Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Provided are a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method comprises: a first AP receives a first frame sent by a second AP, the first frame being used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP; and the first AP performs transmission within the first transmission opportunity.

Description

Communication method and communication device Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more particularly, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] In an environment with overlapping basic service sets (OBSS), in order to reduce the transmission delay of the basic service set (BSS), the relevant technology introduces the coordinated time division multiple access (C-TDMA) technology to improve the transmission delay of the BSS by sharing transmission opportunities (TXOP) between access points (AP).

[0003] However, when using C-TDMA technology to share transmission opportunities, the actively sharing AP (sharing AP) can only share transmission opportunities with one shared AP (shared AP) at a time. APs that do not share transmission opportunities need to postpone channel access within the shared transmission opportunity, resulting in relatively low channel utilization.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and a communication device. The following introduces various aspects involved in the present application.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a first AP receives a first frame sent by a second AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP; and the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity.

[0007] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a second AP sends a first frame to a first AP, the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP, and the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission between the third AP and the first AP.

[0008] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a first station and a first AP transmit within a first transmission opportunity; wherein, the first station is a station associated with the first AP, the first transmission opportunity is obtained by the first AP from a first frame sent by a second AP, and the first frame is used by the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with a third AP.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is a first AP and includes: a receiving module for receiving a first frame sent by a second AP, wherein the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP; and a transmission module for transmitting within the first transmission opportunity.

[0010] In the fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is a second AP, and the communication device includes: a first sending module, used to send a first frame to the first AP, the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP, and the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission between the third AP and the first AP.

[0011] In the sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is a first site, and the communication device includes: a transmission module for transmitting with a first AP within a first transmission opportunity; wherein, the first site is a site associated with the first AP, and the first transmission opportunity is obtained by the first AP from a first frame sent by the second AP, and the first frame is used for the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with a third AP.

[0012] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is used to call the computer program in the memory so that the communication device executes part or all of the steps in the method of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0013] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the above-mentioned communication device. In another possible design, the communication system may also include other devices that interact with the communication device in the solution provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0014] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program enables a communication device to execute part or all of the steps in the methods of the above aspects.

[0015] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, wherein the computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is operable to cause a communication device to perform some or all of the steps of the methods described in each of the above aspects. In some implementations, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

[0016] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which includes a memory and a processor. The processor can call and run a computer program from the memory to implement some or all of the steps described in the methods of the above aspects.

[0017] In this embodiment of the present application, after the second AP shares a transmission opportunity with the third AP, the first AP can also transmit within the shared transmission opportunity. In other words, even if the second AP does not share a transmission opportunity with the first AP, the first AP can still transmit within the transmission opportunity shared by the second AP. This helps ensure that multiple APs can transmit simultaneously without interference or with minimal interference, thereby improving channel utilization. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system architecture of a wireless communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] FIG2a is an example diagram of OBSS.

[0020] FIG2 b is another example diagram of OBSS.

[0021] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a process of a station accessing an AP based on the EDCA mechanism.

[0022] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a backoff process of a station under the EDCA mechanism.

[0023] FIG5 is an example diagram of adjusting the value and transmit power based on OBSS message detection.

[0024] FIG6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a parameterized spatial reuse mechanism.

[0025] FIG7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process in the multi-AP coordinated measurement phase.

[0026] FIG8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of multi-AP coordinated measurement and coordinated transmission.

[0027] FIG9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of multi-AP coordinated transmission.

[0028] FIG10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a C-TDMA mechanism.

[0029] FIG11 is an example diagram of an application scenario to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable.

[0030] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] FIG13 is an example diagram of the first frame provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] FIG14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0033] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a process for obtaining fourth information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] FIG16 is an example diagram of the second frame provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] FIG17 is an example diagram of a response frame of the second frame provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] FIG18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-AP transmission process according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] FIG19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-AP transmission process according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0038] FIG20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-AP transmission process according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0039] FIG21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-AP transmission process according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0040] FIG22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-AP transmission process according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0041] FIG23 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0042] FIG24 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0043] FIG25 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Figure 26 is a schematic structural diagram of the communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Communication system architecture

[0047] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless fidelity (WiFi), or other communication systems. For another example, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to communication systems that adopt the 802.11 standard. For example, the 802.11 standard includes, but is not limited to, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, and the next generation 802.11 standard.

[0048] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to a variety of scenarios, such as communication between an AP and one or more stations (STAs), communication between APs, or communication between STAs. In the embodiments of the present application, the term "communication" can also be understood or replaced by other terms such as "transmission," "data transmission," and "information transmission."

[0049] 1 , which is a diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture of a wireless communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the wireless communication system 100 may include an AP 110 and a STA 120 accessing a network through the AP 110 .

[0050] In some scenarios, an AP is also called an AP STA. In a sense, an AP is also a STA.

[0051] In some scenarios, a STA is also called a non-AP STA.

[0052] The communication in the wireless communication system 100 can be communication between an AP and a STA, communication between STAs, or communication between a STA and a peer STA, where a peer STA refers to a device that communicates with the STA peer, for example, a peer STA may be an AP or a STA.

[0053] The AP involved in the embodiments of the present application is a device with wireless communication capabilities. In some embodiments, the AP can support WLAN protocols for communication and has the function of communicating with other devices in the WLAN network (eg, other STAs or other APs).

[0054] The AP in the embodiments of the present application is a device that provides services to STAs. In some embodiments, the AP acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, connecting wireless network clients and then connecting the wireless network to the Ethernet. The AP can be a terminal device with a WiFi chip (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router, bridge, or switch). Of course, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. For example, the AP can also include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, and relay stations.

[0055] The STA involved in the embodiments of the present application is a device with wireless communication capabilities. In some embodiments, the STA can support WLAN protocols for communication and has the function of communicating with other STAs or APs in a WLAN network.

[0056] It should be understood that the role of STA in the communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, the mobile phone is a STA; when the mobile phone provides a hotspot for other devices, the mobile phone acts as an AP.

[0057] APs and STAs can be devices used in the Internet of Vehicles, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0058] In some embodiments, both the STA and the AP may support the 802.11be standard. The STA or AP may also support various current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0059] One or more links may exist between a STA and an AP. In some embodiments, a STA and an AP may support multi-band communication. For example, communication may be performed simultaneously on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands, or communication may be performed simultaneously on different channels in the same frequency band (or different frequency bands) to improve the communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such a device is generally referred to as a multi-band device, or a multi-link device (MLD), sometimes also referred to as a multi-link entity or a multi-band entity. A multi-link device may be an AP or a STA. If the multi-link device is an AP, the multi-link device may include one or more APs; if the multi-link device is a STA, the multi-link device may include one or more non-AP STAs.

[0060] A multi-link device including one or more APs may be referred to as an access point multi-link device (AP MLD), and a multi-link device including one or more non-AP STAs may be referred to as a non-AP multi-link device (Non-AP MLD).

[0061] In an embodiment of the present application, the AP may include multiple APs, the Non-AP may include multiple STAs, multiple links may be formed between the APs in the AP and the STAs in the Non-AP, and the APs in the AP and the corresponding STAs in the Non-AP may communicate through the corresponding links.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, a STA may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a laptop computer, a PDA, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. that supports WLAN / WiFi technology.

[0063] The frequency bands supported by WLAN technology may include but are not limited to: low frequency bands (eg, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and high frequency bands (eg, 60 GHz).

[0064] FIG1 exemplarily shows an AP and two STAs. Optionally, the communication system 100 may include multiple APs and other numbers of STAs, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0065] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, a device having communication functionality in a network / system may be referred to as a communication device. Taking the communication system 100 shown in FIG1 as an example, the communication device may include an AP 110 and a STA 120 having communication functionality. AP 110 and STA 120 may be the specific devices described above and will not be described in detail here. The communication device may also include other devices in the communication system 100, such as a network controller, a gateway, or other network entities, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0066] APs and STAs can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; they can also be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the scenarios in which APs and STAs are located.

[0067] It should be understood that all or part of the functions of the communication device in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform).

[0068] OBSS

[0069] In some embodiments, an OBSS may refer to a neighboring BSS operating on the same channel as the STA's BSS and (partially or entirely) within the basic service area of ​​the STA's BSS. BSSs with this characteristic are each other's OBSSs. A basic service area (BSA) refers to the area containing the members of a BSS; it might also contain members of other BSSs.

[0070] In other words, when the basic service area of ​​one BSS overlaps with the basic service area of ​​another BSS, the two BSSs are each other's OBSSs, or in other words, the one BSS can be called the OBSS of the other BSS, and the other BSS can also be called the OBSS of the one BSS.

[0071] It should be understood that the above overlap may refer to a partial overlap between the basic service areas of one BSS and another BSS, or may refer to an inclusion relationship (ie, the basic service area of ​​one BSS falls within the basic service area of ​​another BSS).

[0072] The following uses the scenarios shown in Figures 2a and 2b as examples to further explain OBSS. Taking Figure 2a as an example, Figure 2a is an example diagram showing that a BSS overlaps with another BSS to form an OBSS. In Figure 2a, AP 1, STA 11, and STA 12 belong to BSS 1, and STA 11 and STA 12 are both associated with AP 1; AP 2, STA 21, and STA 22 belong to BSS 2, and STA 21 and STA 22 are both associated with AP 2. In Figure 2a, the basic service area of ​​BSS 1 overlaps with the basic service area of ​​BSS 2 (i.e., the "overlapping area" in Figure 2a). In this case, BSS 1 can be called the OBSS of BSS 2, and BSS 2 can also be called the OBSS of BSS 1. Taking Figure 2b as an example, Figure 2b is an example diagram showing that a BSS contains another BSS to form an OBSS. In Figure 2b , AP 1, STA 11, and STA 12 belong to BSS 1, and STA 11 and STA 12 are both associated with AP 1. AP 2, STA 21, and STA 22 belong to BSS 2, and STA 21 and STA 22 are both associated with AP 2. In Figure 2b , the basic service area of ​​BSS 1 overlaps with the basic service area of ​​BSS 2 (i.e., "BSS 2, also an overlapping area" in Figure 2b ). In this case, BSS 1 can be called the OBSS of BSS 2, and BSS 2 can also be called the OBSS of BSS 1.

[0073] It should be noted that FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are introduced using the example of two BSSs being OBSSs to each other. In actual applications, if two or more BSSs overlap (partially or completely), the two or more BSSs may also be OBSSs to each other.

[0074] Enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA)

[0075] EDCA is a distributed channel access mechanism for Wi-Fi that enables fair competition and priority scheduling among different types of applications. EDCA enhances the distributed coordination function (DCF). It primarily uses different interframe spacings (i.e., arbitrary interframe spacing (AIFS[AC])) and contention backoff windows (CW[AC]) for channel contention based on different access categories (ACs). DCF, on the other hand, uses a unified DCF interframe spacing (DIFS) and contention backoff window. The following describes the DCF-based AP access process and the DCF backoff process, respectively, using Figures 3 and 4.

[0076] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the process for a STA to access an AP based on the DCF mechanism. As shown in Figure 3, when the STA detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle using the clear channel assessment (CCA) mechanism, it needs to continue to detect whether the channel remains idle within the distributed coordination function interframe space (DIFS). If the current random backoff counter value is 0, the STA obtains channel access rights and can immediately transmit and reset the random backoff counter value. Otherwise, the STA needs to continue to detect whether the channel remains idle. If the channel remains idle during each detection slot, the random backoff counter value of the station is decremented by 1 until the random backoff counter value of the station reaches 0. At this time, the station obtains channel access rights and can immediately transmit and reset the random backoff counter value. Taking Figure 3 as an example, if the station detects that the channel is busy within the first DIFS, the station postpones channel access; if the station detects that the channel is idle in the second DIFS, but the current random backoff counter value of the station is not 0, the station needs to continue to detect whether the channel remains idle. If the channel remains idle during each detection time slot, the random backoff counter value of the station is reduced by 1 until the random backoff counter value of the station becomes 0. Then the station obtains channel access and can immediately transmit and reset the random backoff counter value.

[0077] In some embodiments, if a station detects that another station has gained access to the channel before the station, the station's random backoff counter value may remain unchanged. This way, the next time the station detects that the channel has transitioned from busy to idle during CCA, the station's random backoff counter value remains at the previous value.

