METHODS FOR INDICATING INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION DEVICES, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MATERIALS

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for indicating information and a communication device. A non-AP multi-link device (MLD) or station (STA) in a non-AP MLD generates the first frame. The first frame includes indicator information to indicate the buffer time for channel switching delay in the initial control frame. The buffer time is determined based on the duration of the control response frame. The non-AP MLD or the first STA or another STA in the non-AP MLD transmits the first frame. The MLD AP or the first AP or another AP in the MLD AP receives the first frame. The MLD AP or the first AP determines the buffer time of the initial control frame based on the indicator information. Based on the above solution, the buffer time of the initial control frame can be precisely determined so that the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the next data frame arrives.

Description

Information indication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on April 30, 2021, with application number 202110485965.4 and application name "Information Indication Method and Communication Device". It claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on April 7, 2021, with application number 202110375411.9 and invention name "Information Indication Method and Communication Device". 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 an information indication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] With the development of wireless technology, more and more wireless devices support multi-link communication. A non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD) can monitor on multiple links. When a non-AP MLD or a non-access point station (non-AP STA) within a non-AP MLD receives an initial control frame on a link, it can switch the receive chain on other links to that link. This allows it to receive data frames at a higher rate after receiving the initial control frame.

[0004] As shown in Figure 1, when a non-AP MLD switches the number of receiving channels on a link from A to B (where B > A, meaning the number of receiving channels switches from 1 to 2 in Figure 1), it takes time. Therefore, the access point multi-link device (AP MLD) or the access point (AP) within the AP MLD must add padding bits to the initial control frame it sends to allow the non-AP MLD sufficient time to switch its receiving channel after receiving the initial control frame. After receiving the content portion of the initial control frame, the non-AP MLD can begin switching and only needs to complete the switching before the arrival of subsequent data frames. The longer the switching delay required by the non-AP MLD, the more padding bits are required in the initial control frame.

[0005] However, there is currently no solution for determining the duration of padding bits when AP MLD or an AP within AP MLD sends an initial control frame, so that non-AP MLD can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before subsequent data frames arrive.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides an information indication method and a communication device to accurately determine the duration of the padding bits of an initial control frame, so that a non-AP MLD can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before the arrival of subsequent data frames.

[0008] In a first aspect, a method for indicating information is provided, the method comprising: a non-AP MLD or a first STA in a non-AP MLD generating a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a duration of padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration of the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; and the first STA or another STA in the non-AP MLD or the non-AP MLD transmitting the first frame. In this aspect, the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame can be accurately determined, allowing the first STA to complete switching of a corresponding number of transmission channels before a subsequent data frame arrives.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0010] In another possible implementation, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame. In this implementation, a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA may send multiple indication information to an AP MLD or an AP, each indication information being used to indicate the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame. The AP MLD or the AP may determine the duration occupied by the padding bits in the corresponding initial control frame based on the actual transmission rate of the initial control frame.

[0011] In yet another possible implementation, the method further includes: the non-AP MLD or a first STA in the non-AP MLD determining a duration of the control response frame.

[0012] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD determining a minimum duration of the control response frame. In this implementation, the minimum duration of the control response frame is the shortest duration of the control response frame. The non-AP MLD or the first STA determines the minimum duration of the control response frame, thereby determining the maximum duration occupied by padding bits in the initial control frame, thereby meeting the delay required by the first STA to switch a corresponding number of transmission channels.

[0013] In another possible implementation, determining the duration of the control response frame includes: the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD determining a rate for the control response frame; and the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD determining the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. In this implementation, the length of the control response frame is associated with the format of the control response frame, where the duration of the control response frame = the length of the control response frame / the rate of the control response frame.

[0014] In another possible implementation, determining the minimum duration of the control response frame includes: the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD determining a maximum rate of the control response frame; and the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD determining the minimum duration of the control response frame based on the maximum rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. In this implementation, the length of the control response frame is associated with the format of the control response frame, where the minimum duration of the control response frame = the length of the control response frame / the maximum rate of the control response frame.

[0015] In another possible implementation, the maximum rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. In this implementation, the basic service set basic rate set includes one or more basic rates that the first STA can support, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. Therefore, the minimum duration of the control response frame can be obtained based on the maximum rate of the control response frame, and the minimum duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame can be determined. The maximum rate of the initial control frame is variable.

[0016] In another possible implementation, the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set. In this implementation, the maximum rate of the initial control frame can be a fixed 24 Mbps. The basic service set basic rate set includes one or more basic rates that can be supported by the first STA, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to 24 Mbps. Therefore, the minimum duration of the control response frame can be obtained based on the maximum rate of the control response frame, and the minimum duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame can be determined.

[0017] In another possible implementation, the duration of the fill bit is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0018] In another possible implementation, the maximum value of the duration occupied by the fill bits is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

[0019] In another possible implementation, the duration of the fill bits is the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at the maximum rate, or the duration of the fill bits is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at 24Mbps, or the duration of the fill bits is the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at any rate, or the duration of the fill bits is the maximum value of the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at all rates.

[0020] In a second aspect, an information indication method is provided, the method including: an AP MLD or a first AP or other AP in the AP MLD receives a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration occupied by the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; and the AP MLD or the first AP determines a duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0022] In another possible implementation, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each indication information of the multiple indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame; the first AP determines the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame based on the first frame, including: determining the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0023] In yet another possible implementation, the duration of the control response frame is determined according to a rate of the control response frame and a length of the control response frame.

[0024] In yet another possible implementation, the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame is determined according to the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0025] In yet another possible implementation, the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in a basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

[0026] In another possible implementation, the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set.

[0027] In another possible implementation, the duration of the fill bit is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0028] In another possible implementation, the maximum value of the duration occupied by the fill bits is associated with the switching delay, the first inter-frame interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second inter-frame interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame.

[0029] In another possible implementation, the duration of the fill bits is the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at the maximum rate, or the duration of the fill bits is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at 24Mbps, or the duration of the fill bits is the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at any rate, or the duration of the fill bits is the maximum value of the duration of the fill bits required when the initial control frame is sent at all rates.

