Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications. Provided are a communication method and apparatus, which can provide differentiated coverage for different users. The method comprises: an access point (AP) acquiring a first identifier; and on the basis of a first sending power, sending a data frame to a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on January 30, 2024, with application number 202410133548.7 and application name “Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] Wireless local area networks (WLAN) are a widely used communication technology. Devices in a WLAN include access points (APs) and stations (STAs).

[0004] With the rapid development of WLAN, differentiated coverage is desired in user-dense locations such as campus networks, enterprise parks, automated production workshops, and hospitals. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus that can provide differentiated coverage for different users.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by an access point (AP), or by a component of the AP, such as an AP processor, chip, or chip system, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the AP's functionality. The method includes: obtaining a first identifier; and transmitting a data frame to a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on a first transmit power.

[0007] Based on this solution, the AP can send data frames indicated by a specific identifier based on a specific transmit power, which is different from the transmit power of other data frames. The data frames indicated by the specified identifier are, for example, data frames sent to a specified terminal device, or data frames sent to a terminal device held by a specified user. In this way, the method can distinguish different terminal devices (terminal devices are also held by a certain user) or different users to set different transmit powers, thereby providing differentiated network coverage for different users.

[0008] In one possible design, the communication method also includes: obtaining a second identifier; and sending a data frame to a second terminal device indicated by the second identifier based on a second transmission power.

[0009] In one possible design, the first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

[0010] Based on this possible design, the first transmit power is greater than the first threshold. Exemplarily, the first threshold may be the AP's default transmit power. In this case, the first transmit power is greater than the AP's default transmit power, which is equivalent to increasing the AP's transmit power when sending data frames to the first terminal device, thereby improving the user experience of the first terminal device and ensuring the user experience.

[0011] In one possible design, the first transmission power is determined based on a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, wherein the first path loss is the path loss of the transmission frame between the first terminal device and the access point AP associated with it.

[0012] Based on this possible design, the first transmission power is determined based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the terminal device. For example, the first transmission power may be the sum of the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, or the first transmission power may be the sum of multiple parameters including the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. Since the first path loss is the path loss of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the minimum received signal strength of the transmission frame from the AP received and demodulated by the first terminal device, thereby determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device can ensure the received signal strength of the data frame received by the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can demodulate the data frame.

[0013] In one possible design, the first path loss is determined based on the transmit power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0014] In one possible design, the first path loss is the difference between the transmit power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0015] Based on the above two possible designs, the first path loss can be determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss.

[0016] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame is determined based on the second transmission frame, the second transmission frame is used to indicate the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and the second transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame.

[0017] Based on this possible design, the second transmission frame can be used to indicate the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Thus, the first path loss can be determined based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the transmit power of the first transmission frame, providing a basic guarantee for the first transmit power determined based on the first path loss.

[0018] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, and the frame type of the third transmission frame is different from that of the first transmission frame.

[0019] Based on this possible design, when the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be determined based on the transmission power of different uplink or downlink transmission frames of the frame type of the first transmission frame, providing a basic guarantee for the first path loss determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and further determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0020] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame; the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame and a first numerical value, and the first numerical value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame.

[0021] In one possible design, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0022] Combining the above two possible designs, when the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be determined based on the transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value), providing a basic guarantee for the first path loss determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and further determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0023] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame; the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, a first numerical value, and a second numerical value, the first numerical value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame, and the second numerical value is the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type.

[0024] In one possible design, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

[0025] In combination with the above two possible designs, when the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be determined based on the transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value). Since the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is known to the first terminal device; however, the accuracy of the transmission power of the first transmission frame reported by the terminal device is low, so the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be calculated based on the known transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value). Compared with the solution in which the first terminal device reports the transmission power of the first transmission frame to the first device, the accuracy of the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be improved, thereby improving the accuracy of the first path loss determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and further improving the accuracy of the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0026] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a first device, or by a component of the first device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the first device, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first device. The method includes: obtaining a first identifier; and obtaining a first transmit power for a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier, where the first transmit power is used to transmit a data frame of the first terminal device.

[0027] In one possible design, the communication method also includes: sending a first transmitting power to an access point AP associated with the first terminal device.

[0028] In one possible design, the communication method also includes: sending a data frame of the first terminal device based on the first transmitting power.

[0029] In one possible design, the first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

[0030] In one possible design, obtaining a first transmission power for a first terminal device indicated by a first identifier includes: obtaining a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, the first path loss being the path loss of a transmission frame between the first terminal device and an AP associated with it; and determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0031] In one possible design, obtaining the first path loss includes: obtaining the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, where the transmission frame includes the first transmission frame; and determining the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0032] In one possible design, the first path loss is the difference between the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0033] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame, and obtaining the received signal strength of the first transmission frame includes: obtaining a second transmission frame, where the second transmission frame is used to indicate the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0034] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame, and obtaining the transmission power of the first transmission frame includes: obtaining the transmission power of the third transmission frame, where the frame type of the third transmission frame is different from that of the first transmission frame; and determining the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame.

[0035] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame; based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined, including: obtaining a first value, the first value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame; based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined.

[0036] In one possible design, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0037] In one possible design, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame; based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined, including: obtaining a first value, the first value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame; obtaining a second value, the second value is the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type; based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined.

[0038] In one possible design, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

[0039] In one possible design, the communication method also includes: receiving a rate requirement of the first terminal device.

[0040] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any possible design of the second aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding design in the above-mentioned first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0041] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in one possible design, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0042] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in a possible design, the first receiving sensitivity is the maximum sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity, or the first receiving sensitivity is any one receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0043] In combination with the first and second aspects, in one possible design, at least one receiving sensitivity is determined based on at least one modulation and coding strategy MCS; the first receiving sensitivity is the receiving sensitivity corresponding to the first MCS; wherein the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among at least one MCS, or the first MCS is one of the at least one MCS.

[0044] In combination with the above three possible designs, the first receiving sensitivity can be determined based on at least one receiving sensitivity, providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmitting power based on the first receiving sensitivity.

[0045] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in one possible design, a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is determined based on a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0046] In combination with the first and second aspects, in one possible design, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold, or the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the sum of the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold and a first noise value, where the first noise value is the magnitude of the noise between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0047] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in one possible design, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0048] In combination with the first and second aspects, in one possible design, at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold is determined based on at least one MCS; the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to the first MCS; wherein the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among the at least one MCS, or the first MCS is any one of the at least one MCS.

[0049] In combination with the foregoing three possible designs, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be determined based on at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmit power based on the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0050] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in one possible design, at least one MCS includes one or more MCSs corresponding to the rate requirement of the first terminal device.

[0051] In combination with the first aspect and the second aspect, in one possible design, the first identifier includes an identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first identifier includes a user identifier, and the user identifier indicates a user corresponding to the first terminal device.

[0052] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device may be the AP in the first aspect or the first device in the second aspect, or a device included in the AP or terminal device, such as a chip or chip system. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation method. The modules, units, or means may be implemented in hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0053] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, respectively configured to implement the receiving functionality and the transmitting functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0054] In some possible designs, the transceiver module may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0055] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device performs the method described in any one of the aspects. The communication device may be the AP described in the first aspect, or the first device described in the second aspect, or a device included in the AP or the first device, such as a chip or a chip system.

[0056] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is configured to communicate with a module external to the communication device; and the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction to cause the communication device to perform the method described in any one of the aspects. The communication device may be the AP described in the first aspect or the first device described in the second aspect, or a device included in the AP or the first device, such as a chip or chip system.

[0057] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory, so that the communication device performs the method described in any one of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor. The communication device may be the AP in the first aspect, or the first device in the second aspect, or a device included in the AP or the first device, such as a chip or chip system.

[0058] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0059] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0060] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the third to sixth aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as output information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as input information.

[0061] In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0062] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0063] In the ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes an access point AP and a terminal device, wherein the AP is used to obtain a first identifier and send a data frame to a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on a first transmission power; the terminal device is used to receive data frames from the AP.

[0064] In some possible designs, the communication system includes an AP which is the AP in the first aspect (or a device included in the AP, such as a chip or a chip system).

[0065] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising the first device of the second aspect (or an apparatus contained in the first device, such as a chip or a chip system), wherein the first device is configured to obtain a first identifier and obtain a first transmit power for a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier.

[0066] In one possible design, the first device is also used to send a first transmission power to an access point AP associated with the first terminal device.

[0067] In one possible design, the first device is also used to send data frames of the first terminal device based on the first transmission power.

[0068] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the third to tenth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the above-mentioned first or second aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG1 is an architecture diagram of a WLAN communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG2 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG3 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG4 is a flow chart of another communication method used in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a process for determining a first transmit power according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of determining a received signal strength of a first transmission frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of determining the transmit power of a first transmission frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of an AP determining a scheduling mode for a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural.

[0081] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0082] In addition, to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the words "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different.

[0083] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application 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 to facilitate understanding.

[0084] It will be understood that the “embodiment” mentioned throughout the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It will be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process 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 embodiment of the present application.

[0085] It can be understood that in this application, "when" and "if" both mean that corresponding processing will be taken under certain objective circumstances, and do not limit the time, nor do they require any judgment action when implementing, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0086] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application may, in certain scenarios, be implemented independently of other features, such as the solution on which they are currently based, to solve corresponding technical problems and achieve corresponding effects. They may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios as needed. Accordingly, the devices provided in the embodiments of the present application may also implement these features or functions accordingly, which will not be described in detail here.

[0087] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In the various embodiments in this application, and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, implementation methods, implementation methods, or implementation methods according to their inherent logical relationships. The implementation methods of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0088] With the rapid development of WLAN, differentiated coverage is desired in user-dense locations such as campus networks, enterprise parks, automated production workshops, and hospitals.

[0089] In one implementation, the AP can set different transmit powers based on the frame type. For example, the AP sets one transmit power for data frames and another for management or control frames. In this implementation, the AP sets different power caps for different frame types (e.g., data frames, management frames, and control frames), implementing power control for different frame types.

[0090] In another implementation, the WLAN controller can set different transmit powers for the AP based on whether there are terminal devices in coverage holes. For example, if there are terminal devices in coverage holes, the WLAN controller can increase the AP's current transmit power. If there are no terminal devices in coverage holes, the AP can use the current transmit power. In other words, in this implementation, different powers are set for the AP based on whether there are terminal devices in coverage holes.

[0091] Both implementations above set the AP's overall power. That is, once the AP's power is adjusted, it will use the adjusted power to serve all users. For example, in implementation one, the AP uses power 1 to send data frames for all users and power 2 to send control frames for all users. In implementation two, the AP uses power 1 to send frames for all users during time T1 and power 2 to send frames for all users during time T2.

[0092] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and apparatus. In this method, an AP can set a transmit power for a data frame indicated by a specified identifier, that is, the AP transmits the data frame indicated by the specified identifier based on the transmit power, and the transmit power of the data frame indicated by the specified identifier is different from the transmit power of other data frames. The data frame indicated by the specified identifier is, for example, a data frame sent to a specified terminal device, and the specified identifier is, for example, a device identifier of the specified terminal device (for example, a MAC address of the device, an IP address of the device, etc.). The data frame specified by the specified identifier is, for example, a data frame sent to a terminal device held by a specified user, and the specified identifier is, for example, a user identifier of the specified user. Exemplarily, the transmit power for sending the data frame indicated by the specified identifier can be preset, or can be set according to the needs of the specified user, or can be determined according to the communication quality of the specified terminal device. In this way, the method can distinguish different terminal devices (the terminal device is also held by a certain user) or different users and set different transmit powers, thereby providing differentiated network coverage for different users.

