Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communications, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. The present application can support an IEEE protocol, such as an IEEE 802.11be protocol, an IEEE 802.11bn protocol, an IEEE integrated millimeter-wave protocol, an IEEE 802.15 protocol, or an IEEE 802.11bf / sensing protocol, and can also be applied to a NearLink system and support a NearLink standard protocol. When a station receives a wireless frame that is not addressed to the station, the station maintains N sets of NAVs on the basis of the wireless frame, wherein the N sets of NAVs respectively correspond to different bandwidths, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Therefore, a station can determine, by combining bandwidths corresponding to different NAVs, a time at which the station can switch to a destination secondary channel, thereby improving the utilization of the destination secondary channel.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411354940.0, filed on September 26, 2024, with the State Intellectual Property Office of China, and the Chinese patent application No. 202411354940.0 has the title of “Communication method and apparatus”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411984742.2, filed on December 28, 2024, with the State Intellectual Property Office of China, and the Chinese patent application No. 202411984742.2 has the title of “Communication method and apparatus”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] Wireless local area network (WLAN) has gone through many generations of standards since its development, including 802.11a / b / g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be and 802.11bn, etc. Among them, 802.11n standard is called high throughput (HT), 802.11ac standard is called very high throughput (VHT), 802.11ax standard is called high efficient (HE), 802.11be standard is called extremely high throughput (EHT), and 802.11bn can be called ultra high reliability (UHR).

[0004] There is a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) mechanism. Through the CSMA / CA mechanism, the interference problem caused by multiple stations using the channel at the same time can be solved. The CSMA / CA mechanism is as follows: a station with transmission demand listens to the channel. When the result of channel listening is busy, the station cannot transmit; when the result of channel listening is idle, the station performs random backoff (i.e., continues to wait for a random period of time). Channel listening includes virtual carrier sensing (also referred to as virtual carrier listening), which is implemented through preamble detection (PD). For example, a station determines the result of virtual carrier sensing through a network allocation vector (NAV). The station maintains the NAV. When the time corresponding to the NAV (also referred to as the NAV value) is not 0, the result of virtual carrier sensing is that the channel is busy. When the time corresponding to the NAV is 0 or the NAV is invalid, the result of virtual carrier sensing is that the channel is idle. At the same time, the standard also supports that a station can perform transmission on a non-primary channel.

[0005] Therefore, how to fully utilize the non-primary channel needs to be solved. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device, which can improve the utilization rate of the non-primary channel.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. The method is applied to a station (STA), which can include a wireless local area network (WLAN) device (including a Wi-Fi device or a device involved in the Starlink alliance, etc.), or a chip, a functional module, a processing system, or a communication component, etc. provided in the WLAN device. The method includes the following steps:

[0008] receiving a first wireless frame, a receiver address (RA) of the first wireless frame indicating that a receiving end is not the station; and maintaining N groups of NAVs according to the first wireless frame, the N groups of NAVs respectively corresponding to different bandwidths, N being an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0009] That is, the station does not participate in a transmission opportunity (TXOP) corresponding to the first wireless frame. The first wireless frame can be transmitted by other stations in a basic service set (BSS) in which the station is located, or can be transmitted by stations in an overlapping BSS (OBSS), and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0010] In the embodiments of the present application, the NAV maintained by the station corresponds to a bandwidth, and different NAVs correspond to different bandwidths, so that the station can switch to the target secondary channel in time in combination with the bandwidths corresponding to the different NAVs, and the utilization rate of the target secondary channel is improved.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the N groups of NAVs are maintained according to the first wireless frame, including: maintaining the N groups of NAVs according to duration information and a bandwidth (BW) of the first wireless frame, wherein the duration information is determined according to the first wireless frame.

[0012] The duration indicated by the duration information is a remaining time length (or a remaining duration) of the TXOP corresponding to the first wireless frame.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, the bandwidth determined according to the first wireless frame can be used to maintain the NAV corresponding to the bandwidth, and the duration determined according to the first wireless frame can be used to maintain the duration corresponding to the NAV. Therefore, in combination with the duration and the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV, the station can explicitly know the time when it can switch to the target secondary channel, and the utilization rate of the target secondary channel is improved.

[0014] In a possible implementation, a first NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a first bandwidth, the first bandwidth includes the primary channel and does not include the target secondary channel; and a second NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth includes the target secondary channel. Optionally, the second bandwidth also includes the primary channel.

[0015] In the embodiments of the present application, different NAVs correspond to different bandwidths, so that the station determines the idle time of the target secondary channel in combination with the relationship between the bandwidths and the duration corresponding to the NAVs, and the station can switch to the target secondary channel in time, and the utilization rate of the target secondary channel is improved.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the N groups of NAVs are maintained according to the first wireless frame, including: maintaining a first NAV according to the first wireless frame; and maintaining a second NAV according to the first wireless frame.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the second bandwidth further includes the primary channel, and the maintaining the N groups of NAVs according to the first wireless frame comprises: maintaining the first NAV according to the first wireless frame in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel; or maintaining the first NAV and the second NAV according to the first wireless frame in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the first NAV according to the first wireless frame comprises: updating the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the first NAV; and not updating the time length corresponding to the first NAV, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the first NAV. The time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the second NAV according to the first wireless frame comprises: updating the time length corresponding to the second NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the second NAV; and not updating the time length corresponding to the second NAV, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the N groups of NAVs according to the first wireless frame comprises: adding a NAV according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the time length information, in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the bandwidth corresponding to each of the N groups of NAVs are different; and maintaining a third NAV according to the time length information, in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the bandwidth corresponding to the third NAV of the N groups of NAVs are the same.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the third NAV according to the time length information comprises: updating the time length corresponding to the third NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the third NAV; and not updating the time length corresponding to the third NAV, in a case where the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the third NAV. The time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the method further comprises: switching to the destination secondary channel; receiving a second wireless frame, wherein a receiving end indicated by a receiving address of the second wireless frame is not the station; and maintaining M groups of NAVs according to the second wireless frame, wherein the M groups of NAVs respectively correspond to different bandwidths, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0023] In a possible implementation, a fourth NAV of the M groups of NAVs corresponds to a fourth bandwidth, and the fourth bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel.

[0024] As an example, the M-group NAV is partially the same as the N-group NAV, or the M-group NAV is different from the N-group NAV. For example, the M-group NAV includes a fourth NAV, and the N-group NAV does not include the fourth NAV. Alternatively, the M-group NAV further includes a second NAV1, and the N-group NAV includes the second NAV1. The second NAV1 corresponds to a second bandwidth 1, and the second bandwidth 1 includes a destination subchannel 1, which is the destination subchannel to which the station switches. Alternatively, the M-group NAV does not include a first NAV, and the N-group NAV includes the first NAV. Alternatively, the N-group NAV further includes a second NAV2, and the M-group NAV does not include the second NAV2.

[0025] As another example, the M-group NAV is the same as the N-group NAV. For example, M=N. The N-group NAV (or the M-group NAV) includes a first NAV and a second NAV, and the second NAV corresponds to a second bandwidth, which includes the destination subchannel and does not include the primary channel.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the M-group NAV according to the second radio frame comprises: maintaining the fourth NAV according to the second radio frame.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the M-group NAV according to the second radio frame further comprises: maintaining the second NAV according to the second radio frame, and the second NAV corresponds to a second bandwidth, which includes the primary channel and the destination subchannel.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the M-group NAV according to the second radio frame comprises: in a case where the bandwidth of the second radio frame includes the destination subchannel and does not include the primary channel, maintaining the fourth NAV according to the second radio frame.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the fourth NAV according to the second radio frame comprises: if a time length indicated by time length information determined according to the second radio frame is greater than a time length corresponding to the fourth NAV, updating the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information; and if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV, not updating the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the maintaining the M-group NAV according to the second radio frame comprises: in a case where the bandwidth of the second radio frame includes the primary channel and the destination subchannel, maintaining the second NAV and the fourth NAV according to the first radio frame.

[0031] Alternatively, in a case where the bandwidth of the second radio frame includes the primary channel and the destination subchannel, the station can further maintain a first NAV.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the destination secondary channel is a non-primary channel of the station.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the NAV corresponds to a time duration and a bandwidth.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the NAV comprises at least one of a basic NAV or an inter-BSS NAV.

[0035] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a station for performing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner. The first station comprises a module for performing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner.

[0036] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a station, comprising a processor and a transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to perform the processing steps in the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner, and the transceiver is configured to perform the transceiving steps in the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a station, comprising a logic circuit and an interface, wherein the interface is configured to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is configured to enable the station to implement the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which when executed on a computer (such as a station) causes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner to be performed.

[0039] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which when executed on a computer (such as a station) causes the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner to be performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG. 1b is another schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram of a CSMA / CA mechanism according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG. 2b is a schematic diagram of a change of a NAV according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an interaction between STAs according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a puncturing diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a non-primary channel access (NPCA) mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a dynamic sub-band operation (DSO) mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG. 7a is a diagram of a geographical relationship between STA1-ST A3 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG. 7b is a diagram of a relationship between two TXOPs provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 9a-FIG. 9f are diagrams of maintaining a NAV provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 10 is a diagram of maintaining a NAV provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of maintaining a NAV provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b are diagrams of maintaining a NAV provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a structure of a station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG. 14 is a diagram of another structure of a station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG. 15 is a diagram of yet another structure of a station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG. 17 is a diagram of a scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the present application, the present application will be further described below with reference to the drawings.

[0063] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the description, claims and drawings of the application merely mean different objects and do not imply a particular order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "including" and any of their derivatives, are intended to be construed as encompassing not only the listed items, but also any additional item not listed. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus, or the like, that comprises a list of steps or units, is not limited to the listed steps or units, but can optionally further comprise additional steps or units not listed, or can optionally further comprise other steps or units inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus, etc.

[0064] Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase that an embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they necessarily mutually exclusive of one another. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, embodiments described herein can be combined with one another.

[0065] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "at least two" means two or three and more, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A, only B, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" means that there can be two relationships, such as only A, only B; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that there are three relationships, such as only A, only B, and A and B exist at the same time. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".

[0066] In the present application, transmission includes sending and receiving. Transmission can also mean the meaning of communication.

[0067] In the present application, "sending" and "receiving" represent the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information is XX, which can include direct sending through the air interface, and also includes indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information is YY, which can include direct receiving from YY through the air interface, and also includes indirect receiving from YY through the air interface from other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can be between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules or hardware modules within a device through a bus, wire or interface.

[0068] The following describes a communication system related to an embodiment of the present application.

[0069] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, such as Wi-Fi or ambient power (AMP). The method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to IEEE 802.11 series protocols, for example, 802.11a / b / g protocols, 802.11bf protocols, 802.11az protocols, 802.11bk protocols, 802.11n protocols, 802.11ac protocols, 802.11ax protocols, 802.11be protocols, 802.11bn protocols, or next-generation protocols, and the like. For example, 802.11ad protocols, 802.11ay or next-generation protocols, and the like, which are not listed one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a wireless personal area network (WPAN) based on ultra wideband (UWB) technology. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to millimeter wave (MMW) technology, including integrated MMW (IMMW). The method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applicable to IEEE 802.15 series protocols, for example, 802.15.4a protocols, 802.15.4z protocols, or 802.15.4ab protocols, or a future generation UWB WPAN protocol, or star flash, and the like, which are not listed one by one. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a communication system, for example, can be an internet of things (IoT) system, a vehicle to X (V2X) system, a narrow band IoT (NB-IoT) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5th-generation (5G) communication system, and a new communication system that appears in future communication development, and the like.

