Communication method and apparatus, and storage medium and program product

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are a communication method and apparatus, and a storage medium and a program product. The communication method comprises: acquiring target wake time (TWT) information, wherein the TWT information carries a TWT parameter of a first node and / or a TWT parameter of a second node; and on the basis of the TWT information, exchanging a frame with the second node, wherein the frame is a frame between the second node and a third node.

Description

Communication method and apparatus, storage medium, and program product

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410727982.8, filed on June 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus, a storage medium, and a program product. BACKGROUND

[0003] In WiFi8, relay technology is a technology that is concerned as an alternative technology. The relay technology adds one or more relay devices between an access point (AP) and a station (STA), and performs one or more times of forwarding of data to extend the coverage of WiFi.

[0004] In a relay scenario, a relay device needs to process data of itself and relaying at the same time. To ensure the transmission of its own data is not affected, the relay device may cache part of the relay data, and then transmit the cached relay data after the transmission of its own data is completed. SUMMARY

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method comprises:

[0006] obtaining TWT information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of a first node and / or a second node;

[0007] performing frame exchange with the second node based on the TWT information, the frame being a frame between the second node and a third node.

[0008] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The communication method comprises:

[0009] informing the first node of TWT information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of the first node and / or the second node.

[0010] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus comprises:

[0011] a processing module configured to obtain TWT information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of a first node and / or a second node;

[0012] a communication module configured to perform frame exchange with the second node based on the TWT information, the frame being a frame between the second node and a third node.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, another communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus comprises:

[0014] The communication module notifies the first node of TWT information, and the TWT information carries TWT parameters of the first node and / or the second node.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor, which, when implementing a computer program, implements the communication method of the first aspect or the communication method of the second aspect.

[0016] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium includes computer instructions; when the computer instructions are executed, the communication method of the first aspect or the communication method of the second aspect is implemented.

[0017] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is caused to implement the communication method of the first aspect or the communication method of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present disclosure, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described in the following description are only some drawings of the present disclosure, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art according to these drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a relay technology according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an organizational architecture diagram of a relay framework according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 3 is an interaction flow diagram of TWT negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 4 is an interaction flow diagram of another TWT negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a TWT element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a field of a TWT element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 7 is an interaction flow diagram of another TWT negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 8 is an interaction flow diagram of another TWT negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a field of a TWT information frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 10 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another TWT negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a structure diagram of fields of a TWT teardown frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a structure diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 14 is an interaction flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 15 is an interaction flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 16 is a framework diagram of a relay negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 17 is a framework diagram of a proxy negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 18 is a framework diagram of another proxy negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 19 is a framework diagram of yet another proxy negotiation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 20 is a structure diagram of a proxy TWT negotiation frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 21 is a structure diagram of yet another TWT element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 22 is a structure diagram of yet another TWT element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 23 is a structure diagram of another proxy TWT negotiation frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 24 is a structure diagram of fields of a proxy TWT negotiation frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 25 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 26A is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 26B is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 27A is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIG. 27B is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 28 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 29 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIG. 30A is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 30B is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 31A is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 31B is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 32 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 33 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 34 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 35 is an interaction flow diagram of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 36 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 37 is a structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 38 is a structural diagram of another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 39 is a structural diagram of yet another communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] In order for those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0063] In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the symbol " / " represents the meaning of "or", for example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" herein only represents a description of the association relationship of the associated object, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: only A, only B, and A and B. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "First", "second", and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily mean different.

[0064] It should be noted that in the present disclosure, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to represent as an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in the present disclosure should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0065] WiFi8 is the next generation of WiFi standard, which is based on ultra-high reliability. In WiFi8, relay technology is of great concern as an alternative technology. The data transmission of relay technology includes two stages: data is sent from the AP to the relay device, and then sent from the relay device to the STA. Relay technology can effectively improve the coverage of WiFi, and also increase the number of WiFi connections.

[0066] In some relay scenarios, the relay device needs to process its own data and relay data at the same time. In order to ensure the transmission of its own data, the relay device may not be able to send relay data in time, and chooses to cache part of the relay data. In addition, the TWT (target wake time) protocol is only negotiated between the AP and the STA, which leads to the fact that the relay device does not perceive the TWT SP (service period) of the STA, resulting in that the relay device cannot accurately determine the sleep time of the STA, and may send relay data in the case of STA sleep, resulting in frame exchange failure.

[0067] In addition, the relay device also has the demand of energy saving. If the relay device cannot obtain the TWT protocol information of the STA, it cannot accurately schedule its own energy saving state to ensure that it can keep the wake-up state and exchange frames with the STA when the STA is in the wake-up state.

[0068] Based on this, the present disclosure provides a communication method, by acquiring TWT information, and according to the target wake-up time TWT parameter of the first node and / or the second node carried by the TWT information, the frame exchange is carried out when the first node and the second node are in the wake-up state, which can improve the success rate of data transmission and reduce the number of data retransmission. And in the case that the first node and the second node do not need to carry out data transmission, the first node and the second node enter the sleep state, so as to reduce the energy consumption of the first node and the second node, so as to achieve the effect of energy saving.

[0069] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, the relay technology and TWT are introduced.

[0070] I. Relay technology

[0071] The relay technology is an alternative technology in WiFi8. WiFi8 is defined by the ultra high reliability (UHR) working group. In some documents of UHR, rate-vs-range (RvR) improvement is set as one of the main goals in UHR project. As an alternative technology of WiFi8, the relay technology can effectively improve RvR by increasing throughput and expanding coverage in low SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) scenarios.

[0072] In some proposals, it is also pointed out that the relay of UHR needs to consider improving the multi-hop channel access delay, enhancing the end-to-end QoS (Quality of Service), simplifying the relay process, etc. Simplifying the relay process can be realized by reducing the complexity of relay processing. For example, using single-user relay, simplified relay signaling, relay without encryption / decryption, reducing relay data packet processing delay, etc. To solve the challenges in some relay schemes, some proposals propose a framework of low MAC (media access control) layer relay, which can effectively reduce the processing delay of relay and simplify the protocol process.

[0073] In addition, the relay process under the relay architecture is disclosed in these proposals, as shown in FIG. 1. The relay device plays a role of forwarding between the source device and the destination device. In the proposal, it is pointed out that the relay device has many potential advantages, including expanding the coverage of dead angle / weak signal area, improving the throughput of coverage, and reducing the energy consumption of STA. Based on this, in the proposal, many ideas of the direction and characteristics of the development of WiFi8 relay technology are disclosed.

