Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first device is connected to a second device by means of a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link being a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link comprising a communication link established by the first device and an access point device and a communication link established by the second device and the access point device. The first device sends a first data packet to the second device by means of the second communication link. The first data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the second communication link, a second data packet is encapsulated in the first data packet, and the second data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the first communication link. In the present application, by means of multi-layer encapsulation, a data packet corresponding to the first communication link is transmitted on the second communication link, thereby further implementing free switching between the first communication link and the second communication link.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410877221.0, filed on July 01, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] With the development of wireless communication technology, more and more wireless communication devices support multi-link communication. However, in the scenario where multiple station (STA) devices access an access point (AP), if a direct link is established between the STAs, the STAs stop transmitting data on the relay link, and after the direct link between the STAs is disconnected, the STAs switch to transmitting on the relay link again, which cannot realize free switching between the relay link and the direct link. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. In the method, a device can transmit a data packet on a direct link to a peer device through an access point device, so as to realize free switching between the direct link and a relay link.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, wherein a first device connects a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device. The method includes: the first device sends a first data packet to the second device through the second communication link. The first data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the second communication link, the first data packet encapsulates a second data packet, and the second data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the first communication link. In this way, the present application encapsulates a data packet conforming to the encapsulation structure of the direct link into a data packet conforming to the encapsulation structure of the relay link, so that the first device can send a data packet corresponding to the direct link to the second device through the access point device, thereby realizing free switching of data transmission on the first communication link and the second communication link.

[0006] The application makes the data packets of the direct link (i.e., the first communication link, also referred to as the direct connection) transparent to the access point device in a manner that the data packets are transmitted on the relay link (i.e., the second communication link, also referred to as the relay connection), that is, the access point device does not perceive the link switching of the first device side, and the access point device still forwards the data packets according to its rules, without increasing the processing pressure of the access point layer.

[0007] For example, the first communication link and the second communication link can exist at the same time, that is, the first device can interact with the second device through the first communication link at the same time as interacting with the second device through the second communication link, thereby improving the data transmission efficiency between the first device and the second device and reducing the data transmission delay. In the case where the first communication link and the second communication link exist at the same time, the first device can switch from the first communication link to the second communication link for data transmission, or switch from the second communication link to the first communication link for data transmission, or simultaneously perform data transmission on the first communication link and the second communication link, thereby realizing free switching of the communication link.

[0008] For example, the first communication link and the second communication link can not exist at the same time. For example, in the case where the first communication link is disconnected, the first device can continue to transmit the data packets corresponding to the first communication link (i.e., the direct link) through the second communication link, so that the receiving end can receive the data packets corresponding to the first communication link from the second communication link, so that the data packets received by the receiving end are still continuous based on the second communication link, avoiding the problem of data packet disorder caused by link switching. In the case where the first communication link is restored, the first device can quickly switch back to the first communication link to continue transmitting the data packets.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the first data packet includes a first communication identifier TID and a first sequence number SN. The first TID corresponds to the second communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID. The second data packet includes a second TID and a second SN; the second TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the second SN is allocated based on the second TID. In this way, by encapsulating the second data packet into the first data packet, the second data packet still carries the TID and SN associated with the first communication link, so that the receiving end can receive the data packets corresponding to the first communication link from the second communication link, and at the same time, based on the TID and SN in the second data packet, the same processing as the data packets received by the first communication link can be performed on the second data packet, so that after the link switching, the receiving end can still receive the continuous data packets corresponding to the first communication link, avoiding the problem of data packet disorder.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the third data packet encapsulates the second data packet, and the first data packet encapsulates the third data packet. The first data packet is a media access control (MAC) layer protocol data unit (MPDU) data packet, the second data packet is an MPDU data packet, and the third data packet is a MAC layer service data unit (MSDU) data packet. In this way, the MAC layer and the MAC of the opposite end can exchange data by encapsulating the MPDU into the MSDU, and the MAC of the opposite end can process the data packet twice to complete scoring and sorting of the innermost MPDU after the MAC layer of the receiving end receives the MPDU.

[0011] For example, the MSDU can also be the first data packet, and the encapsulated MPDU can be the second data packet.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the third data packet includes an Ethernet type field, and the Ethernet type field includes indication information indicating that the third data packet encapsulates the second data packet. In this way, the receiving end can identify that the MPDU is encapsulated in the MSDU according to the Ethernet type field, and the LLC layer can deliver the MSDU to the MAC layer for processing, so that the MAC can obtain the MPDU in the MSDU and perform corresponding scoring and other processing based on the TID and SN in the MPDU.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the indication information is 89-0d. In this way, the receiving end can determine that the MPDU is encapsulated in the MSDU based on the predetermined indication information carried in the Ethernet type field.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a data frame, and the frame body of the second data packet carries data information. In this way, the technical solution provided in the present application can transmit the data packet carrying data information corresponding to the first communication link on the second communication link, so that the data information transmitted by the first device to the second device can be transmitted on the first communication link or the second communication link, and the link for data transmission can be switched freely. In addition, the data information transmitted by the first device to the second device can also be transmitted on the two links at the same time, so as to improve the efficiency of data information transmission.

[0015] For example, the same data information can be transmitted on the first communication link and the second communication link at the same time, so as to realize redundant transmission of data, improve the security of data transmission, and avoid data packet retransmission. By transmitting the data information on the two links, the redundant transmission can be realized without affecting the efficiency of data information transmission.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame or a block acknowledgement (BA) frame. The block BAR frame is used to request feedback of whether the data packet is correctly received, and the BA frame is used to indicate whether the data packet is correctly received. In this way, the BAR frame or the BA frame for the data packet originally transmitted over the direct link (actually transmitted over the second communication link, i.e., the relay link) can be transmitted from the first device to the second device directly over the second communication link by encapsulating the BAR frame or the BA frame into the MPDU of the second communication link, that is, the BAR frame or the BA frame over the direct link can also be transmitted over the second communication link in a multi-layer encapsulation manner, so that the first device can obtain the reception status of the second device.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a direct link measurement request frame or a direct link measurement response frame. The direct link measurement request frame is used to request feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link, and the direct link measurement response frame is used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link. In this way, the first device encapsulates the direct link measurement request frame or the direct link measurement response frame into the data packet of the second communication link, so that the direct link measurement request frame or the direct link measurement response frame can be transmitted to the second device over the second communication link. The first device and the second device can obtain the communication quality of the link of the second device by interacting with the direct link measurement request frame or the direct link measurement response frame, so as to determine whether the link switching needs to be performed based on the communication quality of the link of the second device.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the first device sends a fourth data packet to the second device over the first communication link. The fourth data packet conforms to the encapsulation structure corresponding to the first communication link. In this way, the first device can transmit the data packet to the second device over the second communication link and / or the first communication link, to realize free switching between the first communication link and the second communication link, or realize multi-link aggregation transmission between the first device and the second device over the first communication link and the second communication link (i.e., the two links simultaneously transmit the data packet corresponding to the direct link).

[0019] In a possible implementation, the fourth data packet includes the first TID and a third SN, and the third SN is allocated based on the first TID. In this way, the data packet carrying the same TID can be transmitted over the first communication link and the second communication link by multi-layer encapsulation, that is, the data packet corresponding to the direct link (i.e., the first communication link) can be transmitted over the second communication link.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method. A first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link. The first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device. The second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device. The method includes: the access point device receiving a first data packet sent by the first device through the second communication link; the first data packet including a first traffic identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponding to the first communication link, and the first SN being allocated based on the first TID; the access point device generating a second data packet based on the first data packet; the second data packet including the first TID and the first SN; and the access point device sending the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link. In this way, in the process of forwarding the data packet sent by the first device to the second device by the access point device, the TID and the SN in the data packet are not changed, so that the TID and the SN in the data packet sent by the first device to the second device through the second communication link remain unchanged in the transmission process, and the TID in the data packet received by the second device is the same as that in the data packet on the direct link, and the SN number is associated, thereby avoiding the problem of data packet disorder caused by link switching at the receiving end.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the first data packet further includes first address information and second address information, the first address information being used to indicate that the sending end of the first data packet is the first device, and the second address information being used to indicate that the receiving end of the first data packet is the second device. The access point device sending the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link includes: the access point device searching for a target buffer queue based on the first address information, the second address information, and the first TID; the access point device placing the second data packet in the target buffer queue; and the access point device sending the second data packet on the second communication link in the order of the SN in the data packet in the target buffer queue. In this way, the access point device can set an independent buffer queue (also referred to as a buffer space or a buffer area) for the data packet corresponding to the direct link (i.e., the first communication link, also referred to as a direct connection) transmitted on the second communication link, so that the data packet with the sending end being the first device, the receiving end being the second device, and corresponding to the first TID can be placed in the independent buffer queue, the data packet in the queue is sent in the order of the SN, and the TID and the SN are not changed. The receiving end can receive the data packet with the same TID as that corresponding to the direct link through the second communication link, and the SN of the data packet received from the second communication link is continuous based on the TID, thereby avoiding the problem of data packet disorder.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an ADDBA (Add Block Acknowledgement) request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used to request to establish a BA (Block Acknowledgement) session, the first data packet includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate that a responding end of the BA session is the second device; the BA session corresponds to a first TID; the second data packet is an ADDBA request frame, and the second data packet includes second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate that an initiating end of the BA session is the first device. In this way, the first device carries identification information used to identify a peer in the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame sent to the second device, so that the access point device can establish a common BA session between the first device and the second device based on the identification information carried in the data packet, and data packets sent by the first device to the second device through the second communication link can be transmitted on the common BA session. Moreover, the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame carries the same TID as in the direct link, so that the TID of the common BA session is the same as that of the BA session on the direct link, so that the first device and the second device can transmit data packets based on the established common BA session, and the TID of the data packets in the common BA session is the same as that of the direct link.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the access point device, a first ADDBA (Add Block Acknowledgement) response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link; and sending, by the access point device, a second ADDBA response frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first ADDBA response frame; the first ADDBA frame and the second ADDBA response frame are used to respond to establish a BA session. In this way, the first device carries identification information used to identify a peer in the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame sent to the second device, so that the access point device can establish a common BA session between the first device and the second device based on the identification information carried in the data packet, and data packets sent by the first device to the second device through the second communication link can be transmitted on the common BA session. Moreover, the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame carries the same TID as in the direct link, so that the TID of the common BA session is the same as that of the BA session on the direct link, so that the first device and the second device can transmit data packets based on the established common BA session, and the TID of the data packets in the common BA session is the same as that of the direct link.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the first ADDBA response frame includes the first TID and the second identification information; and the second ADDBA response frame includes the first TID and the first identification information. In this way, the first device carries the identification information for identifying the peer in the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame sent to the second device, so that the access point device can establish a common BA session between the first device and the second device based on the identification information carried in the data packet, and data packets sent by the first device to the second device through the second communication link can be transmitted on the common BA session. In addition, the ADDBA request frame or the ADDBA response frame carries the same TID as the direct link, so that the TID of the common BA session is the same as that of the BA session on the direct link, and the first device and the second device can transmit data packets based on the established common BA session, and the TID of the data packet in the common BA session is the same as that of the direct link.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the access point device, a first block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first block BAR frame being used to request feedback of whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the first BAR frame including the first identification information; and sending, by the access point device, a second BAR frame to the second device through the second communication link based on the first BAR frame, the second BAR frame being used to request feedback of whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second BAR frame including the second identification information. In this way, the first device can transmit the BAR frame or the BA frame to the second device through the second communication link and the common BA session on the second communication link, so that the second device can receive the BA frame or the BAR frame corresponding to the data packet of the direct link transmitted on the second communication link, and further so that the first device can obtain the reception status of the data packet corresponding to the direct link transmitted on the second communication link by the second device.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the access point device, a first block acknowledgement (BA) frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the first BA frame including the second identification information; and sending, by the access point device, a second BA frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first BA frame, the second BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second BA frame including the first identification information. In this way, the first device can transmit a BA request (BAR) frame or a BA frame to the second device through the second communication link and the common BA session on the second communication link, so that the second device can receive the BA frame or the BA frame corresponding to the data packets of the direct link transmitted on the second communication link, and further so that the first device can obtain, through the second communication link, the reception of the data packets of the direct link transmitted on the second communication link by the second device.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the first BAR frame, the second BAR frame, the first BA frame, and the second BA frame include the first TID. In this way, the first device or the second device can determine the corresponding BA session based on the TID carried in the management frame or the control frame, to further determine the relevant information of the BA session that needs to be fed back or fed back to the peer.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the access point device, a first relay link measurement request frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement request frame being used to request to feed back the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first relay link measurement request frame including the first identification information; and sending, by the access point device, a second relay link measurement request frame to the second device through the second communication link based on the first relay link measurement request frame, the second relay link measurement request frame being used to request to feed back the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second relay link measurement request frame including the second identification information. In this way, the first device can transmit a relay link measurement request frame or a relay link measurement response frame to the second device through the second communication link and the common BA session on the second communication link, so that the first device can obtain, through the second communication link, the communication quality of the link of the second device.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the access point device, a first relay link measurement response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second identification information being included in the first relay link measurement response frame; and sending, by the access point device, a second relay link measurement response frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first relay link measurement response frame, the second relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first identification information being included in the second relay link measurement response frame. In this way, the first device can transmit the relay link measurement request frame or the relay link measurement response frame to the second device through the second communication link and the common BA session on the second communication link, so that the first device can obtain the communication quality of the link of the second device through the second communication link.

