / reclaim the right to use the TXOP, the AP can inform STA1 in any BA frame that the AP will reclaim the right to use the TXOP. As shown in Figure 22, the AP sends an enhanced BA frame (i.e., the third frame in this application) to STA1, and waits for SIFS after sending the enhanced BA frame, and then reclaims the right to use the TXOP (such as the AP sending the PPDU in Figure 22).

[0310] Optionally, instead of modifying / enhancing the frame structure of the BA frame, another frame (i.e., the fourth frame in this application) may be aggregated with the BA frame, and the other frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the TXOP. In other words, the third frame is an aggregated frame, which is obtained by aggregating the BA frame with other frames (i.e., the fourth frame). It should be understood that this application allows the aggregation of all fourth frames that can play this role. For example, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP. Specifically, the fourth frame may be a QoSdata frame or a Qos Null Data frame, and carries a new type of A control field in its A control field (for example, the value of the control identifier is 7). Its frame structure can be found in Figure 7 above and will not be repeated here. Optionally, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP. In other words, another new control frame (e.g., a frame type field with a binary value of 01 and a frame subtype field with a binary value of 1111) can be designed to instruct the first device to proactively resume use of the transmission opportunity TXOP. For ease of description, this new control frame can be referred to as an active recovery frame. The frame structure of the active recovery frame can be found in FIG. 8 above and will not be further described here.

[0311] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 23, which is a schematic diagram of another application scenario provided by this application in which a first device actively resumes TXOP usage rights. As shown in Figure 23, in the UL scenario, the process from the first device (the AP in Figure 22) sending an mMU-RTS frame to the second device (STA1 in Figure 22) sending a SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (AP in Figure 22) on the first time resource (SU SP in Figure 22) can be referred to the process described in Figure 2a above and will not be repeated here. When the AP needs to actively resume / reclaim the right to use the TXOP, the AP can aggregate another frame (i.e., the fourth frame in this application) with any BA frame. This aggregated other frame is used to indicate to STA1 that the AP will resume the right to use the TXOP. As shown in Figure 22, the AP aggregates the BA frame and other frames into a third frame and then sends this third frame to STA1 to indicate to STA1 that the AP will resume the use of the TXOP. After the AP sends the third frame and waits for a SIFS, it can reclaim the right to use the TXOP (as shown in Figure 23, where the AP sends the PPDU).

[0312] S402: The first device sends a third frame to the second device.

[0313] In some feasible implementations, after the first device determines the third frame, it may send the third frame to the second device. It is understood that the first device may reclaim the right to use the TXOP after sending the third frame and then waiting for a SIFS duration. Alternatively, the first device may wait for the second device to send k more data frames after sending the third frame before reclaiming the right to use the TXOP. In other words, the first device may wait for a preset duration, T0, after sending the third frame before reclaiming the right to use the TXOP. This allows the first device to buffer the second device or allow time for other preparations. For ease of description, the phrase "the first device may reclaim the right to use the TXOP after sending the third frame and then waiting for a SIFS duration" may be shortened to "the first device immediately reclaims the right to use the TXOP," and the phrase "the first device may wait for the second device to send k more data frames after sending the third frame before reclaiming the right to use the TXOP" may be shortened to "the first device delays reclaiming the right to use the TXOP." k is an integer greater than 0 (e.g., k = 1).

[0314] It is understandable that from the perspective of the second device, when the second device receives the third frame from the first device, the second device no longer sends data frames (i.e., when the first device immediately reclaims the right to use the TXOP, the second device is not allowed to send any data frames), or the second device is allowed to send k data frames again (i.e., if the first device delays reclaiming the right to use the TXOP, the second device is allowed to send k data frames again). The third frame can be an enhanced BA frame, or the third frame can also be an aggregated frame.

[0315] For easier understanding, refer to Figure 22 or Figure 23. When the AP needs to immediately and proactively recover or reclaim the TXOP, it can notify STA1 in any BA frame that it will immediately reclaim the TXOP. In other words, the AP can reclaim the TXOP by sending an enhanced BA frame to STA1 and then waiting a SIFS after sending the BA frame (as shown in Figure 22 where the AP sends a PPDU).