[0030] According to a third aspect, an information indication method is provided, the method comprising: a non-AP MLD or a first STA in a non-AP MLD generating a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a delay required for switching the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value; and the first STA or another STA in the non-AP MLD or the non-AP MLD transmitting the first frame. In this aspect, the non-AP MLD or the first STA in the non-AP MLD indicates to the AP the delay required for switching a corresponding number of transmission channels, so that the AP satisfies the delay when setting a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame, thereby enabling the first STA to complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before a subsequent data frame arrives.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

[0032] In a fourth aspect, an information indication method is provided, the method comprising: AP MLD or the first AP or other AP in AP MLD receives a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the first STA to switch from a first value to a second value; and the first AP determines the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the duration of the padding bits is associated with the delay, the first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second interframe interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

[0034] In yet another possible implementation, the duration of the control response frame is associated with a rate of the control response frame.

[0035] In yet another possible implementation, a maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in a basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the rate of the initial control frame.

[0036] In another possible implementation, the sum of the duration occupied by the filling bits and the first inter-frame interval is greater than the processing delay of the initial control frame.

[0037] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided that can implement the information indication method described in the first aspect. For example, the communication device can be a chip, a non-AP MLD, or a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD. The method can be implemented using software, hardware, or hardware executing corresponding software.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit; wherein: the processing unit is used to generate a first frame, the first frame includes indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay, and the duration occupied by the fill bits is determined based on the duration of the control response frame; and the transceiver unit is used to send the first frame.

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

[0040] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine a minimum duration of the control response frame.

[0041] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to determine a rate of the control response frame; and determine a duration of the control response frame according to the rate of the control response frame and a length of the control response frame.

[0042] Optionally, the processing unit is further used to determine the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame; and determine the minimum value of the duration of the control response frame based on the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0043] When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit; when the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a non-AP STA and a processing unit, the transceiver unit is located in the non-AP STA, and multiple non-AP STAs can share one processing unit; when the communication device is a non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit.

[0044] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided that can implement the information indication method of the second aspect. For example, the communication device can be a chip, an AP MLD, or an AP in an AP MLD, and can implement the method through software, hardware, or hardware executing corresponding software.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit; wherein: the transceiver unit is used to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay, and the duration occupied by the fill bits is determined based on the duration of the control response frame; and the processing unit is used to determine the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0046] Optionally, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each of the multiple indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame; the processing unit is also used to determine the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0047] When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit; when the communication device is an AP MLD P, the communication device includes an AP and a processing unit, the transceiver unit is located in the AP, and multiple APs can share one processing unit; when the communication device is an AP in an AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit.

[0048] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided that can implement the information indication method described in the third aspect. For example, the communication device can be a chip, a non-AP MLD, or a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD. The method can be implemented using software, hardware, or hardware executing corresponding software.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit; wherein: the processing unit is used to generate a first frame, the first frame includes indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the site to switch from a first value to a second value; and the transceiver unit is used to send the first frame.

[0050] When the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit; when the communication device is a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes a non-AP STA and a processing unit, the transceiver unit is located in the non-AP STA, and multiple non-AP STAs can share one processing unit; when the communication device is a non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit.

[0051] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided that can implement the information indication method of the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device can be a chip, an AP MLD, or an AP within an AP MLD. The method can be implemented using software, hardware, or hardware executing corresponding software.

[0052] In another possible implementation, the communication device may include: a transceiver unit and a processing unit; wherein: the transceiver unit is used to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the site to switch from a first value to a second value; and the processing unit is used to determine the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0053] When the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit; when the communication device is an AP MLD, the communication device includes an AP and a processing unit, the transceiver unit is located in the AP, and multiple APs can share one processing unit; when the communication device is an AP in an AP MLD, the communication device includes the above-mentioned transceiver unit and the processing unit.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the communication device in the fifth to eighth aspects includes a processor coupled to a memory; the processor is configured to support the device in performing the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned information indication method. The memory is used to be coupled to the processor, and stores the necessary programs (instructions) and / or data for the device. Optionally, the communication device may further include a communication interface for supporting communication between the device and other network elements. Optionally, the memory may be located inside the communication device or outside the communication device.

[0055] In another possible implementation, the communication device in the fifth to eighth aspects includes a processor and a transceiver, the processor being coupled to the transceiver, and the processor being used to execute a computer program or instruction to control the transceiver to receive and send information; when the processor executes the computer program or instruction, the processor is also used to implement the above method through a logic circuit or execution code instruction. The transceiver may be a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or an input / output interface, configured to receive signals from other communication devices other than the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices other than the communication device. When the communication device is a chip, the transceiver is a transceiver circuit or an input / output interface.

[0056] When the communication device in aspects 5 to 8 above is a chip, the sending unit may be an output unit, such as an output circuit or a communication interface; the receiving unit may be an input unit, such as an input circuit or a communication interface. When the communication device is a terminal, the sending unit may be a transmitter or a transmitter; and the receiving unit may be a receiver or a receiver.

[0057] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein a computer program or instruction is stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program or instruction is executed, the methods described in the above aspects are implemented.

[0058] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, causes the communication device to execute the methods described in the above aspects.

[0059] In an eleventh aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the communication device of the fifth aspect and the communication device of the sixth aspect.

[0060] In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the communication device of the seventh aspect and the communication device of the eighth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission channel switching process provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG3 is a flow chart of an information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the format of a MU-RTS frame;

[0065] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the frame format of a non-HT PPDU;

[0066] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the format of a CTS frame;

[0067] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the format of a QoS-Null frame;

[0068] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a format of a first frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG9 is a schematic flow chart of another information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the duration occupied by the fill bit and the processing delay of the trigger frame;

[0071] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] The embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0077] First, several concepts involved in this application are described:

[0078] Multi-link device (MLD)

[0079] Multi-link devices can communicate simultaneously on frequency bands such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, or on different channels in the same frequency band, thereby increasing the communication rate between devices.

[0080] A multi-link device usually contains multiple stations (STAs), each of which operates on a specific frequency band or channel. As shown in Figure 2, the multi-link device can be an AP MLD100 or a non-AP MLD200. If it is an AP MLD, the device includes one or more APs (AP1 to AP200 in the figure). n ), and each STA in the AP MLD is an AP; if it is non-AP MLD, the device includes one or more non-AP STAs (such as STA1 to STA n ), and each STA in the non-AP MLD is a non-AP STA. One or more non-AP STAs in the non-AP MLD can establish an association relationship with one or more APs in the AP MLD and then communicate.

[0081] In one implementation, each non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations described in this application, such as generating and determining operations. The transceiver / transceiver is configured to communicate with the AP MLD or an AP associated with the non-AP STA in the AP MLD. Therefore, the processing and transceiver operations described in this application may be performed by the non-AP STA in the non-AP MLD.