[0070] The WLAN system can provide high-rate and low-latency transmission. As the WLAN application scenarios evolve, the WLAN system will be applied to more scenarios or industries, such as the Internet of Things industry, the Internet of Vehicles industry, the banking industry, enterprise offices, sports venues, exhibition halls, concert halls, hotel rooms, dormitories, hospital rooms, classrooms, supermarkets, squares, streets, manufacturing workshops, and warehouses. Of course, the devices (such as access points or stations) that support WLAN communication or sensing can be sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, and smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, televisions, sound systems, refrigerators, washing machines, and the like), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) wearable devices), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, amplifiers, sound systems, and the like), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation stations in supermarkets, self-service checkout devices, self-service ordering machines, and the like), and devices in large sports and music venues.

[0071] Although the embodiments of the present application mainly take WLAN as an example, especially the network applying to the IEEE 802.11 series standards. The various aspects involved in the embodiments of the present application can be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols. For example, Bluetooth, high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard, mainly used in Europe) and wide area network (WAN) or other now known or later developed networks.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a station in a communication system. For example, the station can be an access point (AP) or a non-access point station (non-AP STA).

[0073] The access point is a station with wireless communication function, which supports communication or sensing using WLAN protocol, and has the function of communicating or sensing with other devices (such as non-AP STA or other access points, etc.). Alternatively, the access point is equivalent to a bridge connecting wired network and wireless network, and mainly functions to connect various wireless network clients together, and then access the wireless network to the Ethernet. Alternatively, the access point can act as a special station in the BSS to access the distribution system (DS). In the WLAN system, the access point can be referred to as an access point station (AP STA). The station with wireless communication function can be a whole device, or a chip, processing system or functional module installed in the whole device, etc. The device installed with the chip or processing system or functional module can realize the method and function of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system or functional module. The AP in the embodiments of the present application is a station providing services for non-AP STA, which can support 802.11 series protocol or subsequent protocol, etc. For example, the access point can be an access point for terminals (such as mobile phones) to enter wired (or wireless) network, which is mainly deployed in homes, buildings and parks, and the typical coverage radius is dozens of meters to hundreds of meters, of course, it can also be deployed outdoors. For another example, the AP can be a communication server, a router, a switch, a network bridge and other communication entities; the AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, the AP can also be a chip or processing system or module in the above various forms of devices, so as to realize the method and function of the embodiments of the present application. Of course, the AP can also include an AP belonging to a multi-link device (MLD), or a co-located AP, etc.

[0074] The non-AP STA is a station with wireless communication function, supports communication or sensing using WLAN protocol, and has the capability of communicating or sensing with other non-AP STAs or access points in the WLAN network. For example, the non-AP STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate or sense with an AP and then communicate with the WLAN. The station with wireless communication function can be a whole device, or a chip or processing system or functional module installed in the whole device. The device in which the chip or processing system or functional module is installed can implement the method and function of the embodiments of the present application under the control of the chip or processing system or functional module. For example, the non-AP STA can be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor or a wireless communication terminal, and can also be referred to as a user. For another example, the non-AP STA can be a mobile phone supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a tablet computer supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a smart television supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication function, and a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication function. Of course, the non-AP STA can also be a chip or processing system or module in the above various forms of devices, thereby implementing the method and function of the embodiments of the present application. Of course, the non-AP STA can also include a non-AP STA affiliated to an MLD or a co-located STA.

[0075] For example, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a communication system including an AP and a non-AP STA. For example, the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a scenario of communication or sensing between an AP and a non-AP STA, between an AP and an AP, or between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA in a WLAN, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the AP can communicate or sense with a single non-AP STA, or the AP can simultaneously communicate or sense with multiple non-AP STAs. Specifically, the communication or sensing between the AP and the multiple non-AP STAs can include downlink transmission in which the AP simultaneously sends signals to the multiple non-AP STAs, and uplink transmission in which the multiple non-AP STAs send signals to the AP. The communication between the AP and the non-AP STA, the communication between the AP and the AP, and the communication between the non-AP STA and the non-AP STA can support a WLAN communication protocol, which can include IEEE 802.11 series protocols, such as 802.11n / 802.11ac / 802.11ax / 802.11be / 802.11bn protocols, and of course also applies to protocols after 802.11bn.

[0076] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system can include one or more APs and one or more non-AP STAs. In FIG. 1a, one access point, e.g., AP1, and three stations, e.g., non-AP STA1, non-AP STA2 and non-AP STA3, are shown. For example, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to data communication between one AP and one or more non-AP STAs (e.g., communication between AP1 and non-AP STA1 as shown in FIG. 1a, or communication between AP1 and non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2), or between APs, or between non-AP STAs (e.g., communication between non-AP STA2 and non-AP STA3 as shown in FIG. 1a). The method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to, but not limited to, single-user uplink / downlink transmission, multi-user uplink / downlink transmission, vehicle-to-everything (V2X, X can represent any thing), device-to-device (D2D), etc. For example, the V2X can include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, etc.

[0077] It can be understood that, in FIG. 1a, the non-AP STA is a mobile phone and the AP is a router as an example, which does not limit the types of AP and non-AP STA in the embodiments of the present application. Meanwhile, FIG. 1a only shows one AP and three non-AP STAs as an example, but the number of APs or non-AP STAs can be more or less, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0078] Figure 1b is another architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1b, one basic service set (BSS) can include one AP and one or more non-AP STAs. The communication system can include multiple BSSs, and Figure 1b shows three BSSs, BSS1-BSS3, as an example. Each BSS can correspond to one AP and multiple non-AP STAs. Within a BSS, the AP can communicate with one or more non-AP STAs. As shown in Figure 1b, BSS1 includes AP1, non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2, BSS2 includes AP2, non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA5, and BSS3 includes AP3, non-AP STA3 and non-AP STA4.

[0079] Overlapping BSS (OBSS): BSSs that have overlapping coverage and use the same channel. To fully extend coverage, the coverage of APs can partially or fully overlap when the network is deployed. Because of the limited spectrum, multiple BSSs can reuse the same channel. BSS1 and BSS2 in Figure 1b are OBSSs. OBSSs can communicate with each other, but can interfere with each other.

[0080] Figure 1b is an example of three BSSs. In a specific implementation, the communication system can have more or fewer BSSs, which are not listed here.

[0081] The following introduces terms related to embodiments of the present application.

[0082] 1. Operating channel

[0083] The channel on which a station can receive wireless frames is referred to as the operating channel. Alternatively, the channel on which a station can transmit wireless frames is referred to as the operating channel. That is, the operating channel is the channel on which a station can transmit wireless frames.

[0084] 2. Primary channel and non-primary channel

[0085] Primary channel: the common channel of operation for all stations that members of the BSS. Optionally, the bandwidth of the primary channel is 20MHz. For the NPCA mechanism, the primary channel is used to transmit 20MHz PPDUs. For the DSO mechanism, the primary channel is used to transmit 20MHz PPDUs.

[0086] A channel other than the primary channel is referred to as a non-primary channel. As for 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz or 320MHz, a channel other than the primary 20MHz channel is referred to as a non-primary channel. Optionally, the bandwidth of the non-primary channel is 20MHz.

[0087] 3. Destination secondary channel

[0088] The destination secondary channel is a non-primary channel.

[0089] Optionally, the destination secondary channel is a non-primary channel for NPCA for the station. The destination secondary channel can be a sub-channel of the non-primary channel. As an example, the bandwidth of the destination secondary channel is 20MHz. For the NPCA mechanism, the destination secondary channel is a 20MHz non-primary channel for which the station performs virtual carrier sensing. Alternatively, for the NPCA mechanism, the destination secondary channel is a 20MHz non-primary channel for which the station can transmit a 20MHz PPDU.

[0090] Optionally, the destination secondary channel is a non-primary channel for DSO for the station. The destination secondary channel can be a sub-channel of the non-primary channel. As an example, the bandwidth of the destination secondary channel is 20MHz. For the DSO mechanism, the destination secondary channel is a 20MHz non-primary channel for which the station performs virtual carrier sensing. In the DSO mechanism, when the station switches from an operating channel to an assigned channel (i.e., transitions from transmitting using the operating channel to transmitting using the assigned channel), the station can perform carrier sensing on the destination secondary channel. Alternatively, for the DSO mechanism, the destination secondary channel is a 20MHz non-primary channel for which the station can transmit a 20MHz PPDU. In the DSO mechanism, when the station switches from an operating channel to an assigned channel, the station can transmit a 20MHz PPDU on the destination secondary channel. In the DSO mechanism, each assigned channel corresponds to a destination secondary channel.

[0091] The number of destination secondary channels for a station can be one or more. The description for NPCA and DSO can be referred to below and will not be elaborated here.

[0092] 4. Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA)

[0093] There can be multiple stations in the same space that have communication needs. If these stations transmit signals at the same time, it can cause multiple signals to superimpose at the receiving end and no signal can be received. Therefore, the CSMA / CA mechanism can be used to solve the interference problem caused by multiple stations using the channel at the same time. The CSMA / CA mechanism is as follows: a station that has a transmission need listens to the channel. When the result of channel listening is busy, the station cannot transmit; when the result of channel listening is idle, the station performs random backoff (i.e., continues to wait for a random period of time). During the backoff period, if the station listens to the channel and finds that the channel is busy again, the station suspends the backoff (i.e., still does not transmit) and continues the backoff after the channel is idle. After the backoff is completed, the station can transmit.

[0094] In the embodiments of the present application, the channel can also be referred to as a medium. Listening to the channel can also be referred to as carrier sensing (CS).

[0095] FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram of the CSMA / CA mechanism provided by the embodiments of the present application. FIG. 2a exemplarily shows the process of a station listening to the channel. As shown in FIG. 2a, after the backoff is completed, the station can transmit. Exemplarily, the station in the OBSS can transmit through the non-primary channel 4. The station in the BSS occupies the primary channel. Optionally, the station in the BSS can also occupy the non-primary channel 1 to the non-primary channel 3 and the non-primary channel 5 to the non-primary channel 7.

[0096] The above-mentioned listening to the channel includes physical carrier sensing (physical CS) and virtual carrier sensing (virtual CS).

[0097] (1) The physical carrier sensing is implemented through energy detection (ED). Exemplarily, if the energy of the PPDU received by the station in a bandwidth (such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, etc.) is lower than the energy threshold 1 corresponding to the bandwidth, the result of the physical CS is that the channel is idle; otherwise, the channel is busy. The energy threshold 1 and the energy threshold 2 can be the same or different, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0098] (2) Virtual carrier sensing is realized through preamble detection (PD). A station detects a PPDU on a part of the channel (e.g., the primary 20MHz channel), sets the NAV to the duration indicated by the PPDU (e.g., sets a timer), and the timer counts down. The station determines whether the channel is busy or idle through the NAV. The station maintains the NAV, and the result of the virtual CS is that the channel is busy when the NAV duration (or NAV value) is not 0, and the result of the virtual CS is that the channel is idle when the NAV duration is 0 or the NAV is invalid. During the time when the NAV duration is not 0, the transmission on the channel is not initiated by the station maintaining the NAV.

[0099] It can be understood that the setting or updating of the NAV is performed when the reception of the PPDU (or wireless frame) is completed. For example, when a station receives a PPDU, the station updates or sets the NAV according to the duration information in the PPDU. For another example, when a station receives a PPDU (or wireless frame), the station updates or sets the NAV according to the duration information in the wireless frame in the PPDU.

