Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communications, and particularly relates to a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: an AP sending a trigger frame, and accordingly, an STA receiving the trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame comprises a first user information field, a first FCS field, a second user information field and a second FCS field, the first FCS field being located after the first user information field, the first FCS field being located before the second user information field, and the second FCS field being located after the second user information field. The present application can support IEEE protocols, such as IEEE 802.11be protocols, IEEE 802.11bn protocols, IEEE integrated millimeter wave protocols, IEEE 802.15 protocols, or IEEE 802.11bf / sensing protocols. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a sparklink system to support a sparklink standard protocol.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410790229.3, filed on June 18, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and communication device. Background Technology

[0003] In a wireless local area network (WLAN), when a station (STA) is in listen mode, its spatial stream count, bandwidth, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and physical protocol data unit (PPDU) format are limited, thus saving power consumption. When an access point (AP) has data to send to a STA, it first sends an initial control frame. Upon receiving the initial control frame, the STA switches from listen mode to wake-up mode, which allows for communication using more powerful capabilities (such as more spatial streams, greater bandwidth, higher MCS, and more advanced PPDU formats). After receiving the initial control frame, the STA can reply with an initial control response frame to the AP to inform the AP that it has exited listen mode. The time interval between the end of the initial control frame and the start of the initial control response frame is called the short inter-frame space (SIFS).

[0004] Generally, when a STA switches from listen mode to wake-up mode, it needs to change bandwidth or switch channels (or frequencies), but the SIFS time is insufficient for the STA to change bandwidth or switch channels. Therefore, how to provide the STA with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and communication device that can provide STA with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0006] Firstly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to an access point (AP). This method can be executed by the AP, or by components of the AP (such as chips or circuits), without limitation. The method includes:

[0007] Generate a trigger frame; send the trigger frame, the trigger frame including a first user information field, a first FCS field corresponding to the first user information field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, and the second FCS field is located after the second user information field.

[0008] In this embodiment, the trigger frame instructs the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. The second user information field is located after the first FCS field. After the first user, corresponding to the first user information field, verifies that the first FCS field is correct, the first user can switch channels or bandwidth within the transmission time of the second user information field. That is, the second user information field provides the first user with the switching delay required to switch channels or bandwidth, and through this second user information field, the first user can be provided with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the first FCS field is used by the first user corresponding to the first user information field to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the first FCS field is correct.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0011] In this embodiment, the first delay can be the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth, or the first delay can be obtained by subtracting SIFS from the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. The transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay, thereby enabling the first user to complete the bandwidth or channel switch before the end position of the trigger frame or before the reply response frame.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the first FCS field, the padding field being used to accommodate the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0014] In this embodiment of the application, if the transmission time of the user information field after the first FCS field does not meet the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth, the length of the trigger frame can be extended by the padding field so that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay, thereby providing the first user with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the second FCS field is the FCS field corresponding to the second user information field, and the trigger frame further includes a third FCS field, which is located at the end of the trigger frame.

[0016] In this embodiment, the first FCS field and the second FCS field are located in the middle of the trigger frame, and can be referred to as the middle FCS field. The third FCS field is located at the end of the trigger frame, and can be referred to as the end FCS field. The trigger frame instructs the second user corresponding to the second user information field to switch channels or bandwidth. The second FCS field is located after the second user information field, which enables the second user to switch channels or bandwidth immediately after receiving and verifying the second FCS, without waiting to receive the third FCS field, thereby improving the efficiency of the second user switching channels or bandwidth.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the second FCS field is used by the second user corresponding to the second user information field to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the second FCS is correct.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth is greater than the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0019] In this embodiment, the time required for the first user to switch channels can also be referred to as the first user's switching delay, and the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth can also be referred to as the second user's switching delay. When scheduling multiple STAs, the trigger frame can schedule the STA with the larger switching delay first, and then schedule the STA with the smaller switching delay. This allows the STA with the larger switching delay to utilize the transmission time of the user information field and its corresponding FCS field of the STA with the smaller switching delay to switch channels or bandwidth. In other words, the user information field and its corresponding FCS field of the STA with the smaller switching delay can provide the STA with the larger switching delay with time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0020] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a second delay, which is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0021] In this embodiment, the second delay can be determined by the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth, or by the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth and SIFS. The time between the end position of the second FCS and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay, enabling the second user to complete the channel or bandwidth switch before the end of the trigger frame or before replying to the response frame.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the second FCS field, or the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the second FCS field.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the second FCS field, the padding field being used to accommodate the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0024] In this embodiment of the application, when the transmission time of the user information field after the second FCS field is less than the second delay, the trigger frame also includes a padding field, which extends the length of the trigger frame so that the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the first FCS field is carried in one user information field, or the first FCS field is carried in two user information fields.

[0026] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a second user. This method can be executed by the second user, or by components of the second user (such as chips or circuits), without limitation. The method includes:

[0027] A trigger frame is received, the trigger frame including a first user information field, a first FCS field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, the second FCS field is located after the second user information field, and the second user information field corresponds to the second user; the second FCS field is verified based on the fields preceding the second FCS field.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first FCS field is the FCS field corresponding to the first user information field. This first FCS field is used to indicate to the first user, corresponding to the first user information field, that after verifying the first FCS field correctly, they should switch channels or bandwidth. The second user information field and the second FCS field are located after the first FCS field. The transmission time of the second user information field and the second FCS field can provide the first user with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0029] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, after verifying the second FCS field based on the fields preceding the second FCS field, the method further includes: switching the channel or bandwidth.

[0030] In this embodiment, the second FCS is the FCS field corresponding to the second user information field. The second FCS field is used to instruct the second user to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the second FCS field is correct. The trigger frame also includes a third FCS field, which is located at the end of the trigger frame. The second user can switch channels or bandwidth after receiving the second FCS field and verifying that it is correct, without having to wait for the third FCS field to be received, thus improving the efficiency of the second user information switching channels or bandwidth.

[0031] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a second delay, which is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the second FCS field, or the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the second FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

[0033] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the second FCS field, the padding field being used to accommodate the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0034] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method can be applied to a first user, and can be executed by the first user, or by components of the first user (such as chips or circuits), without limitation. The method includes:

[0035] A trigger frame is received, the trigger frame including a first user information field, a first FCS field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, the second FCS field is located after the second user information field, and the first user information field corresponds to the first user; the first FCS field is validated based on the fields preceding the first FCS field.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first FCS field is the FCS field corresponding to the first user information field. This first FCS field is used to instruct the first user to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the first FCS field is correct. After the first user verifies that the first FCS field is correct, they can switch channels or bandwidth without needing to receive fields after the first FCS, thus improving the efficiency of the first user switching bandwidth or channels.

[0037] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one possible implementation, after verifying the first FCS field based on the fields preceding the first FCS field, the method further includes: switching the channel or bandwidth.

[0038] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0039] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

[0040] In conjunction with the third aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the first FCS field, the padding field being used to accommodate the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0041] In conjunction with the second or third aspect, in one possible implementation, the first FCS field is carried in one user information field, or the first FCS field is carried in two user information fields.

[0042] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a STA (Station). This method can be executed by the STA, or by components of the STA (such as chips or circuits), without limitation. The method includes:

[0043] A trigger frame is received, the trigger frame including a user information field corresponding to the STA and a first FCS field, the first FCS field being obtained from the fields preceding the first FCS field;

[0044] FCS verification is performed based on the positional relationship between the user information field corresponding to the STA and the first FCS field.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first FCS field is used by the first user to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying the first FCS field. The first user information field corresponding to the first user is located before the first FCS field. After receiving the first FCS field, the STA determines whether there is a user information field corresponding to the STA before the first FCS field. If there is a user information field corresponding to the STA before the first FCS field, that is, the user information field corresponding to the STA is located before the first FCS field, the STA performs FCS verification based on the first FCS and switches channels or bandwidth after successful verification. If there is no user information field corresponding to the STA before the first FCS field, that is, the user information field corresponding to the STA is located after the first FCS field, the STA does not verify the first FCS field but continues to receive fields after the first FCS field. Through the first FCS field, users whose user information fields are located before the first FCS field can switch channels or bandwidth after verifying the first FCS field correctly without having to receive fields after the first FCS field, which can improve the efficiency of the user switching channels or bandwidth.

