Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method. The method can be applied to a WLAN system supporting 802.11 series protocols such as a next-generation WiFi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax, i.e., 802.11be, WiFi 7 or EHT, and the next generation of 802.11be, i.e., WiFi 8, and can also be applied to a UWB-based wireless personal area network system and sensing system. The method comprises: a source MLD acquires information of a relay MLD by means of a low-frequency communication link, and sets the relay MLD by means of the low-frequency communication link, such that on a high-frequency communication link, information can be transmitted to a destination MLD by means of the relay MLD, achieving relay transmission. In the communication method, the source MLD acquires the information of the relay MLD by means of low frequency, and sets the relay MLD by means of the low frequency, achieving relay transmission establishment by means of low-frequency assisted high frequency, reducing the overhead of relay transmission establishment, and improving the relay transmission performance.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on September 25, 2023, with application number 202311243141.1 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more particularly, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] 802.11 has been one of the mainstream wireless access standards for wireless local area networks (WLANs) and has been widely used commercially for over a decade. Many applications require long-distance transmission of up to 1 to 2 kilometers between devices. However, due to regulatory restrictions, transmitting devices cannot use very high power, and due to uncertain wireless channel conditions, direct transmission over distances of 1 to 2 kilometers between devices is not possible. Signals can be relayed using relay devices to achieve long-distance transmission. Therefore, the 802.11ah standard introduces relay transmission.

[0004] In the current relay transmission scheme, during the establishment of the relay transmission process, the information of the relay device is obtained through a high-frequency communication link, and the relay device is selected and established through high frequency, which results in high overhead. How to reduce the overhead of establishing the relay transmission process has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method to reduce the overhead of establishing a relay transmission process.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be executed by a first multilink device (MLD), or by a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) of the first MLD, without limitation. For ease of description, the method is described below using the first MLD as an example.

[0008] The communication method includes: a first multi-link device (MLD) obtaining information of a first relay MLD via a first communication link, the first relay MLD being used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to a second MLD via a second communication link; the first MLD sending a first request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD via the first communication link, the first request message being used to request establishment of a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, wherein a frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, the first MLD, the first relay MLD and the second MLD support the first communication link and the second communication link, wherein the first communication link can be understood as a low-frequency (e.g., frequency band below 7 GHz) communication link, and the first communication link can be understood as a high-frequency (e.g., frequency band of 45 GHz and above) communication link. In the case where the first MLD expects to transmit information to the second MLD through the first relay MLD on the second communication link, in this technical solution, the first MLD can obtain the information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link, and set the first relay MLD through the first communication link, so that the first relay MLD can establish a second communication link with the first MLD and the second MLD to realize relay transmission. Low frequency assists high frequency in relay transmission establishment, reduces relay transmission establishment overhead, and improves relay transmission performance.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first MLD obtains information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link, including: the first MLD sends a second request message to the third MLD through the first communication link, and the second request message is used to request information of at least one relay MLD that provides relay services for the first MLD and the second MLD; the first MLD receives a second response message from the third MLD through the first communication link, and the second response message includes information of the at least one relay MLD, and the first relay MLD is one of the at least one relay MLD.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, the first MLD can obtain information of at least one relay MLD from the third MLD through the first communication link, wherein the third MLD can be a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP) MLD or an access point (AP) MLD. The PCP / AP can obtain information of different MLDs in the system through the association process and know which MLDs have the ability to provide relay services. Therefore, after receiving the second request message sent by the first MLD requesting to obtain the relay MLD, the PCP / AP can provide the second MLD with information of the relay MLD that can realize relaying through the first communication link. In this technical solution, the first MLD can interact with the PCP / AP through messages on the first communication link to obtain information of the relay MLD without obtaining information of the relay MLD through the second communication link. On the first communication link, the PCP / AP can provide information of the relay MLD to the first MLD and the second MLD through omnidirectional transmission, thereby improving efficiency.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first MLD obtaining information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link includes: the first MLD receiving a third request message from the first relay MLD through the first communication link, the third request message including information of the first relay MLD.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, if the first MLD is a PCP / AP in the system, the first MLD can obtain information about different MLDs in the system through the association process and learn which MLDs have the ability to provide relay services without obtaining information about relay MLDs from other MLDs.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD receives a detection physical layer protocol data unit from the first relay MLD through the first communication link; the first MLD measures the first channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link based on the detection physical layer protocol data unit; the first MLD receives second channel information from the second MLD, where the second channel information is the channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link.

[0015] Based on the above technical solution, the first MLD can receive a channel quality measurement probe physical layer protocol data unit (PDU) sent by the first relay MLD via the first communication link. The second MLD can also receive the channel quality measurement probe physical layer protocol data unit (PDU) sent by the first relay MLD via the first communication link. Thus, the first MLD can measure the channel quality between the first MLD and the first relay MLD based on the PDU to obtain first channel information. The second MLD can measure the channel quality between the second MLD and the first relay MLD based on the PDU to obtain second channel information. The second MLD provides the measured second channel information to the first MLD via the first communication link. The first MLD can then determine, based on the first and second channel information, that the first relay MLD is a qualified relay MLD. This facilitates the first MLD's selection of a relay MLD based on the channel quality of the first communication link. Furthermore, compared to selecting a relay MLD based on the second communication link, selecting a relay MLD based on the channel quality of the first communication link eliminates the need for beam training, thereby reducing the overhead of selecting a relay MLD.

[0016] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD sends a channel measurement request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, where the channel measurement request message is used to request acquisition of third channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the second communication link, and fourth channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD; the first MLD receives the third channel information from the first relay MLD through the first communication link, and receives the fourth channel information from the second MLD through the first communication link.

[0017] Based on the above technical solution, the first MLD can initiate a channel measurement request to measure the second communication link through the first communication link, and receive the third channel information of the first relay MLD and the first MLD on the second communication link, as well as the fourth channel information of the first relay MLD and the second MLD on the second communication link through the first communication link. Therefore, the first MLD can determine that the first relay MLD is the relay MLD that meets the requirements based on the third channel information and the fourth channel information, which is conducive to the first MLD selecting the relay MLD based on the channel quality of the second communication link.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD receiving, through the first communication link, information about the service interval corresponding to the first relay MLD from a third MLD.

[0019] Based on the above technical solution, the first MLD can receive the service range information of the relay MLD sent by the third MLD through the first communication link, so that the third MLD can provide the service range information of the relay MLD through omnidirectional transmission on the first communication link, thereby improving efficiency.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD assigning the service interval corresponding to the first relay MLD to the first relay MLD; and the first MLD sending information of the service interval corresponding to the first relay MLD to the first relay MLD through the first communication link.

[0021] Based on the above technical solution, if the first MLD is the PCP / AP in the system, the first MLD can allocate the service interval of the relay MLD and provide the service interval information of the relay MLD through the first communication link, so that the first MLD can provide the service interval information of the relay MLD through omnidirectional transmission on the first communication link, thereby improving efficiency.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD determines a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and a second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, wherein the first MLD and the second MLD transmit information through the first communication link during the first service period, the first MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the second service interval, and the difference between the start time of the first service interval and the start time of the second service interval is less than a first threshold.

[0023] Based on the above technical solution, the service interval corresponding to the first MLD can include a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and a second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, that is, the first MLD can transmit information through the first communication link and the second communication link, and the first communication link and the second communication link cooperate to improve transmission efficiency.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first MLD determines the first service interval corresponding to the first communication link and the second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, including: the first MLD allocates the first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and the second service interval and third service interval corresponding to the second communication link, and the method also includes: the first MLD sends information of the third service interval to the second MLD and the first relay MLD through the first communication link, wherein the second MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the third service interval, and the difference between the termination time of the first service interval and the termination time of the third service interval is less than a second threshold.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first MLD sends a notification message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, where the notification message is used to notify the end of relay transmission, or the notification message is used to notify the switching of relay transmission mode.

[0026] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a first relay MLD, or by a component of the first relay MLD (such as a chip or circuit), without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses the first relay MLD as an example.

[0027] The communication method includes: a first relay multi-link device (MLD) receiving a first request message from a first MLD via a first communication link, the first request message being used to request establishment of a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, the first relay MLD being used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD via the second communication link; and the first relay MLD establishing, in response to the first request message, a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, wherein a frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

[0028] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first relay MLD sending a third request message to a third MLD through the first communication link, where the third request message includes information about the first relay MLD.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first relay MLD receives information about the service interval of the first relay MLD through the first communication link, the first relay MLD and the first MLD perform beamforming training within the service interval of the first relay MLD, and the first relay MLD and the second MLD perform beamforming training.

[0030] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first relay MLD sends a detection physical layer protocol data unit to the first MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, and the detection physical layer protocol data unit is used to measure the first channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link, and to measure the second channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link.

[0031] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first relay MLD receives a channel measurement request message from the first MLD through the first communication link, and the channel measurement request message is used to request to obtain the third channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the second communication link; the first relay MLD sends a channel measurement response message to the first MLD through the first communication link, and the channel measurement response message includes the third channel information.

[0032] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first relay MLD receives a notification message from the first MLD through the first communication link, the notification message being used to notify the end of relay transmission, or the notification message being used to notify the switching of relay transmission mode.

[0033] The technical effects of the method shown in the above second aspect and its possible design can refer to the technical effects in the first aspect and its possible design.

[0034] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be executed by a third MLD, or by a component of the third MLD (eg, a chip or circuit), without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses the third MLD as an example.