[0074] It is noted that in some proposals, a multi-traffic multiplexing feature for relay transmission is proposed, and there is one type of relay device that has this feature. The relay device can act as a regular STA with its own traffic, or as a relay for other STAs to extend the access range. In this scenario, the relay device needs to handle multiple traffics at the same time. Also, the proposals point out that the power saving situation of the relay device needs to be considered. On one hand, the relay device can need to know the power saving plan of the target STA in order to effectively perform the relay transmission. On the other hand, the relay device can use different power saving time windows for relay operation and its own uplink / downlink frame exchange.

[0075] To further describe the understanding of the relay technology, an organization architecture of the relay technology is introduced in the scenario of sub 1 GHz (S1G) relay. FIG. 2 is an organization architecture diagram of a relay scenario provided by the disclosure. The organization architecture includes a relay AP, a relay STA, a relay function, a plurality of STAs (such as STA1, STA2, STA3, STA4, and STA5), a plurality of relay devices (Relay 1, Relay 2, and Relay 3), and a root AP.

[0076] The relay STA is a non-AP STA associated with the Root AP or the relay AP of another relay. The relay AP is an AP that provides a relay function for its associated non-AP STA and indirectly provides access to the distributed system (DS) through the path of the relay STA to the Root AP. The relay function performs local reception or selective forwarding of MAC service data units (MSDUs) between the relay STA and the relay AP according to the destination address.

[0077] II. TWT

[0078] The target wake time (TWT) first appeared in some standards when it was mainly used to support power saving work in a large-scale Internet of Things environment. With the development of these standards, the function of TWT has been further expanded, so that these standards can optimize the power saving mechanism of the device to provide more reliable and more energy-saving transmission mechanisms. In these standards, the TWT mechanism has been modified to support trigger-based uplink transmission on the basis of the previous version, thereby expanding the working range of TWT.

[0079] The basic principle of TWT is that a terminal STA and an AP negotiate a service period, after the service period arrives, the STA switches from a sleep state to a wake state, and waits for a trigger frame sent by the AP to perform a data exchange. Alternatively, the STA competes for a channel through an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) mechanism, and sends data to the AP. After the transmission is completed, the STA reenters the sleep state. As shown in FIG. 3, the STA and the AP can also modify or delete the established TWT protocol through negotiation. A device that requests to establish, modify, or delete a TWT protocol is referred to as a TWT requesting STA, and a device that responds to the above request of the TWT is referred to as a TWT responding STA. The TWT requesting STA and the responding STA can both be a STA or an AP.

[0080] Each STA independently negotiates with the AP, and each STA has a separate TWT time period, which is also referred to as an individual TWT (I-TWT). The AP can also group multiple STAs according to their TWT time periods, and connect with multiple terminals at a time, thereby improving energy saving efficiency, which is also referred to as a broadcast TWT (B-TWT). In related protocols, the B-TWT is further extended, and a restricted TWT (R-TWT) is introduced, which is mainly used for low-latency data transmission, and aims to reduce the transmission latency of low-latency services.

[0081] The TWT negotiation between the AP and the STA mainly includes the following three types: establishing a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, and deleting a TWT protocol. According to the type of negotiation, the TWT negotiation frame can be divided into the following types: a TWT setup frame, a TWT teardown frame, a TWT information frame, a protected TWT setup frame, a protected TWT teardown frame, a protected TWT information frame, and other frames including a TWT element.

[0082] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 4, an interaction flow chart of negotiating to establish a TWT protocol is provided in the disclosure. A TWT requesting device sends a TWT protocol establishment request frame to a TWT responding device. Accordingly, the TWT responding device sends a TWT protocol establishment response frame to the TWT requesting device after receiving the TWT protocol establishment request frame. Both the TWT protocol establishment request frame and the TWT protocol establishment response frame are frames including a TWT element, also referred to as TWT negotiation frames. For the convenience of description, the negotiation frame used for requesting can be referred to as a TWT requesting negotiation frame, and the negotiation frame used for responding can be referred to as a TWT responding negotiation frame. In the negotiation process of one TWT protocol establishment, multiple interaction processes as shown in FIG. 4 can be performed.

[0083] FIG. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a TWT element provided in an embodiment of the disclosure. The TWT element includes four fields: an element identifier (Element ID), a length (Length), a control (Control), and TWT parameter information (TWT Parameter Information). Table 1 shows the definitions of the four fields.

[0084] Table 1

[0085] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a Control field in a TWT element. The Control field includes seven subfields: a neighbor discovery protocol (NDP) paging indicator (NDP Paging Indicator), a responder power management (PM) mode (Responder PM Mode), a negotiation type (Negotiation Type), a device TWT information frame disabled (TWT Information Frame Disabled), a wake duration unit (Wake Duration Unit), a link ID bitmap present (Link ID Bitmap Present), and an aligned TWT (Aligned TWT). Table 2 shows the definitions of the seven subfields.

[0086] Table 2

[0087] In another example, when the existing TWT protocol needs to be modified, the TWT request device sends a TWT protocol modification request frame to the TWT response device to request modification of the existing TWT protocol. If the value of the Response Requested field in the TWT protocol modification request frame is 1, the TWT response device needs to send a TWT protocol modification response frame to the TWT request device to respond to the TWT protocol modification request frame, as shown in FIG. 7. If the value of the Response Requested field in the TWT protocol modification request frame is 0, the TWT response device does not need to send a TWT protocol modification response frame, as shown in FIG. 8. Either party that establishes the TWT protocol can send a TWT protocol modification request frame to the TWT response device as the TWT request device to request modification of the existing TWT protocol.

[0088] The TWT protocol modification request frame and the TWT protocol modification response frame are both TWT information frames. The TWT information frame is sent by either party that establishes the TWT protocol as the TWT request device to request or transmit information about the TWT protocol. The TWT information frame is an Action frame, which includes three fields: Category, Unprotected S1G Action, and TWT Information. Table 3 shows the definitions of the three fields.

[0089] Table 3

[0090] As shown in FIG. 9, the TWT Information field includes six subfields: TWT Flow Identifier, Response Requested, Next TWT Request, Next TWT Subfield Size, All TWT, and Next TWT. Table 4 shows the definitions of the six subfields.