[0316] For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 24, which is a schematic diagram of another application scenario in which the first device actively recovers the right to use the TXOP provided by this application. As shown in Figure 24, in the UL scenario, the process from the first device (the AP in Figure 24) sending the mMU-RTS frame to the second device (STA1 in Figure 24) sending the SU PPDU to the SU PPDU receiver (AP in Figure 24) in the first time resource (SU SP in Figure 24) can refer to the process described in Figure 2a above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, when the AP needs to actively reclaim the right to use the TXOP, the AP can send an enhanced BA frame to STA1 to inform STA1 that the AP will reclaim the right to use the TXOP. In the scenario as shown in Figure 24, the AP can allow STA1 to send another SU PPDU (i.e., k=1) after receiving the enhanced BA frame. Therefore, after the AP sends an enhanced BA frame to STA1, the AP can wait for a period of time T0 after sending the BA frame and then formally reclaim / recover the right to use the TXOP (such as the AP sending the PPDU in Figure 24). Among them, T0=3SIFS+SU PPDU+BA.

[0317] In the embodiment of the present application, when the AP needs to reclaim the right to use the TXOP for some reason (e.g., the arrival of an urgent service that requires immediate transmission), the AP can proactively restore / reclaim the AP's right to use the TXOP by sending an active recovery frame (i.e., the third frame of the present application). This proactive reclaiming method allows the AP to restore the right to use the TXOP on demand.

[0318] It should be noted that the relevant features between the above method embodiments can be combined, and this application does not limit them here.

[0319] The above content elaborates on the method provided by the present application. In order to facilitate the implementation of the above scheme of the embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application also provides corresponding devices or equipment.

[0320] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the first device and the second device according to the above-mentioned method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following will describe in detail the transmission opportunity usage right recovery device of the embodiment of the present application in conjunction with Figures 25 and 26.

[0321] In the case of an integrated unit, see Figure 25 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transmission opportunity usage rights recovery device 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The transmission opportunity usage rights recovery device can be a first device or a chip within the first device, such as a Wi-Fi chip. As shown in Figure 25 , the transmission opportunity usage rights recovery device includes a processing unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12.

[0322] In one design, the transceiver unit 12 is used to receive a first frame from a second device, where the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended use of a first time resource; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from an acquired transmission opportunity TXOP, and the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device through a single-user trigger frame; the processing unit 11 is used to restore the right to use the TXOP based on the first frame.

[0323] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0324] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0325] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0326] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0327] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0328] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control domain is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control domain is an instruction and status CAS control domain; the first indication information is carried in the reverse authorization RDG subfield in the CAS control domain; or the first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control domain, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control domain.

[0329] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0330] In another design, the transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a second frame; and the processing unit 11 is configured to restore the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP when the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The destination address of the second frame is the address of the second device, or the sending address of the second frame is the address of the second device and the second frame does not request a response frame. The first time resource is allocated by the first device to the second device from the acquired TXOP.

[0331] Optionally, the transceiver unit 12 is also used to receive a first frame from the second device when the duration between the end moment of the second frame and the end moment of the first time resource is greater than T, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0332] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0333] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0334] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0335] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0336] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0337] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status CAS control field. The first indication information is carried in a reverse grant RDG subfield in the CAS control field, or the first indication information is carried in an RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0338] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0339] In another design, the transceiver unit 12 is configured to send a second frame, where the destination address of the second frame is the address of the second device. The processing unit 11 is configured to restore the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP when determining that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T. The first time resource is allocated by the first device to the second device from the obtained TXOP.

[0340] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is also used to receive a first frame from the second device through the transceiver unit 12 when it is determined that the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than T, and the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended its use of the first time resource.

[0341] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0342] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0343] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0344] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0345] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0346] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0347] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0348] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0349] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0350] In another design, the processing unit 11 is configured to determine a third frame, and the transceiver unit 12 is configured to send the third frame to the second device, wherein the third frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume use of the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0351] Optionally, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0352] Optionally, the third frame is an aggregated frame obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0353] Optionally, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0354] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0355] Optionally, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0356] It should be understood that the above-mentioned transmission opportunity usage right recovery device 1 can correspond to the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiment, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the transmission opportunity usage right recovery device 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operations performed by the first device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The corresponding beneficial effects can be referred to the method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0357] 25 , the transmission opportunity usage right recovery device may also be a second device or a chip in the second device, such as a Wi-Fi chip, etc. As shown in FIG25 , the transmission opportunity usage right recovery device includes a processing unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12 .

[0358] In one design, a processing unit 11 is used to determine a first frame, where the first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended use of a first time resource; the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device from an acquired transmission opportunity TXOP, and the first time resource is allocated to the second device by the first device through a single-user trigger frame; and a transceiver unit 12 is used to send the first frame to the first device.