[0093] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to WLAN scenarios, and can be applied to IEEE 802.11 system standards, such as 802.11a / b / g standards, 802.11n standards, 802.11ac standards, 802.11ax standards, or their next generations, such as 802.11be standards or even later generations. Alternatively, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to wireless local area network systems such as the Internet of Things (IoT) network or the Vehicle to X (V2X) network. Of course, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other possible communication systems, such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, the LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), the world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, the fifth generation (5G) communication system, and other next generation communication systems.

[0094] The present application provides a WLAN communication system, which includes a first device and at least one terminal device associated with the first device. The first device may be any one of an AP, a WLAN controller (or a wireless controller), and an analyzer. When the WLAN system operates based on the control and provisioning of wireless access points (CAPWAP) protocol, the WLAN controller or wireless controller may be an access controller (AC), and accordingly, the AP may be a wireless termination point (WTP). The present application takes the WLAN controller or wireless controller as an AC as an example.

[0095] Optionally, in the case where the first device is any one of an AC or an analyzer, the WLAN communication system further includes an AP. In this case, the first device is configured to set a transmit power for the AP.

[0096] Referring to Figure 1, an architectural diagram of a WLAN communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 1 illustrates a WLAN including an AP associated with STA#1, STA#2, and STA#3. The AP can schedule wireless resources for its associated STAs and transmit data to them over the scheduled wireless resources. For example, the AP can schedule wireless resources for STA#1, STA#2, and STA#3 and transmit data, including uplink and / or downlink data frames, to them over the scheduled wireless resources.

[0097] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal device. For example, a user terminal, a user device, an access device, a subscriber station, a subscriber unit, a mobile station, a user agent, and a user equipment that support wireless fidelity (WiFi) communication functions, wherein the user terminal can include various handheld devices with wireless communication functions, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, as well as various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), terminal, terminal equipment, portable communication devices, handsets, portable computing devices, entertainment devices, gaming devices or systems, global positioning system devices or any other suitable devices configured to communicate over a wireless medium. In addition, the terminal can support the 802.11be standard. The terminal can also support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a.

[0098] The AP involved in the embodiment of the present application can be a device deployed in a wireless communication network to provide wireless communication functions for its associated STAs. It is mainly deployed in homes, inside buildings and inside campuses, with a typical coverage radius of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting a wireless local area network and other networks (for example, a wired network, a cellular mobile communication network, etc.). Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless local area network to other networks. Specifically, the AP can be a communication device such as a base station, router, gateway, repeater, communication server, switch or bridge with a WiFi chip, wherein the base station can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. In addition, the AP can support the 802.11be standard. The AP can also support WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a.

[0099] It should be noted that the WLAN communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0100] The following describes the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the following embodiments of the present application, the message names, parameter names, or information names between the devices are only examples, and other names may be used in other embodiments. The method provided in the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0101] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the execution subject may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the various steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 2 , which is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, the communication method may include the following steps S201 to S202 .

[0103] S201. The AP obtains a first identifier.

[0104] Optionally, the first identifier may be an identifier of a terminal device, or a user identifier.

[0105] Optionally, a user identifier can be associated with the identifier of at least one terminal device. Thus, when the first identifier is a user identifier, the first identifier can be associated with the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, in this case, the first identifier can indicate at least one terminal device.

[0106] Exemplarily, the identification of the terminal device can be an identifier (ID) of the terminal device, or it can be a media access control (MAC) address of the terminal device, or it can be an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the terminal device, or the identification of the terminal device can also exist in other implementation forms, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0107] For example, the first identifier can be a very important person (VIP) identifier. The VIP identifier can be understood as the user identifier of a VIP user, and correspondingly, the non-VIP user identifier can be understood as the identifier of a non-VIP user. Alternatively, the VIP identifier can be understood as the identifier of a terminal device associated with the VIP user. For example, each VIP user can be associated with at least one terminal device identifier.

[0108] The AP may obtain the first identifier based on configuration. For example, a network administrator or network operation and maintenance personnel may specify a VIP identifier through configuration, and the AP may read a configuration file to obtain the first identifier. Alternatively, the AP may read a configuration command entered through a command line, a control interface, or a management interface to obtain the first identifier.

[0109] The AP may also receive a first identifier. For example, the AP receives the first identifier sent by the AC or the analyzer.

[0110] S202. The AP sends a data frame to the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on the first transmission power.

[0111] Optionally, the first terminal device may be understood as the terminal device indicated by the first identifier. Wherein, when the first identifier indicates one terminal device, the first terminal device includes one terminal device; when the first identifier indicates multiple terminal devices, the first terminal device includes multiple terminal devices.

[0112] Optionally, the data frame sent by the AP to the first terminal device may also be referred to as the data frame of the first terminal device, or may be called other names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0113] Optionally, the first transmit power is greater than the AP's default transmit power. Exemplarily, the default transmit power can be understood as the power used by the AP by default to send transmission frames. The default transmit power can be the transmit power configured when the AP leaves the factory, or the transmit power set for the AP to send transmission frames after leaving the factory. When the terminal is not the first terminal device, the AP uses the default transmit power to send data frames to the terminal.

[0114] Exemplarily, a transmission frame may be a data frame or a non-data frame. Exemplarily, a non-data frame may include a control frame or a management frame. Specifically, management frames include, but are not limited to, beacon frames and association frames. Control frames include, but are not limited to, request to send (RTS) frames, clear to send (CTS) frames, acknowledgement (ACK) frames, and non-acknowledgement (NACK) frames.

[0115] Optionally, the AP sends a data frame to the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on the first transmission power, including: when the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device is greater than or equal to threshold A, the AP sends a data frame to the first terminal device based on the first transmission power.

[0116] Exemplarily, the AP can determine whether the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device is greater than or equal to threshold A. When the received signal strength is less than threshold A, it indicates that the first terminal device is already far away from the signal coverage of the AP. Therefore, the AP no longer needs to consider ensuring the user experience of the first terminal device. For example, the AP does not need to send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmission power. Furthermore, at this time, the AP can send data frames to the first terminal device based on the default transmission power. When the received signal strength is greater than or equal to threshold A, it indicates that the first terminal device is within the signal coverage of the AP. Therefore, the AP needs to consider ensuring the user experience of the first terminal device. For example, the AP can send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmission power to ensure user experience.

[0117] Optionally, a power control switch may be pre-set within the AP. When the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device is greater than or equal to threshold A, the power control switch may be turned on; when the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device is less than threshold A, the power control switch may be turned off. Thus, based on whether the power control switch is turned on, the AP may determine whether to send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmit power. For example, when the power control switch is turned on, the AP may send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmit power; when the power control switch is turned off, the AP may send data frames to the first terminal device based on the default transmit power.

[0118] Optionally, the AP can determine the relationship between the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device and the threshold A in real time; or, the AP can also periodically determine the relationship between the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device and the threshold A; or, the AP can determine the relationship between the received signal strength of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device and the threshold A before sending a data frame to the first terminal device each time.

[0119] For example, the value of threshold A can be -68dBm. It is understood that the values ​​of threshold A are only exemplified in the embodiments of this application. In practice, the value of threshold A can be other than the above values, and this embodiment of this application is not limited thereto. It is understood that threshold A can also be called by other names, such as the first signal strength threshold, and this embodiment of this application is not limited thereto.

[0120] Optionally, as shown in FIG3 , the communication method may further include the following steps S203 to S204 .

[0121] S203: The AP obtains a second identifier.

[0122] S204. The AP sends a data frame to the second terminal device indicated by the second identifier based on the second transmission power.

[0123] Exemplarily, the second terminal device can be understood as: a terminal device indicated by the second identifier. Wherein, when the second identifier indicates one terminal device, the second terminal device includes one terminal device; when the second identifier indicates multiple terminal devices, the second terminal device includes multiple terminal devices.

[0124] Exemplarily, the data frame sent by the AP to the second terminal device may also be referred to as the data frame of the second terminal device, or may be called other names, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0125] Optionally, the second identifier indicates a user / terminal device that does not require key protection, and the second transmission power is a default transmission power.

[0126] Optionally, similar to the first identifier, the second identifier also indicates the user or terminal device that needs to be protected. Exemplarily, the method for obtaining the second identifier is similar to the method for obtaining the first identifier. For details, please refer to the relevant introduction of the first identifier in step S201 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0127] Optionally, the second transmit power is the same as the first transmit power. For example, in a WLAN network, there are multiple users (e.g., two users) or multiple terminal devices (e.g., two terminal devices) that require special protection. The AP obtains identifiers of the two users or two terminal devices: a first identifier and a second identifier. The AP transmits data frames addressed to the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the same transmit power.

[0128] Optionally, the second transmit power is different from the first transmit power. For example, for users / terminal devices that require special protection, the AP can further differentiate protection levels and use different transmit powers for different protection levels. For example, if the protection level of the terminal device / user indicated by the first identifier is higher than the protection level of the terminal device / user indicated by the second identifier, the first transmit power is greater than the second transmit power; otherwise, the second transmit power is greater than the first transmit power.

[0129] Based on this optional solution, since the second transmission power is different from the first transmission power, the transmission power used by the AP when sending data frames to the first terminal device and when sending data frames to the second terminal device is different, that is, the AP uses different transmission powers to send data frames to different users, thereby providing differentiated network coverage for different users.

[0130] It should be noted that the above only takes two types of identifiers (i.e., the first identifier and the second identifier) ​​as an example to exemplify the transmission power corresponding to different identifiers (such as the first transmission power corresponding to the first identifier, or the second transmission power corresponding to the second identifier). In fact, the AP can obtain more identifiers, and different identifiers can also correspond to different transmission powers. That is to say, the AP can send data frames to terminal devices indicated by different identifiers based on multiple transmission powers.

[0131] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method in which an AP can set a transmission power for a data frame indicated by a specified identifier, that is, the AP sends the data frame indicated by the specified identifier based on the transmission power, and the transmission power is different from the transmission power of other data frames. The data frame indicated by the specified identifier is, for example, a data frame sent to a specified terminal device, or a data frame sent to a terminal device held by a specified user. In this way, the method can distinguish between different terminal devices (the terminal device is also held by a certain user) or different users to set different transmission powers, thereby providing differentiated network coverage for different users.

[0132] It should be noted that the above steps S201 to S204 are merely exemplary descriptions of the process of the communication method. There is no restriction on the order in which steps S201 and S203 are performed. For example, step S201 may be performed before step S203; alternatively, step S201 may be performed after step S203; alternatively, step S201 and step S203 may be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the order in which steps S202 and S204 are performed. For example, step S202 may be performed before step S204; alternatively, step S202 may be performed after step S204.

[0133] Optionally, the acquisition methods of the "first transmit power" and the "second transmit power (the second transmit power is greater than the AP's default transmit power)" described in the above embodiments are similar. The following is an introduction using the acquisition method of the first transmit power as an example. The acquisition method of the second transmit power can refer to the relevant description of the first transmit power below, which will not be repeated here.

[0134] As an example, the first transmit power can be set by the AP. For example, the AP can pre-set the first transmit power and then send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmit power. Based on this example, the AP itself sets the first transmit power. Compared to a solution where the first transmit power is determined by a device other than the AP and notified to the AP, this reduces message exchanges and saves overhead.

[0135] As another example, the first transmit power may be set by another device other than the AP and sent to the AP. For example, the another device other than the AP may include an AC or an analyzer.

[0136] Exemplarily, when the first transmission power is set by a device other than the AP and sent to the AP, taking the device other than the AP as an AC as an example, the process of the AP obtaining the first transmission power includes steps S205 to S207 as shown in FIG. 4 .

[0137] S205 . The AP sends a first identifier to the AC; correspondingly, the AC receives the first identifier from the AP.

[0138] S206. AC obtains a first transmission power for the first terminal device.

[0139] S207 : The AC sends a first transmit power to the AP; correspondingly, the AP receives the first transmit power from the AC.