[0100] A station receives a PPDU in the channel and analyzes the PPDU, and obtains the duration indicated by the duration information, which is the remaining time length of the TXOP corresponding to the PPDU. Unless a special case (e.g., a contention-free end (CF-end) frame is received or the time length of the TXOP is extended, etc.), when the PPDU is not a PPDU sent to itself, the result of the virtual CS is that the channel is busy during the duration indicated by the NAV, which is 0 or invalid, and the result of the virtual CS is that the channel is idle. Before the NAV duration is 0, the NAV duration can be cleared immediately after the station receives a CF-end frame. Alternatively, when the NAV duration is invalid, the result of the virtual CS is also that the channel is idle. Before the NAV duration is 0, the station receives another PPDU that is not sent to itself, and the duration indicated by the duration information in the PPDU (or the duration information in the wireless frame in the PPDU) is greater than the NAV duration, and then the NAV duration is updated to the duration indicated by the duration information. The PPDU can be a PPDU in the BSS or a PPDU in another BSS.

[0101] In an embodiment of the present application, the duration information in the PPDU includes:

[0102] The duration indicated by the duration information is the duration indicated by a duration field in a MAC header of a wireless frame in the PPDU. That is, the duration information is the duration field. The duration information in the PPDU can also be referred to as the duration field in the wireless frame in the PPDU.

[0103] The duration indicated by the duration information is the duration indicated by a TXOP field in a PHY header of the PPDU. That is, the duration information is the TXOP field. The duration information in the PPDU can also be referred to as the TXOP field in the PPDU.

[0104] Optionally, in the case where the duration indicated by the duration field is different from the duration indicated by the TXOP field, the duration indicated by the duration information can be the duration indicated by the duration field.

[0105] The above-mentioned manner 1 and manner 2 are only examples, and in a specific implementation, the station can also determine the duration information in other manners, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application. The description about determining the duration information herein is also applicable to the following.

[0106] FIG. 2b is a schematic diagram of NAV change provided by an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 2b, t0-t4 represent time, and the time sequence is t0, t3, t1, t4, t2 in turn. t0 represents time 0, or time 0, or the time when the NAV has been cleared, or the time when the station receives a PPDU. STA1 receives PPDU1 (the PPDU1 includes wireless frame 1) at t0. The RA of the PPDU1 (or the wireless frame 1 in the PPDU1) is not the medium access control (MAC) address of STA1 itself, and the end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in the PPDU1 is t1. Then, STA1 updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the NAV as t1. At t3, STA1 detects PPDU2 (the PPDU2 includes wireless frame 2). The RA of the PPDU2 (or the wireless frame 2 in the PPDU2) is not the MAC address of STA1 itself, and the end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in the PPDU2 is t2, which is later than t1. Then, STA1 updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the NAV as t2. At t4, STA1 receives a CF-end frame, and the duration corresponding to the NAV is cleared. FIG. 2b does not distinguish between the basic NAV and the intra-BSS NAV, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0107] Optionally, a station can maintain a NAV. Any PPDU received by the station with a reception address not for itself (the reception address is not for itself when the reception address is a unicast address, or the reception address does not include itself when the reception address is a group address) can cause the station to set or update the NAV.

[0108] Optionally, a station can maintain two NAVs. For example, the two NAVs can be a basic NAV and an inter-BSS NAV. The inter-BSS NAV can be updated when the station receives a PPDU with a reception address not for itself, where the PPDU is a PPDU of the station's own BSS. The basic NAV can be updated when the station receives a PPDU with a reception address not for itself, where the PPDU is an OBSS PPDU or cannot be determined whether it is an OBSS PPDU or a PPDU of the station's own BSS. The station can consider a channel as idle when both the virtual CS and the physical CS of the channel indicate that the channel is idle.

[0109] Since PD is more difficult than ED, a station can perform ED on its operating channel and perform PD on a portion of the station's channel. The portion of the channel can include, but is not limited to, the primary 20 MHz channel of the station (i.e., the primary 20 MHz channel of the BSS in which the station is located). For example, an 80 MHz station can perform ED on the 80 MHz channel and perform PD on the primary 20 MHz channel. The station can consider a channel as idle when both the virtual CS and the physical CS of the channel indicate that the channel is idle, and consider the channel as busy when either the virtual CS or the physical CS of the channel indicates that the channel is busy.

[0110] 5. Transmission opportunity (TXOP)

[0111] For WLAN systems, a station can transmit in units of physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs). Typically, a station can transmit multiple PPDUs to complete a transaction. Before the introduction of TXOP, a station can perform backoff before each transmission of a PPDU, which can result in low transmission efficiency. After the introduction of TXOP, a station that has completed backoff can efficiently transmit multiple PPDUs.

[0112] The time period obtained after the station backoff is complete is the TXOP. Within the length of the TXOP, adjacent PPDUs (meaning PPDUs received by a station and PPDUs transmitted by a station, or PPDUs transmitted by a station and PPDUs transmitted by a station) can be separated by a time period, and adjacent PPDUs do not need to backoff. The time period between adjacent PPDUs can include, but is not limited to, a short interframe space (SIFS). The station can declare the length of the TXOP at the beginning of the TXOP, so that other stations can parse the length of the TXOP and avoid competing for the channel within the length of the TXOP.

[0113] The station that obtains the TXOP through backoff competition is referred to as the TXOP holder (that is, the station that transmits the first frame of the TXOP) of the TXOP. The station that communicates with the TXOP holder within the TXOP is referred to as the TXOP responder (that is, the station that participates in the transmission within the TXOP, except for the TXOP holder) of the TXOP. The TXOP holder and the TXOP responder are both participants of the TXOP.

[0114] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of interaction between STAs according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, STA1 is the TXOP holder, and STA2 is the TXOP responder. Within the length of the TXOP obtained by STA1, STA1 can transmit PPDU1, PPDU3, and PPDU4 to STA2. STA2 can reply with PPDU2 and PPDU5. PPDU2 can be an ACK frame or a BA frame. PPDU5 can be an ACK frame or a BA frame. PPDU1 and PPDU2 are separated by a SIFS, and PPDU4 and PPDU5 are separated by a SIFS (not shown in FIG. 3). Within the TXOP obtained by STA1, STA3 and STA4 do not participate in the transmission. That is, STA3 and STA4 can not actively transmit PPDUs, so as to avoid causing interference to STA1 or STA2 (as shown in FIG. 3, so as to avoid causing interference to the TXOP).

[0115] 6, puncturing

[0116] As the bandwidth of a station is larger and larger, the possibility of a subchannel (e.g., a part of an operating channel) within the bandwidth being busy is higher and higher. Before the introduction of the puncturing mechanism, the bandwidth used by a station must be continuous and include the primary 20MHz channel. For example, if a secondary 20MHz channel of a station is busy, even if the bandwidth of the station is 160MHz and other secondary channels are all idle, the station can only use the primary 20MHz channel. To improve the spectrum usage efficiency, the station can puncture the busy secondary channel, and thus use the primary channel and the idle secondary channels. The puncturing only punctures the secondary channels, and the primary 20MHz channel cannot be punctured.

[0117] FIG. 4 is a puncturing diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, the bandwidth of a station is 160MHz, and if the station does not puncture the busy channel, the station can only use the primary 20MHz channel. After the station punctures the busy channel, the station can use the primary 20MHz channel and all idle 20MHz secondary channels.

[0118] 7. Non-primary channel access (NPCA)

[0119] Before the introduction of the non-primary channel access mechanism, once the primary 20MHz channel is busy, the station can only back off. However, as the stations are deployed more and more densely and the bandwidth of the stations is larger and larger, the spectrum usage efficiency caused by the primary 20MHz channel access is also decreasing. For example, a 160MHz station cannot use any channel and can only back off even if only the primary 20MHz channel is detected as busy and the remaining 20MHz channels are all detected as idle. To improve the channel utilization, the station can use the non-primary channel access.

[0120] When the primary 20MHz channel is occupied by an OBSS, the station can switch to a non-primary channel to communicate. For example, when the primary 20MHz channel is busy, the station can communicate through the idle non-primary channel in the time period in which the primary channel is unavailable. Before the station communicates on the non-primary channel, the station can perform a virtual CS on the non-primary channel. The station performs a physical CS on the operating channel (including the primary channel and the foregoing non-primary channel), and accesses the non-primary channel to communicate when both the result of the virtual CS and the result of the physical CS are that the channel is idle. In the case of not considering point-to-point (P2P) transmission, if the primary 20MHz channel is occupied by the BSS, the station cannot switch to the non-primary channel or cannot communicate even if it switches to the non-primary channel.

[0121] The non-primary channel can be assigned by the AP or agreed by the transceiver pair. For non-primary channel access, the bandwidth of the AP is greater than the bandwidth of the non-AP STA, or the bandwidth of the AP is less than the bandwidth of the non-AP STA, or the bandwidth of the AP is equal to the bandwidth of the non-AP STA.

[0122] In the embodiments of the present application, switching of a station from channel A to channel B, or jumping of a station from channel A to channel B means that the function implemented by the station on channel A can be implemented on channel B. The bandwidths of channel A and channel B can be the same or different, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0123] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a non-primary channel access (NPCA) mechanism provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, a station has a transmission requirement, and because the primary 20MHz channel is busy, the station can switch to a non-primary channel 6. The station performs virtual CS on the non-primary channel 6 and performs physical CS on the channel including the non-primary channel 6 and the primary channel, and the results of the virtual CS and the physical CS are both channel idle. The station considers the channel idle and performs communication on the non-primary channel 6 after backoff succeeds on the non-primary channel 6. Optionally, before the TXOP of the primary channel ends, the station can switch back to the primary 20MHz channel. Optionally, in the case that the station receives an OBSS PPDU, the station can switch back to the primary 20MHz channel. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the timing of switching of the station back to the primary 20MHz channel.

[0124] 8. Dynamic sub-band operation (DSO)

[0125] When the bandwidth of the AP is greater than the bandwidth of the non-AP STA, the large bandwidth capability of the AP cannot be fully utilized. For example, the bandwidth of the AP is 160MHz and the bandwidth of the non-AP STA is 80MHz, so that even if the AP has a 160MHz capability, the non-AP STA can only transmit and receive a PPDU with a maximum bandwidth of 80MHz. In the case that the transceiver pair must use the primary 20MHz channel, the secondary 80MHz of the AP cannot be effectively utilized. If the bandwidths of the non-AP STAs associated with the AP are all less than or equal to 80MHz, the secondary 80MHz of the AP cannot be used at all. In order to improve the channel utilization rate of the large bandwidth AP, a DSO mechanism can be introduced.

[0126] In the case that the primary channel is occupied by the AP of the BSS, at the beginning of the TXOP, the AP can move non-AP STAs out of their operating channel, and the AP and the non-AP STAs communicate using the allocated non-primary channels within the time length of the TXOP. Different non-AP STAs can be allocated to different non-primary channels, so that the AP can use DSO to fill the non-AP STAs with the entire bandwidth, fully utilizing the large bandwidth characteristics of the AP.

[0127] Since the location of the AP is different from the location of the non-AP STA, there can be a case that the AP cannot receive wireless frames of other stations, while the non-AP STA can receive wireless frames of other stations, so after the non-AP STA is allocated to a non-primary channel, the non-AP STA can perform channel detection on part or all of the channels in the non-primary channel, and if the result is busy, it cannot be transmitted. The channel detection includes performing ED on all allocated non-primary channels, and / or performing PD on one or more 20MHz channels in the allocated non-primary channel.

[0128] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a dynamic sub-band operation (DSO) mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 6 exemplarily shows channels used by a non-AP STA at different times. The bandwidth of the AP is 320MHz, and the bandwidth of the non-AP STA is 80MHz. At the beginning of the TXOP, the non-AP STA can switch to the low 80MHz in the secondary 160MHz of the AP (i.e., the non-AP STA shifts the center frequency point). Optionally, at no later than the end of the TXOP, the non-AP STA can switch back to the primary 80MHz.

