Communication method and apparatus, device, and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of communications, and provided thereby are a communication method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: determining a first message frame, the first message frame being used for indicating a sleep period of at least one affiliated AP of a first access point multi-link device (AP MLD); and sending the first message frame. The embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a method for indicating a sleep period of an AP device.

Description

Communication method, device, equipment and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In Ultra High Reliability (UHR) technology, device power conservation is a key research issue. Currently, station devices can achieve power conservation through mechanisms such as opportunistic power saving (OPS) and target wake time (TWT). In most cases, access points (APs) can also be put into a sleep state to conserve power, but how APs indicate sleep cycles remains a research topic.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium, which can provide a method for sending a sleep cycle of an AP device.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0006] Determine a first message frame, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first access point device supporting multi-link AP MLD;

[0007] The first message frame is sent.

[0008] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is performed by a first STA device, and includes:

[0009] A first message frame is received, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first AP MLD.

[0010] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, the device comprising:

[0011] A first processing module is configured to determine a first message frame, where the first message frame is configured to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first access point device supporting multi-link AP MLD;

[0012] The first transceiver module is used to send the first message frame.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, the device comprising:

[0014] The second transceiver module is configured to receive a first radio frame, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of the first AP MLD.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an AP device, comprising one or more processors;

[0016] Among them, the above-mentioned AP device is used in the communication method provided in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a STA device, comprising one or more processors;

[0018] Among them, the above-mentioned STA device is used in the communication method provided in the second aspect of the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0019] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium storing instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the communication method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, which includes an AP device and an STA device; wherein the AP device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect, and the STA device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0021] The communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to indicate the sleep period of an AP device.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be given in part in the following description, which will become apparent from the following description or be learned through practice of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0024] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG2 is one of the interactive schematic diagrams of the communication method shown in the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG3 is a second interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG4 is a flow chart showing one of the communication methods performed by the first AP device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG5 is a second flow chart of a communication method performed by a first AP device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG6 is a flow chart showing a communication method executed by a first STA device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG7 is a second flow chart of a communication method performed by a first STA device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] 8a-8b are schematic structural diagrams of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG9a is a schematic structural diagram of an AP device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG9 b is a schematic structural diagram of a STA device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium.

[0036] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0037] Determine a first message frame, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first access point device supporting multi-link AP MLD;

[0038] The first message frame is sent.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the sleep period of at least one subordinate AP device of the AP MLD can be directly indicated through the first message frame, thereby improving the sleep period indication efficiency and improving the sleep period indication mechanism.

[0040] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame includes at least one first information field, each of the above-mentioned first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each of the above-mentioned single STA configuration information field includes a first identification bit, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may also support whether each subordinate AP device of the AP MLD supports entering the sleep state or always being in the active state through the first flag, thereby reducing signaling consumption and improving the sleep cycle indication mechanism.

[0042] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a second identification bit, and the above-mentioned second identification bit indicates through a third value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep period, and the above-mentioned second identification bit indicates through a fourth value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep period.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may also indicate whether the AP MLD's subordinate AP device has a sleep cycle through the second flag bit, which helps the first AP device determine which subordinate AP devices have a sleep cycle and improves data transmission efficiency.

[0044] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a site STA control field, and the above-mentioned STA control field includes the above-mentioned first identification bit and the above-mentioned second identification bit.

[0045] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a STA information field. When the auxiliary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the above-mentioned STA information field has a sleep period, the above-mentioned STA information field includes the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0046] In the above embodiment, each first information field can reuse an existing information field to indicate the sleep period of the attached AP device, which is beneficial to saving signaling resources.

[0047] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame includes a basic multi-link information element field, and the above-mentioned basic multi-link information element field includes each of the above-mentioned first information fields; the above-mentioned first information field is a single STA configuration field.

[0048] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field, and when a sleep period of an attached AP device associated with a communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count field changes, an identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field changes;

[0049] The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of changes of the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device, and the basic service set parameters include a sleep cycle.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may further indicate whether the sleep period of the attached AP device has changed through the first information field, which helps the first STA device to intuitively identify the attached AP device whose sleep period has changed.

[0051] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field. When the sleep period of the affiliated AP associated with the communication chain corresponding to the above-mentioned non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the above-mentioned non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the first message frame can also indicate through the first information field whether the indication content of the non-simultaneous transmission and reception indication bitmap field corresponding to the auxiliary AP device has changed, which is beneficial for the STA device to determine the non-simultaneous transmission and reception link status of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0053] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame is at least one of a beacon frame, an association response frame, or a probe response frame.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the first message frame can reuse the existing message frame, which is beneficial to saving signaling resources.

[0055] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the last downlink data frame sent to the associated first STA device when in the active state includes a first indication field, and the first indication field indicates, through a fifth value, that the sleep state has been entered when the sleep cycle arrives;

[0056] After sending the last downlink data frame, the method further includes:

[0057] Receive a first confirmation frame sent by the first STA device and enter a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives. The first confirmation frame is used to indicate that a downlink data frame has been received.

[0058] In the above embodiment, when sending downlink data frames to the first STA device in an active state, the last downlink data frame can be used to indicate entering the sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives, so that the first STA device can confirm that it will no longer receive downlink data frames and determine the timing for the sender of the downlink data frame to enter the sleep state.

[0059] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first indication field is a power saving information field in a medium access control MAC frame header.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the last uplink data frame sent by the first STA device received in the active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates, through a sixth value, that the first STA device no longer sends uplink data frames;

[0061] After receiving the last uplink data frame, the method further includes:

[0062] Sending a second confirmation frame and a second message frame, the second message frame including a third indication field, the third indication field indicating, through a seventh value, that a sleep state has been entered upon arrival of a sleep cycle, and the second confirmation frame indicating confirmation of receipt of an uplink data frame;

[0063] Receive the third confirmation frame sent by the first STA, and enter the sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives, wherein the third confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the second message frame.

[0064] In the above embodiment, when receiving an uplink data frame from a first STA device in an active state, the first STA device can indicate through the last uplink data frame that it will no longer send uplink data frames. Furthermore, the first STA device can indicate through a second message frame that it will enter a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives, allowing the first STA device to confirm the timing for the uplink data frame recipient to enter a sleep state.

