Communication method, communication device, and communication system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system. The communication method comprises: a non-AP MLD, which is a station device supporting multi-link communication, determines a first radio frame and sends the first radio frame to an AP MLD, which is an access point device supporting multi-link communication. The first radio frame is used for initiating a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first radio frame indicates that an update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that in-device coexistence activity is present under at least one link of the non-AP MLD. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, management of communication parameters is achieved when in-device coexistence activity is present within a multi-connection device, thereby preventing mutual interference among various communication modes and improving area throughput.

Description

Communication methods, communication equipment and communication systems Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, communication device and communication system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of wireless communication technology, terminal devices are becoming increasingly integrated. A single terminal device often supports multiple wireless communication protocols, integrates multiple wireless communication modules, and simultaneously accesses multiple wireless networks, such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, Bluetooth (BT), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0003] Simultaneous communication using multiple communication methods implies in-device coexistence (IDC). In this case, communication parameters (such as antenna and memory hardware) may be shared between the various communication methods, leading to hardware conflicts. Therefore, for in-device coexistence among multiple connected devices, it is necessary to further improve the management mechanism of communication parameters to avoid mutual interference between different communication methods and improve regional throughput and system utilization efficiency.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides a communication method, communication device, and communication system to provide a mechanism for further enhancing the management of communication parameters.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method executed by a non-AP MLD (Multi-Access Point) device supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

[0007] A first wireless frame is determined; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD;

[0008] The first radio frame is sent to the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication method, executed by an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

[0010] Receive a first radio frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein, the first radio frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first radio frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD.

[0011] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication, comprising:

[0012] A determination module is used to determine a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD;

[0013] The transmitting module is used to transmit the first wireless frame to the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

[0014] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, comprising:

[0015] The receiving module is used to receive a first wireless frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD.

[0016] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication, comprising:

[0017] One or more processors;

[0018] The communication device is used to execute the communication method described in the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0019] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, comprising:

[0020] One or more processors;

[0021] The communication device is used to execute the communication method described in the second aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0022] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication system, including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication and an AP MLD that supports multi-link communication;

[0023] Wherein, the non-AP MLD is used to determine the first wireless frame; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, the first wireless frame indicating that: the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; and, the first wireless frame is sent to the access point device AP MLD that supports multi-link communication.

[0024] The AP MLD is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the non-AP MLD.

[0025] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the communication method as described in the first aspect of this disclosure, or to perform the communication method as described in the second aspect of this disclosure.

[0026] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0027] In this embodiment, the non-AP MLD supporting multi-link communication determines a first radio frame, initiates a Wi-Fi communication parameter update through the first radio frame, and identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD. The first radio frame is then sent to the AP MLD supporting multi-link communication. In this way, the AP MLD can obtain information that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD, and that this intra-device coexistence activity has led to a Wi-Fi communication parameter update. The AP MLD then uses the updated Wi-Fi communication parameters to conduct Wi-Fi communication with the non-AP MLD. This achieves management of communication parameters when there is intra-device coexistence activity among multiple connected devices, avoids mutual interference between various communication methods, and improves regional throughput.

[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of this disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will become apparent from the description or may be learned by practice of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating one of the communication methods provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 5 is a second schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a site device supporting multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access point device supporting multi-link communication proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the terminal proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0039] This disclosure presents a communication method, communication device, and communication system.

[0040] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method executed by a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

[0041] A first wireless frame is determined; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD;

[0042] The first radio frame is sent to the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

[0043] In the above embodiments, the AP MLD can detect the presence of intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD. Due to this intra-device coexistence activity, the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated, and the updated Wi-Fi communication parameters are used to conduct Wi-Fi communication with the non-AP MLD. This achieves the management of communication parameters when intra-device coexistence activity exists in multiple connected devices, avoids mutual interference between various communication methods, and improves regional throughput.