[0082] In another implementation, each non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD includes only a transceiver unit / transceiver, and the non-AP MLD includes a processing unit / processor. The processing unit / processor can be shared by the non-AP STAs in the non-AP MLD. Therefore, the transceiver operations described in this application can be performed by the non-AP STAs in the non-AP MLD, and the processing operations described in this application can be performed by the non-AP MLD.

[0083] In another implementation, a non-AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations described herein, such as generating and determining operations. The transceiver / transceiver is configured to communicate with the AP MLD. Therefore, the processing and transceiver operations described herein may be performed by the non-AP MLD.

[0084] For the sake of clarity and simplicity, this application describes the processing and transceiver operations in this application by a non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD as an example.

[0085] In one implementation, each AP in an AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform processing operations described herein, such as determining operations. The transceiver / transceiver may be configured to communicate with a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA associated with the AP in the non-AP MLD. Therefore, the processing and transceiver operations described herein may be performed by the AP in the AP MLD.

[0086] In another implementation, each AP in the AP MLD includes only a transceiver unit / transceiver, and the AP MLD includes a processing unit / processor. The APs in the AP MLD can share the processing unit / processor. Therefore, the APs in the AP MLD can perform the transceiver operations described in this application, and the AP MLD can perform the processing operations described in this application.

[0087] In another implementation, the AP MLD may include a processing unit / processor and a transceiver / transceiver. The processing unit / processor may perform the processing operations described herein, such as determining operations. The transceiver / transceiver is configured to communicate with a non-AP MLD. Therefore, the processing and transceiver operations described herein may be performed by the AP MLD.

[0088] For the sake of clarity and simplicity, this application describes the processing and transceiver operations in this application by the AP in the AP MLD as an example.

[0089] Enhanced Multi-Link Operation

[0090] In enhanced multi-link operation, a non-AP MLD can monitor multiple links. After receiving an initial control frame on a link, it can switch the receiving channels on other links to that link, thereby receiving data frames at a higher rate after receiving the initial control frame.

[0091] Enhanced multi-link operation includes enhanced multi-link single-radio (eMLSR) and enhanced multi-link multi-radio (eMLMR). In eMLSR, a non-AP MLD can monitor multiple links but can only communicate on one link. In eMLMR, a non-AP MLD can monitor and communicate on multiple links. They share the same principle: during monitoring, the number of receive channels is A; during data transmission, the number of receive channels is B, where B > A.

[0092] The solution of this application is primarily applied to wireless local area networks. Still referring to Figure 1 , the communication system of this application includes an AP MLD 100 and a non-AP MLD 200. One or more non-AP STAs in the non-AP MLD 200 can establish associations with one or more APs in the AP MLD to enable communication.

[0093] It should be noted that the terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "Multiple" refers to two or more. In view of this, in the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" can also be understood as "at least two". "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / ", unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the previous and subsequent associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0094] Still referring to Figure 1, the time during which non-AP MLD can switch transmission channels includes: the duration of the initial control frame's padding bits, the first interframe interval (IFI) between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the duration of the control response frame, and the second IIFI between the control response frame and the data frame. However, the duration of the control response frame depends on the transmission rate of the initial control frame. Therefore, a STA cannot determine the duration of the control response frame before receiving the initial control frame, and therefore cannot determine the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame.

[0095] An embodiment of the present application provides an information indication scheme. A first STA in a non-AP MLD generates a first frame. The first frame includes indication information for indicating the duration of padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay. The duration of the padding bits is determined based on the duration of a control response frame, or the indication information is used to indicate the delay required for switching the number of transmission channels from a first number to a second number, or the indication information is used to indicate the delay required for switching the number of transmission channels of the first STA from a first value to a second value. The non-AP MLD or the first STA or other STA in the non-AP MLD sends the first frame. The AP MLD or the first AP or other AP in the AP MLD receives the first frame and, based on the indication information, determines the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame. Based on the above scheme, the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame can be accurately determined, allowing the first STA to complete the switching of the transmission channels of the corresponding value before the arrival of subsequent data frames.

[0096] FIG3 is a flow chart of an information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which includes the following steps:

[0097] S101. A first STA generates a first frame.

[0098] Still referring to Figure 1, taking the example of switching the number of transmission channels from 1 to 2, before the switch, non-AP STA1 in link 1 and non-AP STA2 in link 2 both have the ability to receive one spatial stream, or non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2 each have one transmission channel. In this application, a transmission channel may also be referred to as a transmission channel, a transmission module, a spatial stream, etc. AP1 in link 1 sends an initial control frame to non-AP STA1. The initial control frame includes a content portion and a padding portion (i.e., padding bits). After receiving the content portion of the initial control frame sent by AP1, non-AP STA1 can begin switching and complete the switching before the subsequent data frame arrives. Non-AP STA1 begins switching, and at this time, non-AP STA2 switches the transmission module to link 1, and link 2 loses its transmission capability. Of course, this is for eMLSR. For eMLMR, non-AP STA2 can have multiple transmission modules. After switching one transmission module to non-AP STA1, non-AP STA2 can also perform data communication through other transmission modules.

[0099] After receiving the content of the initial control frame sent by AP1, non-AP STA1 can begin switching. Therefore, the time it takes for non-AP STA1 to switch transmission channels includes: the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame sent by AP1, the first interframe space (IFS) between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second IFS between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of non-AP STA1 sending the control response frame. The first and second IFS are the short interframe space (SIFS), which is typically 16 μs. Therefore, determining the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame hinges on determining the duration of the control response frame.

[0100] Determining the duration of the control response frame includes: determining the rate of the control response frame, and determining the duration of the control response frame based on the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. Thus, the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame interval - duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame interval. The switching delay can be set in the first STA when it leaves the factory. Optionally, the time during which the transmission channel can be switched also includes a certain margin △. Therefore, the duration occupied by the fill bits in the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame interval - duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame interval - △. This margin △ can be, for example, the leading part of the data frame.

[0101] Furthermore, to maximize the handover delay, a maximum duration occupied by the padding bits can be determined. The maximum duration occupied by the padding bits is determined based on the minimum duration of the control response frame. The minimum duration of the control response frame can also be referred to as the minimum duration of the control response frame.

[0102] Specifically, the first STA determines the minimum duration of the control response frame, including: determining the maximum rate of the control response frame; and determining the minimum duration of the control response frame based on the maximum rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame. Thus, the maximum duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame interval - minimum duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame interval. The maximum duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame is the duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame when the first AP sends the initial control frame at the maximum rate. Optionally, the time for transmission channel switching also includes a certain margin △. Therefore, the maximum duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame = switching delay - first inter-frame interval - minimum duration of the control response frame - second inter-frame interval - △.