[0359] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0360] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0361] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0362] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0363] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0364] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control domain is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control domain is an instruction and status CAS control domain; the first indication information is carried in the reverse authorization RDG subfield in the CAS control domain; or the first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control domain, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control domain.

[0365] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0366] Optionally, if the first frame is a quality of service null data (Qos Null Data) frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, the second device executes the sending of the first frame to the first device when the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource.

[0367] In another design, the transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a second frame or send a second frame, where the second frame is a frame that does not request a response frame. The second device may not send the PPDU if the duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T.

[0368] Optionally, the second device further includes a processing unit 11, configured to, when determining that a duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, transmit a first frame to the first device via the transceiver unit 12. The first frame indicates the end of use of the first time resource by the second device. The first time resource is allocated by the first device to the second device from the acquired TXOP.

[0369] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0370] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0371] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0372] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0373] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0374] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0375] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0376] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0377] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0378] Optionally, when the first frame is a quality of service null data (Qos Null Data) frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0379] In another design, the transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a second frame from the first device. The processing unit 11 is configured to determine that the second device no longer sends the PPDU when a duration between an end time of the second frame and an end time of the first time resource is less than a preset duration T.

[0380] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to, when it is determined that a duration between the end time of the second frame and the end time of the first time resource is greater than a preset duration T, send a first frame to the first device through the transceiver unit 12. The first frame is used to indicate that the second device has ended use of the first time resource; the first time resource is allocated by the first device to the second device from the acquired TXOP.

[0381] Optionally, the first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication, and the single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to indicate the remaining time resources of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

[0382] Optionally, the first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second device has ended using the first time resource.

[0383] Optionally, the first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

[0384] Optionally, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0385] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

[0386] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field;

[0387] The first indication information is carried in the Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) subfield in the CAS control domain; or

[0388] The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit from the 4th bit to the 8th bit of the CAS control field.

[0389] Optionally, the frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate that the second device ends the use of the first time resource.

[0390] Optionally, when the first frame is a quality of service null data (Qos Null Data) frame, or the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource, and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

[0391] In another design, the processing unit 11 is used to determine that when the second device receives the third frame from the first device, the second device no longer sends data frames through the transceiver unit 12, or sends data frames k times again through the transceiver unit 12, wherein the third frame is used to instruct the first device to actively resume the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP, and k is an integer greater than 0.

[0392] Optionally, the third frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame returned by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device. The BA control field in the BA frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP.

[0393] Optionally, the third frame is an aggregated frame obtained by aggregating the fourth frame and a BA frame. The fourth frame is used to instruct the first device to proactively resume the right to use the TXOP, and the BA frame is generated by the first device based on a data frame received from the second device.

[0394] Optionally, the A control field in the fourth frame includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to instruct the first device to actively restore the right to use the TXOP.

[0395] Optionally, the control identifier in the A control field is a third value, and the third value indicates that the A control field includes the third indication information.

[0396] Optionally, the frame type field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the third frame indicates that the third frame is an active recovery frame, and the active recovery frame is used to indicate that the first device actively recovers the right to use the transmission opportunity TXOP.

[0397] It should be understood that the above-mentioned transmission opportunity usage right recovery device 1 can also execute the above-mentioned method embodiment, and the above-mentioned operations or functions of each unit in the transmission opportunity usage right recovery device 1 are respectively for realizing the corresponding operations performed by the second device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The corresponding beneficial effects can refer to the method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0398] The first device and the second device of the embodiment of the present application are described above. The following describes possible product forms of the first device and the second device. It should be understood that any product in any form that has the functions of the first device described in Figure 25 above, and / or any product in any form that has the functions of the second device described above, falls within the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application. It should also be understood that the following description is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the product forms of the first device and the second device of the embodiment of the present application to these examples.

[0399] As a possible product form, the first device and the second device described in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture.

[0400] For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 26, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 can be a first device or a second device, or a chip therein. Figure 26 only shows the main components of the communication device 1000. In addition to the processor 1001 and the transceiver 1002, the communication device may further include a memory 1003 and an input / output device (not shown).

[0401] Processor 1001 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Memory 1003 is primarily used to store software programs and data. Transceiver 1002 may include control circuitry and an antenna. The control circuitry is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as a touch screen, display, and keyboard, are primarily used to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0402] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1001 can read the software program in the memory 1003, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1001 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1001. The processor 1001 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0403] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be provided independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be remotely arranged independent of the communication device.