[0035] The communication method includes: a third relay multi-link device (MLD) receiving at least one third request message from at least one relay MLD via a first communication link, the third request message including information of the relay MLD; the third MLD receiving a second request message from a first MLD via the first communication link, the second request message being used to request information of at least one relay MLD that relays information transmitted by the first MLD to a second MLD via a second communication link; and the third MLD sending a second response message to the first MLD and the second MLD via the first communication link, the second response message including information of the at least one relay MLD, wherein a frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

[0036] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the third MLD sends first indication information to the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD through the first communication link, where the first indication information is used to instruct some or all of the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD to perform channel measurement.

[0037] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the third MLD sends second indication information to the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD through the first communication link, and the second indication information includes information about the service interval of each relay MLD in the at least one relay MLD.

[0038] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method also includes: the third MLD allocates a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and a second service interval and a third service interval corresponding to the second communication link; the third MLD sends information about the first service interval and information about the second service interval to the first MLD, and sends information about the third service interval to the second MLD and the first relay MLD, wherein the first MLD and the second MLD transmit information through the first communication link during the first service period, the first MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the second service interval, the second MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the third service interval, the difference between the end time of the first service interval and the end time of the third service interval is less than a second threshold, and the difference between the start time of the first service interval and the start time of the second service interval is less than a first threshold.

[0039] The technical effects of the method shown in the third aspect and its possible design above can refer to the technical effects in the first aspect and its possible design.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is configured to execute the methods provided in aspects 1 to 3 above. Specifically, the device may include units and / or modules, such as a processing unit and / or a communication unit, configured to execute the methods provided in any one of the aforementioned implementations of aspects 1 to 3 above.

[0041] In one implementation, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface; the processing unit may be at least one processor. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Alternatively, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0042] In another implementation, the device is a chip, chip system, or circuit in a communication device. When the device is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a terminal device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip, chip system, or circuit; and the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, or logic circuit.

[0043] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a memory for storing programs; and at least one processor for executing computer programs or instructions stored in the memory to execute any one of the above-mentioned implementation methods of the first to third aspects.

[0044] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a processor for executing the methods provided in the above aspects.

[0045] For the operations such as sending and acquiring / receiving involved in the processor, unless otherwise specified, or if they do not conflict with their actual functions or internal logic in the relevant descriptions, they can be understood as processor output, reception, input and other operations, and can also be understood as sending and receiving operations performed by the radio frequency circuit and antenna. This application does not limit this.

[0046] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a program code for execution by a device, and the program code includes a method for executing any one of the above-mentioned implementation methods of the first to third aspects.

[0047] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method provided in any one of the above-mentioned implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0048] In the ninth aspect, a chip is provided, which includes a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored in a memory through the communication interface and executes the method provided by any one of the above-mentioned implementation methods of the first to third aspects.

[0049] Optionally, as an implementation method, the chip also includes a memory, in which a computer program or instruction is stored, and the processor is used to execute the computer program or instruction stored in the memory. When the computer program or instruction is executed, the processor is used to execute the method provided in any one of the above implementation methods.

[0050] A fourteenth aspect provides a communication system, comprising the first MLD of the first aspect, the first relay MLD of the second aspect, and the third MLD of the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable.

[0052] FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of a device structure.

[0053] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-link device.

[0054] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-link between multi-link devices.

[0055] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a relay transmission topology structure.

[0056] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of relay transmission.

[0057] FIG7 is a system architecture diagram of a relay transmission application.

[0058] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of discovering a relay device.

[0059] FIG9 is a schematic flowchart of selecting a relay device.

[0060] FIG10 is a schematic flow chart of setting up a relay device.

[0061] Figure 11 (a) to (d) are schematic diagrams of scenarios to which the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applicable.

[0062] FIG12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a method for obtaining relay MLD information according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG14( a ) is a schematic diagram of another method for obtaining relay MLD information provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] FIG14( b ) is a schematic diagram of another method of obtaining relay MLD information provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of performing relay MLD selection provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of another method for performing relay MLD selection provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0068] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of another method for performing relay MLD selection provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0069] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of another method for performing relay MLD selection provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0070] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of a method for notifying the end of relay transmission or switching the relay transmission mode provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of another method of notifying the end of relay transmission or switching the relay transmission mode provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0072] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of configuring a service interval provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0073] Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0074] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0075] FIG24 is a schematic diagram of a chip system provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are first explained.

[0077] First, in this application, "used to indicate" can include being used for direct indication and being used for indirect indication. When describing that a certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, but it does not mean that the indication information must carry A.

[0078] The information indicated by the indication information is called the information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, it is also possible to use the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol) to achieve the indication of specific information, thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, it is also possible to identify the common parts of each piece of information and indicate them uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately.

[0079] Second, "at least one" shown in the present application refers to one or more, and "a plurality of" refers to two or more. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second" and various digital numbers (for example, "#1", "#2", etc.) are only for the purpose of describing the distinction made, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of each process below 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. It should be understood that the objects described in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so as to be able to describe solutions other than the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "S810" are only for the purpose of describing the identification, and are not intended to limit the order of execution of the steps.

[0080] Third, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0081] Fourth, the term "storage" used in the embodiments of this application may refer to storage in one or more memories. The one or more memories may be provided separately or integrated into an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories may also be partially provided separately and partially integrated into a decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The type of memory may be any form of storage medium, and this application is not limited thereto.

[0082] Fifth, in the implementation of this application, "protocol" may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, for example, it may include the NR protocol and related protocols used in future communication systems, and this application does not limit this.

[0083] Sixth, in the embodiments of the present application, the terms “of”, “corresponding, relevant”, “corresponding” and “associate” can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction between them is not emphasized, the meanings they intend to express are consistent.

[0084] Seventh, in the embodiments of the present application, "under the circumstances", "when", and "if" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be pointed out that when the distinction between them is not emphasized, the meanings they intend to express are consistent.

[0085] Eighth, the term "and / or" in this document simply describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0086] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0087] The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to wireless local area network (WLAN) scenarios, for example, supporting the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 related standards, such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, IEEE 802.11ax next-generation Wi-Fi protocols, such as 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, extremely high throughput (EHT), 802.11ad, 802.11ay or 802.11bf, such as the next generation of 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, etc., and can also be applied to wireless personal area network systems based on ultra-wide band (UWB), such as the 802.15 series standards, and can also be applied to sensing systems, such as the 802.11bf series standards. It can also be applied to the next-generation standards of IEEE 802.11be, such as 802.11bn and the Ultra High Reliability (UHR) working group. Among them, transmission reliability is an important focus of UHR. In addition, in the millimeter wave frequency band, the IEEE 802.11 standard group plans to establish an Integrated Millimeter Wave (IMMW) working group. Among them, the 802.11n standard is called high throughput (HT), the 802.11ac standard is called very high throughput (VHT) standard, the 802.11ax standard is called high efficiency (HE) standard, and the 802.11be standard is called extremely high throughput (EHT) standard. Among them, 802.11bf includes two major categories of standards: low frequency (e.g., sub7 GHz) and high frequency (e.g., 60 GHz). The implementation of sub7GHz mainly relies on standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be and the next generation, and the implementation of 60GHz mainly relies on standards such as 802.11ad, 802.11ay and the next generation.802.11ad may also be called a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) standard, and 802.11ay may also be called an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) standard.

[0088] Although the embodiments of the present application are primarily described using the deployment of a WLAN network, particularly a network using the IEEE 802.11 system standard, as an example, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the various aspects of the embodiments of the present application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as a high-performance wireless local area network (HIPERLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), or other networks now known or developed in the future. Therefore, regardless of the coverage area and wireless access protocol used, the various aspects provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to any suitable wireless network.

[0089] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to various communication systems, such as: WLAN communication system, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), sixth generation (6G) system, Internet of Things (IoT) network or vehicle to x (V2X), etc.

[0090] The above-mentioned communication system applicable to the present application is only an example, and the communication system applicable to the present application is not limited to this. It is described uniformly here and will not be repeated below.

[0091] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , the communication method provided by the present application is applicable to data communication between access points (APs) (such as AP1 and AP2 as shown in FIG1 ) and stations (STAs) (such as non-AP STA1, non-AP STA2, and non-AP STA3 as shown in FIG1 ), wherein the stations can be non-AP stations (non-AP STAs), referred to as non-AP stations or STAs, and the APs can be referred to as access stations. Specifically, the scheme of the present application is applicable to data communication between an AP and one or more non-AP stations (for example, data communication between AP1 and non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2), as well as data communication between APs (for example, data communication between AP1 and AP2), and data communication between non-AP STAs (for example, data communication between non-AP STA2 and non-AP STA3).

[0092] An access point is a node that allows terminals (such as mobile phones) to access a wired (or wireless) network. It is primarily deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius of tens to hundreds of meters. It can also be deployed outdoors. An access point acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, connecting wireless network clients and then connecting the wireless network to the Ethernet.

[0093] Specifically, the access point can be a terminal or network device with a Wi-Fi chip, and the network device can be a server, a router, a switch, a bridge, a computer, a mobile phone, a relay station, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in a 6G network, or a network device in a public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The access point can be a device that supports the Wi-Fi standard. For example, the access point can also support one or more standards of the IEEE 802.11 series, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ad, and 802.11ay. For another example, the access point can also support the next generation standard of IEEE 802.11be, such as the UHR working group involved in 802.11bn. Among them, transmission reliability is an important focus of UHR. For another example, the access point may also support the millimeter wave frequency band. For example, the IEEE 802.11 standard group plans to establish an IMMW working group.