[0103] Regarding the maximum rate of the control response frame, in one implementation, the maximum rate of the control response frame is the maximum rate in the Basic Service Set Basic Rate Set (BSSBasicRateSet) that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame. BSSBasicRateSet is a parameter broadcast by the AP MLD before a link is established. The AP MLD broadcasts this parameter to the non-AP MLD with which it wishes to establish a link. If the non-AP MLD is capable of receiving data sent by the AP MLD at any rate in BSSBasicRateSet, the link can be established. The rates included in BSSBasicRateSet may, for example, be {6, 12, 24, 48}. The maximum rate of the initial control frame may be variable and may not exceed the maximum rate in BSSBasicRateSet. For example, if the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24, the maximum rate of the control response frame is 24. For another example, if the maximum rate of the initial control frame is 12, the maximum rate of the control response frame is 12.

[0104] In another implementation, in this implementation, the maximum rate of the initial control frame is a fixed value, such as 24 Mbps. Therefore, the maximum rate of the control response frame = min{24 Mbps, the maximum rate in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter}. For example, if the maximum rate in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is 48, then the maximum rate of the control response frame = min{24 Mbps, 48 ​​Mbps}, i.e., the maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is 24 Mbps.

[0105] In addition, the duration of the control response frame is also related to the format of the control response frame. Therefore, the minimum duration of the control response frame can be determined based on the maximum rate of the control response frame, the format of the control response frame, and the length of the control response frame.

[0106] In one implementation, the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, and the control response frame is a CTS frame. MU-RTS frame is a type of trigger frame. When the trigger type in the trigger frame is 3, it indicates that the trigger frame is MU-RTS. The format of MU-RTS is shown in Figure 4. MU-RTS includes the following fields: frame control, duration, receiving address (RA), transmitting address (TA), common information, user information list, padding, and frame check sequence (FCS). The common information field includes multiple fields; the user information list field includes one or more user information.

[0107] Among them, in the common information field, the following fields are reserved fields (i.e., not used for MU-RTS): uplink length (UL length), guard interval and long training field type (GI and LTF type), multi-user multiple input and multiple output long training field mode (MU-MIMO LTF mode), number of high-efficiency long training field symbols and midamble periodicity (number of HE-LTF symbols and midamble periodicity), uplink space-time block code (UL STBC), extra symbol segment of low-density parity check code (LDPC extra symbol segment), access point transmit power (AP TX power), pre-FEC padding factor, packet extension disambiguation (PE disambiguity), uplink spatial reuse (UL spatial reuse), Doppler (Doppler) and uplink high-efficiency signaling field A2 reserved (UL HE-SIG-A2 reserved).

[0108] The following fields in the user information field are reserved: uplink high-efficiency modulation and coding strategy (UL HE-MCS), uplink FEC coding type (UL FEC coding type), uplink secondary carrier modulation (UL DCM), synchronization offset allocation / random access RU information (SS allocation / RA-RU information), and uplink target received signal strength indication (UL target RSSI).

[0109] The initial control frame includes content and padding. A non-AP STA considers itself to have received the content of the initial control frame after receiving its own user information and the contents of the preceding fields (including the frame control, duration, receiving address, transmitting address, and public information fields) in the initial control frame sent by the AP. The padding of the initial control frame includes other user information and padding fields in the initial control frame. In particular, the FCS field can be considered both the content and padding of the initial control frame.

[0110] If the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, the control response frame is a CTS frame. The format of the CTS frame can be non-HT or non-HT duplicate format. The frame format of the non-HT PPDU is shown in Figure 5. The CTS frame includes the following fields: physical layer preamble (PHY preamble), signal (signal) and data (data). Among them, the physical layer preamble occupies 12 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) symbols, the signal occupies 1 OFDM symbol, and the OFDM symbol occupied by the data is variable. Among them, it takes 20μs to send the physical layer preamble and signal field. The data field includes a 16-bit service field, a 112-bit (i.e., 14-byte) PSDU field and a 6-bit tail field, a total of 16+112+6=134 bits. The CTS frame structure is shown in Figure 6. The physical layer service data unit (PSDU) includes the frame control, duration, receiving address (RA), and FCS fields. These four fields occupy 2 bytes, 2 bytes, 6 bytes, and 4 bytes, respectively, for a total of 14 bytes. For example, when the control response frame rate is 24 Mbps, the time required to transmit 134 bits is 134 / 24 = 5.583 us. Since the length of the data portion (i.e., the data field) must be an integer multiple of 4 us, the actual length of the data field is 8 us. In specific implementation, bits are added to the Pad Bits field to reach 8 us, so the control response frame duration is 20 + 8 = 28 us. For another example, when the control response frame rate is 6 Mbps, the time required to transmit 134 bits is 134 / 6 = 22.33 us, which needs to be aligned to 24 us, so the total duration is 20 + 24 = 44 us.

[0111] In another implementation, the initial control frame is a BSRP frame, and the control response frame is a QoS-Null frame. The frame structure of the BSRP frame is the same as the MU-RTS frame structure, and reference may be made to Figure 4. When the trigger type of the trigger frame takes a value of 4, it indicates that the trigger frame is a BSRP frame. In addition, the reserved fields in the MU-RTS frame are used in the BSRP frame and are no longer reserved fields. The format of the QoS-Null frame is shown in Figure 7, which includes the following fields: frame control, duration, address 1, address 2, address 3, sequence control, address 4, quality of service control (QoS control), high throughput control (HT control), and frame check sequence (FCS). The QoS-Null frame needs to be sent using the HE TB PPDU format or the EHT TB PPDU format. The preambles of these two formats are relatively long, exceeding 50 μs. Therefore, when the control response frame is a QoS-Null frame, its duration is longer than when it is a CTS frame, and the requirement for the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame is lower. Therefore, this embodiment uses the CTS frame as an example to report the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame.

[0112] After the first STA determines the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame, it may generate the first frame.

[0113] In one implementation, the first frame includes indication information for indicating a duration of padding bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay. Optionally, the duration of the padding bits is the duration of the padding bits required when the initial control frame is sent at a maximum rate, or the duration of the padding bits is determined based on the maximum rate of the initial control frame, or the duration of the padding bits is the duration of the padding bits required when the initial control frame is sent at 24 Mbps, or the duration of the padding bits is the duration of the padding bits required when the initial control frame is sent at any rate, or the duration of the padding bits is the maximum value of the duration of the padding bits required when the initial control frame is sent at all rates.