[0065] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second indication field is the more data field in the MAC frame header, the third indication field is the power saving information field in the MAC frame header; and the second message frame is a quality of service empty frame.

[0066] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0067] A first message frame is received, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first AP MLD.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the first STA device can determine the sleep cycle of at least one subordinate AP device of the AP MLD through the first message frame, thereby improving the sleep cycle indication efficiency and improving the sleep cycle indication mechanism.

[0069] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame includes at least one first information field, each of the above-mentioned first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each of the above-mentioned single STA configuration information field includes a first identification bit, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the sleep period of at least one subordinate AP device of the AP MLD can be directly indicated through the first message frame, thereby improving the sleep period indication efficiency and improving the sleep period indication mechanism.

[0071] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame includes at least one first information field, each of the above-mentioned first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each of the above-mentioned single STA configuration information field includes a first identification bit, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the above-mentioned first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may also support whether each subordinate AP device of the AP MLD supports entering the sleep state or always being in the active state through the first flag, thereby reducing signaling consumption and improving the sleep cycle indication mechanism.

[0073] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a second identification bit, and the above-mentioned second identification bit indicates through a third value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep period, and the above-mentioned second identification bit indicates through a fourth value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep period.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may also indicate whether the AP MLD's subordinate AP device has a sleep cycle through the second flag bit, which helps the first AP device determine which subordinate AP devices have a sleep cycle and improves data transmission efficiency.

[0075] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a site STA control field, and the above-mentioned STA control field includes the above-mentioned first identification bit and the above-mentioned second identification bit.

[0076] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a STA information field. When the auxiliary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the above-mentioned STA information field has a sleep period, the above-mentioned STA information field includes the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0077] In the above embodiment, each first information field can reuse an existing information field to indicate the sleep period of the attached AP device, which is beneficial to saving signaling resources.

[0078] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame includes a basic multi-link information element field, and the above-mentioned basic multi-link information element field includes each of the above-mentioned first information fields; the above-mentioned first information field is a single STA configuration field.

[0079] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field, and when a sleep period of an attached AP device associated with a communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count field changes, an identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field changes;

[0080] The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of changes of the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device, and the basic service set parameters include a sleep cycle.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the first message frame may further indicate whether the sleep period of the attached AP device has changed through the first information field, which helps the first STA device to intuitively identify the attached AP device whose sleep period has changed.

[0082] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each of the above-mentioned first information fields includes a non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field. When the sleep cycle of the affiliated AP associated with the communication chain corresponding to the above-mentioned non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the above-mentioned non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the first message frame can also indicate through the first information field whether the indication content of the non-simultaneous transmission and reception indication bitmap field corresponding to the auxiliary AP device has changed, which is beneficial for the STA device to determine the non-simultaneous transmission and reception link status of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0084] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned first message frame is at least one of a beacon frame, an association response frame or a probe response frame.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the first message frame can reuse the existing message frame, which is beneficial to saving signaling resources.

[0086] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the last downlink data frame received when the first AP device is in an active state includes a first indication field, and the first indication field indicates, through a fifth value, that the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep period arrives;

[0087] After receiving the last downlink data frame, the method further includes:

[0088] A first confirmation frame is sent to the first AP device, where the first message frame is used to indicate that the downlink data frame has been received.

[0089] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first indication field is a power saving information field in a medium access control MAC frame header.

[0090] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the last uplink data frame sent to the first AP device in the active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that no uplink data frame will be sent through a sixth value;

[0091] After sending the last uplink data frame, the method further includes:

[0092] receiving a second confirmation frame and a second message frame sent by the first AP device, the second message frame including a third indication field, the third indication field indicating, by a seventh value, that the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep period arrives, and the second confirmation frame indicating confirmation of receipt of an uplink data frame;

[0093] A third confirmation frame is sent to the first AP device, where the third confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the second message frame.

[0094] In the above embodiment, when the first AP device is in an active state and receives uplink data frames, it can indicate through the last uplink data frame that it will no longer send uplink data frames. The first AP device can then indicate through the second message frame that it will enter a dormant state when a dormant period arrives, allowing the sender of the uplink data frame to determine when the first AP device enters a dormant state.

[0095] In combination with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned second indication field is the more data field in the MAC frame header, the above-mentioned third indication field is the power saving information field in the MAC frame header; and the above-mentioned second message frame is a quality of service empty frame.

[0096] In the third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, which includes a first processing module and a first transceiver module; wherein the first processing module is used to determine a first message frame, and the first transceiver module is used to execute the first aspect of sending the first message frame and the optional implementation method of the first aspect.

[0097] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication device, which includes a second transceiver module; wherein the second transceiver module is used to execute the second aspect and the optional implementation method of the second aspect.

[0098] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an AP device, which includes: one or more processors; wherein the AP device is used to execute the first aspect and the optional implementation method of the first aspect.

[0099] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a STA device, which includes: one or more processors; wherein the STA device is used to execute the second aspect and the optional implementation method of the second aspect.

[0100] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, an AP device and an STA device of the communication system; wherein the AP device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the STA device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0101] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the first and second aspects, and the optional implementation methods of the first and second aspects.

[0102] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the first and second aspects, and the optional implementation methods of the first and second aspects.

[0103] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the methods described in the first and second aspects, and the optional implementations of the first and second aspects.

[0104] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chip or a chip system, wherein the chip or chip system includes a processing circuit configured to execute the method described in accordance with the first and second aspects, and the optional implementations of the first and second aspects.

[0105] It is understandable that the above-mentioned communication devices, AP devices, STA devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, or chip systems are all used to perform the methods proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here.

[0106] The present disclosure provides a communication method, apparatus, device, and storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "information processing method" and "communication method" are interchangeable, the terms "communication apparatus" and "information processing apparatus" are interchangeable, and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system" are interchangeable.

[0107] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0108] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0109] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0110] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0111] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0112] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one," "one or more," "a plurality of," "multiple," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0113] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "at least one of A and B," "A and / or B," "A in one case, B in another case," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B" may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); and in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0114] In some embodiments, "A or B" and other descriptions may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (A is executed independently of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed independently of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The above is also applicable when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0115] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first information" and the "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0116] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0117] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0118] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0119] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0120] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0121] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of any elements, any rows, and any columns can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0122] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0123] As shown in FIG1 , a communication system 100 includes a first AP device and a first STA device.

