Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, which support wireless local area network systems of 802.11 series including the next generation WiFi protocols of IEEE 802.11ax, for example, 802.11be, WiFi 7 or EHT, and WiFi 8. The method comprises: when a first condition is satisfied, a first station setting the end time of a first TXOP to be later than the start time of a second SP of a second r-TWT, wherein the first condition comprises: the first station point being a member of the first r-TWT; the first TXOP being located within a first SP of the first r-TWT; the start time of the second SP being within the first SP; and the remaining portion of the first TXOP that is located after the start time of the second SP being used for transmitting an uplink frame of an r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT. It is not necessary for a first station to end a first TXOP in advance, such that the effect on a transmitted service is avoided, thereby reducing the service dela, and improving the system efficiency.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on June 28, 2023, with application number 202310781526.7 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] Many wireless devices (especially terminal devices) are battery-powered, so energy-saving features are particularly important. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ah introduced the target wakeup time (TWT) technology in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT). TWT requesting stations can remain dormant outside the TWT service period (TWT SP) to reduce energy consumption. The standard protocol IEEE 802.11ax extends TWT to the broadband field. In one case, a non-access point station (non-AP STA) can negotiate a TWT SP with an access point (AP), which is called unicast TWT (individual TWT). In another case, the AP can carry one or more broadcast TWT identifiers in frames such as beacon frames through scheduling. Each broadcast TWT corresponds to one or more broadcast TWT service stages (broadcast TWT SPs). Non-AP STA can apply to join one or more broadcast TWTs (broadcast TWTs), so that it can maintain energy saving outside of the joined broadcast TWT SPs.

[0005] Currently, more and more wireless network applications and services have put forward more stringent requirements on latency characteristics, such as online games, virtual reality, industrial sites, etc. To this end, the next-generation wireless local area network (WLAN) IEEE 802.11be standard regards guaranteeing latency and delay jitter characteristics as a key technical goal, which has received widespread attention in the industry. Based on this, IEEE 802.11be proposed the restricted target wakeup time (r-TWT) technology to improve latency guarantee performance. The r-TWT technology is a mechanism for guaranteeing low-latency services derived from the broadcast TWT introduced by IEEE 802.11ax.

[0006] However, in r-TWT technology, non-AP EHT STAs that support R-TWT are required to end their transmission opportunities (TXOPs) before the start time of any active R-TWT SP announced by the associated AP. This will not help reduce latency but will increase latency.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present application provides a communication method and device for reducing service latency and improving system efficiency in r-TWT technology.

[0009] In the first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first site, a processor, a chip or a functional module in the first site, etc. The method may include: the first site obtains a first transmission opportunity TXOP; when a first condition is met, the first site sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT; wherein, the first condition includes: the first site is a member of the first r-TWT; the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT; the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT; the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; wherein, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0010] According to the method provided in the present application, when the first station obtains the first TXOP within the first SP of the first r-TWT and transmits service data through the first TXOP, if the first condition is met, the first station does not need to end the first TXOP (i.e., stop transmitting service data) before the start time of the second SP, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first station, reducing the service delay of the first station, better guaranteeing low-latency services, and improving system efficiency.

[0011] In a possible implementation, when the first condition is not met, the first station sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0012] In the second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first site, a processor, a chip or a functional module in the first site, etc. The method may include: the first site scheduling a first frame to be sent; when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not met, the first site postpones sending the first frame; wherein, the second condition includes: the first site is a member of the first r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; wherein, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0013] According to the method provided in the present application, before the first site transmits the first frame, if the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not met, the transmission of the first frame is postponed. This can avoid affecting the services transmitted in the second SP of the second r-TWT, thereby better guaranteeing low-latency services and improving system efficiency.

[0014] In a possible implementation, when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a second condition is met, the first station sends the first frame.

[0015] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first site, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the first site, etc. The method may include: the first site scheduling a first frame to be sent; when a second condition is met, the first site sends the first frame. The second condition includes: the first site is a member of a first r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT.

[0016] According to the method provided in this application, the first station can transmit the first frame as long as the second condition is met. Although the frame exchange may not be completed from the first moment to the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT when the second condition is met, the first station does not need to delay the transmission of the first frame, thereby avoiding the impact on the services transmitted by the first station, reducing the service latency of the first station, better ensuring low-latency services, and improving system efficiency.

[0017] In one possible implementation, when the second condition is not met, if the fifth condition is met, the first site sends the first frame; the fifth condition includes: the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP is within the first SP.

[0018] In a possible implementation, when the second condition is not met and the fifth condition is not met, the first station postpones sending the first frame.

[0019] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first access point, a processor, a chip or a functional module in the first access point, etc. The method may include: the first access point obtains a first transmission opportunity TXOP; when a third condition is met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT; wherein, the third condition includes: the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or an uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; wherein, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0020] According to the method provided in the present application, when the first access point obtains the first TXOP within the first SP of the first r-TWT and transmits service data through the first TXOP, if the fourth condition is met, the first access point does not need to end the first TXOP (i.e., stop transmitting service data) before the start time of the second SP, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first access point, reducing the service delay of the first access point, so that low-latency services are better guaranteed, and improving system efficiency.

[0021] In a possible implementation, when the third condition is not met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0022] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first access point, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the first access point, and the method can include: the first access point scheduling a first frame to be transmitted; when frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of a second SP of a second r-TWT and a fourth condition is met, the first station delaying transmission of the first frame;

[0023] Among them, the fourth condition includes: the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the second SP start time of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT; wherein, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0024] According to the method provided in the present application, before the first access point transmits the first frame, if the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is not met, the transmission of the first frame is postponed. This can avoid affecting the services transmitted in the second SP of the second r-TWT, thereby better guaranteeing low-latency services and improving system efficiency.