[0114] Specifically, in one example, the relationship between the duration of one or more fill bits and the indication information may be predefined or pre-negotiated by the first STA and the first AP. The relationship is shown in Table 1 below:

[0115] Table 1

[0116] The duration of the fill bits required to indicate the information to meet the switching delay is as follows: first value (such as 0) 0us, second value (such as 1) 32us, third value (such as 2) 64us, fourth value (such as 3) 96us, fifth value (such as 4) 128us, sixth value (such as 5) 160us, seventh value (such as 6) 192us, eighth value (such as 7) 224us, etc.

[0117] According to Table 1, when the indication information is the first value, it is used to indicate that the duration occupied by the filling bit is 0us; when the indication information is the second value, it is used to indicate that the duration occupied by the filling bit is less than or equal to 32us; when the indication information is the third value, it is used to indicate that the duration occupied by the filling bit is less than or equal to 64us; and so on.

[0118] In another example, the relationship between the duration of one or more fill bits and the indication information may be predefined or pre-negotiated by the first STA and the first AP. The relationship is shown in Table 2 below:

[0119] Table 2

[0120] The duration of the fill bit required to indicate the information to meet the switching delay is as follows: first value (such as 0) 0us, second value (such as 1) 32us, third value (such as 2) 64us, fourth value (such as 3) 128us, fifth value (such as 4) 256us, etc.

[0121] In another implementation, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each indication information in the multiple indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame.

[0122] For example, a first STA sends a first frame to a first AP, where the first frame includes multiple indication information.

[0123] The first indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 6 Mbps;

[0124] The second indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the padding bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 12 Mbps;

[0125] The third indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the transmission rate of the initial control frame being 24 Mbps.

[0126] The first STA may determine which indication information to use to indicate the duration of the padding bits of different initial control frames based on Table 1. For example, if the transmission rate of the initial control frame is 6 Mbps, the duration of the padding bits of the corresponding initial control frame is greater than 0 us and less than or equal to 32 us, which corresponds to the first indication information; if the transmission rate of the initial control frame is 12 Mbps, the duration of the padding bits of the corresponding initial control frame is greater than 32 us and less than or equal to 64 us, which corresponds to the second indication information; if the transmission rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, the duration of the padding bits of the corresponding initial control frame is greater than 64 us and less than or equal to 96 us, which corresponds to the third indication information.

[0127] S102: A first STA sends a first frame, and a first AP associated with the first STA receives the first frame.

[0128] The first frame includes indication information. As shown in Figure 8, which is a schematic diagram of the format of an example first frame, the first frame includes the following fields: frame control, duration, receiving address, sending address, frame body, and frame check sequence. The frame body further includes fields such as multi-link element. The multi-link element further includes the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension, multi-link control, common information, and user information. The common information further includes fields such as enhanced multi-link single radio delay (EMLSR delay) and / or enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay (EMLMR delay). The above-mentioned indication information can be carried in the EMLSR delay and / or EMLMR delay fields.

[0129] If the first frame includes multiple indication information, the multiple indication information may also be carried in other fields except EMLSR delay and / or EMLMR delay.

[0130] S103. The first AP determines the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame according to the indication information.

[0131] The first AP receives the first frame, parses the first frame to obtain indication information, and determines the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame according to the indication information.

[0132] In one of the aforementioned implementations, the first frame includes indication information indicating the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay. The first AP can determine the duration of the padding bits indicated by the indication information based on a pre-stored relationship between the duration of one or more padding bits and the indication information, as shown in Table 1. For example, if the indication information is the second value, the first AP can determine, based on Table 1, that the maximum duration of the padding bits indicated by the indication information is 32 μs.

[0133] In another implementation described above, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each indication information indicates a duration occupied by padding bits of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame. Upon receiving the multiple indication information, the first AP can determine the duration occupied by the padding bits based on a rate of the initial control frame to be transmitted. For example, assuming that the initial control frame rate actually used by the first AP is 12 Mbps, the maximum duration occupied by the padding bits corresponding to this rate can be determined to be 64 μs.

[0134] Furthermore, after determining the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame, the first AP may fill the initial control frame with corresponding bits and send the initial control frame.

[0135] Furthermore, when the first STA receives the initial control frame sent at the maximum rate and replies to the control response frame after the second inter-frame interval, it has the ability to receive data frames with the second number of transmission channels; or, after the first STA receives the initial control frame sent at any rate, it must have the ability to communicate with the second number of transmission channels within the SIFS time after replying to the control response frame.

[0136] Since the duration of the filling bit is determined according to the duration of the control response frame, when the first AP sends the initial control frame, no matter which rate is used, the first STA can complete the switching of the number of transmission channels before the subsequent data frame arrives.

[0137] Furthermore, after receiving the data frame, the first STA sends an acknowledgment frame (ACK) / block-acknowledgment frame (block-ACK) to the first AP. After the first STA determines that the transmission opportunity (TXOP) on link 1 has ended, the second STA can switch the transmission module back to restore transmission capability.

[0138] According to an information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a non-AP STA generates a first frame, which includes indication information indicating the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay. The duration of the padding bits is determined based on the duration of the control response frame and / or the maximum rate of the initial control frame. The non-AP STA transmits the first frame. The AP receives the first frame, and the first AP determines the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame based on the indication information. This allows the accurate determination of the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame, allowing the first STA to complete the switching of a corresponding number of transmission channels before the arrival of subsequent data frames.

[0139] FIG9 is a flow chart of another information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method may include the following steps:

[0140] S201. The first STA generates a first frame.

[0141] The first frame includes first indication information.

[0142] In one implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate a first delay required for the first STA to switch the number of transmission channels from a first value to a second value. For example, in Figure 1 , the first number of channels is 1 and the second number of channels is 2. The first indication information is used to indicate the delay required for the number of transmission channels to switch from 1 to 2. The first delay may be a value pre-set in the first STA when it leaves the factory.

[0143] One or more correspondences between switching delays and first indication information may be predefined. The correspondences may be as shown in Table 1 or Table 2 above. For example, if the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the first STA to switch from the first value to the second value is 32 μs, the corresponding first indication information takes the second value; if the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the first STA to switch from the first value to the second value is 64 μs, the corresponding first indication information takes the third value, and so on.