[0046] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the FCS verification based on the positional relationship between the user information field corresponding to the STA and the first FCS field includes: performing FCS verification based on the first FCS field when the user information field corresponding to the STA is located before the first FCS field.

[0047] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, after performing FCS verification based on the first FCS field, the method further includes: switching channels or bandwidth.

[0048] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0049] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

[0050] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the first FCS field, the padding field being used to satisfy the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0051] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the FCS verification based on the positional relationship between the user information field corresponding to the STA and the first FCS field includes: when the user information field corresponding to the STA is located after the first FCS field, the trigger frame further includes a second FCS field, which is located after the user information field corresponding to the STA, and the FCS verification is performed based on the second FCS field.

[0052] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, after performing FCS verification based on the second FCS field, the method further includes: switching channels or bandwidth.

[0053] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a second delay, which is related to the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0054] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field.

[0055] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the trigger frame further includes a padding field located after the second FCS field, the padding field being used to satisfy the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0056] In conjunction with the fourth aspect, in one possible implementation, the first FCS field is carried in one user information field, or the first FCS field is carried in two user information fields.

[0057] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device for executing the methods in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementations thereof. The communication device includes a module having the capability to execute the methods in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementations thereof.

[0058] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a processor for executing the methods shown in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementations thereof. The processor executes a program stored in a memory, and when the program is executed, the methods shown in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementations thereof are executed.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the aforementioned communication device.

[0060] In one possible implementation, the memory is located within the aforementioned communication device.

[0061] In this embodiment, the processor and memory can also be integrated into a single device, that is, the processor and memory can be integrated together. For example, the communication device can be a chip.

[0062] In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver for receiving or sending information.

[0063] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the logic circuit and the interface are coupled; the interface is used for inputting and / or outputting information, and the logic circuit is used for performing the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementation thereof.

[0064] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the methods shown in any of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0065] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product that, when run on a computer, causes the methods shown in any of the first to fourth aspects or any possible implementations described above to be executed. Attached Figure Description

[0066] The accompanying drawings related to the embodiments of this application are described below.

[0067] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a trigger frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another trigger frame structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another trigger frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0072] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another trigger frame provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0075] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0076] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are only used to distinguish different objects and not to limit the order, sequence, priority, or importance of multiple objects. In the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. Additionally, the character " / ," unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0077] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0078] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" indicates that there can be two relationships, such as only A exists or only B exists; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that there are three relationships, such as only A exists, only B exists, or both A and B exist simultaneously. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".

[0079] In this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which can include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission via the air interface from other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which can include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY via the air interface from other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via buses, traces, or interfaces.

[0080] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, supporting Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) protocols (or standards), such as IEEE 802.11be / Wi-Fi 7 / Extremely High-Throughput (EHT) protocol, IEEE 802.11bn / Ultra High Reliability (UHR) / Wi-Fi 8 protocol, IEEE Integrated mmWave / IMMW protocol, IEEE 802.15 / Ultra Wideband (UWB) protocol, or IEEE 802.11bf / sensing protocol; the technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to Spark Link (SL) systems, supporting the Spark Link / NearLink standard protocols. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to the following communication systems, such as Internet of Things (IoT) systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X, where X can represent anything), device-to-device (D2D), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems, long-term evolution (LTE) systems, 5th-generation (5G) communication systems, and new communication systems emerging in future communication development. For example, V2X can include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0081] WLAN systems can provide high-speed, low-latency transmission. As WLAN application scenarios continue to evolve, WLAN systems will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry, the banking industry, enterprise offices, stadiums and exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, hospital wards, classrooms, shopping malls, squares, streets, production workshops and warehouses, etc. Of course, devices that support WLAN communication or sensing (such as access points or sites) can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, and smart air monitoring nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, displays, televisions, speakers, refrigerators, and washing machines), nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, loudspeakers, and speakers), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) devices, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation kiosks in supermarkets, self-service checkout machines, and self-service ordering machines), and equipment in large sports and music venues.

[0082] Although the embodiments of this application primarily use WLAN as an example, especially networks applied to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, the various aspects involved in the embodiments of this application can be extended to other networks employing various standards or protocols. For example, Bluetooth, high-performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard), and wide area networks (WANs) or other networks now known or to be developed in the future.

[0083] In one possible implementation, the method provided in this application embodiment can be implemented by a station in a communication system. For example, the station can be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-AP STA).

[0084] An Access Point (AP) is a device with wireless communication capabilities that supports communication, sensing, or power transmission using WLAN protocols. It has the function of communicating or sensing with other devices in a WLAN network (such as non-access point stations (non-AP STAs) or other access points), and can also have the function of communicating, sensing, or transmitting power with other devices. Alternatively, an access point acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, primarily connecting various wireless network clients together and then connecting the wireless network to an Ethernet network. In a WLAN system, an access point can be called an Access Point Station (AP STA). This wireless communication device can be a complete device or a chip, processing system, or functional module installed within a complete device. Devices with these chips, processing systems, or functional modules can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments in this application under the control of the chips, processing systems, or functional modules. The AP in the embodiments of this application is a device that provides services to non-AP STAs and can support 802.11 series protocols or subsequent protocols. For example, an access point can be an access point for a terminal (such as a mobile phone) to enter a wired (or wireless) network, mainly deployed in homes, buildings, and parks, with a typical coverage radius of tens to hundreds of meters. Of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. Another example is that an AP can be a communication entity such as a communication server, router, switch, or bridge; APs can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, and repeater stations. Of course, an AP can also be a chip, processing system, or module within the above-mentioned devices, thereby implementing the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application.

[0085] A non-AP STA is a device with wireless communication capabilities that supports communication, sensing, or power transmission using the WLAN protocol. It has the ability to communicate, sense, or transmit power with other non-AP STAs or access points in a WLAN network. In a WLAN system, a non-AP STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP (Access Point) or sense or transmit power, thereby communicating with the WLAN. This wireless communication device can be a complete device, or it can be a chip, processing system, or functional module installed within a complete device. Devices with these chips, processing systems, or functional modules can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application under the control of the chips, processing systems, or functional modules. For example, a non-AP STA can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal, and can also be referred to as a user. Furthermore, a non-AP STA can be a mobile phone supporting Wi-Fi communication, a tablet computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart TV supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication, and a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication. Of course, the non-AP STA can also be a chip, processing system, or module in the various types of devices described above, thereby implementing the methods and functions of the embodiments of this application.

[0086] For example, the communication systems to which the methods provided in this application can be applied may include access points and sites. For instance, this application can be applied to scenarios of communication or sensing between an AP and a non-AP STA, between APs, or between non-AP STAs in a WLAN, and this application does not limit this. Optionally, an AP can communicate or sense a single non-AP STA, or an AP can communicate or sense multiple non-AP STAs simultaneously. Specifically, communication or sensing between an AP and multiple non-AP STAs can be further divided into downlink transmission where the AP simultaneously sends signals to multiple non-AP STAs, and uplink transmission where multiple non-AP STAs send signals to the AP. The communication protocols between the AP and non-AP STAs, between APs, and between non-AP STAs can support WLAN communication protocols, which may include protocols from the IEEE 802.11 series, such as the 802.11bn protocol, and also protocols after 802.11bn.