[0044] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the in-device coexistence activity is periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field;

[0045] The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link;

[0046] The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0047] In the above embodiments, when there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD, the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update can be identified by the first field in the first wireless frame as periodic intra-device memory activity under at least one link; and the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under at least one link of the non-AP MLD can be identified by the second field in the first wireless frame.

[0048] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first field includes a first information element or a second information element;

[0049] The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within a non-AP MLD;

[0050] The second information element identifier indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD.

[0051] In the above embodiments, the first information element carried in the first field identifies that the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame, that is, a frame in which Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity in the non-AP MLD; or, the second information element carried in the first field identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is when there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD, which can indicate that: the first field identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device memory activity under at least one link.

[0052] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield;

[0053] The first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters have been updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or,

[0054] The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters for each link of the non-AP MLD; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

[0055] In the above embodiments, when the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame, the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under each first link can be identified by the link identifier of the first link and the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link respectively; when the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is non-AP MLD and there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link, the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under each non-AP MLD can be identified by the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under each non-AP MLD.

[0056] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field;

[0057] The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link;

[0058] The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0059] In the above embodiments, when there is non-periodic device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD, the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update can be identified by the third field in the first wireless frame as non-periodic device memory activity under at least one link; and the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under at least one link of the non-AP MLD can be identified by the fourth field in the first wireless frame.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC frame header of the first radio frame.

[0061] In the above embodiments, the operation mode control field in the MAC frame header of the first wireless frame can be used to identify that there is non-periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link where the update type of Wi-Fi communication parameter update is non-AP MLD.

[0062] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of spatial streams (SS), the length of the aggregated media access control service data unit (A-MSDU), and the closing time of the block acknowledgment (BA) mechanism.

[0063] The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the Wi-Fi communication parameters may include at least one of the following: time information for Wi-Fi communication (e.g., at least two of start time, duration, and end time), number of spatial streams (SS), length of A-MSDU, and shutdown time of the BA mechanism.

[0065] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a communication method executed by an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

[0066] Receive a first radio frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein, the first radio frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first radio frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD.

[0067] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the in-device coexistence activity is periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first wireless frame includes a first field and a second field;

[0068] The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link;

[0069] The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0070] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first field includes a first information element or a second information element;

[0071] The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within a non-AP MLD;

[0072] The second information element identifier indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD.

[0073] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or,

[0074] The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters for each link of the non-AP MLD; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

[0075] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field;

[0076] The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link;

[0077] The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0078] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC frame header of the first radio frame.

[0079] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of spatial streams (SS), the length of the aggregated media access control service data unit (A-MSDU), and the closing time of the block acknowledgment (BA) mechanism.

[0080] The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

[0081] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication, including at least one of a determining module and a sending module; wherein, the communication device is used to perform an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0082] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, including: a receiving module; wherein, the communication device is used to execute an optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0083] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication, comprising:

[0084] One or more processors;

[0085] The communication device is used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0086] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, comprising:

[0087] One or more processors;

[0088] The communication device is used to execute an optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0089] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication system, including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication and an AP MLD that supports multi-link communication; wherein the non-AP MLD is configured to perform the optional implementation described in the first aspect, and the AP MLD is configured to perform the optional implementation described in the second aspect.

[0090] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the optional implementation described in the first or second aspect.

[0091] Ninthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in the optional implementations of the first or second aspect.

[0092] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0093] Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry configured to perform the methods described according to optional implementations of the first, second, and third aspects above.

[0094] It is understood that the aforementioned communication devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, or chip systems are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here.

[0095] This disclosure provides communication methods, communication devices, and communication systems. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "signal transmission method," "wireless frame transmission method," etc., can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "information processing system" and "communication system."

[0096] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0097] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0098] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0099] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0100] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0101] In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0102] In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execution of A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execution of B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0103] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information", then "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0104] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0105] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0106] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0107] In some embodiments, the apparatus and device may be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they may also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "body", etc.

[0108] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network devices, core network devices, etc.