[0124] In some embodiments, the first STA device may be a STA device attached to a multi-link station device (Non-AP Multi-Link Device, Non-AP MLD), which is not limited here.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first AP device may be an attached AP device attached to a multi-link access point device (AP Multi-Link Device, AP MLD), which is not limited here.

[0126] Optionally, the first AP device may be a master AP device of the AP MLD.

[0127] The multi-link device (Non-AP MLD or AP MLD) includes one or more affiliated devices, and the affiliated devices can work on one link.

[0128] Among them, Non-AP MLD and AP MLD can establish multi-link communication. A STA device attached to Non-AP MLD and an AP device attached to AP MLD communicate through one communication link.

[0129] The first STA device may be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal. For example, a mobile phone supporting Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication, a tablet computer supporting WiFi communication, a set-top box supporting WiFi communication, a smart TV supporting WiFi communication, a smart wearable device supporting WiFi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting WiFi communication, and a computer supporting WiFi communication.

[0130] The first AP device is also referred to as a wireless access point or hotspot. The AP device is an access point for mobile users to access a wired 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. The AP device acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks. Its primary function is to connect wireless network clients and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, the AP device can be a terminal device or network device equipped with a WiFi chip, or a communication device such as a base station, router, gateway, repeater, communication server, switch, or bridge equipped with a WiFi chip. The base station can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, and relay stations.

[0131] In some embodiments, the communication system shown in Figure 1 can be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN). Currently, WLANs adopt the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series of standards. A WLAN can include multiple basic service sets (BSSs), each of which can include an AP device (or AP MLD) and multiple STA devices (or non-AP MLDs) associated with the AP device.

[0132] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0133] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 , or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in FIG1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in FIG1 , or may include other entities outside of FIG1 . The number and form of the entities are arbitrary, and the entities may be physical or virtual. The connection relationships between the entities are illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0134] In the disclosed embodiments, STA devices can achieve timely device power saving through OPS, TWT, Enhanced Multi-link Single Radio (EMLSR), and listen intervals. Regarding AP device power saving, currently only research is being conducted on AP devices using the TWT mechanism. However, AP devices and AP devices affiliated with AP MLD can also achieve power saving by entering a sleep state, and how to indicate the sleep period of AP devices remains to be studied.

[0135] To improve the sleep cycle indication mechanism described above, the following will further describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure in a clear and complete manner with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure and are not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0136] FIG2 is one of the interactive schematic diagrams of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2 , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, and the method includes:

[0137] Step S21: A first STA device receives a first message frame sent by a first AP device.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first AP device may be a subordinate AP device of the AP MLD.

[0139] Optionally, the first AP device may be a master AP of the AP MLD.

[0140] In some embodiments, the first STA device may be a subordinate STA device of a Non-AP MLD.

[0141] In some embodiments, the first message frame is a message frame sent by the first AP device during the process of establishing an initial association between the first AP device and the first STA device.

[0142] Optionally, the first message frame is at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or an association response frame.

[0143] In some embodiments, the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of the first AP MLD.

[0144] The first AP device is attached to the first AP MLD, that is, the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one attached AP device of the AP MLD to which the first AP device is attached.

[0145] In some embodiments, the sleep periods of any two subordinate AP devices of the first AP MLD may be the same or different.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, and each first information field is used to indicate a sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0147] In some embodiments, when the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one second AP device of the first AP device, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, each first information field is used to indicate the sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0148] Optionally, the first message frame includes a Basic Multi-Link Information Element (Basic Multi-Link element) field, and the Basic Multi-Link Information Element field includes each of the first information fields.

[0149] Optionally, the first information field may be a single STA configuration (per-STA profile) field.

[0150] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0151] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 0 and the second value may be 1, which is not limited here.

[0152] Among them, when the identification value of the first identification bit in each first information domain is the first value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain supports entering the sleep state; when the identification value of the first identification bit is the second value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain is always in the active state.

[0153] Wherein, for any auxiliary AP device, if the auxiliary AP device supports entering the sleep state, it means that the auxiliary AP device will switch between the sleep state and the active state.

[0154] Among them, for any auxiliary AP device, the auxiliary AP device can transmit data frames with the associated STA device when in an active state, such as receiving uplink data frames sent by the associated STA device, or sending downlink data frames to the associated STA device.

[0155] Optionally, the first identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0156] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA Control field, and the STA Control field includes a first identification bit. The first identification bit may be a bit in a reserved bit of the STA Control field.

[0157] In some embodiments, each first information field also includes a second identification bit, and the second identification bit indicates through a third value that the first information field includes a sleep period of the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep period; the second identification bit indicates through a fourth value or an empty value that the first information field does not include the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link in a sleep period, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep period.

[0158] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0159] The second identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0160] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a second identification bit. The second identification bit may be a bit in the reserved bits of the STA control field.

[0161] In some embodiments, when the secondary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to each first information field has a sleep cycle, the first information field includes the sleep cycle of the corresponding secondary AP device.

[0162] Each first information field includes a STA information (STA Info) field. When the subordinate AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the STA information field has a sleep period, the STA information field includes the sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0163] Among them, the STA information field can carry the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device through a sub-information element field or at least one reserved bit, or carry relevant indication information through a sub-information field or at least one reserved bit to indirectly indicate the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0164] In some embodiments, each first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each first information field includes a link identification (Link ID) subfield, where the link identification subfield is used to indicate a link identification of a communication link associated with an auxiliary AP device.

[0165] Based on this, each first information field may correspond to a communication link, and each communication link is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD. Therefore, each first information field corresponds to or is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0166] At the same time, a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD through a communication link, and each first information field corresponds to or is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD.

[0167] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control (STA Control) field, and the STA control field includes a link identifier (Link ID) subfield.

[0168] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count (BSS Parameter Change Count) field. When the sleep period of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count field changes, the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field changes.

[0169] The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of times the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed.

[0170] The basic service set parameters of each subordinate AP device include a sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0171] Optionally, the first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count present field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the eighth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field includes the basic service set parameter update count field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the ninth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field does not include the basic service set parameter update count field.