[0030] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, a first device connects a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method includes: sending, by the first device, a first data packet to the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an ADDBA request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used to request to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, and the first identification information is included in the ADDBA request frame, the first identification information being used to indicate that a responding end of the BA session is the second device.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the first device, an ADDBA response frame from the second device forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link, the ADDBA response frame being used to respond to the establishment of the BA session, and the first identification information being included in the ADDBA response frame.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending, by the first device, a block acknowledgement (BAR) frame to the second device through the second communication link, the BAR frame being used to request to feed back whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the first identification information being included in the BAR frame, the first identification information being used to indicate that the responding end of the BA session is the second device.

[0034] The first TID and the second SN are included in the BAR frame, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the first device, a BA frame forwarded by the access point device from the second device through the second communication link, the BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packet of the BA session is correctly received, and the first identification information being included in the BA frame.

[0036] The first TID and the second SN are included in the BAR frame, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending, by the first device, a relay link measurement request frame to the second device through the second communication link, the relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first identification information being included in the relay link measurement request frame, the first identification information being used to indicate that the second device is the responding end of the BA session.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the first device, a relay link measurement response frame forwarded by the access point device from the second device through the second communication link, the relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first identification information being included in the relay link measurement response frame.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending, by the first device, a second data packet to the second device through the first communication link; and the second data packet including the first TID and a third SN, the third SN being allocated based on the first TID.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, a first device connects a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method includes: receiving, by the second device, a first data packet forwarded by the access point device from the first device through the second communication link; the first data packet including a first communication identifier TID and a first sequence number SN, the first TID corresponding to the first communication link, and the first SN being allocated based on the first TID.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an add block acknowledgement ADDBA request frame, the ADDBA request frame being used to request establishment of a block acknowledgement BA session, and the second identification information being included in the ADDBA request frame, the second identification information being used to indicate that the first device is the initiating end of the BA session.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the first SN in the ADDBA request frame is a starting sequence number.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device sending, to the first device, an ADDBA response frame through the second communication link, the ADDBA response frame being used for responding to establishing the BA session, and the second identification information being included in the ADDBA response frame, the first identification information being used for indicating that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device receiving, from the first device, a block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link, the BAR frame being used for requesting feedback of whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second identification information being included in the BAR frame, the second identification information being used for indicating that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0045] The first TID and the second SN are included in the BAR frame, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device sending, to the first device, a BA frame through the second communication link, the BA frame being used for indicating whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second identification information being included in the BA frame.

[0047] The first TID and the second SN are included in the BA frame, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device receiving, from the first device, a relay link measurement request frame forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link, the relay link measurement request frame being used for requesting feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second identification information being included in the relay link measurement request frame, the second identification information being used for indicating that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device sending, to the first device, a relay link measurement response frame through the second communication link, the relay link measurement response frame being used for indicating the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second identification information being included in the relay link measurement response frame.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the second device receiving, from the first device, a second data packet through the first communication link; and the second data packet including the first TID and a third SN, the third SN being allocated based on the first TID.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device applied to a first device, the first device being connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link being a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link including a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a sending module configured to send a first data packet to the second device through the second communication link; wherein the first data packet conforms to a packaging structure corresponding to the second communication link, the first data packet encapsulating a second data packet, and the second data packet conforming to a packaging structure corresponding to the first communication link.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the first data packet includes a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN); the first TID corresponds to the second communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID. The second data packet includes a second TID and a second SN; the second TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the second SN is allocated based on the second TID.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the first data packet encapsulates a third data packet, and the third data packet encapsulates the second data packet; the first data packet is a media access control layer protocol data unit (MPDU) data packet, the second data packet is an MPDU data packet, and the third data packet is a media access control layer service data unit (MSDU) data packet.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the third data packet includes an Ethernet type field, and the Ethernet type field includes indication information used to indicate that the second data packet is encapsulated in the third data packet.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the indication information is 89-0d.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a data frame, and a frame body of the second data packet carries data information.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame or a block acknowledgement (BA) frame, the BAR frame is used to request feedback of whether a data packet is correctly received, and the BA frame is used to indicate whether a data packet is correctly received.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the second data packet is a direct link measurement request frame or a direct link measurement response frame, the direct link measurement request frame is used to request feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link, and the direct link measurement response frame is used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further configured to send a fourth data packet to the second device through the first communication link; the fourth data packet conforms to the encapsulation structure corresponding to the first communication link.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the first TID and a third SN are included in the fourth data packet, and the third SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0061] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device applied to an access point device, a first device being connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link being a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link including a communication link established between the first device and the access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes: a receiving module configured to receive a first data packet sent by the first device through the second communication link; the first data packet including a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponding to the first communication link, and the first SN being allocated based on the first TID; a processing module configured to generate a second data packet based on the first data packet; the second data packet including the first TID and the first SN; and a sending module configured to send the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link.

[0062] In a possible implementation, the first data packet further includes first address information and second address information, the first address information being used to indicate that the sending end of the first data packet is the first device, and the second address information being used to indicate that the receiving end of the first data packet is the second device; the processing module is configured to: find a target buffer queue based on the first address information, the second address information and the first TID; and place the second data packet in the target buffer queue; and the sending module is further configured to send the second data packet on the second communication link in the order of the SNs in the data packets in the target buffer queue.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request frame, the ADDBA request frame being used to request to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, the first data packet including first identification information, the first identification information being used to indicate that the responding end of the BA session is the second device; the BA session corresponding to the first TID; and the second data packet being the ADDBA request frame, the second data packet including second identification information, the second identification information being used to indicate that the initiating end of the BA session is the first device.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first ADDBA response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link; and the sending module is further configured to send a second ADDBA response frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first ADDBA response frame; the first ADDBA frame and the second ADDBA response frame being used to respond to the establishment of the BA session.

[0065] In a possible implementation, the first ADDBA response frame includes the first TID and the second identification information; and the second ADDBA response frame includes the first TID and the first identification information.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first block acknowledgement request, BAR, frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first BAR frame being used to request feedback on whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the first BAR frame including the first identification information; and the sending module is further configured to send, based on the first BAR frame, a second BAR frame to the second device through the second communication link, the second BAR frame being used to request feedback on whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second BAR frame including the second identification information.

[0067] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first block acknowledgement, BA, frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first BA frame being used to indicate whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the first BA frame including the second identification information; and the sending module is further configured to send, based on the first BA frame, a second BA frame to the first device through the second communication link, the second BA frame being used to indicate whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second BA frame including the first identification information.

[0068] In a possible implementation, the first BAR frame, the second BAR frame, the first BA frame, and the second BA frame include the first TID.

[0069] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first relay link measurement request frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback on a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first relay link measurement request frame including the first identification information; and the sending module is further configured to send, based on the first relay link measurement request frame, a second relay link measurement request frame to the second device through the second communication link, the second relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback on the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second relay link measurement request frame including the second identification information.

[0070] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive a first relay link measurement response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first relay link measurement response frame including the second identification information; and the sending module is further configured to send, based on the first relay link measurement response frame, a second relay link measurement response frame to the first device through the second communication link, the second relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second relay link measurement response frame including the first identification information.

[0071] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a first device, the first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a sending module, which is used for sending a first data packet to the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first traffic identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used for requesting to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, and the ADDBA request frame includes first identification information, the first identification information is used for indicating that a responding end of the BA session is the second device.

[0073] In a possible implementation, the device further includes a receiving module, which is used for receiving an ADDBA response frame from the second device and forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link, the ADDBA response frame is used for responding to the establishment of the BA session, and the ADDBA response frame includes the first identification information.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further used for sending a block acknowledgement (BAR) frame to the second device through the second communication link, the BAR frame is used for requesting to feed back whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, the BAR frame includes the first identification information, and the first identification information is used for indicating that the responding end of the BA session is the second device.

[0075] The BAR frame includes the first TID and a second SN, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0076] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further used for receiving a BA frame from the second device and forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link, the BA frame is used for indicating whether the data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the BA frame includes the first identification information.

[0077] The BAR frame includes the first TID and a second SN, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0078] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further used for sending a relay link measurement request frame to the second device through the second communication link, the relay link measurement request frame is used for requesting to feed back a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, the relay link measurement request frame includes the first identification information, and the first identification information is used for indicating that the responding end of the BA session is the second device.

[0079] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive, through the second communication link, a relay link measurement response frame forwarded by the access point device from the second device, the relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first identification information being included in the relay link measurement response frame.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further configured to send, through the first communication link, a second data packet to the second device, the second data packet including the first TID and a third SN, and the third SN being allocated based on the first TID.

[0081] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method applied to a second device, a first device being connected to the second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link being a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link including a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method includes the following steps: receiving, by a receiving module, a first data packet forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link from the first device, the first data packet including a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponding to the first communication link, and the first SN being allocated based on the first TID.

[0082] In a possible implementation, the first data packet is an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request frame, the ADDBA request frame being used to request to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, and the second identification information being included in the ADDBA request frame and used to indicate that the first device is an initiator of the BA session.

[0083] In a possible implementation, the first SN in the ADDBA request frame is a start sequence number.

[0084] In a possible implementation, the method further includes the following steps: sending, by a sending module, an ADDBA response frame to the first device through the second communication link, the ADDBA response frame being used to respond to establish the BA session, and the second identification information being included in the ADDBA response frame and used to indicate that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0085] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive, through the second communication link, a block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame forwarded by the access point device from the first device, the BAR frame being used to request to feed back whether data packets of the BA session are correctly received, and the second identification information being included in the BAR frame and used to indicate that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0086] The BAR frame includes the first TID and a second SN, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0087] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further configured to send, to the first device, a BA frame through the second communication link, the BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packet of the BA session is correct, and the second identification information being included in the BA frame.