[0140] Based on this example, a device other than the AP sets the first transmit power and notifies the AP. This can reduce resource consumption of the AP compared to a solution in which the AP itself determines the first transmit power.

[0141] In combination with the above two examples, the device for setting the first transmit power is collectively referred to as the first device (such as any one of the AP, AC, and analyzer); illustratively, the first device can set the first transmit power based on the following three methods.

[0142] Method 1: The first transmission power may be preset.

[0143] Optionally, the first transmit power may be predefined by a protocol, or configured by the AP at the factory, or may be pre-set by the first device.

[0144] Exemplarily, when the first transmit power is pre-set by the first device, the setting of the first transmit power may include the following two implementations.

[0145] As an implementation, the first transmission power may be randomly set by the first device.

[0146] Optionally, the first transmit power is greater than a threshold value B. Exemplarily, the first transmit power may be any value greater than the threshold value B.

[0147] Optionally, the value of threshold B may be the AP's default transmit power. It is understandable that threshold B may also be referred to as a first threshold, or other names, which are not limited in the present embodiment.

[0148] Based on this implementation, the first device can set the first transmit power to be greater than the first threshold. When the first threshold is the AP's default transmit power, the first transmit power is greater than the AP's default transmit power. In this case, the AP increases its transmit power when sending data frames to the first terminal device, thereby improving the user experience of the first terminal device and ensuring the user experience.

[0149] As another implementation, the first transmission power is one of at least one predefined power.

[0150] Optionally, the first transmission power may be any one of the at least one power, or the first transmission power may be the maximum power of the at least one power.

[0151] Optionally, the minimum power of the at least one power is greater than the AP's default transmit power. That is, the first transmit power is greater than the default transmit power. Exemplarily, when the number of powers included in the at least one power is 1, the value of the first transmit power can also be considered to be the default value.

[0152] Based on this implementation, the first device can select a first transmission power from at least one power. Since the minimum power among the at least one power is greater than the default transmission power, that is, the first transmission power is greater than the AP's default transmission power, at this time, it is equivalent to the AP increasing the AP's transmission power when sending data frames to the first terminal device, thereby improving the user experience of the first terminal device and ensuring the user experience.

[0153] Based on method 1, since the first transmission power is preset, the first device can directly obtain the first transmission power, thereby providing basic guarantee for the AP to send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmission power.

[0154] Method 2: The first transmission power may be determined by the first device based on the needs of the first terminal device.

[0155] Optionally, the first device may obtain the requirements of the first terminal device based on a configuration. For example, the first device reads a configuration file or configuration command to obtain the requirements of the first terminal device. For example, a network administrator or operation and maintenance personnel may indicate the requirements of the user / terminal device corresponding to the first identifier through a configuration file or configuration command, thereby obtaining the requirements of one or more terminal devices indicated by the first identifier.

[0156] Optionally, the first device may receive a request of the first terminal device sent by another device. For example, if the first device is an AP, the first terminal device may send its request directly to the AP; if the first device is a device other than an AP, the first terminal device may send its request to the AP, and the AP may then send the request to the first device.

[0157] Optionally, the requirement of the first terminal device can be understood as the requirement of the first terminal device for the first transmission power, or can also be understood as the requirement of the first terminal device for communication quality.

[0158] For example, the first device may pre-store a correspondence between different requirements and different transmit powers. Thus, after learning the communication quality requirement of the first terminal device, the first device may obtain the transmit power corresponding to the requirement (i.e., the first transmit power) from the correspondence.

[0159] Optionally, in the correspondence between different requirements and different transmit powers, the requirements and transmit powers may correspond one to one, or the requirements and transmit powers may correspond many to one. Exemplarily, the correspondence between different requirements and different transmit powers may include the following contents shown in Table 1 or Table 2:

[0160] Table 1

[0161] Table 2

[0162] It should be noted that the above example only introduces the implementation form of the correspondence between different requirements and different transmission powers in tabular form. The implementation form of the correspondence between different requirements and different transmission powers can also be in other forms besides tabular form, such as a set, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0163] Based on method 2, the first device can determine the first transmission power based on the needs of the first terminal device to meet the needs of the first terminal device, and further provide basic guarantee for the AP to send data frames to the first terminal device based on the first transmission power.

[0164] Mode 3: The first transmission power is determined based on a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, wherein the first path loss is a path loss for transmitting frames between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0165] Exemplarily, under mode 3, the first device may determine the first transmit power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. Specifically, as shown in FIG5 , the first device may set the first transmit power based on steps S501 to S502, wherein, when the first device is a device other than an AP, step S206 may be replaced by steps S501 to S502.

[0166] S501. The first device obtains a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of a first terminal device.

[0167] Exemplarily, the received signal strength may be represented by a received signal strength indication (RSSI). For example, the received signal strength of a transmission frame may be represented by the RSSI of the transmission frame.

[0168] Optionally, the first path loss can be understood as: the path loss of one or more transmission frames between the first terminal device and the AP associated with it.

[0169] Optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may indicate the received signal strength required for the first terminal device to demodulate the transmission frame it receives.

[0170] S502. The first device determines a first transmission power based on the first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0171] In one implementation, the first device determines the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. It can be understood that the first device can determine the first transmission power based on the two parameters of the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0172] Optionally, the first transmitting power is the sum of the first path loss and the receiving signal strength threshold of the terminal device.

[0173] In another implementation, the first device determines the first transmit power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. This can be understood as follows: the first device can determine the first transmit power based on multiple parameters, where the multiple parameters include the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. In other words, in addition to the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, other parameters are also required to assist in the process of the first device determining the first transmit power.

[0174] Optionally, the first transmitting power is the sum of multiple parameters.

[0175] Based on method three, the first transmission power is determined based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the terminal device. For example, the first transmission power may be the sum of the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, or the first transmission power may be the sum of multiple parameters including the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device. Since the first path loss is the path loss of the transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the minimum received signal strength of the transmission frame from the AP received and demodulated by the first terminal device, thereby determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device can ensure the received signal strength of the data frame received by the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can demodulate the data frame.

[0176] Optionally, after determining the first transmit power, the first device may further determine a final first transmit power based on the AP's transmit power threshold, thereby sending data frames to the first terminal device based on the final first transmit power. In other words, step S202 may be replaced with: the AP sends data frames to the first terminal device based on the final first transmit power.

[0177] Optionally, the final first transmit power is a smaller value between the first transmit power and the AP's transmit power threshold.

[0178] Optionally, the AP's transmit power threshold is the sum of the regulatory maximum transmit power and the AP's gain. The AP's gain refers to the sum of the AP's combined gain and the AP's antenna gain. For example, if the maximum transmit power is 20dBm and the AP's gain is 14dBm, the AP's transmit power threshold is 34dBm. In this case, if the first transmit power is 35dBm, the final first transmit power is 34dBm.

[0179] For example, the above description is based on the example of an AP gain of 14 dBm. In practice, the AP gain may be other values, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0180] It can be understood that since different countries support different maximum transmission powers, the maximum transmission power supported by regulations can be understood as: the maximum transmission power supported by the regulations of the country where the AP and the first terminal device are used; in addition, the maximum power corresponding to different AP models is also different, so the maximum transmission power supported by regulations can also be understood as: the maximum transmission power corresponding to the AP model under the regulations of the country where the AP and the first terminal device are used.

[0181] Based on the above three optional solutions, the first device can determine the final first transmit power based on the first transmit power and the AP's transmit power threshold, and then send the data frame to the first terminal device based on the final first transmit power. Since normal transmission of the data frame cannot be guaranteed when the first transmit power is greater than the AP's transmit power threshold, the first device can compare the first transmit power with the AP's transmit power threshold after determining it. If the first transmit power is greater than the AP's transmit power threshold, the first transmit power can be appropriately adjusted to be less than or equal to the AP's transmit power threshold, thereby ensuring normal transmission of the data frame.

[0182] The above is a description of the first transmission power. The following is a detailed introduction to the “first path loss” involved in the above embodiment.

[0183] As an example, the first path loss is the path loss of a certain transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device, such as the first path loss can be the path loss of the first transmission frame.

[0184] Exemplarily, the first transmission frame can be an uplink transmission frame or a downlink transmission frame; further, the first transmission frame can also be a data frame or a non-data frame. In this case, the first transmission frame can be any one of an uplink data frame, an uplink non-data frame, a downlink data frame, or a downlink non-data frame.

[0185] Exemplarily, in this example, the path loss of the first transmission frame (ie, the first path loss) can be obtained in the following two ways.

[0186] As a first possible implementation manner, the first device may determine the first path loss based on the transmit power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0187] Optionally, the first path loss is a difference between a transmit power of the first transmission frame and a received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0188] Exemplarily, the method for obtaining the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be referred to the relevant introduction of the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame below, which will not be repeated here.

[0189] Based on this possible implementation method, the first device can determine the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmission power based on the first path loss.

[0190] As a second possible implementation manner, the first path loss is pre-stored by the first device.

[0191] Illustratively, during the transmission of the first transmission frame, the first device may determine and store the first path loss, so that when acquiring the first path loss in step S501, the first device may directly acquire the first path loss from the storage unit.

[0192] Specifically, the AP can transmit different transmission frames to different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers. Thus, when transmitting different transmission frames between the AP and different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers, the first device can determine whether the identifier is the first identifier based on the identifier used to indicate the terminal device, thereby determining whether the transmission frame transmitted between the AP and the terminal device indicated by the identifier is the first transmission frame. Wherein, when the identifier is the first identifier, the transmission frame transmitted between the AP and the terminal device indicated by the identifier is the first transmission frame. Therefore, during the transmission of the first transmission frame, the first device can determine and store the first path loss; when the identifier is not the first identifier, the transmission frame transmitted between the AP and the terminal device indicated by the identifier is not the first transmission frame. Therefore, the first device does not need to determine the first path loss.

[0193] Based on this possible implementation, the first path loss is determined based on the transmit power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby providing a basis for determining the first transmit power based on the first path loss. Furthermore, because the first path loss is pre-stored by the first device, the first device can directly obtain the first path loss from the storage unit. Compared to a solution in which the first device calculates and determines the first path loss, this can reduce resource consumption on the first device.

[0194] As another example, the first path loss is determined based on the path loss of multiple transmission frames between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0195] Optionally, the multiple transmission frames may be multiple historical transmission frames between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0196] Exemplarily, multiple historical transmission frames can all be uplink transmission frames or downlink transmission frames; further, multiple historical transmission frames can all be data frames or non-data frames. In this case, multiple historical transmission frames can all be any one of uplink data frames, uplink non-data frames, downlink data frames, or downlink non-data frames.

[0197] Illustratively, a method for acquiring any one of the multiple historical transmission frames is similar to the method for acquiring the first transmission frame. For details, reference may be made to the relevant description of the first transmission frame, which will not be repeated here.

[0198] Optionally, the first path loss may be a statistical value of the path losses of multiple transmission frames, such as an average value, a percentile value, or a weighted value.

[0199] Exemplarily, in the case where the first path loss is a weighted value of the path losses of multiple transmission frames, the weights of the path losses of multiple transmission frames may be predefined by the protocol, or may be configured by the AP at the factory (if the first device is not an AP, the AP may inform the first device), or may be pre-set.

[0200] Exemplarily, in this example, the first device may obtain the first path power loss based on the following two methods.

[0201] As a first possible implementation manner, the first device may determine the first path loss based on path losses of multiple transmission frames.

[0202] Optionally, in this possible implementation, the path losses of the multiple transmission frames are pre-stored by the first device. Exemplarily, during the transmission of the multiple transmission frames, the first device may respectively determine and store the path losses of the multiple transmission frames, so that when obtaining the first path loss in step S501, the first device obtains the path losses of the multiple transmission frames from the storage unit, and further determines the first path loss based on the path losses of the multiple transmission frames.

