Method and device for scheduling in wi-fi communication

Abstract

The present disclosure proposes a method and device by which an access point indicates a specific condition to a station in order to perform a dynamic sub-channel / sub-band operation during Wi-Fi communication. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by an access point in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system comprises the steps of: transmitting, to at least one first station, a frame including dynamic subband operation (DSO)-related information, wherein the DSO-related information includes information related to at least one second station to perform a DSO among the at least one first station; starting a service period (SP) on the basis of the frame; transmitting a trigger frame to the at least one first station; and receiving, from the at least one second station, a response frame on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operation bandwidth channel during the service period, the secondary subchannel being changed on the basis of the DSO-related information.

Description

Method and device for scheduling in Wi-Fi communication

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for Wi-Fi communication between electronic devices.

[0002] Recently, with the advancement of wireless technology, wired networks are being replaced by wireless networks, which are widely used by many people. In other words, since wireless technology can overcome the mobility limitations of wired networks, many technologies utilizing wireless networks are being actively researched.

[0003] A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), also known as Wi-Fi, allows users to access the Internet via mobile devices or laptops within a certain distance from an Access Point (AP). The WiFi Alliance defines WiFi as a wireless local area network (WLAN) product based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. WiFi communication primarily uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. In particular, with the popularization of mobile devices, wireless LANs, which have potential as open wireless networks, are rapidly expanding, and WiFi is being used to provide high-speed data services to entire cities, including schools, airports, hotels, and offices.

[0004] The Internet is evolving from a human-centric network where humans create and consume information to an Internet of Things (IoT) network where information is exchanged and processed between distributed components such as objects. The Internet of Everything (IoE) technology, which combines IoT technology with big data processing technology through connections to cloud servers, is also emerging. To implement the IoT, technological elements such as sensing technology, wired and wireless communication and network infrastructure, service interface technology, and security technology are required. Recently, technologies such as sensor networks for connecting objects, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and machine-type communication (MTC) are being researched.

[0005] In an IoT environment, intelligent IT (Internet Technology) services can be provided that collect and analyze data generated from connected objects, creating new value in human life. IoT, through the convergence and integration of existing IT (information technology) technologies with various industries, can be applied to fields such as smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart or connected cars, smart grids, healthcare, smart appliances, and advanced medical services.

[0006] The present disclosure proposes a method and device for performing dynamic subchannel / subband operation in Wi-Fi communication.

[0007] The present disclosure proposes a method and device for an access point to instruct a station under specific conditions to perform dynamic subchannel / subband operation during Wi-Fi communication.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by an access point in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system includes the steps of: transmitting a frame including dynamic subband operation (DSO) related information to at least one first station, wherein the DSO related information includes information related to at least one second station to perform DSO among the at least one first station; initiating a service period (SP) based on the frame; transmitting a trigger frame to the at least one first station; and receiving a response frame from the at least one second station on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel during the service period, the secondary subchannel being changed based on the DSO related information.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by a station in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system includes the steps of: receiving a frame including dynamic subband operation (DSO) related information from an access point, wherein the DSO related information includes information related to at least one station to perform DSO; determining, based on the information related to at least one station to perform DSO, to switch an operating bandwidth during a service period to a secondary subchannel; switching the operating bandwidth to the secondary subchannel before a service period (SP) based on the frame begins based on the DSO related information; and transmitting, to an access point, a response frame on the secondary subchannel in response to a trigger frame received from the access point.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system, an access point comprises: a transceiver; and one or more processors including processing circuitry; and a memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the access point to: transmit a frame including dynamic subband operation (DSO) related information to at least one first station, the DSO related information including information related to at least one second station among the at least one first station to perform DSO; initiate a service period (SP) based on the frame; transmit a trigger frame to the at least one first station; and cause the at least one second station to receive a response frame on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel during the service period, the secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel changed based on the DSO related information.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system, a station includes a transceiver; one or more processors including processing circuitry; and a memory storing instructions, which, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the station to: receive a frame including dynamic subband operation (DSO) related information from an access point, the DSO related information including information related to at least one station to perform DSO; determine to switch an operating bandwidth during a service period to a secondary subchannel based on the information related to at least one station to perform DSO; switch the operating bandwidth to the secondary subchannel before a service period (SP) based on the frame based on the DSO related information; and transmit a response frame to the access point on the secondary subchannel in response to a trigger frame received from the access point.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device can improve the performance of data transmission by efficiently using radio resources when an access point indicates conditions for a station to perform dynamic subband operation (DSO) during Wi-Fi communication.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2A is a drawing for explaining a short-range communication connection type of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2b is a diagram illustrating the operation of an access point and a station for establishing a Wi-Fi connection according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless communication system including an access point and a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a broadcast TWT (target wakeup time) operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5a, FIG. 5b, FIG. 5c, and FIG. 5d are diagrams for explaining a TWT (target wakeup time) related frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining dynamic subband (subchannel) operation (DSO) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a bandwidth allocation operation in a service period (SP) of a trigger-based broadcast TWT according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of performing a voluntary DSO of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a frame including information related to a DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams illustrating an operation for directing a station to perform DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are diagrams for explaining operations indicating conditions of a station for performing DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an operation of indicating a contention window (DSOCW) value for DSO backoff according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 13a, FIG. 13b, and FIG. 13c are diagrams illustrating operations for indicating a station and a subband for performing DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 14a and FIG. 14b are diagrams for explaining a conditional DSO termination operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 18 is a drawing showing an example configuration of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0033] In describing the embodiments, descriptions of technical details that are well known in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains and are not directly related to the present disclosure will be omitted. This is to more clearly convey the gist of the present disclosure without obscuring it by omitting unnecessary explanations.

[0034] For the same reason, some components in the attached drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted. Furthermore, the dimensions of each component do not entirely reflect its actual size. Identical or corresponding components in each drawing are assigned the same reference numbers.

[0035] The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided only to make the present disclosure complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the disclosure, and the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

[0036] At this time, it will be understood that each block of the processing flowchart drawings and combinations of the flowchart drawings can be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be installed in a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment create a means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s). These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-available or computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement the functions in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-available or computer-readable memory can also produce a manufactured item that includes an instruction means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s).

[0037] Since the computer program instructions may be installed on a computer or other programmable data processing device, a series of operational steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing device to create a computer-executable process, so that the instructions that cause the computer or other programmable data processing device to perform the steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s) may also be able to provide steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s).

[0038] Additionally, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that contains one or more executable instructions for performing a specific logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementation examples, the functions described in the blocks may occur out of order. For example, two blocks depicted in succession may actually be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on their respective functions.

[0039] Here, the term '~ unit' used in the present embodiment means software or hardware components such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and the '~ unit' performs certain roles. However, the '~ unit' is not limited to software or hardware. The '~ unit' may be configured to be on an addressable storage medium and may be configured to play one or more processors. Accordingly, according to some embodiments, the '~ unit' includes components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, processes, functions, properties, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functions provided within the components and '~ units' may be combined into a smaller number of components and '~ units' or further separated into additional components and '~ units'. Additionally, the components and '~parts' may be implemented to activate one or more CPUs within the device or secure multimedia card. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the '~parts' may include one or more processors.

[0040] The term 'terminal' or 'device' used herein may refer to a mobile station (MS), user equipment (UE), user terminal (UT), wireless terminal, access terminal (AT), terminal, subscriber unit (SS), subscriber station (SS), wireless device, wireless communication device, wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), mobile node, mobile, or other terms. Various embodiments of the terminal may include a cellular telephone, a smart phone having a wireless communication function, a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a wireless communication function, a wireless modem, a portable computer having a wireless communication function, a photographing device such as a digital camera having a wireless communication function, a gaming device having a wireless communication function, a music storage and playback home appliance having a wireless communication function, an internet home appliance capable of wireless internet access and browsing, as well as portable units or terminals integrating combinations of such functions. In addition, the terminal may include, but is not limited to, an M2M (Machine to Machine) terminal, an MTC (Machine Type Communication) terminal / device. In this specification, the terminal may also be referred to as an electronic device or simply a device.

[0041] The exemplary embodiments are described below for simplicity only with respect to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems. It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments are equally applicable to other wireless networks (e.g., cellular networks, pico-networks, femto-networks, satellite networks), as well as systems that utilize signals of one or more wired standards or protocols (e.g., Ethernet and / or HomePlug / PLC standards). As used herein, the terms "WLAN" and "Wi-Fi®" may include communications governed by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, BLUETOOTH®, HiperLAN (a set of wireless standards primarily used in Europe and comparable to the IEEE 802.11 standards), and other technologies having a relatively short radio propagation range. Accordingly, the terms "WLAN" and "WiFi" may be used interchangeably herein. Additionally, while described below with respect to an infrastructure WLAN system including one or more Access Points (APs) and a plurality of wireless stations (STAs), the exemplary embodiments are equally applicable to other WLAN systems including, for example, multiple WLANs, peer-to-peer (or independent basic service set) systems, Wi-Fi Direct systems, and / or hotspots.

[0042] Additionally, while the present disclosure describes the exchange of data frames between wireless devices, the exemplary embodiments may be applied to the exchange of any data unit, packet, and / or frame between wireless devices. Thus, the term "frame" may include any frame, packet, or data unit, such as, for example, protocol data units (PDUs), media access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs), and physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDUs). The term "A-MPDU" may mean aggregated MPDUs.

[0043] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, circuits, and processes, to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The term "connected," as used herein, means directly connected or connected via one or more intervening components or circuits. The term "connected access point" refers to an access point with which a given station is currently associated and / or connected (e.g., there is an established communications channel or link between the access point and the given station). Furthermore, in the following description and for purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that such specific details may not be necessary to practice the exemplary embodiments. In other instances, well-known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the present disclosure.

[0044] Certain terms used in the following description are provided to aid in understanding the present disclosure, and the use of such specific terms may be changed to other forms without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

[0045] "PCF (point coordination function) transmission" refers to a transmission method in which the access point directly asks wireless stations for data transmission and puts them on hold for data transmission.

[0046] "DCF (distributed coordination function) transmission" refers to a transmission method in which a wireless station detects and waits in advance to avoid collisions before transmitting data in an environment where multiple wireless stations compete to transmit data.

[0047] The above DCF transmission method is a concept for providing services in a contention period, and can handle waiting time by dividing traffic priorities into IFSs (inter-frame spaces) to request channel use. In other words, priority can be determined by the size of the waiting time, and the shorter the waiting time, the higher the priority packet. The IFS can include SIFS (short IFS), PIFS (PCF IFS), and DIFS (DCF IFS).