[0088] The first TID and the second SN are included in the BA frame, and the second SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0089] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive, through the second communication link, a relay link measurement request frame forwarded by the access point device and from the first device, the relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second identification information being included in the relay link measurement request frame, the second identification information being used to indicate that the first device is the initiator of the BA session.

[0090] In a possible implementation, the sending module is further configured to send, to the first device, a relay link measurement response frame through the second communication link, the relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second identification information being included in the relay link measurement response frame.

[0091] In a possible implementation, the receiving module is further configured to receive, through the first communication link, the second data packet sent by the first device; the second data packet includes the first TID and a third SN, and the third SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0092] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable medium for storing a computer program, the computer program including instructions for executing the method in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, or any possible implementation of any of the aspects.

[0093] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program, the computer program including instructions for executing the method in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, or any possible implementation of any of the aspects.

[0094] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, the chip including a processing circuit and a transceiver pin. The transceiver pin and the processing circuit communicate with each other through an internal link channel. The processing circuit executes the method in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, or any possible implementation of any of the aspects, to control the receiving pin to receive a signal and to control the sending pin to send a signal.

[0095] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, the system including the first device, the second device, and the access point device involved in the aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0096] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example communication system;

[0097] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of an AP and a STA;

[0098] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of an AP and a STA;

[0099] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example MLD device address;

[0100] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example frame structure of an MPDU;

[0101] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example MPDU frame header structure;

[0102] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example BA session setup procedure;

[0103] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of an ADDBA frame;

[0104] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a Block Ack Parameter Set field;

[0105] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a DELBA Parameter set field;

[0106] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a BAR frame;

[0107] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a Block Ack Request Control (BAR Control) field;

[0108] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a BAR Information field;

[0109] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a BAR Information field;

[0110] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a BA frame;

[0111] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example structure of a Block Ack Information (BA Information) field;

[0112] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example communication system;

[0113] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example frame structure;

[0114] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example communication method procedure;

[0115] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example frame structure;

[0116] FIG. 21 is an example illustrated frame structure diagram;

[0117] FIG. 22 is an example illustrated frame structure diagram;

[0118] FIG. 23 is an example illustrated frame structure diagram;

[0119] FIG. 24 is an example illustrated common BA session setup method flow diagram;

[0120] FIG. 25 is an example illustrated ADDBA request frame diagram;

[0121] FIG. 26 is an example illustrated ADDBA response frame structure diagram;

[0122] FIG. 27 is an example illustrated BAR / BA frame interaction diagram;

[0123] FIG. 28 is an example illustrated BAR frame structure diagram;

[0124] FIG. 29 is an example illustrated BAR frame structure diagram;

[0125] FIG. 30 is an example illustrated Relay Link Measurement Request / Response frame interaction diagram;

[0126] FIG. 31 is an example illustrated Relay Link Measurement Request frame structure diagram;

[0127] FIG. 32 is an example illustrated communication system diagram;

[0128] FIG. 33 is an example illustrated communication device structure diagram;

[0129] FIG. 34 is an example illustrated communication device structure diagram;

[0130] FIG. 35 is an example illustrated communication device structure diagram;

[0131] FIG. 36 is an example illustrated communication device structure diagram. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0132] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0133] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, such as Wi-Fi and the like. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to the institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series protocols (or standards), for example, the 802.11be protocol, the 802.11bn protocol (or Wi-Fi 8, also referred to as ultra high reliability (UHR) or ultra high reliability and throughput (UHRT), etc.), or a next-generation protocol of the 802.11bn protocol or a protocol supporting ambient power (AMP), and the like, which will not be listed one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a wireless personal area network (WPAN) based on millimeter wave (MMW), such as integrated MMW (IMMW), ultra wideband (UWB) technology, and the like. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to the IEEE 802.15 series protocols, for example, the 802.15.4a protocol, the 802.15.4z protocol or the 802.15.4ab protocol, or a future generation UWB WPAN protocol, and the like, which will not be listed one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a spark link or nearlink standard protocol. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a communication system, for example, can be an internet of things (IoT) system, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X, X can represent any thing) system, a device-to-device (D2D) system, a narrow band IoT (NB-IoT) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5th-generation (5G) communication system, and a new communication system to be appeared in future communication development, and the like.For example, the V2X can include vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to pedestrian (V2P) or vehicle to network (V2N) communication, etc.

[0134] The WLAN system can provide high-rate and low-latency transmission. With the continuous evolution of WLAN application scenarios, the WLAN system will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry, or the banking industry, enterprise offices, sports venues, exhibition halls, music halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, wards, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, manufacturing workshops, and warehouses, etc. Of course, the devices (such as access points or stations) supporting WLAN communication or sensing can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, televisions, sound systems, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) wearable devices, etc.), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, amplifiers, sound systems, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, supermarket self-service navigation stations, self-service checkout devices, self-service ordering machines, etc.), and devices in large sports and music venues, etc.

[0135] Although the embodiments of the present application mainly take WLAN as an example, especially the network applying to IEEE 802.11 series standards. The various aspects involved in the embodiments of the present application can be extended to other networks using 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 network (WAN) or other now known or later developed networks.

[0136] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system, which is exemplarily shown. Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system includes, but is not limited to, at least one AP device (hereinafter referred to as an AP) and at least one station (STA) device (hereinafter referred to as a STA). In FIG. 1, only the AP and the STAs 1 and 2 in the communication system are exemplarily shown. Alternatively, the STA 1 can be the first device mentioned in the present application, or can be the second device mentioned in the present application. The STA 2 can be the second device mentioned in the present application, or can be the first device mentioned in the present application.

[0137] The AP device is a communication device deployed in a wireless communication network, which can provide wireless communication services for associated STAs and has a wireless transceiving function. The AP can be an access point for mobile users to access a wired network, and is mainly deployed in homes, buildings and campuses, with a typical coverage radius of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Of course, the AP can also be deployed outdoors. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, and mainly functions to connect various wireless network clients together and then access the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, the AP can be a terminal device or a network device with a WiFi chip. The AP can be a device supporting the 802.11ax standard. The AP can also be a device supporting multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11n and the next generation 802.11 standard.

[0138] The AP device can include, but is not limited to, an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, such as a home gateway, a router, a server, a switch, a bridge, an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (for example, a home evolved Node B or a home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission and reception point (TRP or TP), and the like. The AP device can also be a gNB or a transmission point (TRP or TP) in a 5G system, such as a new radio (NR) system, or a network node constituting the gNB or the transmission point, and the like.

[0139] The STA is a terminal with a wireless transceiver function or a chip or chip system that can be provided in the terminal, which accesses the above communication system. The STA can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal. The STA can also be referred to as a user device, an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user device. The STA device in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a vehicle-mounted terminal and the like supporting Wi-Fi communication function. The STA device of the present application can also be a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted component, a vehicle-mounted chip or a vehicle-mounted unit built in a vehicle as one or more components or units, and the vehicle can implement the communication method provided by the present application through the built-in vehicle-mounted module, vehicle-mounted component, vehicle-mounted chip or vehicle-mounted unit. Optionally, the STA can support 802.11ax standard. The STA is also a device that can support multiple WLAN standards of 802.11ac, 802.11n and the next generation 802.11 standard.

[0140] The scenarios in the embodiments of the present application include communication between the STA and the AP, communication between the STAs, and communication between the APs.

[0141] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP and a STA, which only shows the PHY and MAC parts of the AP and the STA. The AP in the figure is a multiple antenna structure, and the STA is a single antenna structure. In actual scenarios, the AP and the STA can both have a multiple antenna structure, and can be devices with more than two antennas.

[0142] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an AP and a STA, which are exemplarily shown. Referring to FIG. 3, the internal structures of the AP and the STA are the same, and can be sequentially divided into a logical link control (LLC) layer module, a MAC layer module, and a PHY layer baseband module, a radio frequency and an antenna from top to bottom, wherein the antennas can be configured with multiple antennas.

[0143] Still referring to FIG. 3, in the layered model, each entity (including the PHY layer and the MAC layer) provides services to the entity in the directly upper layer. User data is transmitted between layers through service data units (SDUs). The LLC layer and the MAC layer interact data based on MAC service data units (MSDUs). That is, the LLC layer sends or receives data to or from the MAC layer through MSDUs, and the MAC layer sends or receives data to or from the LLC layer through MSDUs. The PHY layer and the MAC layer interact data based on PHY service data units (PSDUs). That is, the PHY layer sends or receives data to or from the MAC layer through PSDUs, and the MAC layer sends or receives data to or from the PHY layer through PSDUs.

[0144] In the embodiments of the present application, a protocol is used to indicate the manner of exchanging data and control information between each entity in the layered model and the corresponding counterpart entity. The exchange is realized through protocol data units (PDUs), wherein the MAC layer and the corresponding entity thereof interact data through MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), and the PHY layer interacts data through PHY protocol data units (PPDUs).

[0145] In the embodiments of the present application, at least one AP and at least one STA in the communication system can include one or more multiple link device (MLD) devices.

[0146] A multi-link device refers to a device that has multiple STAs (such as an AP or a non-AP STA) simultaneously operating on different frequency bands or channels. When the channels on which two stations in a multi-link device operate are far enough apart, they can operate independently without interfering with each other. If the transmission of one station is supported while the other station is receiving between any two stations, it can be referred to as having simultaneous transmitting and receiving (STR) capability between the two stations, otherwise it can be referred to as not having non-simultaneous transmitting and receiving (NSTR) capability between the two stations. A multi-link device includes multiple affiliated stations, which can be physical stations or logical stations, each of which can operate on a link or a frequency band or a channel. The affiliated stations shown here can be APs or non-AP STAs. For the convenience of description, the multi-link device with affiliated stations as APs can be referred to as a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device or an AP multi-link device (AP MLD). The multi-link device with affiliated stations as non-AP STAs can be referred to as a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or a STA multi-link device (STA MLD), or the multi-link device with affiliated stations as non-AP STAs can be referred to as a multi-link non-AP or a multi-link non-AP device or a non-AP multi-link device (non-AP MLD). The multi-link device (here, it can be a non-AP MLD or an AP MLD) is a communication device with wireless communication function. The communication device can be a whole device, or a chip or a processing system installed in the whole device, and the device installed with the chip or the processing system can realize the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or the processing system.

[0147] The multi-link device can implement wireless communication in compliance with the 802.11 series protocols, for example, in compliance with EHT, or in compliance with 802.11be or compatible with 802.11be, etc., so as to realize communication with other devices. Of course, the other devices can be multi-link devices or can not be multi-link devices. A multi-link device and another multi-link device establish multiple links.

[0148] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an MLD device address, which is exemplarily shown. Referring to FIG. 4, taking an AP as an MLD device as an example, the AP is provided with an MLD address (MLD Address), and each link (for example, a link between the AP and STA1 (which can also be referred to as a communication link or a path) and a link between the AP and STA2) corresponding to the AP is provided with a link address (Link Address). For example, the address corresponding to the link between the AP and STA1 is Link Address1, and the address corresponding to the link between the AP and STA2 is Link Address2.

[0149] The frequency bands in which the multi-link device operates can include, but are not limited to, sub1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and high frequency 60 GHz. Moreover, the MLD can communicate through multiple channels on the same frequency band. The multiple frequency bands or multiple channels can be collectively referred to as multiple links. The peak throughput is improved by means of multi-link communication, the delay of service transmission is reduced, and thus the rate of communication between MLDs is improved.