[0094] A non-AP site may be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal, and may also be referred to as a user, user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. A non-AP site may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, an Internet of Things device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a 6G network, or a terminal device in a PLMN, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. A non-AP site may be a device that supports the WLAN standard. For example, non-AP stations can support one or more standards in the IEEE 802.11 series, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ad, and 802.11ay. For another example, non-AP stations can also support the next generation of IEEE 802.11be, such as the Ultra High Resolution (UHR) working group involved in 802.11bn. Transmission reliability is a key focus of UHR. For another example, non-AP stations can also support millimeter wave (mmW) frequency bands, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards group plans to establish an IMMW working group.

[0095] For example, non-AP sites can be mobile phones, tablets, set-top boxes, smart TVs, smart wearable devices, in-vehicle communication devices, computers, Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, sensors, smart homes such as smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters, and sensors in smart cities.

[0096] The above-mentioned AP or non-AP site may include a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, a processor, etc., wherein the transmitter and the receiver are used for sending and receiving packet structures respectively, the memory is used to store signaling information and store preset values ​​agreed in advance, etc., and the processor is used to parse signaling information, process related data, etc.

[0097] For example, Figure 2 shows a communication device provided by the present application. The device shown in Figure 2 can be an AP or a non-AP site. Among them, a medium access control (MAC) layer processing module, a physical (PHY) layer processing module, a radio frequency / antenna, etc. are used to implement the relevant functions of the above-mentioned transmitter and receiver. As shown in Figure 2, in addition to the MAC layer processing module, the PHY layer processing module, the radio frequency / antenna, the memory, and the processor, the device can also include a controller and a scheduler.

[0098] It should be understood that FIG2 is merely an example of a device provided in the present application and does not constitute a limitation of the present application. For example, the device may not include a controller and / or a scheduler.

[0099] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, some terms or concepts that may be involved in the embodiments of the present application are first briefly described.

[0100] 1. Multi-link device (MLD): An IEEE 802.11 standard station device that supports multiple links simultaneously is called a multi-link device (MLD), and the internal entity responsible for any one link is called a station (STA). If all STAs within an MLD are access points (APs), it can be further called an AP MLD; if all STAs within an MLD are non-AP STAs, it can be further called a non-AP MLD. In the IEEE 802.11be protocol, MLD supports multi-link operation technology. If different links can receive and transmit at the same time (for example, a multi-link device includes two links, and within the same time period, one link can be used to transmit signals and the other link can be used to receive signals), this mode is called simultaneous transmitting and receiving (STR) mode. If different links can only receive or transmit simultaneously (for example, a multi-link device includes two links, and the two links can only be used to transmit signals in the same time period, or the two links can only be used to receive signals in the same time period), this mode is called non-simultaneously transmitting and receiving (NSTR) mode. The solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is applicable to both the STR mode and the NSTR mode.

[0101] The MLD has multiple radio frequency modules that can operate in different frequency bands. For example, the MLD can operate in all or part of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and millimeter wave bands of 45 GHz and above. The MLD can include an AP MLD and / or a non-access point (non-AP) MLD. For example, the non-AP MLD can be a STA MLD.

[0102] For example, using AP MLD as an example, an AP MLD may include one or more affiliated sites, each of which has its own media access control (MAC) address. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the affiliated sites of the AP MLD include AP1 and AP2. The lower MAC address of AP1 is link address 1, and the lower MAC address of AP2 is link address 2. In addition, the AP MLD also has an upper MAC address, referred to as the MLD MAC address.

[0103] AP MLD and non-AP MLD can establish a multi-link connection through signaling interaction on any link. Figure 4 exemplifies a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-link between multi-link devices provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, AP MLD includes AP1 and AP2, AP1 includes AP1 PHY, AP1 low-layer MAC and high-layer MAC, AP2 includes AP2 PHY, AP2 low-layer MAC and high-layer MAC, wherein AP1 and AP2 share the high-layer MAC, non-AP MLD includes STA1 and STA2, STA1 includes STA1 PHY, STA1 low-layer MAC and high-layer MAC, STA2 includes STA2 PHY, STA2 low-layer MAC and high-layer MAC, wherein STA1 and STA2 share the high-layer MAC, AP1 and STA1 are connected via link 1, and AP2 and STA2 are connected via link 2.

[0104] 2. Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Continuously improving throughput is an ongoing technical goal in the evolution of WLAN. WLAN system protocols are primarily discussed within the 802.11 standards group. Throughput has been continuously improved in previous standards such as 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax. The standard currently under discussion, 802.11be, known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT), sets a significant improvement in peak throughput as its most important technical goal. The next generation of 802.11be standards (e.g., 802.11bn) includes an Ultra High Reliability (UHR) working group, with transmission reliability being a key focus for UHR. Furthermore, in the millimeter wave band, the 802.11 standards group plans to establish an Integrated Millimeter Wave (IMMW) working group.

[0105] Specifically, to achieve the technical goal of extremely high throughput, the 802.11be standard uses Multi-Link Operation (MLO) as one of its key technologies. The core idea is that WLAN devices that support the 802.11 standard have the ability to send and receive on multiple links, or multiple frequency bands (Multi-band), so that a larger bandwidth can be used for data transmission, thereby significantly improving throughput. Multi-bands include but are not limited to Wi-Fi bands such as the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, the 5GHz Wi-Fi band, and the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. Access and transmission on each frequency band is called a link, or access and transmission on a frequency range on the same frequency band is called a link, so access and transmission consisting of multiple links is called MLO.

[0106] 3. Long-distance transmission and relay: Many application scenarios require long-distance transmission of up to 1-2 kilometers between different nodes, such as smart grids and highway traffic monitoring. However, due to regulatory restrictions, transmitting nodes cannot use very high power, and due to uncertain wireless channel conditions, direct transmission of 1-2 kilometers between nodes is not possible. In this case, relay nodes are needed to relay signals to achieve long-distance transmission.

[0107] The 802.11ah standard introduces relay transmission, and its topology can be shown in Figure 5. There are three types of nodes: the root access point (Root AP) (such as the root access point in Figure 5), relays (such as relay #1, relay #2, and relay #3 in Figure 5), and stations (STAs) (such as station #1, station #2, station #3, station #4, station #5, and station #6 in Figure 5). Some STAs are directly associated with the root AP (such as station #1 associated with the root AP in Figure 5), while some STAs are associated with relays (such as station #2 and station #3 associated with relay #1, station #4 associated with relay #2, and station #5 and station #6 associated with relay #3 in Figure 5). In addition, relays can be associated with other relays (such as relay #3 associated with relay #1 in Figure 5), forming a multi-level relay network.

[0108] The relay consists of three components: the relay station (STA), the relay function, and the relay access point (AP), as shown in Figure 6. The relay STA, as a node in the upper-layer Basic Service Set (BSS), communicates with the root AP or the relay layer above it. The relay AP, as a node in the lower-layer BSS, communicates with its associated relays or STAs. The relay function acts as a bridge between the relay STA and the relay AP, connecting to the logical link layer to implement the relay function.

[0109] In addition to increasing coverage distance, multiple hops can also improve the channel quality of each hop, thereby increasing transmission speed and overall throughput, which is another benefit of relay transmission. Furthermore, in the millimeter wave frequency band, which is easily blocked by obstacles, relay transmission provides a backup link, which is a third benefit of relay transmission.

[0110] 4. Establishment of relay transmission process: The 802.11ad standard defines the establishment method of the millimeter wave frequency band relay transmission process. Specifically, the system architecture diagram of the relay transmission application is shown in Figure 7, which includes a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP) or access point (PCP / AP as shown in Figure 7), a source relay usable mSTA (SRUS) (SRUS as shown in Figure 7), a relay supportable mSTA (RSUS) (RSUS as shown in Figure 7), and a destination relay usable mSTA (DRUS) (DRUS as shown in Figure 7). Among them, SRUS can be referred to as the source station, RSUS can be referred to as the relay, and DRUS can be referred to as the destination station.

[0111] It should be understood that this application does not impose any limitation on the name of the site, as long as it can achieve the corresponding function.

[0112] Exemplarily, the establishment of the millimeter wave frequency band relay transmission process includes the following stages:

[0113] Phase 1: Discovering relay devices.

[0114] For ease of understanding, the following describes in detail the process of discovering a relay device with reference to FIG8 .

[0115] As shown in Figure 8, relay capability interaction and relay device discovery include the following steps:

[0116] S810, SRUS sends a relay search request to PCP / AP.

[0117] Specifically, the relay search request is used to request the PCP / AP to provide information about available relays.

[0118] S820, the PCP / AP sends a relay search response to the SRUS.

[0119] Specifically, the relay search response responds to the above relay search request, and the relay search response includes a relay list.

[0120] S830: The PCP / AP sends an active relay search response to the DRUS.

[0121] The active relay search response is used to inform the DRUS that this process is used to discover relays.

[0122] Phase 2: Relay device selection process.

[0123] For ease of understanding, the process of selecting a relay is described in detail below with reference to FIG9 .

[0124] As shown in Figure 9, relay selection includes the following steps:

[0125] S910, PCP / AP allocates a service period (SP) to each relay.

[0126] For example, the PCP / AP may allocate a service interval to each relay in an omnidirectional broadcast manner, wherein the omnidirectional broadcast may be understood as the PCP / AP allocating a service interval to each relay at the same time.

[0127] S920, beamforming.

[0128] Each relay performs beamforming (BF) processing, or beamforming training, with the destination site and the source site within the corresponding SP.

[0129] S930, SRUS sends a channel measurement request #1 to the relay.

[0130] Specifically, the source station sends a channel measurement request #1 to one or more candidate relays to obtain channel measurement information between the source station and the relay.

[0131] S940: The relay sends a channel measurement response #1 to the SRUS.