[0091] Table 4

[0092] Yet another exemplary, as shown in FIG. 10, in the case of the need to delete the established TWT protocol, the TWT request device sends a TWT teardown frame to the TWT response device for requesting to delete the established TWT protocol. The TWT teardown frame is sent by any party of the established TWT protocol as the TWT request device, and is an Action frame including three fields: Category, Unprotected S1G Action, and TWT Flow. Table 5 shows the definitions of the above three fields. As shown in FIG. 11, the TWT Flow field includes two sub-fields: TWT Flow Identifier and Reserved.

[0093] Table 5

[0094] The communication method provided by the present disclosure can be applied to a communication system as shown in FIG. 12, which shows a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 12, the communication system includes an AP, a STA, and a relay node. The AP, the STA, and the relay node are communicatively connected and can exchange information therebetween.

[0095] In some embodiments, the STA can be an electronic terminal installed with a WiFi module, which can exchange information with the STA and the relay node through a WiFi network. For example, the electronic terminal can be a mobile phone, a Pad, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc. Embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the application scenarios. The terminal can also be referred to as a user, a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a UE terminal, a wireless communication device, a UE agent, or a UE apparatus, etc. Embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this.

[0096] In some embodiments, the AP can be any communication device with node function, and the AP can interact with the STA and the relay node for data exchange through the WiFi network. For example, the AP can be a WiFi router, and the STA can be a user terminal such as a mobile phone or a computer. When the mobile phone or the computer or the like is set as a WiFi hotspot mode to provide a WiFi network for other terminals, the mobile phone or the computer or the like is the AP in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the other terminals connected to the WiFi network provided by the AP can be the STA.

[0097] In some embodiments, the relay node is also referred to as a relay device, and the relay node can interact with the STA and the AP for data exchange through the WiFi network.

[0098] It should be noted that FIG. 12 is only an exemplary block diagram, and the number of devices included in FIG. 12 and the names of the devices are not limited, and in addition to the devices shown in FIG. 12, the communication system can also include other devices, such as core network devices.

[0099] The application scenarios of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited. The system architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0100] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided by the present disclosure, which is applied to a first node. As shown in FIG. 13, the flowchart of the communication method includes S101-S102.

[0101] S101, obtaining TWT information.

[0102] The TWT information carries a target wake time TWT parameter of the first node and / or the second node. The target wake time TWT parameter includes information of a wake time period and a sleep time period, and other related TWT parameters, which are used to negotiate a TWT protocol of the first node and / or the second node.

[0103] In some embodiments, the TWT parameter includes related information of a service period TWT SP of the target wake time.

[0104] Exemplarily, in the case that the TWT information carries the target wake-up time TWT parameter of the first node, the TWT parameter includes the related information of the service period TWT SP of the target wake-up time of the first node. Similarly, in the case that the TWT information carries the target wake-up time TWT parameter of the second node, the TWT parameter includes the related information of the service period TWT SP of the target wake-up time of the second node.

[0105] S102, based on the TWT information, performing frame exchange with the second node.

[0106] The frame is a frame between the second node and the third node.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first node determines a time period for performing frame exchange with the second node based on the TWT information.

[0108] Exemplarily, in the case that the TWT information carries the target wake-up time TWT parameter of the second node, the TWT information includes the related information of the service period TWT SP of the target wake-up time of the second node. The first node performs frame exchange with the second node within the service period TWT SP of the target wake-up time of the second node, to transmit relay data to the second node or receive relay data from the second node.

[0109] Further exemplarily, in the case that the first node needs to reduce energy consumption, the second node can enter a sleep state in a non-service period to reduce its own energy consumption. On this basis, the TWT information carries the TWT parameters of the first node and the second node, and the TWT information includes the service period TWT SP of the target wake-up time of the first node and the second node. The first node performs frame exchange with the second node in the overlapping time of the TWT SP of the first node and the TWT SP of the second node, to transmit relay data to the second node or receive relay data from the second node.

[0110] Further exemplarily, in the case that the first node needs to reduce energy consumption, the second node can enter a sleep state in a non-service period to reduce its own energy consumption. On this basis, the TWT information carries the TWT parameters for negotiating the TWT protocol of the first node and the second node, and the TWT information includes the TWT SP of the first node and the second node. The first node performs frame exchange with the second node within the TWT SP of the first node and the second node, to transmit relay data to the second node or receive relay data from the second node.

[0111] In some embodiments, the first node can obtain the TWT information in the following two ways.

[0112] I. receiving a notification

[0113] As shown in FIG. 14, an interaction flowchart for the first node to acquire the TWT information by receiving the notification, including S201.

[0114] S201, the third node sends a first frame to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the first frame sent by the third node.

[0115] The first frame is used to notify the TWT information. In the case that the first node acquires the TWT information by receiving the notification, the first node directly determines the TWT information through the first frame.

[0116] Exemplarily, the third node notifies the first node of the TWT information about the TWT protocol established between the third node and the second node by sending the first frame to the first node.

[0117] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: TWT parameters, TWT notification information.

[0118] The TWT notification information includes at least one of the following: TWT notification indication, address of the TWT related node, association identification of the TWT related node, relay TWT flow identification; the TWT notification indication is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to notify the receiving end of the TWT parameters about the TWT protocol established between the sending end and another node, the other node being the TWT related node. The TWT related node is the node to which the TWT parameters are applied. Or the TWT notification indication is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to notify the TWT information of the established TWT protocol.

[0119] In this way, the first node not only acquires the TWT information through the first frame, but also determines the information of the TWT related node according to the TWT notification information carried by the first frame, so as to realize more effective power management and network resource utilization.

[0120] II. Negotiation

[0121] FIG. 15 is an interaction flowchart for the first node to acquire the TWT information by interaction, including S301-S302.

[0122] S301, the third node sends a second frame to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the second frame sent by the third node.

[0123] The second frame is used to negotiate the TWT information, or can also be characterized as being used to negotiate the TWT protocol. In the case that the first node acquires the TWT information by interaction, the first node and the second node negotiate the TWT information by negotiation, so that the first node acquires the TWT information. For example, the second frame carries the TWT information and is used to negotiate the TWT protocol.

[0124] In some embodiments, the second frame comprises at least one of the following: the TWT parameter, TWT proxy negotiation information; wherein the TWT proxy negotiation information comprises at least one of the following: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxyed node, an association identifier of the proxyed node, an identity of a node participating in the TWT negotiation, a proxy TWT flow identifier; the TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate a proxy TWT protocol.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first node can not only obtain the TWT information through the second frame, but also determine the purpose of the second frame through the TWT proxy negotiation indication carried by the second frame, so as to help the first node receive the second frame and make a response, thereby improving the interaction efficiency.