[0150] In combination with FIG. 1, the signaling (which can also be referred to as information, a message, or a frame) involved in the present application is briefly described below:

[0151] 1. MPDU

[0152] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of an MPDU, which is exemplarily shown. Referring to FIG. 5, the MPDU can include one or more fields such as a frame control (Frame Control), a duration (Duration), an address 1, an address 2, an address 3, a sequence control (Sequence Control), an address 4, a quality of service control, a high throughput control (HT Control), a cipher-block chaining message authentication code protocol header (CCMP Header), a frame body (Frame Body), a message integrity code (MIC), and a frame check sequence (FCS).

[0153] Among them, the address 1 is used to indicate a receiving address (i.e., the address of the receiving end), and the address 2 is used to indicate a sending address (i.e., the address of the sending end). For a downlink data MPDU, the address 3 is set as a source address, for an uplink data MPDU, the address 3 is set as a destination address, and for a management frame, the address 3 is set as an associated AP address.

[0154] It should be noted that the specific format of the MPDU is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5, for example, the address 4 in the MPDU can be optional, and the specific format of the MPDU is not limited in the present application.

[0155] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an MPDU frame header structure, which can include but is not limited to the following fields (which can also be referred to as subfields): protocol version, type, subtype, to distributed system (to DS), from DS, more fragments, retry, power management, more data, protected frame, and HT control present (+HTC).

[0156] The protocol version subfield occupies two bit positions, which is used to indicate the protocol version corresponding to the frame. The type subfield occupies two bit positions, and the subtype subfield occupies four bit positions, which are used to indicate the type of the frame. The standard defines three frame types: control frame, data frame, and management frame. The to DS subfield and the from DS subfield each occupy one bit position, which is used to indicate whether the MPDU is an uplink MPDU or a downlink MPDU, or a P2P (point-to-point) MPDU. The more fragments, retry, power management, more data, protected frame, and HT control present subfields each occupy one bit position. The more fragments is used to indicate whether there are other fragments associated with the frame, the more data is used to indicate whether there is other data to be received. The retry is used to indicate whether the frame is a retransmitted packet.

[0157] According to the frame type (Type), the MPDU can be divided into data frames (Type = 10), management frames (Type = 00), and control frames (Type = 01). For data frames, according to the settings of to DS and from DS, the address 1, address 2, address 3, and address 4 are set as follows:

[0158] Table 1

[0159] As shown in Table 1, exemplary, when To DS = 0 and From DS = 0, it means point-to-point (P2P) transmission, i.e. direct link, STA communicates with STA. When To DS = 0 and From DS = 1, it means downlink transmission, i.e. DS side sends information to STA. When To DS = 1 and From DS = 0, it means uplink transmission, i.e. STA sends information to DS side. DA means destination address (DA), SA means source address (SA), and BSSID means the address of the AP to which the AP device belongs (also can be called access or association). Address 3 and address 4 are set in two examples: non-existent or SA.

[0160] Exemplary, address 1, address 2, and address 3 in the MPDU header of the management frame are as shown in the following table:

[0161] Table 2

[0162] Still referring to FIG. 5, exemplary, the Sequence Control field contains a sequence number (SN) and a fragment number. Specifically, each sender maintains a sequence number counter for each traffic identification (TID) of each receiver. That is, each sequence number space (SNS) is based on <receiver address, TID>. If the two ends of the transceiver are MLD devices, the receiver address is the corresponding MLD address. Exemplary, the sender assigns a sequence number to each MSDU or MAC layer management protocol data unit (MMPDU) it sends based on <receiver address, TID>, i.e. the sequence numbers in the data packets corresponding to the same <receiver address, TID> are consecutive, and it can also be understood that the SNS corresponding to <receiver address, TID> in the same sender is unique.

[0163] 2. Block acknowledgement (BA) session establishment

[0164] FIG. 7 is an exemplary BA session establishment flow chart. Referring to FIG. 7, in a multi-link scenario, a block acknowledgement session must be established before multi-link aggregation transmission is used, which includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0165] S701, the first device sends an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request (Request) frame to the second device.

[0166] For example, the first device can be referred to as a BA session initiator, and the second device can be referred to as a BA session responder. The first device sends an ADDBA Request frame to the second device to request to establish a BA session with the responder (i.e., the second device).

[0167] The second device receives the ADDBA Request frame sent by the first device.

[0168] S702, the second device sends an ADDBA response (Response) frame to the first device.

[0169] For example, the second device sends an ADDBA Response frame to the first device in response to the received ADDBA Request frame. The ADDBA Request frame and the ADDBA Response frame are used to establish a multi-link block acknowledgement session between multiple links of the first device and multiple links of the second device.

[0170] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ADDBA frame (including a Request frame and a Response frame), according to an example. As shown in FIG. 8, the ADDBA frame includes, but is not limited to, a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, an address 2 field, an address 3 field, a sequence control (Sequence Control) field, a high throughput control (HT Control) field, a frame body (Frame Body) field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field.

[0171] The frame body structure of the ADDBA Request frame is shown in the following table:

[0172] Table 3

[0173] The frame body structure of the ADDBA Response frame is shown in the following table:

[0174] Table 4

[0175] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a Block Ack Parameter Set field. As shown in FIG. 9, the Block Ack Parameter Set field includes, but is not limited to, a 1-bit Aggregate MAC Service Data Unit Supported (A-MSDU Supported) field, a 2-bit Block Ack Policy field, a 3-bit Traffic Identification (TID) field, and a 10-bit Buffer Size field.

[0176] The A-MSDU Supported field is used to indicate whether aggregated MSDU is supported. The Block Ack Policy field is used to indicate the adopted block acknowledgement policy. The TID is used to indicate the TID for which the block acknowledgement session is established. The Buffer Size field is used to indicate the size of the buffer space. The length of the Buffer Size field is only illustrative, and is not limited in the present application.

[0177] Optionally, the ADDBA frame is a management frame, and the second device needs to feed back an acknowledgement frame Ack after receiving the ADDBA request frame, and the first device also needs to feed back an acknowledgement frame Ack after receiving the ADDBA response frame. The acknowledgement frame Ack in the embodiment of the present application is not embodied in FIG. 7.

[0178] Illustratively, one block acknowledgement session established between two STAs has a specific traffic identifier (TID) and is only used for one-way data transmission from the initiating end to the responding end. For example, for downlink data transmission, the AP can only initiate the establishment of a BA session. For uplink data transmission, the STA can only initiate the establishment of a BA session. Specifically, the initiating end establishes a BA session for a certain TID by exchanging ADDBA Request / Response frames with the STA. That is, the TID corresponds to the BA session.

[0179] Optionally, the initiating end or the responding end can send a delete block acknowledgement (DELBA) frame to terminate the block acknowledgement session corresponding to the TID. The frame structure of the DELBA frame can refer to FIG. 8, and the frame body of the DELBA frame is shown in the following table.

[0180] Table 5

[0181] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DELBA Parameter set field structure. Referring to Figure 10, the DELBA Parameter set field structure includes, but is not limited to, a Reserved field, an Initiator field, and a TID field.

[0182] The Initiator field is used to indicate whether the DELBA frame is sent by an initiator. The TID field is used to indicate which TID corresponding block acknowledgement (BA) session is deleted.

[0183] S703, the first device sends a data packet to the second device.

[0184] For example, after the BA session is successfully established, the first device sends an MPDU data packet to the second device. The second device receives the MPDU data packet sent by the first device.

[0185] After the block acknowledgement session is successfully established, the receiving end maintains a corresponding score board and reordering buffer area (which can also be referred to as a reordering buffer queue, which is not limited in the present application) for the BA session, and the sending end maintains a sending buffer area.

[0186] The score board is used to record which packets are correctly received. The reordering buffer area is used to arrange MSDUs in order of SN and sequentially submit MSDUs in order of SN from small to large to the upper layer. The sending buffer area of the sending end will delete the correctly sent MSDU data packet in the BA session from the sending buffer area according to the BA session, and submit new MPDU data packets for sending according to the size of the receiving end buffer area.

[0187] It can also be understood that, for the receiving end, the BA session, the TID, the score board, and the reordering buffer area are uniquely corresponding. For example, the receiving end has different BA sessions with different sending ends, which correspond to different TIDs, score boards, and reordering buffer areas. The data packets received by different BA sessions are placed in the reordering buffer area corresponding to the BA session (i.e., the TID), and are sequentially submitted to the upper layer from small to large according to the SN number of the MSDU in the reordering buffer area.

[0188] S704, the first device sends a block acknowledgement request (BA Request) frame to the second device.

[0189] For example, the first device sends a BAR frame to the second device to request the receiving status of the data packet of the second device.

[0190] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a BAR frame, which includes, but is not limited to, a Frame Control field, a Duration field, a Receiver Address (RA) field, a Transmitter Address (TA) field, a Block Ack Request Control (BAR Control) field, a Block Ack Request Information (BAR Information) field, and a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field.

[0191] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the BAR Control field, which includes, but is not limited to, a Reserved field, a Block Ack Request Type (BAR Type) field, and a Traffic Identifier Information (TID_INFO) field. The BAR Type subfield is used to indicate which BAR variant is used.

[0192] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the BAR Information field. The TID_INFO field depends on which BAR variant is used. When the BAR Type subfield is set to 1 or 2, the TID_INFO subfield indicates which TID is requested. In this case, the BAR Information field includes a Block Ack Starting Sequence Control subfield, which includes, but is not limited to, a Fragment Number field and a Starting Sequence Number field.

[0193] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the BAR Information field. When the BAR Type subfield is set to 3, the TID_INFO subfield indicates a number of TIDs for which block acknowledgement is requested. In this case, the BAR Information field includes a plurality of Per TID Info fields and a Block Ack Starting Sequence Control field. The Per TID Info field includes, but is not limited to, a Reserved field and a TID Value field.

[0194] S705, the second device sends a Block Ack (BA) frame to the first device.

[0195] For example, the second device sends a block acknowledgement (BA) frame to the first device in response to the received BAR frame, to indicate the reception status of the data packets of the second device.

[0196] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a BA frame. As shown in FIG. 15, the BA frame includes, but is not limited to, a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, a receiver address (RA) field, a transmitter address (TA) field, a block acknowledgement control (BA Control) field, a block acknowledgement information (BA Information) field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field.

[0197] The BA Control field includes, but is not limited to, a reserved (Reserved) field, a BA type (BA Type) field, and a TID INFO field.

[0198] The BA Type field is used to indicate which BA frame variant is indicated.

[0199] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the BA Information field. As shown in FIG. 16, the TID INFO field depends on which BA variant is indicated. When the BA Type subfield is set to 2, the TID INFO field indicates which TID. In this case, the BAR Information field includes a block acknowledgement starting sequence control subfield (Block Ack Starting Sequence Control subfield) and a block acknowledgement bitmap (Block Ack Bitmap) subfield. The block acknowledgement bitmap (Block Ack Bitmap) field includes a block acknowledgement bitmap, which is used to indicate the reception status of the data packets received by the second device.

[0200] 3. Tunnel Direct Link Setup (TDLS)

[0201] For two STAs associated with the same AP, if the two STAs are within the wireless communication reach, a direct link can be established between the two STAs. In this way, the data interaction of the direct link can improve the transmission rate and reduce the latency. In the prior art, the biggest feature of the TDLS mechanism is that the establishment of the P2P direct link is completely transparent to the AP. When the TDLS management frame is sent through the AP, it will be encapsulated into a data frame for transmission.

[0202] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary communication system. Referring to Figure 17, STA1 sends data information to STA2, which is carried in the frame body field of a data packet. Before STA1 and STA2 establish a direct link, STA1 sends the data packet to STA2 through a relay link (which can also be understood as the second communication link mentioned in the present application). Exemplarily, STA1 and AP establish a BA_1 session, and AP and STA2 establish a BA_2 session. As described above, for the sending end, the BA session, TID, sending buffer and counter are uniquely corresponding. For the receiving end, the BA session, TID, reordering buffer and scoreboard are uniquely corresponding.