[0144] The first STA generates a first frame, and the first frame includes first indication information. Specifically, the format of the first frame may be as shown in FIG8 , and the first indication information may be carried in the EMLSR delay and / or EMLMR delay field.

[0145] In another implementation, the first frame includes first indication information and second indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate a first delay required for the first STA to switch the number of transmission channels from the first value to the second value. The second indication information is used to indicate a second delay required for the number of transmission channels to switch from the second number of channels to the first number of channels, that is, the delay required for the first STA to switch back to the first number of channels after receiving the data frame.

[0146] In another implementation, the first frame includes third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the larger value of the first delay and the second delay, that is, max{first delay, second delay}.

[0147] S202: The first STA sends a first frame, and the first AP receives the first frame accordingly.

[0148] The first AP receives the first frame and parses the above fields in the first frame to obtain a first delay.

[0149] S203. The first AP determines a duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame is determined based on the first delay.

[0150] After obtaining the first indication information, the first AP may determine the duration occupied by the filling bits according to the first delay.

[0151] Specifically, if the initial control frame is a MU-RTS frame, determining the duration of the fill bit includes:

[0152] The duration of the filling bits = the first delay – 2*SIFS – the duration of the control response frame.

[0153] The duration of the control response frame is determined by the control response frame rate. The control response frame rate is determined by the rate of the initial control frame and the BSSBasicRateSet parameter. Specifically, the control response frame rate is the maximum rate in BSSBasicRateSet that is less than or equal to the rate of the initial control frame, i.e., min{initial control frame rate, maximum rate in BSSBasicRateSet parameter}.

[0154] After the rate of the control response frame is determined, the duration of the control response frame is the duration required to send the control response frame according to the rate of the control response frame.

[0155] Figure 10 shows the relationship between the duration of the padding bits and the processing delay of the trigger frame. If the initial control frame is a BSRP frame, the duration of the padding bits should be determined so that the sum of the duration of the padding bits and the first interframe interval is greater than the processing delay of the trigger frame (here, the initial control frame). The duration of the padding bits = max{processing delay of the trigger frame + handover delay – 2*SIFS – control response frame duration}.

[0156] Furthermore, after receiving the data frame, the first STA sends an acknowledgment frame (ACK) / block acknowledgment frame (block-ACK) to the first AP. After the first STA determines that the transmission opportunity on link 1 has ended, the second STA can switch back to the transmission mode to restore transmission capability. After the second delay expires, the second AP sends a frame, such as an initial control frame, to the second STA on link 2 to initiate the next transmission. Conversely, before the second delay expires, the second AP cannot send frames to the second STA on link 2.

[0157] According to an information indication method provided by an embodiment of the present application, a first STA generates a first frame, which includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the delay required for the number of transmission channels of the first STA to switch from a first value to a second value, and sends the first frame; the first AP receives the first frame and can accurately determine the duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame, so that the first STA can complete the switching of the corresponding number of transmission channels before the arrival of subsequent data frames.

[0158] Returning to the problem raised in the background technology of this application, the embodiments of this application also provide another method and device for determining the duration of the filling bit.

[0159] First, two types of initial control frames are introduced.

[0160] When the initial control frame sent by the AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD is the second initial control frame, such as the MU-RTS, the STA in the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD replies with a CTS frame and sends the CTS frame in the non-HT or non-HT duplicate format. The use of these two CTS formats does not require the STA in the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD to complete the channel number switching. That is, the STA in the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD can use the time to send the control response frame (here, the CTS frame) to switch the channel number.

[0161] When the initial control frame is the first initial control frame, such as a Trigger frame, the non-AP MLD or STA in the non-AP MLD responds with a HE TB PPDU or EHT TB PPDU. Sending these two PPDU formats places high demands on capabilities, requiring the STA in the non-AP MLD or non-AP MLD to complete channel switching before sending the control response frame (in this case, the HE TB PPDU or EHT TB PPDU). Therefore, when the initial control frame is different (or, in other words, when the frame format of the control response frame is different), the required padding bit duration of the initial control frame is also different. In one implementation, the first initial control frame is a BSRP Trigger frame.

[0162] To this end, an embodiment of the present application proposes a method for determining a fill bit duration, including:

[0163] Method 1:

[0164] S1001, non-AP MLD or STA in non-AP MLD reports a first duration, where the first duration is the duration of the padding bit required to be added to the first initial control frame (or the first duration is the larger or smaller value of the duration of the padding bit required to be added to the first initial control frame and the duration of the padding bit required to be added to the second initial control frame).

[0165] S1002. If the AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD sends a first initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD, a padding bit is added to the first initial control frame, and the duration of the padding bit is the first duration reported in S1001.

[0166] S1003. If the AP MLD or an AP in the AP MLD sends a second initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or a STA in the non-AP MLD, padding bits are added to the second initial control frame. The duration of the padding bits is a second duration, and the second duration is determined based on the first duration. For example, the second duration is the first duration minus (or plus) a fixed time. For example, the fixed time may be 60 μs, or the fixed time may be another value specified by the standard, or the fixed time may be sent from the non-AP MLD or a STA in the non-AP MLD to the AP MLD or an AP in the AP MLD.

[0167] In this method, alternatively, the first duration is the duration of the padding bits that need to be added to the initial control frame when the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD responds to the first frame format; the second duration is the duration of the padding bits that need to be added to the initial control frame when the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD responds to the second frame format.

[0168] The second frame format may be a non-HT format or a non-HT duplicate format.

[0169] The first frame format may be the HE TB format or the EHT TB format.

[0170] Method 2:

[0171] S2001, non-AP MLD or STA in non-AP MLD reports a first duration and a second duration, where the first duration is the duration of the padding bit required to be added to the first initial control frame, and the second duration is the duration of the padding bit required to be added to the second initial control frame.

[0172] S2002. If the AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD sends a first initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD, a padding bit is added to the first initial control frame, and the duration of the padding bit is the first duration reported in S2001.

[0173] S2003. If the AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD sends a second initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD, a padding bit is added to the second initial control frame, and the duration of the padding bit is the second duration reported in S2001.

[0174] Method 3:

[0175] S3001: A non-AP MLD or an STA in a non-AP MLD reports a switching delay, where the switching delay is a switching delay required for the STA to switch from a first number of channels to a second number of channels.

[0176] S3002: The AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD determines the length of padding bits to be added to the initial control frame according to the type of the initial control frame.

[0177] S3003: The AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD sends an initial control frame to the non-AP MLD or the STA in the non-AP MLD. The length of the padding bits added to the initial control frame is determined in S3002.