[0078] Figure 4 illustrates the backoff process for stations under the DCF mechanism. As shown in Figure 4, when station A occupies a channel for transmission, stations B, C, and D detect that the channel is busy. Stations B, C, and D then postpone channel access. Subsequently, if stations B, C, and D detect that the channel is idle, they can compete for channel access. If station C wins, stations B and D will execute the backoff process to postpone channel access. Similarly, stations can compete for channel access under the DCF mechanism, or, if another station wins, execute the backoff process to avoid transmission conflicts.

[0079] Request to send / Allow to send

[0080] In a BSS, a STA can communicate with the AP, but the STA may not be able to detect other STAs or be detected by other STAs, resulting in a high probability of transmission conflicts. As a possible implementation method, the STA can avoid transmission conflicts through a listening mechanism. For example, when a listening STA detects the transmission of other STAs, it can set the network allocation vector (NAV) timer for the transmission and listen to the radio frequency channel to avoid conflicts with the transmission of other STAs. In some embodiments, the STA setting the NAV timer can be regarded as performing virtual carrier sense (virtual CS). In some embodiments, the STA listening to the radio frequency channel can be regarded as performing physical carrier sense (physical CS).

[0081] As a possible implementation, the request-to-send (RTS) / clear-to-send (CTS) mechanism can avoid transmission conflicts by implementing NAV distribution. The RTS / CTS mechanism can reserve the transmission medium for a data frame before transmission begins by implementing NAV distribution. In some embodiments, the transmission medium can also be understood or replaced by a channel or medium. The RTS / CTS mechanism is described in detail below.

[0082] In some embodiments, each time a STA using the RTS / CTS mechanism prepares to send a frame, it must perform an RTS / CTS exchange before normal data transmission. For example, before transmitting a data frame, the transmitter first sends an RTS frame. All listening STAs reset their NAV timers based on the duration of the RTS frame and wait for the CTS frame, data frame, and acknowledgment frame to complete transmission. The receiver then sends a CTS frame, also used for NAV distribution. All listening STAs reset their NAV timers based on the duration of the CTS frame and wait for the data frame and acknowledgment frame to complete transmission.

[0083] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the duration of the RTS frame and / or CTS frame. For example, the duration of the RTS frame can be expressed as the time required to complete the interaction of the CTS frame, data frame, and confirmation frame, plus three short interframe spaces (SIFS). The duration of the CTS frame can be expressed as the time required to complete the interaction of the data frame and confirmation frame, plus two SIFS.

[0084] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the unit of the duration of the RTS frame and / or CTS frame. For example, the duration of the RTS frame and / or CTS frame can be in microseconds, or in milliseconds, time slots, or other time units.

[0085] In some embodiments, even if a STA does not hear an RTS frame, it should still be able to hear a CTS frame. Regardless of which frame (RTS or CTS) a STA hears, it can set the NAV timer based on the duration of the frame it hears. This allows all STAs in the BSS to set the NAV timer and wait for the entire data transmission to complete. This provides a protection mechanism to avoid transmission conflicts.

[0086] However, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to using the RTS / CTS mechanism to avoid transmission conflicts. In some embodiments, the CTS-to-self mechanism can also be used to avoid transmission conflicts. For example, when different technologies exist in the same BSS, the CTS-to-self mechanism can be used to avoid transmission conflicts. Compared with the RTS / CTS mechanism, the advantage of using the CTS-to-self mechanism as a protection mechanism to avoid transmission conflicts is that fewer frames are sent, which also improves throughput.

[0087] As an implementation method, when a STA or AP using CTS-to-self transmission prepares to transmit data, it can perform NAV distribution by sending a CTS frame (the recipient address of the CTS frame is the address that sent the CTS frame, so the CTS frame is called a CTS-to-self frame). In this case, the CTS frame (CTS-to-self frame) is used to notify other STAs that they need to wait for the data frame and acknowledgment frame to be transmitted. In this way, all STAs that hear the CTS frame (CTS-to-self frame) will set the NAV timer according to the value provided in the CTS frame.

[0088] In some embodiments, regardless of whether the RTS / CTS mechanism or the CTS-to-self mechanism is used to avoid transmission conflicts, when the RTS / CTS interaction or the CTS-to-self frame is the first frame transmitted, the duration field in the RTS frame, the CTS frame or the CTS-to-self frame can be used to indicate the total duration of the transmission, that is, the duration field can be used to set the NAV timer to protect the channel.

[0089] NAV Updates

[0090] In some embodiments, a STA can maintain two NAVs. The following uses the 802.11ax standard as an example to introduce the two NAVs maintained by a STA.

[0091] As an example, a non-AP high efficiency STA (non-AP HE STA) can maintain two NAVs. As another example, a high efficiency AP (HE AP) can maintain two NAVs.

[0092] In some embodiments, the two NAVs maintained by a STA may be respectively referred to as an intra-BSS NAV (intra-BSS NAV) and a basic NAV (basic NAV).

[0093] In some embodiments, when a STA receives a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the STA may update its NAV value based on the PPDU. For example, the NAV within a BSS may be updated via an intra-BSS PPDU. Alternatively, the basic NAV may be updated via an inter-BSS PPDU or a PPDU that cannot be classified as intra-BSS or inter-BSS.

[0094] For a HE STA (e.g., a non-AP HE STA or HE AP) that maintains two NAVs, if both NAV timer values ​​are 0, the virtual carrier sense indication may be used to indicate that the transmission medium is idle; if at least one of the two NAV timer values ​​is non-zero, the virtual carrier sense indication may be used to indicate that the transmission medium is busy.

[0095] Spatial multiplexing mechanism based on OBSS message detection

[0096] In some embodiments, a STA may use a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) method for channel access. When using CSMA / CA for channel access, a STA may use a CCA mechanism to detect whether the channel is idle (i.e., perform physical carrier sensing).

[0097] Typically, CCA may include two thresholds, one is a signal detection (SD) threshold, and the other is an energy detection (ED) threshold. The signal detection threshold of CCA may indicate the minimum modulation and coding rate sensitivity required when using the lowest order modulation and coding. In some embodiments, the signal detection threshold of CCA may be used to detect whether there is a preamble of a PPDU (e.g., an 802.11 PPDU) in the channel. In some embodiments, the signal detection threshold of CCA may be -82 decibel milliwatts (dBm). The CCA energy detection threshold may be used to detect whether there is interference in the channel, that is, whether there are signals from other heterogeneous networks (e.g., Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens) in the channel. In some embodiments, the energy detection threshold of CCA may be higher than the signal detection threshold of CCA, for example, 20 dBm higher than the signal detection threshold of CCA. Taking the signal detection threshold of CCA as -82 dBm as an example, the energy detection threshold of CCA may be -62 dBm.

[0098] As an implementation manner, the STA may determine whether the channel is busy by comparing a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a received signal with a signal detection threshold of a CCA and an energy detection threshold of a CCA.

[0099] Under the traditional EDCA contention mechanism, when an AP or STA detects a transmission signal (e.g., the preamble of a PPDU) from another AP or STA (regardless of whether it belongs to the same BSS) on the current operating channel, it postpones transmission until the channel is idle. In an environment with OBSS, using the EDCA mechanism for transmission means that only devices (APs and / or STAs) in one BSS can transmit to each other within a certain period of time (e.g., a transmission opportunity), resulting in low transmission efficiency.

[0100] To address these issues, IEEE 803.11ax introduces the OBSS packet detect-based spatial reuse (OBSS PD-based SR) mechanism. This mechanism addresses co-channel OBSS interference by identifying non-associated BSS packets and adjusting its own transmit power. This achieves spatial reuse, improving overall channel throughput and transmission efficiency.

[0101] As an implementation method, the IEEE 802.11ax protocol adds BSS color information to the HE-SIG-A field of the PPDU preamble to assist STAs (such as HE STAs) in identifying the BSS information of the received PPDU. This embodiment of the application does not limit the value range of BSS color. For example, the value range of BSS color can be 1 to 63.

[0102] In some embodiments, if the BSS color indicated in the PPDU received by the STA is the same as the BSS color of the associated AP, then for the STA, the PPDU is an intra-BSS PPDU; otherwise, the PPDU is an inter-BSS PPDU.

[0103] In some embodiments, if the BSS color is not indicated in the PPDU received by the STA, or the STA cannot determine the BSS color indicated in the received PPDU, then for the STA, the PPDU is an inter-BSS PPDU.

[0104] In some embodiments, when the RSSI value of the inter-BSS PPDU received by the STA is lower than the current value based on OBSS message detection (OBSS_PD), the STA can ignore the interference of the PPDU on its own transmission and adjust its own transmission power to an appropriate value before transmission.

[0105] It should be noted that the value of OBSS_PD may be determined based on the signal detection threshold and energy detection threshold of CCA. For example, the maximum value of OBSS_PD may be the energy detection threshold of CCA, and the minimum value of OBSS_PD may be the signal detection threshold of CCA.

[0106] Figure 5 shows an example of a STA adjusting OBSS_PD and transmit power. As shown in Figure 5, the OBSS_PD value can vary between a maximum OBSS_PD value (typically -62dBm) and a minimum OBSS_PD value (typically -82dBm). The STA can adaptively adjust the OBSS_PD value within the range between the maximum and minimum OBSS_PD values ​​and adjust its transmit power to an appropriate value for transmission. For example, the STA can adaptively adjust the OBSS_PD value within the range between the maximum and minimum OBSS_PD values, adjust its transmit power within the transmit power reference range, and then transmit based on the adjusted OBSS_PD value and transmit power.

[0107] Parameterized spatial reuse mechanism

[0108] In some embodiments, related technologies (such as IEEE 802.11ax) introduce a parameterized spatial multiplexing mechanism to improve transmission efficiency.

[0109] The parameterized spatial reuse mechanism is introduced below in conjunction with Figure 6. Referring to Figure 6, in the parameterized spatial reuse mechanism, after the AP obtains the transmission opportunity, the STA can trigger the OBSS through a trigger frame to also transmit when the AP performs uplink reception, that is, the STA can transmit simultaneously with the AP through a trigger frame. For example, when certain conditions aimed at avoiding interference with the receiver receiving the PPDU being transmitted are met, the STA can initiate spatial reuse (SR) transmission in a parameterized spatial reuse (PSR) opportunity during the ongoing PPDU. The OBSS STA that recognizes the PSR opportunity should not transmit a parameterized spatial reuse transmission PPDU (PSRT PPDU) that exceeds the PPDU duration of the triggered high-efficiency PPDU (HE trigger-based PPDU, HE TB PPDU) triggered by the trigger frame of the parameterized spatial reuse reception PPDU (PSRR PPDU).

[0110] Among them, a PSRR PPDU may refer to a PPDU containing a trigger frame, the value of which is neither PSR_DISALLOW nor PSR_AND_NON_SRG_OBSS_PD_PROHIBITED in the uplink spatial multiplexing subfield (UL Spatial Reuse subfield) of the common information field (Common Info field). A PSRT PPDU may refer to a PPDU transmitted by a HE STA in a PSR opportunity when the PSR conditions for PSR-based spatial multiplexing operation are met and the value of the SR PPDU subfield in the CAS control field is 1.

[0111] In some embodiments, to ensure that the transmission of OBSS devices utilizing parameterized spatial multiplexing opportunities does not affect the AP's own uplink reception, the trigger frame carried by the PSRR PPDU may include a PSR field to facilitate interference calculation by the OBSS device. In some embodiments, the PSR field may include one or more of the following information: the maximum interference power that the AP itself can receive without affecting its uplink reception, the AP's own transmit power,

[0112] In some embodiments, after receiving the above-mentioned PSRR PPDU, the OBSS device can measure the corresponding RSSI and determine whether it can access the transmission medium (or channel, medium, etc.) and what transmission power to use for transmission based on the information provided by the PSR field contained in the trigger frame carried in the PSRR PPDU.