[0109] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0110] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0111] Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0112] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0113] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes a site device (Non-Access Point Multi-Link Device, Non-AP MLD, also known as a multi-link site device; Access Point, AP, access point device; Multi-Link Device, multi-link device) 101 and an access point device (Access Point Multi-Link Device, AP MLD, also known as a multi-link access point device) 102 that supports multi-link communication.

[0114] In some embodiments, the access point device can be an access point for mobile terminals to access a wired network. An AP acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, its main function being to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, an AP can be a terminal device or network device with a Wi-Fi chip. Optionally, the AP can support various WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11bf, and 802.11bn, as well as the next-generation 802.11 protocol, but is not limited to these.

[0115] In some embodiments, the site equipment includes, for example, a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal that supports Wi-Fi communication. Optionally, the wireless communication terminal may be at least one of, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an IoT device that supports Wi-Fi communication, a car with Wi-Fi communication capabilities, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and a wireless terminal device in a smart home.

[0116] Specifically, the site equipment can be a terminal device or network device with a Wi-Fi chip. Optionally, the site equipment can support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11bf, and 802.11bn, as well as the next-generation 802.11 protocol, but is not limited to these.

[0117] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0118] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1, or to some of the main bodies, but are not limited thereto. The main bodies shown in FIG1 are illustrative. The communication system may include all or some of the main bodies in FIG1, or may include other main bodies outside of FIG1. ​​The number and form of each main body are arbitrary. Each main body may be physical or virtual. The connection relationship between the main bodies is illustrative. The main bodies may not be connected or may be connected. The connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0119] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), such as LANs using the 802.11 series of protocols. In a WLAN, a Basic Service Set (BSS) is a fundamental component. An BSS network consists of site devices with some association within a specific coverage area. One type of association is where sites communicate directly with each other in a self-organizing network; this is called an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS). Another more common scenario is that in a BSS network, there is only one central site dedicated to managing the BSS, called an Access Point (AP) device, while other sites in the BSS network that are not APs are called terminals, also known as non-AP STAs. APs and non-AP STAs are collectively referred to as STAs. When describing STAs, it is not necessary to distinguish between APs and non-AP STAs. Within the same BSS network, due to distance, transmission power, etc., a STA cannot detect other STAs that are far away; they are each other's hidden nodes.

[0120] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, the method includes:

[0121] Step 201, non-AP MLD101 determines the first wireless frame; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0122] In 802.11bn, the non-AP MLD101 supports multi-link communication. During the establishment of multi-links with the AP MLD102, some links are STR (Simultaneous Transmit and Receive) links, while others are NSTR (Non-simultaneous transmit and receive) links. Specifically, STR links mean that while a device is transmitting data on one link, it can receive data on another. NSTR links mean that while a device is transmitting data on one link, it cannot receive data on another.

[0123] Referring to Figure 3, the APs attached to AP MLD102 include AP1 and AP2, and the non-AP STAs attached to non-AP MLD101 include STA1 and STA2. AP1 can communicate with STA1 via Link 1, and AP2 can communicate with STA2 via Link 2. Link 1 and Link 2 are mutual STR links. As shown in Figure 3, AP1 can send a first data frame to STA1 via Link 1. After receiving the second data frame sent by AP1, STA1 sends an ACK frame (acknowledgment frame) to AP1. During the communication between AP1 and STA1, STA2 can also send a second data frame to AP2 via Link 2. After receiving the second data frame sent by STA2, AP2 sends an ACK frame to STA2.

[0124] In 802.11bn, during Wi-Fi communication between the AP and STA, In-device Coexistence (IDC) may occur, meaning that Wi-Fi communication services and communication services from other wireless communication media need to be transmitted simultaneously. This IDC includes communication services from other wireless communication media besides Wi-Fi, which may include wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth (BT), Zigbee, and UWB (Ultra Wide Band) that use a shared radio frequency antenna.

[0125] Optionally, intra-device coexistence activities can include periodic intra-device coexistence activities or aperiodic intra-device coexistence activities. Periodic intra-device coexistence activities can include: repeatedly communicating for a certain duration using another wireless communication medium at regular time intervals within a link. Aperiodic intra-device coexistence activities can include: bursty communication using another wireless communication medium within a certain TXOP (Transmission Opportunity).