[0172] The eighth value and the ninth value are different values. For example, the eighth value may be 1 and the ninth value may be 0, and there is no limitation here.

[0173] Optionally, the first information domain includes a basic service set parameter update count domain, and the basic service set parameter update count domain is used to indicate that the basic service set parameters of the subordinate AP device of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed. Then the first information domain includes the aforementioned second identification bit, and the identification value of the second identification bit is a third value, which is used to indicate that the corresponding subordinate AP device has a sleep period, and is also used to indicate that the first information domain includes the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device.

[0174] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a basic service set parameter update count present (BSS parameter change count present) field.

[0175] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA information field, and the STA information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field.

[0176] For a first STA device, after receiving the first message frame, if the basic service set parameter update count present field is used to indicate that the first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field, the first STA device determines whether the indicated value of the BSS parameter change count field is the same as the indicated value of the BSS parameter change count field in another message frame previously received from the corresponding accessory AP device. If they are different, it is determined that the sleep period of the accessory AP device corresponding to the current first information field has changed, and the first message frame includes the sleep period of the accessory AP device.

[0177] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a Non-Simultaneous Transmit-Receive (NSTR) indication bitmap field, where the NSTR indication bitmap field is used to indicate the NSTR status of the corresponding attached AP device.

[0178] Among them, when the sleep period of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the NSTR indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the NSTR indication bitmap field changes.

[0179] As an example, the first message frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element field, and the Basic Multi-Link element includes at least one per-STA profile field.

[0180] Each per-STA profile field includes the STA Control field and the STA Info field. The specific format is as follows:

[0181] Among them, the STA Control domain includes a first identification bit and a second identification bit. When the identification value of the first identification bit is the first value, it is used to indicate that the corresponding auxiliary AP device supports entering the sleep state. When the identification value of the first identification bit is the second value, it is used to indicate that the corresponding auxiliary AP device is always in the active state.

[0182] Among them, the second identification bit indicates through the third value that the first information domain includes the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device, that is, it is used to indicate that the corresponding auxiliary AP device has a sleep period; the second identification bit indicates through the fourth value or empty value that the first information domain does not include the corresponding auxiliary AP device in the sleep period, that is, it is used to indicate that the corresponding auxiliary AP device does not have a sleep period.

[0183] The specific format of the STA Control field is as follows:

[0184] The STA Control field includes a Link ID field, which is used to indicate a link identifier of a communication link associated with an attached AP device.

[0185] Among them, the first identification bit and the second identification bit can each be at least one bit, which is not limited here.

[0186] Based on this, each per-STA profile field may correspond to a communication link, and each communication link is associated with a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD. Therefore, each per-STA profile field corresponds to or is associated with a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0187] At the same time, a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD through a communication link, and each per-STA profile field corresponds to or is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD.

[0188] The per-STA profile field includes the BSS parameter change count present field. When the identifier value of the BSS parameter change count present field is the eighth value, it is used to indicate that the per-STA profile field includes the BSS parameter change count field. When the identifier value of the BSS parameter change count present field is the ninth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field does not include the BSS parameter change count.

[0189] The format of the STA Info field is as follows:

[0190] The per-STA profile field includes an NSTR indication bitmap field, which is used to indicate the NSTR status of the corresponding attached AP device.

[0191] Among them, when the sleep cycle of the attached AP device corresponding to the NSTR indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the NSTR indication bitmap field changes.

[0192] The STA info field may include the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device in the sub-information field following the BSS Parameter Change Count field.

[0193] Step S22: The first STA device receives a downlink data frame sent by the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first AP device may send the buffered downlink data frame to the first STA device when in an active state.

[0195] In some embodiments, the last downlink data frame received by the first STA device when the first AP device is in an active state includes a first indication field. The first indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through a fifth value. It can also be used to indicate that the first AP device switches to a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives after sending the downlink data frame.

[0196] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0197] The fifth value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0198] Step S23: The first AP device receives a first confirmation frame sent by the first STA device.

[0199] In some embodiments, after the first AP device sends all downlink data frames in the active state, it can receive a first confirmation frame sent by the first STA device, where the first confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the downlink data frames sent by the first AP device.

[0200] In some embodiments, after receiving the first confirmation frame, the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives.

[0201] In some embodiments, steps S22 to S23 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0202] In some embodiments, if the first AP device cannot send all downlink data frames when in the active state, the AP MLD may send the downlink data frames that the first AP device has not sent completely through other active subordinate AP devices.

[0203] FIG3 is a second interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3 , the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which includes:

[0204] Step S31: A first STA device receives a first message frame sent by a first AP device.

[0205] In some embodiments, the optional implementation of step S31 can refer to the optional implementation of step S21 in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0206] Step S32: The first AP device receives an uplink data frame sent by the first STA device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0207] In some embodiments, when the first AP device is in an active state, the first AP device may receive an uplink data frame sent by the first STA device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0208] In some embodiments, the last data frame sent by the first STA device to the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that the first STA device no longer sends uplink data frames through a sixth value.

[0209] The sixth value may be 0 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0210] In some embodiments, the second indication field is a More Data field in a MAC frame header.

[0211] Step S33: The first STA device receives the second confirmation frame and the second message frame.

[0212] In some embodiments, after the first STA device sends the uplink data frame when the first AP device is in an active state, it can receive a second confirmation frame sent by the first AP device, where the second confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first AP device confirms receipt of the uplink data frame sent by the first STA device.

[0213] In some embodiments, after receiving the second confirmation frame sent by the first AP device, the first STA device may also receive a second message frame sent by the first AP device. The second message frame includes a third indication field, and the third indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through the seventh value.

[0214] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0215] The seventh value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0216] In some embodiments, the second message frame may be a Quality of Service Null (QoS null) frame.

[0217] Step S34: The first AP device receives the third confirmation frame sent by the first AP device.

[0218] In some embodiments, after sending the second message frame to the first STA device, the first AP device may receive a third confirmation frame sent by the first STA device, where the third confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first STA device confirms receipt of the second message frame.

[0219] In some embodiments, after receiving the third confirmation frame, the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives.