[0203] As a second possible implementation manner, the first path loss is pre-stored by the first device.

[0204] Exemplarily, during the transmission process of multiple transmission frames, the first device can respectively determine the path losses of the multiple transmission frames, and determine and store the first path loss based on the path losses of the multiple transmission frames, so that when obtaining the first path loss in step S501, the first device can directly obtain the first path loss from the storage unit.

[0205] Based on this possible implementation, the first path loss is determined based on the path losses of multiple transmission frames. Compared to a solution in which the first device determines the first path loss based on the path loss of a single transmission frame, this improves the accuracy of the first path loss, thereby improving the accuracy of the first transmit power determined based on the first path loss. Furthermore, because the first path loss is pre-stored by the first device, the first device can directly obtain the first path loss from a storage unit. Compared to a solution in which the first device calculates the first path loss, this reduces resource consumption on the first device.

[0206] The above is an explanation of the first path loss involved in the above embodiment. The following is a detailed introduction to the “received signal strength of the first transmission frame” involved in the above embodiment.

[0207] Optionally, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame may be obtained based on the following two methods.

[0208] In one implementation, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame may be informed to the first device by the device receiving the first transmission frame.

[0209] Exemplarily, since the first transmission frame is a transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device, the device receiving the first transmission frame is the first terminal device; alternatively, the device receiving the first transmission frame is the AP. Specifically, if the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame (such as a downlink data frame or a downlink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is the first terminal device; if the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame (such as an uplink data frame or an uplink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is the AP.

[0210] It is understandable that, for a device receiving a transmission frame, it can measure the received signal strength of the transmission frame when receiving the transmission frame, and further, can inform the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame obtained by the measurement.

[0211] Specifically, taking the example of an AP transmitting link measurement (LM) request frames to different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers, when the AP transmits LM request frames to different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers, the first device can determine whether the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the terminal device indicated by the identifier is the first transmission frame based on whether the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is the first identifier, and further determine whether it is necessary to inform the first device of the received signal strength of the LM request frame. Wherein, in the case where the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is the first identifier, it means that the LM request frame corresponding to the first identifier is the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the first terminal device. At this time, the LM request frame corresponding to the first identifier is the first transmission frame. Therefore, the device receiving the first transmission frame can measure the received signal strength of the first transmission frame when receiving the first transmission frame, and further, can inform the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame (i.e., the transmission frame corresponding to the first identifier) ​​obtained by the measurement. In the case where the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is not the first identifier, it means that the LM request frame corresponding to the identifier is not the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the first terminal device. At this time, the LM request frame corresponding to the identifier is not the first transmission frame. Therefore, when receiving the transmission frame, the device does not need to measure the received signal strength of the transmission frame, nor does it need to inform the first device of the received signal strength of the transmission frame (that is, the transmission frame corresponding to the identifier).

[0212] Alternatively, when receiving the LM request frame, the terminal device receiving the LM request frame measures the received signal strength of the LM request frame it receives respectively, and informs the first device of the received signal strength of the LM request frame, so that the first device can know the received signal strength of the LM request frame from different terminal devices; since the terminal devices receiving the LM request frame include the first terminal device (i.e., the device that receives the first transmission frame), the first device can live-know the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0213] Optionally, when the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame (such as an uplink data frame or an uplink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is an AP, that is, the AP can measure the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Thus, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be notified to the first device. When the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame (such as a downlink data frame or a downlink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is a first terminal device, that is, the first terminal device can measure the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby notifying the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0214] Exemplarily, when the first device is an AP, the AP notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the first device can directly know the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. When the first device is a device other than the AP, the AP notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the AP sends the received signal strength of the first transmission frame to the first device. The first terminal device notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the first terminal device notifies the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and the AP notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0215] Optionally, in the case where the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be carried in the uplink transmission frame, that is, the first terminal device indicates the received signal strength of the first transmission frame through the uplink transmission frame. For example, taking the uplink transmission frame as an LM response frame as an example, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be indicated by the received channel power indicator (RCPI) field in the LM response frame. At this time, it can also be considered that the received signal strength of the first transmission frame is determined based on the uplink transmission frame.

[0216] Specifically, as shown in FIG6 , the implementation of the first terminal device notifying the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame may include the following steps S601 to S602:

[0217] S601. The AP sends a first transmission frame to a first terminal device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the first transmission frame from the first device.

[0218] Optionally, when receiving the first transmission frame, the first terminal device may measure the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0219] S602: The first terminal device sends a second transmission frame to the AP. Accordingly, the AP receives the second transmission frame from the first terminal device. The second transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame. At this point, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be determined based on the second transmission frame.

[0220] Optionally, the first transmission frame and the second transmission frame have the same frame type. Exemplarily, the first transmission frame and the second transmission frame may both be non-data frames, or the first transmission frame and the second transmission frame may both be data frames. For example, the first transmission frame and the second transmission frame may both be LM frames, the first transmission frame may be an LM request frame, and the second transmission frame may be an LM response frame.

[0221] Based on this implementation method, the device receiving the first transmission frame can inform the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the transmission power of the first transmission frame, providing basic guarantee for the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss.

[0222] In another implementation, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame may be pre-stored by the first device.

[0223] Optionally, in this implementation, the device receiving the first transmission frame may inform the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, so that the first device may store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0224] Optionally, when the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame (such as an uplink data frame, or an uplink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is an AP, that is, the AP informs the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame; when the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame (such as a downlink data frame, or a downlink non-data frame), the device receiving the first transmission frame is a first terminal device, that is, the first terminal device informs the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0225] For example, when the first device is an AP, the AP notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the first device can directly obtain the received signal strength of the first transmission frame; when the first device is a device other than the AP, the AP notifies the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the AP sends the received signal strength of the first transmission frame to the first device. Therefore, the first device can store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0226] Exemplarily, the first terminal device notifying the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame can be understood as follows: the first terminal device notifies the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and after the AP learns the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, it can notify the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. The first device can then store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0227] As an example, the first terminal device informs the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which can be understood as: the first terminal device among the multiple terminal devices served by the AP informs the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0228] Optionally, in this example, the AP may send a first transmission frame to the first terminal device, so that the first terminal device can measure and notify the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Alternatively, the AP may send transmission frames to multiple terminal devices served by it, and only the first terminal device among the multiple terminal devices served by the AP measures and notifies the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. The first device may then store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0229] For example, taking the first transmission frame as an LM request frame, the AP sends the first transmission frame to the first terminal device, and the first terminal device measures and informs the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Its implementation can refer to the relevant description of the above steps S601 to S602, which will not be repeated here.

[0230] When an AP sends transmission frames to multiple terminal devices it serves respectively, and only the first terminal device among the multiple terminal devices served by the AP measures and informs the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, in the implementation of steps S601 to S602 above, step S601 above can be replaced by: the AP sends LM request frames to the multiple terminal devices it serves respectively; accordingly, the multiple terminal devices respectively receive LM request frames from the AP, wherein the multiple terminal devices include the first terminal device. The LM request frame received by the first terminal device is the first transmission frame.

[0231] Based on this example, the first terminal device among the multiple terminal devices served by the AP informs the AP of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Therefore, after receiving the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, the AP does not need to distinguish whether it comes from the first terminal device, but can directly store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby reducing the delay in storing the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and improving the efficiency of storing the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0232] In addition, in the process of determining the first path loss, the first device can directly obtain the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, and then determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the sending power of the first transmission frame. Compared with the solution in which the first device obtains the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the device that receives the first transmission frame, it can reduce signaling interaction and save overhead.

[0233] As another example, a first terminal device notifies the AP of the received signal strength of a first transmission frame. This can be understood as follows: multiple terminal devices served by the AP each notify the AP of the received signal strength of their transmission frames. Since the multiple terminal devices served by the AP include the first terminal device, the first terminal device also notifies the AP of the received signal strength of its transmission frame (i.e., the first transmission frame). The first device can thus store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0234] Exemplarily, taking the case where the first transmission frame is an LM request frame and the second transmission frame is an LM response frame, in the implementation of steps S601 to S602 above, step S601 above can be replaced with: the AP sends LM request frames to the multiple terminal devices it serves respectively; accordingly, the multiple terminal devices receive the LM request frames from the AP respectively, wherein the multiple terminal devices include the first terminal device. The LM request frame received by the first terminal device is the first transmission frame. Step S602 above can be replaced with: the multiple terminal devices send LM response frames to the AP respectively, and accordingly, the AP receives LM response frames from the multiple terminal devices respectively; wherein the LM response frame is used to indicate the received signal strength of the LM request frame, and the LM response frame from the first terminal device is the second transmission frame.

[0235] Optionally, in this example, after receiving LM response frames from multiple terminal devices, the AP may directly notify the first device of the multiple LM response frames, or the AP may notify the first device of the second transmission frame among the multiple LM response frames. The first device may then store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0236] Exemplarily, the implementation of the AP informing the first device of multiple LM response frames, or informing the first device of the second transmission frame in multiple LM response frames is similar to the implementation of the above-mentioned AP informing the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the above-mentioned AP informing the first device of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, which will not be repeated here.

[0237] Optionally, the first device or AP may determine whether the LM response frame is the second transmission frame based on the identifier indicated by the identifier field in the LM response frame. Thus, the first device may store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame indicated by the second transmission frame.

[0238] Exemplarily, the identification field includes an identifier for indicating a terminal device, or the identification field indicates whether the terminal device sending the LM response frame is a first terminal device. Wherein, when the identification field includes an identifier for indicating a terminal device, the AP may compare at least one identifier in the identification set to determine whether the identifier included in the identification field for indicating the terminal device is the first identifier.

[0239] Specifically, the identification field can be represented by 1 bit. When the value of this bit is 1, it indicates that the terminal device sending the LM response frame indicated by it is the first terminal device; correspondingly, when the value of this bit is 0, it indicates that the terminal device sending the LM response frame indicated by it is not the first terminal device. Alternatively, when the value of this bit is 1, it indicates that the terminal device sending the LM response frame indicated by it is not the first terminal device; correspondingly, when the value of this bit is 0, it indicates that the terminal device sending the LM response frame indicated by it is the first terminal device.

[0240] Based on this example, the multiple terminal devices served by the AP respectively inform the AP of the received signal strength of their transmission frames. Since the multiple terminal devices served by the AP include the first terminal device, the first terminal device also informs the AP of the received signal strength of its transmission frame (i.e., the first transmission frame), so that the first device can store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, so that in the process of determining the first path loss, the first device can directly obtain the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, and then determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the transmission power of the first transmission frame. Compared with the solution in which the first device obtains the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the device that receives the first transmission frame, it can reduce signaling interaction and save overhead.

[0241] Based on the above two examples, optionally, the first device may store the received signal strength of the first transmission frame based on the following two methods.

[0242] As a possible implementation, the first device may replace the historical first transmission frame reception signal strength in the storage unit with the current first transmission frame reception signal strength; that is, the storage unit contains only the first transmission frame reception signal strength.

[0243] Exemplarily, in this possible implementation, when the first device obtains the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, it can obtain the received signal strength of the only first transmission frame, thereby determining the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the only first transmission frame, and further determining the first transmission power.