[0025] In a possible implementation, when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is not met, the first access point transmits the first frame.

[0026] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first access point, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the first access point, etc. The method may include: the first access point scheduling a first frame to be sent; when a fourth condition is met, the first access point sends the first frame. The fourth condition includes: the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the second SP start time of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT; the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0027] According to the method provided in this application, the first access point can transmit the first frame before transmitting the first frame at the first moment, as long as the fourth condition is met. Although the frame exchange may not be completed from the first moment to the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT if the fifth condition is met, the first access point does not need to delay the transmission of the first frame, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first station, reducing the service latency of the first access point, better ensuring low-latency services, and improving system efficiency.

[0028] In one possible implementation, when the fourth condition is not met, if the sixth condition is met, the first access point sends the first frame; the sixth condition includes: the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP is within the first SP.

[0029] In a possible implementation, when the fourth condition is not met and the sixth condition is not met, the first access point postpones sending the first frame.

[0030] In a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a communication device capable of implementing any of the methods provided in any of the first to sixth aspects. The communication device can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes a processor configured to support the communication device in executing the corresponding functions of the first station or first access point in the method described above. The communication device may also include a memory, which may be coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. Optionally, the communication device also includes an interface circuit configured to support communication between the communication device and a device such as a terminal.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0033] In one possible embodiment, the structure of the communication device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method example. For details, please refer to the description of the method provided in any aspect from the first aspect to the sixth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0034] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the aforementioned first to sixth aspects through a logic circuit or by executing code instructions.

[0035] In the ninth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, including computer program code or instructions, which, when the computer program code or instructions are run on a computer, enables the method in any possible implementation of any of the aforementioned first to sixth aspects to be executed.

[0036] In a tenth aspect, a circuit is provided for executing the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the circuit may include a chip circuit. Optionally, the circuit may also be coupled to a memory.

[0037] In an eleventh aspect, a chip is provided, comprising a processor configured to implement the method of any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects. Optionally, the chip may further comprise a memory. The chip may be composed of a single chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0038] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include a first site and a first access point, the first site being used to implement the method in the above-mentioned first aspect, second aspect, or third aspect and any possible design thereof, and the first access point being used to implement the above-mentioned fourth aspect, fifth aspect, or sixth aspect and any possible design thereof.

[0039] In the thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement the functional modules of the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0040] In the fourteenth 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 by a processor, the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to sixth aspects is implemented. The computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions, and when the program instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and any possible design thereof, or the second aspect and any possible design thereof, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof. Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access. By way of example but not limitation, the computer-readable medium can include non-transitory computer-readable media, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0042] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a specific structure of an AP or STA provided in this application;

[0043] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an r-TWT mechanism provided by this application;

[0044] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a frame format provided by this application;

[0045] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an r-TWT mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG6 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an r-TWT mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0054] The method and device described in this application are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles of solving problems by the method and device are similar, the implementation of the device and method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0055] In the description of this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0056] The communication method provided in the present application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, the communication method provided in the present application can be applicable to wireless local area network (WLAN) scenarios, for example, it can be applicable to IEEE 802.11 system standards, such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, or their next generations, such as 802.11be standards, wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, Wi-Fi) 7 or extremely high throughput (extremely high throughput, EHT), such as 802.11be next generation, Wi-Fi 8 or the next generation standard. The present application can also be applied to wireless personal area network systems based on ultra-bandwidth (UWB), sensing systems. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to wireless local area network systems such as the Internet of Things (IoT) network or vehicle to X (V2X) network. Of course, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other possible communication systems, such as the long term evolution (LTE) system, the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), the fifth generation (5G) communication system, and the future sixth generation (6G) communication system.

[0057] Although the embodiments of the present application are mainly described using a WLAN network, in particular a network using the IEEE 802.11 system standard, as an example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the various aspects of the present application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth, high-performance radio local area network (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard, primarily used in Europe), and wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), or other networks now known or developed in the future. Therefore, regardless of the coverage area and wireless access protocol used, the various aspects provided in the present application can be applied to any suitable wireless network.

[0058] The above-mentioned communication system applicable to the present application is only an example, and the communication system applicable to the present application is not limited to this. It is described uniformly here and will not be repeated below.

[0059] For example, FIG1 illustrates a possible communication system architecture to which the communication method provided herein is applicable. The communication system architecture may include at least one access point (AP) (e.g., the AP in FIG1 ) and at least one station (STA) (e.g., STA1 and STA2 in FIG1 ).

[0060] An access point is a point that allows terminal devices (such as mobile phones) to access a wired (or wireless) network. It is primarily deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius of tens to hundreds of meters. It can also be deployed outdoors. An access point acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, connecting wireless network clients and then connecting the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, an access point can be a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) equipped with a Wi-Fi chip. An access point can be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. Access points can also support various wireless local area network (WLAN) standards within the 802.11 family, including 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8, or their successors. The access point in this application may be a high efficiency (HE) AP or an extremely high throughput (EHT) AP, and may also be an access point applicable to a future generation of Wi-Fi standards.

[0061] A station can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal, etc., and can also be called a user. For example, a station can be a mobile phone that supports Wi-Fi communication function, a tablet computer that supports Wi-Fi communication function, a set-top box that supports Wi-Fi communication function, a smart TV that supports Wi-Fi communication function, a smart wearable device that supports Wi-Fi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication device that supports Wi-Fi communication function, and a computer that supports Wi-Fi communication function, etc. Optionally, the station can support the 802.11be standard. The station can also support various wireless local area networks (WLAN) standards of the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 or its next generation.