[0126] Optionally, periodic intra-device coexistence activities may include periodically receiving (Rx) communication service data from other communication media, and / or periodically transmitting (Tx) communication service data from other communication media.

[0127] However, when a device supports multi-link communication, it can access a channel or obtain a TXOP (Transmission of Programming) segment for Wi-Fi communication on one link, while using other communication technologies on another link. But due to limited hardware resources (such as antennas and memory), if Wi-Fi and other communication technologies share hardware resources on different links, hardware resource conflicts may occur. For example, suppose a device has four antennas. When using Wi-Fi, three antennas are needed; when using BitTorrent (BT) technology, three antennas are also needed, resulting in a hardware resource conflict.

[0128] To avoid hardware resource conflicts between WiFi communication and other communication technologies in the case of coexisting activities within multiple connected devices, which could lead to mutual interference between various communication methods, it is necessary to further improve the management mechanism of communication parameters, avoid mutual interference between multiple communication methods, and improve regional throughput.

[0129] To address this, this disclosure provides a communication method in which a non-AP MLD101 determines a first wireless frame and initiates a Wi-Fi communication parameter update via the first wireless frame. The first wireless frame identifies that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link where the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is non-AP MLD101. In this way, a mechanism for Wi-Fi communication parameter updates is defined in the case of intra-device coexistence activity among multiple connected devices. By managing the communication parameters, mutual interference between various communication methods can be avoided, thereby improving the regional throughput.

[0130] Optionally, Wi-Fi communication parameters are the communication parameters used when conducting Wi-Fi communication. Wi-Fi communication parameters may include time parameters and operating parameters. Time parameters may include time information for conducting Wi-Fi communication, while operating parameters may include the number of transmitting antennas, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, the number of SS (space streams), the length of A-MSDU (Aggregate MAC Service Data Unit), and the closing time of the BA (block acknowledgement) mechanism, etc.

[0131] Optionally, Wi-Fi communication parameters for Wi-Fi communication and communication parameters for coexistence within the device can be set according to the needs of Wi-Fi communication and coexistence activities within the device. This disclosure does not limit this aspect.

[0132] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of SS, the length of A-MSDU, and the shutdown time of the BA mechanism;

[0133] The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

[0134] Optionally, SS is used for sending or receiving Wi-Fi communication service data. Optionally, SS can also represent the number of transmitting antennas or receiving antennas for Wi-Fi communication.

[0135] Optionally, the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, i.e. the number of antennas used to transmit Wi-Fi communication service data.

[0136] Optionally, the number of receiving antennas for Wi-Fi communication, i.e. the number of antennas used to receive Wi-Fi communication service data.

[0137] As an example, suppose the device has four antennas, and three of them are used to receive Wi-Fi communication data and three of them are used to transmit BT communication data. If the Wi-Fi communication data is low-latency data and priority should be given to receiving Wi-Fi communication data, then three of the four antennas can be set as the number of receiving antennas for Wi-Fi communication, and the remaining one can be used as the number of transmitting antennas for BT communication.

[0138] Optionally, the amount of memory allocated for Wi-Fi communication may affect the quality of SNS (Social Networking Services). Optionally, the more memory allocated for Wi-Fi communication, the higher the SNS quality; conversely, the less memory allocated for Wi-Fi communication, the lower the SNS quality. Optionally, the amount of memory allocated for Wi-Fi communication and the amount of memory allocated for coexisting activities within the device can be configured according to the needs of Wi-Fi communication and coexisting activities within the device.

[0139] Optionally, the BA mechanism can be turned off in advance. Optionally, in some embodiments, in order to avoid transmission failures caused by excessively long A-MSDUs (i.e., the length of the A-MSDU is greater than or equal to a preset threshold), or problems such as A-MSDU retransmission caused by deteriorating network conditions, the BA mechanism may be turned off in advance, thereby reducing the delay and retransmission overhead of the entire data transmission due to the failure of a single A-MSDU transmission.