[0126] S302, the first node sends a third frame to the third node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the third frame sent by the first node.

[0127] The third frame is used to respond to the first frame.

[0128] For example, when the first node receives the second frame, the first node determines whether to accept the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information. When the first node accepts the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information, the first node sends a third frame to the third node to respond to the second frame and indicate that the TWT protocol is accepted.

[0129] For another example, when the first node receives the second frame, the first node determines whether to accept the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information. When the first node does not accept the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information, the first node sends a third frame to the third node to respond to the second frame and indicate that the TWT protocol is not accepted.

[0130] In some embodiments, the negotiation TWT information comprises any one of the following: creating a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, deleting a TWT protocol.

[0131] For example, the TWT information comprises a TWT parameter used to negotiate the TWT protocol. Through the TWT parameter, the TWT protocol can be created, modified, and deleted.

[0132] In some embodiments, the TWT information is determined based on a TWT protocol negotiated by the second node and the third node.

[0133] It should be noted that in some technologies, the AP and the STA associated with the AP negotiate the TWT protocol between the AP and the STA through the relay node. This negotiation method is referred to as relay negotiation, and the corresponding framework is shown in FIG. 16. In the communication method provided in the present disclosure, two of the AP, the STA, and the relay node can negotiate the TWT protocol that does not belong to the two, which is referred to as proxy negotiation. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, which is a framework corresponding to proxy negotiation, the AP and the relay node negotiate the TWT protocol between the AP and the STA. For another example, as shown in FIG. 18, which is another framework corresponding to proxy negotiation, the AP and the relay node negotiate the TWT protocol between the relay node and the STA. For another example, as shown in FIG. 19, which is another framework corresponding to proxy negotiation, the AP and the STA negotiate the TWT protocol between the relay node and the STA through the relay node.

[0134] The frame used for negotiation in the above proxy negotiation is referred to as a proxy TWT negotiation frame, such as the first frame and the second frame in the above. The proxy TWT negotiation frame is an extended frame of the TWT negotiation frame in the above, the fields of the TWT element carried by the TWT negotiation frame are modified, or other fields are added on the basis of the original fields of the TWT element carried by the TWT negotiation frame, and the TWT element carried by the proxy TWT negotiation frame is also referred to as an extended TWT element or a proxy TWT element. As shown below, the proxy TWT negotiation frame is described in detail.

[0135] FIG. 20 is a structure diagram of a proxy TWT negotiation frame provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first frame in the above belongs to the proxy TWT negotiation frame, and the proxy TWT negotiation frame includes the following four fields: a TWT notification indication (TWT Notification Indicator), an address of a TWT-related node (TWT-related Device MAC Address), an association identifier of a TWT-related node (TWT-related Device Address), and a relay TWT flow identifier (Relay TWT Flow Identifier).

[0136] Figure 21 is a structure diagram of an extended TWT element carried by a proxy TWT negotiation frame for establishing a TWT protocol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the second frame belongs to the proxy TWT negotiation frame. The extended TWT element carried by the proxy TWT negotiation frame includes five fields: Element ID, Length, Control, TWT Parameter Information, and Proxy TWT Parameter Information. Compared with the TWT element, the extended TWT element adds the field Proxy TWT Parameter Information, which includes three subfields: address of the proxy node (TWT Proxy Device MAC Address), identity of the node participating in the TWT negotiation (TWT Target Device Indicator), and proxy TWT flow identifier (Proxy TWT Flow Identifier). Table 6 shows the definitions of the three subfields. In addition, the Control field of the extended TWT element includes eight subfields: NDP Paging Indicator, Responder PM Mode, Negotiation Type, TWT Information Frame Disabled, Wake Duration Unit, Link ID Bitmap Present, Aligned TWT, and Proxy TWT Indicator. Compared with the TWT element, the extended TWT element adds the subfield Proxy TWT Indicator, and the definition of the Proxy TWT Indicator is shown in Table 7.

[0137] Table 6

[0138] Table 7

[0139] As shown in FIG. 22, a structure diagram of a proxy TWT element carried by a proxy TWT negotiation frame for establishing a TWT protocol is provided for the embodiments of the present disclosure. The proxy TWT element includes three fields: Element ID, Length, and Proxy TWT Parameter Information field. Compared with the TWT element, the field Proxy TWT Parameter Information is added. The detailed description of the Proxy TWT Parameter Information can refer to the related field information in FIG. 21, and the present disclosure will not repeat it here.

[0140] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a proxy TWT negotiation frame for modifying a TWT protocol, which is an extension frame of the TWT information frame for modifying a TWT protocol described above. The proxy TWT negotiation frame includes three fields: Category, Unprotected S1G Action, and TWT Information. Compared with the TWT information frame described above, the proxy TWT negotiation frame modifies the field TWT Information and adds some fields. As shown in FIG. 23, the proxy TWT negotiation frame includes six fields: TWT Flow Identifier / Proxy TWT Flow Identifier, Response Requested, Next TWT Request, All TWT, Next TWT, and Proxy TWT Indicator. The subfield TWT Flow Identifier in the original field TWT Information of the TWT information frame is modified to the subfield TWT Flow Identifier / Proxy TWT Flow Identifier, and the subfield Proxy TWT Indicator is added. Table 8 shows the definitions of the subfields TWT Flow Identifier / Proxy TWT Flow Identifier and Proxy TWT Indicator.

[0141] Table 8

[0142] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a proxy TWT negotiation frame for deleting an established TWT protocol, which is an extended frame of the TWT teardown frame for deleting the established TWT protocol described above. The proxy TWT negotiation frame includes three fields: Category, Unprotected S1GAction, and TWT Flow. Compared with the TWT teardown frame, the proxy TWT negotiation frame modifies the subfield of the field TWT Flow in the TWT teardown frame. As shown in FIG. 24, the field TWT Flow in the proxy TWT negotiation frame includes two subfields: TWT Flow Identifier / Proxy TWT Flow Identifier and Proxy TWT Indicator. The subfield TWT Flow Identifier of the field TWT Flow in the TWT teardown frame is modified to TWT Flow Identifier / Proxy TWT Flow Identifier, and the subfield Reserved of the field TWT Flow in the TWT teardown frame is modified to Proxy TWT Indicator. The definition of the subfields of the field TWT Flow in the proxy TWT negotiation frame is shown in Table 8, which is not described herein again.