[0087] Exemplary, at least one of the aforementioned AP and STA can be a multi-link device (MLD), etc., which will not be listed individually in this application embodiment. Exemplary, an MLD refers to a device that simultaneously has multiple stations (such as APs or non-AP STAs), each operating on different frequency bands or channels. A multi-link device includes multiple affiliated stations, which can be physical or logical stations, each operating on a link, frequency band, or channel, etc. The aforementioned affiliated stations can be APs or non-AP STAs. A multi-link device (such as a non-AP MLD or AP MLD) can be a communication device with wireless communication capabilities. This communication device can be a complete device, or it can be a chip, processing system, or module installed in a complete device. Devices with these chips, processing systems, or modules installed can implement the methods and functions of this application embodiment under the control of these chips, processing systems, or modules. Multi-link devices can implement wireless communication by following the 802.11 series of protocols, thereby enabling communication with other devices. Other devices shown here may or may not be multi-link devices. The frequency bands in which multi-link devices can operate may include, but are not limited to, sub 1GHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, etc., which will not be listed here.

[0088] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication system may include one or more access points (APs) and one or more non-AP STAs. Figure 1 shows two access points, such as AP1 and AP2, and three non-AP STAs, such as non-APSTA1, non-APSTA2, and non-APSTA3. As an example, the method provided in this embodiment can be applied to data communication, sensing, or power transmission between an AP and one or more non-AP STAs, such as the communication or sensing between AP1 and non-APSTA1 as shown in Figure 1, and the communication or sensing between AP1 and non-APSTA1 and non-APSTA2 as shown in Figure 1. As another example, the method provided in this embodiment can be applied to communication between APs, such as the communication or sensing between AP1 and AP2 as shown in Figure 1. As yet another example, the method provided in this embodiment can be applied to communication or sensing between non-AP STAs, such as the communication or sensing between STA2 and STA3 as shown in Figure 1.

[0089] Figure 1 uses a mobile phone as a non-AP STA and a router as an example, and does not imply a limitation on the types of APs and non-AP STAs in the embodiments of this application. Furthermore, the number of APs and non-AP STAs shown in Figure 1 is merely an example; in a specific implementation, the number of APs or non-AP STAs may be more or less, and this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0090] In the aforementioned communication system, to conserve STA power, the STA can switch between two operating modes: Doze and Awake. In Awake mode (or wake-up state), the STA can transmit and receive data. In Doze mode (or sleep state), the STA does not transmit or receive data, thus conserving power.

[0091] For example, to reduce latency while saving power, the STA can switch to listen mode (or listen state). In listen mode, the STA has limited transmit and receive capabilities, or only priority receive capabilities. For example, in listen mode, the number of spatial streams, bandwidth, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), and physical protocol data unit (PPDU) format of the STA are limited to achieve low power consumption. For instance, in listen mode, the STA only supports a single spatial stream, 20MHz bandwidth, MCS0, and non-high throughput (non-HT) PPDUs. When the STA has data to transmit, it can exit listen mode (i.e., switch to wake-up mode with full transmit and receive capabilities) and then transmit data based on wake-up mode. When the AP has data to send to the STA, it first sends an initial control frame to the STA. After receiving the initial control frame, the STA switches from listen mode to wake-up mode. Wake-up mode allows for communication using more powerful capabilities (such as more spatial streams, greater bandwidth, higher MCS, and more advanced PPDU formats). Therefore, in the absence of data transmission and reception, listen mode reduces power consumption compared to wake-up mode.

[0092] For example, after receiving the initial control frame and verifying that its frame check sequence (FCS) is correct, the STA can reply with an initial control response frame to the AP to inform the AP that the STA has exited the listening mode. The time interval between the end time of the initial control frame and the start time of the initial control response frame is called the short inter-frame space (SIFS).

[0093] Generally, when a STA switches from listen mode to wake-up mode, it needs to change bandwidth or switch channels (or frequencies), but the SIFS time is insufficient for the STA to change bandwidth or switch channels. Therefore, how to provide the STA with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0094] Therefore, embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communication device that can provide sufficient time for STA to switch channels or bandwidth. The method provided in this application embodiment can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG1, or the method provided in this application embodiment can be applied to AP and STA. The description of AP and STA can be found in the relevant description above, and will not be detailed here.

[0095] Please refer to Figure 2, which illustrates a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps.

[0096] 201, AP generates trigger frame.

[0097] 202. The AP sends a trigger frame, and the STA receives the trigger frame accordingly.

[0098] For example, this trigger frame may also be referred to as the initial control frame.

[0099] For example, the trigger frame can be a multiple user request to send (MU-RTS) trigger frame, which can also be used for channel reservation. The structure of the MU-RTS trigger frame can be as shown in Figure 3. The trigger frame can include at least one of the following fields: Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, TA field, Common Info field, one or more User Info fields (such as User Info 1 to User Info n fields), and FCS field. The user information field includes at least one of the following fields: Association Identifier (AID) field (12 bits, bits 0 to 11), Resource Unit (RU) Allocation field (8 bits, bits 12 to 19), Uplink (UL) Forward Error Correction Coding Type (FEC Coding Type) field (1 bit, bit 20), UL High Efficiency Modulation and Coding Scheme (HE-MCS) field (3 bits, bits 21 to 24), UL Dual Carrier Modulation (DCM) field (1 bit, bit 25), Spatial Stream (SS) Allocation / Random Access Resource Unit (RA-RU) Information field (6 bits, bits 26 to 31), and UL Target Receive Power (...). The Power field (occupies 7 bits, namely bits 32 to 38) and the Reserved field (1 bit, namely bit 39).

[0100] 203, STA performs FCS verification.

[0101] For example, the trigger frame includes a user information field corresponding to the STA, and the STA performs FCS verification based on the FCS field located after the user information field corresponding to the STA. For instance, the STA can perform FCS verification based on the first FCS field after the user information field corresponding to the STA, and switch the channel, bandwidth, or operating mode after the FCS verification is correct.

[0102] Regarding the aforementioned trigger frame, this application provides the following implementation methods:

[0103] Implementation Method 1: The trigger frame includes a middle FCS field, a padding field, and a closing FCS field. The middle FCS field precedes the padding field, and the padding field precedes the closing FCS field.

[0104] In this implementation, to allow the STA more handover time, MAC padding can be added to the medium access control (MAC) layer of the trigger frame. That is, the trigger frame can include a padding field, which is located before the ending FCS field. Since the STA needs to verify the correctness of the FCS before changing the bandwidth or frequency, an additional FCS (or intermediate FCS) field can be added before the padding field to enable the STA to utilize the transmission time of the padding field for bandwidth or frequency changes. After receiving and confirming the correctness of the intermediate FCS field, the STA can perform the bandwidth or frequency switch without waiting for the ending FCS field. The STA can utilize the time between the end of the intermediate FCS field and the start of the initial control response frame for bandwidth or frequency switching.

[0105] For example, the length of the intermediate FCS field can be equal to the length of one user information field, or the length of the intermediate FCS field can be equal to the length of two user information fields. The length of the padding field can be variable. For example, the length of the padding field is related to the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth. For example, the length of the padding field is greater than or equal to the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth. Alternatively, the sum of the length of the padding field and the length of the final FCS field is greater than or equal to the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0106] For example, the structure of the trigger frame can be as shown in Figure 4. The trigger frame includes an intermediate FCS field, a padding field, and an FCS field, where the padding field is located between the intermediate FCS field and the FCS field. The trigger frame may also include a frame control field, a duration field, a receiver address (RA) field, a transmitter address (TA) field, a common info field, and a user info field (such as user info fields for STA1, STA2, etc.). The intermediate FCS field can be calculated from all fields preceding it, such as the frame control field, duration field, RA field, TA field, common info field, and user info field. After verifying the intermediate FCS based on the fields preceding it, the STA can switch its operating mode (or switch its bandwidth). For example, in listen mode, the STA's bandwidth is 20 MHz. In wake-up mode, the STA's bandwidth is 80 MHz. The STA can listen for trigger frames on a 20MHz bandwidth. After receiving the intermediate FCS field and verifying that the intermediate FCS field is correct, it switches from the 20MHz bandwidth to 80MHz and communicates based on the 80MHz bandwidth.