[0203] On the relay link, STA1 sends data packet_1 to AP. The format of the data packet can be referred to the above, which will not be described here. The data packet includes but is not limited to TID_1 and SN_1. SN_1 is assigned by STA1 based on the value of the counter, and the value of the counter is counted based on the number of data packets sent in the BA_1 session corresponding to TID_1.

[0204] AP receives data packet_1 and re-encapsulates to obtain data packet_2. Data packet_2 includes but is not limited to TID_2 and SN_2. SN_2 is assigned by AP based on the value of the counter, and the value of the counter is counted based on the number of data packets sent in the BA_2 session corresponding to TID_2.

[0205] STA2 receives data packet_2. STA2 places data packet_2 in the corresponding reordering buffer based on TID_2, and submits the data packet to the upper layer in ascending order of the SN number (for example, SN_2 in data packet_2) of the data packet in the reordering buffer.

[0206] Still referring to Figure 17, after STA1 and STA2 establish a direct link (i.e. TDLS, which is the first communication link mentioned in the present application) and a BA session, STA1 and STA2 can only transmit data through the direct link. After the direct link between STA1 and STA2 is disconnected, STA1 and STA2 transmit data through the relay link again. In this scenario, since the direct link and the relay link establish independent BA sessions, i.e. different TIDs and different SNS, it is impossible to quickly switch between the direct link and the relay link to realize MAC layer continuation transmission or aggregated transmission.

[0207] The present application provides a communication method, which can realize free switching between the relay link and the direct link and / or simultaneous transmission (which can also be referred to as multi-link aggregated transmission) of the relay link and the direct link.

[0208] The communication method in the embodiment of the application is described in detail below in combination with the scenario shown in FIG. 17.

[0209] 1. Communication mode one

[0210] Still taking the scenario in FIG. 17 as an example, STA1 and STA2 establish a direct link, and STA1 and STA2 are associated with (or can be understood as accessed to) the same AP.

[0211] A BA session is established between STA1 and STA2, a BA session is established between STA1 and the AP, and a BA session is established between STA2 and the AP. The specific establishment process can be referred to the above, and will not be described here.

[0212] In the embodiment of the application, in the case where the relay link and the direct link exist at the same time, the data transmission between STA1 (which can be the first device mentioned in the application, or the second device) and STA2 (which can be the second device mentioned in the application, or the first device) can be freely switched between the relay link and the direct link. In one example, STA1 can send a first data packet to STA2 through the direct link, then STA1 switches to the relay link and sends a second data packet to STA2 through the relay link. In another example, STA1 can send a first data packet to STA2 through the relay link, then STA1 switches to the direct link and sends a second data packet to STA2 through the direct link.

[0213] For example, in the case where STA1 and STA2 are MLD devices, STA1 can also send data packets to STA2 through the direct link and the relay link at the same time, and the data information carried in the data packets sent on the two links can be the same or different, which is not limited in the application.

[0214] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary frame structure. Please refer to FIG. 18. In the embodiment of the application, the MPDU_2 transmitted by STA1 on the relay link encapsulates an MSDU, and the MSDU encapsulates an MPDU_1.

[0215] For example, the first data packet mentioned in the application can be MPDU_2 or MSDU. The second data packet mentioned in the application is MPDU_1.

[0216] In the embodiment of the application, the encapsulation format of the first data packet (for example, MPDU_2 or MSDU) conforms to the encapsulation structure of the relay link, and the encapsulation format of the second data packet (for example, MPDU_1) conforms to the encapsulation structure of the direct link. Thus, the data packet of the direct link can be transmitted on the relay link by encapsulating the data packet of the direct link into the data packet of the relay link.

[0217] The second communication link mentioned in the present application is a relay link (may also be referred to as a relay connection) between STA1 and STA2, which includes a link between STA1 and the AP and a link between the AP and STA2. The first communication link mentioned in the present application is a direct link (may also be referred to as a direct connection) between STA1 and STA2.

[0218] Optionally, the link or communication connection mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can include uplink and / or downlink.

[0219] For the AP, the data packet received is still in compliance with the protocol requirements of the relay link, which can be forwarded in the manner of the prior art. For the receiving STA2, the data packet can be received through the relay link, and the data packet originally transmitted on the direct link is obtained, and further processing is performed on the data packet based on the processing manner of the direct link, so that the data packet received from the STA1 is reordered according to the sequence number when the data packet is transmitted on the direct link, and out-of-order is avoided.

[0220] In this example, the communication manner of STA1 and STA2 on the direct link can refer to the above, which will not be described here. The data transmission process of STA1 on the relay link is described in detail below when STA1 switches from the direct link to the relay link for data transmission, or when STA1 transmits data on the direct link and the relay link at the same time.

[0221] FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram of a communication method, which specifically includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0222] S1901, generating MPDU_1 in a packaging structure in compliance with the direct link.

[0223] Specifically, still referring to FIG. 18, STA1 generates MPDU (the third data packet mentioned in the present application) in a packaging structure for transmission on the direct link, which is denoted as MPDU_1. The frame structure of MPDU_1 can refer to FIG. 5. In this example, the Address1 field of MPDU_1 is set to the receiving end address (i.e., the address of STA2), the Address2 field is set to the sending end address (i.e., the address of STA1), and the Address3 field is set to the address of the AP, for example, the BSSID of the AP.

[0224] For example, the SN (denoted as SN_1) carried in the Sequence Control field is allocated based on TID_STA1-STA2. As described above, the TID is used to indicate a BA session. In this example, TID_STA1-STA2 is used to indicate the BA session of STA1 as the initiator and STA2 as the responder on the direct link.

[0225] It can be understood that the TID_STA1-STA2 at the end of STA1 is associated (or corresponds to) a counter, a sending buffer area, and an SNS (for example, SNS1 in FIG. 17). The SN can be allocated according to the count value of the counter corresponding to TID_STA1-STA2. STA1 can place a data packet containing TID_STA1-STA2 in the sending buffer area. The SNS1 is indexed or identified by <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2>.

[0226] That is, as long as STA1 sends a data packet with a receiving address of STA2 and a TID of TID_STA1-STA2, the counter is incremented by 1, and the SN number is allocated based on the counter, which can also be understood as the SN being allocated based on TID_STA1-STA2. STA1 places the to-be-sent data packet containing <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2> in the sending buffer area corresponding to <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2>.

[0227] The descriptions of other fields can be referred to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0228] S1902, encapsulate MPDU_1 into MSDU.

[0229] For example, STA1 can obtain the communication quality of the relay link between STA1 and STA2. In the link switching embodiment, STA1 can determine whether to switch the communication link according to the communication quality of the two links. For example, when the communication quality of the direct link is higher than that of the relay link, and the difference is greater than a preset threshold (which can be set according to actual needs, and the present application is not limited), STA1 can determine to transmit the data packet on the direct link, that is, to send MPDU_1 to STA2 through the direct link. If the communication quality of the relay link is higher than that of the direct link, and the difference is greater than the preset threshold, STA1 can determine to switch to the relay link for transmission, that is, to perform the encapsulation steps of S1902 and S1903 on MPDU_1, and to send the encapsulated data packet to STA2 through the relay link.

[0230] For example, if the STA1 and STA2 in the communication system are MLD devices, link aggregation can be performed through the direct link and the relay link to increase the transmission throughput, then STA1 can transmit MPDU_1 on the direct link, and perform the encapsulation steps of S1902 and S1903 on MPDU_1 (of course, another MPDU can also be used), and send the encapsulated data packet to STA2 through the relay link.

[0231] Specifically, still referring to FIG. 18, STA1 encapsulates MPDU_1 into MSDU. The MSDU frame includes, but is not limited to, a Logical Link Control (LLC) field, a Sub-Network Access Protocol (SNAP) field, a Payload Type field and a Payload field.

[0232] For example, MPDU_1 is encapsulated into the Payload field of the MSDU.

[0233] For example, the SNAP field includes, but is not limited to, a Vendor Code field and an Ether Type field.

[0234] In the embodiment of the present application, STA1 can set the Ether Type field to 89-0d, which is used to indicate that the Payload field of the MSDU encapsulates the direct link MPDU. Of course, other type values can also be set, which are not limited in the present application.

[0235] S1903, encapsulate the MSDU into MPDU_2.

[0236] For example, STA1 constructs MPDU_2 according to the encapsulation structure of the relay link transmission. Specifically, STA1 encapsulates the MSDU into the frame body field of MPDU_2.

[0237] Still referring to FIG. 18, the Address1 field of MPDU_2 is set to the receiving end address, i.e. the address of the AP, for example, the BSSID of the AP. The Address2 field is set to the sending end address, i.e. the address of STA1. The Address3 field is set to the receiving end address, i.e. the address of STA2.

[0238] For example, the SN (denoted as SN_2) carried in the Sequence Control field is allocated based on TID_STA1-AP. As described above, the TID is used to indicate the BA session, and in this example, TID_STA1-AP is used to indicate the BA session established on the relay link with STA1 as the initiator and the AP as the responder.

[0239] It can be understood that the TID_STA1-AP at the STA1 end is associated with (or corresponds to) a counter, a sending buffer area, and an SNS (for example, SNS2 in FIG. 17). The SN_2 can be allocated according to the count value of the counter corresponding to the TID_STA1-AP. The STA1 can place a data packet containing the TID_STA1-AP in the sending buffer area. The SNS2 is indexed or identified by <AP address, TID_STA1-AP>.

[0240] The STA1 sends the MPDU_2 to the AP. The AP receives the MPDU_2 and forwards the MPDU_2. Specifically, the AP finds the corresponding buffer area (or buffer queue) based on the TID carried in the MPDU_2, and places the MPDU_2 in the buffer area based on the SN_2 carried in the MPDU_2, so as to process and forward the data packet in the order in the buffer area. The specific processing manner can refer to the prior art, and will not be limited in the present application.

[0241] For example, the AP re-encapsulates the MPDU_2 to obtain the MPDU_3. The structure in the re-encapsulated MPDU_3 can still refer to FIG. 18 (the MPDU_2 in FIG. 18 can be regarded as the MPDU_3). The Address1 field of the MPDU_3 is set as the address of the receiving end, that is, the address of the STA2. The Address2 field is set as the address of the sending end, for example, the BSSID of the AP. The Address3 field is set as the source address, that is, the address of the STA1.

[0242] For example, the SN (denoted as SN_3) carried in the Sequence Control field of the MPDU_3 is allocated based on the TID_AP-STA2. As described above, the TID is used to indicate a BA session. In this example, the TID_AP-STA2 is used to indicate a BA session in which the AP is the initiator and the STA2 is the responder on the relay link.

[0243] It can be understood that the TID_AP-STA2 at the AP end is associated with (or corresponds to) a counter, a sending buffer area, and an SNS (for example, SNS3 in FIG. 17). The SN can be allocated according to the count value of the counter corresponding to the TID_AP-STA2. The AP can place a data packet containing the TID_AP-STA2 in the sending buffer area. The SNS3 is indexed or identified by <STA2 address, TID_AP-STA2>.