[0178] One possible implementation of S3002 includes:

[0179] If it is the first initial control frame, the duration of the filling bit = switching delay - 16us;

[0180] If it is the second initial control frame, the duration of the filling bit = switching delay - 76us;

[0181] The first initial control frame may be a BSRP Trigger frame; the second initial control frame may be an MU-RTS frame.

[0182] Alternatively, S3002 may be replaced by: the AP MLD or the AP in the AP MLD determines the length of the padding bits to be added to the initial control frame based on the frame format of the control response frame that the STA expects to reply. If the AP sends the first frame format to the STA, the padding bit duration = switching delay - 76us; if the AP sends the second frame format to the STA, the padding bit duration = switching delay - 16us. The first frame format can be a non-HT format or a non-HT duplicate format; the second frame format can be a HE TB format or an EHT TB format.

[0183] Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a device capable of implementing the above method, wherein the device is used to implement any of the above methods. The device can have various product forms, and the specific product forms can be referred to the types described later in this application, which will not be repeated here.

[0184] The above describes the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. It is understandable that the communication device (e.g., AP, non-AP STA, AP MLD or non-AP MLD) includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to the execution of the method in order to implement the method. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0185] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application can be divided into functional modules according to the above method. For example, the functional modules can correspond to each step in the method, or two or more steps can be integrated into one functional module. The above functional modules can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware. It should be noted that the division of functional modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following is an example of each step corresponding to a functional module:

[0186] A possible structural diagram of a communication device is shown in FIG11 . The communication device 1000 includes a processing unit 11 and a transceiver unit 12 .

[0187] In one embodiment, the communication device may be a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA within a non-AP MLD. The processing unit 11 is configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information indicating a duration of padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration of the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; and the transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0188] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine a duration of the control response frame.

[0189] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine a minimum duration of the control response frame.

[0190] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine a rate of the control response frame; and determine a duration of the control response frame according to the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0191] Optionally, the processing unit 11 is further configured to determine a maximum rate of the control response frame; and determine a minimum duration of the control response frame based on the maximum rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

[0192] In another embodiment, the communication device may be an AP MLD or an AP in an AP MLD. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information indicating a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration occupied by the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; and the processing unit 11 is configured to determine a duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0193] Optionally, the first frame includes multiple indication information, wherein each of the multiple indication information is used to indicate the duration occupied by the filling bits of the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame; the processing unit 11 is also used to determine the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame based on the first frame.

[0194] In another embodiment, the communication device may be a non-AP MLD or a non-AP STA in a non-AP MLD. The processing unit 11 is configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information indicating a delay required for switching the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value; and the transceiver unit 12 is configured to transmit the first frame.

[0195] In another embodiment, the communication device may be an AP MLD or an AP in the AP MLD. The transceiver unit 12 is configured to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information indicating a delay required for switching the number of transmission channels of the station from a first value to a second value; and the processing unit 11 is configured to determine a duration occupied by padding bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by padding bits in the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0196] A possible structural diagram of a communication device is shown in FIG12 . The communication device 2000 may be a non-AP MLD, and the communication device 2000 includes a first STA and a processing unit 22 . The communication device 2000 may also include more non-AP STAs. The first STA includes a transceiver unit 21 .

[0197] In one embodiment, the processing unit 22 in the non-AP MLD is configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate a duration of padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration of the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame, and transmit the first frame to the transceiver unit 21 of the first STA; and the transceiver unit 21 is configured to send the first frame.

[0198] In another embodiment, the processing unit 22 in the non-AP MLD is used to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of the station to switch from a first value to a second value, and transmit the first frame to the transceiver unit 21 of the first STA; and the transceiver unit 21 is used to send the first frame.

[0199] A possible structural diagram of a communication device is shown in Figure 13. The communication device 3000 may be an AP MLD, and the communication device 3000 includes a first AP and a processing unit 32. The first AP includes a transceiver unit 31. The communication device 3000 may also include more APs.

[0200] In one embodiment, the transceiver unit 31 is used to receive a first frame, where the first frame includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame required to meet the channel switching delay, and the duration of the padding bits is determined based on the duration of the control response frame; and the transceiver unit 31 is further used to transmit the first frame to the AP MLD, so that the processing unit 32 in the AP MLD determines the duration of the padding bits in the initial control frame based on the indication information.

[0201] In another embodiment, the transceiver unit 31 is used to receive a first frame, where the first frame includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of the site to switch from a first value to a second value; and the transceiver unit 31 is further used to transmit the first frame to the AP MLD, so that the processing unit 32 in the AP MLD determines a duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame is determined based on the delay.

[0202] Exemplarily, when the transmitting end has the structure shown in FIG12 , the receiving end may correspondingly have the structure shown in FIG11 or FIG13 ; when the receiving end has the structure shown in FIG13 , the transmitting end may correspondingly have the structure shown in FIG11 or FIG12 .

[0203] Figure 14 is a structural diagram of a possible product form of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 14 is a specific embodiment of the communication device shown in Figure 11.

[0204] As a possible product form factor, the communication device may be an information transmission device / information transmission board. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. Optionally, the communication device may also include a memory. The processor is configured to execute the method steps performed by processing unit 11 in FIG. 11 . The transceiver is configured to execute the method steps performed by transceiver unit 12 in FIG. 11 .

[0205] As another possible product form factor, the communication device may be a chip. The communication device includes a processing circuit and a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device may also include a storage medium. The processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps performed by the processing unit 11 in FIG. 11 . The communication interface is configured to execute the method steps performed by the transceiver unit 12 in FIG. 11 .

[0206] Figure 15 is a structural diagram of a possible product form of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 15 is a specific embodiment of the communication device shown in Figure 12 or Figure 13.

[0207] As a possible product form factor, the communication device may be an information transmission device / information transmission board. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. Optionally, the communication device may also include a memory. The processor is configured to execute the method steps performed by processing unit 22 in FIG. 12 , and the transceiver is configured to execute the method steps performed by transceiver unit 21 in FIG. 12 ; alternatively, the processor is configured to execute the method steps performed by processing unit 32 in FIG. 13 , and the transceiver is configured to execute the method steps performed by transceiver unit 31 in FIG. 13 .

[0208] As another possible product form factor, the communication device may be a chip. The communication device includes a processing circuit and a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device may also include a storage medium. The processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps performed by processing unit 22 in FIG. 12 , and the communication interface is configured to execute the method steps performed by transceiver unit 21 in FIG. 12 ; alternatively, the processing circuit is configured to execute the method steps performed by processing unit 32 in FIG. 13 , and the communication interface is configured to execute the method steps performed by transceiver unit 31 in FIG. 13 .