[0107] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, "intermediate FCS field" is only a name for "FCS field located before the padding field". In this application, "FCS field located before the padding field" may also have other names, such as "first field", and this application does not impose any restrictions. "Ending FCS field" is only a name for "FCS field located after the padding field or at the end of the trigger frame". In this application, "FCS field located after the padding field and at the end of the trigger frame" may also have other names, such as "second field", and this application does not impose any restrictions.

[0108] In this implementation, the intermediate FCS field enables the STA to complete FCS verification before filling the field, and the filling field provides the STA with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0109] Implementation Method 2: The trigger frame includes a first user information field, a first FCS field corresponding to the first user information field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, and the second FCS field is located after the second user information field.

[0110] For example, the first FCS field is calculated using the fields preceding the first FCS field in the trigger frame, and the second FCS field is calculated using the fields preceding the second FCS field in the trigger frame. In this embodiment, any FCS field can be calculated from all fields preceding it, or in other words, any FCS field can be used to verify all fields preceding it. After receiving its corresponding intermediate or final FCS field, the STA can perform FCS verification on the intermediate or final FCS field based on all fields preceding it, thereby ensuring that the received field is correct.

[0111] For example, the first user information field corresponds to a first user; for instance, the first user information field is used to indicate the RU and SS information corresponding to the first user. The second user information field corresponds to a second user; for instance, the second user information field is used to indicate the RU and SS information corresponding to the second user.

[0112] For example, the trigger frame instructs the first user to switch modes, channels (or frequencies), or bandwidth; in other words, the trigger frame is used to cause the first user to switch operating modes, channels (or frequencies), or bandwidth. For instance, if the first user is in listen mode, the trigger frame is used to cause the first user to switch from listen mode to wake-up mode. Alternatively, the trigger frame may indicate that the frequency domain resource (e.g., RU) corresponding to the first user is different from the frequency domain resource currently used by the first user. Or, if the first user supports dynamic sub-channel operation (or dynamic sub-band operation, DCSO), the trigger frame is used to instruct the first user to switch from the primary channel to the secondary channel. Therefore, upon receiving this trigger frame, the first user needs to switch operating modes, channels, or bandwidth.

[0113] For example, the first FCS field is the first FCS field after the first user information field, and there is no padding field between the first user information field and the first FCS field. The first FCS field is used by the first user corresponding to the first user information field to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the first FCS field is correct. The first user corresponding to the first user information field can switch modes, channels, or bandwidth after the first FCS field is verified to be correct, without having to parse the fields after the first FCS field.

[0114] For example, the first FCS field is an intermediate FCS field, that is, the first FCS field is the intermediate FCS field corresponding to the first user information field, or in other words, the first FCS field is the first intermediate FCS field located after the first user information field.

[0115] In one possible implementation, the first FCS field can be carried by at least one user information field, or in other words, the length of the first FCS field is an integer multiple of the length of the first user information field. For example, one or more user information fields shown in Figure 3 include the aforementioned first user information field, first FCS field, and second user information field. When the aforementioned second FCS field is an intermediate FCS field, it is contained within the one or more user information fields. Alternatively, when the second FCS field is an ending FCS field, it is located at the end of the trigger frame and can be the FCS field shown in Figure 3.

[0116] As an example, the AID12 field of the user information field carrying the first FCS field can be set to a first value. Setting the AID12 field of the user information field to the first value indicates that the user information field carries the first FCS field. The range of this first value does not overlap with the range of the AID12 field corresponding to the STA associated with the AP. For example, if the range of the AID12 field corresponding to the STA associated with the AP is 0 to 2007, then the first value is greater than or equal to 2008. This first value can be predefined by the protocol or configured by the AP.

[0117] As another example, the location of the first FCS field can be indicated by the commoninfo field in the trigger frame. Thus, it is not necessary to identify the user information field as the one carrying the first FCS field through the AID12 field of the user information field, nor is it necessary to set the AID12 field of the user information field carrying the first FCS field to a first value.

[0118] Optionally, the length of the first FCS field is equal to the length of the first user information field, or the length of the first FCS field is twice the length of the first user information field. Alternatively, the first FCS field can be contained within one user information field, or it can be contained within two user information fields.

[0119] As an example, the first FCS field can be carried by two user information fields. The AID12 fields of both user information fields are set to the first value, or the AID12 fields of the two user information fields are set to the first value and the second value respectively, or the AID12 field of the first user information field is set to the first value. The range of the second value does not overlap with the range of the AID12 field corresponding to the STA associated with the AP. The first and second values ​​can be predefined by the protocol or configured by the AP.

[0120] In this example, the length of the first FCS field can be 4 bytes (i.e., 32 bits). The length of the AID12 field of the user information field is 12 bits, and the length of the user information field is 40 bits. Therefore, two user information fields are needed to carry the first FCS field.

[0121] As another example, the first FCS field can be carried by a user information field. In this example, the length of the first FCS field is less than 4 bytes (for example, the length of the first FCS field can be 2 bytes), therefore, the first FCS field can be carried by a user information field. Alternatively, the length of the first FCS field is 4 bytes, and the position of the user information field carrying the first FCS field is indicated by the common information field in the trigger frame, without needing to identify whether the user information field carries the first FCS field based on the AID12 field of the user information field. The AID12 field of the user information field can also be used to carry the first FCS field, thus allowing the first FCS field to be carried within a user information field.

[0122] In one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0123] For example, the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field. The end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame. Alternatively, the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the ending FCS of the trigger frame. Alternatively, the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the PPDU corresponding to the trigger frame.

[0124] For example, the first delay is determined by the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. For instance, the first delay is obtained by subtracting the SIFS from the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. Alternatively, the first delay is the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. Or, the first delay is the length of the MAC padding requested by the first user, which can be obtained by subtracting the length of the ending FCS field and / or SIFS from the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. The first user can report the length of the MAC padding requested by the first user or the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth to the AP, so that the AP can determine the length of the fields (such as the second user information field, padding field, etc.) following the first FCS field based on the length of the MAC padding requested by the first user or the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth, ensuring that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay.

[0125] In this embodiment, the time required for the STA to switch channels or bandwidth can also be referred to as the STA's switching delay. For example, the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth can also be referred to as the first user's switching delay.

[0126] Optionally, the first delay can also be represented by the number of bits. For example, the number of bits between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first threshold, which is related to the first delay, or in other words, the first threshold is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0127] For example, the first threshold may be related to the first delay and the physical layer transmission rate of the trigger frame. For instance, the first threshold is the product of the first delay and the physical layer transmission rate of the trigger frame.

[0128] For example, the trigger frame also includes a padding field, which follows the first FCS field, and is used to accommodate the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. This padding field may be located before or after the second user information field.

[0129] For example, the AP can extend the length of the trigger frame using this padding field to provide sufficient time for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth. Optionally, the length of the padding field is at least 2 bytes, and the value of the bits in the padding field is 1. The length of the padding field is related to the time (or first delay) required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth, the length of the second user information field, and the length of the second FCS field. For example, if the sum of the lengths of the second user information field and the second FCS field is less than the first delay, the padding field can be used to ensure that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay, thereby satisfying the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0130] It is understood that when the trigger frame includes multiple first user information fields, the first delay is determined by the maximum value of the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth corresponding to the multiple first user information fields.

[0131] In the second implementation of the trigger frame, the second user information field is located after the first FCS field. After the first user verifies that the first FCS field is correct, the first user can switch channels or bandwidths within the transmission time of the second user information field. That is, the second user information field provides the first user with the switching delay required to switch channels or bandwidths. While providing the first user with sufficient time to switch channels or bandwidths, it can effectively reduce the length of the padding field compared to the first implementation, thereby reducing air interface overhead and improving information transmission efficiency.

[0132] For example, the embodiments of this application provide the following examples regarding the aforementioned second FCS field.