[0244] The AP sends MPDU_3 to STA2 through the relay link. STA2 receives MPDU_3 from the AP. Specifically, the MAC layer in STA2 parses MPDU_3. STA2 finds the corresponding reordering buffer area (or reordering buffer queue, reordering buffer space, etc., which are not limited in the present application) and the corresponding score board based on the TID_AP-STA2 in MPDU_3. STA2 places MPDU_3 in the buffer queue and records the data packet reception through the score board, the specific description can be referred to the above or prior art embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0245] STA2 outputs each data packet in the reordering buffer area corresponding to SNS3 to the LLC layer of the upper layer in the order of SN. Still taking MPDU_3 as an example. STA2 delivers MSDU to the upper LLC layer after decapsulating MPDU_3 in the order of SN.

[0246] The LLC layer parses MSDU, and the LLC layer reads the Ethernet field of MSDU as 89-0d and a new Payload Type, determines that the MPDU of the direct link is encapsulated in MSDU. The LLC layer decapsulates MSDU to obtain MPDU_1, and returns MPDU_1 to the MAC layer for receiving processing.

[0247] The MAC layer can find the corresponding reordering buffer space and score board based on the TID_STA1-STA2 and the transceiving address carried in MPDU_1. The reordering buffer area and the score board are the reordering buffer area and the score board corresponding to the BA session of the direct link. That is, by encapsulating the data packet carrying the TID and SN of the direct link into the data packet of the relay link, the receiving end can transmit the data packet originally belonging to the direct link through the direct link, thereby avoiding data packet disorder.

[0248] For example, STA2 can deliver data packets to the upper layer in the order of SN numbers in the reordering buffer area from small to large.

[0249] In the embodiments of the present application, STA1 can also transmit management frames or control frames originally transmitted on the direct link through the relay link. Specifically, STA1 encapsulates the management frames or control frames encapsulated according to the direct link into MPDU (i.e., data frame) conforming to the encapsulation format of the relay link for transmission, that is, the management frames or control frames of the direct link are transmitted through the data frame of the relay link.

[0250] The management frames or control frames include but are not limited to BAR frames, BA frames, and measurement request frames, measurement response frames, etc., which are not limited in the present application.

[0251] In one example, as described in FIG. 7, after STA1 sends the data packet, STA1 can send a BA frame to STA2 through the relay link (of course, it can also be a direct link, which will not be repeated hereinafter) to request STA2 to feed back the reception status of the data packet sent by STA1 to STA2, which can be understood as MPDU_1.

[0252] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure, please refer to FIG. 20, STA1 encapsulates the BAR frame into the data frame of the relay link, specifically, the frame body field of the MPDU. As shown in FIG. 20, the Type field in the Frame Control field of the MPDU can take the value of 00, which is used to indicate that the MPDU is a management frame, of course, the field can also take the value of 01, which is used to indicate a control frame. The description of each field of the MPDU can refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0253] Still referring to FIG. 21, the BAR frame includes but is not limited to: Category field, Action field, Dialog Token field, Block Ack Request Control (BAR Control) field, Block Ack Request Information (BAR information) field.

[0254] Optionally, the Category field, the Action field and the Dialog Token field can be used to indicate that the data frame encapsulated in the frame body is a BAR frame.

[0255] In this example, the information carried in the BAR frame (and the BA frame) is all information associated with the BA session on the direct link between STA1 and STA2, so that STA1 can send the BAR frame to STA2 through the relay link to confirm whether the data packet of the BA session on the direct link is successfully received. Wherein, the data packet of the BA session on the direct link can be sent through the direct link, or can be sent through the relay link, which is not limited by the present application.

[0256] In another example, STA2 can send a BA frame to STA1 through the relay link to feed back whether the data packet is correctly received.

[0257] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure, please refer to FIG. 21, STA1 encapsulates the BA frame into the data frame of the relay link, specifically, the frame body field of the MPDU. As shown in FIG. 21, the Type field in the Frame Control field of the MPDU can take the value of 00, which is used to indicate that the MPDU is a management frame, of course, the field can also take the value of 01, which is used to indicate a control frame. The description of each field of the MPDU can refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0258] Still referring to FIG. 21, the BA frame includes, but is not limited to, a Category field, an Action field, a Dialog Token field, a Block Ack Request Control (BA Control) field, and a Block Ack Request Information (BA information) field.

[0259] Optionally, the Category field, the Action field, and the Dialog Token field can be used to indicate that the data frame encapsulated in the frame body is a BA frame.

[0260] In yet another example, STA1 or STA2 can send a Relay Link Measurement Request frame (may be referred to as a measurement request frame for short) or a Relay Link Measurement Response frame (may be referred to as a measurement response frame for short) to the opposite end through the relay link to obtain the communication quality of the link (including the relay link and / or the direct link) between the opposite end and the AP. Optionally, the measurement request frame and the measurement response frame can carry the measured communication quality of the link between the opposite end and the AP. For example, STA1 sends a measurement request frame to STA2 (may be encapsulated into a data frame and sent through the relay link, or directly sent through the direct link), which can include the measured communication quality of the relay link between STA1 and the AP and / or the direct link quality between STA1 and STA2. STA2 responds to the received measurement request frame, measures the link (including the relay link and / or the direct link) to obtain the communication quality of the relay link between STA2 and the AP and / or the direct link quality between STA1 and STA2. STA2 sends a measurement response frame to STA1, which carries the communication quality of the relay link between STA2 and the AP and / or the direct link quality between STA1 and STA2. The communication quality can be a parameter such as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication), which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the intermediate link between the STA and the AP can include the uplink communication quality and / or the downlink communication quality, which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the link can be obtained in the manner of the prior art, which is not described herein again.

[0261] For example, STA1 sends a Relay Link Measurement Request frame to STA2 via a relay link, and STA2 sends a Relay Link Measurement Response frame to STA1 via a relay link, STA1 and STA2 encapsulate the Measurement Request frame and the Measurement Response frame into a data frame for transmission.

[0262] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure, as an example. Referring to FIG. 22, the Measurement Request frame is encapsulated into the frame body of an MPDU, and the Type field in the Frame Control field of the MPDU can be indicated as a management frame or a control frame.

[0263] The Measurement Request frame includes, but is not limited to, a Category field, an Action field, a Dialog Token field, and a Quality field. The Quality field is used to carry the link quality measured by the sending end (i.e., the sending end of the MPDU, for example, STA1).

[0264] Optionally, the Category field, the Action field, and the Dialog Token field can be used to indicate that the data frame encapsulated in the frame body is a Relay Link Measurement Request frame.

[0265] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure, as an example. Referring to FIG. 23, the Measurement Response frame is encapsulated into the frame body of an MPDU, and the Type field in the Frame Control field of the MPDU can be indicated as a management frame or a control frame. The Measurement Request frame includes, but is not limited to, a Category field, an Action field, a Dialog Token field, and a Quality field. The Quality field is used to carry the link quality measured by the sending end (i.e., the sending end of the MPDU, for example, STA2).

[0266] Optionally, the Category field, the Action field, and the Dialog Token field can be used to indicate that the data frame encapsulated in the frame body is a Relay Link Measurement Response frame.

[0267] 2. Communication mode two

[0268] In the embodiments of the present application, STA1 and STA2 are associated (i.e., access) to the same AP, and a direct link is established between STA1 and STA2. The link establishment process can refer to the above, and will not be described here. STA1 and STA2 can establish a common BA session between the direct link and the relay link. The TID and SN corresponding to the common BA session are consistent with those on the direct link, that is, the TID and SN in the data packet sent by STA1 to STA2 through the relay link remain unchanged when the data packet is transmitted on the relay link, and correspond to the TID and SN of the data packet on the direct link.

[0269] FIG. 24 is a flow chart of an exemplary common BA session establishment method. Referring to FIG. 24, the method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0270] S2601, STA1 sends an ADDBA request frame 1 to the AP.

[0271] For example, STA1 generates an ADDBA request frame to initiate the establishment of a BA session with STA2. STA1 is the BA session initiator. STA2 is the BA session responder.

[0272] FIG. 25 is an exemplary ADDBA request frame diagram. Referring to FIG. 25, the ADDBA request frame includes but is not limited to: a frame control (Frame Control) field, a duration (Duration) field, an address 2 field, an address 3 field, a sequence control (Sequence Control) field, a high-throughput control (HT Control) field, a frame body (Frame Body) field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field.

[0273] The frame body (Frame Body) field of the ADDBA request frame includes but is not limited to: a category (Category) field, a block acknowledgment action (Block ACK Action) field, a dialog token (Dialog Token) field, a peer address (Peer Address) field, a block acknowledgment parameter set (Block Ack Parameter Set) field, a block acknowledgment timeout value (Block Ack Timeout Value) field, a block acknowledgment starting sequence control (Block Ack Starting Sequence Control) field, and an additional block acknowledgment extension (ADDBA Extension) field. The descriptions of the fields can refer to the above, and will not be described here.

[0274] The Block Ack Starting Sequence Control field carries a starting (or initial) sequence number, which indicates an initial value of a starting sequence number of a score board of a responding end (i.e., a receiving end).

[0275] The Peer Address field carries an address of a peer device, which is an address of an initiating end or a responding end of the BA session. In this example, the STA1 sends the ADDBA request frame to the AP, and the STA1 is the initiating end, and the STA1 carries an address of the responding end (i.e., the STA2) in the Peer Address field. The descriptions of other fields can be referred to the above, and are not described herein again.

[0276] Still referring to FIG. 25, the Block Ack Parameter Set field includes but is not limited to an Aggregate MAC Service Data Unit (A-MSDU) Supported field, a Block Ack Policy field, a Traffic Identifier (TID) field, and a Buffer Size field.

[0277] The TID field carries a TID corresponding to the BA session of the direct link between the STA1 and the STA2. That is, the TID of the common BA session is the same as the TID of the BA session of the direct link between the STA1 and the STA2.

[0278] The Buffer Size field carries a buffer size indicated by the STA1, for example, Value_1. The descriptions of other fields can be referred to the above, and are not described herein again.

[0279] S2602, the AP sends an ADDBA request frame 2 to the STA2.

[0280] For example, the AP generates the ADDBA request frame 2 based on the received ADDBA request frame. The frame structure of the ADDBA request frame 2 can be referred to FIG. 25. The Peer Address field in the ADDBA request frame 2 carries an address of the initiating end (i.e., the STA1) of the BA session. The Buffer Size field carries a buffer size indicated by the AP, for example, Value_2. The descriptions of other fields can be referred to the above, and are not described herein again.

[0281] In the embodiments of the present application, the AP does not change the information carried by the TID field and the Block Ack Starting Sequence Control field in the process of forwarding the ADDBA request frame. That is, the TID and SN number in the data packet transmitted on the relay link are consistent with those on the direct link. The contents of other fields can be modified according to requirements, which are not limited in the present application.

[0282] S2603, the STA2 sends an ADDBA response frame 1 to the AP.

[0283] For example, the STA2 sends an ADDBA response frame to the AP through the relay link in response to the received ADDBA request frame.

[0284] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ADDBA response frame structure. As shown in FIG. 26, the ADDBA response frame includes but is not limited to a Frame Control field, a Duration field, an Address 2 field, an Address 3 field, a Sequence Control field, an HT Control field, a Frame Body field, and a frame check sequence (FCS) field.

[0285] The Frame Body field of the ADDBA response frame includes but is not limited to a Category field, a Block ACK Action field, a Dialog Token field, a Peer Address field, a Status Code field, a Block Ack Parameter Set field, a Block Ack Timeout Value field, and an ADDBA Extension field. The descriptions of the fields can be referred to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0286] The Peer Address field carries the address of the peer device, i.e., the address of the initiator or the responder of the BA session. In this example, the STA2 sends an ADDBA response frame to the AP, and the STA2 is the responder, so the address carried in the Peer Address field of the STA2 is the address of the initiator (STA1). The descriptions of other fields can be referred to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0287] Still referring to FIG. 26, the Block Ack Parameter Set field includes but is not limited to: an Aggregate MAC Service Data Unit Supported (A-MSDU Supported) field, a Block Ack Policy field, a Traffic Identifier (TID) field, and a Buffer Size field.