[0129] Whether it is the NPCA mechanism or the DSO mechanism, the existing setting and updating method of the NAV makes it impossible for the station to accurately determine whether the destination secondary channel is busy or idle when performing PD on the primary 20MHz channel, thereby resulting in low efficiency of switching channels and low usage rate of the destination secondary channel.

[0130] FIG. 7a is a schematic diagram of geographical relationship among STA1-STA3 according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 7b is a schematic diagram of relationship between two TXOPs according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7a, STA1 and STA2 are in each other's coverage, and can receive and parse the PPDU sent by each other. STA1 and STA3 are also in each other's coverage, and can receive and parse the PPDU sent by each other. However, STA2 and STA3 are too far away from each other, and cannot receive the PPDU sent by each other. Assume that STA2 participates in TXOP1, STA1 receives PPDU1 at t0, the bandwidth of PPDU1 is 80MHz, and the end time of the time length indicated by the time length information in PPDU1 is t1. As shown in FIG. 7b, between t0 and t1, the bandwidth of PPDU1 is 80MHz, which includes both the primary channel and the destination secondary channel. Since STA3 cannot receive PPDU1 sent by STA2, STA3 can consider that the channel is idle during the time length of TXOP1, and participates in another TXOP2. Assume that STA1 receives PPDU2 at t2, the bandwidth of PPDU2 is 40MHz, and the end time of the time length indicated by the time length information in PPDU2 is t3. As shown in FIG. 7b, between t2 and t3, the bandwidth of PPDU2 is 40MHz, which includes the primary channel but does not include the destination secondary channel. The destination secondary channel is located in the high 20MHz of the secondary 40MHz (S40-U20).

[0131] STA1 receives PPDU1 (or wireless frame 1 in PPDU1) with RA not being the MAC address of STA1 at t0, and sets the NAV according to PPDU1 after receiving PPDU1, the end time of the time length corresponding to the NAV is t1. STA1 receives PPDU2 (or wireless frame 2 in PPDU2) with RA not being the MAC address of STA1 at t2, t3 is later than t1, and STA1 updates the end time of the time length corresponding to the NAV to t3 after receiving PPDU2.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 7b, PPDU1 occupies the destination secondary channel of STA1, so STA1 cannot switch to the destination secondary channel between t0 and t1. However, between t1 and t3, neither PPDU2 nor PPDU1 occupies the destination secondary channel. Thus, the above scheme causes that the station can originally switch to the destination secondary channel between t1 and t3, but the station updates the NAV at t2, so that t1 is covered by t3, thereby causing the station to fail to switch to the destination secondary channel in time.

[0133] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device, which can effectively utilize the target secondary channel and improve the utilization rate of the target secondary channel. In the method, the station maintains the NAV corresponding to different bandwidths according to the wireless frames received by the station. Optionally, the station can maintain the NAV corresponding to different bandwidths according to the wireless frames received by the station on the corresponding channel. For example, the station maintains the NAV corresponding to different bandwidths corresponding to the primary 20MHz channel according to the wireless frames received on the primary 20MHz channel. For another example, the station can maintain the NAV corresponding to different bandwidths corresponding to the target secondary channel according to the wireless frames received on the target secondary channel. Optionally, the different bandwidths refer to different positions in the frequency domain. Optionally, the different bandwidths refer to different bandwidth sizes. The method is described in detail below.

[0134] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The method can be applied to a station. The station is described in detail with reference to the description of FIG. 1a or FIG. 1b. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication method comprises the following steps.

[0135] 801. The station receives a first wireless frame, and the RA field of the first wireless frame indicates a receiving end that is not the station.

[0136] The wireless frame comprises an RA field, which can be used to indicate the MAC address of the receiving end. The MAC address indicated by the RA field in the first wireless frame is not the MAC address of the station itself. For example, the TXOP corresponding to the first wireless frame is TXOP1, and within the time length of the TXOP1, other stations in the BSS send the first wireless frame, or stations in the OBSS send the first wireless frame.

[0137] Optionally, the station can determine whether the first wireless frame is sent to itself according to the BSS color. The BSS color is described in detail with reference to the 802.11 standard, which is not described here.

[0138] For the convenience of description, the PPDU carrying the first wireless frame is referred to as the first PPDU. For example, the first wireless frame can be carried in the data field of the first PPDU. In view of the relationship between the first PPDU and the first wireless frame, the description of the first wireless frame is also applicable to the first PPDU, or the description of the first PPDU is also applicable to the first wireless frame.

[0139] 802. The station maintains N groups of NAVs according to the first wireless frame, and the N groups of NAVs correspond to different bandwidths respectively, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0140] In the embodiments of the present application, the NAV corresponds to a time length and a bandwidth. For example, the time length corresponding to the NAV is the NAV value, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV is the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV value.

[0141] Optionally, the NAV comprises one NAV. For example, the NAV is an intra-BSS NAV or an intra-BSS NAV. Optionally, the NAV comprises two NAVs, for example, an intra-BSS NAV and a basic NAV. For example, a first NAV in the N-group NAVs comprises an intra-BSS NAV, or comprises an intra-BSS NAV and a basic NAV. The first NAV can be one of the N-group NAVs. For another example, a second NAV in the N-group NAVs comprises an intra-BSS NAV, or comprises an intra-BSS NAV and a basic NAV. The second NAV is different from the first NAV in the N-group NAVs. As the standard evolves, other types of NAVs can also appear in the future, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0142] For example, the station maintains an intra-BSS NAV and a basic NAV. If the first PPDU in which the first wireless frame received by the station has a RA address that is not the address of the station is a BSS PPDU, the intra-BSS NAV is updated. If the first PPDU in which the first wireless frame received by the station has a RA address that is not the address of the station is an OBSS PPDU, or if it is not possible to distinguish whether the first PPDU is a BSS PPDU or an OBSS PPDU, the basic NAV is updated. The descriptions of the basic NAV and the intra-BSS NAV can be referred to the descriptions of the CSMA / CA in the foregoing, or can be referred to the 802.11 standard, and will not be described in detail herein. The descriptions of the first NAV herein are also applicable to the second NAV, and will not be described in detail herein.

[0143] It can be understood that if the station does not detect a clear to send (CTS) corresponding to a request to send (RTS), or does not detect a data frame corresponding to the RTS within a predetermined time, the NAV corresponding to the time period is reset, and the NAV corresponds to a state in which the RTS is not detected.

[0144] In the embodiments of the present application, the station maintains N-group NAVs according to time period information and a bandwidth of the first wireless frame. The time period information is determined according to the first wireless frame. In other words, the station can determine the time period information by analyzing the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU).

[0145] The time period information is used to indicate a time period, or in other words, the time period information is used to indicate a remaining time length of a current TXOP, or in other words, the time period information is used to indicate an ending time of the current TXOP.

[0146] As an example, the time period indicated by the time period information is a time period indicated by a duration field in a MAC header of the first wireless frame. In other words, the time period information is the duration field.

[0147] As another example, the duration indicated by the duration information is the duration indicated by a TXOP field in a PHY header of the first PPDU. In other words, the duration information is the TXOP field.

[0148] Optionally, in a case where both the duration field and the TXOP field are valid, and the end time of the duration indicated by the duration field is different from the end time of the duration indicated by the TXOP field, or in a case where the duration indicated by the duration field is different from the duration indicated by the TXOP field, the duration indicated by the duration information is the duration indicated by the duration field. In other words, in the above case, the station can maintain the NAV corresponding to the duration indicated by the duration field.

[0149] In a specific implementation, the station can also determine the duration information in other manners, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0150] The bandwidth of the first wireless frame is the bandwidth of a PPDU (i.e., the first PPDU) carrying the first wireless frame. The bandwidth of the first wireless frame can be indicated by a BW field or a Bandwidth field in the first PPDU.

[0151] For example, if the first PPDU is a VHT PPDU, the bandwidth of the first PPDU can be carried in a BW field in a VHT-SIG-A field in the first PPDU. If the first PPDU is a HE PPDU, the bandwidth of the first PPDU can be carried in a Bandwidth field of a HE-SIG-A in the first PPDU. If the first PPDU is an EHT PPDU, the bandwidth of the first PPDU can be carried in a Bandwidth field in a U-SIG field in the first PPDU. If the first PPDU is a UHR PPDU or a next-generation PHY PPDU, etc., the bandwidth of the first PPDU can be carried in a bandwidth-related field in the first PPDU.

[0152] For another example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can be determined according to a TA field in the first wireless frame. For example, the first wireless frame is an RTS frame, the RTS frame is included in a non-HT PPDU, and a TA field in the RTS frame includes a bandwidth signaling TA. The TA field including the bandwidth signaling TA can be used to determine the bandwidth of the first wireless frame. The bandwidth of the first wireless frame can also be determined in other manners, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0153] The above description about the bandwidth and the duration information of the first wireless frame also applies to the following implementation manner one and implementation manner two, which will not be repeated here.

[0154] The bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes a primary channel, such as a primary 20 MHz channel used to perform PD.

[0155] It can be understood that the maintenance of the NAV is performed when the reception of the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU) is completed. As in the case that the station receives the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU) to be completed, the station can set or update the NAV.

[0156] The above description about the NAV or the maintenance of the N groups of NAVs is also applicable to the following, such as step 803, and the following will not be repeated.

[0157] According to the different bandwidths corresponding to the N groups of NAVs, the embodiments of the present application provide the following implementation manners:

[0158] Implementation manner one,

[0159] The first NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a first bandwidth, and the first bandwidth includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel. The second NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a second bandwidth, and the second bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel. Optionally, the second bandwidth also includes the primary channel.

[0160] The bandwidths corresponding to the N groups of NAVs are distinguished by whether the bandwidths include the primary channel or whether the bandwidths include the destination secondary channel. The bandwidth corresponding to each group of NAVs in the N groups of NAVs can be determined by the distribution of the destination secondary channel. Or, the bandwidth corresponding to each group of NAVs in the N groups of NAVs can be determined by the position of the destination secondary channel.

[0161] Optionally, the value of N can be determined by the maximum number of the destination secondary channels, or the value of N is determined by the current number of the destination secondary channels. The value of N is greater than the current number of the destination secondary channels. The maximum number is the maximum number allowed by the standard (or the AP) or the maximum number allowed by the station. Optionally, the value of N can be a fixed value determined according to the maximum number. For example, N = maximum number + 1. The current number is the number allowed by the station within a period of time, and the number can be dynamically changed. Optionally, the value of N can be a variable value determined according to the current number. For example, N = current number + 1. For example, the current number of the destination secondary channels is 1, and N = 2. For example, the current number of the destination secondary channels is 3, and N = 4. For example, the maximum number of the destination secondary channels is 4, and N = 5.

[0162] As an example, the number of the destination secondary channels is 1, and the N groups of NAVs include a first NAV and a second NAV. The first NAV is one group in the N groups of NAVs, and the second NAV is a group different from the first NAV in the N groups of NAVs.

[0163] For example, the station supports the NPCA mechanism but not the DSO mechanism. Or, the station enables the NPCA mechanism but not the DSO mechanism. In the NPCA mechanism, the number of destination secondary channels is one. For another example, the station supports both the NPCA and the DSO. Or, the station enables both the NPCA mechanism and the DSO mechanism. The destination secondary channel in the DSO mechanism is the same as the destination secondary channel in the NPCA mechanism, and both are one. For another example, the station supports the DSO mechanism but not the NPCA mechanism. Or, the station enables the DSO mechanism but not the NPCA mechanism. In the DSO mechanism, the number of destination secondary channels is one.

[0164] As another example, the number of destination secondary channels is greater than or equal to two, and the N groups of NAVs include a first NAV and at least two second NAVs. The at least two second NAVs respectively correspond to different bandwidths. Or, the bandwidths corresponding to the at least two second NAVs respectively include different destination secondary channels.