[0143] It should be understood that in the frame structure described above, a plurality of fields are carried in the corresponding frames, and the positions and names of the respective fields are not fixed and can be flexibly modified according to actual application scenarios, which are not limited by the present disclosure.

[0144] It should be noted that the communication method provided by the present disclosure can also be applied to a relay scenario. Taking the first node as a relay node, the second node as a STA, and the third node as an AP, and taking the first node as an example that obtains TWT information through negotiation, the communication method includes S401-S404, as shown in FIG. 25.

[0145] S401, the second node sends a TWT negotiation request frame to the third node through the first node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the TWT negotiation request frame sent by the second node through the first node.

[0146] The TWT negotiation request frame is used to request negotiation of TWT protocol.

[0147] For example, the second node as a TWT request device requests the third node as a TWT response device to negotiate TWT information, so as to define a TWT protocol through the TWT information.

[0148] S402, the third node sends a TWT negotiation response frame to the second node through the first node. Correspondingly, the second node receives the TWT negotiation response frame sent by the third node through the first node.

[0149] The TWT negotiation response frame is used to respond to the TWT response request frame, to indicate that the TWT protocol negotiation is completed, or to indicate that the TWT information negotiation is completed.

[0150] For example, the TWT protocol negotiation is completed, indicating that the TWT protocol is successfully established, and indicating that the TWT information determination is completed. After the TWT protocol is successfully established, the second node enters a sleep state to reduce its energy consumption.

[0151] S403, the third node sends a second frame to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the second frame sent by the third node.

[0152] The second frame is used to negotiate TWT information. Alternatively, the second frame can be used to request the first node to synchronize the TWT protocol established between the second node and the third node.

[0153] It should be understood that after the third node and the first node negotiate, the third node acts as a TWT request device, and the first node acts as a TWT response device to negotiate between the third node and the first node to determine TWT information to synchronize the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information.

[0154] S404, the first node sends a third frame to the third node.

[0155] The third frame is used to respond to the second frame. For example, the third frame is used to indicate that the negotiation of the TWT protocol is completed, or to indicate that the determination of the TWT information is completed. After the interaction between the first node and the third node is completed, it also indicates that the process of the proxy negotiation is completed.

[0156] In some embodiments, after the proxy negotiation is completed, the first node performs frame exchange with the second node based on the TWT information.

[0157] For example, after the TWT SP of the second node arrives, the STA switches from a sleep state to a wake-up state. The first node determines the TWT SP of the second node through the TWT information, and performs frame exchange with the second node in the TWT SP of the second node to complete the frame exchange between the node and the third node.

[0158] It should be understood that after the proxy negotiation is completed, the second node will perform frame exchange with the second node according to the determined TWT information until the established TWT protocol is modified or deleted, or until the determined TWT information is invalid.

[0159] In some embodiments, the third node can act as a TWT request device, the first node can act as a TWT response device, and the third node can request the first node to negotiate TWT information by sending a second frame to the first node, and the TWT information defined by the negotiated TWT information.

[0160] It should be noted that in the above embodiments, S403-S404 are used to obtain the TWT information by interaction as described above. Similarly, the TWT information can also be obtained by receiving a notification as described above, and the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0161] It should be understood that the order of TWT negotiation can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 26A, the second node and the third node negotiate the TWT protocol of the second node, and then the third node and the first node proxy negotiate the TWT protocol of the second node. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 26B, the second node and the third node negotiate the TWT protocol, and then the third node notifies the first node of the TWT information of the second node, so that the third node and the first node proxy negotiate the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information of the second node. In actual application scenarios, as shown in FIG. 27A, the third node and the first node can first proxy negotiate the TWT protocol of the second node, and then the third node and the second node negotiate the TWT protocol of the second node. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 27B, the third node can first notify the first node of the TWT information of the second node, so that the third node and the first node proxy negotiate the TWT protocol defined by the TWT information, and then the third node and the first node negotiate the TWT protocol of the second node.

[0162] In some embodiments, taking the first node as a relay node, the second node as a STA, and the third node as an AP as an example, the first node can also initiate negotiation of the TWT protocol. As shown in FIG. 28, which includes S501-S504.

[0163] S501, the first node sends a second frame to the third node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the second frame sent by the first node.

[0164] The second frame is used to negotiate TWT information. Alternatively, the second frame can be used to request the first node to synchronize the TWT protocol established between the second node and the third node.

[0165] S502, the third node sends a third frame to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the third frame sent by the third node.

[0166] The third frame is used to respond to the second frame. Illustratively, the third frame is used to indicate that the negotiation of the TWT protocol is completed, or to indicate that the determination of the TWT information is completed. After the interaction between the first node and the third node is completed, it also indicates that the process of the proxy negotiation is completed.

[0167] S503, the third node sends a TWT negotiation request frame to the second node through the first node. Correspondingly, the second node receives the TWT negotiation request frame sent by the third node through the first node.

[0168] The TWT negotiation request frame is used to request negotiation of the TWT protocol. Alternatively, it can also be expressed as the TWT negotiation request frame is used to negotiate TWT information.

[0169] S504, the second node sends a TWT negotiation response frame to the third node through the first node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the TWT negotiation response frame sent by the second node through the first node.

[0170] The TWT negotiation response frame is used to respond to the TWT response request frame, to indicate that the TWT protocol negotiation is completed, or to indicate that the TWT information negotiation is completed.

[0171] Exemplarily, after the TWT SP of the second node arrives, the STA switches from the sleep state to the wake-up state. The first node determines the TWT SP of the second node through the TWT information, and exchanges frames with the second node in the TWT SP of the second node to complete the frame exchange between the node and the third node.

[0172] It should be understood that after the proxy negotiation is completed, the second node will exchange frames with the second node according to the determined TWT information until the established TWT protocol is modified or deleted, or until the determined TWT information is invalid.

[0173] In some embodiments, the frame exchange time between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with the TWT SP of the second node.

[0174] Exemplarily, as shown in Case 1 in FIG. 29, the frame exchange time between the first node and the third node can not overlap with the TWT SP of the second node. Alternatively, as shown in Case 2 in FIG. 29, the frame exchange time between the first node and the third node can overlap with the TWT SP of the second node.

[0175] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node is determined by negotiation between the first node and the third node.