[0244] Exemplarily, based on the foregoing, the identifiers used to indicate multiple terminal devices served by the AP include at least one first identifier, so that different first identifiers correspond to different received signal strengths of the first transmission frames. Thus, in the storage unit, the received signal strengths of the first transmission frames corresponding to at least one first identifier can exist in the form of a table, a set, etc., or can also exist in other forms, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0245] Specifically, taking the case where the received signal strength of the first transmission frame corresponding to at least one first identifier is in tabular form and the first identifier is the MAC address of the terminal device as an example, when the first transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame corresponding to at least one first identifier may include the content shown in the following Table 3:

[0246] Table 3

[0247] In the case where the first transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame corresponding to at least one first identifier may include the content shown in the following Table 4:

[0248] Table 4

[0249] It should be noted that Tables 3 and 4 above only exemplarily list possible implementations of the received signal strength of the first identifier and the first transmission frame. There may be other implementations of the received signal strength of the first identifier and the first transmission frame, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0250] Based on this possible implementation method, the first device can determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the unique first transmission frame, and then determine the first transmission power. That is, the received signal strength of the unique first transmission frame in the storage unit can provide a basic guarantee for determining the first path loss and then determining the first transmission power; in addition, since the received signal strength of the unique first transmission frame is pre-stored by the first device, the first device can directly obtain the received signal strength of the unique first transmission frame from the storage unit; compared with the solution in which the first device obtains the received signal strength of the unique first transmission frame from the device receiving the first transmission frame, it can reduce signaling interaction and save overhead.

[0251] As another possible implementation, the first device may store the received signal strength of the current first transmission frame in a storage unit; that is, the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames exist in the storage unit.

[0252] Optionally, in this possible implementation, when the first device obtains the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, it can obtain the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames, so that the received signal strength of one first transmission frame can be determined based on the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames, and the first path loss can be determined based on the received signal strength of the one first transmission frame, and the first transmission power can be further determined.

[0253] Optionally, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame may be a statistical value of the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames, such as an average value, a percentile value, or a weighted value.

[0254] Exemplarily, in the case where the received signal strength of a first transmission frame can be a weighted value of the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames, the weights of the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames can be predefined by the protocol, or can be configured by the AP at the factory (if the first device is not the AP, the AP can inform the first device), or can also be pre-set.

[0255] Based on this possible implementation method, the first device can determine the received signal strength of a first transmission frame based on the received signal strengths of multiple first transmission frames, and then determine the first path loss. Compared with the scheme in which the first device determines the first path loss based on the received signal strength of a single first transmission frame, the accuracy of the first path loss can be improved, and the accuracy of the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss can be improved.

[0256] In combination with the above two possible implementations, optionally, when the first device obtains the received signal strength of a new first transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame in the storage unit may be updated.

[0257] Based on this implementation method, the first device pre-stores the received signal strength of the first transmission frame. Therefore, in the process of determining the first path loss, the first device can directly obtain the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, and then determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the transmission power of the first transmission frame. Compared with the solution in which the first device obtains the received signal strength of the first transmission frame from the device that receives the first transmission frame, it can reduce signaling interaction and save overhead.

[0258] The above is an explanation of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame involved in the above embodiment. The following is a detailed introduction to the “transmit power of the first transmission frame” involved in the above embodiment.

[0259] Optionally, the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be obtained based on the following three methods.

[0260] In a first possible implementation manner, the transmission power of the first transmission frame may be informed to the first device by the device that sends the first transmission frame.

[0261] Exemplarily, since the first transmission frame is a transmission frame between the AP and the first terminal device, the device sending the first transmission frame may be the AP, or the device sending the first transmission frame may be the first terminal device. Specifically, when the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame (such as a downlink data frame or a downlink non-data frame), the device sending the first transmission frame is the AP; and when the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame (such as an uplink data frame or an uplink non-data frame), the device sending the first transmission frame is the first terminal device.

[0262] It can be understood that for the device sending the transmission frame, the transmission power of the transmission frame is known, that is, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is known to the device sending the first transmission frame, so that the device sending the first transmission frame can inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame.

[0263] Specifically, taking the example of an AP transmitting LM request frames to different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers, when the AP transmits LM request frames to different terminal devices indicated by different identifiers, the first device can determine whether the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the terminal device indicated by the identifier is the first transmission frame based on whether the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is the first identifier, and further determine whether it is necessary to inform the first device of the transmission power of the LM request frame. Wherein, in the case where the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is the first identifier, it means that the LM request frame corresponding to the first identifier is the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the first terminal device. At this time, the LM request frame corresponding to the first identifier is the first transmission frame. Therefore, when the device sending the first transmission frame sends the first transmission frame, it can inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame (i.e., the transmission frame corresponding to the first identifier) ​​measured by it. In the case where the identifier used to indicate the terminal device is not the first identifier, it means that the LM request frame corresponding to the identifier is not the LM request frame transmitted between the AP and the first terminal device. At this time, the LM request frame corresponding to the identifier is not the first transmission frame. Therefore, the device sending the transmission frame does not need to inform the first device of the transmission power of the transmission frame (i.e., the transmission frame corresponding to the identifier) ​​when sending the transmission frame.

[0264] Based on this possible implementation method, the device receiving the first transmission frame can inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can determine the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby providing a basic guarantee for the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss.

[0265] In a second possible implementation manner, the transmit power of the first transmission frame may be determined based on the frame type of the first transmission frame.

[0266] Exemplarily, in this possible implementation, the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be implemented based on the following two situations.

[0267] Case 1: The first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame. For example, the first transmission frame can be a downlink data frame or a downlink non-data frame.

[0268] Optionally, in the following case, the transmit power of the first transmission frame is known to the AP, and therefore, the transmit power of the first transmission frame is notified to the first device by the AP.

[0269] For example, when the first device is an AP, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is notified to the first device by the AP, which can be understood as: the first device can directly know the transmission power of the first transmission frame; when the first device is a device other than the AP, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is notified to the first device by the AP, which can be understood as: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is sent by the AP to the first device.

[0270] Exemplarily, the implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame in this example is similar to the implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame in the first possible implementation method mentioned above. For details, please refer to the relevant description in the first possible implementation method mentioned above, and no further details will be given here.

[0271] Based on situation one, since the first transmission frame can be a downlink transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is known to the AP. Therefore, the AP can inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can determine the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby providing a basic guarantee for the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss.

[0272] Case 2: The first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame. For example, the first transmission frame may be an uplink data frame or an uplink non-data frame.

[0273] As an example, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is informed to the first device by the first terminal device.

[0274] Optionally, in this example, the first terminal device may inform the AP of the transmission power of the first transmission frame, so that after the AP learns the transmission power of the first transmission frame, it may inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame.

[0275] Exemplarily, the AP notifies the first device of the implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame. Please refer to the relevant description in the above situation one and no further details will be given here.

[0276] Based on this example, since the first transmission frame can be an uplink transmission frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is known to the first terminal device. Thus, the first terminal device can inform the first device of the transmission power of the first transmission frame, so that the first device can determine the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, thereby providing a basic guarantee for the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss.

[0277] As another example, the transmit power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmit power of an uplink or downlink transmission frame of a different frame type from that of the first transmission frame.

[0278] For example, the transmit power of the first transmission frame may be determined based on the transmit power of the downlink non-data frame; alternatively, the transmit power of the uplink non-data frame may be determined based on the transmit power of the uplink non-data frame. For ease of description, an uplink or downlink transmission frame of a different frame type from the first transmission frame is referred to as a "third transmission frame" and will be described uniformly herein without further elaboration.

[0279] It can be understood that the purpose of determining the transmission power of the first transmission frame in the embodiment of the present application is to determine the first transmission power used by the data frame sent to the first terminal device. That is to say, the first transmission power determined in the embodiment of the present application is used to send the data frame. Therefore, the following description is made by taking the first transmission frame as an uplink data frame as an example. The implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame when the first transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame is similar to the implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame when the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame described below. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the transmission power of the first transmission frame described below, which will not be repeated here.

[0280] In one implementation, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame.

[0281] Optionally, in this implementation, the transmit power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmit power of the third transmission frame and a first value, wherein the first value is an error value between the data frame and the non-data frame.

[0282] Exemplarily, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0283] For example, when the first device is an AP, after obtaining the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, the AP can directly calculate the transmission power of the first transmission frame; when the first device is a device other than the AP, after obtaining the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, the AP can inform the first device of these parameters, and the first device will calculate the transmission power of the first transmission frame.

[0284] Exemplarily, the transmit power of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and the transmit power of the first transmission frame may satisfy the following relationship (1):

[0285] The transmission power of the first transmission frame=the transmission power of the third transmission frame-the first numerical relationship (1);

[0286] Wherein, the first value = the received signal strength of the third transmission frame - the received signal strength of the first transmission frame;

[0287] The received signal strength of the third transmission frame is -52dBm, the transmission power of the third transmission frame is 32dBm, and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame is -59dBm. Combined with relationship (1), it can be seen that the first value is 7dBm, and thus, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is 25dBm.

[0288] Optionally, the first value may be pre-stored by the first device, or may be obtained by the first device through calculation.

[0289] Exemplarily, the implementation of the first device pre-storing the first value is similar to the implementation of the first device pre-storing the first path loss. For details, refer to the relevant description of the first device pre-storing the first path loss, which will not be repeated here.

[0290] It can be understood that the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame is the difference between the received signal strength of the non-data frame and the received signal strength of the data frame; therefore, when the first device obtains the first value through calculation, the first device can determine the first value based on the received signal strength of the third transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and then determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the first value and the transmission power of the third transmission frame.

[0291] Optionally, since the third transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the transmit power of the third transmission frame is known to the first terminal device, so the first terminal device can inform the first device of the transmit power of the third transmission frame; or, the transmit power of the third transmission frame is determined by the first device based on the transmit power of the downlink non-data frame of the same frame type as the third transmission frame and a second numerical value, where the second numerical value is the error value between the uplink transmission frame and the downlink transmission frame of the same frame type. For the convenience of description, the downlink transmission frame of the same frame type as the third transmission frame will be referred to as the "fourth transmission frame" below, and will be uniformly described here and will not be repeated.

[0292] Exemplarily, the first terminal device informs the first device of the implementation of the transmission power of the third transmission frame. You can refer to the relevant description in the above situation one and will not repeat it here.

[0293] Optionally, the transmission power of the third transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the fourth transmission frame and the second value.

[0294] Exemplarily, the implementation of the second value is similar to the implementation of the first value mentioned above. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the first value mentioned above, which will not be repeated here.

[0295] It can be understood that the error value between the uplink transmission frame and the downlink transmission frame of the same frame type is the difference between the received signal strength of the uplink transmission frame and the received signal strength of the downlink transmission frame; therefore, when the first device obtains the second value through calculation, the first device can determine the second value based on the received signal strength of the uplink transmission frame and the received signal strength of the downlink transmission frame, and then determine the transmission power of the third transmission frame based on the second value and the transmission power of the fourth transmission frame; further, determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the first value and the transmission power of the third transmission frame.

[0296] Exemplarily, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame, the transmit power of the fourth transmission frame, and the transmit power of the third transmission frame may satisfy the following relationship (2):

[0297] The transmission power of the third transmission frame=the transmission power of the fourth transmission frame-the second numerical relationship (2);

[0298] Wherein, the second value = the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame - the received signal strength of the third transmission frame;

[0299] Taking the fourth transmission frame having a transmission power of 14dBm, a received signal strength of -70dBm, and a received signal strength of -52dBm as an example, combined with relationship (2), it can be seen that the second value is -18dBm, so the transmission power of the third transmission frame is 32dBm.

[0300] After the transmission power of the third transmission frame is determined based on the above relationship (2), the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be determined based on the above relationship (1).

[0301] Exemplarily, the implementation of the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, and the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame can refer to the relevant description of the above "received signal strength of the first transmission frame", which is not repeated here.

[0302] The following takes the first device as an AP as an example to introduce the implementation of the first device obtaining the transmission power of the first transmission frame through calculation. The implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame when the first device is a device other than the AP is similar to the implementation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame when the first device is an AP as described below. For details, please refer to the relevant description of the transmission power of the first transmission frame below, which will not be repeated here.