[0048] The above "SIFS" can be used for high-priority traffic with the shortest cycle and can be used primarily as a waiting time for control information. The above "PIFS" can be used for medium-priority traffic with a medium-length cycle. The above "DIFS" has a low priority and can be used primarily as a waiting time for channel check. That is, during the DIFS period, the channel can be listened for (or waited for) to be occupied. If the channel is busy during the DIFS period, transmission can be delayed.

[0049] A "TXOP (transmission opportunity)" can refer to an interval of time during which a specific AP or station has the right to initiate a frame exchange sequence over the wireless medium. An AP or station that has acquired a TXOP is called a TXOP holder, and the other party can be called a TXOP responder. A TXOP is typically acquired through contention, and a typical procedure for protecting a TXOP is the exchange of RTS (request to send) / CTS (clear to send) frames.

[0050] The operating principles of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of related known functions or configurations will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined based on the functions of the present disclosure and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0051] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) applicable to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with an electronic device (104) or a server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0052] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0053] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, in the electronic device (101) itself where artificial intelligence is performed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0054] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0055] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0056] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0057] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0058] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0059] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0060] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0061] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0062] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0063] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0064] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0065] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0066] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0067] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi), or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0068] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0069] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0070] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0071] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0072] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0073] FIG. 2A is a drawing for explaining a short-range communication connection type of an electronic device applicable to the present disclosure.

[0074] According to various embodiments, referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) may be connected to an access point (AP) (200) based on a plurality of communication methods based on Wi-Fi. According to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) and a communication module (190) (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1).

[0075] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may receive a communication signal from the outside or transmit a communication signal to the outside based on a Wi-Fi communication method (e.g., IEEE 802.11be). For example, the communication module (190) may operate based on IEEE 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, or 802.11bn among Wi-Fi communication methods, and in particular, IEEE 802.11be or 802.11bn has improved performance by supporting a wider bandwidth, higher data throughput, and shorter delay time compared to IEEE 802.11ax.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may include a transceiver (191) for transmitting and receiving data with an external device and a communication processor (193) (e.g., a communication processor (not shown) or a short-range wireless communication module (e.g., a Wi-Fi chipset)). According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may further include a memory.

[0077] According to various embodiments, the transceiver (191) may convert a baseband transmission signal into a wireless signal or convert a received wireless signal into a baseband reception signal.

[0078] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may further include, in addition to the transceiver (191) and the communication processor (193), components for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), for example, a modulator, a digital-analog converter (D / A converter), a frequency converter, an A / D converter, an amplifier, and / or a demodulator.

[0079] Although not shown, according to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) may be electrically connected to a communication module of the access point (200) and may include at least one antenna module (e.g., antenna module (197) of FIG. 1) that supports a communication protocol and / or frequency band supported by the communication module of the access point (200).

[0080] According to various embodiments, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a communication connection (e.g., the first network (198) of FIG. 1) with the access point (200). For example, the communication connection may include a Wi-Fi network. For example, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a wireless connection with the access point (200) using a 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band wireless local area network (WLAN) standard such as IEEE 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, or 802.11bn. Alternatively, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a wireless connection with the access point (200) using the 60 GHz band WLAN standard of IEEE 802.11ad or 802.11ay.

[0081] According to various embodiments, a method of communicating between an electronic device (101) and an access point (200) using a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard may be referred to as a communication method based on an STA mode.

[0082] According to various embodiments, the processor (120) may include an application processor. The processor (120) may perform a specified operation of the electronic device (101) or control other hardware (e.g., a communication module (190)) to perform a specified operation.

[0083] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may support an operation of transmitting data to an external network and / or an operation of receiving data from an external network by a plurality of electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices (101)) based on a connection between the plurality of electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices (101)) and an external network (e.g., the Internet, an external LAN, or a cellular network).

[0084] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may be a wireless router. The access point (200) may be a dedicated wireless router or a general-purpose device supporting mobile hotspot functionality, and there are no limitations on its implementation. For example, the access point (200) may include the same components as the electronic device (101), such as a processor (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) and / or a communication module (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1)).

[0085] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may transmit and receive data with an external device, such as a server (e.g., server (108) of FIG. 1) or an electronic device (101). For example, the access point (200) may transmit at least a portion of the data received from the server to the electronic device (101). According to various embodiments, the access point (200) and the electronic device (101) may transmit and receive UL (uplink) / DL (downlink) data during an operation period. For example, the access point (200) may transmit traffic to the electronic device (101) only during an operation period set based on schedule information received from the electronic device (101).

[0086] FIG. 2b is a diagram illustrating the operation of an access point and a station for establishing a Wi-Fi connection according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 2B, an access point (210) may be implemented as the access point (200) of FIG. 2A and may communicate with a station (220) based on Wi-Fi. The station (220) may be implemented as the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1 or the electronic device (101) of FIG. 2A. The station (220) may be a terminal (or a terminal having a Wi-Fi interface) that supports Wi-Fi communication according to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0088] A station (220) may transmit (or broadcast) a probe request message to an access point (210) (S201). According to one embodiment, the probe request message may be a message for the station (220) to search for surrounding access points (210). According to one embodiment, the probe request message may include information regarding at least one communication capability supported by the station (220). According to one embodiment, the station (220) may receive a beacon message from the access point (210) and transmit a probe request message to the access point (210) based on information included in the beacon message. The access point (210) may transmit a probe response message (probe response) in response to the probe request message (S202).

[0089] Upon receiving the probe response message, the station (220) may transmit an authentication request message to the access point (210) (S203). The access point (210) may transmit an authentication response message to the station (220) in response to the authentication request message (S204), and the authentication procedure between the access point (210) and the station (220) may be completed. In one embodiment, the authentication procedures of S203 and S204 may be a procedure for selecting and authenticating a channel with the strongest reception strength among messages received during a channel search process. In one embodiment, through the authentication procedures of S203 and S204, the station (220) and the access point (210) may negotiate an encryption method of the authentication procedure.

[0090] Once the authentication procedure is completed, the station (220) may transmit an association request message to the access point (210) to establish a connection to the access point (210) (S205). According to one embodiment, the association request message may include information regarding at least one capability (e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11 standard) to be used for data communication between the station (220) and the access point (210). The access point (210) may generate an association ID (AID) for the station (220) and transmit an association response message to the station (220) (S206).

[0091] FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless communication system including an access point and a station applicable to the present disclosure.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 3, a wireless communication system (300) may include an access point (310), client electronic devices corresponding to stations (330, 332, 334, 336), and a wireless local area network (WLAN) (305).

[0093] A wireless communication system (300) may be formed by an access point (310) that provides a wireless communication channel or link to one or more stations (STAs) (330, 332, 334, 336).

[0094] An access point (310) is assigned a unique media access control (MAC) address. The WLAN (305), which is depicted as a circular shape in FIG. 3, is depicted as an infrastructure basic service set (BSS), which is a basic building block in an IEEE 802.11 system. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the WLAN (305) may be an independent basic service set (IBSS) network or a peer-to-peer (P2P) network (e.g., operating according to Wi-Fi Direct protocols). The circular shape of the WLAN (305) depicted in FIG. 3 may also be understood to represent a coverage area in which stations included in the corresponding BSS maintain communication. This area may be referred to as a basic service area (BSA). When stations (330, 332, 334, 336) move outside the BSA, they cannot communicate directly with access points or other stations within the BSA.

[0095] Stations (330, 332, 334, 336) are devices that operate according to the Medium Access Control (MAC) / PHY specifications of IEEE 802.11. As long as the function of a station is not individually distinguished from an access point, an STA may include an AP STA and a non-AP STA. However, when communication is performed between an STA and an AP, an STA may be understood as a non-AP STA.

[0096] The stations (330, 332, 334, 336) may be any suitable Wi-Fi enabled wireless device or electronic device, including, for example, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet device, a laptop computer, etc. The stations (330, 332, 334, 336) may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, an electronic device, or any other suitable terminology.

[0097] operating bandwidth capability

[0098] Meanwhile, the IEEE 802.11 system defines the operating bandwidth capability of access points and stations. The operating bandwidth represents twice the baseband bandwidth supported by the IEEE 802.11 system (e.g., 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 MHz). The operating bandwidth may include subchannels of a primary bandwidth channel (or primary channel) and a secondary bandwidth channel (or secondary channel) for the baseband bandwidth. In the operating bandwidth used by the access point, the primary channel may refer to a channel including a 20 MHz band through which management frames, such as beacons, are transmitted and received when the access point operates a BSS. In addition, the operating bandwidth may correspond to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) sampling rate, which may be 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 MHz. The operating bandwidth is the maximum bandwidth actually used for packet transmission and reception. Access points and associated stations can use a bandwidth less than or equal to the minimum of this value. If a station transmits and receives packets using a bandwidth smaller than the operating bandwidth, unused subcarriers can be ignored, eliminating the need to adjust the ADC sampling rate to change the baseband bandwidth.

[0099] Typically, non-AP stations may not support the full operating bandwidth supported by the access point. As the maximum supported bandwidth increases, stations may operate at a bandwidth smaller than the maximum supported by the access point. For example, an access point may support up to 320 MHz in an IEEE 802.11be system, while an STA may only support 80 MHz or 160 MHz.

[0100] In the above operation bandwidth, a primary bandwidth channel may refer to a channel in a larger bandwidth that includes a secondary bandwidth channel. In one embodiment, the primary channel may be part of a wide channel that includes a secondary channel. In one embodiment, the primary channel may use the upper half or lower half of the wide channel bandwidth, and the secondary channel may use the remaining half of the wide channel bandwidth. In one embodiment, the bandwidths of the primary bandwidth channel and the secondary bandwidth channel may not be the same. In one embodiment, the secondary channel may have a smaller bandwidth than the primary channel, or the primary channel may have a smaller bandwidth than the secondary channel. In one embodiment, multiple secondary channels may be provided in a wide channel having one primary channel. In one embodiment, a station that only supports an operation bandwidth of a channel bandwidth smaller than the operation bandwidth of the access point (e.g., 20 MHz) may use only the primary channel, while a station that supports wide channel functionality may use both the primary channel and the secondary channel simultaneously. Accordingly, for a station that uses only the primary channel as its operating bandwidth, the access point can convert the operating bandwidth to the secondary channel to receive data on the secondary channel. In one embodiment, the access point may preferentially include the primary channel in signal transmission. That is, the access point may not allow transmissions other than the primary channel at certain times or in certain frames.

[0101] The terms primary and secondary do not imply a specific priority, and in some embodiments, the terms primary and secondary may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, multiple secondary channels (e.g., a first secondary channel, a second secondary channel, a third secondary channel) may be available, such that switching from a primary bandwidth channel to a secondary bandwidth channel may occur via one of the multiple secondary channels. For example, a first station may move from a primary channel to a first secondary channel, and a second station may move from a primary channel to a second secondary channel.