[0132] The channel measurement response #1 includes the channel measurement information between the source station and the relay.

[0133] It should be understood that the relay shown in FIG9 may be any one of one or more candidate relays, and the SRUS may send a channel measurement request to other candidate relays, and then the source site may obtain channel measurement information between the source site and one or more candidate relays.

[0134] S950, SRUS, and DRUS perform beamforming processing.

[0135] S960, SRUS sends a channel measurement request #2 to DRUS.

[0136] The source station sends a channel measurement request to the destination station to collect channel measurement information known to the destination station and between the destination station and the relay device known to the destination station.

[0137] S970 , DRUS sends a channel measurement response # 2 to SRUS.

[0138] The channel measurement response includes channel measurement information between the destination station and the relay device known to the destination station.

[0139] Furthermore, the source site selects a relay, and its selection principle depends on the implementation and may rely on the capability information of the relay and the channel quality.

[0140] Phase 3: Relay setup.

[0141] For ease of understanding, the process shown in the relay setting is described in detail below with reference to FIG10 .

[0142] As shown in Figure 10, relay setup includes the following steps:

[0143] S1010, SRUS sends a relay setting request #1 to RSUS.

[0144] The relay setting request includes SRUS information, DRUS information, relay capability and identification information, relay transmission parameters, etc.

[0145] S1020, RSUS sends a relay setup request #2 to DRUS.

[0146] RSUS forwards the information carried in the received relay setting request #1 to DRUS via relay setting request #2.

[0147] S1030, DRUS sends a relay setup response #2 to RSUS.

[0148] S1040, RSUS sends a relay setting response #1 to SRUS.

[0149] S1050, SRUS sends a relay setting notification to the PCP / AP.

[0150] The relay setting notification includes information indicating that the relay setting is successful.

[0151] The above text, in conjunction with FIG1 , briefly introduces the scenarios in which the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied, as well as the basic concepts that may be involved in the embodiment of the present application, and introduces the three stages of the current relay establishment process in the basic concepts. It can be seen from the above that when the PCP / AP notifies each relay device of its service interval in the process of selecting a relay device, it adopts an omnidirectional broadcast format without beamforming at the transmitting end. In the case that the next generation standard does not support robust physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs), the PCP / AP may not be able to notify the surrounding devices of the service interval of each relay device in the above manner. In addition, in the process of selecting a relay device, a large amount of beamforming processing is required, which consumes a lot of time.

[0152] In order to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned relay establishment process, the present application provides a communication method to reduce the overhead of establishing the relay transmission process.

[0153] The technical solution provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present application can be applied to a variety of different scenarios, including the scenario shown in FIG1 , but is not limited to this scenario.

[0154] It should be understood that the embodiments shown below do not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As long as it is possible to communicate according to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, for example, the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be a receiving device or a sending device, or a functional module in the receiving device or the sending device that can call and execute the program.

[0155] In this application, the devices involved in the following embodiments are multi-link devices (referred to as MLDs). Multiple links can be established between two MLDs. For example, a first communication link and a second communication link can be established between multi-link device #1 and multi-link device #2. The first communication link is a low-frequency communication link (e.g., the first communication link operates in a frequency band below 7 GHz), and the second communication link is a high-frequency communication link (e.g., the second communication link operates in a frequency band of 45 GHz and above). It is assumed that each MLD can communicate directly with each other in the first communication link without the need for relay operation.

[0156] Illustratively, in the following embodiments, the second communication link between the first MLD and the second MLD can be relayed through the first relay MLD, wherein the first MLD can be understood as the source MLD and the second MLD can be understood as the destination MLD, or the first MLD can be understood as the destination MLD and the second MLD can be understood as the source MLD.

[0157] For ease of understanding, the following takes the first MLD as the source MLD and the second MLD as the destination MLD as an example to illustrate a scenario to which the following embodiments are applicable.

[0158] FIG11 (a) to (d) are schematic diagrams of possible scenarios of MLD configuration involved in the following embodiments.

[0159] As can be seen from Figure 11 (a), this scenario includes PCP / AP MLD, SRUS MLD, RSUS MLD and DRUS MLD, which is equivalent to the system architecture diagram of relay transmission shown in Figure 7 above. Relay transmission can also be implemented in the scenario shown in Figure 11 (a). The specific relay transmission establishment process will be explained below and will not be repeated here.

[0160] As can be seen from Figure 11 (b), this scenario includes PCP / AP MLD, RSUS MLD, and DRUS MLD. In the scenario shown in Figure 11 (b), SRUS MLD is PCP / AP MLD, that is, PCP / AP MLD can implement the functions of SRUS MLD. Therefore, relay transmission can also be implemented in the scenario shown in Figure 11 (b). The specific relay transmission establishment process will be explained below and will not be repeated here.

[0161] As can be seen from Figure 11 (c), the scenario includes PCP / AP MLD, RSUS MLD, and SRUS MLD. In the scenario shown in Figure 11 (c), DRUS MLD is PCP / AP MLD, that is, PCP / AP MLD can implement the functions of DRUS MLD. Therefore, relay transmission can also be implemented in the scenario shown in Figure 11 (c). The specific relay transmission establishment process will be described below and will not be repeated here.

[0162] As can be seen from (d) in Figure 11, the scenario includes PCP / AP MLD, DRUS MLD and SRUS MLD. In the scenario shown in (d) in Figure 11, RSUS MLD is PCP / AP MLD, that is, PCP / AP MLD can implement the functions of RSUS MLD. Therefore, relay transmission can also be implemented in the scenario shown in (d) in Figure 11. The specific relay transmission establishment process will be explained below and will not be repeated here.

[0163] As can be seen from (a) to (d) in FIG11 , the following embodiment can be applied to a scenario where a multi-link device establishes relay transmission, and the PCP / AP MLD can be one of SRUS MLD, RSUS MLD, and DRUS MLD.

[0164] It should be understood that (a) to (d) in Figure 11 are merely illustrative of scenarios in which the following embodiments can be applied, and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection of this application. In addition, the names of the various devices in (a) to (d) in Figure 11 are merely examples and do not constitute any limitation. This application does not impose any limitations on the names of the devices, and all devices that can achieve the corresponding functions are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0165] It should be noted that the first communication link and the second communication link in this embodiment are general terms, not specific links. The first communication link is understood to be a low-frequency communication link, that is, the low-frequency communication links between different MLDs can all be called first communication links (for example, in (a) of FIG11 , there are first communication links between the PCP / AP MLD and SRUS MLD, RSUS MLD, and DRUS MLD, but the first communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and SRUS MLD, the first communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and RSUS MLD, and the first communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and DRUS MLD are actually different first communication links). The second communication link is understood to be a high-frequency communication link, that is, the high-frequency communication links between different MLDs can all be called second communication links (for example, in (a) of FIG11 , there are second communication links between the PCP / AP MLD and SRUS MLD, RSUS MLD, and DRUS MLD, but the second communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and SRUS MLD, the second communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and RSUS MLD, and the first communication link between the PCP / AP MLD and DRUS MLD are actually different first communication links). The second communication link between MLD and DRUS MLD is actually a different second communication link).

[0166] Without loss of generality, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described in detail below using the interaction between the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD as an example. The first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD involved in the embodiments of the present application can be an access point AP or a chip system within an AP, and the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD can be a non-access point non-AP (e.g., a STA) or a chip system within a non-AP. The specific form of the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD is not limited in any way below, and devices that can implement the corresponding functions of the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0167] For ease of description, the embodiment is described by taking the first MLD as the source MLD, the second MLD as the destination MLD, and the first relay MLD as one of at least one relay MLD that can relay transmission between the first MLD and the second MLD as an example.

[0168] FIG12 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, comprising the following steps:

[0169] S1210: The first MLD obtains information of the first relay MLD.

[0170] Specifically, the first MLD obtains information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link. The first relay MLD is used to relay (or relay transmit, forward, transfer, etc.) information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD through the second communication link.

[0171] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD all support the first communication link and the second communication link. When the first MLD sends information to the second MLD via the second communication link, the first MLD can transmit the information to be sent to the second MLD to the first relay MLD via the second communication link, which then forwards the information to the second MLD via the second communication link. Therefore, the first relay MLD acts as a relay device between the first MLD and the second MLD. The following describes how to establish a relay transmission mode between the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD, using specific examples.

[0172] For example, in this embodiment, the first MLD obtains the information of the first relay MLD in the following two possible implementations:

[0173] Method 1: The first MLD is the source MLD, and there is a third MLD in the system (i.e., the PCP / AP mentioned above. In this embodiment, the PCP / AP also supports the first communication link and the second communication link. Therefore, the PCP / AP in this embodiment is called PCP / AP MLD). In the scenario shown in (a) of Figure 11, the first MLD can obtain information about the first relay MLD from the third MLD. For example, the first MLD receives information about at least one relay MLD from the PCP / AP MLD, and the first relay MLD is one of the at least one relay MLD. How the first MLD obtains information about the first relay MLD in the case shown in Method 1 will be described in detail below in conjunction with Figure 13, and will not be described in detail here.

[0174] Method 2: The first MLD is the source MLD, and the source MLD is the PCP / AP MLD described above. In the scenario shown in (b) of Figure 11, the first MLD can obtain information about the first relay MLD through the MLD association or detection process. For example, at least one relay MLD in the system sends an association request frame or a detection request frame to the first MLD, and the association request frame or the detection request frame carries information about the relay MLD. How the first MLD obtains information about the first relay MLD in the case shown in Method 2 will be described in detail below in conjunction with Figure 14, and will not be described in detail here.