[0176] Exemplarily, the first node also has the power saving requirement and also needs to establish the TWT protocol. Therefore, the TWT protocol needs to be established between the first node and the second node respectively to determine the TWT SP of the first node and the TWT SP of the second node in the TWT information. It should be understood that in the above case, the third node needs to ensure that the TWT SP of the second node can cover the TWT SP of the third node, or it can also be characterized as that the TWT SP of the second node overlaps with the TWT SP of the third node, or the TWT SP of the second node includes the TWT SP of the third node. In this way, it can be ensured that the second node remains in the wake-up state within the TWT SP of the third node to successfully exchange frames with the third node.

[0177] For example, FIG. 30A is a flowchart of the above case, in which the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node first, the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node proxy second, and finally the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 30B, the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node first, the TWT information of the second node is notified by the third node to the first node, so that the TWT protocol of the second node defined by the TWT information of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node proxy, and finally the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node.

[0178] For example, as shown in FIG. 31A, the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node proxy first, the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node, and finally the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 31B, the TWT information of the second node is notified by the third node to the first node, so that the TWT protocol of the second node defined by the TWT information of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node proxy, the TWT protocol of the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node, and finally the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node.

[0179] In another example, the first node also has power saving requirement and needs to establish TWT protocol. The TWT protocol between the first node and the second node, the TWT protocol between the third node and the second node can be negotiated respectively to enable the frame exchange between the first node and the second node, the frame exchange between the third node and the first node respectively. As shown in FIG. 32, the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node first, then the TWT protocol between the first node and the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node, and finally the TWT protocol between the first node and the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node. Or as shown in FIG. 33, the TWT protocol between the first node and the second node is negotiated by the third node and the first node first, then the TWT protocol between the first node and the second node is negotiated by the third node and the second node, and finally the TWT protocol of the first node is negotiated by the third node and the first node.

[0180] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node comprises the TWT SP of the second node.

[0181] In some embodiments, the wake-up time of the first node is before the TWT SP of the second node. In an example, the first node wakes up before the TWT SP of the second node to ensure that the first node can complete the frame exchange within the TWT SP of the second node.

[0182] In some embodiments, the third node can query the wake-up state of the first node within the TWT SP of the first node. As shown in FIG. 34, the query of the wake-up state of the first node comprises S601-S602.

[0183] S601, the third node sends a fourth frame to the first node within the TWT SP of the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the fourth frame sent by the third node.

[0184] The fourth frame is used to query the wake-up state of the first node.

[0185] S602, the first node sends a fifth frame to the third node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the fifth frame sent by the first node.

[0186] The fifth frame is used to indicate that the first node is in the wake-up state and / or respond to the allocation of transmission opportunity (TXOP) by the third node.

[0187] In some embodiments, the fourth frame is used to query the wake-up status of the second node. In this case, the sending time of the third frame is during the TWT SP in which the first node is in the wake-up state.

[0188] S603, in the case that the fourth frame is used to query the wake-up status of the second node, the first node sends a sixth frame to the second node. Correspondingly, the second node receives the sixth frame sent by the first node.

[0189] The sixth frame is used to query the wake-up status of the second node.

[0190] S604, the second node sends a seventh frame to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the seventh frame sent by the second node.

[0191] In some embodiments, in the case that the first node receives the seventh frame sent by the second node, the first node also feeds back the receiving confirmation to the second node.

[0192] S605, the first node sends an eighth frame to the third node. Correspondingly, the third node receives the eighth frame sent by the first node.

[0193] The eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in the wake-up state. The eighth frame is generated based on the seventh frame. Exemplarily, the first node generates the eighth frame based on the seventh frame, and indicates that the second node is in the wake-up state by sending the eighth frame to the third node. Alternatively, the first node can also directly forward the seventh frame to the third node to indicate that the second node is in the wake-up state.

[0194] In some embodiments, in the case that the third node receives the eighth frame, a ninth frame is sent to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the ninth frame sent by the third node.

[0195] The ninth frame is used to indicate that the eighth frame is received.

[0196] FIG. 36 shows a flowchart of another communication method provided by the present disclosure, which is applied to the third node. As shown in FIG. 36, the flowchart of the communication method includes S701.

[0197] S701, inform the first node of the TWT information.

[0198] In some embodiments, informing the first node of the TWT information includes: sending a first frame to the first node.

[0199] The first frame is used to inform the TWT information.

[0200] In some embodiments, the first frame comprises at least one of: TWT parameters, TWT announcement information; wherein the TWT announcement information comprises at least one of: a TWT announcement indication, an address of a TWT related node, an association identifier of the TWT related node, a relay TWT flow identifier; the TWT announcement indication information is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to announce the TWT parameters of the established TWT protocol; the TWT related node is a node to which the TWT parameters are applied.

[0201] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: sending a second frame to the first node; and receiving a third frame sent by the first node.

[0202] The second frame is used to negotiate TWT information, and the third frame is used to respond to the second frame.

[0203] In some embodiments, the second frame comprises at least one of: TWT parameters, TWT proxy negotiation information; wherein the TWT proxy negotiation information comprises at least one of: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxy node, an association identifier of the proxy node, an identity of a node participating in TWT negotiation, a proxy TWT flow identifier; the TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate a proxy TWT protocol.

[0204] In some embodiments, the negotiation of TWT information comprises any one of: creating a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, deleting a TWT protocol.

[0205] In some embodiments, the TWT parameters comprise related information of a service period TWT SP of a target wake-up time.

[0206] In some embodiments, the frame exchange time between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with a TWT SP of the second node.

[0207] In some embodiments, the wake-up time of the first node is before the TWT SP of the second node.

[0208] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node is determined by the first node and the third node.

[0209] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node comprises the TWT SP of the second node.

[0210] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: sending a fourth frame to the first node; and receiving a fifth frame sent by the first node.

[0211] The fourth frame is used to query the wake-up state of the first node, the fifth frame is used to indicate that the first node is in a wake-up state, and / or respond to the allocation of the transmission opportunity by the third node.

[0212] In some embodiments, the fourth frame is further used to query the wake-up state of the second node, and the eighth frame sent by the first node is received.

[0213] The eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in the wake-up state.

[0214] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending a ninth frame to the first node, the ninth frame being used to indicate that the eighth frame is received.

[0215] In some embodiments, within the TWT SP, the first node completes frame exchange with the third node and the second node, and the third node and the second node enter the sleep state outside the TWT SP.