[0209] As another possible product form of the above embodiment, the communication device can also be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout this application.

[0210] The above-mentioned processor can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, and the like. The bus can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, and the like. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used in Figure 14 or Figure 15, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0211] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of implementing the above-mentioned method embodiment can be completed by hardware related to program instructions, and the aforementioned program instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program instructions are executed, the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiment are executed; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, ROM, RAM, disk or optical disk, etc. Various media that can store program codes.

[0212] On the one hand, an embodiment of the present application also provides a readable storage medium, which stores computer execution instructions. When a device (which can be a single-chip microcomputer, chip, controller, etc.) or a processor executes the steps in the business indication method provided in the present application.

[0213] On the one hand, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer execution instructions, and the computer execution instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium; at least one processor of the device can read the computer execution instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and at least one processor executes the computer execution instructions so that the device executes the steps in the business indication method provided in the present application.

[0214] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0215] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. The mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0216] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0217] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted via the computer-readable storage medium. The computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape, a magnetic disk, or an optical medium such as a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a semiconductor medium such as a solid state disk (SSD).

Claims

1. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a duration occupied by padding bits in the initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, where the duration occupied by the padding bits is determined according to a duration of a control response frame; The first frame is sent.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first frame includes a plurality of indication information, wherein each indication information in the plurality of indication information is used to indicate a duration occupied by a filling bit of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine the duration of the control response frame.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The determining the duration of the control response frame includes: determining a rate of the control response frames; The duration of the control response frame is determined according to the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is associated with the switching delay, the first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second interframe interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is based on the duration of the filling bits required when the initial control frame is sent at a maximum rate.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine a minimum duration of the control response frame.

11. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, where the duration occupied by the padding bits is determined according to a duration of a control response frame; According to the indication information, a duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame is determined.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The first frame includes a plurality of indication information, wherein each indication information in the plurality of indication information is used to indicate a duration occupied by a filling bit of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame; The determining, based on the first frame, a duration occupied by the padding bits in the initial control frame includes: According to the first frame, a duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame corresponding to the sending rate of the initial control frame is determined.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that The duration of the control response frame is determined according to the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is associated with the switching delay, the first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second interframe interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

18. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is the duration of the filling bits required when the initial control frame is sent at a maximum rate.

19. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of the station to switch from a first value to a second value; The first frame is sent.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

21. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of the station to switch from a first value to a second value; Determine a duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame is determined according to the delay.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The duration of the stuffing bits is associated with the delay, a first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, a second interframe interval between the control response frame and a data frame, and a duration of the control response frame.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that The duration of the control response frame is associated with the rate of the control response frame.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the rate of the initial control frame.

25. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that The sum of the duration occupied by the filling bits and the first inter-frame interval is greater than the processing delay of the initial control frame.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises: a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame required to meet a channel switching delay, the duration occupied by the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; A transceiver unit, configured to send the first frame.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

28. The device according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that The first frame includes a plurality of indication information, wherein each indication information in the plurality of indication information is used to indicate a duration occupied by a filling bit of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame.

29. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that The processing unit is further configured to determine a duration of the control response frame.

30. The device according to claim 29, characterized in that The processing unit is used for: determining a rate of the control response frames; The duration of the control response frame is determined according to the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

31. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

32. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that The maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set.

33. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 32, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is associated with the switching delay, the first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second interframe interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

34. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 33, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is based on the duration of the filling bits required when the initial control frame is sent at a maximum rate.

35. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 34, characterized in that The processing unit is further configured to determine a minimum duration of the control response frame.

36. A communication device, characterized in that The device comprises: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit being configured to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate a duration occupied by padding bits in an initial control frame required to satisfy a channel switching delay, the duration occupied by the padding bits being determined based on a duration of a control response frame; A processing unit, wherein the processing unit is used to determine the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame according to the indication information.

37. The device according to claim 36, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

38. The device according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that The first frame includes a plurality of indication information, wherein each indication information in the plurality of indication information is used to indicate a duration occupied by a filling bit of the initial control frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the initial control frame; The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the first frame, a duration occupied by padding bits in the initial control frame corresponding to a sending rate of the initial control frame.

39. The device according to any one of claims 36 to 38, characterized in that The duration of the control response frame is determined according to the rate of the control response frame and the length of the control response frame.

40. The device according to claim 39, characterized in that The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is a maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the maximum rate of the initial control frame.

41. The device according to claim 39, characterized in that The maximum rate of the initial control frame is 24 Mbps, and the maximum rate of the control response frame is the smaller value between 24 Mbps and the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set.

42. The device according to any one of claims 36 to 41, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is associated with the switching delay, the first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, the second interframe interval between the control response frame and the data frame, and the duration of the control response frame.

43. The device according to any one of claims 36 to 42, characterized in that The duration of the filling bits is the duration of the filling bits required when the initial control frame is sent at a maximum rate.

44. A communication device, characterized in that The device comprises: a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to generate a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of the station to switch from a first value to a second value; A transceiver unit, configured to send the first frame.

45. The device according to claim 44, characterized in that The indication information is carried in the enhanced multi-link single radio delay field of the first frame and / or the enhanced multi-link multi-radio delay field of the first frame.

46. ​​A communication device, characterized in that The device comprises: a transceiver unit, the transceiver unit being configured to receive a first frame, the first frame including indication information, the indication information being configured to indicate a delay required for the number of transmission channels of a station to switch from a first value to a second value; A processing unit, the processing unit is used to determine the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame, wherein the duration occupied by the filling bits in the initial control frame is determined according to the delay.

47. The device according to claim 46, characterized in that The duration of the stuffing bits is associated with the delay, a first interframe interval between the initial control frame and the control response frame, a second interframe interval between the control response frame and a data frame, and a duration of the control response frame.

48. The device according to claim 46 or 47, characterized in that The duration of the control response frame is associated with the rate of the control response frame.

49. The device according to claim 48, characterized in that The maximum value of the rate of the control response frame is the maximum rate in the basic service set basic rate set that is less than or equal to the rate of the initial control frame.

50. The device according to any one of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that The sum of the duration occupied by the filling bits and the first inter-frame interval is greater than the processing delay of the initial control frame.

51. A communication device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

52. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25 is implemented.

53. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

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