[0102] High-efficiency subchannel selective transmission (SST)

[0103] The IEEE 802.11ax system defines a high-efficiency (HE) subchannel selective transmission (SST) operation. The SST operation can be set through individual target wakeup time (TWT) negotiation between the access point and the station. The TWT operation is an operation in which the access point sets the wakeup time for the station in the dose state by transmitting a TWT-related frame to the station, and can be set individually or by broadcast to the STAs within the BSS. A HE SST non-AP station and a HE SST access point can set the SST operation by negotiating an individual trigger-activated TWT. For example, a TWT channel field consisting of 8 bits (each 20 MHz channel) of a TWT element can be used to indicate a secondary channel in a TWT request / response.

[0104] Additionally, the stations can perform frame exchange during the service period (SP). The HE SST access point can allocate individually addressed resource units (RUs) to HE SST non-AP stations within the subchannel indicated in the TWT channel field of the TWT response. At the start time of the TWT SP, the HE SST non-AP STAs can use the subchannel indicated in the negotiated TWT channel field.

[0105] TWT (target wakeup time) operation

[0106] Hereinafter, the TWT operation used to set the above SST operation is described. The IEEE 802.11ax system defines the TWT operation. The TWT operation is an operation in which the access point sets the wakeup time for a station in a dose state by sending a TWT-related frame to the station, and can be set individually or by broadcast to the STAs within the BSS. In other words, the TWT operation allows the access point to manage activities in the BSS to minimize contention between stations and reduce the time required for a station using a power management mode to remain in a sleep mode. This can operate the TWT by assigning non-overlapping times and / or frequencies for multiple stations within the BSS.

[0107] A HE station can negotiate an individual TWT agreement with an access point. Alternatively, a HE station can establish membership in a broadcast TWT schedule, and the HE access point can transmit a set of TWT parameters to the HE stations with which it has established membership.

[0108] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a broadcast TWT (target wakeup time) operation that can be applied to the present disclosure.

[0109] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a broadcast TWT procedure defined in IEEE 802.11ax that can be applied to the present disclosure, and the contents described in section 27.8.3 of IEEE 802.11ax can be applied.

[0110] FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d are diagrams for explaining frames related to a target wakeup time (TWT) that can be applied to the present disclosure.

[0111] More specifically, FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d are diagrams for explaining a TWT (target wakeup time) related frame including SST (subchannel selective transmission) related information applicable to the present disclosure.

[0112] FIG. 5a is a diagram showing an example of a TWT element format of a management and extension frame in an IEEE 802.11 system applicable to the present disclosure.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 5a, the TWT element format of a management and extension frame in an IEEE 802.11 system may include a TWT Parameter Information field (500). The TWT Parameter Information field (500) may include an Individual TWT parameter set field (shown in FIG. 5b) when the Broadcast field of the Negotiation type subfield included in the Control field (505) is '0'. The TWT Parameter Information field (500) may include at least one broadcast TWT parameter set field when the Broadcast field of the Negotiation type subfield included in the Control field (505) is '1'.

[0114] FIG. 5b is a diagram showing an example of an Individual TWT parameter set field format that can be included in the TWT Parameter Information field (500) illustrated in FIG. 5a, which can be applied to the present disclosure.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 5b, the Individual TWT parameter set field format may include a TWT channel field (510). The TWT channel field (510) may include a bitmap providing a channel that a station is negotiating as a temporary channel during a TWT SP. Each bit of the bitmap corresponds to one of the minimum width channels of the band in which the connected BSS of the TWT responding station is currently operating, and the least significant bit (LSB), i.e., the bit located at the far right of the bitmap, may correspond to the lowest numbered channel among the operating channels of the BSS.

[0116] For example, in a HE BSS, the minimum width channel may be 20 MHz, and setting the position of the bitmap transmitted by a TWT requesting station to 1 may request the use of that channel as a temporary default channel during a TWT SP. Setting the position of the bitmap transmitted by a TWT responding station to 1 may allow the use of that channel as a default channel during a TWT SP.

[0117] FIG. 5c is a diagram showing an example of a Broadcast TWT parameter set field format that can be included in the TWT Parameter Information field (500) illustrated in FIG. 5a, which can be applied to the present disclosure.

[0118] Referring to FIG. 5c, the Broadcast TWT parameter set field may include a Request Type field (520).

[0119] FIG. 5d is a diagram illustrating an example of the format of the Request Type field (520) illustrated in FIG. 5c, which can be applied to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 5d, the Request Type field (520) included in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field format may not include a field for setting a bandwidth or subchannel (e.g., the TWT channel field (510) illustrated in FIG. 5b).

[0120] Meanwhile, the IEEE 802.11be system defines a Restricted TWT (R-TWT) operation that instructs a non-AP EHT station, which is a TXOP holder, to terminate the TXOP before the start time of an active R-TWT SP. The R-TWT SP can be initiated by a trigger-enabled broadcast TWT operation. The access point can transmit R-TWT information to stations within the BSS by including the Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field described in FIG. 5c.

[0121] dynamic subband (subchannel) operation (DSO)

[0122] An access point enabled for network communications (e.g., network communications defined in the IEEE 802.11 system) may utilize dynamic subband / subchannel operation (DSO), also referred to herein as "bandwidth aggregation." Components of the access point (illustrated as access point (200) in FIG. 2A) may be provided as one or more integrated circuits (ICs) within an IC package. The IC package may be a single-chip package or a multi-chip module. The access point may support a maximum operating bandwidth of 320 MHz on a single link. Non-AP stations, such as client devices (illustrated as electronic device (101) in FIG. 2A), may support bandwidths lower than 320 MHz.

[0123] Accordingly, the access point can improve network traffic (e.g., uplink traffic and downlink traffic) from the access point to the stations by utilizing a channel switching protocol. That is, the stations can utilize channels by partitioning them between different portions of the 320 MHz spectrum. The channel switching protocol may include switching between a primary channel and a secondary channel. For example, the access point may enable the station to dynamically switch its operating bandwidth between channels based on actual and / or expected network traffic. It should be understood that the access point switching non-access points between channels under different operating conditions and / or using different protocols, frames, etc. is within the scope of the present disclosure. A station capable of switching from a primary channel to a secondary channel may be referred to as a bandwidth aggregation (BWA) station and / or a DSO station.

[0124] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a dynamic subband (subchannel) operation (DSO) applicable to the present disclosure.

[0125] The access point (600), DSO station (611), and non-DSO station (613) illustrated in FIG. 6 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200, 210), electronic device (101), and station (220) described in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The DSO station (611) and non-DSO station (613) illustrated in FIG. 6 can be stations included in the BSS of the access point (600) as described in FIG. 3.

[0126] The above DSO station (611) may refer to a station that supports the DSO function (and / or the BWA function), and the non-DSO station (613) may refer to a station that does not support the DSO function (and / or the BWA function).

[0127] FIG. 6 illustrates a case where, for example, an access point (600) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz, and stations (611, 613) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth.

[0128] More specifically, a station operating on a link with an access point whose station operating bandwidth is narrower than the access point bandwidth of the link may be configured to switch its operating channel bandwidth between primary and secondary channels of the access point operating bandwidth. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the 320 MHz operating bandwidth of an access point (600) may be divided into a 160 MHz primary (P160) subchannel and a 160 MHz secondary (S160) subchannel. Although FIG. 6 illustrates the division into 160 MHz subchannels, the description of the present disclosure may also be applied to subchannels of other bandwidths. For example, a 160 MHz operating channel may be divided into 4Y40 MHz subchannels, the first of which may be referred to as a primary channel and the other subchannels as secondary channels. In one embodiment, the width of the subchannel may be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz, and the operating bandwidth may be 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz. In any of the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the subchannel may include a wideband wireless access subchannel.

[0129] In one embodiment, an access point may generate a (BWA) TXOP that includes frame exchange between a non-DSO station operating on a secondary subchannel of a particular bandwidth and / or some other station operating on a primary subchannel of a particular bandwidth.

[0130] An access point can dynamically allocate various portions of subchannels within its operating bandwidth to non-AP stations based on at least one of the operating bandwidth capabilities, channel conditions, and QoS requirements within the TXOP. The access point can initiate transmission to a DSO STA after a sufficient delay to allow channel switching. At the end of the TXOP, the DSO STA can switch back to the default channel (e.g., the primary channel). This is described in more detail below.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 6, the access point (600) can transmit a "subband switch" control frame (620) in the P160 subchannel and the S160 subchannel. The subband switch control frame can include a trigger frame. The subband switch control frame can be transmitted in a bandwidth of the entire 320 MHz. The subband switch control frame can include information for instructing DSO stations within a BSS to allocate RUs to them in S160. The subband switch control frame (620) can explicitly indicate which DSO stations among the DSO stations within the BSS will switch to S160. However, indicating which DSO stations will switch channels in the subband switch control frame (620) is not mandatory, and the DSO stations included in the BSS of the access point (600) can voluntarily switch their operating bandwidths to secondary channels based on the subband switch control frame (620). The above subband switch control frame may include sufficient padding to cover the subband (subchannel) switching latency indicated during the association. The subband switching latency may vary depending on the implementation of the non-AP station and may be negotiated during DSO function signaling. The subband switch control frame may initiate a DSO TXOP.

[0132] A DSO station (611) can operate in P160 of at least one link and receive a subband switch control frame when a DSO TXOP starts (621). A non-DSO station (613) can operate in P160 of at least one link and receive a subband switch control frame when a DSO TXOP starts (623). After receiving a subband switch control frame (620) that is the start of a DSO TXOP, the DSO station (611) can switch an operating channel bandwidth from a P160 subchannel to an S160 subchannel. For example, after receiving a subband switch control frame that is the start of a DSO TXOP (step 620), the DSO station (611) can voluntarily switch an operating bandwidth from a P160 subchannel to an S160 subchannel based on resource allocation information included in the subband switch control frame.

[0133] Thereafter, the access point (600) can transmit a second control frame (630) in the P160 subchannel and the S160 subchannel after SIFS after transmitting the subband switch control frame (620). Accordingly, the DSO station (611) can receive the second control frame in the S160 subchannel when switching the operating band from the P160 subchannel to the S160 subchannel (631). The non-DSO station (613) can receive the second control frame in the S160 subchannel (633).

[0134] The second control frame (630) may request the DSO station (611) and the non-DSO station (613) to transmit a response on a subchannel in which continuous communication will occur during the DSO TXOP. That is, the second control frame (630) may be used by the access point (600) to check whether the stations within the BSS have performed DSO and switched subchannels. Accordingly, the DSO station (611) may transmit a response frame (641) to the second control frame (630) on the S160 subchannel. The non-DSO station (613) may transmit a response frame (643) to the second control frame (630) on the S160 subchannel. Accordingly, during the DSO TXOP, the DSO station (611) may remain on the S160 subchannel, and the non-DSO station (613) may remain on the P160 subchannel.