[0133] Example 1: The second FCS field is located at the end of the trigger frame. This second FCS field can also be called the end FCS field.

[0134] For example, the second user corresponding to the second user information field does not switch channels or bandwidths; in other words, the second user is a site that does not require switching latency. Here, switching latency refers to the time required to switch channels or bandwidths. A site that does not require switching latency can be a site that does not need to switch operating modes or does not support DSO. For example, the second user can remain in wake-up mode. Alternatively, the trigger frame may indicate that the frequency domain resources corresponding to the second user are the same as the frequency domain resources currently used by the second user. Or, the trigger frame may indicate that the second user is camped on the primary channel. Therefore, after receiving the trigger frame, the second user does not need to change bandwidth, channel, or operating mode, and thus does not require switching latency.

[0135] In this example, the trigger frame can schedule multiple STAs, including at least one STA requiring a handover delay and at least one STA not requiring a handover delay. The first FCS field follows the user information field corresponding to the at least one STA requiring a handover delay and precedes the user information field corresponding to the at least one STA not requiring a handover delay. If the transmission time of the user information field corresponding to the at least one STA not requiring a handover delay and the ending FCS field is less than the first delay, the trigger frame also includes a padding field to ensure that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay. If the transmission time of the user information field corresponding to the at least one STA not requiring a handover delay and the ending FCS field is greater than the first delay, the user information fields corresponding to some of the at least one STA not requiring a handover delay can be placed before the first FCS field, and the user information fields corresponding to other STAs in the at least one STA not requiring a handover delay are used to ensure that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay. The first delay is determined by the maximum handover delay among the at least one STA requiring a handover delay.

[0136] For example, a trigger frame is used to schedule k STAs, where n STAs are STA1 to STA2. n () Channel or bandwidth switching is required; the remaining kn STAs (respectively STAs) n+1 ~STA k No channel or bandwidth switching is required. k and n are positive integers, with k greater than or equal to n. The structure of the trigger frame can be shown in Figure 5, where the first FCS field (i.e., the intermediate FCS field) is located in STA1 to STA2. n The corresponding user information field follows, and is located in STA n+1 ~STA k The corresponding user information field precedes it. The second FCS field (i.e., the closing FCS field) is located before the STA. n+1 ~STA k After the corresponding user information fields.

[0137] At STA n+1 ~STA k If the transmission time of the corresponding user information field and the second FCS field is less than the first delay, the trigger frame may further include a padding field located between the first FCS field and the second FCS field, so that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay. This first delay is greater than or equal to STA1 to STA2. nThe maximum time required to switch channels or bandwidths, or the first delay being greater than or equal to STA1 to STA2. n The maximum value of the MAC padding length requested in the request.

[0138] This fill field can be located in STA. n+1 ~STA k The corresponding user information field can also be located in STA. n+1 ~STA k There are no restrictions before the corresponding user information fields.

[0139] At STA n+1 ~STA k If the transmission time of the corresponding user information field and the second FCS field is greater than the first delay, the STA n+1 ~STA k Some user information fields in the corresponding user information fields can be placed before the first FCS field, STA n+1 ~STA k Another part of the user information field in the corresponding user information field must ensure that the transmission time interval from the end position of the first FCS field to the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the first delay.

[0140] It should be noted that the above STA n+1 ~STA k It means no switching latency is required, which refers to STA. n+1 ~STA k No handover delay is required due to changes in operating bandwidth or operating channel location. However, STA n+1 ~STA k There may still be other processing delays required for other reasons. The difference between these other processing delays and the handover delays mentioned in this application is that the handover delays in this application involve changes in bandwidth or channel, making it impossible to process while receiving data. Therefore, for sites requiring handover delays, a padding field after the first FCS field is needed to provide the handover delay. Other processing delays can be processed while receiving data. Therefore, for sites that do not require handover delays, the padding field before the ending FCS field can meet their processing delay needs, without needing to provide handover delays through the padding field. For sites requiring other processing delays, sufficient time still needs to be reserved between the corresponding user information field and the ending FCS field to meet their processing delay needs. Therefore, the padding field can be set after the user information field corresponding to the site requiring other processing delays, thus reserving sufficient time for the site requiring other processing delays through the padding field.

[0141] For a STA receiving a trigger frame, if an intermediate FCS field exists after the user information field corresponding to the STA, or if the user information field precedes an intermediate FCS field, then the intermediate FCS field is checked. If no intermediate FCS field exists after the user information field corresponding to the STA, or if the user information field precedes an intermediate FCS field, then the final FCS field is checked. In other words, during the parsing of the trigger frame, if the STA parses its corresponding user information field before an intermediate FCS field, it checks the intermediate FCS field and stops receiving and parsing the trigger frame. If the STA does not parse its corresponding user information field before an intermediate FCS field, it continues receiving and parsing the trigger frame after parsing the intermediate FCS field, until the final FCS field is reached.

[0142] For example, if the STA is the first user, its corresponding user information field is the aforementioned first user information field. That is, the STA's user information field precedes the first FCS field, which is the FCS field corresponding to the STA. The STA can perform FCS verification based on the first FCS field. After verifying the first FCS field is correct, the STA can switch channels, bandwidths, or operating modes without needing to receive and parse the fields following the first FCS field.

[0143] For example, if STA is the second user, the user information field corresponding to STA is the aforementioned second user information field. That is, the user information field corresponding to STA is located after the first FCS field and before the second FCS field. STA performs FCS verification based on the second FCS field. Since the user information field corresponding to STA is located after the first FCS field, STA does not verify the first FCS field. STA will continue to receive fields after the first FCS field until it receives the second user information field and the second FCS field, and then perform FCS verification based on the second FCS field.

[0144] In Example 1, the first user is the STA that needs to switch time delay, and the second user is the STA that does not need to switch time delay. The first FCS field is the middle FCS field, and the second FCS field is the end FCS field. The middle FCS field can be set before the second user information field so that the transmission time of the user information field of the STA that does not need to switch time delay can be used to provide the switching time delay for the station that needs to switch time delay, thereby reducing the length of the padding field, thereby reducing air interface overhead and improving information transmission efficiency.

[0145] Example 2: The second FCS field is the FCS field corresponding to the second user information field. The second FCS field is the first FCS field after the second user information field, and there is no padding field between the second FCS field and the second user information field.

[0146] In this example, the second FCS field is an intermediate FCS field, that is, the second FCS field is the intermediate FCS field corresponding to the second user information field, or in other words, the second FCS field is the first intermediate FCS field after the second user information field.

[0147] For example, the trigger frame also includes a third FCS field, which is located at the end of the trigger frame and is calculated from the fields preceding the third FCS field in the trigger frame. This third FCS field is the final FCS field of the trigger frame.

[0148] In this example, the second user corresponding to the second user information field is the user who needs to switch latency. The trigger frame instructs the second user to switch modes, channels, or bandwidths; in other words, the trigger frame is used to cause the second user to switch operating modes, channels, or bandwidths. For example, if the second user is in listen mode, the trigger frame is used to switch the second user from listen mode to wake-up mode. Alternatively, the trigger frame may indicate that the frequency domain resource (e.g., RU) corresponding to the second user is different from the frequency domain resource currently used by the second user. Or, if the second user supports dynamic sub-channel operation (or dynamic sub-band operation, DCSO), the trigger frame is used to instruct the second user to switch from the primary channel to the secondary channel. Therefore, after receiving this trigger frame, the second user needs to switch operating modes, channels, or bandwidths. The second FCS field is used by the second user to switch channels or bandwidths after verifying that the second FCS is correct.

[0149] For example, the length of the second FCS field is equal to the length of the second user information field, or the length of the first FCS field can be twice the length of the second user information field. Alternatively, the second FCS field can be contained within one or two user information fields.

[0150] For example, the location of the user information field carrying the second FCS field can be indicated by a public information field in the trigger frame. Alternatively, the AID12 field of the user information field carrying the second FCS field can be set to a first value, thereby indicating that the user information field carries the second FCS field.