[0113] Coordinated spatial multiplexing technology

[0114] In the OBSS PD-based SR and parameterized spatial reuse technologies mentioned above, both technologies require that devices that utilize spatial reuse opportunities must reduce their transmit power to limit the interference generated, and the transmitting device that utilizes spatial reuse opportunities only adjusts based on the interference it receives, without considering the interference received by its opposite-end receiving device, because the transmitting device does not know and cannot control the interference received by the opposite-end device. Therefore, in dense deployment scenarios, or scenarios that cannot tolerate transmission failures or excessive channel access waiting time (for example, there is delay-sensitive data traffic that needs to be transmitted), both of the above technologies face challenges. Based on this, coordinated spatial reuse (C-SR) technology was proposed to optimize the above two technologies. C-SR technology can obtain more and more accurate OBSS interference information to coordinate more closely with multiple APs to improve transmission efficiency.

[0115] In some embodiments, when using C-SR technology for transmission, the C-SR coordination phase may include two coordination phases: a multi-AP coordinated measurement phase and a multi-AP coordinated transmission phase. The two coordination phases included in the C-SR technology are described below with reference to Figures 7 to 9.

[0116] Multiple APs can obtain OBSS interference information measured by each STA in each BSS through a coordinated measurement phase. Figure 7 shows an example process diagram of the multi-AP coordinated measurement phase. As shown in Figure 7, during the coordinated measurement phase, AP 1 and AP 2 can each send indication information to their associated STAs to instruct the STAs to perform OBSS information measurements and receive the OBSS information measured by the STAs. For example, AP 1 can send indication information to STA 1 to instruct STA 1 to perform OBSS information measurements and receive the OBSS information measured by STA 1; AP 2 can send indication information to STA 2 to instruct STA 2 to perform OBSS information measurements and receive the OBSS information measured by STA 2.

[0117] During the multi-AP coordinated transmission phase, each AP can coordinate (or negotiate) with other APs to transmit simultaneously during its own transmission opportunity. Figure 8 illustrates an example of the multi-AP coordinated measurement and transmission process. As shown in Figure 8, after multiple APs obtain OBSS interference information during the coordinated measurement phase, they can coordinate transmissions between the APs based on the obtained OBSS interference information. For example, during AP 1's transmission opportunity, AP 1 can coordinate AP 2 and AP 3 to transmit during AP 1's transmission opportunity. When it comes to AP 2's transmission opportunity, AP 2 can coordinate AP 1 and AP 3 to transmit during AP 2's transmission opportunity, and so on.

[0118] As a possible implementation, coordinated transmission can be performed in a request-response manner. For example, the actively coordinating AP can send a coordination request to the coordinated AP to request the coordinated AP to perform coordinated transmission. Then, after receiving the coordination request, the coordinated AP can send a coordination response to the actively coordinating AP to indicate its participation in this coordinated transmission. Thereafter, the actively coordinating AP can send a coordination trigger frame to the coordinated AP to initiate data transmission. Taking Figure 9 as an example, during AP 1's transmission opportunity, AP 1, as the actively coordinating AP, can send a coordination request to AP 2 and AP 3 and receive coordination responses from AP 2 and AP 3. Afterward, AP 1, AP 2, and AP 3 can initiate data transmission based on the coordination trigger frame sent by AP 1.

[0119] C-TDMA mechanism

[0120] In an environment with OBSSs, when using the EDCA mechanism for transmission, only one BSS device (AP and / or STA) can transmit within a certain period of time (for example, a transmission opportunity), which can delay transmissions in other BSSs. To address this issue, C-TDMA technology has been introduced to improve BSS transmission latency by sharing transmission opportunities between APs. It should be noted that the C-TDMA mechanism essentially schedules channel access with a smaller time granularity (smaller than a single transmission opportunity) between multiple APs without increasing the channel contention load.

[0121] In C-SR technology, OBSS devices may be unable to utilize spatial multiplexing opportunities because their maximum permitted transmit power may not be sufficient to successfully transmit PPDUs to the receiver. The C-TDMA mechanism, however, mitigates this issue by separating transmissions from individual OBSS devices in the time domain. Furthermore, the C-TDMA mechanism can improve transmission latency for OBSS devices. The following describes the C-TDMA mechanism in more detail, with reference to Figure 10.

[0122] After an AP (the sharing AP) obtains a transmission opportunity, it can share a portion of that time with another AP (the shared AP). The shared AP can transmit with its associated STAs during the shared transmission time. After the shared transmission time expires, channel access is returned to the sharing AP. During the sharing AP's transmission opportunity, other APs that do not share a transmission opportunity defer channel access for the duration of the shared transmission time.

[0123] As shown in Figure 10, after AP 2 (as the sharing AP) obtains a transmission opportunity, it can share a portion of the transmission opportunity with AP 1 (as the shared AP). During this time, AP 3 (as the AP that did not share the transmission opportunity, or other AP) needs to postpone channel access. Later, after the shared transmission time expires, AP 1 returns channel access to AP 2. After AP 2 regains channel access control, it can share a portion of the transmission opportunity (different from the portion shared with AP 1) with AP 3 (as the shared AP). In this way, AP 3 can transmit during the time AP 1 shared with AP 3. During the time AP 1 shared with AP 3, AP 1 (as the AP that did not share the transmission opportunity, or other AP) needs to postpone channel access.

[0124] As can be seen from the foregoing description, related technologies have introduced different technologies to improve transmission efficiency, but these technologies all have some problems.

[0125] Taking C-SR technology as an example, C-SR technology requires multiple APs to coordinate before transmission, and the coordinating AP (the AP at its own transmission opportunity) needs to perform relatively complex coordination calculations. Generally speaking, the coordinating AP needs to know the buffering status (i.e., transmission requirements) of other coordinated APs during or before coordination. If multiple APs coordinate once before each transmission, the coordination load will be large. If multiple APs coordinate once and then transmit multiple times, they cannot adjust in time according to the transmission requirements of each coordinated AP, which is not conducive to the transmission of low-latency data (especially unpredictable low-latency data). In addition, when using C-SR technology for transmission, relatively strict PPDU alignment is required, so the time synchronization requirements are relatively high. Moreover, PPDU alignment may require padding. If the amount of data to be transmitted by each coordinated AP varies greatly, more padding will be required, resulting in reduced overall transmission efficiency.

[0126] Taking C-TDMA technology as an example, a sharing AP can only share transmission opportunities with one shared AP at a time. Other APs that haven't received a transmission opportunity must postpone channel access during that shared transmission opportunity, resulting in low channel utilization. As a possible implementation, if a sharing AP can share transmission opportunities with multiple shared APs at a time, the sharing APs must perform complex coordination calculations. For example, the varying amounts of data to be transmitted by each shared AP can make it difficult to determine the transmission duration shared with each shared AP. Furthermore, if a sharing AP shares transmission opportunities with multiple shared APs at a time, the sharing APs must also handle conflicts caused by early returns from multiple shared APs.

[0127] To address the above-mentioned problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and a communication device to ensure that APs that have not shared transmission opportunities can also transmit within the transmission opportunities shared by the sharing AP to the shared AP, which is beneficial to ensuring that multiple APs transmit simultaneously without interference or with less interference, thereby helping to improve channel utilization.

[0128] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, an exemplary introduction to the application scenarios to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable is first given.

[0129] In some embodiments, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to multi-AP scenarios, for example, scenarios with three or more APs. In other words, in some embodiments, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to densely deployed multi-AP scenarios.

[0130] In some embodiments, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to scenarios with multiple BSSs, for example, scenarios with three or more BSSs. In some embodiments, when the embodiments of the present application are applied to scenarios with multiple BSSs, some or all of the multiple BSSs may overlap. That is, in some embodiments, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to scenarios with OBSSs.

[0131] In some embodiments, in the application scenarios of the embodiments of the present application, some APs, or some APs and STAs, or some STAs can be hidden nodes to each other, that is, some APs, or some APs and STAs, or some STAs cannot directly receive PPDUs or frames sent by each other.

[0132] In some embodiments, in the application scenarios of embodiments of the present application, some APs, some APs and STAs, or some STAs may be mutually exposed nodes. That is, some APs, some APs and STAs, or some STAs may directly receive PPDUs or frames sent by each other. In some embodiments, transmissions between exposed nodes may interfere with each other, resulting in frequent data retransmissions between nodes, thereby reducing channel utilization (or, in other words, reducing spectrum efficiency).

[0133] For example, FIG11 illustrates an application scenario applicable to embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG11 , this application scenario may include four APs, identified as AP 1, AP 2, AP 3, and AP 4. In this example, AP 1, AP 3, and AP 4 are mutually hidden nodes, meaning that AP 1, AP 3, and AP 4 cannot receive PPDUs sent by each other. Similarly, in this example, STA 3B and AP 1 are mutually hidden nodes, STA 4B and AP 1 are mutually hidden nodes, and so on. In this example, AP 2 is an exposed node relative to AP 1, AP 3, or AP 4. This means that when AP 2 transmits to its associated stations, it may interfere with transmissions from AP 1, AP 3, or AP 4 to their respective associated stations. Alternatively, when AP 1, AP 3, or AP 4 transmits to their respective associated stations, it may interfere with transmissions from AP 2 to its associated stations. This interference may result in frequent retransmissions, reducing channel utilization.

[0134] The following describes the method embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0135] Figure 12 is a schematic flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method illustrated in Figure 12 is described from the perspective of interaction between a first AP and a second AP. The first AP and the second AP can be, for example, the two APs in the scenario illustrated in Figure 11 . For example, the first AP can be AP 3 or AP 4, and the second AP can be AP 2. For ease of understanding, the first AP and the second AP are first described below.

[0136] The second AP can proactively share its transmission opportunities. In other words, the second AP can act as a sharing AP. For example, the second AP can share its transmission opportunities with the shared AP.

[0137] In some embodiments, the second AP may share a portion of the transmission duration of its own transmission opportunity with the shared AP. However, the present application is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the second AP may also share its entire transmission opportunity with the shared AP.

[0138] In some embodiments, the second AP can share a transmission opportunity with only one shared AP at a time. For example, after obtaining a transmission opportunity, the second AP can share the transmission opportunity with a third AP (a shared AP). After the third AP completes the transmission and returns control of the transmission opportunity to the second AP, the second AP can again share the transmission opportunity with a fourth AP (another shared AP).

[0139] That is to say, although in the above example, the second AP can share the transmission opportunity with different shared APs (the third AP and the fourth AP), the transmission opportunity can only be shared with one shared AP at a time, for example, it is only shared with the third AP for the first time and only shared with the fourth AP for the second time, and the transmission opportunity cannot be shared with the third AP and the fourth AP at the same time.

[0140] The first AP is an AP that does not share a transmission opportunity with the second AP, but the first AP can still transmit within the transmission opportunity shared by the second AP. For example, after the second AP shares a transmission opportunity with a third AP (but not with the first AP), the first AP can transmit within the transmission opportunity shared by the second AP with the third AP.

[0141] In some embodiments, the first AP and the second AP may share a channel (or transmission medium, media, etc.), or in other words, the first AP and the second AP may transmit on the same channel. In this case, the first AP may transmit on the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP during the transmission opportunities shared by the second AP.

[0142] In some embodiments, the first AP may be an AP adjacent to the second AP, or in other words, the first AP may be an AP near the second AP. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the first AP can transmit on the same channel as the second AP and the first AP can utilize the second AP's transmission opportunity to transmit.

[0143] In some embodiments, the first AP may be a hidden node of the third AP, or in other words, the first AP is a hidden node relative to the third AP. That is, the first AP cannot receive PPDUs sent by the third AP, or the first AP cannot receive frames sent by the third AP.

[0144] The method shown in FIG12 may include step S1210 and step S1220 , which are described below.

[0145] In step S1210 , the first AP receives a first frame sent by the second AP.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first frame is used by the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0147] In some embodiments, the third AP may be any shared AP corresponding to the second AP.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first frame may be used for the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with a third AP, which is a shared AP. That is, the first frame is used to instruct the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity only with the third AP, and not with the first AP.

[0149] In some embodiments, the first frame is sent by the second AP to one or more APs. For example, the first frame may be broadcast by the second AP. In this way, one or more APs (e.g., the third AP, the first AP, etc.) may receive the first frame sent by the second AP.

[0150] In step S1220 , the first AP transmits in a first transmission opportunity.