[0220] In some embodiments, steps S32 to S35 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0221] For Figures 2-3, in some embodiments, "obtain", "obtain", "get", "receive", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be interchangeable, which can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from high levels, obtaining by self-processing, autonomous implementation, etc.

[0222] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0223] In some embodiments, reference may be made to other optional implementations described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 2-FIG . 3 .

[0224] In some embodiments, if the first AP device cannot receive all uplink data frames of the first STA device when in an active state, the AP MLD may receive the remaining downlink data frames of the first STA device through other active subordinate AP devices.

[0225] 4 is a flow chart illustrating a communication method performed by a first AP device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method illustrated in FIG4 may be performed by the first AP device, and the method includes the following steps:

[0226] Step S41: Send a first message frame.

[0227] In some embodiments, the first AP device may be a subordinate AP device of the AP MLD.

[0228] Optionally, the first AP device may be a master AP of the AP MLD.

[0229] In some embodiments, the first AP device may send a first message frame to the first AP device, and the first STA device may be a subordinate STA device of a Non-AP MLD.

[0230] In some embodiments, the first message frame is a message frame sent by the first AP device during the process of establishing an initial association between the first AP device and the first STA device.

[0231] Optionally, the first message frame is at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or an association response frame.

[0232] In some embodiments, the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of the first AP MLD.

[0233] The first AP device is attached to the first AP MLD, that is, the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one attached AP device of the AP MLD to which the first AP device is attached.

[0234] In some embodiments, the sleep periods of any two subordinate AP devices of the first AP MLD may be the same or different.

[0235] In some embodiments, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, and each first information field is used to indicate a sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0236] In some embodiments, when the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one second AP device of the first AP device, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, each first information field is used to indicate the sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0237] Optionally, the first message frame includes a Basic Multi-Link Information Element (Basic Multi-Link element) field, and the Basic Multi-Link Information Element field includes each of the first information fields.

[0238] Optionally, the first information field may be a single STA configuration (per-STA profile) field.

[0239] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0240] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 0 and the second value may be 1, which is not limited here.

[0241] Among them, when the identification value of the first identification bit in each first information domain is the first value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain supports entering the sleep state; when the identification value of the first identification bit is the second value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain is always in the active state.

[0242] Wherein, for any auxiliary AP device, if the auxiliary AP device supports entering the sleep state, it means that the auxiliary AP device will switch between the sleep state and the active state.

[0243] Among them, for any auxiliary AP device, the auxiliary AP device can transmit data frames with the associated STA device when in an active state, such as receiving uplink data frames sent by the associated STA device, or sending downlink data frames to the associated STA device.

[0244] Optionally, the first identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0245] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA Control field, and the STA Control field includes a first identification bit. The first identification bit may be a bit in a reserved bit of the STA Control field.

[0246] In some embodiments, each first information field also includes a second identification bit, and the second identification bit indicates through a third value that the first information field includes a sleep period of the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep period; the second identification bit indicates through a fourth value or an empty value that the first information field does not include the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link in a sleep period, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep period.

[0247] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0248] The second identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0249] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a second identification bit. The second identification bit may be a bit in the reserved bits of the STA control field.

[0250] In some embodiments, when the secondary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to each first information field has a sleep cycle, the first information field includes the sleep cycle of the corresponding secondary AP device.

[0251] Each first information field includes a STA information (STA Info) field. When the subordinate AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the STA information field has a sleep period, the STA information field includes the sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0252] Among them, the STA information field can carry the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device through a sub-information element field or at least one reserved bit, or carry relevant indication information through a sub-information field or at least one reserved bit to indirectly indicate the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0253] In some embodiments, each first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each first information field includes a link identification (Link ID) subfield, where the link identification subfield is used to indicate a link identification of a communication link associated with an auxiliary AP device.

[0254] Based on this, each first information field may correspond to a communication link, and each communication link is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD. Therefore, each first information field corresponds to or is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0255] At the same time, a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD through a communication link, and each first information field corresponds to or is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD.

[0256] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control (STA Control) field, and the STA control field includes a link identifier (Link ID) subfield.

[0257] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count (BSS Parameter Change Count) field. When the sleep period of the auxiliary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count field changes, the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field changes.

[0258] The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of times the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed.

[0259] The basic service set parameters of each subordinate AP device include a sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0260] Optionally, the first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count present field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the eighth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field includes the basic service set parameter update count field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the ninth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field does not include the basic service set parameter update count field.

[0261] The eighth value and the ninth value are different values. For example, the eighth value may be 1 and the ninth value may be 0, and there is no limitation here.

[0262] Optionally, the first information domain includes a basic service set parameter update count domain, and the basic service set parameter update count domain is used to indicate that the basic service set parameters of the subordinate AP device of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed. Then the first information domain includes the aforementioned second identification bit, and the identification value of the second identification bit is a third value, which is used to indicate that the corresponding subordinate AP device has a sleep period, and is also used to indicate that the first information domain includes the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device.

[0263] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a basic service set parameter update count present (BSS parameter change count present) field.

[0264] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA information field, and the STA information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field.

[0265] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a Non-Simultaneous Transmit-Receive (NSTR) indication bitmap field, where the NSTR indication bitmap field is used to indicate the NSTR status of the corresponding attached AP device.

[0266] Among them, when the sleep period of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the NSTR indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the NSTR indication bitmap field changes.

[0267] Step S42: Send downlink data frames when in the active state.

[0268] In some embodiments, the first AP device may send the buffered downlink data frame to the first STA device when in an active state.

[0269] In some embodiments, the last downlink data frame sent by the first AP device when it is in an active state includes a first indication field. The first indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through a fifth value. It can also be used to indicate that the first AP device switches to a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives after sending the downlink data frame.

[0270] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0271] The fifth value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0272] Step S43: Receive the first confirmation frame.

[0273] In some embodiments, after the first AP device sends all downlink data frames in the active state, it can receive a first confirmation frame sent by the first STA device, where the first confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the downlink data frames sent by the first AP device.

[0274] In some embodiments, after receiving the first confirmation frame, the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives.

[0275] In some embodiments, steps S42 to S43 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0276] 5 , which is a second flow chart of a communication method performed by a first AP device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method shown in FIG5 can be performed by the first AP device, and the method includes the following steps:

[0277] Step S51: Send a first message frame.