[0140] Optionally, the time information for Wi-Fi communication may include at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time. As an example, the time period for Wi-Fi communication can be determined based on the start time and duration; the time period for Wi-Fi communication can be determined based on the start time and end time; and the start time for Wi-Fi communication can be determined based on the duration and end time, thus determining the time period for Wi-Fi communication.

[0141] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field;

[0142] The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link;

[0143] The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0144] Optionally, the first wireless frame may include an operation parameter update request frame or an operation parameter update notification frame; this embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit this.

[0145] Optionally, the first and second fields can be carried in the Reconfiguration Multi-link information element of the first radio frame.

[0146] Specifically, the first radio frame may include a multi-link element, which includes a multi-link control field and a link information field. The multi-link control field includes a type subfield. When the type subfield in the multi-link control field indicates a reconfiguration type, the multi-link element is either a reconfiguration multi-link element or a reconfiguration multi-link information element, and the link information field indicates reconfiguration multi-link information.

[0147] Optionally, the updated Wi-Fi communication parameters may include the updated Wi-Fi communication parameters when there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0148] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first field includes a first information element or a second information element;

[0149] The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within the non-AP MLD101;

[0150] The second information element identifier: The update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0151] Optionally, the Reconfiguration Multi-link information element may include a STA Control field corresponding to each STA attached to the non-AP MLD101.

[0152] As an example, see Table 1, which shows the format of the STA control field for the Reconfiguration Multi-link information element:

[0153] Table 1:

[0154] Referring to Table 1, the STA Control field of the Reconfiguration Multi-link information element may include the following subfields: Link ID, Complete Profile, AP Removal Timer Present, Reconfiguration Operation Type, Operation Parameters Present, NSTR Bitmap Size, NSTR Indication Bitmap Present, and Reserved.

[0155] Optionally, the first field may include a Reconfiguration Operation Type subfield. The parameter value of the Reconfiguration Operation Type subfield can be used to identify that the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame. That is, the first wireless frame is a frame in which the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated due to the periodic coexistence activity within the non-AP MLD101.

[0156] Optionally, the parameter values ​​for the Reconfiguration Operation Type subfield and their corresponding meanings can be found in Table 2.

[0157] Table 2:

[0158] Referring to Table 2, when the parameter value of the Reconfiguration Operation Type subfield is set to x (e.g., 5), the frame type of the first wireless frame is identified as a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; when the parameter value of the Reconfiguration Operation Type subfield is set to y (e.g., 6), the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is identified as non-AP. There is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the MLD101.

[0159] Optionally, the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameters is non-AP. There is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the MLD101, that is, the Wi-Fi communication parameters are affected at the link level.

[0160] Alternatively, the presence of periodic intra-device coexistence activity can be identified in each link of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update type as non-AP MLD101 through the Presence Bitmap subfield in the Reconfiguration Multi-link element.

[0161] Optionally, the format of the Presence Bitmap subfield in the Reconfiguration Multi-link element can be found in Table 3.

[0162] Table 3:

[0163] Referring to Table 3, the Presence Bitmap subfield may include the MLD MAC Address Present field, the EML Capabilities Present field, the MLD Capabilities And Operations Present field, and the Reserved field. Optionally, some or all of the bits in the Reserved field can be used to indicate periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD101 for Wi-Fi communication parameter updates of the update type.

[0164] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or,

[0165] The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters for each link of the non-AP MLD101; wherein the first field includes a second information element.

[0166] Optionally, the first subfield may include a Link ID field, and the second subfield may include an Operation Parameter field. The Link ID field may include the link identifier of the first link, and the Operation Parameter field may include update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link. Optionally, the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters can be found in the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0167] Optionally, the timing information for Wi-Fi communication under the first link can be based on the TSF (Time Sync Function) parameters under the first link.