[0151] It is understandable that the explanation of this first value can be found in the relevant description above, and will not be elaborated here.

[0152] For example, the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay, which is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0153] The second FCS field ends at the last bit of the second FCS field, or the second FCS field ends at the last bit of the user information field that carries the second FCS field.

[0154] The second delay is determined by the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth. For example, the second delay is obtained by subtracting the SIFS from the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth. Alternatively, the second delay can be the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth. Or, the second delay can be the length of the MAC padding requested by the second user, which can be obtained by subtracting the length of the ending FCS field and / or SIFS from the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0155] For example, the trigger frame also includes a padding field, which is located after the second FCS field. That is, the trigger frame sequentially includes a first user information field, a first FCS field corresponding to the first user information field, a second user information field, a second FCS field corresponding to the second user information field, a padding field, and a third FCS field (i.e., the ending FCS field). The padding field is used to accommodate the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0156] For example, the length of the padding field is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth. This padding field ensures that the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay.

[0157] For example, this padding field is used to accommodate the time required for the first user and the second user to switch channels or bandwidths. This padding field ensures that the transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, and that the transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a second delay. The length of this padding field is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidths, the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidths, the length of the second user information field, and the length of the second FCS field.

[0158] In one possible implementation, the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth is greater than the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth; that is, the switching delay required by the first user is greater than the switching delay required by the second user. Therefore, placing the first user information field and the first FCS field before the second user information field and the second FCS field allows the transmission time of the second user information field and the second FCS field to provide switching delay for the first user.

[0159] In this implementation, the trigger frame may include multiple intermediate FCS fields (such as a first FCS and a second FCS). Each intermediate FCS field may correspond to one or more STAs, and each intermediate FCS field is located after the user information field corresponding to its one or more STAs. In this embodiment, one or more STAs corresponding to the same intermediate FCS field can be referred to as an STA group, and the handover latency of an STA group is represented by the maximum handover latency of the one or more STAs in that STA group. For example, the trigger frame can schedule multiple STAs, which can be divided into multiple STA groups, and the handover latency of any two STA groups is different.

[0160] For example, in the trigger frame, the positional relationship between multiple intermediate FCS fields and the user information field corresponding to the STA group can be determined by the handover delay corresponding to the STA group. For example, the user information field and intermediate FCS field corresponding to the STA group with a large handover delay are located before the user information field and intermediate FCS field corresponding to the STA group with a small handover delay.

[0161] For example, the trigger frame may include, in sequence: the user information field corresponding to the STA group with the longest handover delay and the intermediate FCS field corresponding to that STA group, the user information field corresponding to the STA group with the second longest handover delay and the intermediate FCS field corresponding to that STA group, ..., the user information field corresponding to the STA group with the shortest handover delay and the intermediate FCS field corresponding to that STA group, the user information field corresponding to the station that does not require handover delay (optional), the padding field (optional), and the ending FCS field.

[0162] The transmission time interval between the end position of any of the above intermediate FCS fields and the end position of the trigger frame (or the end position of the final FCS field) is greater than or equal to the handover delay of the STA group corresponding to that intermediate FCS field.

[0163] For example, the structure of the trigger frame can be as shown in Figure 6. STA 1 to STAN1 form one STA group, and STAN1+1 to STAN2 form another STA group. The handover delay for STA 1 to STAN1 is greater than the handover delay for STAN1+1 to STAN2. The trigger frame sequentially includes user information fields for STA 1 to STAN1, intermediate FCS fields for STA 1 to STAN1 (intermediate FCS1 field in Figure 6), user information fields for STAN1+1 to STAN2, intermediate FCS fields for STAN1+1 to STAN2 (intermediate FCS2 field in Figure 6), padding fields, and an ending FCS field. The transmission time interval between the end position of the FCS1 field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the handover delay for STA 1 to STAN1. That is, the transmission time of the user information fields, intermediate FCS2 fields, padding fields, and ending FCS fields for STAN1+1 to STAN2 is greater than or equal to the handover delay for STA 1 to STAN1. The transmission time interval between the end position of the middle FCS2 field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the switching delay corresponding to STAn1+1 to STAn2. That is, the transmission time of the padding field and the end FCS field is greater than or equal to the switching delay corresponding to STAn1+1 to STAn2.

[0164] In this embodiment, any FCS field can be obtained from all fields preceding it; in other words, any FCS field can be used to verify all fields preceding it. After receiving its corresponding intermediate or final FCS field, the STA can perform FCS verification on that intermediate or final FCS field based on all fields preceding it, thereby ensuring the received fields are correct. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the intermediate FCS1 field verifies all fields from the frame control field to the user information field of STA n1, the intermediate FCS2 field verifies all fields from the frame control field to the user information field of STA n2, and the final FCS field verifies all fields from the frame control field to the padding field.

[0165] In Example 2, for the STA receiving the trigger frame, after receiving the user information field corresponding to the STA, it performs FCS verification based on the first FCS field located after the user information field. After the FCS verification is correct, the STA can switch channels or bandwidth.

[0166] For example, if STA is the first user, the user information field corresponding to STA is the aforementioned first user information field. This first user performs FCS verification based on the first FCS field. As another example, if STA is the second user, the user information field corresponding to STA is the aforementioned second user information field, and this second user performs FCS verification based on the second FCS field.

[0167] In Example 2, when the trigger frame schedules multiple STAs, it can schedule the STA with the longer handover delay first, and then schedule the STA with the shorter handover delay. This allows the STA with the longer handover delay to switch channels or bandwidths using the transmission time of the user information field and the corresponding FCS field of the STA with the shorter handover delay. This can effectively reduce the length of the padding field, thereby reducing air interface overhead and improving information transmission efficiency.

[0168] To demonstrate that the above-mentioned second implementation method can reduce the length of the fill field, the embodiments of this application provide the following examples.

[0169] For ease of calculation, the following description will assume that the length of the fill field is an integer multiple of the length of the user information field. In this embodiment, the length of the fill field may not be an integer multiple of the length of the user information field. When the length of the fill field is not an integer multiple of the length of the user information field, the calculation process for the length of the fill field is similar to that when the length of the fill field is an integer multiple of the length of the user information field, and this embodiment can still reduce the length of the fill field, so it will not be described again here.

[0170] In the following examples, assuming the physical layer transmission rate of the trigger frame is 6 Mbps and one user information field of the trigger frame is 40 bits, the transmission duration of one user information field of the trigger frame is 40 bits / 6 Mbps = 6.667 μs. When two user information fields are used to carry the intermediate FCS field, the transmission duration of the intermediate FCS field is 13.333 μs. The ending FCS field is 32 bits, and the transmission duration of the ending FCS field is 32 bits / 6 Mbps = 5.333 μs.

[0171] When the STA's handover latency is t, the number of user information fields used to satisfy the STA's handover latency (i.e., the length of the MAC address padded by the STA request) is ceil((t-5.333us) / 6.667us), where ceil(x) represents rounding up the logarithm of x, for example, ceil(5.3) = 6. Table 1 shows the correspondence between several handover latencies t and the number of user information fields used to satisfy the STA's handover latency. As shown in Table 1, when the STA's handover latency is 16us, the number of user information fields used to satisfy the STA's handover latency is 2. When the STA's handover latency is 32us, the number of user information fields used to satisfy the STA's handover latency is 4. These will not be detailed here.

[0172] Table 1

[0173] It is understood that the physical layer transmission rate and the length of the user information field in the trigger frame described above are merely examples and should not be construed as limitations on this application. This application does not impose any limitations on the physical layer transmission rate and the length of the user information field in the trigger frame.