[0404] The processor 1001 , the transceiver 1002 , and the memory 1003 may be connected via a communication bus.

[0405] In one design, the communication device 1000 can be used to perform the functions of the first device in the aforementioned method embodiment: the processor 1001 can be used to execute step S102 in Figure 3, and / or step S202 in Figure 16, and / or step S302 in Figure 18, and / or step S401 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for performing the technology described in this document; the transceiver 1002 can be used to execute step S101 in Figure 3, and / or step S201 in Figure 16, and / or step S301 in Figure 18, and / or step S402 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for the technology described in this document.

[0406] In another design, the communication device 1000 can be used to perform the functions of the second device in the aforementioned method embodiment: the processor 1001 can be used to execute step S101 in Figure 3 to determine the first frame, and / or step S202 in Figure 16, and / or step S302 in Figure 18, and / or step S402 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for executing the technology described herein; the transceiver 1002 can be used to execute step S101 in Figure 3 to send the first frame, and / or step S201 in Figure 16, and / or step S301 in Figure 18, and / or step S401 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for the technology described herein.

[0407] In any of the above designs, processor 1001 may include a transceiver for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or the transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0408] In any of the above designs, processor 1001 may store instructions, which may be computer programs. The computer programs, when executed on processor 1001, may cause communication device 1000 to perform the method described in any of the above method embodiments. The computer programs may be embedded in processor 1000, in which case processor 1001 may be implemented by hardware.

[0409] In one implementation, the communication device 1000 may include a circuit that can implement the functions of sending, receiving, or communicating in the aforementioned method embodiments. The processor and transceiver described in this application can be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a mixed signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processor and transceiver can also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (nMetal-oxide-semiconductor, NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (positive channel metal oxide semiconductor, PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (bipolar junction transistor, BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0410] The scope of the communication device described in this application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited to FIG. 26 . The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

[0411] (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0412] (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally including a storage component for storing data and computer programs;

[0413] (3) ASIC, such as modem;

[0414] (4) Modules that can be embedded in other devices;

[0415] (5) Receivers, terminals, smart terminals, cellular phones, wireless devices, handheld devices, mobile units, vehicle-mounted devices, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, etc.;

[0416] (6)Others, etc.

[0417] As a possible product form, the first device and the second device described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general-purpose processor.

[0418] The general-purpose processor implementing the first device includes a processing circuit and an input / output interface internally connected to and communicating with the processing circuit.

[0419] In one design, the general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the first device in the aforementioned method embodiment. Specifically, the processing circuit is used to perform step S102 in Figure 3, and / or step S202 in Figure 16, and / or step S302 in Figure 18, and / or step S401 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for performing the technology described herein; the input and output interface is used to perform step S101 in Figure 3, and / or step S201 in Figure 16, and / or step S301 in Figure 18, and / or step S402 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for performing the technology described herein.

[0420] The general-purpose processor implementing the second device includes a processing circuit and an input / output interface internally connected to and communicating with the processing circuit.

[0421] In one design, the general-purpose processor can be used to perform the functions of the second device in the aforementioned method embodiment. Specifically, the processing circuit is used to perform the determination of the first frame in step S101 in Figure 3, and / or step S202 in Figure 16, and / or step S302 in Figure 18, and / or step S40 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein; the input and output interface is used to perform the sending of the first frame in step S101 in Figure 3, and / or step S201 in Figure 16, and / or step S301 in Figure 18, and / or step S402 in Figure 20, and / or other processes for performing the techniques described herein.

[0422] It should be understood that the communication devices of the above-mentioned various product forms have any functions of the first device or the second device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, can implement the steps in the above-mentioned method embodiment accordingly, and achieve corresponding technical effects. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0423] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program code is stored. When the processor executes the computer program code, the electronic device executes the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0424] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0425] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can exist in the form of a chip product. The structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is used to communicate with other devices through a receiving circuit, so that the device executes the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0426] An embodiment of the present application further provides a wireless communication system, including a first device and a second device, wherein the first device and the second device can execute the method in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0427] The steps of the method or algorithm described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application can be implemented in hardware or by executing software instructions by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, mobile hard disks, read-only compact disks (CD-ROMs), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a core network interface device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist in the core network interface device as discrete components.