[0135] Thereafter, after the DSO station (611) and the non-DSO station (613) transmit the response frames (641, 643) and after SIFS, the access point (600), the DSO station (611) and / or the non-DSO station (613) can perform DL / UL OFDMA communication in a 320 MHz bandwidth during the DSO TXOP (650). The DSO station (611) can switch back to the P160 subchannel at the end of the DSO TXOP, i.e., after SIFS+delta after performing DL / UL OFDMA communication in a 320 MHz bandwidth (660).

[0136] For the TXOP-based DSO described in Fig. 6, the following may be considered or required.

[0137] - The access point must define the DSO mode and may require a time-consuming negotiation process to exchange its relative capabilities with all DSO stations. (HE SST using individual TWTs may also require a similar process.)

[0138] - The operating bandwidth switching delay of the DSO station must be considered within the TXOP (resulting in resource waste).

[0139] - DSO ICF (initial control frame) may require Intermediate-FCS (frame check sequence) and / or additional padding.

[0140] - Additional frame exchange overhead may be required for DSO ICF.

[0141] - If a DSO STA that has switched its operating bandwidth to a secondary channel switches back to the primary channel at the end of the DSO with TXOP applied, another movement delay may occur.

[0142] - Additional power consumption of the DSO station must be considered due to frequent switching of operating bandwidth.

[0143] - The aperiodic operating bandwidth changes of the DSO station may increase the complexity of channel estimation (i.e., modulation and coding scheme (MCS) selection), MIMO operation (i.e., sound reference rack) or interference management.

[0144] - Race conditions may occur if there is hidden interference outside the operating bandwidth of the DSO station.

[0145] - It may be difficult to meet UL target receive power and carrier frequency offset (CFO) requirements.

[0146] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a service period (SP)-based DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0147] The access point (700) and the first station (711) and the second station (713) illustrated in FIG. 7 can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (711) and the second station (713) illustrated in FIG. 7 may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (700). In addition, the first station (711) and the second station (713) illustrated in FIG. 7 may be DSO-supporting stations.

[0148] FIG. 7 illustrates a case where, for example, an access point (700) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (711, 713) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 7 can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths.

[0149] In one embodiment, a station having an operating bandwidth of 160 MHz or 80 MHz may switch its operating bandwidth within S160, S80U, or S80L due to DSO operation. S80U and S80L may refer to a higher numbered 80 MHz (S80 upper (S80U)) and a lower numbered 80 MHz (lower secondary 80 MHz (S80L)) of the secondary 160 MHz. In one embodiment, a DSO-supporting station may switch its operating bandwidth based on a subband switch control frame transmitted by an access point, as described in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, to reduce signaling overhead, a station may voluntarily switch its operating bandwidth within a service period (SP) within the operating bandwidth of an access point. In one embodiment, each station may complete the switching of its operating bandwidth until the start of an SP. The operation illustrated in Fig. 7 can also be applied to DSOs of stations capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 7, an access point (700) may initiate a service period (SP) during a Broadcast TWT (target wakeup time) or a Broadcast R (restricted)-TWT (720). In one embodiment, the access point (700) may initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a Restricted TWT parameter set field included in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field of a management frame (as shown in FIG. 5c).

[0151] When the SP is initiated (720) by the access point (700), the access point (700) may transmit a trigger frame (725) to stations within the BSS in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (725) may include RU (resource unit) scheduling information. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (725) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (725) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0152] In one embodiment, a second station (713), which is one of the stations connected to the access point (700), may switch the operating bandwidth in the SP (720) from the P160 subchannel to the S160 subchannel. The second station (713) may switch to the S160 subchannel voluntarily or may be forcibly pre-allocated by the access point (700). In one embodiment, each station may complete the switching of the operating bandwidth until the start point of the SP.

[0153] Thereafter, the first station (711) can transmit a response frame (731) for the trigger frame to the access point (700) in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth. When the second station (713) switches the operating channel bandwidth to the S160 subchannel, it can transmit a response frame (733) for the trigger frame to the access point (700) in the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth.

[0154] Thereafter, the access point (700) can transmit an MU PPDU (740). In one embodiment, if the access point (700) identifies the locations of the subchannels, which are the operating channel bandwidths of the first station (711) and the second station (713) through the response frames (731 and 733), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (711) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (713) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel. The first station (711) can receive the MU PPDU on the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (741) for the MU PPDU. The second station (713) can receive the MU PPDU on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (743) for the MU PPDU.

[0155] An access point (700) can transmit a Basic trigger frame (750) to stations within a BSS. A first station (711) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (751) to the access point (700) in a P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. A second station (713) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (753) in a S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (760) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations. In one embodiment, after the SP (720) ends, the second station (713) can switch the operating channel bandwidth to the P160 subchannel or enter sleep mode.

[0156] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of performing a voluntary DSO of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0157] The access point (800) and stations (810) illustrated in FIG. 8 can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The stations (810) illustrated in FIG. 8 may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (800). Additionally, the stations (810) illustrated in FIG. 8 may be DSO-supporting stations.

[0158] FIG. 8 illustrates a case where, for example, an access point (800) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (810) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 8 can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 8, an access point (800) may initiate a service period (SP) during a Broadcast TWT (target wakeup time) or a Broadcast R (restricted)-TWT (820). In one embodiment, the access point (800) may configure the initiation of an R-TWT SP by transmitting a Restricted TWT parameter set field included in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field of a management frame (as shown in FIG. 5c). In one embodiment, when operating SP-based DSO, a DSO-supporting station may refer to the DSO information elements included in the broadcast management frame. In one embodiment, to reduce signaling overhead, a DSO-supporting station may voluntarily switch its operating bandwidth during a service period (SP) within the operating bandwidth of the access point. In one embodiment, each station may complete the operating bandwidth switch up to the start point of the SP and wait for a trigger frame transmitted by the access point. The operation illustrated in Fig. 8 can also be applied to DSOs of stations capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0160] When the SP is initiated (820) by the access point (800), the access point (800) may transmit a trigger frame (830) to stations within the BSS in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (830) may include an MU-RTS trigger frame (non-HT duplicate). In one embodiment, the trigger frame (830) may be used to confirm whether the DSO of the connected stations has been successfully performed. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (825) may be used to confirm the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0161] In one embodiment, stations (810) connected to an access point (800) can switch the operating bandwidth in the SP (820) from the P160 subchannel to the S160 subchannel. In one embodiment, all stations (810) connected to the access point (800) can voluntarily switch the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel. In one embodiment, each station can complete the operating bandwidth switch by the start point of the SP.

[0162] Thereafter, the stations (810) can transmit a response frame (e.g., a Non-HT duplicate CTS frame (835)) to the trigger frame to the access point (800) in the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth.

[0163] Thereafter, the access point (800) can transmit the MU PPDU (840) in the P160 subchannel and the S160 subchannel, which are the operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the stations (810) can receive the MU PPDU in the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit the BA frame (845) for the MU PPDU.

[0164] The access point (800) can transmit a Basic trigger frame (850) to stations within the BSS. The stations (810) can transmit HE TB PPDU frames (855) in the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth. The access point (800) can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (860) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations (810).

[0165] Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the access point (800) is not permitted to transmit a frame of a certain type or for a certain period of time that does not include the primary channel (870). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, when all stations (810) connected to the access point (800) voluntarily switch their operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel, it can be seen that the P160 subchannel is not used even when the medium is idle (875).

[0166] Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes to indicate conditions for performing SP-based DSO in order to prevent resource waste due to stations voluntarily performing DSO.

[0167] In one embodiment, the access point may periodically notify DSO-supporting stations of the DSO execution. In one embodiment, the access point may instruct the performance of involuntary DSO according to a scheduling decision. In one embodiment, the access point may transmit to stations within the BSS information indicating the performance of involuntary DSO in a broadcast management frame. For example, the access point may instruct stations to perform involuntary DSO by adding Broadcast Management frame elements such as Beacon and Probe Response to the Broadcast (R-)TWT Parameter Set field.

[0168] In one embodiment, information that may be included in a broadcast management frame to indicate the performance of an involuntary DSO may include at least one of information indicating a station to perform the DSO, condition information for performing the DSO, information related to a DSOCW (DSO contention window), and information indicating a station and subband to perform the DSO. For example, the information indicating the station to perform the DSO may include simplified bitmap display information, such as a Partial Virtual Bitmap in a TIM element format. For example, the information indicating the station to perform the DSO may include an AID of a specific station included in the User Info field of the Trigger frame. For example, the condition information for performing the DSO may include specific traffic type or buffer size condition information.

[0169] The above DSOCW-related information refers to contention for random backoff, and a station that receives the DSOCW value can extract a randomly selected counter value between [0, DSOCW). In one embodiment, the station can decrement the counter value each time it reaches SP, and perform DSO when it becomes 0. In one embodiment, the station can then repeat extracting a new random counter.

[0170] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a frame including information related to a DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0171] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of the Broadcast TWT parameter set field format described in FIG. 5c, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0172] Referring to FIG. 9, the Broadcast TWT parameter set field format may include a field for DSO operation (e.g., a DSO Info field) (910). In one embodiment, the DSO field (910) may be included in a broadcast management frame element such as a beacon or a Probe Response frame and may be broadcast periodically. In one embodiment, the DSO field (910) may regularly notify DSO STAs to perform DSO during a designated time period (e.g., a Service period). In one embodiment, when an access point instructs DSO execution using the DSO field (910), STAs may perform DSO involuntarily.

[0173] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams illustrating an operation for directing a station to perform DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0174] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of the DSO info field (910) format illustrated in FIG. 9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0175] In one embodiment, the DSO info field format illustrated in FIG. 10A may be used to indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on the scheduling policy of the AP. To indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on the scheduling policy of the AP, a full bitmap structure such as a Partial Virtual Bitmap may be used. That is, it may indicate that a DSO-supporting station having an AID equal to N in bit number N performs DSO in the corresponding broadcast (R-)TWT SP. For example, the operating bandwidth of a DSO-supporting station having an AID in which bit number N is indicated as 1 may be switched before reaching the broadcast (R-)TWT SP, and a DSO-supporting station in which bit number N is indicated as 0 may not perform SP-based DSO.

[0176] Referring to FIG. 10A, the DSO info field may include at least one of a Starting AID subfield (1000), a Length subfield (1003), and a DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005). In one embodiment, at least one station corresponding to a combination of information included in the Starting AID subfield (1000), the Length (1003), and the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) may perform DSO in an SP corresponding to a broadcast management frame including the DSO info field.