[0062] The access point in this application may be a high efficiency (HE) STA or an extremely high throughput (EHT) STA, and may also be a STA applicable to a future generation of Wi-Fi standards.

[0063] For example, access points and sites can be devices used in the Internet of Vehicles, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras and remote controls in smart homes, smart water and electricity meters, and sensors in smart cities.

[0064] For example, the specific structure of an AP or STA may be as shown in the structural diagram of FIG2 , and may include a processor. Optionally, the specific structure of an AP or STA may also include one or more of the following: a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, a signal detector, or a digital signal processor, and may optionally include a user interface. The transmitter and the receiver may also be combined into a transceiver, which is not limited in this application.

[0065] It should be noted that the name of the device shown in Figure 1 is only an example, and there may be other names in future communication systems. The number of devices in Figure 1 is also only an example, and more or fewer devices may be included. This application does not limit this.

[0066] The communication method provided in this application may be applicable to data communication between an AP and one or more STAs, communication between APs, and communication between STAs, and this application does not limit this.

[0067] The following is a brief introduction to some technologies involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0068] 1. Next-generation wireless local area network (WLAN) standards:

[0069] WLAN has evolved through the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax standards, and now to the currently under discussion 802.11be. 802.11n is also known as high throughput (HT), 802.11ac is also known as very high throughput (VHT), 802.11ax is also known as high efficiency (HE), and 802.11be is also known as extremely high throughput (EHT). Standards prior to HT, such as 802.11a / b / g, are collectively referred to as non-HT.

[0070] 2. Target wakeup time (TWT):

[0071] Many wireless devices (especially terminal devices) are battery-powered, making energy-saving features particularly important. IEEE 802.11ah first introduced the concept of TWT in the IoT field. A TWT requesting STA can negotiate a TWT service period (TWT SP, or simply SP) with another TWT responding STA. This allows the TWT requesting STA to remain dormant outside of the TWT SP period, thereby saving energy.

[0072] IEEE 802.11ax extends TWT to the broadband field. Non-AP STAs can negotiate TWT SP with the AP, which is called unicast TWT (individual TWT). Unicast TWT can be uniquely identified based on the media access control (MAC) address of the TWT requesting STA and a TWT flow identifier.

[0073] In addition, IEEE 802.11ax also allows APs (called TWT scheduling APs) to carry one or more broadcast TWTs in frames such as beacon frames through scheduling. Each broadcast TWT corresponds to one or more broadcast TWT service phases (broadcast TWT SPs). Non-AP STAs (called TWT scheduled STAs) can apply to join one or more broadcast TWTs, thereby saving energy outside of the joined broadcast TWT SPs. Broadcast TWTs can be uniquely identified based on the MAC address of the TWT scheduling AP and a broadcast TWT ID.

[0074] 3. Restricted target wakeup time (r-TWT):

[0075] Currently, an increasing number of wireless network applications and services, such as online gaming, virtual reality, and industrial applications, are placing stringent demands on latency. To address this, the next-generation WLAN IEEE 802.11be standard prioritizes latency and jitter performance as key technical objectives, gaining widespread attention across the industry. IEEE 802.11be plans to introduce r-TWT technology to enhance latency performance.

[0076] As shown in Figure 3, the r-TWT mechanism is a new low-latency service guarantee derived from the broadcast TWT introduced in IEEE 802.11ax. Under the 802.11be standard, non-AP EHT STAs (hereinafter referred to as EHT STAs) have many real-time applications (RTAs). These applications have very stringent latency requirements, which is why the r-TWT mechanism was proposed.

[0077] When an EHT STA in the basic service set (BSS) receives any r-TWT SP information broadcast by the AP, if the EHT STA's dot11r-TWT option implementation (dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented) is set to true, then the EHT STA must end its transmission opportunity (TXOP) before the start time of the r-TWT SP. In addition, the AP can set a quiet interval aligned with the start time of the r-TWT SP in the beacon frame or probe response frame, and the duration can be 1 millisecond (ms). The duration of the quiet interval is generally less than the duration of the r-TWT SP. The EHT STA belonging to this r-TWT SP group (grouped by broadcasting the TWT ID) is called an r-TWT scheduled STA, and it is stipulated that the r-TWT scheduled STA can ignore the above-mentioned quiet interval and then compete for the channel after the start of the r-TWT SP. Other legacy STAs and other EHT STAs need to remain silent according to the silent interval. This reduces the number of STAs competing for the channel within the BSS and increases the probability of EHT STAs with low-latency services competing for the channel. Legacy STAs can refer to STAs that do not support IEEE 802.11be but support IEEE 802.11ax.

[0078] Currently, r-TWT information is indicated in the TWT element field. The TWT element structure is shown in FIG4 , and includes the following fields: element ID, length, control, and TWT parameter information.

[0079] Among them, the control field includes the following contents: no data frame paging indication (NDP Paging Indicator), response release energy management indication (Responder PM Mode), negotiation type (Negotiation Type), TWT information frame disabled (TWT Information Frame Disabled), wake-up duration unit (Wake Duration Unit), link identification bitmap presence indication (Link ID Bitmap Present) and reserved (Reserved).

[0080] The TWT parameter information includes multiple broadcast TWT parameter sets (Broadcast TWT Parameter Set), each broadcast TWT parameter set includes the following content: request type (Request Type), target wake time (Target Wake Time), minimum TWT wake duration (Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration), TWT wake interval mantissa (TWT Wake Interval Mantissa), broadcast TWT information (Broadcast TWT Info) and restricted TWT traffic information (optional) (Restricted TWT Traffic Info (optional)).