[0165] For example, the station supports (or enables) the DSO mechanism and has multiple destination secondary channels. For another example, the station supports (or enables) the DSO mechanism, and the number of destination secondary channels in the DSO mechanism is at least one. Optionally, the station also supports (or enables) the NPCA mechanism, and the number of destination secondary channels in the NPCA mechanism is at least one. When the number of destination secondary channels in the DSO mechanism and the number of destination secondary channels in the NPCA mechanism are both one, the destination secondary channels in the two mechanisms are different. For other scenarios, they are not listed one by one here.

[0166] For the first implementation manner, the following introduces a way in which the station maintains the NAV.

[0167] For the first implementation manner, the present application embodiment further provides two implementation manners, as shown in the following implementation manner 1 and implementation manner 2. In the implementation manner 1 below, the station can maintain N groups of NAVs according to each received first wireless frame (or first PPDU). In the implementation manner 2 below, the station can determine a possible updated NAV according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame (or the bandwidth of the first PPDU) each time a first wireless frame (or first PPDU) is received, update the time length corresponding to the possible updated NAV according to the time length information in the first wireless frame (or the time length information in the first PPDU), or not update the time length corresponding to the possible updated NAV. The related description in the implementation manner 1 below is also applicable to the implementation manner 2, and the related description in the implementation manner 2 is also applicable to the implementation manner 1.

[0168] For implementation 1 and implementation 2, the embodiments of the present application provide two different implementation manners, one of which takes the second bandwidth including the primary channel as an example, and the other of which takes the second bandwidth not including the primary channel as an example. Meanwhile, the number of the destination secondary channels can be one or more. The following is a detailed description:

[0169] As a possible implementation 1, the station maintains the first NAV according to the first wireless frame; and the station maintains the second NAV according to the first wireless frame. That is, the station can maintain different NAVs according to the first wireless frame it receives respectively. Alternatively, the station maintains the first NAV according to the first PPDU; and the station maintains the second NAV according to the first PPDU.

[0170] In a possible implementation, the second bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel and the primary channel. For other descriptions of the first NAV and the second NAV, refer to the above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0171] The station maintains the first NAV according to the first wireless frame, including that the station maintains the first NAV according to the time length information and the bandwidth of the first wireless frame.

[0172] As an example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel. If the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station updates the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station does not update the first NAV.

[0173] As another example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel. If the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station updates the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station does not update the first NAV.

[0174] That is, as a possible implementation 1a, as long as the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel, whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel or not, the station can update the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length information, or not update the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length information. The description of the station maintaining the first NAV here can also refer to FIG. 9a. As another possible implementation 1b, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel. The station updates the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length information, or not updates the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length information. The description of the station maintaining the first NAV here can also refer to FIG. 9b.

[0175] The station maintains the second NAV according to the first wireless frame, including that the station maintains the second NAV according to the time length information and the bandwidth of the first wireless frame. For example, if the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1, the station updates the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1, the station does not update the second NAV 1.

[0176] Optionally, when the number of the destination secondary channels is greater than or equal to 2, the N groups of NAVs can include at least two second NAVs. As described above, the bandwidths corresponding to the at least two second NAVs respectively include different destination secondary channels. Thus, the station can maintain the at least two second NAVs in combination with the destination secondary channels included in the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the time length information. The description of the first NAV is referred to the related description of the implementation mode 1a and the implementation mode 1b above, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0177] For example, if the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1, the station updates the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1, the station does not update the second NAV 1. The bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV 1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can not include other destination secondary channels. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can further include other destination secondary channels, such as the destination secondary channel 2 and / or the destination secondary channel 3, and the like, which will not be listed one by one herein.

[0178] That is, as one possible implementation mode, as long as the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes other destination secondary channels or not, the station can update the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length information, or does not update the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length information. As another possible implementation mode, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and does not include other destination secondary channels, the station updates the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length information, or does not update the time length corresponding to the second NAV 1 according to the time length information. The other description of the second NAV 1 can also be referred to the related description of the implementation mode 1a and the implementation mode 1b above.

[0179] For example, if the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 2, and the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the second NAV 2, the station updates the time length corresponding to the second NAV 2 according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV 2, the station does not update the second NAV 2. The bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV 2 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 2. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can not include other destination secondary channels. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can further include other destination secondary channels, such as the destination secondary channel 1 and / or the destination secondary channel 3, etc., which are not listed one by one here. For more numbers of destination secondary channels, which are not listed one by one here. The maintenance method of the first NAV is described above, which is not described in detail here.

[0180] For more numbers of destination secondary channels, which are not listed one by one here. The maintenance method of the first NAV is described above, which is not described in detail here.

[0181] The following is an example with the number of destination secondary channels being 1.

[0182] FIGS. 9a and 9b are schematic diagrams of maintaining NAVs according to an embodiment of the present application. The time or PPDU in FIGS. 9a and 9b is described above with reference to FIG. 7b, which is not described in detail here. FIGS. 9a and 9b exemplarily show the NAVs maintained by the station at t0 and t2.

[0183] As a possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 9a, at t0, the station receives PPDU1, and the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU1 and the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 1 in PPDU1). Since the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, if the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is earlier than t1, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t1 (as shown in FIG. 9a); if the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is later than or equal to t1, the station can not update the duration corresponding to the first NAV. Since the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, if the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV is earlier than t1, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV to t1 (as shown in FIG. 9a); if the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV is later than or equal to t1, the station can not update the duration corresponding to the second NAV. At t2, the station receives PPDU2, and maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU2 and the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 2 in PPDU2). Since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, and the duration indicated by the duration information in PPDU2 is greater than the duration corresponding to the first NAV, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t3. The station does not update the duration corresponding to the second NAV. Since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, at t2, the station does not update the second NAV. In this way, the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is not earlier than the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV, and the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV to the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is the time period during which the station can use the destination secondary channel corresponding to the second NAV.

[0184] As another possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 9b, at tO, the station receives PPDU1, and the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU1 and the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in wireless frame 1 in PPDU1). Since the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, if the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV is earlier than t1, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV to t1 (as shown in FIG. 9b); if the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV is later than or equal to t1, the station can not update the duration corresponding to the second NAV. Since the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, the bandwidth corresponding to the first NAV includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, therefore at tO, the station does not update the first NAV. At t2, the station receives PPDU2, and the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU2 and the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in wireless frame 2 in PPDU2). Since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, if the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is earlier than t3, the station updates the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t3 (as shown in FIG. 9b); if the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is later than or equal to t3, the station can not update the duration corresponding to the first NAV. Since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, therefore at t2, the station does not update the second NAV. In this way, when the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is later than the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV, the time period from the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV to the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is the time period during which the station can use the destination secondary channel corresponding to the second NAV.

[0185] The station determines a difference between the time length corresponding to the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the second NAV as a time at which the station can switch to the target secondary channel according to the bandwidths and the time lengths corresponding to the first NAV and the second NAV. That is, a time period between an end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV and an end time of the time length corresponding to the second NAV is the time at which the station can switch to the target secondary channel. Taking FIG. 9a or FIG. 9b as an example, t1-t3 is the time at which the station can switch to the target secondary channel. That is, the station can determine that the target secondary channel is idle between t1-t3 according to the first NAV and the second NAV. Between t1-t3, the station can switch to the target secondary channel. Alternatively, the station can access the target secondary channel after switching to the target secondary channel. The specific manner in which the station performs PD on the target secondary channel can be referred to step 803 below, and will not be described here in detail. Alternatively, the earliest time at which the station can switch to the target secondary channel can be t2, and the latest time at which the station can switch to the target secondary channel can be t1, so that the target secondary channel can be fully utilized. Alternatively, the station can switch to the target secondary channel after t1, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, the station can start channel access at t1 or after t1, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0186] The following takes the number of target secondary channels as an example.

[0187] For example, the number of target secondary channels is 3, such as target secondary channel 1, target secondary channel 2, and target secondary channel 3. The frequencies of the target secondary channel 1-target secondary channel 3 increase in turn. The N groups of NAVs include the first NAV, the second NAV1, the second NAV2, and the second NAV3, which correspond to the first bandwidth, the second bandwidth 1, the second bandwidth 2, and the second bandwidth 3 in turn. The first bandwidth includes the primary channel and does not include the target secondary channel 1-target secondary channel 3. The second bandwidth 1 includes the primary channel and the target secondary channel 1 and does not include the target secondary channel 2 and the target secondary channel 3. The second bandwidth 2 includes the primary channel and the target secondary channel 2. Alternatively, the second bandwidth 2 can also include the target secondary channel 1. The second bandwidth 2 does not include the target secondary channel 3. The second bandwidth 3 includes the primary channel and the target secondary channel 3. Alternatively, the second bandwidth 3 can also include the target secondary channel 1 and / or the target secondary channel 2.

[0188] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of maintaining a NAV according to an embodiment of the present application. Taking FIG. 10 as an example:

[0189] At time t0, the station receives PPDU1 and maintains the first NAV, the second NAV1, the second NAV2 and the second NAV3 according to the bandwidth of PPDU1 and the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 1 in PPDU1). The bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel, the destination secondary channel 1, the destination secondary channel 2 and the destination secondary channel 3. The end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 1 in PPDU1) is later than the duration corresponding to the first NAV, the duration corresponding to the second NAV1, the duration corresponding to the second NAV2 and the duration corresponding to the second NAV3. The end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 1 in PPDU1) is t1.

[0190] As a possible implementation, at time t0, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t1, the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 to t1, the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV2 to t1, and the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV3 to t1, in sequence. Refer to the description of the above implementation 1a or FIG. 9a.

[0191] As another possible implementation, at time t0, when the bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV3 includes the primary channel, the destination secondary channel 1, the destination secondary channel 2 and the destination secondary channel 3, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV3 to t1. The station does not update the duration corresponding to the first NAV, the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 and the duration corresponding to the second NAV2. Refer to the description of the above implementation 1b or FIG. 9b.

[0192] At time t2, the station receives PPDU2 and maintains the first NAV, the second NAV1, the second NAV2 and the second NAV3 according to the bandwidth of PPDU2 and the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 2 in PPDU2). The bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1. The end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 2 in PPDU2) is t3.

[0193] As a possible implementation, at time t2, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t3, the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 to t3, and does not update the duration corresponding to the second NAV2 and the duration corresponding to the second NAV3. Refer to the description of the above implementation 1a or FIG. 9a.

[0194] As another possible implementation, at the t2 moment, the station updates the end moment of the time length corresponding to the second NAV1 to be t3, and does not update the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the time length corresponding to the second NAV2 and the time length corresponding to the second NAV3. Refer to the description of the above implementation 1b or Fig. 9b.

[0195] At the t4 moment, the station receives the PPDU3, and maintains the first NAV, the second NAV1, the second NAV2 and the second NAV3 according to the bandwidth of the PPDU3 and the time length information in the PPDU3 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 3 in the PPDU3). The bandwidth of the PPDU3 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channels 1-3. The end moment of the time length indicated by the time length information in the PPDU3 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 3 in the PPDU3) is t5.

[0196] At the t4 moment, the station updates the end moment of the time length corresponding to the first NAV to be t5, and does not update the time length corresponding to the second NAV1, the time length corresponding to the second NAV2 and the time length corresponding to the second NAV3.

[0197] Therefore, the station determines according to the first NAV, the second NAV1-second NAV3 that: between t1-t5, the station can switch to the destination secondary channels 2 and 3; between t3-t5, the station can switch to the destination secondary channels 1-3. For other descriptions of the destination secondary channels, refer to the description of Fig. 9a or Fig. 9b above, and for the way the station determines the time period in which the destination secondary channel can be switched, refer to the description of Fig. 9a or Fig. 9b, and the like, which will not be described here.