[0177] In one embodiment, the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) may be encoded using a combination of the Starting AID subfield (1000) and / or the Length subfield (1003) to reduce overhead. In one embodiment, the Starting AID subfield (1000) may indicate a starting AID (first AID) of a range of AIDs scheduled to perform DSO. In one embodiment, the Length subfield (1003) may indicate a total byte size of the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005). In one embodiment, bytes with a value of 0 following the octet containing the AID of the last STA for which DSO is scheduled may be omitted.

[0178] In one embodiment, the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) may indicate a bitmap value corresponding to an AID scheduled to perform DSO from the starting AID (first AID) indicated in the Starting AID subfield (1000). For example, each bit of the bitmap value corresponds to one AID of stations included in the BSS of the access point, and the least significant bit (LSB), i.e., the bit located at the far right of the bitmap, may correspond to the starting AID (first AID) indicated in the Starting AID subfield (1000) among the AIDs included in the BSS.

[0179] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10a, if the Starting AID subfield (1000) indicates '8', the Length subfield (1003) indicates 'N', and the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) indicates '...00000001', the bit located at the far right of the bitmap indicated in the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) is '1', which may indicate that the station corresponding to AID='8' indicated by the Starting AID subfield (1000) is scheduled to perform DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0180] FIG. 10b is a diagram illustrating an operation of instructing a station to perform DSO in an SP (e.g., Broadcast TWT) corresponding to a broadcast management frame including a DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 10a, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0181] The access point (1010), the first station (1015), and the second station (1017) illustrated in FIG. 10b can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (1015) and the second station (1017) illustrated in FIG. 10b may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (1010). In addition, the first station (1015) and the second station (1017) illustrated in FIG. 10b may be DSO-supporting stations. The first station (1015) may be a station with an AID of '8', and the second station (1017) may be a station with an AID of '9'.

[0182] FIG. 10b illustrates, for example, a case where an access point (1010) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (1015, 1017) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 10b can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the operation illustrated in FIG. 10b can also be applied to the DSO of a station capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0183] Referring to FIG. 10b, an access point (1010) may transmit a beacon (1020) including a Broadcast TWT IE in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the Broadcast TWT IE included in the beacon (1020) may include the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 10a.

[0184] Fig. 10b describes, for example, a DSO execution operation when the Starting AID subfield (1000) illustrated in Fig. 10a indicates '8', the Length subfield (1003) indicates 'N', and the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) indicates '...00000001'. In this case, as described above, the DSO info field illustrated in Fig. 10a may indicate that the first station (1015) corresponding to AID='8' is scheduled to perform DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0185] The access point (1010) can be configured to initiate a TWT SP using a beacon (1020) including a Broadcast TWT IE. In one embodiment, the access point (1010) can be configured to initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a management frame such as the beacon (1020) including a Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field (as shown in FIG. 5c). In one embodiment, the access point (1010) can initiate a service period (SP) (1030) after transmitting the beacon (1020) and then Broadcast TWT 1 (1023). In one embodiment, the first station (1015) and the second station (1017) can transition from a doze state (1025, 1027) to an awake state when the service period (SP) (1030) is initiated.

[0186] In one embodiment, among the first station (1015) and the second station (1017) that received the beacon (1030) including the Broadcast TWT IE, the first station (1015) scheduled to perform DSO using a combination of information included in the Broadcast TWT IE may transition to the awake state upon reaching the SP and complete the switching of the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel.

[0187] When the SP is initiated (1030) by the access point (1010), the access point (1010) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1040) to stations within the BSS in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1040) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1040) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0188] Thereafter, the first station (1015) can transmit a PS-Poll (1045) for the Basic trigger frame (1040) to the access point (1010) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1017) can transmit a PS-Poll (1047) for the Basic trigger frame (1040) to the access point (1010) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (1049) for the PS-Poll (1045, 1047).

[0189] Thereafter, the access point (1010) can transmit the MU PPDU (1050). In one embodiment, if the access point (1010) identifies the location of the subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth of the first station (1015) and the second station (1017) through the PS-Poll (1045, 1047), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (1015) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (1017) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel. The first station (1015) can receive the MU PPDU (1050) on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1055) for the MU PPDU. The second station (1017) can receive the MU PPDU in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1057) for the MU PPDU.

[0190] The access point (1010) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1060) to stations within the BSS. The first station (1015) may transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1065) to the access point (1010) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1017) may transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1067) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point (1010) may transmit a Multi STA BA frame (1070) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations. In one embodiment, the first station (1015) may enter a doze mode after the SP (1030) ends. In one embodiment, in order to remain in an awake state to receive a beacon in the next TBTT, the first station (1015) may switch the operating channel bandwidth to the P160 subchannel.

[0191] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are diagrams for explaining operations indicating conditions of a station for performing DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0192] FIG. 11A is a diagram showing an example of the DSO info field (910) format illustrated in FIG. 9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0193] In one embodiment, the DSO info field format illustrated in FIG. 11A may be used to indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on criteria provided by the AP. To indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on criteria provided by the AP, condition information for performing the DSO may be included in the DSO info field. The conditions for performing the DSO may include, for example, traffic type conditions and / or buffer size conditions.

[0194] Referring to FIG. 11a, the DSO info field may include at least one of the Status subfield (1100) and the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105).

[0195] In one embodiment, the Status subfield (1100) may indicate the conditions of traffic for which a DSO supporting station performs DSO. In one embodiment, the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) may indicate the threshold value of the buffer size of traffic for which DSO is to be performed. In one embodiment, the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) may indicate the threshold value of the buffer size that satisfies the conditions of traffic for which DSO is to be performed as indicated in the Status subfield (1100).

[0196] In one embodiment, the Status subfield (1100) may directly indicate a traffic type. Examples of traffic types that can be directly mapped in the Status subfield (1100) are as follows. That is, a DSO-supporting station that transmits traffic corresponding to the traffic types below and having a buffer size exceeding a byte value calculated from the Buffer Threshold Exponent indicated by the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) may be instructed to perform DSO.

[0197] - AC(Access Category): For example, AC_VO (voice), AC_VI (video)

[0198] - TID(Traffic Identifier) ​​or TSID(Traffic Stream Identifier)

[0199] - Low Latency Traffic Indication

[0200] In one embodiment, the Status subfield (1100) may be indicated by a predetermined value for specific conditions of a traffic type. For example, if the Status subfield (1100) is '1', this may indicate that a DSO-supporting station that transmits traffic having a buffer size exceeding a byte value calculated from the Buffer Threshold Exponent indicated by the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) may perform DSO. In one embodiment, the Buffer Threshold Exponent may be set to '0' and omitted.

[0201] For example, if the Status subfield is '2', a DSO-supporting station that has traffic with a remaining time or residual time of less than 3 ms remaining to satisfy the QoS Requirement may be instructed to perform DSO.

[0202] For example, if the Status subfield is '3', a DSO-supporting station with low-latency traffic or, if the Buffer Threshold Exponent is not omitted and is concatenated, a DSO-supporting station with low-latency traffic greater than or equal to the buffer size calculated by the Buffer Threshold Exponent may be instructed to perform DSO.

[0203] For example, the Status subfield may not directly indicate an Access Category value. For example, if the Status subfield is '15', a DSO-supporting station with AC_VO traffic, or if the Buffer Threshold Exponent is not omitted and is concatenated, a DSO-supporting station with AC_VO traffic greater than the buffer size calculated by the Buffer Threshold Exponent may be indicated to perform DSO.

[0204] The predefined values ​​(e.g., '2', '3', '15', etc.) for specific conditions of traffic types that can be included in the Status subfield described above are only examples for convenience of explanation, and can be set to various other values.

[0205] For example, as shown in Fig. 11a, if the Status subfield (1100) indicates 'AC_VI' and the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) indicates '0x05', 32 (=2 5 ) may indicate that a station with a buffer size of AC_VI traffic exceeding 100 bytes is scheduled to perform a DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0206] FIG. 11b is a diagram illustrating an operation of instructing a station to perform DSO in an SP (e.g., Broadcast TWT) corresponding to a broadcast management frame including a DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 11a, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0207] The access point (1110), the first station (1115), and the second station (1117) illustrated in FIG. 11B can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (1115) and the second station (1117) illustrated in FIG. 11B may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (1110). In addition, the first station (1115) and the second station (1117) illustrated in FIG. 11B may be DSO-supporting stations. The first station (1115) may be a station with an AID of '8', and the second station (1117) may be a station with an AID of '9'.

[0208] FIG. 11b illustrates, for example, a case where an access point (1110) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (1115, 1117) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 11b can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the operation illustrated in FIG. 11b can also be applied to the DSO of a station capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0209] Referring to FIG. 11b, an access point (1110) may transmit a beacon (1120) including a Broadcast TWT IE in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the Broadcast TWT IE included in the beacon (1120) may include the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 11a.

[0210] Fig. 11b describes the DSO execution operation when, for example, the Status subfield (1100) indicates 'AC_VI' and the Buffer Threshold Exponent subfield (1105) indicates '0x05' as illustrated in Fig. 11a. In this case, as described above, the first station (1115) is 32 (=2 5 ) If the buffer size of AC_VI traffic exceeds 100 bytes, it is scheduled to perform DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0211] The access point (1110) can be configured to initiate a TWT SP using a beacon (1120) including a Broadcast TWT IE. In one embodiment, the access point (1110) can be configured to initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a management frame such as the beacon (1120) including a Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field (as shown in FIG. 5c). In one embodiment, the access point (1110) can initiate a service period (SP) (1130) after transmitting the beacon (1120) and then Broadcast TWT 1 (1123). In one embodiment, the first station (1115) and the second station (1117) can transition from a doze state (1125, 1127) to an awake state when the service period (SP) (1130) is initiated.

[0212] In one embodiment, among the first station (1115) and the second station (1117) that received the beacon (1130) including the Broadcast TWT IE, the first station (1115) scheduled to perform DSO using a combination of information included in the Broadcast TWT IE may transition to the awake state upon reaching the SP and complete the switching of the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel.

[0213] When the SP is initiated (1130) by the access point (1110), in a contention situation, the access point (1110) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1140) to stations within the BSS. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1140) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1140) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0214] Thereafter, the first station (1115) can transmit a PS-Poll (1145) for the Basic trigger frame (1140) to the access point (1110) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1117) can transmit a PS-Poll (1147) for the Basic trigger frame (1140) to the access point (1110) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (1149) for the PS-Poll (1145, 1147).