[0081] Among them, the broadcast TWT information includes the following contents: restricted TWT traffic information subdomain presence indication (Restricted TWT Traffic Info Present), reservation (Reserved), broadcast TWT identifier (Broadcast TWT ID) and broadcast TWT duration (Broadcast TWT Persistence).

[0082] Among them, the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield (Broadcast TWT Recommendation) in the Request Type field (Request Type) of each broadcast TWT parameter set is used to indicate the TWT type specified by the broadcast TWT parameter set, and its value is 4, indicating that this broadcast TWT parameter set corresponds to an r-TWT. If a broadcast TWT parameter set corresponds to an r-TWT, then the broadcast TWT information subfield (Broadcast TWT Info) in the TWT element field contains a one-bit r-TWT service information subfield presence indication subfield (Restricted TWT Traffic Info Present), and the value of this bit is 1, indicating that the TWT element field contains the r-TWT service information subfield (Restricted TWT Traffic Info) shown in the figure, and 0, indicating that the TWT element field does not contain the r-TWT service information subfield (Restricted TWT Traffic Info) shown in the figure. The Broadcast TWT ID subfield indicates the identification number of the TWT group.

[0083] The specific meaning of each of the above information is not limited in this application, and reference may be made to the description in the IEEE 802.11 series protocols.

[0084] As described above, in r-TWT, if the r-TWT option of an EHT STA is set to true, the EHT STA must end its TXOP before the start time of the r-TWT SP, which increases the transmission delay of the service. For example, as shown in Figure 5, r-TWT 1 and r-TWT 2 are established by the same AP, and STA1 and STA2 are both associated stations of the AP. STA1 is a member of r-TWT1, and STA2 is a member of r-TWT2.

[0085] If STA1 obtains a TXOP through competition in SP12 of r-TWT1, and this TXOP overlaps with the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT2, STA1 must end the TXOP before T1. However, since STA1 is transmitting services within SP12 of r-TWT1, terminating the services being transmitted at this time will not only increase STA1's latency, but also require STA1 to compete for a TXOP again to continue transmitting the untransmitted service data, which will cause contention and affect system efficiency.

[0086] Similarly, if an AP obtains a TXOP through competition in SP12 to which r-TWT1 belongs, it must also end the TXOP before T1. This increases the service latency. To this end, this application provides a method for reducing service transmission latency, which will be described in detail below.

[0087] It can be understood that the present application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution entity of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. It can be applied to the AP or a module in the AP, or to the STA or a module in the STA, as long as it can communicate according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0088] FIG6 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method includes:

[0089] Step 601: A first station obtains a first TXOP.

[0090] This application does not limit how the first station obtains the first TXOP. If the first station obtains the first TXOP, then the first station is the holder of the first TXOP.

[0091] In one implementation, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA. For example, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA with dot11 r-TWT option implementation (dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented) set to true. Alternatively, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA that supports r-TWT.

[0092] In one implementation, before step 601, the access point associated with the first station, or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multiple BSSIDs to which the access point associated with the first station belongs, may indicate the service period (SP) of one or more r-TWTs through a beacon frame or a probe response frame. The SPs of the above-mentioned multiple r-TWTs may belong to one r-TWT or to different r-TWTs. For example, the access point associated with the first station, or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multiple BSSIDs to which the access point associated with the first station belongs, may indicate the first SP of the first r-TWT through a beacon frame or a probe response frame, and may also indicate the second SP of the second r-TWT. The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT may be located on the same channel.

[0093] Step 602: When the first condition is met, the first station sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0094] The end time of the first TXOP is later than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, which may mean that the end time of the first TXOP is after the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, or the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first TXOP.

[0095] Regardless of whether the first condition is met, the first station can transmit data in the first TXOP before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0096] In one implementation, when the first condition is not met, the first station sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0097] The end time of the first TXOP is earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, which may mean that the end time of the first TXOP is before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, and the first TXOP ends before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0098] In one implementation, the first condition includes: the first site is a member of the first r-TWT, the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink (UL) traffic identifier (TID) of the first r-TWT.

[0099] Among them, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are both active r-TWTs; the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site; or the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmitted Basic Service Set IDentifier (BSSID), and the access point corresponding to the transmitted BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multiple BSSID. The above description can also be replaced by: the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmitted BSSID in the multiple BSSIDs to which the access point associated with the first site belongs.

[0100] For example, as shown in Figure 7, r-TWT 1 and r-TWT 2 are established by the same AP, which is the access point associated with STA1, or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multi-BSSID to which the access point associated with STA1 belongs. SP11 and SP12 are SPs to which r-TWT 1 belongs; SP21 and SP22 are SPs to which r-TWT 2 belongs; wherein, the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is within SP12 of r-TWT 1, and STA1 is a non-AP EHT STA with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true. If STA1 obtains TXOP through competition in SP12 to which r-TWT1 belongs, the following two situations may exist:

[0101] Case 1: If STA1 is a member of r-TWT 1, and the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of r-TWT 1, then STA1 continues to transmit data during the time after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2, and does not need to end the TXOP before the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2.

[0102] Case 2: If STA1 is not a member of r-TWT 1, or the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is not used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of r-TWT 1, then STA1 ends the TXOP before the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2.

[0103] According to the method provided in the present application, a STA with dot11 Restricted TWT Option Implemented set to true serves as a TXOP holder. If the first condition is not met, the STA should ensure that the TXOP ends before the start time of the SP of the active r-TWT published by its associated AP or the AP corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the set of multiple BSSIDs to which its associated AP belongs; a STA with dot11 Restricted TWT Option Implemented set to true serves as a TXOP holder. If the first condition is met, that is, the TXOP is located in the first SP of the first r-TWT, if the STA is a member of the first r-TWT, the first SP of the first r-TWT overlaps with the start time of the second SP of the second R-TWT, and the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of the second SP of the second R-TWT is used to transmit the UL frame of the R-TWT-UL TID of the first R-TWT, the STA does not need to end the TXOP before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, and the STA can transmit the UL frame of the R-TWT-UL TID of the first R-TWT in the remaining part after the start time of the second SP of the second R-TWT. The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the AP associated with the STA or the AP corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the set of multiple BSSIDs to which the STA's associated AP belongs.