[0151] In some embodiments, after receiving the first frame, the first AP may determine relevant information about the first transmission opportunity based on information contained in the first frame, and transmit within the first transmission opportunity based on the relevant information about the first transmission opportunity. The information contained in the first frame will be described in detail later and is not described in detail here.

[0152] In the embodiment of the present application, after the second AP shares a transmission opportunity with the third AP, the first AP can also transmit within the shared transmission opportunity. In other words, even if the second AP does not share a transmission opportunity with the first AP, the first AP can still transmit within the transmission opportunity shared by the second AP. This helps ensure that multiple APs can transmit simultaneously with no or minimal interference, thereby facilitating one or more of the following: improving channel utilization, increasing spectrum efficiency, increasing system throughput, and reducing transmission latency.

[0153] Compared with the C-TDMA mechanism, the embodiment of the present application enables multiple APs with no interference or little interference to transmit simultaneously, thereby improving channel utilization.

[0154] Compared to the C-SR mechanism, the embodiments of the present application also achieve spatial multiplexing, improve system throughput, and do not require the coordinating AP to coordinate with multiple coordinated APs before each transmission. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present application do not require the coordinating AP to perform relatively complex coordination calculations. Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present application, each AP can achieve more timely scheduling based on its own cache status, which is more conducive to the transmission of low-latency data (especially unpredictable low-latency data).

[0155] In some embodiments, the C-SR mechanism can be understood as a mechanism that uses centralized scheduling to achieve spatial multiplexing, that is, the coordinated AP needs to centrally coordinate the transmission between multiple APs. Compared with the C-SR mechanism, the embodiment of the present application can be understood as a distributed autonomous scheduling method. In the embodiment of the present application, each AP has a higher degree of autonomy and can better handle the transmission requirements of low-latency data. In addition, the C-SR mechanism uses a centralized scheduling method that requires support for more EDCA parameters to achieve fairness in the transmission of each device, while the embodiment of the present application uses a distributed scheduling method that does not affect the fairness of the transmission of each device.

[0156] In some embodiments, the transmission of the first AP within the first transmission opportunity is conditionally restricted. In other words, in the first transmission opportunity, the first AP and the station associated with itself (such as the first station) can perform conditionally restricted transmission. This is because the first transmission opportunity is shared by the second AP to the third AP, and when the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity, the transmission of the first AP and the related transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP should not affect each other. For example, the transmission of the first AP and the related transmissions of the third AP should not affect each other, and / or, the transmission of the first AP and the related transmissions of the second AP should not affect each other. In other words, the transmission between the first AP and its associated station and the transmission between the second AP and its associated station should not affect each other, and the transmission between the first AP and its associated station and the transmission between the third AP and its associated station should not affect each other.

[0157] The first AP performs conditional transmission within the first transmission opportunity, which is beneficial for improving channel utilization while ensuring that the transmission of the first AP and the transmission of the third AP do not affect each other.

[0158] It should be noted that the site associated with the AP mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be understood as the site belonging to the AP. For example, the first site associated with the first AP can be understood as the first site belonging to the first AP. Or, the site associated with the second AP can be understood as the site belonging to the second AP, and so on. In some embodiments, the site associated with the AP can also be understood as a site belonging to the same BSS as the AP. For example, the first AP and the first site belong to the same BSS, then the first site can be understood as the site associated with the first AP. In some embodiments, the site associated with the AP can also be understood as the site that can access the network through the AP. For example, the first site can access the network through the first AP, then the first site can be understood as the site associated with the first AP.

[0159] The present application does not limit the type of sites associated with an AP. In some embodiments, the sites associated with an AP may include HE sites. In some embodiments, the sites associated with an AP may include extremely high throughput (EHT) sites. In some embodiments, the sites associated with an AP may include HE sites and EHT sites.

[0160] In some embodiments, the station associated with an AP mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as or replaced by a station associated with the AP. For example, the first station associated with the first AP may be replaced by the first station associated with the first AP.

[0161] The following describes in detail the conditionally restricted transmission performed by the first AP within the first transmission opportunity.

[0162] In some embodiments, when the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity, it is necessary to consider one or more of the following issues: whether the stations associated with the third AP will be interfered with by the transmission of the first AP; whether the stations associated with the first AP will be interfered with by the transmission of the third AP; after the third AP completes the transmission, whether the second AP can promptly regain control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0163] Whether the second AP can promptly regain control of the first transmission opportunity after the third AP completes transmission can be understood as whether the second AP can promptly control the first transmission opportunity after the third AP completes transmission. In some embodiments, the second AP's control over the first transmission opportunity may be affected by one or more of the following factors: After the third AP completes transmission, when sending a transmission completion indication frame to the second AP, the transmission completion indication frame is interfered with by the first AP's transmission, resulting in the second AP being unable to receive the transmission completion indication frame; or the first AP's transmission causes the channel to be busy, preventing the second AP from notifying the first AP of the end of transmission.

[0164] As an example, after completing transmission, the third AP sends a contention free-end (CF-End) indication frame to the second AP to indicate that the third AP has completed transmission. However, due to interference from the first AP's transmission, the CF-End indication frame sent by the third AP cannot be received by the second AP, resulting in the second AP being unable to control the first transmission opportunity in a timely manner.

[0165] As another example, after completing transmission, the third AP sends a CF-End indication frame to the second AP to indicate the completion of transmission. Although the second AP receives the CF-End indication frame normally, the first AP is transmitting within the first transmission opportunity, resulting in a busy channel. As a result, the second AP cannot notify the first AP of the end of transmission, making it unable to control the first transmission opportunity in a timely manner.

[0166] In some embodiments, the conditional transmission performed by the first AP within the first transmission opportunity can be understood as the first AP being able to perform transmission within the first transmission opportunity when a first condition is met.

[0167] In an embodiment of the present application, the first condition may be associated with one or more factors. For example, the first condition may be associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP and the transmission of the second AP affect each other, whether the transmission of the first AP and the transmission of the third AP affect each other, and whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's control over the first transmission opportunity (i.e., whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's ability to regain control of the first transmission opportunity).

[0168] That is, the first condition can be associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP, whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP, whether the transmission of the second AP affects the transmission of the first AP, whether the transmission of the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP, and whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0169] In some embodiments, when the first condition is met, the first AP is able to transmit within the first transmission opportunity. It can be understood that when the transmission of the first AP and the transmission of the second AP do not affect each other, and / or the transmission of the first AP and the transmission of the third AP do not affect each other, and / or the transmission of the first AP does not affect the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity, the first AP can transmit within the first transmission opportunity.

[0170] Exemplarily, the first condition may include one or more of the following: the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the second AP (for example, the transmission between the second AP and its associated site), the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the third AP, the transmission between the second AP and its associated site does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site, the transmission between the third AP and its associated site does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site, and the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the second AP's control over the first transmission opportunity (that is, the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the second AP's regaining control of the first transmission opportunity).

[0171] The first site is a site associated with the first AP. It should be noted that the first site can be any site associated with the first AP. That is, the first AP may be associated with one or more sites, and the first site can be any one of the one or more sites associated with the first AP. This is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0172] In some embodiments, the conditional transmission performed by the first AP within the first transmission opportunity can be understood as the first AP being able to transmit within the first transmission opportunity only if the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP. That is, in some embodiments, before the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity, it must first determine whether the second AP has successfully shared the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0173] In some embodiments, if the second AP does not successfully share the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, the first AP cannot transmit within the first transmission opportunity.

[0174] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation method for determining whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully. As one possible implementation method, the first AP can determine whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully by detecting whether the channel is idle. As another possible implementation method, the second AP and / or the third AP can indicate to the first AP whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully.

[0175] The following describes in detail how the first AP determines whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully by detecting whether the channel is idle.

[0176] Exemplarily, whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully can be determined based on one or more of the following: the first AP detects whether the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or the third AP) is idle within a first time period; after the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it detects whether the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or the third AP) is idle within the first time period.

[0177] As an example, if the first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or the third AP) is idle for a first period of time, the first AP may determine that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0178] As another example, if the first AP detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or third AP) is idle for a first period of time after receiving the first frame for a period of time, the first AP can determine that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0179] As yet another example, if the first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or third AP) is busy for a first period of time, the first AP may determine that the second AP has not successfully shared the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0180] As another example, if the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time and detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or third AP) is busy for a first period of time, the first AP can determine that the second AP has not successfully shared the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first duration may be used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first duration may be related to one or more of the following: a duration of a CTS frame, a short interframe interval, a duration of a time slot, etc.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first duration can be obtained by summing the duration of a CTS frame, the short interframe interval, and the duration of a time slot.

[0184] As an example, the first duration can be equal to the sum of the duration of the CTS frame, the short interframe space, and the duration of the two time slots. In other words, the first duration can be obtained by the following formula (1). first =CTSxTime+sSIFSTime+2*aSlotTime (Formula 1)

[0185] Among them, T first Indicates the first duration, CTSxTime indicates the duration of the CTS frame, aSIFSTime indicates the short interframe space, and sSlotTime indicates the duration of a time slot.

[0186] However, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. As another example, the above-mentioned first duration can also be equal to other values ​​such as the duration of the CTS frame, the sum of the short inter-frame interval and the duration of a time slot.

[0187] In some embodiments, the duration of the short interframe interval and one time slot may be a predefined duration, for example, a duration predefined by a protocol.

[0188] In some embodiments, the duration of the CTS frame may be used to indicate the duration of time taken by the third AP to send the CTS frame to the second AP. For example, the duration of the CTS frame may be used to indicate the estimated duration of time it takes for the third AP to transmit a PPDU carrying the CTS frame at the lowest supported transmission rate or modulation and coding scheme.

[0189] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the time at which the first AP begins detecting whether the channel is idle within the first duration. In some embodiments, after receiving the first frame, the first AP may immediately begin detecting whether the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or the third AP) is idle within the first duration. In some embodiments, some time after receiving the first frame, the first AP may begin detecting whether the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP (or the third AP) is idle within the first duration.

[0190] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the duration of the above-mentioned period of time, and the period of time can be arbitrarily set according to actual needs. For example, the determination of the duration of the period of time can be related to the short interframe interval. For example, the duration of the period of time can be equal to one short interframe interval. Alternatively, the duration of the period of time can be equal to two short interframe intervals, etc.

[0191] It should be understood that the reason why the first AP can determine whether the first transmission opportunity is shared successfully by detecting whether the channel is idle is because, if the first AP detects that the channel has been idle within the first time period (because the first AP is a hidden node relative to the third AP and cannot receive the CTS frame sent by the third AP), it means that the first transmission opportunity has been successfully shared with the third AP. Otherwise, after the second AP fails to share, it should perform a new downlink transmission, causing the channel to be busy.

[0192] In some embodiments, before the first AP transmits in the first transmission opportunity, the first AP needs to compete for the right to use the first transmission opportunity. As an implementation, before the first AP transmits in the first transmission opportunity, the first AP may compete for the second transmission opportunity.

[0193] In some embodiments, the second transmission opportunity is within the first transmission opportunity. In some embodiments, the transmission duration of the second transmission opportunity is not greater than the transmission duration of the first transmission opportunity, that is, the transmission duration of the second transmission opportunity is less than or equal to the transmission duration of the first transmission opportunity.

[0194] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the implementation manner of the first AP competing for the second transmission opportunity. Several implementation manners of the first AP competing for the second transmission opportunity are exemplarily introduced below.

[0195] Implementation Method 1: The first AP can use the EDCA mechanism to compete for the second transmission opportunity. As an implementation method, within the first transmission opportunity, the first AP can use control frames (e.g., RTS frames, first frames, etc.) to compete for the second transmission opportunity. In this case, stations associated with the first AP that interfere with the transmission of the third AP and / or the second AP will not respond to the CTS message because the NAV timer (e.g., the basic NAV timer) indicates that the virtual transmission medium is busy. However, other stations associated with the first AP can respond to the CTS message and thus compete for the second transmission opportunity.

[0196] Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 3, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. Among the stations associated with the first AP, the station that interferes with the transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP is STA 3A. During the first transmission opportunity, AP 3 can use control frames to compete for the second transmission opportunity. In this case, STA 3A will not respond to the CTS because the NAV timer indicates that the virtual transmission medium is busy. However, STA 3B can respond to the CTS.