[0198] In a possible implementation, the second bandwidth includes the destination secondary channels and does not include the primary channel. For other descriptions of the first NAV and the second NAV, refer to the above, which will not be described here in detail.

[0199] The station maintains the first NAV according to the first wireless frame, including: the station maintains the first NAV according to the time length information and the bandwidth of the first wireless frame.

[0200] The bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel, and if the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station updates the first NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the first NAV, the station does not update the first NAV. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame does not include the destination secondary channel. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame further includes the destination secondary channel.

[0201] That is, as a possible implementation, as long as the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel, whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel or not, the station can update the duration corresponding to the first NAV according to the duration information, or not update the duration corresponding to the first NAV according to the duration information. As another possible implementation, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, the station updates the duration corresponding to the first NAV according to the duration information, or not updates the duration corresponding to the first NAV.

[0202] The station maintains the second NAV according to the first wireless frame, including that the station maintains the second NAV according to the duration information and the bandwidth of the first wireless frame.

[0203] The bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel, if the duration indicated by the duration information is greater than the duration corresponding to the second NAV, the station updates the duration corresponding to the second NAV according to the duration indicated by the duration information, if the duration indicated by the duration information is less than or equal to the duration corresponding to the second NAV, the station does not update the second NAV. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame does not include the primary channel. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame further includes the primary channel.

[0204] That is, as a possible implementation, as long as the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel, whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel or not, the station can update the duration corresponding to the second NAV according to the duration information, or not update the duration corresponding to the second NAV according to the duration information. As another possible implementation, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel, the station updates the duration corresponding to the second NAV according to the duration information, or not updates the duration corresponding to the second NAV.

[0205] Optionally, when the number of the destination secondary channels is greater than or equal to 2, the N groups of NAVs can include at least two second NAVs. As indicated above, the bandwidths corresponding to the at least two second NAVs respectively include different destination secondary channels. Thus, the station can maintain the at least two second NAVs in combination with the destination secondary channel included in the bandwidth of the first wireless frame.

[0206] As the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel 1, if the duration indicated by the duration information is greater than the duration corresponding to the second NAV1, the station updates the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 according to the duration indicated by the duration information, if the duration indicated by the duration information is less than or equal to the duration corresponding to the second NAV1, the station does not update the second NAV1. The bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV1 includes the destination secondary channel 1 and does not include the primary channel. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame does not include the primary channel. Optionally, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame further includes the primary channel.

[0207] For example, if the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel 2, and if the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than the time length corresponding to the second NAV2, the station updates the time length corresponding to the second NAV2 according to the time length indicated by the time length information; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV2, the station does not update the second NAV2. The bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV2 includes the destination secondary channel 2 and does not include the primary channel. Alternatively, the bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV2 does not include the destination secondary channel 1. Alternatively, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame does not include the primary channel. Alternatively, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame further includes the primary channel.

[0208] For a larger number of destination secondary channels, they are not listed here one by one. The maintenance method of the first NAV or the second NAV1 or the second NAV2 is described above, and will not be described here in detail.

[0209] The following is an example with the number of destination secondary channels being 1.

[0210] FIGS. 9c and 9d are schematic diagrams of maintaining NAVs according to an embodiment of the present application. The time or PPDU in FIGS. 9c and 9d is described with reference to FIG. 7b, and will not be described here in detail. FIGS. 9c and 9d exemplarily show the NAVs maintained by the station at t0 and t2.

[0211] At t0, the station receives PPDU1, and the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU1 and the time length information in PPDU1 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 1 in PPDU1). As shown in FIG. 9c, the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the bandwidth corresponding to the first NAV, and the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV, so the station can update the end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV to t1, and update the end time of the time length corresponding to the second NAV to t1. As shown in FIG. 9d, the bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, the bandwidth corresponding to the first NAV is the primary channel, and the bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV is the destination secondary channel, so the station can not update the time length corresponding to the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the second NAV.

[0212] At t2, the station receives PPDU2, and maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of PPDU2 and the time length information in PPDU2 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 2 in PPDU2). As shown in FIGS. 9c and 9d, the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, and the station can update the end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV to t3 and does not update the second NAV. The way in which the station determines the time period in which it can switch to the destination secondary channel can be referred to FIG. 9a or FIG. 9b, and will not be described here in detail.

[0213] Further description about the first NAV and the second NAV can refer to FIG. 9a or FIG. 9b, which will not be repeated here.

[0214] As another possible implementation 2, the station determines a possible updated NAV (or referred to as a candidate updated NAV) according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame received by the station, and maintains the above possible updated NAV according to the duration information in the first PPDU (or the first wireless frame). Or, the station determines a possible updated NAV according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the relationship between the bandwidths corresponding to each NAV, and updates or does not update the above possible updated NAV according to the duration information. For example, the station can determine a possible updated NAV according to the distribution of the bandwidth of the first wireless frame. The distribution of the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can include whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel, and / or whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel.

[0215] In a possible implementation, the second bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel and the primary channel. Further description about the first NAV and the second NAV can refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0216] As an example, in the case that the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, the station maintains the first NAV according to the first wireless frame. The station maintaining the first NAV includes: if the duration indicated by the duration information in the first PPDU (or the duration information in the first wireless frame) is greater than the duration corresponding to the first NAV, updating the duration corresponding to the first NAV according to the duration indicated by the duration information; if the duration indicated by the duration information in the first PPDU (or the duration information in the first wireless frame) is less than or equal to the duration corresponding to the first NAV, not updating the duration corresponding to the first NAV. In the case that the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, the station does not update the second NAV. That is, the possible updated NAV determined by the station according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame is the first NAV, and the second NAV is the NAV that is not updated.

[0217] As another example, in the case that the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the first wireless frame. The station maintaining the second NAV includes: if the duration indicated by the duration information in the first PPDU (or the duration information in the first wireless frame) is greater than the duration corresponding to the second NAV, updating the duration corresponding to the second NAV according to the duration indicated by the duration information; if the duration indicated by the duration information in the first PPDU (or the duration information in the first wireless frame) is less than or equal to the duration corresponding to the second NAV, not updating the duration corresponding to the second NAV. The way in which the station maintains the first NAV can refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0218] As another example, in a case that the bandwidth of the first wireless frame comprises the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, the station can maintain the second NAV according to the first wireless frame, without updating the first NAV.

[0219] The above description of each example can refer to the above implementation 1, which will not be described in detail here.

[0220] For example, referring to FIG. 9a, the bandwidth of PPDU1 comprises the destination secondary channel and the primary channel, and thus the station determines that the NAVs that can be updated are the first NAV and the second NAV. At time t0, the station can update the first NAV and the second NAV. For another example, the bandwidth of PPDU2 comprises the primary channel and does not comprise the destination secondary channel, and thus the station determines that the NAV that can be updated is the first NAV, without updating the second NAV. At time t2, the station can update the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to be t3. Other descriptions regarding FIG. 9a can refer to the above example 1a, which will not be described in detail here.

[0221] Optionally, in a case that the number of the destination secondary channels is greater than or equal to 2, the N groups of NAVs can comprise at least two second NAVs. As described above, the bandwidths corresponding to the at least two second NAVs comprise different destination secondary channels, respectively. Thus, the station can determine the NAVs that can be updated in combination with the destination secondary channels comprised in the bandwidth of the first wireless frame (or the bandwidth of the first PPDU), and the bandwidth corresponding to each second NAV, and determine whether to update the above-mentioned NAVs that can be updated according to the duration information. For example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame comprises the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and thus the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV1 according to the duration information in the first wireless frame (or the duration information in the first PPDU), where the second bandwidth 1 corresponding to the second NAV1 comprises the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1. The station does not update the second NAV2, does not update the second NAV3, and so on. Here, three second NAVs are taken as examples, and in a specific implementation, there can be two NAVs in the N groups of NAVs, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0222] For example, referring to FIG. 10, at time t0, since the bandwidth of the first wireless frame 1 comprises the primary channel, the destination secondary channel 1 to the destination secondary channel 3, the NAVs that can be updated are the first NAV, the second NAV1 to the second NAV3, and the station maintains the above-mentioned NAVs according to the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in the wireless frame 1), such as updating the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to be t1, the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 to be t1, the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV2 to be t1, and the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV3 to be t1, in sequence.

[0223] At time t2, since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and does not include the destination secondary channel 2 and the destination secondary channel 3, the possible updated NAVs are the first NAV and the second NAV1, and the second NAV2 and the second NAV3 are not updated. The station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t3 and the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV1 to t3 according to the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in wireless frame 2).

[0224] At time t4, since the bandwidth of PPDU3 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel 1 to the destination secondary channel 3, the possible updated NAV is the first NAV, and the second NAV1 to the second NAV3 are not updated. The station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t5 according to the duration information in PPDU3 (or the duration information in wireless frame 3).

[0225] Other descriptions about FIG. 10 can refer to the above manner 1, and will not be described here.

[0226] In a possible implementation, the second bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel. Other descriptions about the first NAV and the second NAV can refer to the above, and will not be described here.

[0227] As an example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, and the station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the duration information. As another example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel, and the station maintains the first NAV according to the duration information and does not update the second NAV. As yet another example, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel, and the station maintains the second NAV according to the duration information and does not update the first NAV. Descriptions about multiple destination secondary channels can refer to the above, and will not be described here.

[0228] For the above implementation one, when the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the punctured destination secondary channel without considering the puncturing (not allowing puncturing, or allowing puncturing but ignoring puncturing, such as puncturing the destination secondary channel), the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can be considered to include the destination secondary channel. The possible updated NAVs determined by the station according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame include the first NAV and the second NAV. Alternatively, when the bandwidth of the first wireless frame includes the punctured destination secondary channel considering the puncturing, the punctured destination secondary channel, the bandwidth of the first wireless frame can be considered to not include the destination secondary channel. The possible updated NAVs determined by the station according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame include the first NAV.

[0229] For the first implementation, the N groups of NAVs correspond to different bandwidths, which can be determined according to the distribution of the target secondary channel, so as to improve the utilization of the target secondary channel, while reducing the modification of the standard as much as possible, and the operation is simple.

[0230] In the embodiment of the application, the station can determine the time when the station can switch to the target secondary channel, or the time when the station can jump to the target secondary channel, by comparing the time length corresponding to the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the second NAV. Alternatively, the station can determine the time when the station can switch to the target secondary channel by comparing the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the second NAV. If the end time of the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the first NAV is later than the end time of the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the second NAV, the time period when the station can switch to the target secondary channel is from the end time of the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the second NAV to the end time of the time length corresponding to the basic NAV in the first NAV. Alternatively, the station can determine the time when the station can switch to the target secondary channel by comparing the time length corresponding to the intra-BSS NAV in the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the intra-BSS NAV in the second NAV.

[0231] The second implementation,

[0232] The N groups of NAVs correspond to different bandwidths. For example, the first NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a first bandwidth, and the second NAV in the N groups of NAVs corresponds to a second bandwidth. The bandwidth corresponding to each group of NAVs in the N groups of NAVs can be determined according to the bandwidth of the wireless frame received by the station. The first bandwidth includes the primary channel. Alternatively, the first bandwidth also includes the target secondary channel. The second bandwidth includes the primary channel. Alternatively, the second bandwidth also includes the target secondary channel. For example, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are different in size. The above-mentioned bandwidths include, but are not limited to, at least two of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz or 320MHz. The above-mentioned bandwidths are only examples, and other bandwidths may also appear in the future as the standard evolves, which are not limited in the embodiment of the application.