[0104] According to the method provided in the present application, a non-AP EHT STA with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true, as a TXOP holder, shall ensure that the TXOP ends before the start time of any active R-TWT SP announced by its associated AP or the AP corresponding to the transmitted BSSID in the set of multiple BSSIDs to which its associated AP belongs, as described in IEEE802.11be 35.8.3 (R-TWT Announcement), unless the non-AP EHT STA does not need to end the TXOP before the start time of the active R-TWT SP if the following conditions are met: the non-AP EHT STA is a member of another R-TWT, the SP of the other R-TWT overlaps with the start time of the active R-TWT SP, and the remainder of the TXOP is used to send uplink frames of the R-TWT UL TID(s) of the other R-TWT.

[0105] According to the method provided in the present application, when the first station obtains the first TXOP within the first SP of the first r-TWT and transmits service data through the first TXOP, if the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first SP, and the first station is a member of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of the first r-TWT, the first station does not need to end the first TXOP (i.e., stop transmitting service data) before the start time of the second SP, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first station, reducing the service delay of the first station, so that low-latency services are better guaranteed, and improving system efficiency.

[0106] The present application also provides a method for preventing a service from being delayed before transmission, which is described in detail below.

[0107] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method includes:

[0108] Step 801: A first station schedules a first frame to be sent.

[0109] The present application does not limit how the first station schedules the first frame to be sent. The first station may schedule the first frame to be sent at a first time, and the first time may be determined by the first station.

[0110] In one implementation, the first station has not yet obtained a TXOP before scheduling the first frame, for example, the backoff counter value of the first station is 0 but no data is received. In another implementation, the first station has already obtained a TXOP before scheduling the first frame.

[0111] In one implementation, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA. For example, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true. Alternatively, the first station is a non-AP EHT STA that supports r-TWT.

[0112] In one implementation, before step 801, the access point associated with the first station, or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multiple BSSIDs to which the access point associated with the first station belongs, may indicate the service period (SP) of one or more r-TWTs through a beacon frame or a probe response frame. The SPs of the above-mentioned multiple r-TWTs may belong to one r-TWT or to different r-TWTs.

[0113] Step 802: When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not met, the first station postpones sending the first frame.

[0114] In one implementation, the second condition includes: the first site is a member of the first r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT.

[0115] If the duration between the first moment and the start time of the second SP is greater than or equal to the first duration, the frame exchange of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT; if the duration between the first moment and the start time of the second SP is less than the first duration, the frame exchange of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT. The first duration may be the duration required to transmit the first frame and the response frame to the first frame.

[0116] The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are both active r-TWTs; the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site; or the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-BSSID. The above description can also be replaced by: the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multi-BSSID to which the access point associated with the first site belongs.

[0117] In one implementation, when the first station defers sending the first frame, if the first station has not yet obtained a TXOP, the first station may use the current variable CW[AC] to select a random backoff count value to continue contending for the channel. If the first station has already obtained a TXOP, the first station may terminate the TXOP. The variable CW[AC] is a parameter initialized to CWmin[AC]. When the backoff process is invoked, the backoff counter is set to a randomly selected backoff count value uniformly distributed between 0 and CW[AC].

[0118] In one implementation, when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not met, the first station sends the first frame.

[0119] In another implementation, step 802 may be replaced by the following steps: when a second condition is met, the first station sends the first frame.

[0120] Although the frame interaction may not be completed from the first moment to the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT when the second condition is met, the first site does not need to postpone the transmission of the first frame, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first site, reducing the service delay of the first site, and better guaranteeing the low-latency service, thereby improving system efficiency.

[0121] In one possible implementation, when the second condition is not met and the fifth condition is met, the first site sends the first frame; the fifth condition includes: the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP is within the first SP.

[0122] In a possible implementation, when the second condition and the fifth condition are not met, the first station postpones sending the first frame.

[0123] For example, referring to FIG. 7 , if STA1 schedules to send the first frame at the first time T2, the following situations may occur:

[0124] Case 1: If STA1 is a member of r-TWT 1, and T2 is located in SP12 of r-TWT 1, and the first frame is the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of r-TWT 1, then STA1 sends the first frame at the first time T2.

[0125] Case 2: If the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2, STA1 sends the first frame at the first time T2.

[0126] Case three: If the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2 and STA1 is not a member of r-TWT 1, or the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2 and T2 is not within SP12 of r-TWT 1, or the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2 and the first frame is not the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of r-TWT 1, then STA1 postpones sending the first frame.

[0127] According to the method provided by the present application, before the first station with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true starts transmitting the first frame, it checks whether there is enough time to complete the frame interaction before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT. Specifically, the first moment of transmitting the first frame is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT. In one implementation, if there is not enough time to complete the frame interaction, but the first station is not a member of the first r-TWT, or the first moment of transmitting the first frame is not within the first SP of the first r-TWT (wherein the start time of the second SP is within the first SP), or the first frame is not an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of the first r-TWT, then the first station postpones the transmission of the first frame (without advancing to the next value of CW[AC]) by using the current CW[AC] to select a random backoff count, or the first station ends the current TXOP.