[0288] The TID field carries the TID corresponding to the BA session of the direct link between STA1 and STA2. That is, the TID of the common BA session is the same as the TID of the BA session of the direct link between STA1 and STA2.

[0289] The Buffer Size field carries the buffer size indicated by STA2, for example, Value_3. The descriptions of other fields can refer to the foregoing and will not be repeated here.

[0290] S2604, the AP sends an ADDBA response frame 2 to STA1.

[0291] For example, the AP generates the ADDBA response frame 2 based on the request frame in response to receiving the ADDBA response frame. The frame structure can refer to FIG. 26. The Peer Address field in the ADDBA response frame 2 carries the address of the responding end of the BA session, that is, STA2. The Buffer Size field carries the buffer size indicated by the AP, for example, Value_4. The descriptions of other fields can refer to the foregoing and will not be repeated here.

[0292] In the embodiment of the present application, the AP does not change the information carried by the TID field in the process of forwarding the ADDBA response frame.

[0293] After the public BA session is successfully established, STA1 and STA2 can transmit data on the relay link based on the public BA session. For STA1, it only needs to maintain a set of independent SNS space. That is, the data packets sent by STA1 to STA2 through the relay link and / or the data packets sent by STA1 to STA2 through the direct link can be maintained using a set of independent SNS space (also including counters, sending buffer, etc.), which is indexed and identified using <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2>. Wherein, the TID_STA1-STA2 is the TID corresponding to the BA session established by STA1 as the initiator and STA2 as the responder on the direct link, and can also be understood as the TID corresponding to the public BA session established by STA1 as the initiator and STA2 as the responder on the relay link.

[0294] For example, STA1 sends data packets to STA2 on the direct link, which includes TID_STA1-STA2 and SN_1, wherein SN_1 is allocated by STA1 based on <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2>. STA2 receives the data packets, queries the corresponding reordering buffer space and score board based on TID_STA1-STA2, and can process the data packets according to the order of SN_1 in the queue.

[0295] Then, STA2 sends data packets to STA2 on the relay link, which includes TID_STA1-STA2 and SN_2, wherein SN_2 is allocated by STA1 based on <STA2 address, TID_STA1-STA2>. For example, SN_2 and SN_1 are consecutive sequence numbers.

[0296] The AP receives the data packet, re-encapsulates and forwards the data packet, and the TID_STA1-STA2 in the data packet forwarded by the AP remains unchanged, i.e., the SN number is still SN_2. Specifically, the AP can maintain a separate score board, reordering buffer area and corresponding sending buffer area based on. The AP determines, based on the address information in the data packet, that the sending end of the data packet is STA1 and the receiving end is STA2, and the TID is the TID corresponding to the common BA, and then the AP can determine, based on, that the data packet is a data packet of the common BA session of STA1 and STA2 over the relay link. For this type of data packet, the AP will not change the TID and SN in the data packet. Specifically, the AP finds the corresponding score board and reordering buffer area based on. The AP processes the data packet in order according to SN_2 in the data packet. Then, the AP places the re-encapsulated data packet in the corresponding sending buffer area. The data packet is sent in order according to SN_2 in the data packet. That is, in the data packet forwarding process, the AP will not change the TID and SN in the data packet. Alternatively, for data packets with a destination address of STA2 and a sending address other than STA1, or a sending address of STA1 and a destination address other than STA2, the AP can determine, based on the sending address, the receiving address and the TID, that the data packet is not a data packet of the common BA session, and then the AP can forward the data packet based on the process in the prior art, including re-encapsulating the TID and the SN.

[0297] The STA2 receives the data packet sent by the AP. The STA2 can determine, based on the TID in the data packet, that the data packet is a data packet of the common BA session, and perform the same processing (or part of the same processing) as the data packet over the direct link on the data packet, for example, place the data packet in the reordering buffer area corresponding to TID_STA1-STA2, and submit the data to the upper layer in order of the SN number in the data packet from small to large. For example, the reordering buffer area currently includes data packets with SN_1 and data packets with SN_2, and the STA2 submits the data to the upper layer in order of the SN number from small to large for the data packets received over the direct link and the data packets received over the relay link.

[0298] In a possible implementation, similarly to the scenario described above, the STA1 can also obtain the reception status of the data packet of the STA2 over the relay link, i.e., the STA1 can send a BAR frame to the STA2 over the common BA session of the relay link, and the STA2 can feed back a BA frame to the STA1 over the link. In this example, both the BAR frame and the BA frame include a Peer Address field, which carries the address of the opposite end.

[0299] Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram of BAR / BA frame interaction, which specifically includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0300] S2901, STA1 sends BAR frame 1 to AP.

[0301] Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram of BAR frame structure, which specifically includes but is not limited to the following fields: Frame Control, Duration, Address 1, Address 2, Address 3, Sequence Control, HT Control, CCMP Header, Frame Body, MIC, and FCS.

[0302] The Frame Body field includes but is not limited to the following fields: Category, Action, Dialog Token, Peer Address, BAR Control, and BAR Information.

[0303] The Peer Address field carries the peer address. Alternatively, this field can also be referred to as the AID field, which carries the peer AID.

[0304] In this example, the Peer Address field in the BAR frame 1 sent by STA1 carries the address of the peer (i.e., the responding end), which is the address of STA2. Of course, it can also be the AID of STA2.

[0305] S2902, AP sends BAR frame 2 to STA2.

[0306] For example, after receiving the BAR frame 1, the AP re-encapsulates the BAR frame 1 to obtain the BAR frame 2, the structure of which is shown in Fig. 28. The Peer Address field in the BAR frame 2 re-encapsulated by the AP carries the address of the peer (i.e., the sending end), which is the address of STA1. Of course, it can also be the AID of STA1.

[0307] S2903, STA2 sends BA frame 1 to AP.

[0308] Exemplarily, STA2 sends BA frame 1 to the AP in response to receiving BAR frame 2.

[0309] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a BAR frame, which includes but is not limited to: Frame Control, Duration, Address 1, Address 2, Address 3, Sequence Control, HT Control, CCMP Header, Frame Body, MIC, and FCS, etc.

[0310] The Frame Body field includes but is not limited to: Category, Action, Dialog Token, Peer Address, BA Control, and BA Information, etc.

[0311] The Peer Address field carries a peer address. Alternatively, the field can also be referred to as an association identifier (AID) field, which is used to carry a peer AID.

[0312] In this example, the Peer Address field in the BA frame 1 sent by STA2 carries a peer address (i.e., the initiator of the BA session), which is the address of STA1. Of course, it can also be the AID of STA1.

[0313] S2904, the AP sends BA frame 2 to STA1.

[0314] Exemplarily, the AP receives BA frame 1, encapsulates BA frame 1 again to obtain BA frame 2, and the structure of BA frame 2 is as shown in FIG. 29. The Peer Address field in the BA frame 2 encapsulated by the AP carries a peer address (i.e., the responder of the BA session), which is the address of STA2. Of course, it can also be the AID of STA2.

[0315] STA1 receives BA frame 1, and can determine whether the data packet is correctly received based on BA frame 1.

[0316] In another possible implementation, similar to the scenario above, STA1 can also acquire the communication quality of the link of STA2 (including the relay link and / or the direct link) through the relay link, i.e., STA1 can send a Relay Link Measurement Request frame to STA2 through the common BA session of the relay link, and STA2 can feed back a Relay Link Measurement Response frame to STA1 through the link. In this example, both the Relay Link Measurement Request frame and the Relay Link Measurement Response frame include a Peer Address field, which carries the peer address.

[0317] In this example, the information carried in the BAR frame (and the BA frame) is information associated with the BA session (which can also be understood as the common BA session) on the direct link between STA1 and STA2, so that STA1 can send the BAR frame to STA2 through the relay link to confirm whether the data packet of the BA session of the direct link is successfully received. The data packet of the BA session of the direct link can be sent through the direct link or through the relay link, which is not limited in the present application.

[0318] FIG. 30 is an exemplary Relay Link Measurement Request / Response frame interaction diagram, which is described with reference to FIG. 3, and includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0319] S3201, STA1 sends a Relay Link Measurement Request frame 1 to the AP.

[0320] FIG. 31 is an exemplary Relay Link Measurement Request frame structure diagram, which is described with reference to FIG. 31, and includes but is not limited to the following fields: Frame Control, Duration, Address 1, Address 2, Address 3, Sequence Control, HT Control, CCMP Header, Frame Body, MIC, and FCS.

[0321] The Frame Body field includes but is not limited to a Category field, an Action field, a Dialog Token field, a Peer Address field, and a Communication Quality field.

[0322] The Peer Address field carries a peer address. Alternatively, the field can also be referred to as an association identifier (AID) field, which is used to carry a peer AID.

[0323] In this example, the Peer Address field in the Relay Link Measurement Request frame 1 sent by the STA 1 carries the address of the peer (i.e., the responding end), which is the address of the STA 2. Of course, it can also be the AID of the STA 2.

[0324] The Communication Quality field is used to carry the link communication quality measured by the sending end (i.e., the sending end of the measurement request frame, for example, the STA 1), for example, the communication quality of the relay link between the STA 1 and the AP. The communication quality of the intermediate link between the STA and the AP can include the communication quality of the uplink and / or the communication quality of the downlink, which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the link can be obtained in the manner of the prior art, which will not be described herein.

[0325] S3202, the AP sends a Relay Link Measurement Request frame 2 to the STA 2.

[0326] For example, the AP receives the Relay Link Measurement Request frame 1, re-encapsulates the Relay Link Measurement Request frame 1 to obtain the Relay Link Measurement Request frame 2, the structure of which is shown in FIG. 31. The Peer Address field in the BAR frame 2 re-encapsulated by the AP carries the address of the peer (i.e., the sending end), which is the address of the STA 1. Of course, it can also be the AID of the STA 1.

[0327] S3203, the STA 2 sends a Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1 to the AP.

[0328] For example, STA2 can obtain the communication quality of the relay link between STA2 and AP. Optionally, the communication quality of the direct link can also be obtained. The communication quality can be a parameter such as RSSI, which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the intermediate link between STA and AP can include the communication quality of the uplink and / or the communication quality of the downlink, which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the link can be obtained by referring to the prior art embodiments, which will not be described herein.

[0329] STA2 sends the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1 to AP. The encapsulation structure of the Relay Link Measurement Response frame can refer to FIG. 31, which will not be described herein.

[0330] In the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1, the peer address carried in the Peer Address field can be an address of the peer. Optionally, the field can also be referred to as an association identifier (AID) field, which is used to carry the AID of the peer.

[0331] In this example, the peer address (i.e. the initiator of the BA session) carried in the Peer Address field in the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1 sent by STA1 is the address of STA1. Of course, it can also be the AID of STA1.

[0332] The communication quality field is used to carry the communication quality of the link measured by the sending end (i.e. the sending end of the measurement response frame, for example, STA2), for example, the communication quality of the relay link between STA2 and AP. The communication quality of the intermediate link between STA and AP can include the communication quality of the uplink and / or the communication quality of the downlink, which is not limited in the present application. The communication quality of the link can be obtained by referring to the prior art embodiments, which will not be described herein.

[0333] S3204, AP sends the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 2 to STA1.