[0174] Example 1: A trigger frame schedules 8 stations (STA1 to STA8). The intermediate FCS field of the trigger frame carries two user information fields. The handover delay between STA1 and STA2 is 128µs, and 19 user information fields are used to satisfy this delay. STA1 and STA2 can be considered a single STA group. The handover delay between STA3 and STA4 is 64µs, and 9 user information fields are used to satisfy this delay. STA3 and STA4 can be considered a single STA group. The handover delay between STA5 and STA6 is 32µs, and 4 user information fields are used to satisfy this delay. STA5 and STA6 can be considered a single STA group. The handover delay between STA7 and STA8 is 16µs, and 2 user information fields are used to satisfy this delay. STA7 and STA8 can be considered a single STA group. The allocation of user information fields in this trigger frame can be shown in Table 2.

[0175] Table 2

[0176] As shown in Table 2, using the method shown in Implementation Method 2, it is necessary to schedule 8 STAs through 23 user information fields, and the length of the filling field is 7 user information fields, which can meet the handover latency of 8 STAs.

[0177] If the method shown in Implementation Method 1 is adopted, the first to eighth user information fields of the trigger frame carry the user information fields corresponding to STA1 to STA8 respectively, the ninth and tenth user information fields carry the intermediate FCS field, and then 19 user information fields are used to carry the padding field to meet the handover delay of STA1 to STA8. Therefore, the trigger frame needs to use 29 user information fields to schedule 8 STAs.

[0178] Therefore, in Example 1, the method shown in Implementation Method 2 can save 6 user information fields compared to the method shown in Implementation Method 1, which is approximately 20.7% of the user information fields saved (6 / 29).

[0179] Example 2: A trigger frame schedules 8 stations (STA1 to STA8). The intermediate FCS field of the trigger frame carries a user information field. The handover delay between STA1 and STA2 is 128µs, and the number of user information fields used to satisfy this handover delay is 19. The handover delay between STA3 and STA4 is 64µs, and the number of user information fields used to satisfy this handover delay is 9. The handover delay between STA5 and STA6 is 32µs, and the number of user information fields used to satisfy this handover delay is 4. The handover delay between STA7 and STA8 is 16µs, and the number of user information fields used to satisfy this handover delay is 2. The allocation of user information fields in this trigger frame can be shown in Table 3.

[0180] Table 3

[0181] As shown in Table 3, using the method shown in Implementation Method 2, it is necessary to schedule 8 STAs through 22 user information fields, and the length of the filling field is 10 user information fields, which can meet the handover latency of 8 STAs.

[0182] If the method shown in Implementation Method 1 is adopted, the first to eighth user information fields of the trigger frame carry the user information fields corresponding to STA1 to STA8 respectively, the ninth user information field carries the intermediate FCS field, and the remaining 19 user information fields carry the padding field to meet the handover delay of STA1 to STA8. Therefore, the trigger frame needs to use 28 user information fields to schedule 8 STAs.

[0183] Therefore, in Example 2, the method shown in this implementation method 2 can save 6 user information fields compared to the method shown in implementation method 1, that is, save 6 / 28≈21.4% of user information fields.

[0184] In Examples 1 and 2, the time length from the middle FCS field to the end FCS field of some STA groups is greater than the handover latency of that STA group. When there are more STAs available for scheduling in the BSS, efficiency can be improved by increasing the number of STAs in some STA groups, as shown in Examples 3 and 4.

[0185] Example 3: A trigger frame schedules 13 STAs (STA1 to STA13). The intermediate FCS field of the trigger frame carries two user information fields. STA1 and STA2 form one STA group with a handover latency of 128µs. STA3, STA4, STA5, STA6, and STA7 form another STA group with a handover latency of 64µs. STA8, STA9, STA10, and STA11 form a third STA group with a handover latency of 32µs. STA12 and STA13 form a fourth STA group with a handover latency of 16µs.

[0186] The allocation of user information fields in the trigger frame can be shown in Table 4:

[0187] Table 4

[0188] As shown in Table 4, by implementing the method shown in Method 2, it is necessary to schedule 13 STAs through 23 user information fields, and the length of the filling field is 2 user information fields, which can meet the handover latency of 13 STAs.

[0189] If the method shown in Implementation Method 1 is adopted, the first to thirteenth user information fields of the trigger frame carry the user information fields corresponding to STA1 to STA8, respectively. The fourteenth and fifteenth user information fields carry the intermediate FCS field, and then 19 user information fields are used to carry the padding field to meet the handover delay of STA1 to STA8, that is, the sixteenth to thirty-fourth user information fields carry the padding field. Therefore, the trigger frame needs to use 34 user information fields to schedule 13 STAs.

[0190] Therefore, in Example 3, by implementing the method shown in Method 2, compared with the method shown in Method 1, 11 user information fields can be saved, that is, 11 / 34≈32.4% of user information fields are saved.

[0191] Example 4: A trigger frame schedules 16 STAs, with the intermediate FCS field carried by a single user information field. STA1 and STA2 form one STA group with a handover latency of 128µs. STA3 through STA10 form another STA group with a handover latency of 64µs. STA11 through STA14 form another STA group with a handover latency of 32µs. STA15 and STA16 form another STA group with a handover latency of 16µs. The allocation of the user information field in this trigger frame can be shown in Table 5.

[0192] Table 5

[0193] As shown in Table 5, by implementing the method shown in Method 2, it is necessary to schedule 16 STAs through 22 user information fields, and the length of the filling field is 2 user information fields, which can meet the handover latency of 16 STAs.

[0194] If the method shown in Implementation Method 1 is adopted, the first to the 16th user information fields of the trigger frame carry the user information fields corresponding to STA1 to STA16 respectively, the 17th user information field carries the intermediate FCS field, and then the 19th user information field carries the padding field to meet the handover delay of STA1 to STA8, that is, the 18th to the 36th user information fields carry the padding field. Therefore, the trigger frame needs to use 36 user information fields to schedule 16 STAs.

[0195] Therefore, in Example 4, the second implementation method saves 14 user information fields compared to the first implementation method, which is approximately 38.9% of the user information fields (14 / 36).

[0196] The following describes the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0197] This application divides the communication device into functional modules according to the above method embodiments. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division; other division methods may be used in actual implementation. The communication device of the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 7 to 9.

[0198] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 7, the communication device includes a processing module 701 and a transceiver module 702. The transceiver module 702 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 701 is used to implement corresponding processing functions. For example, the transceiver module 702 can also be called an interface, a communication interface, or a communication module, etc.

[0199] In some embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the AP in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be the AP itself or a chip or functional module configurable in the AP. The transceiver module 702 is used to perform the AP's transceiver-related operations in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 701 is used to perform the STA's processing-related operations in the above method embodiments.

[0200] For example, the processing module 701 is used to generate a trigger frame; the transceiver module 702 is used to send the trigger frame.

[0201] It is understandable that the specific implementation of trigger frames, etc., can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments, and will not be detailed here.

[0202] Reusing Figure 7, in some other embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the STA (such as the first user and the second user) in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be the STA itself or a chip or functional module configurable in the STA. The transceiver module 702 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the STA in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 701 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the STA in the above method embodiments.

[0203] For example, the transceiver module 702 is used to receive trigger frames; the processing module 701 is used to perform FCS verification.

[0204] Optionally, the processing module 701 is also used to switch channels or bandwidth.

[0205] It is understood that the specific implementation of the trigger frame can be referred to the relevant description in the above method embodiment, and will not be detailed here.

[0206] For example, transceiver module 702 may include radio frequency module, antenna module, etc. For example, transceiver module 702 may include pin module, etc.

[0207] Optionally, in the above embodiments, the communication device may further include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 701 can read the instructions and / or data from the storage module to enable the communication device to implement the aforementioned method embodiments. For example, the storage module can store the radio frequency signal transmission strategy, etc., as shown above.

[0208] For details regarding the specific explanations of each term, noun, or step in the above embodiments, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments; they will not be detailed here.

[0209] The specific descriptions of the transceiver module and processing module shown in the above embodiments are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver module and processing module, please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0210] The communication device according to the embodiments of this application has been described above. The possible product forms of the communication device are described below. Any product possessing the functions of the communication device described in FIG. 7 above falls within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. The following description is merely illustrative and does not limit the product form of the communication device according to the embodiments of this application to this extent.