[0197] Implementation method 2: The first AP can use the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism to compete for the second transmission opportunity. As an implementation method, within the first transmission opportunity, the first AP can use control frames (for example, RTS frames, first frames, etc.) to compete for the second transmission opportunity. In this case, the stations associated with the first AP that interfere with the transmission of the third AP and / or the second AP can use the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism to send a CTS response based on the interference they are experiencing. At the same time, other stations associated with the first AP can also respond to the CTS, thereby competing for the second transmission opportunity.

[0198] Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 3, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. Among the stations associated with the first AP, the station that interferes with the transmission of the third AP and / or the second AP is STA 3A. During the first transmission opportunity, AP 3 can use control frames to compete for the second transmission opportunity. In this case, STA 3A can use the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism to send a CTS response based on the interference it is experiencing. STA 3B can also respond to the CTS.

[0199] Continuing with the application scenario shown in Figure 11, assume that the first AP is AP 4, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. The station associated with the third AP that interferes with the first AP's transmission is STA 1A. During the first transmission opportunity, AP 4 can use the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism to compete for the second transmission opportunity using control frames based on the interference it experiences.

[0200] Implementation 3: The first AP may compete for the second transmission opportunity after excluding any station from among the one or more stations associated with the first AP that conflicts with the transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP. As an implementation, during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP may exclude any station from among its associated stations that conflicts with the transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP when competing for the second transmission opportunity using a control frame (e.g., an RTS frame, a first frame, etc.). In this case, if the first AP successfully competes for the second transmission opportunity, during the second transmission opportunity, the first AP transmits only with stations other than the conflicting station.

[0201] In some embodiments, implementation manner 3 may be understood as a competition manner in which the first AP actively excludes (actively filters) stations that conflict with the transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP.

[0202] Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 3, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. Among the stations associated with the first AP, the station that interferes with the transmissions of the third AP and / or the second AP is STA 3A. During the first transmission opportunity, AP 3 excludes STA 3A when competing for the second transmission opportunity using control frames (e.g., RTS frames, first frames, etc.). In this case, if AP 3 successfully competes for the second transmission opportunity, during the second transmission opportunity, AP 3 transmits only with STA 3B and not with STA 3A.

[0203] Implementation 4: When the first AP determines that the third AP and the second station associated with the third AP are not transmitting, the first AP competes for a second transmission opportunity. In some embodiments, the second station may be any one of one or more stations associated with the third AP. The transmission of the first AP may affect the transmission of the second station and the third AP, and / or the transmission of the second station and the third AP may affect the transmission of the first AP.

[0204] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation method for the first AP to determine that the third AP will not transmit to the second station. As an example, the third AP may notify the first AP that the third AP will not transmit to the second station. For example, the third AP may notify the stations with which it is associated that no transmission is to be performed, so that the first AP can determine whether the third AP will transmit to the second station. As another example, the second AP may notify the first AP that the third AP will not transmit to the second station. For example, if the third AP and the first AP are hidden nodes of each other, the third AP may notify the first AP through the second AP that the third AP will not transmit to the second station.

[0205] When the first AP determines that the third AP and the second station are not transmitting, the first AP can use one or more methods to compete for the second transmission opportunity. As one possible implementation, the first AP can use the aforementioned implementation method 1 (i.e., using the EDCA mechanism) to compete for the second transmission opportunity. As another possible implementation, the first AP can use the aforementioned implementation method 2 (i.e., using the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism) to compete for the second transmission opportunity.

[0206] Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 4, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. Among the stations associated with the third AP, the station that interferes with the transmission of the first AP is STA 1A (i.e., the second station is STA 1A). During the first transmission opportunity, if AP 4 is informed that AP 1 and STA 1A will not transmit during the first transmission opportunity, AP 4 can compete for a second competition opportunity, for example, using the EDCA mechanism or the OBSS PD-based SR mechanism.

[0207] In some embodiments, if the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP and a station associated with the third AP (e.g., the second station), the first AP may not compete for the second transmission opportunity. In other words, if the transmission between the first AP and the associated station affects the transmission between the third AP and the associated station, the first AP may not compete for the second transmission opportunity.

[0208] Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assuming that the first AP is AP 4, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1, the first AP's transmission may interfere with the transmission of the third AP and STA 1A. In this case, during the first transmission opportunity, to avoid interference between AP 4's transmission and STA 1A's transmission, AP 4 does not need to compete for the second transmission opportunity.

[0209] In some embodiments, if a station associated with a first AP (e.g., the first station) competes for a first transmission opportunity, the first AP may not respond to the station's competition to prevent these stations from interfering with the transmissions of the second and / or third APs after they acquire the first transmission opportunity. This is because, after these stations acquire the first transmission opportunity, it may be difficult for the second AP to regain control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0210] In some embodiments, the stations competing for the first transmission opportunity (e.g., the first station) may be stations that are hidden nodes relative to the second AP. In this case, after the second AP sends the first frame, these stations will not update their NAV timers, and thus these stations will compete for the first transmission opportunity. Taking the scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assuming that the first AP is AP 3, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1, during the first transmission opportunity, stations associated with AP 3 (e.g., STA 3B) may compete for the first transmission opportunity. In this case, AP 3 may not respond to STA 3B's competition. Still taking the scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assuming that the first AP is AP 4, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1, during the first transmission opportunity, stations associated with AP 4 (e.g., STA 4A and / or STA 4B) may compete for the first transmission opportunity. In this case, AP 4 may not respond to STA 4A and / or STA 4B's competition.

[0211] As mentioned above, the second AP may send a first frame to indicate sharing of the first transmission opportunity with the third AP through the first frame.

[0212] In some embodiments, the first frame can be used to trigger the third AP to return a CTS frame. Therefore, in some embodiments, the first frame can also be referred to as or understood as a trigger frame. For example, the first frame can be an RTS frame or a multi-user request-to-send (MU-RTS) trigger frame.

[0213] In some embodiments, the first frame may include first information, where the first information may be used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP.

[0214] In some embodiments, the first information may be indicated in the user information field corresponding to the third AP. As an example, the first information may be indicated in the allocation duration field of the user information field corresponding to the third AP. Referring to FIG13 , the first information may be indicated in the allocation duration field of the user information field (e.g., user information 1).

[0215] In some embodiments, the first frame may include a duration field, the value of which may be set to the sum of the duration of the first frame, the duration of a SIFS, and the duration of a CTS frame. Referring to FIG13 , the duration field may be included in the medium access control (MAC) frame header of the first frame, and the duration field may occupy, for example, 2 bytes (2 octets).

[0216] In some embodiments, the value of the duration field does not include the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP. This is because if the value of the duration field includes the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, then the stations associated with the third AP (e.g., HE stations and / or EHT stations) will consider the virtual medium to be busy due to the setting of the NAV timer (e.g., the basic NAV timer) and will be unable to perform uplink transmission.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first frame is broadcast by the first AP, or in other words, the first frame is sent by the first AP in a broadcast format so that other APs (such as the first AP) and / or other stations other than the third AP can also receive the first frame. As an implementation, referring to FIG13 , the value of the receiving address (RA) field in the frame header of the first frame can be a broadcast MAC address.

[0218] However, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. For example, in order to allow other APs and / or other stations to receive the first frame, the first frame can be multicast by the first AP, or in other words, the first frame is sent by the first AP in the form of multicast.

[0219] In some embodiments, after receiving the first frame, the first AP may parse the first frame to learn that the second AP is sharing transmission opportunities among multiple APs. In some embodiments, the first AP may parse the first frame to learn that the second AP is sharing the first transmission opportunity with a third AP. For example, the first AP may parse the user information field in the first frame to learn that the first transmission opportunity is shared with the third AP. In some embodiments, the first AP may parse the first frame to learn the transmission duration shared by the second AP with the third AP. For example, the first AP may parse the allocated duration field in the user information field in the first frame to learn the transmission duration shared by the second AP with the third AP.

[0220] In some embodiments, the first frame may include one or more of the following information: second information and third information. The second information may be used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the second information may be used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the transmission opportunity within the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP. The third information may be used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the third information may be used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the transmission opportunity within the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP.

[0221] As an example, the second AP may indicate in the first frame one or more APs that can contend for the first transmission opportunity.

[0222] As another example, the second AP may indicate in the first frame one or more APs that cannot contend for the first transmission opportunity.

[0223] In some embodiments, the second AP may indicate the second information and / or the third information in the user information field of the first frame. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second AP may add a new field in the first frame to indicate the second information and / or the third information.

[0224] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation method of indicating the second information and / or the third information. Several implementation methods are given as examples below.

[0225] As a possible implementation, the second AP can directly indicate the second information in the user information field of the first frame. That is, the user information field in the first frame can be used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity. For example, the user information field included in the first frame can include a user information field corresponding to the third AP and user information fields corresponding to other APs other than the third AP. The user information field corresponding to each other AP in the first frame can indicate an AP that can compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0226] As another possible implementation, the second AP can directly indicate the third information in the user information field of the first frame. That is, the user information field of the first frame can be used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity. For example, the user information field included in the first frame can include a user information field corresponding to the third AP and user information fields corresponding to other APs other than the third AP. The user information field corresponding to each other AP in the first frame can indicate an AP that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0227] As another possible implementation, the second AP may indicate in the user information field of the first frame whether the AP can compete for the first transmission opportunity, that is, the user information field of the first frame may be used to indicate whether one or more APs can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Exemplarily, the user information field included in the first frame may include a user information field corresponding to the third AP and user information fields corresponding to other APs other than the third AP. The user information field corresponding to each other AP in the first frame may be used to indicate whether the AP can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Exemplarily, the user information field corresponding to each other AP in the first frame may include a field (e.g., a transmission permission field) that may be used to indicate whether the AP can compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0228] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the method for indicating an AP. For example, an AP can be indicated by one or more of the following: an associated identifier (AID), a multi-AP set identifier (M-AP Set ID), or a coordinate AP identifier (C-AP ID).

[0229] As an example, the AP can be indicated by an AID. For example, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID to indicate that the AP corresponding to the AID can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID to indicate that the AP corresponding to the AID cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the AID can compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0230] As another example, an AP can be indicated by an AID and M-AP Set ID. For example, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and M-AP Set ID, indicating that the AP corresponding to the AID and M-AP Set ID can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and M-AP Set ID, indicating that the AP corresponding to the AID and M-AP Set ID cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and M-AP Set ID, indicating whether the AP corresponding to the AID and M-AP Set ID can compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0231] As another example, an AP can be indicated by an AID and a C-AP ID. For example, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and a C-AP ID, indicating that the AP corresponding to the AID and the C-AP ID can compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and a C-AP ID, indicating that the AP corresponding to the AID and the C-AP ID cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity. Alternatively, the user information field in the first frame can indicate an AID and a C-AP ID, indicating whether the AP corresponding to the AID and the C-AP ID can compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0232] As described above, in some embodiments, the user information field corresponding to the third AP in the first frame can be used to indicate the first information (i.e., the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP). In some embodiments, in order to prevent the AP from being unable to determine which AP the first transmission opportunity is shared with by the second AP, the first information indicated by the user information field corresponding to the third AP can be different from the first information indicated by the user information fields corresponding to other APs. Taking the example where the first information is indicated by the allocated duration field in the user information field, the value of the allocated duration field in the user information field corresponding to the third AP can be non-zero (for example, it can be the value of the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP), while the value of the allocated duration field in the user information field corresponding to other APs can be 0 to indicate that the first transmission opportunity (or transmission duration) is not shared with the other AP.

[0233] In some embodiments, the first frame may include information indicating a transmission opportunity sharing mode. As an implementation, referring to FIG13 , the first frame may include a transmission opportunity sharing mode field. Different values ​​of this field may be used to indicate different transmission opportunity sharing modes. For example, a value of 3 indicates that the transmission opportunity sharing mode corresponding to the first frame is multi-AP sharing.

[0234] In some embodiments, if the second AP shares the first transmission opportunity with only one third AP, the first frame may include only one user information field. For example, the first frame may include only one of the following user information fields: a HE variant User Info field, an EHT variant User Info field, an ultra high reliability (UHR) variant User Info field, or a special User Info field.