[0168] Optionally, the third subfield may include updated information on Wi-Fi communication parameters for other links where there is coexistence of activity within the device, referencing the Wi-Fi communication parameters for a specific link. For example, if the first wireless frame is currently being transmitted via link1, the TSF parameters for the first link can be used as a reference to set the update settings for Wi-Fi communication time information for other links.

[0169] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field;

[0170] The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link;

[0171] The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0172] Optionally, a STA attached to a non-AP MLD101 can act as a TXOP holder or TXOP responder, and send a first radio frame to the AP MLD102 if it is determined that there is non-periodic intra-device coexistence activity in the currently held TXOP or the acquired TXOP.

[0173] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the third field includes an operation mode control (OM) field, which is carried in the MAC frame header of the first radio frame.

[0174] Optionally, if the OM control field is carried in the MAC header of the first radio frame, it can be determined that there is non-periodic intra-device coexistence activity in the STA.

[0175] Optionally, the fourth field may include a control information subdomain field in the OM control subdomain.

[0176] Referring to Table 4, the format of the control information subdomain fields in the OM control subdomain is as follows:

[0177] Table 4:

[0178] Optionally, the number of bits corresponding to the UL MU Disable field, ER SU Disable field, DL MU-MIMO Resound Recommendation field, and UL MU Data Disable field can be reserved bits, meaning there is no limit to the specific number of bits.

[0179] Optionally, the update information for the Wi-Fi communication parameters identified in the fourth field can be found in the above description, and will not be repeated here.

[0180] Optionally, when the non-AP MLD101 supports EHT (Extremely High Throughput), the format of the control information subfield field in the EHT OM control subfield can be seen in Figure 5:

[0181] Referring to Table 5, the format of the control information subdomain fields in the EHT OM control subdomain is as follows:

[0182] Table 5:

[0183] Optionally, the field indicated by the reserved bit can identify at least one of the following: changes in the length of the A-MSDU and changes in the shutdown time of the BA mechanism.

[0184] Step 202: Non-AP MLD101 sends the first radio frame to AP MLD102. Correspondingly, AP MLD102 receives the first radio frame sent by non-AP MLD101.

[0185] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0186] In some embodiments, terms such as “moment,” “point in time,” “time,” and “time location” can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as “duration,” “segment,” “time window,” “window,” and “time.”

[0187] In some embodiments, terms such as wireless access scheme and waveform can be used interchangeably.

[0188] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain," "preset," "default," "set," "indicated," "a certain," "any," and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A," "preset A," "default A," "set A," "indicated A," "a certain A," "any A," and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0189] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (boolean), or by a comparison of numerical values ​​(e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0190] In some embodiments, "not expecting to receive" can be interpreted as not receiving on time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, or as not performing subsequent processing on the data after receiving it; "not expecting to send" can be interpreted as not sending, or as sending but not expecting the receiver to respond to the sent content.

[0191] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include the foregoing steps and at least one of the embodiments. For example, step 201 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, step 202 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, and the combination of step 201 and step 202 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0192] In some embodiments, other optional implementations described before or after the specification corresponding to FIG2 may be referred to.

[0193] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating one of the communication methods according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0194] As shown in Figure 4, the above method can be applied to non-AP MLD101, and the method includes:

[0195] Step 401, non-AP MLD101 determines the first wireless frame; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0196] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of SS, the length of A-MSDU, and the shutdown time of the BA mechanism;

[0197] The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

[0198] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field;

[0199] The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link;

[0200] The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0201] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first field includes a first information element or a second information element;

[0202] The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within the non-AP MLD101;

[0203] The second information element identifier: The update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0204] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or,

[0205] The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under each link of the non-AP MLD101; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

[0206] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field;

[0207] The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link;

[0208] The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0209] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC frame header of the first wireless frame.

[0210] The optional implementation of step 401 can be found in the optional implementation of step 201 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0211] Step 402: non-AP MLD101 sends the first radio frame to AP MLD102.

[0212] The optional implementation of step 402 can be found in the optional implementation of step 202 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0213] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include the foregoing steps and at least one of the embodiments. For example, step 401 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, step 402 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, and the combination of steps 401 and 402 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0214] In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to Figure 4.