[0303] 7 is a flowchart of determining the transmit power of a first transmission frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the AP may determine the transmit power of the first transmission frame based on the following steps S701 to S703.

[0304] S701. The first terminal device sends a third transmission frame to the AP. Correspondingly, the AP receives the third transmission frame from the first terminal device.

[0305] Exemplarily, the first terminal device sends a third transmission frame to the AP, including: the first terminal device sends the third transmission frame to the AP based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame.

[0306] Optionally, when receiving the third transmission frame, the AP may measure and obtain the received signal strength of the third transmission frame.

[0307] S702. The first terminal device sends a first transmission frame to the AP. Correspondingly, the AP receives the first transmission frame from the first terminal device.

[0308] Optionally, when receiving the first transmission frame, the AP may measure and obtain the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0309] S703: The AP determines the transmit power of the first transmission frame based on the transmit power of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0310] Optionally, when the transmit power of the third transmission frame is notified to the AP by the first terminal device, the first transmission frame may also indicate the transmit power of the third transmission frame, or the transmit power of the third transmission frame may be carried in other information other than the first transmission frame. Thus, the AP can determine the transmit power of the first transmission frame based on the above relationship (1).

[0311] Optionally, when the transmit power of the third transmission frame is determined based on the transmit power of the fourth transmission frame, before step S701, the process of determining the transmit power of the first transmission frame may further include step S704:

[0312] S704. The AP sends a fourth transmission frame to the first terminal device; correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the fourth transmission frame from the AP.

[0313] Optionally, the AP sends a fourth transmission frame to the first terminal device, including: the AP sends the fourth transmission frame to the first terminal device based on the transmission power of the fourth transmission frame.

[0314] Optionally, when receiving the fourth transmission frame, the first terminal device may measure and obtain the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame. In this case, the third transmission frame in step S702 may indicate the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame.

[0315] Optionally, before step S703, the AP may determine the transmit power of the third transmission frame based on the received signal strength of the third transmission frame, the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame, and the transmit power of the fourth transmission frame. Exemplarily, the AP may determine the transmit power of the third transmission frame based on the above relationship (2).

[0316] For example, in steps S701 and S704 above, the fourth transmission frame may be an LM request frame, and the third transmission frame may be an LM response frame. In this case, the received signal strength of the fourth transmission frame may be indicated by the RCPI field in the LM response frame. Specifically, the implementation of the fourth transmission frame is similar to the implementation of the first transmission frame in step S601 above, and for details, reference may be made to the relevant description of step S601 above. The implementation of the third transmission frame is similar to the implementation of the second transmission frame in step S602 above, and for details, reference may be made to the relevant description of step S602 above; no further details will be given here.

[0317] Based on this implementation method, when the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the first device can determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value), to provide a basic guarantee for the first path loss determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and further for the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0318] In another implementation, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame.

[0319] Optionally, in this implementation, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type (i.e., the second value), and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first value).

[0320] Exemplarily, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the second value, and the first value.

[0321] For example, since the third transmission frame is a downlink data frame, the transmit power of the third transmission frame is known to the AP. Therefore, the AP can notify the first device of the transmit power of the third transmission frame. The implementation of the first value and the second value is similar to that in the aforementioned implementation. For details, please refer to the relevant description in the aforementioned implementation and will not be repeated here.

[0322] Based on this implementation, when the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the first device can determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value). Since the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is known to the first terminal device; however, the accuracy of the transmission power of the first transmission frame reported by the terminal device is low, so the first device can calculate and determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the known transmission power of the uplink non-data frame and the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame (i.e., the first numerical value). Compared with the solution in which the first terminal device reports the transmission power of the first transmission frame to the first device, the accuracy of the transmission power of the first transmission frame can be improved, thereby improving the accuracy of the first path loss determined based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and further improving the accuracy of the first transmission power determined based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0323] In a third possible implementation manner, the transmission power of the first transmission frame may be pre-stored by the first device.

[0324] Illustratively, in this possible implementation, the first device may determine the transmit power of the first transmission frame based on the two possible implementations described above, and then store the transmit power of the first transmission frame.

[0325] Based on this possible implementation method, the first device pre-stores the transmission power of the first transmission frame. Therefore, in the process of determining the first path loss, the first device can directly obtain the transmission power of the first transmission frame from the storage unit, and then determine the first path loss based on the received signal strength of the first transmission frame and the transmission power of the first transmission frame. Compared with the solution in which the first device obtains the transmission power of the first transmission frame from the device receiving the first transmission frame, it can reduce signaling interaction and save overhead.

[0326] The above is an explanation of the transmission power of the first transmission frame involved in the above embodiment. The following is a detailed introduction to the "received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device" involved in the above embodiment.

[0327] Exemplarily, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device can be implemented in the following two ways.

[0328] In a first possible implementation, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be determined based on at least one receiving sensitivity, that is, the first device may determine the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device based on at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0329] Exemplarily, the receiving sensitivity of a terminal device represents the minimum received signal strength required for the terminal device to demodulate a received transmission frame. Therefore, the receiving sensitivity can be used to represent the received signal strength threshold of the terminal device. That is, in this case, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the received signal strength required for the first terminal device to demodulate a received transmission frame.

[0330] Optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity, wherein the first receiving sensitivity is a maximum sensitivity among the at least one receiving sensitivity; or the first receiving sensitivity is any one receiving sensitivity among the at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0331] For example, taking at least one receiving sensitivity including -63 decibel-milliwatts (dBm), -61dBm, -54dBm, and -51dBm as an example, when the first receiving sensitivity is the maximum receiving sensitivity among the at least one receiving sensitivity, the first receiving sensitivity is -51dBm; when the first receiving sensitivity is any one of the at least one receiving sensitivity, the first receiving sensitivity is any one of -63dBm, -61dBm, -54dBm, and -51dBm.

[0332] Optionally, at least one receiving sensitivity may be implemented based on the following two examples.

[0333] As an example, at least one receiving sensitivity may be predefined. Exemplarily, when at least one receiving sensitivity is predefined, the at least one receiving sensitivity may be predefined by a protocol, or may be factory-configured by the first terminal device, or may be a default setting between the first device and the first terminal device. For example, the at least one receiving sensitivity may be one or more receiving sensitivities supported by the first terminal device.

[0334] As another example, at least one receive sensitivity may be determined based on at least one modulation and coding scheme (MCS). Exemplarily, at least one MCS corresponds one-to-one to at least one receive sensitivity, i.e., each MCS in the at least one MCS corresponds to one of the at least one receive sensitivity. In this case, the first receive sensitivity may be the first receive sensitivity corresponding to the first MCS in the at least one MCS. The first MCS may be the receive sensitivity corresponding to the maximum MCS in the at least one MCS, or the first MCS may be the receive sensitivity corresponding to any one of the at least one MCS.

[0335] Exemplarily, different MCS values ​​represent different modulation modes. Taking the transmission bandwidth of the terminal device as 40 megahertz (Mhz) as an example, when the MCS value is 0, the corresponding modulation mode is binary phase shift keying (BPSK); when the MCS value is 1 or 2, the corresponding modulation mode is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK); when the MCS value is 3 or 4, the corresponding modulation mode is 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM); when the MCS value is any one of 5-7, the corresponding modulation mode is 64-QAM modulation; when the MCS value is 8 or 9, the corresponding modulation mode is 256-QAM modulation; when the MCS value is 10, the corresponding modulation mode is 1024-QAM modulation. Specifically, the modulation mode and the receiving sensitivity meet the following requirements as shown in Table 5:

[0336] Table 5

[0337] Table 5 shows that receive sensitivity is related to the modulation mode, rate, and transmission bandwidth. That is, at least one receive sensitivity is determined based on the modulation mode, rate, and transmission bandwidth. For example, if the rate is 3 / 4, the transmission bandwidth is 40 MHz, and the at least one MCS includes MCS values ​​of 7, 8, 9, and 10, then the relationship between the MCS values ​​and the modulation mode indicates that the modulation modes representing the at least one MCS include 64-QAM, 256-QAM, and 1024-QAM, respectively. Accordingly, at least one receive sensitivity includes -61 dBm, -54 dBm, and -51 dBm.

[0338] Optionally, when the first device only knows at least one MCS and transmission bandwidth, the default rate may be set to the maximum rate corresponding to the modulation mode, so that each modulation mode can correspond to a unique receiving sensitivity.

[0339] For example, taking at least one MCS value including MCS values ​​of 7, 8, 9, and 10, and a transmission bandwidth of 40 MHz, when the MCS value is 7, the modulation mode is 64-QAM modulation. As shown in Table 5 above, 64-QAM modulation corresponds to a maximum rate of 5 / 6, resulting in a receiving sensitivity of -56 dBm. When the MCS value is 8 or 9, the modulation mode is 256-QAM modulation. As shown in Table 5 above, 256-QAM modulation corresponds to a maximum rate of 5 / 6, resulting in a receiving sensitivity of -54 dBm. When the MCS value is 10, the modulation mode is 1024-QAM modulation. As shown in Table 5 above, 1024-QAM modulation corresponds to a maximum rate of 5 / 6, resulting in a receiving sensitivity of -49 dBm. In this case, the at least one receiving sensitivity includes: -56 dBm, -54 dBm, and -49 dBm.

[0340] It can be understood that the above Table 5 exemplarily describes the relationship between the modulation mode and the receiving sensitivity. In fact, the value of the receiving sensitivity in the above Table 5 can also be other values, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0341] Based on this possible implementation, the first device may determine the first receiving sensitivity based on at least one receiving sensitivity, thereby providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmitting power based on the first receiving sensitivity.

[0342] In a second possible implementation, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be determined based on at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, that is, the first device may determine the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device based on at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0343] Exemplarily, the signal-to-noise ratio in the signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

[0344] Optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is determined based on at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, including: determining the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device based on a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold among the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold. The first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold; or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be any one of the at least one signal-to-noise ratio thresholds.

[0345] Exemplarily, taking the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold including 22.5 dBm, 24.5 dBm, 27.5 dBm, and 29.5 dBm as an example, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is the maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, that is, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be 29.5 dBm; alternatively, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is any one of the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, and the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be any one of 22.5 dBm, 24.5 dBm, 27.5 dBm, and 29.5 dBm.

[0346] Optionally, at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be implemented based on the following two examples.

[0347] As an example, the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be predefined. Exemplarily, the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be predefined by a protocol, or may be factory-configured by the first terminal device, or may be a default setting between the first device and the first terminal device. For example, the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be one or more signal-to-noise ratio thresholds ranked from highest to lowest among multiple signal-to-noise ratio thresholds supported by the first terminal device.

[0348] As another example, at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be determined based on at least one MCS. Exemplarily, at least one MCS corresponds one-to-one to at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, i.e., each MCS in the at least one MCS corresponds to one of the at least one signal-to-noise ratio thresholds. In this case, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may be the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to the first MCS in the at least one MCS. The first MCS may be the receive sensitivity or signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to the largest MCS in the at least one MCS, or the first MCS may be the signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to any one of the at least one MCS.

[0349] Specifically, based on whether the first terminal device supports a low-density parity check code (LDPC), the MCS and the signal-to-noise ratio threshold satisfy the relationship shown in Table 6 below. That is, at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold is determined based on whether the terminal device supports LDPC and the MCS, that is, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold can be determined based on the two parameters of the MCS and whether the terminal device supports LDPC:

[0350] Table 6

[0351] When the at least one MCS includes an MCS value of 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, if the first terminal device supports LDPC, combined with Table 6, it can be seen that the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold includes 20.74dBm, 24.79dBm, 26.28dBm, 30.3dBm, and 31.85dBm. Furthermore, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device can be determined based on the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0352] Optionally, whether the first terminal device supports LDPC may be informed by the first terminal device to the first device, or may be set by default or preset by the first device.