[0128] In another implementation, if there is not enough time to complete the frame interaction, but the first site is a member of the first r-TWT, and the first moment of transmitting the first frame is within the first SP of the first r-TWT (wherein the start time of the second SP is within the first SP), and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink TID of the first r-TWT, then the first site transmits the first frame at the first moment.

[0129] According to the method provided in the present application, before starting to transmit any physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), a non-AP EHT STA with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true should check whether there is enough time to complete the frame exchange before the start of the R-TWT SP. If there is not enough time, then the non-AP EHT STA should postpone the transmission by selecting a random backoff count using the current CW[AC] (without advancing to the next value of CW[AC]), unless the non-AP EHT STA does not need to postpone the transmission of the PPDU if the following conditions are met: the non-AP EHT STA is a member of another R-TWT, the SP of the other R-TWT overlaps with the start time of the active R-TWT SP, and the TXOP is used to send UL frames of the R-TWT UL TID(s) of the other R-TWT. The quality of service (QoS) short retry counter [AC] (QSRC[AC]) of the media access control (MAC) service data unit (MSDU) or the aggregation MSDU (A-MSDU) is not affected.

[0130] According to the method provided in the present application, before the first site transmits the first frame at the first moment, if the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not met, the transmission of the first frame is postponed. This can avoid affecting the services transmitted in the second SP of the second r-TWT, thereby better guaranteeing low-latency services and improving system efficiency.

[0131] The method provided in this application can also be applied to access points, and is described below with the access point as the execution entity.

[0132] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method includes:

[0133] Step 901: A first access point obtains a first TXOP.

[0134] This application does not limit how the first access point obtains the first TXOP. If the first access point obtains the first TXOP, then the first access point is the holder of the first TXOP.

[0135] In one implementation, the first access point is an EHT AP. For example, the first access point is an EHT AP with dot11 r-TWT option implementation (dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented) set to true. Alternatively, the first access point is an EHT AP that supports r-TWT.

[0136] Step 902: When the third condition is met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0137] The end time of the first TXOP is later than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, which may mean that the end time of the first TXOP is after the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, or the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first TXOP.

[0138] Regardless of whether the third condition is met, the first access point can transmit data in the first TXOP before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0139] In one implementation, when the third condition is not met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0140] The end time of the first TXOP is earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, which may mean that the end time of the first TXOP is before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, and the first TXOP ends before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0141] In one implementation, if the third condition is not met, the first access point ends the first TXOP before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0142] In one implementation, the third condition includes: the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT.

[0143] The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are both active r-TWTs; the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID. The above description can also be replaced by: the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multi-BSSID to which the first access point belongs.

[0144] For example, referring to Figure 7 above, the AP is an EHT AP with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true. If the AP obtains a TXOP through competition in SP12 to which r-TWT1 belongs, the following two situations may occur:

[0145] Case 1: If the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of r-TWT 2 or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of r-TWT 2, then the AP continues to transmit data within the time after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2, and there is no need to end the TXOP before the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2.

[0146] Case 2: If the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2 is not used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, and is not used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of r-TWT 2 or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of r-TWT 2, then the AP ends the TXOP before the start time of SP22 of r-TWT 2.

[0147] According to the method provided in this application, the AP that sets dot11 Restricted TWT Option Implemented to true as the TXOP holder shall ensure that the TXOP ends before the start time of the SP of the active r-TWT it publishes if the fourth condition is not met; When the AP with Implemented set to true acts as the TXOP holder, and the TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, if the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT or the uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT, the AP does not need to end the TXOP before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, and the AP can continue to transmit data in the remaining part of the TXOP after the start time of the second SP of the second R-TWT.

[0148] According to the method provided in this application, an EHT AP with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true, as a TXOP holder, shall ensure that the TXOP ends before the start time of any active R-TWT SP specified in section 35.8.3 (R-TWT Announcement) of the IEEE802.11be standard, unless the EHT AP is not required to end the TXOP before the start time of the active R-TWT SP if any of the following conditions are met:

[0149] – The remainder of the TXOP within the active R-TWT SP is used to transmit DL frames for the R-TWT DL TID(s) or UL frames for the requesting R-TWT UL TID(s).

[0150] – The SP of another R-TWT overlaps with the start time of the active R-TWT SP, and the remainder of the TXOP within the active R-TWT SP is used to deliver downlink frames of the R-TWT DL TID(s) of the other R-TWT or to request uplink frames of the R-TWT UL TID(s) of the other R-TWT.

[0151] According to the method provided in the present application, when the first access point obtains the first TXOP within the first SP of the first r-TWT and transmits service data through the first TXOP, if the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first SP, and the fourth condition is met, the first access point does not need to end the first TXOP (i.e., stop transmitting service data) before the start time of the second SP, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first access point, reducing the service delay of the first access point, so that low-latency services are better guaranteed, and improving system efficiency.

[0152] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method includes:

[0153] Step 1001: A first access point schedules a first frame to be transmitted.

[0154] This application does not limit how the first access point schedules the first frame. The first access point may schedule the first frame to be transmitted at a first time.

[0155] In one implementation, the first access point is an EHT AP. For example, the first access point is an EHT AP with dot11 r-TWT option implementation (dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented) set to true. Alternatively, the first access point is an EHT AP that supports r-TWT.

[0156] Step 1002: When the frame exchange of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is not satisfied, the first station postpones transmitting the first frame.

[0157] In one implementation, the fourth condition includes: the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT or the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT.

[0158] If the duration between the first moment and the start time of the second SP is greater than or equal to the first duration, the frame exchange of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT; if the duration between the first moment and the start time of the second SP is less than the first duration, the frame exchange of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT. The first duration may be the duration required to transmit the first frame and the response frame to the first frame.