[0428] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in one or more of the examples above, the functions described herein can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer-readable storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any medium that facilitates the transmission of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0429] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above description is only the specific implementation methods of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity, characterized in that, it includes: The first device receives a first frame from the second device, and the first frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource; The first time resource is allocated by the first device for the second device from the obtained transmission opportunity TXOP through a single-user trigger frame; The first device restores the right to use the TXOP according to the first frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first time resource is used to transmit an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication. The single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time resource of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first frame carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first frame also carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or, The A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status CAS control field; The first indication information is carried in the reverse grant RDG subfield in the CAS control field; or The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit among the 4th bit to the 8th bit in the CAS control field.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame, and the time resource handover frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource.

9. A method for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity, characterized in that, it includes: The second device determines a first frame, and the first frame is used to indicate the end of the second device's use of the first time resource; The first time resource is allocated by the first device for the second device from the obtained transmission opportunity TXOP through a single-user trigger frame; The second device sends the first frame to the first device.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first time resource is used for transmitting an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) or for point-to-point (P2P) communication. The single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time resource of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, a first indication information is carried in the first frame, and the first indication information is used to indicate the end of the use of the first time resource by the second device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, a second indication information is further carried in the first frame, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for transmitting data frames.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or the A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, a control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, a control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status (CAS) control field; the first indication information is carried in a reverse grant (RDG) sub-field in the CAS control field; or the first indication information is carried in the RDG sub-field in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit among the 4th bit to the 8th bit in the CAS control field.

16. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, a frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame, and a frame sub-type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource return frame, and the time resource return frame is used to indicate the end of the use of the first time resource by the second device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 9-16, wherein, when the first frame is a quality of service null data (QoS Null Data) frame, or when the first frame is the time resource return frame, if an end time of the first frame is later than an end time of the first time resource, and a start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

18. A device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity, the device being a first device, wherein, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first frame from a second device, the first frame being used to indicate the end of the use of a first time resource by the second device; the first time resource is allocated by the first device for the second device from a obtained transmission opportunity (TXOP), and the first time resource is allocated by the first device for the second device through a single-user trigger frame; A processing unit, configured to restore the right to use the TXOP according to the first frame.

19. A device for restoring the right to use a transmission opportunity, where the device is a second device, characterized in that it includes: A processing unit, configured to determine a first frame, where the first frame is used to indicate the end of the use of a first time resource by the second device; The first time resource is allocated by a first device for the second device from the obtained transmission opportunity TXOP, and the first time resource is allocated by the first device for the second device through a single-user trigger frame; A transceiver unit, configured to send the first frame to the first device.

20. The device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The first time resource is used for transmitting an uplink single-user physical layer protocol data unit PPDU or for point-to-point P2P communication. The single-user trigger frame includes a first field and a second field. The first field is used to indicate the remaining time resource of the TXOP, and the second field is used to indicate the first time resource.

21. The device according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that The first frame carries first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the end of the use of the first time resource by the second device.

22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that The first frame further carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate whether the second device still needs time resources for data transmission.

23. The device according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that The A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information, or The A control field in the first frame includes the first indication information and the second indication information.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The control identifier in the A control field is a first value, and the first value indicates that the A control field includes the first indication information.

25. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The control identifier in the A control field is a second value, and the second value indicates that the A control field is a command and status CAS control field; The first indication information is carried in the reverse grant RDG subfield in the CAS control field; or The first indication information is carried in the RDG subfield in the CAS control field, and the second indication information is carried in at least one bit among the 4th bit to the 8th bit in the CAS control field.

26. The device according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that The frame type field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a control frame and the frame subtype field in the first frame indicates that the first frame is a time resource handover frame, and the time resource handover frame is used to indicate the end of the use of the first time resource by the second device.

27. The device according to any one of claims 19-26, characterized in that When the first frame is a Quality of Service Null Data (Qos Null Data) frame, or when the first frame is the time resource return frame, if the end time of the first frame is later than the end time of the first time resource and the start time of the first frame is earlier than the end time of the first time resource, then the second device is allowed to send the first frame to the first device.

28. A communication device, characterized in that, it includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used for storing a computer program; the processor is used for executing the computer program stored in the memory, so that the right to use the transmission opportunity restoration device executes the method described in any one of claims 1-8, or the method described in any one of claims 9-17.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method described in any one of claims 1-8, or the method described in any one of claims 9-17.

30. A computer program product containing program instructions, characterized in that, when the program instructions run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method described in any one of claims 1-8, or the method described in any one of claims 9-17.

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