[0235] In some embodiments, if the second AP shares the first transmission opportunity with only one third AP, the first frame may include multiple (e.g., two or more) user information fields. In this case, the user information field corresponding to the third AP may be different from the user information fields corresponding to other APs other than the third AP. For example, the value of the allocated duration field in the user information field corresponding to the third AP is not 0, while the value of the allocated duration field in the user information fields corresponding to other APs is 0.

[0236] In some embodiments, the user information field in the first frame may include an AID field to indicate the AP to which the user information field corresponds. For example, if the second AP shares the first transmission opportunity only with a third AP, the AID field in a user information field included in the first frame may be used to indicate the third AP.

[0237] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the value range of the AID field in the user information field. For example, the value of the AID field can use a value in a predefined range (such as 1943 to 2007), and different AID values ​​can represent different APs.

[0238] In some embodiments, the second AP may assign an AID value to each of all neighboring APs in advance. In some embodiments, the second AP may also inform all neighboring APs of the corresponding relationship between the AID and the MAC address.

[0239] In some embodiments, the user information field in the first frame may include an M-AP Set ID field to indicate an identifier of a multi-AP set to which multiple APs (such as the first AP, the second AP, and the third AP) commonly belong.

[0240] In some embodiments, the master control point of the multi-AP set (such as the second AP, the first AP, etc.) can pre-assign an AID value to each AP in the multi-AP set. In some embodiments, the master control point of the multi-AP set can also inform each AP in the multi-AP set of the corresponding relationship between the AID and the MAC address.

[0241] In some embodiments, the user information field in the first frame may include a C-AP ID field to indicate the identifier of the coordination AP (such as the second AP, the third AP, etc.) shared by the first AP, the second AP, and the third AP, or the identifier of the coordination set to which they belong.

[0242] In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may assign an AID value to each of the coordinated APs in advance. In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may also inform all the coordinated APs of the corresponding relationship between the AID and the MAC address.

[0243] In some embodiments, before using the first transmission opportunity for transmission, the first AP may determine whether to use the first transmission opportunity for transmission based on the interference information. This will be described below with reference to FIG14 .

[0244] Figure 14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. The method shown in Figure 14 may include steps S1410 to S1430.

[0245] In step S1410, the first AP obtains fourth information. The fourth information may be used to indicate information about stations that interfere with transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

[0246] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to indicate information about a station associated with the first AP, which may interfere with the transmission of the third AP, or which may be interfered with by the transmission of the third AP. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fourth information may be used to indicate information about a station associated with the third AP, which may interfere with the transmission of the first AP, or which may be interfered with by the transmission of the first AP.

[0247] As an example, the fourth information can be used to indicate information about a station that may be interfered with by the transmission of the third AP. This station may be, for example, a station associated with the first AP. Taking the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 3, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. AP 1's transmission may interfere with STA 3A, a station associated with AP 3. In this case, the fourth information can be used to indicate information about STA 3A.

[0248] As another example, the fourth information can be used to indicate information about a station that may interfere with the transmission of the first AP. This station may be, for example, a station associated with the third AP. Still using the application scenario shown in Figure 11 as an example, assume that the first AP is AP 4, the second AP is AP 2, and the third AP is AP 1. STA 1A, a station associated with AP 1, may interfere with the transmission of AP 4. In this case, the fourth information can be used to indicate information about STA 1A.

[0249] In some embodiments, the fourth information may include OBSS information of the first AP. In some embodiments, information of stations that interfere with transmissions of the first AP and / or the third AP may be determined based on the OBSS information of the first AP.

[0250] In some embodiments, the fourth information may include information monitored by the first AP (e.g., OBSS information). In some embodiments, the fourth information may include information monitored by a station associated with the first AP. In some embodiments, the fourth information may include information monitored by the first AP and information monitored by a station associated with the first AP.

[0251] Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the fourth information may include one or more of the following: information of other APs monitored by the first AP, information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP, information of other APs monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP, and information of other sites monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP.

[0252] In some embodiments, the information of other sites monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP may include one or more of the following: information of other sites associated with the first AP monitored by the one or more sites, and information of sites associated with other APs other than the first AP monitored by the one or more sites.

[0253] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the information included in the fourth information. Exemplarily, the fourth information may include one or more of the following: AP identification information, AP signal reception quality related information, site identification information, and site signal reception quality related information.

[0254] As an example, the information of other APs monitored by the first AP may include identification information and / or information related to signal reception quality of the other APs monitored by the first AP. As another example, the information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP may include identification information and / or information related to signal reception quality of the other sites monitored by the first AP. As yet another example, the information of other APs monitored by sites associated with the first AP may include identification information and / or information related to signal reception quality of the other APs monitored by sites associated with the first AP. As yet another example, the information of other sites monitored by sites associated with the first AP may include identification information and / or information related to signal reception quality of the other APs monitored by sites associated with the first AP.

[0255] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the identification method of the AP identification information and / or the station identification information. Exemplarily, the AP identification information and / or the station identification information can be identified by one or more of the following: MAC address, AID, non-association identifier.

[0256] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the information related to the signal reception quality of the AP and / or the information related to the signal reception quality of the site is indicated. For example, the information related to the signal reception quality of the AP and / or the information related to the signal reception quality of the site may be indicated by one or more of the following: RSSI, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR).

[0257] In some embodiments, the fourth information may include other information in addition to identification information and / or information related to signal reception quality, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the fourth information may also include information related to the BSS to which the monitored AP or station belongs, such as BSS identification information.

[0258] In some embodiments, the first AP may save the fourth information after obtaining the fourth information. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the first AP saves the fourth information. In some embodiments, the first AP may save one or more of the following information contained in the fourth information: the AID of the monitored AP or station, the MAC address of the monitored AP or station, the identifier of the BSS described by the monitored AP or station, and the RSSI of the monitored AP or station. An example is given below in conjunction with Table 1. The example in Table 1 is introduced based on the application scenario shown in Figure 11, where the first AP is AP 3.

[0259] Table 1

[0260] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the first AP obtains the fourth information. In some embodiments, the first AP obtaining the fourth information may mean that the first AP obtains the fourth information by monitoring other APs or stations associated with other APs. In some embodiments, the first AP obtaining the fourth information may mean that the first AP obtains the fourth information by requesting a station associated with the first AP (e.g., the first station). The process by which the first AP requests a station associated with the first AP to obtain the fourth information will be described in detail later and is not described in detail here.

[0261] In step S1420, the first AP receives a first frame sent by the second AP. The first frame may be used to indicate a first transmission opportunity shared by the second AP with the third AP.

[0262] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the execution order of step S1410 and step S1420. For example, step S1410 can be executed before step S1420, after step S1420, or simultaneously with step S1420.

[0263] For the relevant introduction of step S1420, please refer to the introduction of step S1210 above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0264] In step S1430 , the first AP transmits in a first transmission opportunity.

[0265] For the relevant introduction of step S1430, please refer to the introduction of step S1220 above. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0266] As mentioned above, the first AP may request the station associated with the first AP to obtain the fourth information. The following describes the process of the first AP requesting the station associated with the first AP to obtain the fourth information with reference to FIG. 15 .

[0267] FIG15 is a flow chart of obtaining fourth information according to an embodiment of the present application. The method shown in FIG15 may include step S1510 and step S1520.

[0268] In step S1510, the first AP sends a second frame to the first station. The second frame may be used to request fourth information.

[0269] The first station may be any station associated with the first AP. For example, taking the first AP as AP 3 shown in FIG11 , the first station may be STA 3A or STA 3B.

[0270] In some embodiments, if the fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP, the second frame may also be referred to or understood as an OBSS information request frame.

[0271] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the first AP transmits the second frame. In some embodiments, the second frame may be unicasted by the first AP to the first station. In some embodiments, the second frame may be multicasted by the first AP to the first station. For example, the first AP may multicast the second frame to all stations associated with the first AP.

[0272] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the information contained in the second frame. A possible implementation method of the second frame is exemplified below in conjunction with Figure 16.

[0273] As shown in FIG. 16 , in some embodiments, the second frame may be a public action frame.

[0274] In some embodiments, the second frame may include a control field. For example, the action field in the second frame may include a control field. In some embodiments, the control field of the second frame may include multiple bits, and the multiple bits may be used to indicate different information. Exemplarily, the multiple bits included in the control field of the second frame may be used to indicate one or more of the following information: whether to request the opposite end (receiving end) to report information about neighboring APs, whether to request the opposite end to report information about neighboring sites in the BSS where the first AP is located, whether to request the opposite end to report information about neighboring sites in the OBSS, whether the information requested to be reported by the opposite end includes information related to signal reception quality, etc. For example, the signal reception quality related information indicated by the multiple bits included in the control field of the second frame may include one or more of the following: whether the information requested to be reported by the opposite end includes RSSI, whether the information requested to be reported by the opposite end includes SINR, whether the information requested to be reported by the opposite end includes SNR, etc.

[0275] In step S1520 , the first station sends a response frame of the second frame to the first AP.

[0276] In some embodiments, the response frame may include fourth information. For example, the response frame may include information about other APs monitored by the first station and / or information about other stations monitored by the first station.

[0277] In some embodiments, if the fourth information includes the OBSS information of the first AP, the response frame of the second frame may also be referred to or understood as an OBSS information response frame.

[0278] In some embodiments, the response frame of the second frame may be sent by the first station to the first AP in a unicast form.

[0279] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the information contained in the response frame of the second frame. A possible implementation method of the response frame of the second frame is exemplified below in conjunction with Figure 17.

[0280] As shown in FIG. 17 , in some embodiments, the response frame of the second frame may be a public action frame.

[0281] In some embodiments, the response frame of the second frame may include a status code field.

[0282] In some embodiments, the response frame of the second frame may include one or more OBSS information elements.

[0283] In some embodiments, if the status code field included in the response frame of the second frame indicates success, the response frame of the second frame may include one or more OBSS information elements. In some embodiments, if the status code field included in the response frame of the second frame indicates failure, the response frame of the second frame does not include an OBSS information element.

[0284] In some embodiments, the response frame of the second frame may include a control field field. For example, the OBSS information element field in the response frame of the second frame may include a control field field. In some embodiments, the control field field in the response frame of the second frame may be used to indicate whether the information reported by the first station includes information related to signal reception quality.

[0285] In some embodiments, the control field field of the response frame of the second frame may include multiple bits, and the multiple bits may be used to indicate different information. Exemplarily, the multiple bits included in the control field field of the response frame may be used to indicate one or more of the following information: whether the reported information includes RSSI, whether the reported information includes SINR, whether the reported information includes SNR, etc.

[0286] In some embodiments, the OBSS information element of the response frame of the second frame may include a MAC field, and the MAC field may be used to indicate MAC address information of the AP and / or station monitored by the first station.

[0287] In some embodiments, the OBSS information element of the response frame of the second frame may include a BSSID field, and the BSSID field may be used to indicate the BSSID of the AP monitored by the first station and / or the BSS to which the station belongs.

[0288] In some embodiments, the OBSS information element of the response frame of the second frame may include one or more of an RSSI field, an SNR field, and an SINR field. The RSSI field may be used to indicate the RSSI of the PPDU of the AP or station received by the first station. The SNR field may be used to indicate the SNR of the PPDU of the AP or station received by the first station. The SINR field may be used to indicate the SINR of the PPDU of the AP or station received by the first station.

[0289] In some embodiments, the first AP may periodically or irregularly repeat the process of obtaining the fourth information shown in FIG. 15 to update the fourth information.

[0290] In some embodiments, the first AP may obtain the fourth information by using the process for obtaining OBSS information when multiple APs perform coordinated measurements in the C-SR mechanism. That is, in some embodiments, the process by which the first AP obtains the fourth information from the first station may be a process in which the coordinating AP coordinates measurements of multiple APs, and the stations associated with the multiple APs report the measurement results. For example, the process by which the first AP obtains the fourth information from the first station may refer to the process for obtaining OBSS information shown in FIG. 7 above.

[0291] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the coordinating AP. In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may be a second AP (i.e., a sharing AP). In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may be a first AP (i.e., an AP competing for the first transmission opportunity). In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may be a third AP (i.e., a shared AP). In some embodiments, the coordinating AP may also be an AP other than the first, second, and third APs.