[0215] Thereafter, the access point (1110) can transmit the MU PPDU (1150). In one embodiment, if the access point (1110) identifies the location of the subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth of the first station (1115) and the second station (1117) through the PS-Poll (1145, 1147), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (1115) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (1117) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel. The first station (1115) can receive the MU PPDU (1150) on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1155) for the MU PPDU. The second station (1117) can receive the MU PPDU in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1157) for the MU PPDU.

[0216] The access point (1110) can transmit a Basic trigger frame (1160) to stations within the BSS. The first station (1115) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (AC_VI) (1165) to the access point (1110) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1117) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1167) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point (1110) can transmit a Multi STA BA frame (1170) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations. In one embodiment, the first station (1115) can enter doze mode after the SP (1130) ends. In one embodiment, in order to remain in an awake state to receive a beacon in the next TBTT, the first station (1115) can switch the operating channel bandwidth to the P160 subchannel.

[0217] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an operation of indicating a contention window (DSOCW) value for DSO backoff according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0218] FIG. 12 illustrates an operation of indicating a contention window (DSOCW) for DSO backoff in the DSO info field (910) illustrated in FIG. 9, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0219] In one embodiment, the access point may indicate non-voluntary DSO operation based on announcing a contention window for DSO backoff (DSOCW) in the DSO info subfield (910).

[0220] In one embodiment, a DSO-enabled STA may select a counter value from [0, DSOCW) based on the DSOCW value when first receiving the DSO info subfield. The DSO-enabled STA may decrement the counter value when an SP is reached, and when the counter value becomes 0, perform DSO for the next SP and then select a new backoff counter.

[0221] In one embodiment, the DSOCW value can be updated or changed. For example, if the DSOCW value received via the current DSO Info subfield is less than the current counter value, a new counter can be extracted and applied immediately. For example, if the DSOCW value is greater than the current counter value, the existing value is maintained, and an arbitrary counter can be extracted based on the updated DSOCW after the DSO is performed.

[0222] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, performing DSO in a case where the DSO info field includes information in which the DSOCW value is '4' in an SP (e.g., Broadcast TWT) corresponding to a broadcast management frame including a DSO info field.

[0223] The access point (1210), the first station (1215), and the second station (1217) illustrated in FIG. 12 can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (1215) and the second station (1217) illustrated in FIG. 12 may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (1210). In addition, the first station (1215) and the second station (1217) illustrated in FIG. 12 may be DSO-supporting stations. The first station (1215) may be a station with an AID of '8', and the second station (1217) may be a station with an AID of '9'.

[0224] FIG. 12 illustrates, for example, a case where an access point (1210) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (1215, 1217) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 12 can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the operation illustrated in FIG. 12 can also be applied to the DSO of a station capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0225] Referring to FIG. 12b, an access point (1210) may transmit a beacon (1220) including a Broadcast TWT IE in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the Broadcast TWT IE included in the beacon (1220) may include a DSO info field, and the DSO info field may include information that the DSOCW value is '4'. In one embodiment, the first station (1215) and the second station (1217) may randomly select one of [0, 4) as a counter value. For example, the first station (1215) may select '0' as a counter value (1221), and the second station (1217) may select '2' as a counter value (1222).

[0226] The access point (1210) can be configured to initiate a TWT SP using a beacon (1220) including a Broadcast TWT IE. In one embodiment, the access point (1210) can be configured to initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a management frame such as the beacon (1220) including a Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field (as shown in FIG. 5c). In one embodiment, the access point (1210) can initiate a service period (SP) (1230) after transmitting the beacon (1220) and then Broadcast TWT 1 (1223). In one embodiment, the first station (1215) and the second station (1217) can transition from a doze state (1225, 1227) to an awake state when the service period (SP) (1230) is initiated.

[0227] In one embodiment, among the first station (1215) and the second station (1217) that received the beacon (1230) including the Broadcast TWT IE, the first station (1215) that selected the counter value as '0' may transition to the awake state upon reaching the SP and complete the transition of the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel.

[0228] When the SP is initiated (1230) by the access point (1210), in a contention situation, the access point (1210) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1240) to stations within the BSS. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1240) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1240) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0229] Thereafter, the first station (1215) can transmit a PS-Poll (1245) for the Basic trigger frame (1240) to the access point (1210) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1217) can transmit a PS-Poll (1247) for the Basic trigger frame (1240) to the access point (1210) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (1249) for the PS-Poll (1245, 1247).

[0230] Thereafter, the access point (1210) can transmit the MU PPDU (1250). In one embodiment, if the access point (1210) identifies the location of the subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth of the first station (1215) and the second station (1217) through the PS-Poll (1245, 1247), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (1215) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (1217) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel. The first station (1215) can receive the MU PPDU (1250) on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1255) for the MU PPDU. The second station (1217) can receive the MU PPDU in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1257) for the MU PPDU.

[0231] The access point (1210) can transmit a Basic trigger frame (1260) to stations within the BSS. The first station (1215) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1265) to the access point (1210) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1217) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1267) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point (1210) can transmit a Multi STA BA frame (1270) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations.

[0232] In one embodiment, the first station (1215), which selected '0' as the counter value, may randomly select a new counter value (random value) or transition to the dose state after the SP (1230) ends. In order to remain in the awake state to receive a beacon in the next TBTT, the first station (1215) may switch the operating channel bandwidth to the P160 subchannel.

[0233] In one embodiment, the second station (1217) that selected '2' as the counter value can decrement the counter value to '1' after the SP (1230) ends. If the counter value becomes '0', the second station (1217) can perform DSO in the next SP.

[0234] FIGS. 13a and 13b are diagrams illustrating operations for indicating a station and a subband for performing DSO according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0235] FIG. 13a is a diagram showing an example of a user info field format of the DSO info field (910) illustrated in FIG. 9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0236] In one embodiment, the user info field format of the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 13a may be used to indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on the AP's scheduling policy. To indicate a non-voluntary DSO operation based on the AP's scheduling policy, information about the station to perform the DSO and information about the DSO target subchannel may be included in the user info field of the DSO info field.

[0237] Referring to FIG. 13A, the user info field of the DSO info field may include at least one of the AID12 subfield (1300) and the Subchannel subfield (1305). In one embodiment, to specify or schedule DSO behavior for specific stations during the SP, the DSO info field may include one or more user info fields.

[0238] In one embodiment, the AID12 subfield (or AID subfield) (1300) may address a connected station corresponding to the same AID as the value indicated by AID or AID12. That is, the AID12 subfield (or AID subfield) (1300) may indicate the AID or AID12 value of a station that will perform DSO. In one embodiment, the AID12 subfield (or AID subfield) (1300) may include a predetermined value (e.g., '2008 to 2044' or '2047 to 4094') to indicate the conditions for performing the DSO described in FIGS. 11A and 11B. For example, a DSO-supporting STA with low-latency traffic or AC_VO traffic of a predetermined buffer size (e.g., 255 bytes) may be assigned the AID value '2024'.

[0239] In one embodiment, the Subchannel subfield (1305) may indicate a subchannel on which a station having an AID of a value indicated by the AID12 subfield (or, AID subfield) (1300) can perform DSO in the SP.

[0240] In one embodiment, the Subchannel subfield (1305) may use a predefined value or a bitmap to indicate a subchannel capable of performing DSO.

[0241] In one embodiment, when a value indicating a subchannel capable of performing DSO is indicated as a predefined value in the Subchannel subfield (1305), the value indicating the subchannel may be predefined based on the size of the operating bandwidth of the stations. In this case, the predefined value may be encoded in the Subchannel subfield (1305).

[0242] Fig. 13b illustrates an example of a mapping relationship between the values ​​of the Subchannel subfield (1305) that can be included in the user info field of the DSO info field and the secondary subchannels on which a station can perform DSO in an SP. Fig. 13b illustrates an example of an encoding value indicating a subchannel on which a station with an operating bandwidth of 160 MHz can perform DSO.

[0243] In one embodiment, when the subchannels capable of performing DSO are indicated using a bitmap in the Subchannel subfield (1305), each bit of the bitmap may correspond to one of the minimum width channels of the band in which the connected BSS is currently operating (e.g., 20 MHz). In one embodiment, the least significant bit (LSB), i.e., the bit located at the far right of the bitmap, may correspond to the lowest numbered channel among the operating channels of the BSS. Setting a bit included in the transmitted bitmap to '1' may allow the operation of using the corresponding channel as the default channel during the TWT SP. In one embodiment, the station may not be permitted to switch to an operating bandwidth that includes subchannels indicated as '0' in the bitmap information.

[0244] For example, in a HE BSS, the minimum width channel may be 20MHz, and assuming the primary 20MHz is set as the lowest numbered channel, and the access point operates in the 320MHz band, '1111111100001100 (2 octets)' may represent the possible set of subchannels to which a station may switch during a broadcast TWT. In this case, the rightmost bit and the second rightmost bit may both be '0', indicating that the P20 and S20 subchannels are not allowed, which may indicate that the primary 40MHz (P40) band, which includes the primary 20MHz and secondary 20MHz subchannels, is not used.

[0245] In Fig. 13a, the Subchannel subfield (1305) is illustrated as a case where the subchannel is represented by a predefined value, as exemplarily illustrated in Fig. 13b. As illustrated in Fig. 13a, if the AID12 subfield (or, AID subfield) (1300) indicates '8' and the Subchannel subfield (1305) indicates '3', it can be indicated that a station corresponding to the AID value of '8' in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP is scheduled to perform DSO with the S160 subchannel.

[0246] FIG. 13c is a diagram illustrating an operation of instructing a station to perform DSO in an SP (e.g., Broadcast TWT) corresponding to a broadcast management frame including a user info field of the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 13a, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0247] The access point (1310), the first station (1315), and the second station (1317) illustrated in FIG. 13c can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (1315) and the second station (1317) illustrated in FIG. 13c may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (1310). In addition, the first station (1315) and the second station (1317) illustrated in FIG. 13c may be DSO-supporting stations. The first station (1315) may be a station with an AID of '8', and the second station (1317) may be a station with an AID of '9'.

[0248] FIG. 13c illustrates, for example, a case where an access point (1310) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (1315, 1317) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 13c can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the operation illustrated in FIG. 13c can also be applied to the DSO of a station capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 13c, an access point (1310) may transmit a beacon (1320) including a Broadcast TWT IE in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the Broadcast TWT IE included in the beacon (1320) may include the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 13a.

[0250] Fig. 13c illustrates an operation when, for example, the AID12 subfield (or AID subfield) (1300) indicates '8' and the Subchannel subfield (1305) indicates '3', as illustrated in Fig. 13a. In this case, as described above, the first station (1315) whose AID value corresponds to '8' is scheduled to perform DSO on the S160 subchannel in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0251] The access point (1310) can be configured to initiate a TWT SP using a beacon (1320) including a Broadcast TWT IE. In one embodiment, the access point (1310) can be configured to initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a management frame such as the beacon (1320) including a Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field (as shown in FIG. 5c). In one embodiment, the access point (1310) can initiate a service period (SP) (1330) after transmitting the beacon (1320) and then Broadcast TWT 1 (1323). In one embodiment, the first station (1315) and the second station (1317) can transition from a doze state (1325, 1327) to an awake state when the service period (SP) (1330) is initiated.