[0278] In some embodiments, the optional implementation of step S51 can refer to the optional implementation of step S41 in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0279] Step S52: Receive an uplink data frame sent by the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0280] In some embodiments, when the first AP device is in an active state, the first AP device may receive an uplink data frame sent by the first STA device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0281] In some embodiments, the last data frame sent by the first STA device to the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that the first STA device no longer sends uplink data frames through a sixth value.

[0282] The sixth value may be 0 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0283] In some embodiments, the second indication field is a More Data field in a MAC frame header.

[0284] Step S53: Send a confirmation frame and a second message frame.

[0285] In some embodiments, when the first AP device is in an active state, after receiving the uplink data frame sent by the first STA device, it can send a second confirmation frame to the first STA device. The second confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first AP device confirms receipt of the uplink data frame sent by the first STA device.

[0286] In some embodiments, after sending the second confirmation frame, the first AP device may send a second message frame to the first STA device, where the second message frame includes a third indication field, and the third indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through a seventh value.

[0287] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0288] The seventh value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0289] In some embodiments, the second message frame may be a Quality of Service Null (QoS null) frame.

[0290] Step S54: Receive the third confirmation frame.

[0291] In some embodiments, after sending the second message frame to the first STA device, the first AP device may receive a third confirmation frame sent by the first STA device, where the third confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first STA device confirms receipt of the second message frame.

[0292] In some embodiments, after receiving the third confirmation frame, the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives.

[0293] In some embodiments, steps S52 to S54 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0294] 6, which is a flow chart of a communication method performed by a first STA device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method shown in FIG6 can be performed by the first STA device, and the method includes the following steps:

[0295] Step S61: Receive a first message frame.

[0296] In some embodiments, the first AP device may be a subordinate AP device of the AP MLD.

[0297] Optionally, the first AP device may be a master AP of the AP MLD.

[0298] In some embodiments, the first STA device may be a subordinate STA device of a Non-AP MLD.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first message frame is a message frame sent by the first AP device during the process of establishing an initial association between the first AP device and the first STA device.

[0300] Optionally, the first message frame is at least one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or an association response frame.

[0301] In some embodiments, the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of the first AP MLD.

[0302] The first AP device is attached to the first AP MLD, that is, the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one attached AP device of the AP MLD to which the first AP device is attached.

[0303] In some embodiments, the sleep periods of any two subordinate AP devices of the first AP MLD may be the same or different.

[0304] In some embodiments, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, and each first information field is used to indicate a sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0305] In some embodiments, when the first message frame is used to indicate the sleep period of at least one second AP device of the first AP device, the first message frame includes at least one first information field, each first information field is used to indicate the sleep period of a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0306] Optionally, the first message frame includes a Basic Multi-Link Information Element (Basic Multi-Link element) field, and the Basic Multi-Link Information Element field includes each of the first information fields.

[0307] Optionally, the first information field may be a single STA configuration (per-STA profile) field.

[0308] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a first identification bit, which indicates through a first value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a sleep state, and the first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

[0309] The first value and the second value are different values. For example, the first value may be 0 and the second value may be 1, which is not limited here.

[0310] Among them, when the identification value of the first identification bit in each first information domain is the first value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain supports entering the sleep state; when the identification value of the first identification bit is the second value, the first identification bit is used to indicate that the auxiliary AP device corresponding to the first information domain is always in the active state.

[0311] Wherein, for any auxiliary AP device, if the auxiliary AP device supports entering the sleep state, it means that the auxiliary AP device will switch between the sleep state and the active state.

[0312] Among them, for any auxiliary AP device, the auxiliary AP device can transmit data frames with the associated STA device when in an active state, such as receiving uplink data frames sent by the associated STA device, or sending downlink data frames to the associated STA device.

[0313] Optionally, the first identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0314] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA Control field, and the STA Control field includes a first identification bit. The first identification bit may be a bit in a reserved bit of the STA Control field.

[0315] In some embodiments, each first information field also includes a second identification bit, and the second identification bit indicates through a third value that the first information field includes a sleep period of the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep period; the second identification bit indicates through a fourth value or an empty value that the first information field does not include the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link in a sleep period, that is, it is used to indicate that the accessory AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep period.

[0316] The third value and the fourth value are different values. For example, the third value may be 1 and the fourth value may be 0, which is not limited here.

[0317] The second identification bit may be at least one reserved bit in the first information field.

[0318] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a second identification bit. The second identification bit may be a bit in the reserved bits of the STA control field.

[0319] In some embodiments, when the secondary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to each first information field has a sleep cycle, the first information field includes the sleep cycle of the corresponding secondary AP device.

[0320] Each first information field includes a STA information (STA Info) field. When the subordinate AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the STA information field has a sleep period, the STA information field includes the sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0321] Among them, the STA information field can carry the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device through a sub-information element field or at least one reserved bit, or carry relevant indication information through a sub-information field or at least one reserved bit to indirectly indicate the sleep period of the corresponding auxiliary AP device.

[0322] In some embodiments, each first information field corresponds to a communication link, and each first information field includes a link identification (Link ID) subfield, where the link identification subfield is used to indicate a link identification of a communication link associated with an auxiliary AP device.

[0323] Based on this, each first information field may correspond to a communication link, and each communication link is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD. Therefore, each first information field corresponds to or is associated with an attached AP device of the first AP MLD.

[0324] At the same time, a subordinate AP device of the first AP MLD is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD through a communication link, and each first information field corresponds to or is associated with a subordinate STA device of the Non-AP MLD.

[0325] Optionally, each first information field includes a STA control (STA Control) field, and the STA control field includes a link identifier (Link ID) subfield.

[0326] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count (BSS Parameter Change Count) field. When the sleep period of the auxiliary AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count field changes, the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field changes.

[0327] The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of times the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed.

[0328] The basic service set parameters of each subordinate AP device include a sleep period of the subordinate AP device.

[0329] Optionally, the first information field includes a basic service set parameter update count present field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the eighth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field includes the basic service set parameter update count field. When the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count present field is the ninth value, it is used to indicate that the first information field does not include the basic service set parameter update count field.

[0330] The eighth value and the ninth value are different values. For example, the eighth value may be 1 and the ninth value may be 0, and there is no limitation here.