[0292] In some embodiments, the measurement results reported by the stations associated with the multiple APs may carry fourth information, for example, information about the APs and / or stations monitored by the first station.

[0293] In some embodiments, when the first AP and the first station interact, after receiving a frame sent by the sending end, the other end may return an acknowledgment frame to the sending end to indicate that it has correctly received the frame sent by the sending end. For example, referring to FIG. 15 , in some embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 15 may further include steps S1515 and S1525.

[0294] In step S1515 , the first station sends an acknowledgment frame to the first AP to indicate that the first station has correctly received the second frame sent by the first AP.

[0295] In step S1525 , the first AP sends an acknowledgment frame to the first station to indicate that the first AP has correctly received the response frame of the second frame sent by the first station.

[0296] The following is an exemplary introduction to the transmission process between multiple APs in the embodiment of the present application.

[0297] As shown in Figure 18, after the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, the third AP can transmit within the transmission duration shared by the second AP. At the same time, the first AP can also transmit within the transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP. Normally, during the transmission duration successfully shared by the second AP to the third AP, the third AP can transmit to its associated stations until the shared transmission duration ends. Afterwards, the second AP can use the remaining duration of the first transmission opportunity to transmit after a period of time (such as the priority interframe space (PIFS)) after the shared transmission duration ends. In this case, it can be considered that the first transmission opportunity is returned to the second AP normally, or in other words, the second AP normally takes back control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0298] In some embodiments, the transmission between the third AP and its associated stations may end prematurely, or in other words, the transmission between the third AP and its associated stations may end before the transmission time shared by the second AP to the third AP expires. In this case, the third AP may send an indication frame (such as a CF-End frame) to the second AP to indicate that the first transmission opportunity should be returned to the second AP in advance.

[0299] In some embodiments, after the third AP sends the aforementioned indication frame to the second AP, the second AP may be unable to successfully receive the indication frame sent by the third AP. For example, transmissions from the first AP and its associated stations may interfere with the second AP's reception of the indication frame sent by the third AP, resulting in the second AP being unable to successfully receive the indication frame sent by the third AP. In this case, as shown in FIG19 , the second AP may need to wait for the transmission duration shared by the second AP with the third AP to expire before transmitting using the remaining duration of the first transmission opportunity it has obtained.

[0300] In some embodiments, after the third AP sends the indication frame to the second AP, the second AP may successfully receive the indication frame sent by the third AP. Thereafter, the second AP may send a third frame to the first AP to instruct the first AP to end its transmission.

[0301] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation of the third frame. In some embodiments, the third frame may be, for example, a CTS-to-self frame. In some embodiments, the third frame may also be a frame other than a CTS-to-self frame, for example, an RTS frame to request the first AP to terminate its transmission.

[0302] In some embodiments, after receiving the indication frame sent by the third AP, the second AP may wait for a period of time (e.g., PIFS) before sending the third frame. However, the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the second AP may also send the third frame immediately after receiving the indication frame sent by the third AP.

[0303] In some embodiments, after receiving the third frame sent by the second AP, the first AP may terminate (or end) the transmission of the first AP as soon as possible to ensure that the second AP can regain control of the first transmission opportunity as soon as possible.

[0304] As an implementation, if the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates its transmission. For example, if the first AP detects any transmission conflict or a busy channel during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates its transmission. This allows the second AP to quickly regain control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0305] In some embodiments, after the second AP sends the third frame to the first AP, various situations may occur. In any case, the first AP will terminate its transmission as soon as possible so that the second AP can quickly regain control of the first transmission opportunity. The following describes, with reference to Figures 20 to 22, examples of situations that may occur after the second AP sends the third frame to the first AP.

[0306] As shown in Figure 20, after the second AP sends the third frame to the first AP, the first AP may be waiting for an uplink transmission from a station associated with the first AP. In this case, if the first AP detects any transmission conflict or a busy channel during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates the transmission of the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP as soon as possible.

[0307] As shown in Figure 21, after the second AP sends the third frame to the first AP, the first AP may be in the SIFS period to prepare for downlink transmission. In this case, if the first AP detects any transmission conflict or a busy channel during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates the transmission to end the transmission as quickly as possible.

[0308] As shown in Figure 22, after the second AP sends the third frame to the first AP, the first AP may just start downlink transmission at the same time. In this case, if the first AP detects any transmission conflict or channel busy during the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates the transmission of the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP as soon as possible.

[0309] The method embodiment of the present application is described in detail above in conjunction with Figures 1 to 22. The device embodiment of the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with Figures 23 to 26. It should be understood that the description of the method embodiment corresponds to the description of the device embodiment. Therefore, for parts not described in detail, reference can be made to the above method embodiment.

[0310] FIG23 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 2300 shown in FIG23 can be any of the first APs mentioned above. The communication device 2300 can include a receiving module 2310 and a transmitting module 2320.

[0311] The receiving module 2310 may be configured to receive a first frame sent by a second AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP.

[0312] The transmission module 2320 may be configured to perform transmission within the first transmission opportunity.

[0313] Optionally, the transmission module is used to: transmit within the first transmission opportunity when a first condition is met; wherein the first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0314] Optionally, the first condition includes one or more of the following: the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the second AP; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the third AP; the transmission between the second AP and the site associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the third AP and the site associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity; wherein, the first site is a site associated with the first AP.

[0315] Optionally, the transmission module is configured to: perform transmission within the first transmission opportunity when it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0316] Optionally, the success of sharing the first transmission opportunity is determined based on one or more of the following: the first AP detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within a first time period; after the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; wherein, the first time period is used to indicate the time required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

[0317] Optionally, the first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; short interframe interval; duration of a time slot.

[0318] Optionally, the communication device further includes: a first competition module, configured to compete for a second transmission opportunity, where the second transmission opportunity is within the first transmission opportunity.

[0319] Optionally, the second transmission opportunity is obtained based on one or more of the following competition methods: competing using an enhanced distributed channel access mechanism; competing using a spatial multiplexing mechanism based on overlapping basic service set OBSS message detection; competing after excluding one or more sites associated with the first AP that conflict with the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; competing when it is determined that the third AP and the second site associated with the third AP do not transmit, wherein the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP and the second site, or the transmission of the third AP and the second site affects the transmission of the first AP.

[0320] Optionally, the communication device further includes: a second competition module, configured to not compete for a second transmission opportunity if the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP and the station associated with the third AP, and the second transmission opportunity is located within the first transmission opportunity.

[0321] Optionally, the communication device further includes: a response module, configured to not respond to the competition of the first station if the first station associated with the first AP competes for the first transmission opportunity.

[0322] Optionally, the first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

[0323] Optionally, the first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; third information, used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0324] Optionally, the second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

[0325] Optionally, the first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

[0326] Optionally, the communication device further includes: an acquisition module, configured to acquire fourth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate information of a site that interferes with transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

[0327] Optionally, the fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

[0328] Optionally, the fourth information includes one or more of the following: information of other APs monitored by the first AP; information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; information of other APs monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP; information of other sites monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP.

[0329] Optionally, the fourth information includes one or more of the following: identification information of the AP; information related to the signal reception quality of the AP; identification information of the site; and information related to the signal reception quality of the site.

[0330] Optionally, the acquisition module is used to: send a second frame to the first site, the second frame being used to request the fourth information; receive a response frame to the second frame sent by the first site, the response frame containing the fourth information; wherein the first site is a site associated with the first AP.

[0331] Optionally, the communication device also includes: a receiving module for receiving a third frame sent by the second AP, the third frame being used to instruct the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP; and a termination module for terminating the transmission of the first AP if the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or the channel is busy in the first transmission opportunity.

[0332] FIG24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by another embodiment of the present application. The communication device 2400 shown in FIG24 can be any of the second APs described above. The communication device 2400 can include a first sending module 2410.

[0333] The first sending module 2410 can be used to send a first frame to the first AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP, and the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission between the third AP and the first AP.

[0334] Optionally, if a first condition is met, the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission by the first AP; wherein the first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0335] Optionally, the first condition includes one or more of the following: the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the second AP; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the third AP; the transmission between the second AP and the site associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the third AP and the site associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity; wherein, the first site is a site associated with the first AP.

[0336] Optionally, the transmission by the first AP in the first transmission opportunity is performed when it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0337] Optionally, the success of sharing the first transmission opportunity is determined based on one or more of the following: the first AP detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within a first time period; after the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; wherein, the first time period is used to indicate the time required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

[0338] Optionally, the first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; short interframe interval; duration of a time slot.

[0339] Optionally, the first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

[0340] Optionally, the first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; third information, used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0341] Optionally, the second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

[0342] Optionally, the first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

[0343] Optionally, the communication device also includes: a second sending module 2420, used to send a third frame to the first AP, and the third frame is used to instruct the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP; wherein, the transmission of the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or the channel is busy in the first transmission opportunity.

[0344] FIG25 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. The communication device 2500 shown in FIG25 can be any of the aforementioned stations associated with the first AP, such as the aforementioned first station. The communication device 2500 can include a transmission module 2510.

[0345] The transmission module 2510 can be used to transmit with the first access point AP within the first transmission opportunity; wherein, the first site is a site associated with the first AP, the first transmission opportunity is obtained by the first AP from the first frame sent by the second AP, and the first frame is used by the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

[0346] Optionally, the transmission module is used to: transmit with the first AP within the first transmission opportunity when a first condition is met; wherein the first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; whether the transmission of the first AP affects the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0347] Optionally, the first condition includes one or more of the following: the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the second AP; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the transmission of the third AP; the transmission between the second AP and the site associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the third AP and the site associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first site; the transmission between the first AP and the first site does not affect the second AP's control of the first transmission opportunity.

[0348] Optionally, the transmission module is configured to: upon determining that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, perform transmission with the first AP within the first transmission opportunity.

[0349] Optionally, the success of sharing the first transmission opportunity is determined based on one or more of the following: the first AP detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within a first time period; after the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it detects that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; wherein, the first time period is used to indicate the time required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

[0350] Optionally, the first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; short interframe interval; duration of a time slot.

[0351] Optionally, the first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

[0352] Optionally, the first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; third information, used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

[0353] Optionally, the second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

[0354] Optionally, the first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

[0355] Optionally, the communication device also includes: a receiving module 2520, used to receive a second frame sent by the first AP, the second frame being used to request fourth information; a sending module 2530, used to send a response frame to the second frame to the first AP, the response frame containing the fourth information; wherein the fourth information is used to indicate information of a site that interferes with the transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

[0356] Optionally, the fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

[0357] Optionally, the fourth information includes one or more of the following: information of other APs monitored by the first AP; information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; information of other APs monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP; information of other sites monitored by one or more sites associated with the first AP.

[0358] Optionally, the fourth information includes one or more of the following: identification information of the AP; information related to the signal reception quality of the AP; identification information of the site; and information related to the signal reception quality of the site.

[0359] Optionally, the transmission between the first station and the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

[0360] Figure 26 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The dashed lines in Figure 26 indicate that the unit or module is optional. Device 2600 may be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. Device 2600 may be a chip, a terminal device, or a network device.

[0361] The device 2600 may include one or more processors 2610. The processor 2610 may support the device 2600 to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. The processor 2610 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.

[0362] The apparatus 2600 may further include one or more memories 2620. The memories 2620 store programs that can be executed by the processor 2610, causing the processor 2610 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. The memories 2620 may be independent of the processor 2610 or integrated into the processor 2610.

[0363] The apparatus 2600 may further include a transceiver 2630. The processor 2610 may communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2630. For example, the processor 2610 may transmit and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2630.

[0364] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. The computer-readable storage medium can be applied to a terminal or network device provided in the present application, and the program enables a computer to execute the method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present application.

[0365] The present application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product can be applied to a terminal or network device provided in the present application, and the program causes a computer to execute the method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present application.

[0366] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program. The computer program can be applied to the terminal or network device provided in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program enables a computer to execute the method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present application.

[0367] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" in this application can be used interchangeably. In addition, the terms used in this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "first", "second", "third", and "fourth" in the specification and claims of this application and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0368] In the embodiments of this application, the term "indication" may refer to a direct indication, an indirect indication, or an indication of an association. For example, "A indicates B" may refer to a direct indication of B, e.g., B can obtain information through A; it may refer to an indirect indication of B, e.g., A indicates C, e.g., B can obtain information through C; or it may refer to an association between A and B.