[0159] The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are both active r-TWTs; the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID. The above description can also be replaced by: the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID in the multi-BSSID to which the first access point belongs.

[0160] In one implementation, when the first access point postpones transmission of the first frame, if the first access point has not yet obtained a TXOP, the first access point may further select a random backoff count value using the current variable CW[AC] to continue contention for the channel. If the first access point has already obtained a TXOP, the first access point may further terminate the TXOP. The variable CW[AC] is an integer value.

[0161] In one implementation, when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a fourth condition is met, the first access point transmits the first frame.

[0162] In another implementation, step 1002 may be replaced by the following steps: when a fourth condition is met, the first access point sends the first frame.

[0163] Although the frame interaction may not be completed from the first moment to the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT when the fourth condition is met, the first access point does not need to postpone the transmission of the first frame, thereby avoiding the impact on the service transmitted by the first site, reducing the service delay of the first access point, and better guaranteeing the low-latency service, thereby improving system efficiency.

[0164] In one possible implementation, when the fourth condition is not met and the sixth condition is met, the first access point sends the first frame; the sixth condition includes: the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the start time of the second SP is within the first SP.

[0165] In a possible implementation, when the fourth condition and the sixth condition are not met, the first access point postpones sending the first frame.

[0166] For example, referring to FIG. 7 , if the AP schedules to send or request the first frame at the first time T2, and if T2 is within SP12 of r-TWT 1, the following situations may exist:

[0167] Case 1: If the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT, or the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT, then the AP sends or requests the first frame at the first moment T2.

[0168] Case 2: If the frame interaction of the first frame can be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2, then the AP transmits the first frame at the first time T2.

[0169] Case three: If the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time T1 of SP22 of r-TWT 2, and the first frame is not the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is not the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is not the downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT, and the first frame is not the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT, then the AP postpones transmitting the first frame.

[0170] According to the method provided by the present application, before the first access point with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true starts transmitting the first frame, it checks whether there is enough time to complete the frame interaction before the second SP start time of the second r-TWT. Specifically, the first moment of transmitting the first frame is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the second SP start time of the second r-TWT is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT. In one implementation, if there is not enough time to complete the frame interaction, but the first frame is not an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is not a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is not a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT, and the first frame is not an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT, then the first access point postpones the transmission of the first frame (without advancing to the next value of CW[AC]) by using the current CW[AC] to select a random backoff count, or the first access point ends the current TXOP.

[0171] In another implementation, if there is not enough time to complete the frame interaction, but the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT, or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the second r-TWT, or the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the second r-TWT, then the first access point transmits the first frame at the first moment.

[0172] According to the method provided in this application, before starting to transmit any PPDU, an EHT AP with dot11RestrictedTWTOptionImplemented set to true shall check whether there is enough time to complete the frame exchange before the start of the active R-TWT SP. If there is not enough time, the EHT AP shall postpone the transmission by selecting a random backoff count using the current CW[AC] (without advancing to the next value of CW[AC]), unless the EHT AP does not need to postpone the transmission if the following conditions are met: the SP of another R-TWT overlaps with the start time of the active R-TWT SP, and the TXOP is used to transmit downlink frames of the other R-TWT DL TID or request uplink frames of the R-TWT UL TID of the other R-TWT. The QSRC[AC] of the MSDU or A-MSDU is not affected.

[0173] According to the method provided in this application, before the first access point transmits the first frame at the first moment, as long as the fifth or sixth condition is met, it can transmit the first frame. Although if the fifth condition is met, the time from the first moment to the start of the second SP of the second r-TWT may not be sufficient to complete frame exchange, the first access point does not need to delay transmission of the first frame, thereby avoiding any impact on the services transmitted by the first station, reducing the service latency of the first access point, better ensuring low-latency services, and improving system efficiency.

[0174] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG11 , the communication device 1100 may include a processing unit 1101, and the processing unit 1101 is configured to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1100. Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a communication unit 1102. The communication unit 1102 is configured to enable the communication device 1100 to perform communication transmission, for example, receiving information (frames, messages, or data) or sending information (frames, messages, or data). The processing unit 1101 may also control the operations performed by the communication unit 1102.

[0175] Exemplarily, the communication device 1100 may be the first station in the above embodiment, or may be a processor, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the first station. Alternatively, the communication device 1100 may be the first access point in the above embodiment, or may be a processor, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the first access point.

[0176] Optionally, the following description is made by taking the communication device 1100 including the processing unit 1101 and the communication unit 1102 as an example:

[0177] In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to obtain a first transmission opportunity TXOP;

[0178] a communication unit, configured to set an end time of the first TXOP to be later than a start time of a second service phase SP of a second limited target wake-up time r-TWT when a first condition is met;

[0179] The first condition includes: the first station is a member of the first r-TWT, the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit the uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT;

[0180] Among them, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0181] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to: when the first condition is not met, set the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0182] In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to schedule a first frame to be sent;

[0183] a communication unit configured to postpone sending the first frame when frame exchange of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not satisfied;

[0184] The second condition includes: the first station is a member of the first r-TWT, the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT;

[0185] Among them, the first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0186] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is further configured to send the first frame when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is met.

[0187] In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to obtain a first transmission opportunity TXOP;

[0188] a communication unit, configured to set an end time of the first TXOP to be later than a start time of a second service phase SP of a second limited target wake-up time r-TWT when a third condition is satisfied;

[0189] The third condition includes: the first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or an uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT;

[0190] The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0191] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to: when the third condition is not met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

[0192] In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to schedule a first frame to be transmitted;

[0193] a communication unit configured to postpone transmission of the first frame when frame exchange of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a fourth condition is not satisfied;

[0194] The fourth condition includes: the first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT;

[0195] The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

[0196] In a possible implementation, the communication unit is further configured to transmit the first frame when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a fourth condition is met.