[0331] Optionally, the first information domain includes a basic service set parameter update count domain, and the basic service set parameter update count domain is used to indicate that the basic service set parameters of the subordinate AP device of the corresponding subordinate AP device have changed. Then the first information domain includes the aforementioned second identification bit, and the identification value of the second identification bit is a third value, which is used to indicate that the corresponding subordinate AP device has a sleep period, and is also used to indicate that the first information domain includes the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device.

[0332] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA control field, and the STA control field includes a basic service set parameter update count present (BSS parameter change count present) field.

[0333] Optionally, the first information field includes a STA information field, and the STA information field includes a basic service set parameter update count field.

[0334] In some embodiments, each first information field includes a Non-Simultaneous Transmit-Receive (NSTR) indication bitmap field, where the NSTR indication bitmap field is used to indicate the NSTR status of the corresponding attached AP device.

[0335] Among them, when the sleep period of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the NSTR indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the NSTR indication bitmap field changes.

[0336] Step S62: Receive a downlink data frame sent by the first AP device when it is in an active state.

[0337] In some embodiments, the first STA device may receive a buffered downlink data frame sent by the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0338] In some embodiments, the last downlink data frame received by the first STA device when the first AP device is in an active state includes a first indication field. The first indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through a fifth value. It can also be used to indicate that the first AP device switches to a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives after sending the downlink data frame.

[0339] In some embodiments, the first indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0340] The fifth value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0341] Step S63: Send a first confirmation frame.

[0342] In some embodiments, after the first STA device receives all downlink data frames sent by the first AP device in the active state, it can send a first confirmation frame to the first AP device. The first confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the downlink data frames sent by the first AP device, so that after the first AP device receives the first confirmation frame, it enters the sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives.

[0343] In some embodiments, steps S62 to S63 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0344] 7, which is a second flow chart of a communication method performed by a first STA device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method shown in FIG7 can be performed by the first STA device, and the method includes the following steps:

[0345] Step S71: Receive a first message frame.

[0346] In some embodiments, the optional implementation of step S71 can refer to the optional implementation of step S61 in Figure 6, which will not be repeated here.

[0347] Step S72: Send an uplink data frame when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0348] In some embodiments, the first STA device may send an uplink data frame to the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state.

[0349] In some embodiments, the last data frame sent by the first STA device to the first AP device when the first AP device is in an active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that the first STA device no longer sends uplink data frames through a sixth value.

[0350] The sixth value may be 0 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0351] In some embodiments, the second indication field is a More Data field in a MAC frame header.

[0352] Step S73: Receive a second confirmation frame and a second message frame.

[0353] In some embodiments, after the first STA device sends the uplink data frame when the first AP device is in an active state, it can receive a second confirmation frame sent by the first AP device, where the second confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first AP device confirms receipt of the uplink data frame sent by the first STA device.

[0354] In some embodiments, after receiving the second confirmation frame sent by the first AP device, the first STA device may also receive a second message frame sent by the first AP device. The second message frame includes a third indication field, and the third indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through the seventh value.

[0355] In some embodiments, the third indication field is a power saving information (Power Save) field in a medium access control (MAC) frame header.

[0356] The seventh value may be 1 or other values, which are not limited here.

[0357] In some embodiments, the second message frame may be a Quality of Service Null (QoS null) frame.

[0358] Step 574: Send a third confirmation frame.

[0359] In some embodiments, after the first STA device receives the second message frame sent by the first AP device, it may send a third confirmation frame to the first AP device. The third confirmation frame is used to indicate that the first STA device confirms the receipt of the second message frame, so that after the first AP device receives the third confirmation frame, it enters a sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives.

[0360] In some embodiments, steps S72 to S74 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0361] The present disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods, such as the apparatus shown in FIG8a . The apparatus includes a first processing module 81 and a first transceiver module 82 for implementing the steps performed by the first AP device in any of the above methods. Furthermore, the apparatus shown in FIG8b includes a second transceiver module 83 for implementing the steps performed by the first STA device in any of the above methods.

[0362] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which realizes the functions of some or all of the above units or modules by designing the logical relationship of the components in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be realized by a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by configuring the configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above devices can be realized in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or in part by the form of software called by the processor, and the rest by hardware circuits.

[0363] Figure 9a is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9a, AP device 910 may include at least one of a transceiver module 911 and a processing module 912. In some embodiments, transceiver module 911 is configured to transmit a first message frame, and processing module 912 is configured to determine the first message frame.

[0364] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module 911 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving (for example, step S23, step S32 and step S34, steps S41-S43, steps S51-S54, but not limited to these) performed by the AP device 910 in any of the above methods, and the above-mentioned processing module 912 is used to execute the processing process performed by the AP device 910 in any of the above methods (for example, determining the first message frame, etc., but not limited to this) and will not be repeated here.

[0365] Figure 9b is a schematic diagram of the structure of an STA device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9b, the STA device 920 may include at least one of a transceiver module 921 and a processing module 922. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 921 is configured to receive a first message frame.

[0366] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module 921 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving (for example, step S21-step S22, step S31 and step S33, step S61-step S63, step S71-step S74) performed by the STA device 920 in any of the above methods, and the above-mentioned processing module 922 is used to execute the processing process performed by the STA device 920 in any of the above methods, which will not be repeated here.

[0367] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, and the transmitting module and the receiving module may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with the transceiver.

[0368] In some embodiments, the processing module can be a single module or can include multiple submodules. Optionally, the multiple submodules respectively execute all or part of the steps required to be executed by the processing module. Optionally, the processing module can be interchangeable with the processor.

[0369] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 1000 can be an AP device or a STA device, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a network device implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a terminal implementing any of the above methods. The communication device can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0370] As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1000 includes one or more processors 1001. Processor 1001 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, baseband chip, terminal device, terminal device chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The communication device 1000 is used to perform any of the above methods.

[0371] In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 further includes one or more memories 1002 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memory 1002 may also be outside the communication device 1000.

[0372] In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 further includes one or more transceivers 1003. When the communication device 1000 includes one or more transceivers 1003, the transceiver 1003 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, steps S21-S23, steps S31-S34, steps S41-S44, steps S51-S54, steps S61-S63, and steps S71-S74, but not limited thereto), and the processor 1001 performs at least one of the other steps (such as determining the first message frame, but not limited thereto).