[0353] It will be understood that Table 6 only uses the maximum modulation order of the MCS as 11 as an example to exemplify the relationship between the MCS and the signal-to-noise ratio threshold. In fact, the maximum modulation order of the MCS may also be other values. Similarly, the value of the signal-to-noise ratio threshold in Table 7 may also be other values, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0354] Optionally, in this possible implementation, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may include the following two implementations.

[0355] As an example, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0356] Optionally, the signal-to-noise ratio threshold is used to represent the difference between the received signal strength required for the terminal device to demodulate the transmission frame it has received and the noise value on the transmission path of the transmission frame; illustratively, when the transmission path of the transmission frame remains unchanged, it can be considered that the signal-to-noise ratio threshold is positively correlated with the received signal strength required for the terminal device to demodulate the transmission frame it has received. Therefore, the received signal strength threshold of the terminal device can be represented by the signal-to-noise ratio threshold. At this time, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is used to indicate the received signal strength required for the first terminal device to demodulate the transmission frame it has received, which can be understood as: the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is used to indicate the signal-to-noise ratio threshold, and the signal-to-noise ratio threshold is used to determine the received signal strength required for the terminal device to demodulate the transmission frame it has received.

[0357] Optionally, in this example, the first device determining the first transmit power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device in step S502 includes: the first device determining the first transmit power based on multiple parameters. The multiple parameters include the first path loss, the first noise ratio threshold, and a first noise value. The first noise value is the magnitude of the noise between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0358] Optionally, the first transmit power is the sum of multiple parameters, including: the first transmit power is the sum of three parameters: a first path loss, a first noise ratio threshold, and a first noise value.

[0359] Optionally, the first noise value is measured by the AP, or may be predefined.

[0360] As another example, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be the sum of the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold and the first noise value.

[0361] Optionally, based on the description of the "noise ratio threshold" and "noise value" in the above example, it can be seen that the received signal strength required for a terminal device to demodulate a received transmission frame is the sum of the noise ratio threshold and the noise value; therefore, the received signal strength threshold of the terminal device can be represented by the sum of the noise ratio threshold and the noise value. In other words, in this case, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the received signal strength required for the first terminal device to demodulate a received transmission frame.

[0362] Optionally, in this example, the first device may determine the first transmit power based on two parameters: a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device and a first path loss. For example, the first transmit power may be the sum of the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0363] Based on this possible implementation, the first device may determine the first noise ratio threshold based on at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, thereby providing a basic guarantee for determining the first transmit power based on the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0364] In combination with the above two possible implementations, illustratively, the first device may determine, based on the relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the SNR threshold between the receiving device and the transmitting device, whether to determine the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device based on at least one receiving sensitivity, or to determine the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device based on at least one SNR threshold. For example, when the SNR is greater than the SNR threshold, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be determined based on at least one receiving sensitivity; and when the SNR is less than or equal to the SNR threshold, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device may be determined based on at least one SNR threshold.

[0365] In combination with the above two possible implementations, optionally, at least one MCS may be obtained based on the following two methods.

[0366] In one implementation, at least one MCS may be predefined. Exemplarily, when at least one MCS is predefined, at least one MCS may be predefined by a protocol, or at least one MCS may be factory-configured by the first terminal device, or at least one MCS may be a default between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0367] Optionally, the at least one MCS may be one or more MCSs among multiple MCSs supported by the first terminal device.

[0368] Exemplarily, terminal devices supporting different protocols have different MCSs. Therefore, at least one MCS corresponding to the first terminal device is different under different protocols. For example, the protocols supported by the first terminal device include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0369] Exemplarily, based on the foregoing, it can be known that the first terminal device may include one or more terminal devices. When the first terminal device includes multiple terminal devices, and the multiple terminal devices support different protocols, the first device may determine at least one MCS corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, and then determine the first transmission power corresponding to each terminal device in the multiple terminal devices based on the at least one MCS corresponding to the multiple terminal devices. That is to say, at this time, the first transmission powers corresponding to the multiple terminal devices are different. Alternatively, the first device may determine at least one MCS corresponding to a certain terminal device among the multiple terminal devices, and then determine the first transmission power based on the at least one MCS. That is to say, at this time, the first transmission powers corresponding to the multiple terminal devices are the same; for example, the first device may select at least one MCS with the maximum value of the MCS among the at least one MCS corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, and then determine the first transmission power based on the at least one MCS.

[0370] Optionally, under a certain protocol, at least one MCS may be X MCSs, ranked from highest to lowest, among multiple MCSs supported by the first terminal device, where X is a positive integer. In this case, the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among the X MCSs supported by the first terminal device, or the first MCS is any one of the X MCSs supported by the first terminal device. For example, if the maximum value of the MCS among multiple MCSs supported by the first terminal device under a certain protocol is 11, and the value of X is 3, then at least one MCS includes MCSs with values ​​of 9, 10, and 11, respectively.

[0371] In another implementation, at least one MCS may be determined based on a rate requirement of the first terminal device.

[0372] Optionally, the first terminal device may inform the first device of its rate requirement, so that the first device determines at least one MCS based on the rate requirement, and further determines at least one receiving sensitivity or at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold based on the at least one MCS, so that the first receiving sensitivity or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold can be determined, and then the first transmitting power can be determined based on the first receiving sensitivity or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0373] Exemplarily, the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among the at least one MCS corresponding to the rate requirement, or the first MCS is any one of the at least one MCS corresponding to the rate requirement.

[0374] For example, different rate requirements correspond to different at least one MCS. Specifically, the correspondence between the rate requirement and the at least one MCS corresponding thereto may include the content shown in Table 7 below.

[0375] Table 7

[0376] For example, if the rate requirement of the first terminal device is rate requirement #1, then at least one MCS includes MCS#1, MCS#2, and MCS#3; if the rate requirement of the first terminal device is rate requirement #2, then at least one MCS includes MCS#4 and MCS#5; if the rate requirement of the first terminal device is rate requirement #3, then at least one MCS includes MCS#6.

[0377] After the first device determines at least one MCS based on Table 7, it may determine at least one receive sensitivity in combination with Table 5, or determine at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold in combination with Table 6. The first receive sensitivity or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold may then be determined. Furthermore, the first transmit power may be determined based on the first receive sensitivity or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0378] It should be noted that the above example only introduces the implementation form of the correspondence between different rate requirements and at least one MCS in a tabular form. The implementation form of the correspondence between different rate requirements and at least one MCS can also be in other forms besides the tabular form, such as a set, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0379] Optionally, in the above embodiment, the AP can also send data frames to the first terminal device on the first frequency band; that is, the AP in step S202 sends data frames to the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on the first transmission power, including: the AP sends data frames to the first terminal device on the first frequency band based on the first transmission power.

[0380] For example, when a first terminal device has a downlink request, i.e., the AP is about to send a data frame to the first terminal device, the AP can add the first identifier to a downlink queue, determine a scheduling mode for the terminal device, and configure corresponding downlink resources (i.e., the first frequency band) based on the scheduling mode, and then send the data frame on the downlink resource. In other words, the first frequency band is determined based on the scheduling mode of the first terminal device.

[0381] Optionally, the scheduling mode of the terminal device is determined based on whether the terminal device meets orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheduling conditions and whether it meets multi-user scheduling conditions.

[0382] OFDMA scheduling refers to dividing the AP's entire frequency band into multiple subbands, each of which can be used to schedule different terminal devices. Meeting OFDMA scheduling requirements means the AP can schedule terminal devices on subbands, and in this case, the terminal device's scheduling method is considered subband scheduling. Failure to meet OFDMA scheduling requirements means the AP's entire frequency band cannot be divided into multiple subbands, resulting in the AP scheduling terminal devices on the entire band, and in this case, the terminal device's scheduling method is considered full-band scheduling.

[0383] Among them, multi-user scheduling refers to: the downlink resources (such as the first frequency band) configured for the terminal device support spatial division multiplexing, that is, within the airspace, whether the downlink resources can be used for scheduling multiple terminal devices associated with multiple users. Meeting the multi-user scheduling conditions can be understood as: the downlink resources support spatial division multiplexing and can be used for scheduling multiple terminal devices associated with multiple users. In this case, the scheduling method of the downlink resources (or terminal devices) can also be considered to be multi-user scheduling; not meeting the multi-user scheduling conditions can be understood as: the downlink resources do not support spatial division multiplexing and cannot be used for scheduling multiple terminal devices associated with multiple users, that is, the downlink resources can only be used for scheduling terminal devices associated with a single user. In this case, the scheduling method of the downlink resources (or terminal devices) can also be considered to be single-user scheduling.

[0384] See Figure 8, which is a flow chart of the process of an AP determining a scheduling method for a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0385] As shown in Figure 8, the AP can first determine whether the terminal device meets the OFDMA scheduling conditions to determine whether the terminal device is scheduled in full-band or sub-band. Furthermore, the AP can also determine whether the terminal device meets the multi-user scheduling conditions to determine whether the terminal device is scheduled in multi-user or single-user. If the terminal device meets both the OFDMA scheduling conditions and the multi-user scheduling conditions, the terminal device is scheduled in sub-band multi-user scheduling. If the terminal device meets the OFDMA scheduling conditions but does not meet the multi-user scheduling conditions, the terminal device is scheduled in sub-band single-user scheduling. If the terminal device does not meet the OFDMA scheduling conditions but meets the multi-user scheduling conditions, the terminal device is scheduled in full-band multi-user scheduling. If the terminal device does not meet the OFDMA scheduling conditions and does meet the multi-user scheduling conditions, the terminal device is scheduled in full-band single-user scheduling.

[0386] Optionally, the scheduling mode of the first terminal device is full-band single-user scheduling, that is, the first frequency band can be the entire frequency band of the AP, and the first frequency band does not support spatial division multiplexing.

[0387] Exemplarily, since the first frequency band is the entire frequency band of the AP, the AP suspends interaction with other terminal devices except the first terminal device during the process of sending data frames to the first terminal device on the first frequency band.

[0388] Based on this optional solution, since the scheduling method of the first terminal device is full-band single-user scheduling, when the AP sends data frames to the first terminal device on the first frequency band, it is necessary to suspend the interaction with other terminal devices except the first terminal device, thereby avoiding interference of other terminal devices to the first terminal device when the AP interacts with the first terminal device, and achieving bandwidth guarantee for the first terminal device.

[0389] It is understood that in each of the above embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by the first device may also be implemented by components applicable to the first device (e.g., a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, logic module, or software); and the methods and / or steps implemented by the terminal device may also be implemented by components applicable to the terminal device (e.g., a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, logic module, or software). The chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete components.

[0390] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art 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 executed 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.

[0391] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. 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. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0392] 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 90. The communication device 90 includes a processing module 901 and a transceiver module 902. The communication device 90 can be used to implement the functions of the first device or terminal device described above.

[0393] In some embodiments, the communication device 90 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 9 ) for storing program instructions and data.

[0394] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 902, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement a transmitting and / or receiving function. The transceiver module 902 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0395] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 902 may include a receiving module and a sending module, which are respectively used to execute the receiving and sending steps performed by the first device or the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein; the processing module 901 may be used to execute the processing steps (such as determination, etc.) performed by the first device or the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and / or used to support other processes of the technology described herein.

[0396] When the communication device 90 is used to implement the above-mentioned AP function:

[0397] In some embodiments, the processing module 901 is used to obtain a first identifier; the transceiver module 902 is used to send a data frame to a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier based on a first transmission power.

[0398] Optionally, the processing module 901 is further used to obtain a second identifier; the transceiver module 902 is further used to send a data frame to a second terminal device indicated by the second identifier based on a second transmission power.

[0399] Optionally, the first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

[0400] Optionally, the first transmission power is determined based on a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, wherein the first path loss is the path loss of a transmission frame between the first terminal device and an access point AP associated with it.