[0252] In one embodiment, among the first station (1315) and the second station (1317) that received the beacon (1330) including the Broadcast TWT IE, the first station (1315) scheduled to perform DSO on the S160 subchannel based on a combination of information included in the Broadcast TWT IE may transition to the awake state upon reaching the SP and complete the switching of the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel.

[0253] When the SP is initiated (1330) by the access point (1310), in a contention situation, the access point (1310) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1340) to stations within the BSS. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1340) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1340) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0254] Thereafter, the first station (1315) can transmit a PS-Poll (1345) for the Basic trigger frame (1340) to the access point (1310) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1317) can transmit a PS-Poll (1347) for the Basic trigger frame (1340) to the access point (1310) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (1349) for the PS-Poll (1345, 1347).

[0255] Thereafter, the access point (1310) can transmit the MU PPDU (1350). In one embodiment, if the access point (1310) identifies the location of the subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth of the first station (1315) and the second station (1317) through the PS-Poll (1345, 1347), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (1315) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (1317) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel. The first station (1315) can receive the MU PPDU (1350) on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1355) for the MU PPDU. The second station (1317) can receive the MU PPDU in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1357) for the MU PPDU.

[0256] The access point (1310) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1360) to stations within the BSS. The first station (1315) may transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (AC_VI) (1365) to the access point (1310) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1317) may transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1367) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point (1310) may transmit a Multi STA BA frame (1370) for the PPDUs transmitted by the stations. In one embodiment, the first station (1315) may enter a doze mode after the SP (1330) ends. In one embodiment, in order to remain in an awake state to receive a beacon in the next TBTT, the first station (1315) may switch the operating channel bandwidth to the P160 subchannel.

[0257] FIG. 14a and FIG. 14b are diagrams for explaining a conditional DSO termination operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0258] In one embodiment, the SP-based DSO execution may be synchronized with the expiration of the SP. That is, when the SP is terminated, the DSO-supporting station may stop performing the DSO. In one embodiment, after the SP is initiated, if no scheduling is successfully received during the Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration of the Broadcast TWT Parameter Set field format, or if the access point explicitly notifies the DSO-supporting station of the end of service period (EOSP), the DSO-supporting station may stop performing the DSO. In one embodiment, the DSO-supporting station may also transmit an EOSP to the access point to notify the end of the DSO. The present disclosure proposes a method for synchronizing the SP termination and DSO.

[0259] In one embodiment, the termination operation of DSO may be performed based on a scheduling timer. In one embodiment, after a DSO-enabled station has successfully exchanged data frames with an access point at least once, the DSO may be terminated if no additional scheduling for UL / DL is received within the SP for a certain period of time, for example, when DSOSchedTimer expires.

[0260] In one embodiment, a DSO-enabled station may immediately terminate DSO if the conditions described above are met. Terminating DSO may include the DSO-enabled station switching its operating bandwidth from a secondary subchannel to a primary subchannel and waiting for transmission and reception. Terminating DSO may include the DSO-enabled station entering a power save (PS) mode and entering a dose state.

[0261] FIG. 14a is a diagram showing an example of the DSO info field (910) format illustrated in FIG. 9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0262] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the DSO info field may include at least one of a Starting AID subfield (1000), a Length subfield (1003), and a DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005), as described in FIG. 10A. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, if the Starting AID subfield (1000) indicates '8', the Length subfield (1003) indicates 'N', and the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) indicates '...00000001', the bit located at the far right of the bitmap indicated by the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1005) is '1', which may indicate that a station corresponding to AID='8' indicated by the Starting AID subfield (1000) is scheduled to perform DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0263] FIG. 14b is a diagram illustrating an operation of instructing a station to perform DSO in an SP (e.g., Broadcast TWT) corresponding to a broadcast management frame including a DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 14a, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0264] The access point (1410), the first station (1415), and the second station (1417) illustrated in FIG. 14B can be interconnected and communicate with each other. The first station (1415) and the second station (1417) illustrated in FIG. 14B may be stations included in the BSS of the access point (1410). In addition, the first station (1415) and the second station (1417) illustrated in FIG. 14B may be DSO-supporting stations. The first station (1415) may be a station with an AID of '8', and the second station (1417) may be a station with an AID of '9'.

[0265] FIG. 14b illustrates, for example, a case where an access point (1410) provides a bandwidth of 320 MHz and stations (1415, 1417) use a bandwidth of 160 MHz as an operating channel bandwidth. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the DSO described in FIG. 14b can be applied to all possible combinations of operating bandwidths. In one embodiment, the operation illustrated in FIG. 14b can also be applied to the DSO of a station capable of operating bandwidths of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, depending on the channelization rules.

[0266] Referring to FIG. 14b, an access point (1410) may transmit a beacon (1420) including a Broadcast TWT IE in a contention situation. In one embodiment, the Broadcast TWT IE included in the beacon (1420) may include the DSO info field illustrated in FIG. 14a.

[0267] FIG. 14b illustrates an operation when, for example, the Starting AID subfield (1400) illustrated in FIG. 14a indicates '8', the Length subfield (1403) indicates 'N', and the DSO allocation Bitmap subfield (1405) indicates '...00000001', so that the first station (1415) corresponding to AID='8' is scheduled to perform DSO in the next Broadcast (R-)TWT SP.

[0268] The access point (1410) can be configured to initiate a TWT SP using a beacon (1420) including a Broadcast TWT IE. In one embodiment, the access point (1410) can be configured to initiate an R-TWT SP by transmitting a management frame such as the beacon (1420) including a Restricted TWT parameter set field in the Broadcast TWT parameter set field (as shown in FIG. 5C). In one embodiment, the access point (1410) can initiate a service period (SP) (1430) after transmitting the beacon (1420) and then Broadcast TWT 1 (1423). In one embodiment, the first station (1415) and the second station (1417) can transition from a doze state (1425, 1427) to an awake state when the service period (SP) (1430) is initiated.

[0269] In one embodiment, among the first station (1415) and the second station (1417) that received the beacon (1430) including the Broadcast TWT IE, the first station (1415) scheduled to perform DSO using a combination of information included in the Broadcast TWT IE may transition to the awake state upon reaching the SP and complete the switching of the operating bandwidth to the S160 subchannel.

[0270] When the SP is initiated (1430) by the access point (1410), in a contention situation, the access point (1410) may transmit a Basic trigger frame (1440) to stations within the BSS. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1440) may be used to check the awake state of connected stations. In one embodiment, the trigger frame (1440) may be used to check the subchannel on which the stations are located.

[0271] Thereafter, the first station (1415) can transmit a PS-Poll (1445) for the Basic trigger frame (1440) to the access point (1410) in the S160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The second station (1417) can transmit a PS-Poll (1447) for the Basic trigger frame (1440) to the access point (1410) in the P160 subchannel, which is an operating channel bandwidth. The access point can transmit a Multi STA BA (block acknowledgment) frame (1449) for the PS-Poll (1445, 1447).

[0272] Thereafter, the access point (1410) can transmit the MU PPDU (1450). In one embodiment, if the access point (1410) identifies the location of the subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth of the first station (1415) and the second station (1417) through the PS-Poll (1445, 1447), the PPDU to be transmitted to the first station (1415) can be transmitted through the S160 subchannel, and the PPDU to be transmitted to the second station (1417) can be transmitted through the P160 subchannel. The first station (1415) can receive the MU PPDU (1450) on the S160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1455) for the MU PPDU. The second station (1417) can receive the MU PPDU in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth, and transmit a BA frame (1457) for the MU PPDU.

[0273] Stations (1415, 1417) may initiate DSOSchedTimer (1460) to determine the end of DSO after transmitting the BA frame (1455, 1457).

[0274] The access point (1410) can transmit a Basic trigger frame (1465) to stations within the BSS within the DSOSchedTimer (1460). In one embodiment, if the first station (1415) does not receive scheduling in the Basic trigger frame (1465) within the DSOSchedTimer (1460) or does not receive the Basic trigger frame (1465) due to a channel error and the DSOSchedTimer (1460) expires, the first station (1415) can terminate DSO. In one embodiment, if the first station (1415) terminates the DSO, it can switch the operating bandwidth to the primary channel and wait or enter a doze state.

[0275] Based on the above Basic trigger frame (1465), the second station (1417) can transmit a HE TB PPDU frame (1467) in the P160 subchannel, which is the operating channel bandwidth. The access point (1410) can transmit a Multi STA BA frame (1470) for the PPDU transmitted by the station.

[0276] The size (e.g., bit size), position (e.g., bit position), and / or value (e.g., value that can be included in a field) of each field included in the IE (or information) of the formats illustrated above are merely examples for convenience of explanation, and the size and / or position of each of the fields may be implemented as various values ​​depending on the design specifications.

[0277] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0278] In step 1500, the access point may transmit a frame containing information related to dynamic subband / subchannel operation (DSO) to at least one first station. In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include information related to at least one second station among the at least one first station that will perform DSO.

[0279] At step 1510, the access point may initiate a service period (SP) based on the frame.

[0280] Step 1520: The access point can transmit a trigger frame to at least one first station.

[0281] In step 1530, the access point may receive a response frame on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel during the service period, which has been changed based on the DSO-related information from the at least one second station.

[0282] In one embodiment, the information associated with at least one second station to perform the DSO may include information indicating the at least one AID.

[0283] In one embodiment, the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may include a bitmap indicating an AID of at least one second station that is to perform the DSO.

[0284] In one embodiment, the information indicating the at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may include at least one of information indicating the smallest value of the AID indicated by the bitmap information and length information of the bitmap.

[0285] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include condition information for performing the DSO. In one embodiment, the at least one second station may be a station that satisfies the condition information for performing the DSO. In one embodiment, the condition information for performing the DSO may include at least one of a traffic type condition and a buffer size condition.

[0286] In one embodiment, the traffic type condition may include information on at least one of an Access Category (AC), a Traffic Identifier (TID), a Traffic Stream Identifier (TSID), and a Low Latency Traffic Indication.

[0287] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include a contention window (DSOCW) value for DSO backoff. In one embodiment, the DSOCW value may be used to select a counter value for the at least one station to perform DSO.

[0288] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include information indicating a subchannel on which a station corresponding to the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may operate during the service period. In one embodiment, the information indicating the subchannel may be indicated using values ​​predetermined based on the operating bandwidth of the station.