[0197] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG. 12 , the communication device 1200 may include a processor 1202. Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include a transceiver 1201 and / or a memory 1203. The memory 1203 may be located within or outside the communication device 1200. The processor 1202 may control the transceiver 1201 to receive and transmit information, messages, or data.

[0198] Specifically, processor 1202 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. Processor 1202 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0199] The transceiver 1201, processor 1202, and memory 1203 are interconnected. Optionally, the transceiver 1201, processor 1202, and memory 1203 are interconnected via a bus 1204; bus 1204 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, and the like. For ease of illustration, FIG12 shows only one thick line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0200] In an optional embodiment, memory 1203 is used to store programs, etc. Specifically, the programs may include program code, which includes computer operating instructions. Memory 1203 may include RAM or non-volatile memory, such as one or more disk drives. Processor 1202 executes the application programs stored in memory 1203 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the functions of communication device 1200.

[0201] Exemplarily, the communication device 1200 may be the first station in the above embodiment; or the first access point in the above embodiment.

[0202] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1200 implements the functions of the first station, the processor 1202 may implement operations performed by the first station. Alternatively, when the communication device 1200 includes a transceiver 1201 and a processor 1202, the transceiver 1201 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the first station; and the processor 1202 may implement other operations performed by the first station in addition to the transceiver operations. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above embodiments and will not be described in detail here.

[0203] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1200 implements the functions of a first access point, the processor 1202 may implement operations performed by the first access point. Alternatively, when the communication device 1200 includes a transceiver 1201 and a processor 1202, the transceiver 1201 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the first access point; and the processor 1202 may implement other operations performed by the first access point in addition to the transceiver operations. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above embodiments and will not be described in detail here.

[0204] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include the first station and the first access point involved in the above embodiments.

[0205] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0206] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0207] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to call a program in the memory so that the chip implements the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0208] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, which is coupled to a memory and is used to implement the communication method provided in the above method embodiment.

[0209] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. Of course, the processor and storage medium can also exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0210] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using 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. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions of the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media, such as floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tapes; optical media, such as digital video disks; or semiconductor media, such as solid-state drives. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0211] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0212] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0213] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0214] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0215] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first station obtains a first transmission opportunity TXOP; When the first condition is met, the first station sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT; The first condition includes: The first station is a member of a first r-TWT, the first TXOP is located within a first SP of the first r-TWT, a start time of a second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and a remaining portion of the first TXOP after a start time of the second SP is used to transmit an uplink frame of an r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that When the first condition is not met, the first station sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

3. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first station schedules a first frame to be sent; When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is not satisfied, the first station postpones sending the first frame; The second condition includes: The first site is a member of a first r-TWT, the first moment is within a first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of an r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is met, the first station sends the first frame.

5. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first access point obtains a first transmission opportunity TXOP; When the third condition is met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT; Wherein, the third condition includes: The first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or an uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that When the third condition is not met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

7. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first access point schedules a first frame to be transmitted; When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is not satisfied, the first station postpones transmission of the first frame; The fourth condition includes: The first time is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, and the second SP start time of the second r-TWT is within The first frame is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is met, the first access point transmits the first frame.

9. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to obtain a first transmission opportunity TXOP; a communication unit, configured to set the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT when the first condition is met; The first condition includes: The first station is a member of a first r-TWT, the first TXOP is located within a first SP of the first r-TWT, a start time of a second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and a remaining portion of the first TXOP after a start time of the second SP is used to transmit an uplink frame of an r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that The processing unit is also used for: When the first condition is not met, the end time of the first TXOP is set earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

11. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to schedule a first frame to be sent; a communication unit, configured to postpone sending the first frame when frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a second condition is not satisfied; The second condition includes: The first site is a member of a first r-TWT, the first moment is within a first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP is within the first SP, and the first frame is an uplink frame of an r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the access point associated with the first site or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the access point associated with the first site belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that The communication unit is also used for: The first frame is sent when the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the second condition is met.

13. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processing unit, configured to obtain a first transmission opportunity TXOP; a communication unit, configured to set the end time of the first TXOP to be later than the start time of the second service phase SP of the second limited target wake-up time r-TWT when a third condition is met; Wherein, the third condition includes: The first TXOP is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT is located within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the remaining part of the first TXOP after the start time of the second SP is used to transmit a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT or an uplink frame requesting the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that The processing unit is also used for: When the third condition is not met, the first access point sets the end time of the first TXOP to be earlier than the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT.

15. A communication device, characterized in that: include: a processing unit, configured to schedule a first frame to be transmitted; a communication unit, configured to postpone transmission of the first frame when frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and a fourth condition is not satisfied; The fourth condition includes: The first moment is within the first service phase SP of the first r-TWT, the second SP start time of the second r-TWT is within the first SP of the first r-TWT, and the first frame is an uplink frame of the r-TWT uplink service identifier of the first r-TWT or the first frame is a downlink frame of the r-TWT downlink service identifier of the first r-TWT; The first r-TWT and the second r-TWT are issued by the first access point or the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID, and the access point corresponding to the transmission BSSID and the first access point belong to the same multi-basic service set identifier BSSID.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that The communication unit is also used for: When the frame interaction of the first frame cannot be completed before the start time of the second SP of the second r-TWT and the fourth condition is met, the first frame is transmitted.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a processor, wherein: The processor is used to call computer instructions in the memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-8.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are called by the computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is executed.

19. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

20. A chip, characterized in that: The chip is used to couple with a memory, read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so as to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

21. A communication system, characterized in that: The method comprises a first station and a first access point, wherein the first station is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the first access point is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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