[0175] From the above, it can be seen that in the process of obtaining the relay MLD, the first MLD may obtain information of at least one relay MLD. The at least one relay MLD can be called a candidate relay MLD, that is, the first MLD can transmit information to the second MLD through any one of the at least one relay MLD on the second communication link.

[0176] In order to improve communication performance, the first MLD can select some or all of the at least one relay MLD as relay devices that actually relay information transmitted between the first MLD and the second MLD. For example, the first relay MLD mentioned above is the relay MLD selected by the first MLD from the at least one relay MLD, that is, the first relay MLD is one of multiple candidate relay MLDs.

[0177] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first MLD performs relay MLD selection in the following two possible implementations:

[0178] As a possible implementation manner, the first MLD may perform preliminary relay MLD selection based on the channel quality corresponding to the first communication link.

[0179] For example, the first MLD receives a probe PPDU from the first relay MLD via the first communication link, and measures first channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link based on the probe PPDU. The second MLD receives a probe PPDU from the first relay MLD via the first communication link, and measures second channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link based on the probe PPDU, and sends the second channel information to the first MLD via the first communication link. This allows the first MLD to determine whether the first relay MLD can serve as a relay MLD on the second communication link to relay information between the first MLD and the second MLD based on the channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD on the first communication link, and the channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD.

[0180] The specific process of the first MLD selecting the relay MLD in this implementation will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 .

[0181] As another possible implementation, the first MLD may select a relay MLD based on the channel quality corresponding to the second communication link.

[0182] For example, a first MLD sends a channel measurement request message to a first relay MLD and a second MLD via a first communication link. In response to the channel measurement request message, the first MLD measures third channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD on the second communication link, and sends the third channel information to the first MLD via the first communication link. In response to the channel measurement request message, the second MLD measures fourth channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD on the second communication link, and sends the fourth channel information to the first MLD via the first communication link. This allows the first MLD to determine whether the first relay MLD can serve as a relay MLD to relay information between the first MLD and the second MLD on the second communication link based on the channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and the channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD on the second communication link.

[0183] The process of the first MLD selecting the relay MLD in this implementation will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 .

[0184] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the relay MLD selected by the first MLD is described as the first relay MLD. The first MLD can implement relay MLD setting through the relay setting request message. The method flow shown in FIG12 further includes:

[0185] S1220: The first MLD sends a first request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD.

[0186] Specifically, the first MLD sends a first request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link. The first request message includes information about the first MLD, information about the second MLD, and information about the first relay MLD.

[0187] For the first relay MLD, the first request message is used to request the first relay MLD to establish a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and the first request message is used to request the first relay MLD to establish a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD.

[0188] For the second MLD, the first request message is used to request the second MLD to establish a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD.

[0189] Optionally, after the first relay MLD and the second MLD establish the second communication link in response to the first request message, the first relay MLD and the second MLD may notify the first MLD of the completion of the relay setting through a first response message.

[0190] Exemplarily, the first request message may be referred to as a relay setting request message, and the first response message may be referred to as a relay setting response message.

[0191] Exemplarily, the first MLD may also send a notification message on the first communication link, where the notification message is used to notify the end of relay transmission, or the notification message is used to notify the switching of relay transmission mode, where the relay transmission mode includes a switching mode or a cooperative mode.

[0192] For example, the notification message notifies the first relay MLD and / or the second MLD to terminate the relay operation on the second communication link; for another example, the notification message notifies the first relay MLD and / or the second MLD to switch the relay transmission mode.

[0193] 19 and 20 , a detailed description will be given below of how the first MLD notifies the end of relay transmission or switches the relay transmission mode through a notification message.

[0194] As an example and not a limitation, since the first MLD, the first relay MLD, and the second MLD all support the first communication link and the second communication link, a possible transmission mode is: information is transmitted directly between the first MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, and the first MLD transmits information to the second MLD through the first relay MLD. This transmission mode can be understood as a transmission mode combining the first communication link and the second communication link.

[0195] Exemplarily, in order to realize the joint transmission of the first communication link and the second communication link, when allocating service intervals, a first service interval can be allocated to the first MLD on the first communication link, and a second service interval can be allocated to the first MLD on the second communication link, so that the first MLD can directly transmit information to the second MLD through the first communication link within the first service interval, and can transmit information to the second MLD through the first relay MLD within the second service interval, that is, the first MLD transmits information to the first relay MLD through the second communication link within the second service interval, and the first relay MLD transmits the received information to the second MLD through the second communication link within the corresponding service interval.

[0196] For ease of understanding, the following will describe in detail the allocation method of service intervals corresponding to different communication links when implementing the joint transmission of the first communication link and the second communication link in conjunction with Figure 21, which will not be described in detail here.

[0197] As shown above, in the communication method shown in Figure 12, the first communication link (low frequency, such as below 7GHz) is assisted by the second communication link (such as millimeter wave, above 40GHz) to perform relay device selection and setting, etc. Management information and control information (such as the above-mentioned first request message, etc.) can be efficiently transmitted to each device through the first communication link, reducing the overhead of establishing relay transmission.

[0198] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of obtaining information of a relay MLD, wherein the source MLD is the first MLD shown in FIG12 , the destination MLD is the second MLD shown in FIG12 , and the PCP / AP MLD is the third MLD in the communication method shown in FIG12 . The method of obtaining information of the relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0199] S1310: The source MLD sends a second request message to the PCP / AP MLD.

[0200] Specifically, the source MLD sends a second request message to the PCP / AP MLD via the first communication link. The second request message is used to request the PCP / AP MLD to provide information about at least one relay MLD that can provide relay services for the source MLD and the destination MLD, wherein the second request message carries information about the source MLD and the destination MLD.

[0201] Optionally, the second request message may be a relay search request message.

[0202] As a possible implementation manner, the PCP / AP MLD can determine at least one relay MLD that can provide relay services for the source MLD and the destination MLD based on the information carried in the second request message and the information of different MLDs stored locally, and provide the information of the at least one relay MLD to the source MLD through the second response message.

[0203] As another possible implementation, the PCP / AP MLD may determine that no device supports serving as a relay device based on the information carried in the second request message and locally stored information of different MLDs, and may directly feedback that the relay setting cannot be supported.

[0204] The following describes how PCP / AP MLD determines whether a device supports being a relay device.

[0205] S1320: The PCP / AP MLD sends a second response message to the source MLD.

[0206] Specifically, the PCP / AP MLD sends a second response message to the source MLD via the first communication link. The second response message includes information of at least one relay MLD, where the first relay MLD is one of the at least one relay MLD.

[0207] Exemplarily, the information of the at least one relay MLD included in the second response message includes, but is not limited to: an identifier of the at least one relay MLD (e.g., a relay MLD identifier list) and capability information of the at least one relay MLD. The capability information may be information indicating that a certain MLD can serve as a relay MLD, or information indicating a relay transmission mode supported by the relay MLD.

[0208] Optionally, the second response message is a relay search response message.

[0209] Furthermore, when the PCP / AP MLD provides information of at least one relay MLD to the source MLD, the PCP / AP MLD may also proactively provide information of the at least one relay MLD to the destination MLD. FIG13 may further include:

[0210] S1330: The PCP / AP MLD sends a second response message to the target MLD.

[0211] Specifically, the PCP / AP MLD sends a second response message to the destination MLD through the first communication link.

[0212] It should be noted that the message sent by the PCP / AP MLD to the source MLD and carrying information about at least one relay MLD, and the message sent by the PCP / AP MLD to the destination MLD and carrying information about at least one relay MLD, are both referred to as second response messages. However, it should be understood that the destination address of the message sent by the PCP / AP MLD to the source MLD and carrying information about at least one relay MLD is different from the destination address of the message sent by the PCP / AP MLD to the destination MLD and carrying information about at least one relay MLD. For ease of distinction, the second response message in step S1320 is referred to as second response message #1, and the second response message in step S1330 is referred to as second response message #2. In this embodiment, the two messages with different destination addresses are named the same for ease of description.

[0213] In the case shown in Figure 13, the first MLD can obtain the information of the relay MLD from the PCP / AP MLD through the first communication link. Compared with the process of discovering the relay device shown in Figure 8 above, the third MLD can feedback the information of the relay MLD through the first communication link, and can use omnidirectional transmission to provide the information of the relay MLD to the first MLD and the second MLD at the same time, thereby improving feedback efficiency.

[0214] It should be noted that, in the case shown in FIG13 , the premise that the PCP / AP MLD can provide the information of the relay MLD is that the PCP / AP MLD locally stores the information of different MLDs. In this embodiment, the PCP / AP MLD can obtain the information of different MLDs through the MLD association process. For ease of understanding, the following detailed description of how the PCP / AP MLD obtains the information of different MLDs is given in combination with (a) and (b) in FIG14 .

[0215] FIG14(a) is a schematic diagram of another method for obtaining information of a relay MLD according to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the MLD to be associated is the first MLD, relay MLD, or second MLD shown in FIG12 , and the PCP / AP MLD is the third MLD in the communication method shown in FIG12 . The method for obtaining information of the relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0216] S1410: The MLD to be associated sends a third request message to the PCP / AP MLD.

[0217] The third request message includes information of the MLD to be associated.

[0218] The MLD to be associated in FIG14 may be one or more of a relay MLD, a destination MLD, and a source MLD.

[0219] As a possible implementation method, the third request message is an MLD association request frame, which includes capability information of the relay MLD, the destination MLD, and the source MLD on the second communication link, for example, whether the MLD to be associated supports being a relay source MLD or a destination MLD, whether the MLD to be associated supports being a relay MLD, the relay operation mode (whether the direct link from the source MLD to the destination MLD and the relay link from the source MLD to the relay MLD to the destination MLD are switching mode or cooperative mode), whether it has power supply and other capability information.