[0215] Figure 5 is a second schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0216] As shown in Figure 5, the above method can be applied to AP MLD102, and the method includes:

[0217] Step 501, AP MLD102 receives a first wireless frame sent by non-AP MLD101; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0218] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of SS, the length of A-MSDU, and the shutdown time of the BA mechanism;

[0219] The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

[0220] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field;

[0221] The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link;

[0222] The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0223] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first field includes a first information element or a second information element;

[0224] The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within the non-AP MLD101;

[0225] The second information element identifier: The update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD101.

[0226] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or,

[0227] The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under each link of the non-AP MLD101; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

[0228] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field;

[0229] The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link;

[0230] The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

[0231] Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC frame header of the first wireless frame.

[0232] The optional implementation of step 501 can be found in the optional implementations of steps 201 and 202 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0233] This disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Alternatively, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network functional node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0234] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functionality of some or all of the units or modules is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functionality of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-called software with the remaining parts implemented through hardware circuits.

[0235] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. Furthermore, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), or a Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU).

[0236] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a site device supporting multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the site device 600 supporting multi-link communication may include at least one of a determining module 601, a sending module 602, etc.

[0237] In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is used to determine a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; the sending module 602 is used to send the first wireless frame to the access point device AP MLD that supports multi-link communication.

[0238] Optionally, the determining module 601 is used to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps 201 and 401, but not limited thereto) performed by the site device 101 supporting multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here. The sending module 602 is used to perform at least one of the sending and receiving steps (e.g., steps 202 and 402, but not limited thereto) performed by the site device 101 supporting multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0239] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access point device supporting multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 7, the access point device for multi-link communication may include: a receiving module 701.

[0240] In some embodiments, the receiving module 701 is configured to receive a first wireless frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; the sending module 502 is configured to send the first wireless frame to an access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

[0241] Optionally, the receiving module 701 is used to perform at least one of the sending and receiving steps (such as step 202, step 501, but not limited thereto) performed by the access point device 102 that supports multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0242] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal 800 (e.g., a user equipment) proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. The terminal 800 may be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports network devices in implementing any of the above methods, or it may be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The terminal 800 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0243] As shown in Figure 8, terminal 800 includes one or more processors 801. Processor 801 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Terminal 800 is used to execute any of the above methods.

[0244] In some embodiments, terminal 800 further includes one or more memories 802 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 802 may be located outside of terminal 800.

[0245] In some embodiments, terminal 800 further includes one or more transceivers 804. When terminal 800 includes one or more transceivers 804, transceiver 804 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps 202, 402, 501, but not limited thereto), and processor 801 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps 201, 401, but not limited thereto).

[0246] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0247] In some embodiments, terminal 800 may include one or more interface circuits 803. Optionally, interface circuit 803 is connected to memory 802, and interface circuit 803 can be used to receive signals from memory 802 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 802 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 803 can read instructions stored in memory 802 and send the instructions to processor 801.

[0248] The terminal 800 described in the above embodiments may be a user equipment or other communication device, but the scope of the terminal 800 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the terminal 800 may not be limited by FIG8. The communication device may be an independent device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC set may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (8) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (9) others, etc.

[0249] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 900 proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the terminal 1300 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip 900 shown in Figure 9, but it is not limited thereto.

[0250] Chip 900 includes one or more processors 901, which are used to perform any of the above methods.

[0251] In some embodiments, chip 900 further includes one or more 903s. Optionally, interface circuitry 903 is connected to memory 902, and interface circuitry 903 can be used to receive signals from memory 902 or other devices, and interface circuitry 903 can be used to send signals to memory 902 or other devices. For example, interface circuitry 903 can read instructions stored in memory 902 and send the instructions to processor 901.

[0252] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 903 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps 202, 402, 501, but not limited thereto), and the processor 901 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps 201, 401, 304, but not limited thereto).