[0233] As an example, in the case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame (or the bandwidth of the first PPDU) and the bandwidths corresponding to the N groups of NAVs are all different, the NAV is added according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU) and the time length information. The bandwidth corresponding to the added NAV is the bandwidth of the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU), and the time length corresponding to the added NAV is the time length indicated by the time length information in the first wireless frame (or the first PPDU).

[0234] As another example, in the case that the bandwidth of the first wireless frame is the same as the bandwidth corresponding to the third NAV in the N groups of NAVs, the third NAV is maintained according to the time length information in the first PPDU (or the time length information in the first wireless frame). If the time length indicated by the time length information in the first PPDU (or the time length information in the first wireless frame) is greater than the time length corresponding to the third NAV, the time length corresponding to the third NAV is updated according to the time length indicated by the above-mentioned time length information. If the time length indicated by the time length information in the first PPDU (or the time length information in the first wireless frame) is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the third NAV, the time length corresponding to the third NAV is not updated. The description about updating the time length corresponding to the third NAV herein can refer to the description about updating the time length corresponding to the first NAV or updating the time length corresponding to the second NAV in the above-mentioned implementation manner one, which will not be described herein again.

[0235] In the embodiments of the present application, the station can determine the time when the station can switch to the destination secondary channel according to the difference between the bandwidths and the difference between the time lengths corresponding to the NAVs corresponding to the above-mentioned differences. For example, the first NAV corresponds to the first bandwidth, the second NAV corresponds to the second bandwidth, and if the part of the second bandwidth that does not overlap with the first bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel, the station can determine the time when the station can switch to the destination secondary channel according to the time length corresponding to the first NAV and the time length corresponding to the second NAV. For example, the bandwidth corresponding to the first NAV is less than the bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV, and the end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV is later than the end time of the time length corresponding to the second NAV, then the time period during which the station can switch to the destination secondary channel corresponding to the second NAV is from the end time of the time length corresponding to the second NAV to the end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV.

[0236] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of maintaining a NAV according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the station determines whether the bandwidth of the first wireless frame is the same as the bandwidth in the list, and if so, the station maintains the time length corresponding to the NAV with the same bandwidth upon receiving the first wireless frame. If not, the station adds a new NAV upon receiving the first wireless frame, the bandwidth corresponding to the new NAV is the bandwidth of the first wireless frame, and the time length corresponding to the new NAV is the time length indicated by the time length information of the first PPDU (or the time length information of the first wireless frame). The above-mentioned maintaining the time length corresponding to the NAV with the same bandwidth includes: if the time length indicated by the time length information of the first PPDU (or the time length information of the first wireless frame) is greater than the time length corresponding to the NAV with the same bandwidth, updating the time length corresponding to the NAV; and if the time length indicated by the time length information of the first PPDU (or the time length information of the first wireless frame) is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the NAV with the same bandwidth, not updating the time length corresponding to the NAV.

[0237] It can be understood that the bandwidths in the above list correspond to the bandwidths of the N groups of NAVs maintained by the station.

[0238] For example, at time t0, the station updates the end time t1 of the duration corresponding to the NAV, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV is 80 MHz. At time t2, since the bandwidth of the received PPDU2 is 40 MHz, the station adds a new NAV, the end time t3 of the duration corresponding to the NAV is t3, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV is 40 MHz. Thus, the station can determine that it can switch to the destination secondary channel between t1 and t3 by the duration and bandwidth corresponding to the NAV.

[0239] For the second implementation, the bandwidth and duration corresponding to the NAV can provide more detailed information for the station to determine whether the destination secondary channel is idle, and improve the utilization of the destination secondary channel.

[0240] For the above-mentioned first and second implementations, as a possible implementation, the station can store a list, each item in the list can correspond to a duration and a bandwidth (such as an ordered pair of (bandwidth, duration) or an ordered pair of (duration, bandwidth)). As another possible implementation, the station can store the duration corresponding to the NAV, and the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV can be maintained by the station in other ways. For example, the bandwidth corresponding to the NAV can be maintained by a bitmap, each bit in the bitmap can correspond to a bandwidth, and the station can store the duration corresponding to the NAV corresponding to each bit. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the way the station stores the NAV.

[0241] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG. 8 further includes:

[0242] 803, the station switches to the destination secondary channel; receives a second wireless frame, and the receiving end indicated by the receiving address field in the second wireless frame is not the station; and maintains M groups of NAVs according to the second wireless frame, and the M groups of NAVs correspond to different bandwidths respectively, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0243] For ease of description, the PPDU carrying the second wireless frame is referred to as the second PPDU. For example, the second wireless frame can be carried in the data field in the second PPDU.

[0244] The fourth NAV in the M-group NAV corresponds to a fourth bandwidth, and the fourth bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel. Optionally, the fourth bandwidth does not include the primary channel. That is, the fourth bandwidth includes the destination secondary channel to which the station switches. Since there is no scenario of jumping from one destination secondary channel to another destination secondary channel, the station can set the NAV corresponding to the destination secondary channel after switching to the destination secondary channel. The description of the fourth NAV herein can refer to the description of the first NAV and the second NAV in the above implementation manner one and implementation manner two.

[0245] As an example, the M-group NAV is partially the same as the N-group NAV, or the M-group NAV and the N-group NAV are both different. For example, the M-group NAV includes the fourth NAV, and the N-group NAV does not include the fourth NAV. Optionally, the M-group NAV further includes the second NAV1, and the N-group NAV includes the second NAV1. The second NAV1 corresponds to a second bandwidth1, and the second bandwidth1 includes the destination secondary channel 1, which is the destination secondary channel to which the station switches. Optionally, the M-group NAV does not include the first NAV, and the N-group NAV includes the first NAV. Of course, the M-group NAV can also include the first NAV. Optionally, the N-group NAV further includes the second NAV2, and the M-group NAV does not include the second NAV2. The second NAV2 corresponds to a second bandwidth2, and the second bandwidth2 does not include the destination secondary channel 1. For example, the second bandwidth2 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 2.

[0246] For example, the number of destination secondary channels is 1, the N-group NAV includes the first NAV and the second NAV, the first NAV corresponds to a first bandwidth including the primary channel and not including the destination secondary channel, and the second NAV corresponds to a second bandwidth including the primary channel and the destination secondary channel. The M-group NAV includes the fourth NAV, and the fourth NAV corresponds to a fourth bandwidth including the aforementioned destination secondary channel and not including the primary channel. The M-group NAV can further include the second NAV.

[0247] For example, the number of destination secondary channels is 2, and the N group of NAVs includes a first NAV, a second NAV1, and a second NAV2. The first bandwidth corresponding to the first NAV includes the primary channel, and does not include the destination secondary channel 1 and the destination secondary channel 2. The second bandwidth 1 corresponding to the second NAV1 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 1, and does not include the destination secondary channel 2. The second bandwidth 2 corresponding to the second NAV2 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 2. Optionally, the second bandwidth 2 also includes the destination secondary channel 1. The frequency of the destination secondary channel 1 is lower than the frequency of the destination secondary channel 2. Taking the destination secondary channel 1 as an example, the M group of NAVs includes a fourth NAV, and the fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 1 and does not include the primary channel. Optionally, the fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 2 or does not include the destination secondary channel 2. The M group of NAVs can also include the second NAV1. Optionally, the M group of NAVs also includes the first NAV. Taking the destination secondary channel 2 as an example, the M group of NAVs includes a fourth NAV, and the fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 2 and does not include the primary channel. Optionally, the fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 1 or does not include the destination secondary channel 1. The M group of NAVs can also include the second NAV2. Optionally, the M group of NAVs also includes the first NAV.

[0248] As another example, the M group of NAVs is the same as the N group of NAVs. M = N. The N group of NAVs (or the M group of NAVs) includes a first NAV and a second NAV, and the second bandwidth corresponding to the second NAV includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel.

[0249] Optionally, after switching from the destination secondary channel to the primary channel, the station can stop maintaining the NAV corresponding to the destination secondary channel.

[0250] The description of M or other descriptions of the M group of NAVs can refer to the description of N or the N group of NAVs above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0251] Optionally, after switching to the destination secondary channel, the station can perform a virtual CS on the destination secondary channel. For example, after switching to the destination secondary channel, the station can perform a physical CS on a channel including the destination secondary channel and perform a virtual CS on the destination secondary channel. For example, the bandwidth of the second wireless frame includes the destination secondary channel. For example, the bandwidth of the destination secondary channel is 20 MHz. The bandwidth of the above-mentioned channel including the destination secondary channel can be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, or 80 MHz, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0252] In the embodiments of the present application, the station maintains the M-group NAV according to the second wireless frame, including: the station maintains the fourth NAV according to the second wireless frame. Optionally, the station can also maintain the second NAV corresponding to the destination secondary channel to which the station switches according to the second wireless frame. For example, the station switches to the destination secondary channel 1, and then the station maintains the fourth NAV and the second NAV1 corresponding to the destination secondary channel 1 according to the second wireless frame. Optionally, the station does not update the first NAV. Thus, the station can determine the time of switching back to the primary channel according to the time length corresponding to the first NAV. Optionally, the station maintains the first NAV according to the second wireless frame.

[0253] For example, the bandwidth of the second wireless frame (or the bandwidth of the second PPDU) received by the station on the destination secondary channel does not include the primary channel and includes the destination secondary channel, and then the station maintains the fourth NAV. After receiving the second wireless frame (or the second PPDU), the station can set the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV to the time length indicated by the time length information in the second PPDU (or the time length information in the second wireless frame). For another example, the time length indicated by the time length information in the second PPDU (or the time length information in the second wireless frame) is greater than the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV, and in the case of receiving the second PPDU, the station updates the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV to the time length indicated by the time length information in the second PPDU (or the time length information in the second wireless frame). For another example, the time length indicated by the time length information in the second PPDU (or the time length information in the second wireless frame) is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV, and then the station does not update the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV.

[0254] For another example, the bandwidth of the second wireless frame (or the bandwidth of the second PPDU) received by the station on the destination secondary channel includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, and then the station maintains the fourth NAV and the second NAV. The specific way of maintaining the NAV can be referred to the above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0255] It can be understood that, taking the second implementation mode as an example, the fourth bandwidth can be the same as the first bandwidth. Optionally, the positions in the frequency domain are different. Alternatively, the fourth bandwidth can be the same as the second bandwidth. Optionally, the positions in the frequency domain are different.

[0256] FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b are diagrams of maintaining NAV according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12a, at t0, after receiving PPDU1, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t1 according to the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in wireless frame 1), and updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV to t1 according to the duration information in PPDU1 (or the duration information in wireless frame 1). At t2, after receiving PPDU2, since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the primary channel and does not include the target secondary channel, and the duration indicated by the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in wireless frame 2) is greater than the duration corresponding to the first NAV, the station updates the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV to t3 according to the duration information in PPDU2 (or the duration information in wireless frame 2). The station determines the time period during which the station can switch to the target secondary channel according to the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV and the end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV, which is t1-t3. After the station switches to the target secondary channel, at t4, the station receives PPDU3. The bandwidth of PPDU3 includes the target secondary channel and does not include the primary channel, and the station sets the end time of the duration corresponding to the fourth NAV to t5. It can be understood that, for the purpose of description, FIG. 12a is illustrated by taking the end time of the duration indicated by each PPDU as an example, but this is not a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0257] For other descriptions of FIG. 12a, refer to the descriptions of FIG. 7b or FIG. 9a or FIG. 9b, and the like, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0258] As shown in FIG. 12b, between t1 and t4, the end time of the duration corresponding to the first NAV is t2, the duration corresponding to the second NAV is 0 or invalid, and the time period during which the station can switch to the target secondary channel is t1-t2. At t4, the station receives PPDU (or wireless frame), and the end time of the duration indicated by the duration information in the PPDU (or the duration information in the wireless frame) is t3. The end time of the duration corresponding to the second NAV is updated to t3. The station sets or extends the duration corresponding to the second NAV on the target secondary channel. The station can choose to switch back to the primary 20 MHz channel and perform channel access when the second NAV is invalid (i.e., at t3), or the station can also switch back to the primary channel when the first NAV corresponding to the primary 20 MHz channel is invalid (i.e., at t2), and perform channel access when the second NAV corresponding to the target secondary channel is invalid (i.e., at t3). The time at which the station switches back to the primary channel is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0259] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, after the station switches to the destination secondary channel 1, the M-group NAVs maintained by the station include the fourth NAV. Optionally, the M-group NAVs maintained by the station further include the second NAV1. Optionally, the M-group NAVs maintained by the station further include at least one of the second NAV2, the second NAV3, and the first NAV. The fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 1, and does not include the destination secondary channel 2, the destination secondary channel 3, and the primary channel. For details of the first NAV, the second NAV1, the second NAV2, and the second NAV3, refer to the foregoing description, which will not be described here again.