[0334] For example, the AP receives the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1, re-encapsulates the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 1 to obtain a Relay Link Measurement Response frame 2, and the structure of the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 2 is shown in FIG. 29. In the Relay Link Measurement Response frame 2 re-encapsulated by the AP, the Peer Address field carries the address of the peer (i.e., the responding end of the BA session), which is the address of the STA2. Of course, it can also be the AID of the STA2.

[0335] In the two implementation manners (transparent to the AP and non-transparent to the AP) in the embodiments of the present application, the STA1 and the STA2 can freely switch between the relay link and the direct link. For example, after the direct link is disconnected, the STA1 can continue to send the data packets of the direct link through the relay link, so that the STA2 can receive the data packets corresponding to the direct link from the relay link. After the direct link is restored, the STA1 can switch to the direct link to continue transmission. In this example, the data packets received by the STA2 always correspond to the direct link, and the SN numbers of each data packet are continuous. In addition, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application can also realize simultaneous transmission of data packets by the STA1 and the STA2 on the relay link and the direct link, that is, link aggregation transmission of the relay link and the direct link. For example, in this example, the STA1 can transmit the same data packet through the two links, which improves the stability of data packet transmission (i.e., avoids packet loss) while not affecting the data transmission efficiency of the direct link.

[0336] In summary, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method transparent to the AP, and also provide a communication method non-transparent to the AP. The transparent to the AP can be understood as that the AP still forwards the data packets according to the flow in the existing protocol, that is, the AP does not perceive the operations of each end of the direct link. The non-transparent to the AP can be understood as that the AP forwards the data packets according to the manner in the embodiments of the present application, that is, the AP needs to support additional functions.

[0337] In a possible implementation, the AP receives the Relay Link Measurement Request frame sent by the STA1, and determines, based on the address of the STA2 carried in the Peer Address field in the Relay Link Measurement Request frame, that the STA1 requests feedback of the communication quality of the relay link between the AP and the STA2. The AP can obtain the communication quality of the relay link between the AP and the STA2 (the obtaining manner can refer to the prior art, which is not described here again). The AP sends the Relay Link Measurement Response frame to the STA1, the address of the STA2 is carried in the Peer Address field in the Relay Link Measurement Response frame, and the communication quality measurement result measured by the AP is carried in the communication quality field.

[0338] In a possible implementation, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to another relay scenario. As shown in FIG. 32, a STA establishes a communication link with an AP1 and an AP2. The AP1 can directly interact with the STA, and the AP1 can also interact with the STA through a backhaul link STA and the AP2. The backhaul link STA and the AP2 belong to one relay device. When the AP1 interacts with the STA through the link corresponding to the STA and the AP2, the scheme in the above embodiments can be used. That is, the AP1 corresponds to the STA1 (or the STA2) in the above embodiments, the backhaul link STA and the AP2 correspond to the AP in the above embodiments, and the STA corresponds to the STA2 (or the STA1) in the above embodiments.

[0339] The above mainly introduces the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of interaction between various network elements. It can be understood that the communication device includes a hardware structure and / or a software module corresponding to the execution of each function in order to realize the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed in the present text can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solutions. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0340] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method examples. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, another division manner can be used.

[0341] FIG. 33 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device, which is applied to a first device, the first device connects a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a sending module 3301 configured to send a first data packet to the second device through the second communication link. The first data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the second communication link, the first data packet encapsulates a second data packet, and the second data packet conforms to an encapsulation structure corresponding to the first communication link.

[0342] FIG. 34 is a structural schematic diagram of another communication device, which is applied to an access point device, a first device connects a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and the access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a receiving module 3401 configured to receive a first data packet sent by the first device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first traffic identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID. A processing module 3402 is configured to generate a second data packet based on the first data packet; the second data packet includes the first TID and the first SN. A sending module 3403 is configured to send the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link.

[0343] FIG. 35 is a structural diagram of another communication device, which is applied to a first device, the first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a sending module 3501 configured to send a first data packet to the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first communication identifier TID and a first sequence number SN, the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0344] FIG. 36 is a structural diagram of another communication device, which is applied to a second device, the first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the device includes a receiving module configured to receive a first data packet sent by the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first communication identifier TID and a first sequence number SN, the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

[0345] Wherein, all the related content of each step involved in the above method embodiments can be cited to the function description of the corresponding function module, which will not be repeated here.

[0346] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, the computer program includes at least one code, the at least one code can be executed by the communication device to control the communication device to realize the above method embodiments.

[0347] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, when the computer program is executed by the communication device, to realize the above method embodiments.

[0348] The program can be stored in a storage medium packaged with the processor, or partially or entirely stored in a storage medium not packaged with the processor.

[0349] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a processor, which is used to realize the above method embodiments. The processor can be a chip.

[0350] The steps of methods or algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium can be located in a remote terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also be located in a server that is in communication with a remote terminal. The processor can execute software modules stored in a storage medium that can reside in the remote terminal, an ASIC or a server. Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the mechanisms described herein, while possibly characterized as software, can be implemented in hardware.

[0351] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the functions described in one or more examples above can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

[0352] The term "and / or", merely describes association between associated objects, indicates that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, can indicate: A exists alone, A and B exist together, B exists alone.

[0353] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification and claims of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, and are not used to describe a specific order of the objects. For example, the first target object and the second target object are used to distinguish different target objects, and are not used to describe a specific order of the target objects.

[0354] In the embodiments of the present application, the word "exemplary" or "for example" is used to mean "an example of" or "an example, not necessarily the only example". Any embodiment or design solution described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or design solutions. In fact, the word "exemplary" or "for example" is used to present concepts in a particular manner, but not to refer to a specific embodiment or design solution as more preferred or superior to other embodiments or design solutions.

[0355] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more unless otherwise specified. For example, a plurality of processing units means two or more processing units; a plurality of systems means two or more systems.

[0356] The embodiments of the present application are described above in connection with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative, but not restrictive, and those skilled in the art can make many forms under the inspiration of the present application without departing from the scope of the present application and the scope of protection of the claims, which all belong to the protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: A first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method comprises: The first device sends a first data packet to the second device through the second communication link; The first data packet conforms to a packaging structure corresponding to the second communication link, the first data packet encapsulates a second data packet, and the second data packet conforms to a packaging structure corresponding to the first communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: The first data packet includes a first traffic identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the second communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID; The second data packet includes a second TID and a second SN, the second TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the second SN is allocated based on the second TID.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first data packet encapsulates a third data packet, and the third data packet encapsulates the second data packet; The first data packet is a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) data packet, the second data packet is a MAC PDU data packet, and the third data packet is a MAC service data unit (MSDU) data packet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The third data packet includes an Ethernet type field, and the Ethernet type field includes indication information indicating that the third data packet encapsulates the second data packet.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The indication information is 89-0d.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The second data packet is a data frame, and a frame body of the second data packet carries data information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, The second data packet is a block acknowledgement request (BAR) frame or a block acknowledgement (BA) frame, the BAR frame is used to request feedback of whether a data packet is correctly received, and the BA frame is used to indicate whether a data packet is correctly received.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The second data packet is a direct link measurement request frame or a direct link measurement response frame, the direct link measurement request frame is used to request feedback of a communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link, and the direct link measurement response frame is used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the first communication link and / or the second communication link.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein, The method further comprises: The first device sends a fourth data packet to the second device through the first communication link; The fourth data packet conforms to a packaging structure corresponding to the first communication link.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The fourth data packet includes the first TID and a third SN, and the third SN is allocated based on the first TID.

11. A communication method, comprising: A first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method comprises: The access point device receives a first data packet sent by the first device through the second communication link; the first data packet comprises a first communication identifier TID and a first sequence number SN, the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID; The access point device generates a second data packet based on the first data packet; the first TID and the first SN are included in the second data packet; The access point device sends the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first data packet further comprises first address information and second address information, the first address information is used to indicate that the sending end of the first data packet is the first device, and the second address information is used to indicate that the receiving end of the first data packet is the second device; The access point device sends the second data packet to the second device through the second communication link, comprising: The access point device finds a target buffer queue based on the first address information, the second address information and the first TID; The access point device places the second data packet in the target buffer queue; The access point device sends the second data packet on the second communication link in the order of SN in the data packet in the target buffer queue.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first data packet is an ADDBA request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used to request to establish a block acknowledgement BA session, the first data packet comprises first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate that the response end of the BA session is the second device; the BA session corresponds to the first TID; The second data packet is the ADDBA request frame, and the second data packet comprises second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate that the initiation end of the BA session is the first device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The method further comprises: The access point device receives a first ADDBA response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link; The access point device sends a second ADDBA response frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first ADDBA response frame; the first ADDBA frame and the second ADDBA response frame are used to respond to establish the BA session.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The first ADDBA response frame comprises the first TID and the second identification information; the second ADDBA response frame comprises the first TID and the first identification information.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein, The method further comprises: The access point device receives a first block acknowledgement request BAR frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first BAR frame is used to request to feed back whether the data packet of the BA session is correctly received, and the first BAR frame comprises the first identification information; The access point device sends a second BAR frame to the second device through the second communication link based on the first BAR frame, the second BAR frame is used to request to feed back whether the data packet of the BA session is correctly received, and the second BAR frame comprises the second identification information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The method further comprises: The access point device receives a first block acknowledgement (BA) frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packet of the BA session is correctly received, and the first BA frame comprising the second identification information; The access point device sends a second BA frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first BA frame, the second BA frame being used to indicate whether the data packet of the BA session is correctly received, and the second BA frame comprising the first identification information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The first BAR frame, the second BAR frame, the first BA frame, and the second BA frame comprise the first TID.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein, The method further comprises: The access point device receives a first relay link measurement request frame sent by the first device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback of the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first relay link measurement request frame comprising the first identification information; The access point device sends a second relay link measurement request frame to the second device through the second communication link based on the first relay link measurement request frame, the second relay link measurement request frame being used to request feedback of the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second relay link measurement request frame comprising the second identification information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The method further comprises: The access point device receives a first relay link measurement response frame sent by the second device through the second communication link, the first relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the first relay link measurement response frame comprising the second identification information; The access point device sends a second relay link measurement response frame to the first device through the second communication link based on the first relay link measurement response frame, the second relay link measurement response frame being used to indicate the communication quality measurement result of the second communication link, and the second relay link measurement response frame comprising the first identification information.

21. A method of communication, comprising: A first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link comprises a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method comprises: The first device sends a first data packet to the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet comprises a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The first data packet is an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used to request to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, the ADDBA request frame includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to indicate that a responding end of the BA session is the second device, and the BA session corresponds to the first TID.

23. A method of communication, comprising: A first device is connected with a second device through a first communication link and a second communication link, the first communication link is a direct link between the first device and the second device, and the second communication link includes a communication link established between the first device and an access point device and a communication link established between the second device and the access point device; the method includes: The second device receives a first data packet from the first device forwarded by the access point device through the second communication link; the first data packet includes a first communication identifier (TID) and a first sequence number (SN), the first TID corresponds to the first communication link, and the first SN is allocated based on the first TID.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, The first data packet is an add block acknowledgement (ADDBA) request frame, the ADDBA request frame is used to request to establish a block acknowledgement (BA) session, the ADDBA request frame includes second identification information, the second identification information is used to indicate that an initiating end of the BA session is the first device, and the BA session corresponds to the first TID.

25. A communications device, characterized by The processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10, or perform the method of any one of claims 11-20, or perform the method of claims 21-22, or perform the method of claims 23-24.

26. A computer storage medium, comprising, The computer instructions, when executed on an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10, or perform the method of any one of claims 11-20, or perform the method of claims 21-22, or perform the method of claims 23-24.

27. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10, or perform the method of any one of claims 11-20, or perform the method of claims 21-22, or perform the method of claims 23-24.

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