[0289] In one embodiment, the frame including the DSO-related information may include a management frame. In one embodiment, the frame including the DSO-related information may include a broadcast TWT (target wakeup time)-related frame or a broadcast R-TWT (restricted-target wakeup time)-related frame.

[0290] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0291] In step 1600, a station may receive a frame containing information related to dynamic subband / subchannel operation (DSO) from an access point. In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include information related to at least one station that will perform DSO.

[0292] At step 1610, the station may decide to switch the operating bandwidth during the service period to a secondary subchannel based on information related to at least one station that will perform the DSO.

[0293] At step 1620, the station may switch the operating bandwidth to the secondary subchannel before the start of the service period (SP) based on the frame based on the DSO related information.

[0294] At step 1630, the station may transmit a response frame to the access point on the secondary subchannel in response to the trigger frame received from the access point.

[0295] In one embodiment, the information associated with at least one second station to perform the DSO may include information indicating the at least one AID.

[0296] In one embodiment, the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may include a bitmap indicating an AID of at least one second station that is to perform the DSO.

[0297] In one embodiment, the information indicating the at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may include at least one of information indicating the smallest value of the AID indicated by the bitmap information and length information of the bitmap.

[0298] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include condition information for performing the DSO. In one embodiment, the at least one second station may be a station that satisfies the condition information for performing the DSO. In one embodiment, the condition information for performing the DSO may include at least one of a traffic type condition and a buffer size condition.

[0299] In one embodiment, the traffic type condition may include information on at least one of an Access Category (AC), a Traffic Identifier (TID), a Traffic Stream Identifier (TSID), and a Low Latency Traffic Indication.

[0300] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include a contention window (DSOCW) value for DSO backoff. In one embodiment, the DSOCW value may be used to select a counter value for the at least one station to perform DSO.

[0301] In one embodiment, the station may select a counter value for performing the DSO based on the DSOCW value. In one embodiment, the station may deduct a first predetermined value from the counter value after the service period ends.

[0302] In one embodiment, the station may decide to switch the operating bandwidth during the service period to a secondary subchannel if the counter value for performing the DSO is a predetermined second value.

[0303] In one embodiment, the DSO-related information may include information indicating a subchannel on which a station corresponding to the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​may operate during the service period. In one embodiment, the information indicating the subchannel may be indicated using values ​​predetermined based on the operating bandwidth of the station.

[0304] In one embodiment, the frame including the DSO-related information may include a management frame. In one embodiment, the frame including the DSO-related information may include a broadcast TWT (target wakeup time)-related frame or a broadcast R-TWT (restricted-target wakeup time)-related frame.

[0305] In one embodiment, the station may initiate a timer for a predetermined time between the transmission and reception of frames during the service period. In one embodiment, the station may terminate the DSO if it does not receive a trigger frame for scheduling within the predetermined time.

[0306] In one embodiment, the station may perform one of the following: switching the operating bandwidth to the primary channel and entering a standby or doze state.

[0307] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0308] In FIG. 17, the access point may include a processor (1701), a transceiver (1702), and a memory (1703). The processor (1701), the transceiver (1702), and the memory (1703) of the access point may operate according to the method(s) described in the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15 . However, the components of the access point are not limited to the examples described above. For example, the access point may include more or fewer components than the above-described components. In addition, the processor (1701), the transceiver (1702), and the memory (1703) may be implemented in the form of at least one chip.

[0309] The transceiver (1702) is a general term for a receiver and a transmitter, and can transmit and receive signals with a station or other network entity through the transceiver (1702). At this time, the transmitted and received signal may include at least one of control information and data. To this end, the transceiver (1702) may include an RF transmitter that up-converts and amplifies the frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver that low-noise amplifies and frequency-downconverts the received signal. This is only one embodiment of the transceiver (1702), and the components of the transceiver (1702) are not limited to the RF transmitter and RF receiver. In addition, the transceiver (1702) can receive a signal and output it to the processor (1701), and transmit the signal output from the processor (1701) to another network entity through the network.

[0310] The memory (1703) can store programs and data necessary for the operation of the access point according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15. In addition, the memory (1703) can store control information and / or data included in a signal acquired from the access point. The memory (1703) can be configured as a storage medium or a combination of storage media, such as a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD.

[0311] The processor (1701) may control a series of processes so that the access point can operate according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15. The processor (1701) may include at least one processor.

[0312] FIG. 18 is a drawing showing an example configuration of a station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0313] In FIG. 18, the station may include a processor (1801), a transceiver (1802), and a memory (1803). The processor (1801), the transceiver (1802), and the memory (1803) of the station may operate according to the method(s) described in the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15 . However, the components of the station are not limited to the examples described above. For example, the station may include more or fewer components than the components described above. In addition, the processor (1801), the transceiver (1802), and the memory (1803) may be implemented in the form of at least one chip.

[0314] The transceiver (1802) is a general term for a receiver and a transmitter, and can transmit and receive signals with a station or other network entity through the transceiver (1802). At this time, the transmitted and received signal may include at least one of control information and data. To this end, the transceiver (1802) may include an RF transmitter that up-converts and amplifies the frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver that low-noise amplifies and frequency-converts the received signal. This is only one embodiment of the transceiver (1802), and the components of the transceiver (1802) are not limited to the RF transmitter and RF receiver. In addition, the transceiver (1802) can receive a signal and output it to the processor (1801), and transmit the signal output from the processor (1801) to another network entity through the network.

[0315] The memory (1803) can store programs and data necessary for the operation of the station according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15. In addition, the memory (03) can store control information and / or data included in a signal acquired from the station. The memory (1803) can be configured as a storage medium or a combination of storage media, such as a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD.

[0316] The processor (1801) may control a series of processes so that the station can operate according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 20. The processor (1801) may include at least one processor.

[0317] In the specific embodiments of the present disclosure described above, components included in the present disclosure are expressed singularly or plurally, depending on the specific embodiment presented. However, the singular or plural expressions are selected to suit the presented situation for convenience of explanation, and the present disclosure is not limited to singular or plural components. Components expressed in plural may be composed of singular elements, or components expressed in singular may be composed of plural elements.

[0318] While the detailed description of this disclosure has described specific embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the scope of the claims described below, but also by equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. In a method performed by an access point in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system, A step of transmitting a frame including information related to dynamic subband operation (DSO) to at least one first station, wherein the DSO-related information includes information related to at least one second station among the at least one first station to perform DSO; A step of initiating a service period (SP) based on the above frame; a step of transmitting a trigger frame to at least one first station; and A method characterized by comprising the step of receiving a response frame on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel during a service period, the operating bandwidth channel being changed based on the DSO-related information from at least one second station.

2. In paragraph 1, A method characterized in that the information related to at least one second station to perform the DSO includes information indicating the at least one AID.

3. In the second paragraph, the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​includes a bitmap indicating the AID of at least one second station to perform the DSO, and A method characterized in that the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​includes at least one of information indicating the smallest AID value indicated by the bitmap information and length information of the bitmap.

4. In paragraph 1, The above DSO-related information includes condition information for performing DSO, The at least one second station is a station that satisfies the condition information for performing the DSO, and A method characterized in that the condition information for performing the above DSO includes at least one of a traffic type condition and a buffer size condition.

5. In paragraph 4, the traffic type condition is: A method characterized by including information on at least one of an access category (AC), a traffic identifier (TID), a traffic stream identifier (TSID), or a low latency traffic indication.

6. In paragraph 1, The above DSO-related information includes a contention window (DSOCW) value for DSO backoff, and A method characterized in that the above DSOCW value is used to select a counter value for the at least one station to perform DSO.

7. In the first paragraph, the DSO-related information includes information indicating a subchannel on which a station corresponding to the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​can operate during the service period, and A method characterized in that the information indicating the subchannel is indicated using values ​​predetermined based on the operating bandwidth of the station.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame including the DSO-related information includes a broadcast TWT (target wakeup time)-related frame or a broadcast R-TWT (restricted-target wakeup time)-related frame.

9. In a method performed by a station in a wireless local access network (WLAN) system, A step of receiving a frame containing information related to dynamic subband operation (DSO) from an access point, wherein the DSO-related information includes information related to at least one station to perform DSO; A step of determining to switch the operating bandwidth during the service period to a secondary subchannel based on information related to at least one station performing the above DSO; A step of switching the operating bandwidth to the secondary subchannel before the start of the service period (SP) based on the frame-based information based on the DSO-related information; and A method characterized by comprising the step of transmitting a response frame to the access point on the secondary subchannel in response to a trigger frame received from the access point.

10. In paragraph 9, A method characterized in that the information related to at least one station performing the DSO includes information indicating at least one AID (association identifier).

11. In the 10th paragraph, the information indicating at least one AID includes a bitmap indicating the AID of at least one station to perform the DSO, and A method characterized in that the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​includes at least one of information indicating the smallest AID value indicated by the bitmap information and length information of the bitmap.

12. In paragraph 9, The above DSO-related information includes condition information for performing DSO, The at least one station is a station that satisfies the condition information for performing the DSO, and A method characterized in that the condition information for performing the above DSO includes at least one of a traffic type condition and a buffer size condition.

13. In paragraph 10, the DSO-related information includes information indicating a subchannel on which a station corresponding to the information indicating at least one AID (association identifier) ​​can operate during the service period, A method characterized in that the information indicating the subchannel is indicated using third values ​​predetermined based on the operating bandwidth of the station.

14. In a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, at an access point (AP), Transmitter and receiver; One or more processors including processing circuitry; and A memory for storing instructions, wherein when the instructions are individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, the access point: Transmitting a frame containing information related to dynamic subband operation (DSO) to at least one first station, wherein the DSO-related information includes information related to at least one second station among the at least one first station to perform DSO; Based on the above frame, the service period (SP) is initiated, Transmitting a trigger frame to at least one first station, and An access point characterized in that it causes the at least one second station to receive a response frame on a secondary subchannel corresponding to an operating bandwidth channel during a service period, the operating bandwidth channel being changed based on the DSO-related information.

15. In a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, at a station, Transmitter and receiver; One or more processors including processing circuitry; and A station comprising a memory for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are individually or collectively executed by one or more processors, wherein the station: Receive a frame containing information related to dynamic subband operation (DSO) from an access point, wherein the DSO-related information includes information related to at least one station to perform DSO; Decide to switch the operating bandwidth during the service period to a secondary subchannel based on information related to at least one station performing the above DSO, Based on the DSO-related information, switching the operating bandwidth to the secondary subchannel before the start of the service period (SP) based on the frame, and A station characterized in that it causes the access point to transmit a response frame on the secondary subchannel in response to a trigger frame received from the access point.

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