[0369] In the embodiment of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A and B can be determined based on A. However, it should be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A, but B can also be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0370] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or an association relationship between the two, or a relationship between indication and indication, configuration and configuration, etc.

[0371] In the embodiments of the present application, "pre-definition" or "pre-configuration" may be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in a device (e.g., a terminal device and a network device). The present application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, pre-definition may refer to information defined in a protocol.

[0372] In the embodiments of the present application, the “protocol” may refer to a standard protocol in the communications field, for example, it may include an LTE protocol, an NR protocol, and related protocols used in future communication systems, and the present application does not limit this.

[0373] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0374] In the embodiments of this application, the term "include" can refer to direct inclusion or indirect inclusion. Alternatively, the term "include" in the embodiments of this application can be replaced with "indicates" or "is used to determine." For example, "A includes B" can be replaced with "A indicates B" or "A is used to determine B."

[0375] In various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0376] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0377] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0378] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0379] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be read by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0380] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first access point AP receives a first frame sent by the second AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP; The first AP transmits during the first transmission opportunity.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first AP performs transmission in the first transmission opportunity, including: When the first condition is met, the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first AP performs transmission in the first transmission opportunity, including: In a case where it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, the first AP transmits within the first transmission opportunity.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that Before the first AP transmits in the first transmission opportunity, the method further includes: The first AP competes for a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is located within the first transmission opportunity.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The second transmission opportunity is obtained based on one or more of the following competitions: Using enhanced distributed channel access mechanism competition; Compete using the spatial reuse mechanism based on overlapping basic service set OBSS message detection; competing after excluding the station that conflicts with the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP from among the one or more stations associated with the first AP; Determine that the third AP competes with the second station associated with the third AP when no transmission is performed, wherein the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP with the second station, or the transmission of the third AP with the second station affects the transmission of the first AP.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: If the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP and the stations associated with the third AP, the first AP does not compete for a second transmission opportunity, the second transmission opportunity being within the first transmission opportunity.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: If a first station associated with the first AP competes for the first transmission opportunity, the first AP does not respond to the competition of the first station.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first AP acquires fourth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate information of a station that interferes with transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The fourth information includes one or more of the following: Information of other APs monitored by the first AP; Information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; Information about other APs monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP; The information of other stations monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that: The fourth information includes one or more of the following: AP identification information; Information related to the signal reception quality of the AP; Identification information of the site; Information about the signal reception quality of the site.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that The first AP acquires fourth information, including: The first AP sends a second frame to the first station, where the second frame is used to request the fourth information; The first AP receives a response frame to the second frame sent by the first station, where the response frame includes the fourth information; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first AP receives a third frame sent by the second AP, where the third frame is used to instruct the first AP to end transmission of the first AP; If the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity, the first AP terminates transmission of the first AP.

21. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second access point AP sends a first frame to the first AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP, and the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission between the third AP and the first AP.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that When the first condition is met, the first transmission opportunity can be used for the first AP to transmit; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that The transmission of the first AP in the first transmission opportunity is performed when it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

27. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, characterized in that The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

28. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

30. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 29, characterized in that The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

31. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 30, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second AP sends a third frame to the first AP, where the third frame is used to instruct the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP; The transmission of the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

32. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first station and the first access point AP perform transmission in a first transmission opportunity; The first site is a site associated with the first AP, the first transmission opportunity is obtained by the first AP from a first frame sent by the second AP, and the first frame is used by the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with a third AP.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that The first station and the first AP perform transmission in a first transmission opportunity, including: When the first condition is met, the first station and the first AP perform transmission within the first transmission opportunity; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

35. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that The first station and the first AP perform transmission in a first transmission opportunity, including: In a case where it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, the first station and the first AP perform transmission within the first transmission opportunity.

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

38. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 37, characterized in that The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

39. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 38, characterized in that The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

40. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

41. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 40, characterized in that The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

42. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 41, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first station receives a second frame sent by the first AP, where the second frame is used to request fourth information; The first station sends a response frame to the second frame to the first AP, where the response frame includes the fourth information; The fourth information is used to indicate information of a site that interferes with the transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that The fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

44. The method according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that The fourth information includes one or more of the following: Information of other APs monitored by the first AP; Information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; Information about other APs monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP; The information of other stations monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP.

45. The method according to any one of claims 42 to 44, characterized in that The fourth information includes one or more of the following: AP identification information; Information related to the signal reception quality of the AP; Identification information of the site; Information about the signal reception quality of the site.

46. ​​The method according to any one of claims 32 to 45, characterized in that The transmission between the first station and the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

47. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a first access point AP, and the communication device includes: A receiving module, configured to receive a first frame sent by a second AP, where the first frame is used by the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP; A transmission module is used for transmitting in the first transmission opportunity.

48. The communication device according to claim 47, characterized in that The transmission module is used for: When a first condition is met, transmitting within the first transmission opportunity; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

49. The communication device according to claim 48, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

50. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 49, characterized in that: The transmission module is used for: In a case where it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, transmission is performed within the first transmission opportunity.

51. The communication device according to claim 50, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

52. The communication device according to claim 51, characterized in that The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

53. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 52, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: The first competition module is used to compete for a second transmission opportunity, where the second transmission opportunity is within the first transmission opportunity.

54. The communication device according to claim 53, characterized in that The second transmission opportunity is obtained based on one or more of the following competitions: Using enhanced distributed channel access mechanism competition; Compete using the spatial reuse mechanism based on overlapping basic service set OBSS message detection; competing after excluding the station that conflicts with the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP from among the one or more stations associated with the first AP; Determine that the third AP competes with the second station associated with the third AP when no transmission is performed, wherein the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP with the second station, or the transmission of the third AP with the second station affects the transmission of the first AP.

55. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 52, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: The second competition module is configured to not compete for a second transmission opportunity if the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the third AP and a station associated with the third AP, and the second transmission opportunity is located within the first transmission opportunity.

56. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 55, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: A response module is configured to not respond to the competition of the first station if the first station associated with the first AP competes for the first transmission opportunity.

57. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 56, characterized in that: The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

58. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 57, characterized in that: The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

59. The communication device according to claim 58, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

60. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 59, characterized in that: The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

61. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 60, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: The acquisition module is used to acquire fourth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate information of a site that interferes with the transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

62. The communication device according to claim 61, characterized in that The fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

63. The communication device according to claim 61 or 62, characterized in that: The fourth information includes one or more of the following: Information of other APs monitored by the first AP; Information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; Information about other APs monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP; The information of other stations monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP.

64. The communication device according to any one of claims 61 to 63, characterized in that: The fourth information includes one or more of the following: AP identification information; Information about the signal reception quality of the AP; Identification information of the site; Information about the signal reception quality of the site.

65. The communication device according to any one of claims 61 to 64, characterized in that: The acquisition module is used for: Sending a second frame to the first station, where the second frame is used to request the fourth information; receiving a response frame to the second frame sent by the first station, wherein the response frame includes the fourth information; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

66. The communication device according to any one of claims 47 to 65, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: A receiving module, used for receiving a third frame sent by the second AP, wherein the third frame is used for instructing the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP; A termination module is used to terminate the transmission of the first AP if the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

67. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a second access point AP, and the communication device includes: The first sending module is used to send a first frame to a first AP, where the first frame is used for the second AP to share a first transmission opportunity with a third AP, and the first transmission opportunity can be used for transmission between the third AP and the first AP.

68. The communication device according to claim 67, characterized in that When the first condition is met, the first transmission opportunity can be used for the first AP to transmit; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

69. The communication device according to claim 68, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP; The first site is a site associated with the first AP.

70. The communication device according to any one of claims 67 to 69, characterized in that: The transmission of the first AP in the first transmission opportunity is performed when it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP.

71. The communication device according to claim 70, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

72. The communication device according to claim 71, characterized in that The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

73. The communication device according to any one of claims 67 to 72, characterized in that: The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

74. The communication device according to any one of claims 67 to 73, characterized in that: The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

75. The communication device according to claim 74, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

76. The communication device according to any one of claims 67 to 75, characterized in that: The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

77. The communication device according to any one of claims 67 to 76, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: A second sending module, used for sending a third frame to the first AP, wherein the third frame is used for instructing the first AP to end the transmission of the first AP; The transmission of the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

78. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a first station, and the communication device includes: A transmission module, configured to perform transmission with a first access point AP in a first transmission opportunity; The first site is a site associated with the first AP, the first transmission opportunity is obtained by the first AP from a first frame sent by the second AP, and the first frame is used by the second AP to share the first transmission opportunity with a third AP.

79. The communication device according to claim 78, characterized in that The transmission module is used for: When a first condition is met, transmitting with the first AP in the first transmission opportunity; The first condition is associated with one or more of the following: whether the transmission of the first AP affects the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP; whether the transmission of the second AP and / or the third AP affects the transmission of the first AP; Whether the transmission of the first AP affects the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

80. The communication device according to claim 79, characterized in that The first condition includes one or more of the following: The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the second AP; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the transmission of the third AP; The transmission between the second AP and the station associated with the second AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the third AP and the station associated with the third AP does not affect the transmission between the first AP and the first station; The transmission between the first AP and the first station does not affect the control of the first transmission opportunity by the second AP.

81. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 80, characterized in that: The transmission module is used for: In a case where it is determined that the second AP successfully shares the first transmission opportunity with the third AP, transmission is performed with the first AP within the first transmission opportunity.

82. The communication device according to claim 81, characterized in that The first transmission opportunity sharing success is determined according to one or more of the following: The first AP detects that a channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle for a first time period; After the first AP receives the first frame for a period of time, it is detected that the channel shared by the first AP and the second AP is idle within the first time period; The first duration is used to indicate the duration required for the third AP to respond to the first frame.

83. The communication device according to claim 82, characterized in that: The first duration is related to one or more of the following: duration of a CTS frame allowed to be sent; a short interframe interval; and duration of a time slot.

84. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 83, characterized in that: The first frame includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate a transmission duration shared by the second AP to the third AP, and the first information is indicated in a user information field corresponding to the third AP.

85. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 84, characterized in that: The first frame includes one or more of the following information: second information, used to indicate one or more APs that can compete for the first transmission opportunity; The third information is used to indicate one or more APs that cannot compete for the first transmission opportunity.

86. The communication device according to claim 85, characterized in that The second information and / or the third information is indicated by using a user information field of the first frame.

87. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 86, characterized in that: The first frame is broadcast by the first AP.

88. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 87, characterized in that: The communication device further comprises: A receiving module, configured to receive a second frame sent by the first AP, where the second frame is used to request fourth information; a sending module, configured to send a response frame of the second frame to the first AP, wherein the response frame includes the fourth information; The fourth information is used to indicate information of a site that interferes with the transmission of the first AP and / or the third AP.

89. The communication device according to claim 88, characterized in that The fourth information includes OBSS information of the first AP.

90. The communication device according to claim 88 or 89, characterized in that: The fourth information includes one or more of the following: Information of other APs monitored by the first AP; Information of sites associated with other APs monitored by the first AP; Information about other APs monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP; The information of other stations monitored by one or more stations associated with the first AP.

91. The communication device according to any one of claims 88 to 90, characterized in that: The fourth information includes one or more of the following: AP identification information; Information related to the signal reception quality of the AP; Identification information of the site; Information about the signal reception quality of the site.

92. The communication device according to any one of claims 78 to 91, characterized in that: The transmission between the first station and the first AP is terminated when the first AP detects at least one transmission conflict or a busy channel in the first transmission opportunity.

93. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a first access point, and includes a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a program, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

94. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a second access point, and includes a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a program, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 21 to 31.

95. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device is a first site, and the communication device includes a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store programs, and the processor is used to call the programs in the memory so that the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 32-46.

96. A device, characterized in that It comprises a processor, which is used to call a program from a memory so that the device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1-46.

97. A chip, characterized in that: It comprises a processor, which is used to call a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 46.

98. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that A program is stored thereon, the program causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 46.

99. A computer program product, characterized in that A program is included, which causes a computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 46.

100. A computer program, characterized in that The computer program causes a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 46.

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