[0211] In one possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG7, the processing module 701 can be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 702 can be a transceiver, or the transceiver module 702 can also be a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module can be a transmitter, and the receiving module can be a receiver. The transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one device, such as a transceiver. In the embodiments of this application, the processor and the transceiver can be coupled, etc., and the connection method of the processor and the transceiver is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In the process of executing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be the process of the processor outputting the above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver so that the transceiver can transmit it. After the above information is output by the processor, it may need to undergo other processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be the process of the processor receiving the input above information. When the processor receives the input information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to undergo other processing before being input into the processor.

[0212] As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 80 includes one or more processors 820 and transceivers 810.

[0213] In some embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps, methods, or functions performed by the AP described above. For example, the processor 820 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 701 shown in FIG. 7, and the transceiver 810 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 702 shown in FIG. 7. For a detailed description of the processor 820 and the transceiver 810, please refer to FIG. 7 or the method embodiments shown above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0214] In other embodiments of this application, the communication device is used to execute the steps, methods, or functions performed by the STA (such as the first user or the second user). For example, the processor 820 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 701 shown in FIG. 7, and the transceiver 810 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 702 shown in FIG. 7. For a detailed description of the processor 820 and the transceiver 810, please refer to FIG. 7 or the method embodiments shown above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0215] In various implementations of the communication device shown in Figure 8, the transceiver may include a receiver for performing a receiving function (or operation) and a transmitter for performing a transmitting function (or operation). The transceiver is also used to communicate with other devices / appliances via a transmission medium.

[0216] Optionally, the communication device 80 may further include one or more memories 830 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 830 is coupled to the processor 820. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between communication devices, units, or modules, and can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between the communication devices, units, or modules. The processor 820 may operate in conjunction with the memory 830. The processor 820 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 830. Optionally, at least one of the above-mentioned memories may be included in the processor.

[0217] This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the transceiver 810, processor 820, and memory 830. In this application embodiment, the memory 830, processor 820, and transceiver 810 are connected via a bus 840 in Figure 8. The bus is represented by a thick line in Figure 8. The connection methods between other components are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 8, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0218] In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc., and can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0219] In this application embodiment, the memory may include, but is not limited to, non-volatile memory such as hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), read-only memory (ROM), or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc. Memory is any storage medium capable of carrying or storing program code having instruction or data structure forms, and capable of being read and / or written by a computer (such as the communication device shown in this application), but is not limited to this. The memory in this application embodiment may also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store program instructions and / or data.

[0220] The processor 820 is primarily used for processing communication protocols and data, controlling the entire communication device, executing software programs, and processing software program data. The memory 830 is primarily used for storing software programs and data. The transceiver 810 may include control circuitry and an antenna. The control circuitry is primarily used for converting baseband signals to radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touchscreens, displays, and keyboards, are primarily used for receiving user input data and outputting data to the user.

[0221] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 820 can read the software program in the memory 830, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 820 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit processes the baseband signal and transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 820. The processor 820 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0222] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be set up independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be arranged remotely, independent of the communication device.

[0223] The communication device shown in this application embodiment may also have more components than those in Figure 8, and this application embodiment does not limit this. The methods executed by the processor and transceiver shown above are only examples, and the specific steps executed by the processor and transceiver can be referred to the methods described above.

[0224] In another possible implementation, in the communication device shown in Figure 7, the processing module 701 can be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiver module 702 can be an input / output interface, or a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiver module 702 can also be a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module can be an output interface, and the receiving module can be an input interface. The transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one module, such as an input / output interface. As shown in Figure 9, the communication device shown in Figure 9 includes a logic circuit 901 and an interface 902. That is, the above-mentioned processing module 701 can be implemented using the logic circuit 901, and the transceiver module 702 can be implemented using the interface 902. Among them, the logic circuit 901 can be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface 902 can be a communication interface, an input / output interface, pins, etc. For example, Figure 9 illustrates the above-mentioned communication device as a chip, which includes the logic circuit 901 and the interface 902.

[0225] In this embodiment, the logic circuit and the interface can also be coupled to each other. The specific connection method of the logic circuit and the interface is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the logic circuit 901 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 701 shown in FIG. 7, and the interface 902 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 702 shown in FIG. 7. For a detailed description of the logic circuit 901 and the interface 902, please refer to FIG. 7 or the method embodiment shown above, which will not be detailed here.

[0226] The communication device shown in the embodiments of this application can implement the method provided in the embodiments of this application in hardware form, or it can implement the method provided in the embodiments of this application in software form, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit it in this way.

[0227] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide a communication system, which includes an AP and a STA, and the AP and the STA can be used to perform the methods in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0228] This application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processes performed by the AP or STA in the method provided in this application.

[0229] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the operations and / or processes performed by the AP or STA in the method provided in this application.

[0230] This application also provides a computer program product comprising computer code or a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the operations and / or processes performed by the AP or STA in the method provided in this application to be executed.

[0231] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, communication devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the communication device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, communication devices, or modules, or it may be an electrical, mechanical, or other form of connection.

[0232] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0233] Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0234] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0235] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Generate trigger frame; Send the trigger frame, which includes a first user information field, a first FCS field corresponding to the first user information field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, and the second FCS field is located after the second user information field.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first FCS field is used by the first user corresponding to the first user information field to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the first FCS field is correct.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field; The end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the Physical Layer Service Data Unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame; or, the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the FCS field located at the end of the trigger frame; or, the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) corresponding to the trigger frame.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The trigger frame also includes a padding field, which is located after the first FCS field and is used to satisfy the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The second FCS field is the FCS field corresponding to the second user information field, and the trigger frame also includes a third FCS field, which is located at the end of the trigger frame.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second FCS field is used by the second user corresponding to the second user information field to switch channels or bandwidth after verifying that the second FCS is correct.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth is greater than the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay, which is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the second FCS field, or the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the user information field that carries the second FCS field.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The trigger frame also includes a padding field, which is located after the second FCS field and is used to accommodate the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The first FCS field is contained in one user information field, or the first FCS field is contained in two user information fields.

13. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a second user, the method includes: A trigger frame is received, the trigger frame including a first user information field, a first FCS field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, the second FCS field is located after the second user information field, and the second user information field corresponds to the second user; The second FCS field is validated based on the fields preceding the second FCS field.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, After validating the second FCS field based on the fields preceding the second FCS field, the method further includes: Switch channels or bandwidth.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the end position of the second FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to the second delay, which is related to the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the second FCS field, or the end position of the second FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the second FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that, The trigger frame also includes a padding field, which is located after the second FCS field and is used to accommodate the time required for the second user to switch channels or bandwidth.

18. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a first user, the method includes: A trigger frame is received, the trigger frame including a first user information field, a first FCS field, a second user information field, and a second FCS field; wherein, the first FCS field is located after the first user information field, the first FCS field is located before the second user information field, the second FCS field is located after the second user information field, and the first user information field corresponds to the first user; The first FCS field is validated based on the fields preceding the first FCS field.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, After validating the first FCS field based on the fields preceding the first FCS field, the method further includes: Switch channels or bandwidth.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the end position of the first FCS field and the end position of the trigger frame is greater than or equal to a first delay, which is related to the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the first FCS field, or the end position of the first FCS field is the last bit of the user information field carrying the first FCS field; the end position of the trigger frame is the last bit of the physical layer service data unit (PSDU) of the trigger frame.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The trigger frame also includes a padding field, which is located after the first FCS field and is used to satisfy the time required for the first user to switch channels or bandwidth.

23. The method according to any one of claims 13-22, characterized in that, The first FCS field is contained in one user information field, or the first FCS field is contained in two user information fields.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-23.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program, which, when executed, performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-23.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program product is executed, the method as described in any one of claims 1-23 is performed.

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