[0220] As another possible implementation, the third request message is an MLD probe request frame. For example, before MLD association, an MLD probe can also be performed. One or more of the relay MLD, the destination MLD, and the source MLD sends an MLD probe request frame to the AP MLD. The MLD probe request frame includes capability information of the relay MLD, the destination MLD, and the source MLD on the second communication link.

[0221] S1420: The PCP / AP MLD sends a third response message to the MLD to be associated.

[0222] The third response message includes PCP / AP MLD information.

[0223] As a possible implementation method, if the above-mentioned third request message is an MLD association request frame, the third response message is an MLD association response frame, which includes the capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link, for example, whether the PCP / AP MLD supports being a relay source MLD or destination MLD, whether the PCP / AP MLD supports being a relay MLD, the relay operation mode (whether the direct link from the source MLD to the destination MLD and the relay link from the source MLD to the relay MLD to the destination MLD are switching mode or cooperative mode), whether it has power supply and other capability information.

[0224] As another possible implementation, if the third request message is an MLD probe request frame, the third response message is an MLD probe response frame, and the MLD probe request frame includes capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link.

[0225] Optionally, the beacon frame broadcast by the PCP / AP MLD on the first communication link may also include capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link.

[0226] In the process shown in (a) of FIG14 , different MLDs exchange their respective capability information in the second communication link in the first communication link.

[0227] For easier understanding, the association process among the relay MLD, the destination MLD, the source MLD, and the PCP / AP MLD is described with reference to FIG14(b).

[0228] FIG14(b) is a schematic diagram of another method for obtaining relay MLD information provided by an embodiment of the present application, including the following steps:

[0229] S1411: The relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD sends a probe request frame to the PCP / AP MLD.

[0230] Specifically, the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD sends a probe request frame to the PCP / AP MLD via the first communication link. The probe request frame carries capability information of the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD on the second communication link.

[0231] S1412: The PCP / AP MLD sends a probe response frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD.

[0232] Specifically, the PCP / AP MLD sends a probe response frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD through the first communication link. The probe response frame carries capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link.

[0233] S1413: The PCP / AP MLD sends a beacon frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD.

[0234] Specifically, the PCP / AP MLD sends a beacon frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD through the first communication link.

[0235] Optionally, the beacon frame carries capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link.

[0236] S1414: The relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD sends an association request frame to the PCP / AP MLD.

[0237] Specifically, the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD sends an association request frame to the PCP / AP MLD via the first communication link. The association request frame carries capability information of the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD on the second communication link.

[0238] S1415 , the PCP / AP MLD sends an association response frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD.

[0239] Specifically, the PCP / AP MLD sends an association response frame to the relay MLD, the destination MLD, or the source MLD through the first communication link. The association response frame carries capability information of the PCP / AP MLD on the second communication link.

[0240] For example, when the first MLD obtains information about the first relay MLD in step S1210, if the first MLD functions as a PCP / AP MLD, the manner in which the first MLD obtains information about the relay MLD can refer to the process illustrated in FIG. 14 above. For example, the first MLD receives a third request message from the first relay MLD via the first communication link, the third request message including information about the first relay MLD. It should be understood that the first MLD can obtain information about at least one relay MLD through the process illustrated in FIG. 14 , where the first relay MLD is one of the at least one relay MLD.

[0241] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a relay MLD selection provided by an embodiment of the present application, wherein the source MLD is the first MLD shown in FIG12 , the destination MLD is the second MLD shown in FIG12 , the relay MLD is the first relay MLD shown in FIG12 , and the PCP / AP MLD is the third MLD in the communication method shown in FIG12 . The method for selecting the relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0242] S1510, PCP / AP MLD sends first indication information.

[0243] The first indication information is used to notify channel detection.

[0244] Exemplarily, the PCP / AP MLD triggers the source MLD, candidate relay MLDs, and target MLDs to perform channel measurement on the first communication link through first indication information. For example, the AP MLD sends a Null Data Packet Announcement (NDPA) frame on the first communication link to notify some or all of the source MLD, relay MLDs, and target MLDs on the first communication link to perform channel sounding.

[0245] Optionally, the PCP / AP MLD may send the first indication information to the source MLD, candidate relay MLDs, and target MLDs in the system in an omnidirectional manner.

[0246] In this embodiment, after the source MLD, the candidate relay MLD, and the target MLD receive the above-mentioned indication information #1, they can implement channel quality measurement by sending a probe PPDU. For example, after the source MLD receives the indication information #1, it sends a probe PPDU #1 to the candidate relay MLD and the target MLD. The probe PPDU #1 is used to measure the channel quality between the relay MLD and the source MLD in the first communication link, as well as the channel quality between the relay MLD and the target MLD. For another example, after the target MLD receives the indication information #1, it sends a probe PPDU #2 to the candidate relay MLD and the source MLD. The probe PPDU #2 is used to measure the channel quality between the relay MLD and the source MLD in the first communication link, as well as the channel quality between the relay MLD and the target MLD. For another example, after the relay MLD receives the indication information #1, it sends a probe PPDU #3 to the destination MLD and the source MLD. The probe PPDU #3 is used to measure the channel quality between the relay MLD and the source MLD in the first communication link, as well as the channel quality between the relay MLD and the target MLD.

[0247] For ease of description, the following description is made by taking a relay MLD among the candidate relay MLDs sending a detection PPDU as an example. The method flow shown in FIG15 further includes:

[0248] S1520: The relay MLD sends a detection PPDU.

[0249] Specifically, the relay MLD that receives the first indication information may send a probe PPDU to the source MLD and the destination MLD via the first communication link. The probe PPDU is used to measure the channel quality between the relay MLD and the source MLD, and the channel quality between the relay MLD and the destination MLD on the first communication link.

[0250] Exemplarily, the PCP / AP MLD sends an NDP on the first communication link. The NDP is used by the source MLD and the destination MLD to measure the channel quality between the source MLD and the relay MLD on the first communication link.

[0251] Optionally, the relay MLD may send the above-mentioned detection PPDU to the source MLD and the target MLD in the system in an omnidirectional manner.

[0252] Exemplarily, after receiving the probe PPDU, the source MLD may measure the channel quality between the source MLD and the relay MLD based on the probe PPDU to obtain first channel information. After receiving the probe PPDU, the target MLD may measure the channel quality between the target MLD and the relay MLD based on the probe PPDU to obtain second channel information, and send the measured second channel information to the source MLD via the first communication link. The method flow shown in FIG15 further includes:

[0253] S1530: The destination MLD sends a channel measurement report to the source MLD.

[0254] The channel measurement report includes the second channel information between the target MLD and the relay MLD.

[0255] It should be understood that other relay MLDs among the candidate relay MLDs may also send a probe PPDU and execute steps S1520 and S1530 above, so that the source MLD can obtain the channel quality between different candidate relay MLDs and the source MLD, and between different candidate relay MLDs and the destination MLD. The source MLD can then perform a preliminary relay MLD selection based on the obtained channel quality information. Optionally, if there are multiple candidate relay MLDs, the multiple candidate relay MLDs may perform multiple sets of channel measurements serially to obtain channel quality.

[0256] S1540: The source MLD selects a relay MLD.

[0257] Specifically, the source MLD can obtain the channel qualities between different candidate relay MLDs and the source MLD, and between different candidate relay MLDs and the destination MLD through the channel measurement process on the first communication link, so that the source MLD can select a relay MLD based on the obtained channel qualities.

[0258] For example, when the source MLD obtains the channel quality #1 corresponding to the relay MLD#1, the channel quality #2 corresponding to the relay MLD#2, and the channel quality #3 corresponding to the relay MLD#3, the relay MLD whose channel quality does not meet the preset conditions (such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR), or received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is lower than the preset value) is screened out.

[0259] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of another method for selecting a relay MLD provided by an embodiment of the present application, wherein the source MLD is the first MLD shown in FIG12 , and the first MLD serves as the PCP / AP MLD, the destination MLD is the second MLD shown in FIG12 , and the relay MLD is the first relay MLD shown in FIG12 . The method for selecting a relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0260] S1610: The source MLD sends first indication information.

[0261] With reference to the description of step S1510 above, the difference is that in this embodiment, the device that triggers channel measurement on the first communication link through the first indication information is the source MLD, which will not be described in detail here.

[0262] S1620: The relay MLD sends a detection PPDU.

[0263] S1630: The destination MLD sends a channel measurement report to the source MLD.

[0264] S1640: The source MLD selects the relay MLD.

[0265] For the description of steps S1620 to S1640, please refer to the description of steps S1520 to S1540 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0266] In this embodiment, the source MLD can roughly screen candidate relay MLDs using the aforementioned method. This helps reduce the overhead of performing beamforming training directly on the second communication link. Furthermore, during channel sounding on the first communication link, devices can directly transmit information to each other, facilitating rapid training. For example, a sounding PPDU sent by the relay MLD using omnidirectional transmission can be received simultaneously by both the source MLD and the destination MLD.

[0267] Furthermore, after preliminarily screening some relay MLDs, the source MLD may further perform relay MLD selection on the second communication link.

[0268] As a possible implementation, after preliminarily screening some relay MLDs, the source MLD can select a relay MLD on the second communication link using an existing relay MLD selection method.

[0269] As another possible implementation, after preliminarily screening some relay MLDs, the source MLD may use the first communication link to assist in sending some control or management information to accelerate the relay MLD selection process on the second communication link and improve the reliability of the corresponding signal.