[0253] In some embodiments, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, transceiver, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0254] In some embodiments, chip 900 further includes one or more memories 902 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 902 may be located outside of chip 900.

[0255] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a terminal 800, cause the terminal 800 to perform any of the methods described above. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0256] This disclosure also proposes a program product that, when executed by terminal 800, causes terminal 800 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0257] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Performed by a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method includes: A first wireless frame is determined; the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update; wherein, the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; The first radio frame is sent to the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The in-device coexistence activity is a periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field; The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link; The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first field includes a first information element or a second information element; The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within a non-AP MLD; The second information element identifier indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD.

4. The communication method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters have been updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or, The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters for each link of the non-AP MLD; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

5. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field; The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link; The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

6. The communication method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC header of the first wireless frame.

7. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of spatial streams (SS), the length of the aggregated media access control service data unit (A-MSDU), and the closing time of the block acknowledgment (BA) mechanism. The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, The method, performed by an access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication, includes: Receive a first radio frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein, the first radio frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first radio frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is intra-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD.

9. The communication method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The in-device coexistence activity is a periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a first field and a second field; The first field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is a periodic event occurring under at least one link. Coexistence activities within sexual equipment; The second field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first field includes a first information element or a second information element; The first information element identifier: the frame type of the first wireless frame is a Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame; wherein, the Wi-Fi communication parameter update frame includes: a frame in which Wi-Fi communication parameters are updated when there is periodic coexistence activity within a non-AP MLD; The second information element identifier indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is periodic intra-device coexistence activity under each link of the non-AP MLD.

11. The communication method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The second field includes a first subfield and a second subfield; the first subfield identifies the link identifier of the first link where the Wi-Fi communication parameters have been updated; the second subfield identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the first link; wherein, the first subfield and the second subfield correspond one-to-one; the first field includes a first information element; or, The second field includes a third subfield, which identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters for each link of the non-AP MLD; wherein, the first field includes a second information element.

12. The communication method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The in-device coexistence activity is a non-periodic in-device coexistence activity, and the first radio frame includes a third field and a fourth field; The third field indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is non-periodic coexistence activity within the device under at least one link; The fourth field identifies the update information of the Wi-Fi communication parameters under the at least one link.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The third field includes an operation mode control field, which is carried in the MAC header of the first wireless frame.

14. The communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that, The Wi-Fi communication parameters include at least one of the following: the number of transmitting antennas for Wi-Fi communication, the number of receiving antennas, the amount of memory, time information, the number of spatial streams (SS), the length of the aggregated media access control service data unit (A-MSDU), and the closing time of the block acknowledgment (BA) mechanism. The time information includes at least two of the following: start time, duration, and end time.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication equipment includes a non-AP MLD (Multi-Link Communication Device) that supports multi-link communication, comprising: A determination module is used to determine a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame identifies that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; The transmitting module is used to transmit the first wireless frame to the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication equipment includes an access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication, comprising: The receiving module is used to receive a first wireless frame sent by a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, and the first wireless frame indicates that the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD.

17. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication equipment includes a non-AP MLD (Multi-Link Communication Device) that supports multi-link communication, comprising: One or more processors; The communication device is used to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication equipment includes an access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication, comprising: One or more processors; The communication device is used to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 14.

19. A communication system, characterized in that, This includes non-AP MLDs that support multi-link communication and AP MLDs that support multi-link communication; Wherein, the non-AP MLD is used to determine the first wireless frame; wherein, the first wireless frame is used to initiate a Wi-Fi communication parameter update, the first wireless frame indicating that: the update type of the Wi-Fi communication parameter update is that there is in-device coexistence activity under at least one link of the non-AP MLD; and, the first wireless frame is sent to the access point device AP MLD that supports multi-link communication. The AP MLD is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the non-AP MLD.

20. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that, When the instruction is executed on the communication device, the communication device performs the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or performs the communication method as described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

21. A program product, characterized in that, When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device performs the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or performs the communication method as described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

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