[0216] It should be noted that the communication method provided by the present disclosure can also be applied to a fiber to the room (FTTR) technical scenario. FTTR is a technology that connects wireless routers APs in different rooms or positions in a home or small and medium-sized enterprise scenario through optical fibers, thereby providing high-bandwidth and high-reliability connections between multi-AP networking, and the connection between master control APs and slave APs can be realized by using a point-to-multipoint optical distribution network.

[0217] In this way, by obtaining the TWT information and performing frame exchange between the first node and the second node in the wake-up state according to the TWT parameters of the first node and / or the second node carried in the TWT information, the success rate of data transmission can be improved, and the number of data retransmissions can be reduced. In addition, when the first node and the second node do not need to perform data transmission, they can enter the sleep state, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the first node and the second node to achieve the effect of energy saving.

[0218] It can be understood that the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function in order to realize the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain 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 technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

[0219] The embodiments of the present disclosure can divide the function modules of the communication device according to the above-mentioned method embodiments. For example, each function module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one function module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of software. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, another division mode can be used. The following will be described by taking the division of each function module according to each function as an example.

[0220] FIG. 37 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device 370 can perform the communication method provided by the above-mentioned method embodiments. As shown in FIG. 37, the communication device 370 includes a processing module 3701 and a communication module 3702.

[0221] The processing module 3701 is configured to acquire TWT information, and the TWT information carries TWT parameters of a first node and / or a second node.

[0222] The communication module 3702 is configured to perform frame exchange with the second node based on the TWT information, and the frame is a frame between the second node and a third node.

[0223] In some embodiments, the processing module 3701 is configured to receive a first frame sent by the third node, and the first frame is used to notify the TWT information.

[0224] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: TWT parameters and TWT notification information. The TWT notification information includes at least one of the following: a TWT notification indication, an address of a TWT related node, an association identifier of the TWT related node, and a relay TWT flow identifier. The TWT notification indication is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to notify the TWT parameters of the established TWT protocol. The TWT related node is a node to which the TWT parameters are applied.

[0225] In some embodiments, the processing module 3701 is configured to receive a second frame sent by the third node, and the second frame is used to negotiate the TWT information; and send a third frame to the third node, and the third frame is used to respond to the second frame.

[0226] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: TWT parameters and TWT proxy negotiation information. The TWT proxy negotiation information includes at least one of the following: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxy node, an association identifier of the proxy node, an identity of a node participating in TWT negotiation, and a proxy TWT flow identifier. The TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate the proxy TWT protocol.

[0227] In some embodiments, the negotiating the TWT information comprises any one of: creating a TWT agreement, modifying a TWT agreement, deleting a TWT agreement.

[0228] In some embodiments, the TWT parameter comprises information related to a service period TWT SP of a target wake-up time.

[0229] In some embodiments, the frame exchange time between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with the TWT SP of the second node.

[0230] In some embodiments, the wake-up time of the first node is before the TWT SP of the second node.

[0231] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node is determined by the first node and the third node.

[0232] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node comprises the TWT SP of the second node.

[0233] In some embodiments, the communication module 3702 is further configured to: receive, within the TWT SP of the first node, a fourth frame sent by the third node, the fourth frame being used to query the wake-up state of the first node; send a fifth frame to the third node, the fifth frame being used to indicate that the first node is in the wake-up state, and / or respond to the allocation of the transmission opportunity by the third node.

[0234] In some embodiments, the communication module 3702 is further configured to: in the case that the fourth frame is also used to query the wake-up state of the second node, send a sixth frame to the second node, the sixth frame being used to query the wake-up state of the second node; receive a seventh frame sent by the second node; send an eighth frame to the third node; wherein the eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in the wake-up state within the TWT SP of the second node.

[0235] In some embodiments, the communication module 3702 is further configured to: receive a ninth frame sent by the third node, the ninth frame being used to indicate that the reception of the eighth frame is confirmed.

[0236] FIG. 38 is a structural schematic diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication apparatus 380 can perform the communication method provided by the method embodiments described above. As shown in FIG. 38, the communication apparatus 380 comprises a communication module 3801.

[0237] The communication module 3801 is configured to notify a first node of TWT information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of the first node and / or a second node.

[0238] In some embodiments, the communication module 3801 is configured to: send a first frame to the first node, the first frame being used to notify the TWT information.

[0239] In some embodiments, the first frame comprises at least one of: TWT parameters, TWT announcement information; wherein the TWT announcement information comprises at least one of: a TWT announcement indication, an address of a TWT related node, an association identification of the TWT related node, a relay TWT flow identification; the TWT announcement indication information is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to announce the TWT parameters of the established TWT protocol; the TWT related node is a node to which the TWT parameters are applied.

[0240] In some embodiments, the communication module 3801 is further configured to: send a second frame to the first node, the second frame being used to negotiate TWT information; and receive a third frame sent by the first node, the third frame being used to respond to the second frame.

[0241] In some embodiments, the second frame comprises at least one of: TWT parameters, TWT proxy negotiation information; wherein the TWT proxy negotiation information comprises at least one of: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxied node, an association identification of the proxied node, an identity of a node participating in TWT negotiation, a proxy TWT flow identification; the TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate a proxy TWT protocol.

[0242] In some embodiments, the negotiation TWT information comprises any one of: creating a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, deleting a TWT protocol.

[0243] In some embodiments, the TWT parameters comprise related information of a target wake-up time service period TWT SP.

[0244] In some embodiments, a frame exchange time between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with a TWT SP of the second node.

[0245] In some embodiments, a wake-up time of the first node is before a TWT SP of the second node.

[0246] In some embodiments, the TWT SP of the first node is determined by the first node and the third node.

[0247] In some embodiments, the communication module 3801 is further configured to: send a fourth frame to the first node, the fourth frame being used to query a wake-up state of the relay device; and receive a fifth frame sent by the first node, the fifth frame being used to indicate that the first node is in a wake-up state and / or responding to an allocation of a transmission opportunity by the third node.

[0248] In some embodiments, the communication module 3801 is further configured to: in a case where the fourth frame is also used to query a wake-up state of the second node, receive an eighth frame sent by the first node; wherein the eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in a wake-up state.

[0249] In some embodiments, the communication module 3801 is further configured to send a ninth frame to the first node, the ninth frame being used to indicate that the eighth frame is received.

[0250] In the case of implementing the functions of the above-mentioned integrated modules in the form of hardware, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide another structure of the communication device involved in the above-mentioned embodiments. As shown in FIG. 39, the communication device 390 includes a memory 3901, a processor 3902, a communication interface 3903, and a bus 3904.