[0270] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of another method for performing relay MLD selection provided in an embodiment of the present application, including the following steps:

[0271] S1710, PCP / AP MLD sends information about the service range.

[0272] For example, the PCP / AP may allocate a service interval to each relay via omnidirectional broadcast on the first communication link and / or the second communication link, wherein omnidirectional broadcast may be understood as the PCP / AP allocating a service interval to each relay at the same time.

[0273] S1720, beamforming training.

[0274] Each relay in the corresponding SP performs beamforming (BF) processing, or beamforming training, with the destination MLD and the source MLD on the second communication link. After the beamforming training, data transmission can be performed on the second communication link.

[0275] S1730: The source MLD sends a channel measurement request message to the relay MLD and the destination MLD.

[0276] The channel measurement request message is used to request to obtain the third channel information between the source MLD and the relay MLD corresponding to the second communication link, and the fourth channel information between the destination MLD and the relay MLD.

[0277] Exemplarily, the relay MLD measures the third channel information between the source MLD and the relay MLD in response to the channel measurement request message.

[0278] Exemplarily, in response to the channel measurement request message, the destination MLD measures fourth channel information between the destination MLD and the relay MLD.

[0279] S1740: The source MLD receives channel measurement request responses from the relay MLD and the destination MLD.

[0280] Exemplarily, the relay MLD provides the measured third channel information to the source MLD through a channel measurement request response, and the destination MLD provides the measured fourth channel information to the source MLD through a channel measurement request response.

[0281] S1750: The source MLD selects a relay MLD.

[0282] Specifically, the source MLD can obtain the channel qualities between different candidate relay MLDs and the source MLD, and between different candidate relay MLDs and the destination MLD by initiating a channel measurement process for the second communication link on the first communication link. The source MLD can then select a relay MLD based on the obtained channel qualities.

[0283] For example, when the source MLD obtains the channel quality #1 corresponding to the relay MLD#1, the channel quality #2 corresponding to the relay MLD#2, and the channel quality #3 corresponding to the relay MLD#3, the relay MLD whose channel quality does not meet the preset conditions (such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR), or received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is lower than the preset value) is screened out.

[0284] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of another method for performing relay MLD selection provided in an embodiment of the present application, including the following steps:

[0285] S1810: The source MLD sends information about the service range.

[0286] With reference to the description of step S1710 above, the difference is that the device that allocates the service interval information in this embodiment is the source MLD, which will not be described in detail here.

[0287] S1820, beamforming training.

[0288] S1830: The source MLD sends a channel measurement request to the relay MLD and the second MLD.

[0289] S1840: The source MLD receives channel measurement responses from the relay MLD and the second MLD.

[0290] S1850: The source MLD selects a relay MLD.

[0291] For the description of steps S1820 to S1850, please refer to the description of steps S1720 to S1750 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0292] For example, in this embodiment, since the source MLD, the destination MLD, and the relay MLD all support the first communication link and the second communication link, the first communication link and the second communication link can cooperate for relay transmission. If the two links transmit the same content, data reliability can be improved; if different content is transmitted, data throughput can be improved. To enable the first communication link and the second communication link to cooperate for relay transmission, a service interval can be allocated to the first communication link and the second communication link.

[0293] As shown in Figure 12, the first MLD can also notify the relay transmission end or switch the relay transmission mode through a notification message. The following describes the process of the first MLD notifying the relay transmission end or switching the relay transmission mode through a notification message with reference to Figures 19 and 20.

[0294] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of a method for notifying the end of relay transmission or switching the relay transmission mode provided by an embodiment of the present application, wherein the source MLD is the first MLD shown in FIG12 , the destination MLD is the second MLD shown in FIG12 , the relay MLD is the first relay MLD shown in FIG12 , and the PCP / AP MLD is the third MLD in the communication method shown in FIG12 . The method for selecting the relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0295] S1910: The source MLD sends a notification message.

[0296] Specifically, the source MLD sends a notification message to the destination MLD, relay MLD, and PCP / AP MLD over the first communication link. The notification message is used to notify the destination MLD, relay MLD, and PCP / AP MLD of the termination of relay transmission or the switch to the relay transmission mode. For example, the notification message notifies the destination MLD and relay MLD to stop transmitting information over the second communication link. For another example, the notification message notifies the destination MLD and relay MLD to change the relay transmission mode.

[0297] Optionally, the source MLD may send the notification message to the destination MLD, relay MLD, and PCP / AP MLD in the system in an omnidirectional manner.

[0298] Optionally, after receiving the notification message, the destination MLD may inform the source MLD, the relay MLD, and the PCP / AP MLD that the relay transmission has ended or that the relay transmission mode switching is completed through a notification response message.

[0299] S1920: The source MLD receives a notification response message.

[0300] FIG20 is a schematic diagram of a method for notifying the end of relay transmission or switching the relay transmission mode provided by an embodiment of the present application, wherein the source MLD is the first MLD shown in FIG12 , and the first MLD serves as the PCP / AP MLD, the destination MLD is the second MLD shown in FIG12 , and the relay MLD is the first relay MLD shown in FIG12 . The method for selecting the relay MLD includes the following steps:

[0301] S2010: The source MLD sends a notification message.

[0302] S2120: The source MLD receives the notification response message.

[0303] For the description of steps S2010 and S2120, please refer to the description of steps S1910 and S1920 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0304] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of a service interval configuration provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0305] As shown in Figure 21, when allocating service intervals, PCP / AP MLD can send service interval information through the first communication link and / or the second communication link (such as PCP / AP MLD link 1 shown in Figure 21), wherein PCP / AP MLD allocates a second service interval to the source MLD on the second communication link, and allocates a third service interval to the relay MLD on the second communication link (such as service interval 21 of the source MLD on link 2 and service interval 22 of the relay MLD on link 2 as shown in Figure 21); in addition, PCP / AP MLD allocates a first service interval to the source MLD on the first communication link (such as service interval 1 of the source MLD on link 1 as shown in Figure 21).

[0306] Because the PCP / AP MLD allocates service intervals to the source MLD on both the first and second communication links, and allocates a service interval to the relay MLD on the second communication link, data can be sent directly from the source MLD to the destination MLD on the first communication link. On the second communication link, data is first sent from the source MLD to the relay MLD, and then from the relay MLD to the destination MLD.

[0307] For example, when the PCP / AP MLD allocates service intervals, if the difference between the end time of the first service interval and the end time of the third service interval is less than a second threshold, and the difference between the start time of the first service interval and the start time of the second service interval is less than the first threshold, it can be achieved that when data is scheduled on the first communication link and the second communication link, the data is sent from the source MLD to the destination MLD simultaneously (or within a certain time difference). For example, the source MLD shown in Figure 21 sends data to the destination MLD via link 1 within service interval 1 and receives an acknowledgment from the destination MLD via link 1 within service interval 1. In addition, the source MLD sends data to the relay MLD via link 2 within service interval 21 and receives an acknowledgment from the relay MLD via link 2 within service interval 21. The relay MLD sends data to the destination MLD via link 2 within service interval 22 and receives an acknowledgment from the destination MLD via link 2 within service interval 22.

[0308] Optionally, the action of allocating service intervals in FIG21 can be implemented by other MLDs. For example, if the source MLD is a PCP / AP MLD, the source MLD can implement service interval allocation and service interval information transmission. For another example, if the destination MLD is a PCP / AP MLD, the destination MLD can implement service interval allocation and service interval information transmission. For another example, if the relay MLD is a PCP / AP MLD, the relay MLD can implement service interval allocation and service interval information transmission. Examples are not given here one by one.

[0309] It should be understood that the size of the serial numbers of the above 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.

[0310] It should also be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0311] It should also be understood that in some of the above embodiments, devices in existing network architectures are mainly used as examples for illustrative purposes, and it should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific form of the devices. For example, devices that can achieve the same functions in the future are applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0312] It is understandable that in the above-mentioned various method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by a device (such as the first MLD, the first relay MLD, etc.) may also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) applicable to the device.

[0313] It can also be understood that some optional features in the various embodiments of the present application may not depend on other features in certain scenarios, and may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios, without limitation.

[0314] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above, in conjunction with Figure 12. The communication method is primarily described from the perspective of interaction between the first MLD and the first relay MLD. It is understood that, to implement the aforementioned functions, the first MLD and the first relay MLD include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the respective functions.

[0315] Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0316] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to Figures 22 to 24. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment. Therefore, for matters not described in detail, reference can be made to the method embodiment above. For the sake of brevity, some contents are not repeated here.

[0317] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the transmitting device or the receiving device can be divided according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following is an example of dividing each functional module according to each function.

[0318] Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 10 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 10 includes a transceiver module 11 and a processing module 12. The transceiver module 11 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 12 is used to process data. In other words, the transceiver module 11 is used to perform operations related to receiving and sending, and the processing module 12 is used to perform other operations besides receiving and sending. The transceiver module 11 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit.

[0319] Optionally, the device 10 may further include a storage module 13, which may be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 12 may read the instructions and / or data in the storage module so that the device implements the actions of the devices in the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0320] In one design, the device 10 may correspond to the first MLD in the above method embodiment, or a component (such as a chip) of the first MLD.

[0321] The device 10 can implement the steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first MLD in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver module 11 can be used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the first MLD in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 12 can be used to perform the processing-related operations of the first MLD in the above method embodiment.