[0401] Optionally, the first path loss is determined based on the transmit power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0402] Optionally, the first path loss is a difference between a transmit power of the first transmission frame and a received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0403] Optionally, the first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame is determined based on the second transmission frame, the second transmission frame is used to indicate the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and the second transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame.

[0404] Optionally, the first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame, the transmit power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmit power of the third transmission frame, and the frame type of the third transmission frame is different from that of the first transmission frame.

[0405] Optionally, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame; the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame and a first numerical value, and the first numerical value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame.

[0406] Optionally, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0407] Optionally, the first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame; the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, a first numerical value, and a second numerical value, the first numerical value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame, and the second numerical value is the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type.

[0408] Optionally, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

[0409] When the communication device 90 is used to implement the functions of the first device:

[0410] In some embodiments, the processing module 901 is used to obtain a first identifier; and obtain a first transmission power for a first terminal device indicated by the first identifier, where the first transmission power is used to send a data frame of the first terminal device.

[0411] Optionally, the transceiver module 902 is further used to send a first transmission power to an access point AP associated with the first terminal device.

[0412] Optionally, the transceiver module 902 is further used to send data frames of the first terminal device based on the first transmission power.

[0413] Optionally, the first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

[0414] Optionally, the processing module 901 is also used to obtain a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, where the first path loss is the path loss of the transmission frame between the first terminal device and the AP associated with it; and determine the first transmission power based on the first path loss and the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

[0415] Optionally, the processing module 901 is also used to obtain the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, where the transmission frame includes the first transmission frame; and determine the first path loss based on the transmission power of the first transmission frame and the received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0416] Optionally, the first path loss is a difference between a transmission power of the first transmission frame and a signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0417] Optionally, the transceiver module 902 is further configured to obtain a second transmission frame, where the second transmission frame is used to indicate a received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

[0418] Optionally, the processing module 901 is further used to obtain the transmission power of a third transmission frame, where the third transmission frame has a different frame type from the first transmission frame; and determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame.

[0419] Optionally, the processing module 901 is further used to obtain a first value, which is an error value between a data frame and a non-data frame; and determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0420] Optionally, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

[0421] Optionally, the processing module 901 is also used to obtain a first value, which is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame; obtain a second value, which is the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type; and determine the transmission power of the first transmission frame based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

[0422] Optionally, the transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

[0423] Optionally, the transceiver module 902 is further configured to receive a rate requirement of the first terminal device.

[0424] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0425] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the first receiving sensitivity is the maximum sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity, or the first receiving sensitivity is any one receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity.

[0426] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, at least one receiving sensitivity is determined based on at least one modulation and coding strategy MCS; the first receiving sensitivity is the receiving sensitivity corresponding to the first MCS; wherein the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among at least one MCS, or the first MCS is one of the at least one MCS.

[0427] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is determined based on a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold among the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0428] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold, or the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the sum of the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold and a first noise value, and the first noise value is the magnitude of the noise between the AP and the first terminal device.

[0429] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold, or the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

[0430] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold is determined based on at least one MCS; the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to the first MCS; wherein the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among the at least one MCS, or the first MCS is any one of the at least one MCS.

[0431] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the at least one MCS includes one or more MCSs corresponding to the rate requirement of the first terminal device.

[0432] In combination with the above two embodiments, optionally, the first identifier includes an identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first identifier includes a user identifier, and the user identifier indicates a user corresponding to the first terminal device.

[0433] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0434] In the present application, the communication device 90 may be presented in the form of functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here may refer to a specific application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0435] In some embodiments, when the communication device 90 in Figure 9 is a chip or a chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 902 can be implemented through the input and output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 901 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or chip system.

[0436] Since the communication device 90 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0437] As a possible product form, the terminal device or first device described in the embodiment of the present application can also be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout this application.

[0438] As another possible product form, the terminal device or first device described in the embodiment of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 10, which is a structural diagram of a communication device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 100 includes a processor 1001 and a transceiver 1002. The communication device 100 can be a first device, or a chip or chip system therein; or, the communication device 100 can be a terminal device, or a chip or module therein. Figure 10 only shows the main components of the communication device 100. In addition to the processor 1001 and the transceiver 1002, the communication device may further include a memory 1003, and an input and output device (not shown in the figure).

[0439] Optionally, processor 1001 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, as well as control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Memory 1003 is primarily used to store software programs and data. Transceiver 1002 may include a radio frequency circuit and an antenna. The radio frequency circuit is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as a touch screen, display, and keyboard, are primarily used to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0440] Optionally, the processor 1001 , the transceiver 1002 , and the memory 1003 may be connected via a communication bus.

[0441] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1001 can read the software program in the memory 1003, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor 1001 performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1001. The processor 1001 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0442] In another implementation, the RF circuit and antenna may be provided independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and antenna may be remotely arranged independent of the communication device.

[0443] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the above-mentioned communication device 90 may take the form of the communication device 100 shown in FIG. 10 .

[0444] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing module 901 in FIG9 can be implemented by the processor 1001 in the communication device 100 shown in FIG10 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1003. The functions / implementation process of the transceiver module 902 in FIG9 can be implemented by the transceiver 1002 in the communication device 100 shown in FIG10.

[0445] As another possible product form, the first device or terminal device in this application may adopt the structure shown in Figure 11, or include the components shown in Figure 11. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device 110 provided in this application. The communication device 110 may be a terminal device or a chip or system-on-chip in a terminal device; or it may be a first device or a module or chip or system-on-chip in the first device.

[0446] As shown in FIG11 , the communication device 110 includes at least one processor 1101 and at least one communication interface ( FIG11 is merely illustrative, and is illustrated by taking one communication interface 1104 and one processor 1101 as an example). Optionally, the communication device 110 may further include a communication bus 1102 and a memory 1103.

[0447] The processor 1101 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 1101 may also be other devices with processing capabilities, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0448] Communication bus 1102 is used to connect the various components in communication device 110, enabling communication between them. Communication bus 1102 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, for example. This bus can be categorized as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and so on. For ease of illustration, FIG11 shows only one thick line, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0449] Communication interface 1104 is used to communicate with other devices or communication networks. Exemplarily, communication interface 1104 can be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any other device capable of communication. Optionally, communication interface 1104 can also be an input / output interface within processor 1101, used to implement signal input and output to the processor.

[0450] The memory 1103 may be a device with a storage function, used to store instructions and / or data, wherein the instructions may be computer programs.

[0451] Exemplarily, the memory 1103 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0452] It should be noted that the memory 1103 can exist independently of the processor 1101 or can be integrated with the processor 1101. The memory 1103 can be located within the communication device 110 or outside the communication device 110, without limitation. The processor 1101 can be used to execute instructions stored in the memory 1103 to implement the methods provided in the following embodiments of the present application.

[0453] As an optional implementation, the communication device 110 may further include an output device 1105 and an input device 1106. The output device 1105 communicates with the processor 1101 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 1105 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 1106 communicates with the processor 1101 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 1106 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0454] In some embodiments, in terms of hardware implementation, those skilled in the art may conceive that the communication device 90 shown in FIG. 9 may take the form of the communication device 110 shown in FIG. 11 .

[0455] As an example, the functions / implementation process of the processing module 901 in FIG9 can be implemented by the processor 1101 in the communication device 110 shown in FIG11 calling the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1103. The functions / implementation process of the transceiver module 902 in FIG9 can be implemented by the communication interface 1104 in the communication device 110 shown in FIG11.

[0456] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG11 does not constitute a specific limitation on the first device or terminal device. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the first device or terminal device may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or may have different component arrangements. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0457] In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0458] As a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, and the processor may invoke the instructions in the computer program stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute any of the above-described method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be located in the communication device.

[0459] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, and the interface circuit is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0460] As another possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

[0461] It can be understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0462] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instruction stored thereon, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0463] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0464] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices, and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0465] It is understood that the systems, devices, and methods described in this application may also be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0466] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Components shown as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the objectives of this embodiment as needed.

[0467] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0468] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state drive (SSD)). In the embodiment of the present application, the computer may include the aforementioned device.

[0469] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other changes to the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0470] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Get the first identifier; Based on the first transmitting power, a data frame is sent to the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtaining a second identifier; Based on the second transmitting power, a data frame is sent to the second terminal device indicated by the second identifier.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first transmission power is determined based on a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, wherein the first path loss is a path loss of a transmission frame between the first terminal device and an access point AP associated with the first terminal device.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first path loss is determined based on a transmit power of a first transmission frame and a received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first path loss is a difference between a transmit power of the first transmission frame and a received signal strength of the first transmission frame.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that The first transmission frame is a downlink transmission frame, the received signal strength of the first transmission frame is determined based on a second transmission frame, the second transmission frame is used to indicate the received signal strength of the first transmission frame, and the second transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that The first transmission frame is an uplink transmission frame, a transmit power of the first transmission frame is determined based on a transmit power of a third transmission frame, and the third transmission frame is of a different frame type from the first transmission frame.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is an uplink non-data frame; The transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame and a first value, and the first value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The transmission power of the first transmission frame is the difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame and the first value.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first transmission frame is an uplink data frame, and the third transmission frame is a downlink non-data frame; The transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, including: the transmission power of the first transmission frame is determined based on the transmission power of the third transmission frame, a first numerical value, and a second numerical value, the first numerical value is the error value between the data frame and the non-data frame, and the second numerical value is the error value between the downlink transmission frame and the uplink transmission frame of the same frame type.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The transmission power of the first transmission frame is a difference between the transmission power of the third transmission frame, the first value, and the second value.

13. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that The received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is a first receiving sensitivity among at least one receiving sensitivity.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The first receiving sensitivity is the maximum sensitivity among the at least one receiving sensitivity, or the first receiving sensitivity is any one of the at least one receiving sensitivity.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The at least one receiving sensitivity is determined based on at least one modulation and coding strategy MCS; The first receiving sensitivity is the receiving sensitivity corresponding to the first MCS; wherein the first MCS is the MCS with the largest value among the at least one MCS, or the first MCS is one of the at least one MCS.

16. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that The received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is determined based on a first signal-to-noise ratio threshold among at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold, or the received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device is the sum of the first signal-to-noise ratio threshold and a first noise value, and the first noise value is the magnitude of the noise between the AP and the first terminal device.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a maximum signal-to-noise ratio threshold among the at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that The at least one signal-to-noise ratio threshold is determined based on at least one MCS; The first signal-to-noise ratio threshold is a signal-to-noise ratio threshold corresponding to a first MCS; wherein the first MCS is an MCS with a maximum value among the at least one MCS, or the first MCS is any one of the at least one MCS.

20. The method according to claim 15 or 19, characterized in that The at least one MCS includes one or more MCSs corresponding to the rate requirement of the first terminal device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that The first identifier includes an identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first identifier includes a user identifier, and the user identifier indicates a user corresponding to the first terminal device.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Get the first identifier; A first transmitting power is obtained for the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier, where the first transmitting power is used to send data frames of the first terminal device.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send the first transmitting power to the access point AP associated with the first terminal device.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The first transmit power is greater than a first threshold.

25. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The obtaining a first transmit power for the first terminal device indicated by the first identifier includes: Obtaining a first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device, where the first path loss is a path loss of a transmission frame between the first terminal device and an AP associated with the first terminal device; The first transmission power is determined based on the first path loss and a received signal strength threshold of the first terminal device.

26. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that The first identifier includes an identifier of the first terminal device; or, the first identifier includes a user identifier, and the user identifier indicates a user corresponding to the first terminal device.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes multiple functional modules, which interact with each other to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 22 to 26.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions or programs. When the computer instructions or programs are executed on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 21 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 22 to 26 is executed.

Images