[0373] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter. The receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0374] In some embodiments, the communication device 1000 may include one or more interface circuits 1004. Optionally, the interface circuit 1004 is connected to the memory 1002. The interface circuit 1004 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 1002 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to the memory 1002 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 1004 may read instructions stored in the memory 1002 and send the instructions to the processor 1001.

[0375] The communication device 1000 described in the above embodiments may be an AP device or a STA device, but the scope of the communication device 1000 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 1000 may not be limited by FIG10. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0376] The present disclosure also provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on the communication device 1000, the communication device 1000 executes any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and may also be a transient storage medium.

[0377] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 1000, enables the communication device 1000 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0378] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the above methods. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of disclosure involved in the present disclosure is not limited to the technical solutions formed by a specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above-mentioned disclosed concepts. For example, the above-mentioned features are replaced with the technical features with similar functions disclosed in the present disclosure (but not limited to) and the technical solutions formed.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determine a first message frame, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first access point device AP MLD supporting multi-link; The first message frame is sent.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first message frame includes at least one first information field, each of the first information fields corresponds to a communication link, and each of the single STA configuration information fields includes a first identification bit; The first flag indicates, through a first value, that the attached AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a dormant state; The first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a second identification bit; The second identification bit indicates, through a third value, that an attached AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep cycle; The second identification bit indicates through a fourth value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep cycle.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a STA information field. When a subordinate AP device associated with a communication link corresponding to the STA information field has a sleep period, the STA information field includes the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first message frame includes a basic multi-link information element field, and the basic multi-link information element field includes each of the first information fields; the first information field is a single STA configuration field.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Each first information domain includes a basic service set parameter update count domain, and when the sleep cycle of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count domain changes, the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count domain changes; The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of changes of the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device, and the basic service set parameters include a sleep cycle.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field. When the sleep cycle of the affiliated AP associated with the communication chain corresponding to the non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The last downlink data frame sent to the associated first STA device when in the active state includes a first indication field, and the first indication field indicates entering the sleep state when the sleep cycle arrives through a fifth value; After sending the last downlink data frame, the method further includes: Receive a first confirmation frame sent by the first STA device, and enter a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives, wherein the first confirmation frame is used to indicate that a downlink data frame has been received.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first indication field is a power saving information field in a medium access control MAC frame header.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The last uplink data frame sent by the first STA device and received when in the active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that the first STA device no longer sends an uplink data frame through a sixth value; After receiving the last uplink data frame, the method further includes: Sending a second confirmation frame and a second message frame, wherein the second message frame includes a third indication field, the third indication field indicates, through a seventh value, that a sleep state is entered when a sleep cycle arrives, and the second confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receiving an uplink data frame; Receive a third confirmation frame sent by the first STA, and enter a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives, wherein the third confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the second message frame.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The second indication field is the more data field in the MAC frame header, and the third indication field is the power saving information field in the MAC frame header; the second message frame is a quality of service empty frame.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A first message frame is received, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first AP MLD.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first message frame includes at least one first information field, each of the first information fields corresponds to a communication link, and each of the single STA configuration information fields includes a first identification bit; The first flag indicates, through a first value, that the attached AP device associated with the corresponding communication link supports entering a dormant state; The first identification bit indicates through a second value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link is always in an active state.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a second identification bit; The second identification bit indicates, through a third value, that an attached AP device associated with the corresponding communication link has a sleep cycle; The second identification bit indicates through a fourth value that the auxiliary AP device associated with the corresponding communication link does not have a sleep cycle.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a STA information field. When a subordinate AP device associated with a communication link corresponding to the STA information field has a sleep period, the STA information field includes the sleep period of the corresponding subordinate AP device.

16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The first message frame includes a basic multi-link information element field, and the basic multi-link information element field includes each of the first information fields; the first information field is a single STA configuration field.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that Each first information domain includes a basic service set parameter update count domain, and when the sleep cycle of the attached AP device associated with the communication link corresponding to the basic service set parameter update count domain changes, the identification value of the basic service set parameter update count domain changes; The identification value of the basic service set parameter update count field is used to indicate the number of changes of the basic service set parameters of the corresponding subordinate AP device, and the basic service set parameters include a sleep cycle.

18. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that Each of the first information fields includes a non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field. When the sleep cycle of the affiliated AP associated with the communication chain corresponding to the non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes, the indication content of the non-simultaneous sending and receiving indication bitmap field changes.

19. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The last downlink data frame received when the first AP device is in an active state includes a first indication field, and the first indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives through a fifth value; After receiving the last downlink data frame, the method further includes: A first confirmation frame is sent to the first AP device, where the first message frame is used to indicate that a downlink data frame has been received.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first indication field is a power saving information field in a medium access control MAC frame header.

21. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The last uplink data frame sent to the first AP device in the active state includes a second indication field, and the second indication field indicates that no uplink data frame will be sent through a sixth value; After sending the last uplink data frame, the method further includes: receiving a second confirmation frame and a second message frame sent by the first AP device, wherein the second message frame includes a third indication field, the third indication field indicates that the first AP device enters a sleep state when a sleep cycle arrives through a seventh value, and the second confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receiving an uplink data frame; A third confirmation frame is sent to the first AP device, where the third confirmation frame is used to indicate confirmation of receipt of the second message frame.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The second indication field is the more data field in the MAC frame header, and the third indication field is the power saving information field in the MAC frame header; the second message frame is a quality of service empty frame.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises: A first processing module, configured to determine a first message frame, wherein the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of a first access point device AP MLD supporting multi-link; The first transceiver module is used to send the first message frame.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises: The second transceiver module is used to receive a first radio frame, where the first message frame is used to indicate a sleep period of at least one subordinate AP of the first AP MLD.

25. An AP device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The AP device is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1-11.

26. A STA device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The STA device is used to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 12-22.

27. A communication system, characterized in that: The invention comprises an AP device and a STA device, wherein the AP device is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and the STA device is configured to implement the communication method according to any one of claims 11 to 22.

28. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that: When the instruction is executed on a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-11 or 12-22.

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