[0251] The memory 3901 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, can be a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store dynamic information and instructions, can be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or can be any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and capable of being accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0252] The processor 3902 can be a logic block, module and circuit that implements or executes various exemplary methods described in combination with the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 3902 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component or any combination thereof. The processor 3902 can also implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in combination with the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 3902 can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0253] The communication interface 3903 is configured to connect with other devices through a communication network. The communication network can be an Ethernet, a wireless access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0254] In an implementation, the memory 3901 can exist independently of the processor 3902, and the memory 3901 can be connected to the processor 3902 via the bus 3904 for storing instructions or program codes. When the processor 3902 invokes and executes the instructions or program codes stored in the memory 3901, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0255] In another implementation, the memory 3901 can also be integrated with the processor 3902.

[0256] The bus 3904 can be an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus or the like. The bus 3904 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used to represent the bus 3904 in FIG. 39, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0257] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium (for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) having computer program instructions stored therein, and the computer program instructions, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0258] Exemplarily, the above computer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage device (for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or a magnetic tape, etc.), an optical disc (for example, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.), a smart card, and a flash memory device (for example, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a card, a stick, or a key drive, etc.). The various computer-readable storage media described in the present disclosure can represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable storage media for storing information. The term "machine-readable storage medium" can include, but is not limited to, a wireless channel and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0259] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer program product containing instructions, and when the computer program product is executed on a computer, the computer performs the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0260] The above merely describes specific embodiments of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure should be covered within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a first node, wherein, The method comprises: obtaining target wake time (TWT) information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of the first node and / or the second node; based on the TWT information, exchanging frames with the second node, the frames being frames between the second node and a third node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The TWT information comprises: receiving a first frame sent by a third node, the first frame being used to notify the TWT information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The first frame comprises at least one of the following: the TWT parameters, TWT notification information; wherein the TWT notification information comprises at least one of the following: a TWT notification indication, an address of a TWT-related node, an association identifier of the TWT-related node, a relay TWT flow identifier; the TWT notification indication is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to notify TWT parameters of an established TWT protocol; the TWT-related node is a node to which the TWT parameters are applied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The TWT information comprises: receiving a second frame sent by a third node, the second frame being used to negotiate the TWT information; sending a third frame to the third node, the third frame being used to respond to the second frame.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The second frame comprises at least one of the following: the TWT parameters, TWT proxy negotiation information; wherein the TWT proxy negotiation information comprises at least one of the following: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxy node, an association identifier of the proxy node, an identity of a node participating in TWT negotiation, a proxy TWT flow identifier; the TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate a proxy TWT protocol.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, The negotiation of the TWT information comprises any one of the following: creating a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, deleting a TWT protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, The TWT parameters comprise related information of a target wake time service period (TWT SP).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The frame exchange time between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with a TWT SP of the second node.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, The wake-up time of the first node is before the TWT SP of the second node.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, The TWT SP of the first node is determined by negotiation between the first node and the third node.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein, The TWT SP of the first node comprises the TWT SP of the second node.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: within the TWT SP of the first node, receiving a fourth frame sent by the third node, the fourth frame being used to query a wake-up state of the first node; sending a fifth frame to the third node, the fifth frame being used to indicate that the first node is in a wake-up state, and / or responding to allocation of a transmission opportunity by the third node.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: in a case where the fourth frame is also used to query a wake-up state of the second node, sending a sixth frame to the second node, the sixth frame being used to query the wake-up state of the second node; receiving a seventh frame sent by the second node; sending an eighth frame to the third node; wherein the eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in a wake-up state.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a ninth frame sent by the third node, the ninth frame being used to indicate an acknowledgement of receiving the eighth frame.

15. A communication method applied to a third node, wherein, The method comprises: informing a first node of target wake time (TWT) information, the TWT information carrying TWT parameters of the first node and / or a second node.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The informing of the first node of the TWT information comprises: sending a first frame to the first node, the first frame being used to inform the TWT information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The first frame comprises at least one of the following: the TWT parameters, TWT informing information; wherein the TWT informing information comprises at least one of the following: a TWT informing indication, an address of a TWT related node, an association identifier of the TWT related node, a relay TWT flow identifier; the TWT informing indication information is used to indicate whether the first frame is used to inform TWT parameters of an established TWT protocol; the TWT related node is a node to which the TWT parameters are applied.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: sending a second frame to the first node, the second frame being used to negotiate the TWT information; receiving a third frame sent by the first node, the third frame being used to respond to the second frame.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The second frame comprises at least one of the following: the TWT parameters, TWT proxy negotiation information; wherein the TWT proxy negotiation information comprises at least one of the following: a TWT proxy negotiation indication, an address of a proxied node, an association identifier of the proxied node, an identity of a node participating in TWT negotiation, a proxy TWT flow identifier; the TWT proxy negotiation indication is used to indicate whether the second frame is used to negotiate a proxy TWT protocol.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein, The negotiating of the TWT information comprises any one of the following: creating a TWT protocol, modifying a TWT protocol, deleting a TWT protocol.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein, The TWT parameters comprise information related to a service period (SP) of a target wake time (TWT).

22. The method of claim 17, wherein, An exchange time of frames between the first node and the third node overlaps or does not overlap with a TWT SP of the second node.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein, A wake-up time of the first node is before a TWT SP of the second node.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein, The TWT SP of the first node is determined by the first node and the third node in negotiation.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein, The TWT SP of the first node comprises a TWT SP of the second node.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising: sending a fourth frame to the first node, the fourth frame being used to query a wake-up state of the first node; receiving a fifth frame sent by the first node, the fifth frame being used to indicate that the first node is in a wake-up state and / or to respond to an allocation of a transmission opportunity by the third node.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: in a case where the fourth frame is also used to query a wake-up state of the second node, receiving an eighth frame sent by the first node; wherein the eighth frame is used to indicate that the second node is in a wake-up state.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: sending a ninth frame to the first node, the ninth frame being used to indicate an acknowledgement of receiving the eighth frame.

29. A communications device comprising a processor, wherein, The processor, when executing the computer program, implements the communication method according to any one of claims 1-14, or implements the communication method according to any one of claims 15-28.

30. A computer readable storage medium, wherein, The computer readable storage medium comprises computer instructions; wherein when the computer instructions are executed, the communication method according to any one of claims 1-14 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 15-28 is implemented.

31. A computer program product, wherein, When the computer program product is executed, the communication method according to any one of claims 1-14 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 15-28 is implemented.

Images