[0322] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 11 is used to obtain information of the first relay MLD through a first communication link, where the first relay MLD is used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD through a second communication link; the transceiver module 11 is also used to send a first request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, where the first request message is used to request establishment of a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, wherein a frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

[0323] When the device 10 is used to execute the method in FIG. 12 , the transceiver module 11 may be used to execute the steps of sending and receiving information in the method, such as steps S1210 and S1220 , and the processing module 12 may be used to execute the processing steps in the method.

[0324] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit executing the above corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0325] In another design, the apparatus 10 may correspond to the first relay MLD in the above method embodiment, or a component (such as a chip) of the first relay MLD.

[0326] The apparatus 10 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the first relay MLD in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver module 11 can be used to perform operations related to transceiver transmission of the first relay MLD in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 12 can be used to perform operations related to processing of the first relay MLD in the above method embodiment.

[0327] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 11 is configured to receive a first request message from a first MLD via a first communication link, where the first request message is used to request establishment of a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, where the first relay MLD is used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD via the second communication link; and the processing module 12 is configured to establish, in response to the first request message, a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, where a frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

[0328] When the device 10 is used to execute the method in FIG. 12 , the transceiver module 11 may be used to execute the steps of sending and receiving information in the method, such as step S1220 , and the processing module 12 may be used to execute the processing steps in the method.

[0329] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit executing the above corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0330] It should also be understood that the device 10 here is embodied in the form of a functional module. The term "module" here may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a dedicated processor or a group processor, etc.) and memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, a combined logic circuit and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. In an optional example, those skilled in the art will understand that the device 10 may be specifically the mobile management network element in the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the mobile management network element in the above-mentioned method embodiments; or, the device 10 may be specifically the terminal device in the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, it will not be described here.

[0331] The apparatus 10 of each of the above-mentioned solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the device (such as the first MLD) in the above-mentioned method. This function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing the corresponding software implementation. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions; for example, the transceiver module can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the transmitting unit in the transceiver module can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver module can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as the processing module, can be replaced by a processor to respectively perform the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0332] In addition, the transceiver module 11 may also be a transceiver circuit (for example, may include a receiving circuit and a sending circuit), and the processing module may be a processing circuit.

[0333] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of another communication device 20 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device 20 includes a processor 21, which is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in a memory 22, or read data / signaling stored in the memory 22, to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, there are one or more processors 21.

[0334] Optionally, as shown in FIG23 , the device 20 further includes a memory 22 for storing computer programs or instructions and / or data. The memory 22 may be integrated with the processor 21 or may be separately provided. Optionally, there may be one or more memories 22 .

[0335] Optionally, as shown in Figure 23, the device 20 further includes a transceiver 23, which is used to receive and / or send signals. For example, the processor 21 is used to control the transceiver 23 to receive and / or send signals.

[0336] As a solution, the apparatus 20 is configured to implement the operations performed by the first MLD or the first relay MLD in the above method embodiments.

[0337] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0338] It should also be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM). For example, RAM can be used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, RAM includes the following forms: static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0339] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0340] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0341] 24 is a schematic diagram of a chip system 30 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The chip system 30 (or also referred to as a processing system) includes a logic circuit 31 and an input / output interface 32.

[0342] The logic circuit 31 may be a processing circuit in the chip system 30. The logic circuit 31 may be coupled to a storage unit and call instructions in the storage unit so that the chip system 30 can implement the methods and functions of the various embodiments of the present application. The input / output interface 32 may be an input / output circuit in the chip system 30, outputting information processed by the chip system 30 or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 30 for processing.

[0343] As a solution, the chip system 30 is used to implement the operations performed by the first MLD or the first relay MLD in the above various method embodiments.

[0344] For example, the logic circuit 31 is used to implement the processing-related operations performed by the first MLD or the first relay MLD in the above method embodiment; the input / output interface 32 is used to implement the sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by the first MLD or the second MLD in the above method embodiment.

[0345] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium on which computer instructions for implementing the methods executed by the device in the above-mentioned method embodiments are stored.

[0346] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the method performed by the first MLD or the first relay MLD in each embodiment of the above method.

[0347] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implement the methods performed by the first MLD or the first relay MLD in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0348] The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including the aforementioned first MLD, the first relay MLD, the second MLD, and the third MLD.

[0349] The explanation of the relevant contents and beneficial effects of any of the above-mentioned devices can be referred to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, which will not be repeated here.

[0350] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only 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. In addition, 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.

[0351] 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. For example, the computer can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc. 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 by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrations. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)). For example, the aforementioned available medium includes, but is not limited to, various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0352] 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 multi-link device MLD obtains information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link, where the first relay MLD is used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD through the second communication link; The first MLD sends a first request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, wherein the first request message is used to request to establish a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, The frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than the frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first MLD acquiring the information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link includes: The first MLD sends a second request message to a third MLD through the first communication link, where the second request message is used to request to obtain information of at least one relay MLD that provides relay services for the first MLD and the second MLD; The first MLD receives a second response message from the third MLD through the first communication link, the second response message including information of the at least one relay MLD, and the first relay MLD is one of the at least one relay MLD.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first MLD acquiring the information of the first relay MLD through the first communication link includes: The first MLD receives a third request message from the first relay MLD through the first communication link, where the third request message includes information of the first relay MLD.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD receives a detection physical layer protocol data unit from the first relay MLD through the first communication link; The first MLD measures first channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link according to the detection physical layer protocol data unit; The first MLD receives second channel information from the second MLD, where the second channel information is channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD sends a channel measurement request message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, where the channel measurement request message is used to request to obtain third channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the second communication link, and fourth channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD; The first MLD receives the third channel information from the first relay MLD through the first communication link, and receives the fourth channel information from the second MLD through the first communication link.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD receives information about a service range corresponding to the first relay MLD from a third MLD through the first communication link.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD allocates, to the first relay MLD, a service range corresponding to the first relay MLD; The first MLD sends information about a service range corresponding to the first relay MLD to the first relay MLD through the first communication link.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD determines a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link and a second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, The first MLD and the second MLD transmit information through the first communication link during the first service period, the first MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the second service interval, and the difference between the start time of the first service interval and the start time of the second service interval is less than a first threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first MLD determines a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link and a second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, including: The first MLD receives the information of the first service interval and the information of the second service interval from a third MLD.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first MLD determines a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link and a second service interval corresponding to the second communication link, including: The first MLD allocates a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and a second service interval and a third service interval corresponding to the second communication link, The method further comprises: The first MLD sends information about the third service interval to the second MLD and the first relay MLD through the first communication link, The second MLD and the first relay MLD perform information transmission within the third service interval, and a difference between a termination time of the first service interval and a termination time of the third service interval is less than a second threshold.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first MLD sends a notification message to the first relay MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, where the notification message is used to notify that relay transmission ends, or the notification message is used to notify switching of a relay transmission mode.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first relay multi-link device MLD receives a first request message from a first MLD through a first communication link, wherein the first request message is used to request to establish a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD, and the first relay MLD is used to relay information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD through the second communication link; The first relay MLD establishes a second communication link between the first MLD and the first relay MLD, and a second communication link between the second MLD and the first relay MLD in response to the first request message, The frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than the frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first relay MLD sends a third request message to a third MLD through the first communication link, where the third request message includes information of the first relay MLD.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first relay MLD receives information about the service range of the first relay MLD through the first communication link, and the first relay MLD and the first MLD perform beamforming training within the service range of the first relay MLD, and the first relay MLD and the second MLD perform beamforming training.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first relay MLD sends a detection physical layer protocol data unit to the first MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, and the detection physical layer protocol data unit is used to measure first channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link, and to measure second channel information between the second MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the first communication link.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first relay MLD receives a channel measurement request message from the first MLD through the first communication link, where the channel measurement request message is used to request to obtain third channel information between the first MLD and the first relay MLD corresponding to the second communication link; The first relay MLD sends a channel measurement response message to the first MLD through the first communication link, where the channel measurement response message includes the third channel information.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first relay MLD receives a notification message from the first MLD through the first communication link, where the notification message is used to notify that relay transmission ends, or the notification message is used to notify switching of a relay transmission mode.

18. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The third relay multi-link device MLD receives at least one third request message from at least one relay MLD through the first communication link, wherein the third request message includes information of the relay MLD; The third MLD receives a second request message from the first MLD through the first communication link, where the second request message is used to request to obtain information of at least one relay MLD that relays information transmitted by the first MLD to the second MLD through the second communication link; The third MLD sends a second response message to the first MLD and the second MLD through the first communication link, wherein the second response message includes information of the at least one relay MLD, The frequency band in which the first communication link operates is lower than the frequency band in which the second communication link operates.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: The third MLD sends first indication information to the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD through the first communication link, where the first indication information is used to instruct some or all of the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD to perform channel measurement.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The third MLD sends second indication information to the first MLD, the second MLD and the at least one relay MLD through the first communication link, where the second indication information includes information about a service range of each relay MLD in the at least one relay MLD.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: The third MLD allocates a first service interval corresponding to the first communication link, and a second service interval and a third service interval corresponding to the second communication link; The third MLD sends information about the first service interval and information about the second service interval to the first MLD, and sends information about the third service interval to the second MLD and the first relay MLD, The first MLD and the second MLD transmit information through the first communication link during the first service period, the first MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the second service interval, the second MLD and the first relay MLD transmit information within the third service interval, the difference between the end time of the first service interval and the end time of the third service interval is less than a second threshold, and the difference between the start time of the first service interval and the start time of the second service interval is less than a first threshold.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or comprising a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, or comprising a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 18 to 21.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor, configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory so that the apparatus performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, or so that the apparatus performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, or so that the apparatus performs the method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that The apparatus also includes the memory.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 21.

Images