[0260] For example, after the station switches to the destination secondary channel 3, when the bandwidth of the second wireless frame received by the station includes the destination secondary channel 3 and does not include the primary channel, the station can determine that the NAV that can be updated is the fourth NAV, and maintain the time length corresponding to the fourth NAV according to the time length information in the second PPDU (or the time length information in the second wireless frame). The fourth bandwidth corresponding to the fourth NAV includes the destination secondary channel 3 and does not include the primary channel. The fourth bandwidth does not include the destination secondary channel 1 and the destination secondary channel 2.

[0261] For another example, after the station switches to the destination secondary channel 3, when the bandwidth of the second wireless frame received by the station includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel 3, the station determines that the NAV that can be updated includes the fourth NAV and the second NAV3. Optionally, the NAV that can be updated includes the first NAV. For details of the M-group NAVs maintained by the station, refer to the foregoing implementation manner one or implementation manner two, which will not be described here again.

[0262] In the embodiments of the present application, the NAVs maintained by the station correspond to time lengths and bandwidths, and different NAVs correspond to different bandwidths, so that the station can explicitly determine the time period in which the station can switch to the destination secondary channel, and the utilization rate of the destination secondary channel is improved.

[0263] The embodiments of the present application also exemplarily show the operation of the station after switching to the destination secondary channel with respect to FIG. 9c and FIG. 9d. As shown in FIG. 9e, at t4, the station receives the PPDU 3, and the bandwidth of the PPDU 3 includes the destination secondary channel and does not include the primary channel. The station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of the PPDU 3 and the time length information in the PPDU 3 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 3 in the PPDU 3), and updates the first NAV and the second NAV after receiving the PPDU 3. As shown in FIG. 9e, the station can update the end time of the time length corresponding to the second NAV to t5, and does not update the first NAV.

[0264] The embodiments of the present application also exemplarily show the operation after the station switches to the destination secondary channel with respect to FIG. 9c and FIG. 9d. As shown in FIG. 9f, at t6, the station receives PPDU 4, and the bandwidth of the PPDU 4 includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel. The station maintains the first NAV and the second NAV according to the bandwidth of the PPDU 4 and the time length information in the PPDU 4 (or the time length information in the wireless frame 4 in the PPDU 4), and updates the first NAV and the second NAV after receiving the PPDU 4. As shown in FIG. 9f, the station can update the end time of the time length corresponding to the first NAV and the second NAV to t7. After the station switches from the destination secondary channel to the primary channel, the station does not perform channel access through contention before t7.

[0265] Currently, the trigger conditions for the station to switch to the destination secondary channel include but are not limited to: the station receives an OBSS PPDU or an OBSS control frame interaction; the OBSS PPDU or the control frame interaction indicates that the OBSS TXOP time length or the PPDU length is greater than a preset threshold; and the bandwidth of the OBSS PPDU or the control frame interaction does not include the destination secondary channel. Optionally, the OBSS TXOP time length is the remaining time length of the OBSS TXOP. For example, the remaining time length refers to the remaining time length of the OBSS TXOP from the beginning of analyzing the physical layer header of the OBSS PPDU, or the remaining time length of the OBSS TXOP from the completion of analyzing a certain part of the physical layer header of the OBSS PPDU, or the remaining time length from the NAV taking effect.

[0266] However, the above trigger conditions may affect the transmission of other stations and cause interference to other stations. Optionally, after the station switches to the destination secondary channel, the station can perform PD on the destination secondary channel. The trigger conditions shown herein can also be referred to as NPCA conditions, and the specific name of the trigger conditions shown herein is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0267] FIG. 16 is a scene diagram provided by the embodiments of the present application. In FIG. 16, the switching triggered by the OBSS PPDU received by the station 1 is taken as an example, and the switching triggered by the OBSS control frame interaction is not listed one by one herein. The OBSS PPDU received by the station 1 refers to that the station 1 in the BSS receives the PPDU from the station in other BSS, that is, the destination station of the PPDU is not the station in the BSS. The station 1 in FIG. 16 is neither the station in OBSS1 nor the station in OBSS2.

[0268] As shown in FIG. 16, at time t1, station 1 parses a PPDU (hereinafter referred to as OBSS PPDU1) from OBSS 1 to obtain that the end time of the TXOP corresponding to the OBSS PPDU1 is t3, and the bandwidth of the TXOP (or the OBSS PPDU) includes the target secondary channel. The station resides in the primary channel at time t1. At time t2, since the station in OBSS 2 cannot hear the transmission of the OBSS PPDU1, the station in OBSS 2 sends an OBSS PPDU2 which is heard by station 1. Station 1 parses the OBSS PPDU2 at time t2 to obtain that the end time of the TXOP corresponding to the OBSS PPDU2 is t4, the time length from t2 to t4 satisfies the NPCA jump preset threshold of station 1, and the bandwidth of the TXOP (or the OBSS PPDU1) does not include the target secondary channel. The primary channel of OBSS 1, OBSS 2 and STA 1 is the same.

[0269] If the OBSS PPDU2 received by station 1 at time t2 satisfies the trigger condition according to the above trigger condition, station 1 switches to the target secondary channel. However, if station 1 contends for the channel and initiates transmission before time t3, it will interfere with the transmission of the TXOP in which the OBSS PPDU1 is located.

[0270] In view of this, the embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method, which comprises:

[0271] A station receives a first OBSS PPDU at a first time, and maintains a NAV according to the first OBSS PPDU. The NAV is updated from zero to a non-zero value, or the NAV is updated from invalid to a non-zero value. If the station receives a second OBSS PPDU since the first time, the station resides in a primary channel before the NAV is cleared or the NAV is invalid. The bandwidth of the second OBSS PPDU includes the primary channel and a target secondary channel. The above-mentioned NAV includes but is not limited to a basic NAV.

[0272] Optionally, the second OBSS PPDU is a valid PPDU. The valid PPDU refers to a PPDU that can make the NAV valid. That is, the station can maintain the NAV according to the valid PPDU.

[0273] Optionally, the second OBSS PPDU is a PPDU in which a CTS is located when an RTS and the CTS interact successfully; or is a PPDU in which a data frame is located immediately after the CTS after the RTS and the CTS interact successfully; or is a PPDU in which a CTS is located when a MU-RTS and the CTS interact successfully; or is a PPDU in which a data frame is located immediately after the CTS after the MU-RTS and the CTS interact successfully. Optionally, the second OBSS PPDU is a PPDU that does not include an RTS, a MU-RTS and a CTS.

[0274] In other words, considering that the RTS and MU-RTS reset the NAV to 0 in the absence of a CTS response, the NAV- valid PPDU refers to a PPDU other than the PPDU carrying the RTS or MU-RTS. The second OBSS PPDU can be an OBSS HE / EHT / UHR PPDU, can be the first data frame after the end of the OBSS control frame exchange, or can be another PPDU, and the like, which are not listed here. For example, the station receives the first OBSS PPDU and then receives the fifth OBSS PPDU, which carries an RTS frame. The station does not receive the CTS frame or data frame corresponding to the RTS within the NAV timeout time, and thus the fifth OBSS PPDU cannot be counted as a valid PPDU. For example, the station maintains the NAV according to the fifth OBSS PPDU upon receiving the fifth OBSS PPDU, but resets the NAV to 0 (or invalidates the NAV or clears the NAV) in the absence of the corresponding CTS frame or data frame within the NAV timeout time. For another example, the station maintains the NAV according to the fifth OBSS PPDU upon receiving the fifth OBSS PPDU, but does not maintain the NAV according to the fifth OBSS PPDU and resets the NAV to 0 if the corresponding CTS frame or data frame is not received within the NAV timeout time.

[0275] For example, the first OBSS PPDU and the second OBSS PPDU are the same OBSS PPDU. For another example, the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, and the first OBSS PPDU is different from the second OBSS PPDU. For another example, the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU does not include the destination secondary channel. The station resides in the primary channel according to the first OBSS PPDU. That is, the station does not switch to the destination secondary channel according to the first OBSS PPDU received at the first time.

[0276] In other words, starting from the time of the most recent event that causes the NAV to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value, if the station receives at least one OBSS PPDU that occupies the destination secondary channel and makes the NAV valid, the station cannot switch to the destination secondary channel before the NAV is reset to zero or invalidated.

[0277] The NAV timer value is set from 0 or a time instance when the NAV is updated from 0 or invalid to a non-zero value. The time instance when the NAV is updated from 0 or invalid to a non-zero value can be the time instance when the PPDU carrying CTS or a data frame immediately following CTS is received (or transmitted) successfully in the RTS or MU-RTS and CTS interaction, or the time instance when the PPDU of a frame not carrying RTS, MU-RTS or CTS is received (or transmitted). The time instance when the PPDU is transmitted here refers to the time instance when the transmitting station of the aforementioned PPDU starts to transmit the PPDU. Alternatively, the time instance when the PPDU is transmitted is synchronized with the time instance when the PPDU is received.

[0278] Similarly, the time instance when the NAV is updated from 0 or invalid to a non-zero value can be the time instance when the PPDU carrying CTS or a data frame immediately following CTS is received (or transmitted) successfully in the RTS or MU-RTS and CTS interaction, or the time instance when the PPDU of a frame not carrying RTS, MU-RTS or CTS is received (or transmitted). The time instance when the PPDU is transmitted here refers to the time instance when the transmitting station of the aforementioned PPDU starts to transmit the PPDU. Alternatively, the time instance when the PPDU is transmitted is synchronized with the time instance when the PPDU is received.

[0279] The following is an example.

[0280] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 17, the station 1 receives an OBSS PPDU to trigger the jump as an example. In FIG. 17, STA1, OBSS1 and OBSS2 use the same primary channel. STA1 can hear the PPDU from OBSS1 and the PPDU from OBSS2, but OBSS1 and OBSS2 cannot hear each other's PPDU. The destination secondary channel of STA1 is within the secondary 80MHz channel. PPDU1, PPDU3 and PPDU43 are all from OBSS2, and PPDU2 is from OBSS1. STA1 is neither a station in OBSS1 nor a station in OBSS2.

[0281] At time t0, STA1 receives PPDU1. The bandwidth of PPDU1 includes the primary channel and does not include the destination secondary channel. The OBSS busy time corresponding to PPDU1 is less than the threshold, so at time t0, STA1 does not switch to the destination secondary channel and still resides in the primary channel. Alternatively, the OBSS busy time corresponding to PPDU1 can be the duration of the TXOP corresponding to the PPDU1. Alternatively, the OBSS busy time corresponding to PPDU1 can also be the length of the PPDU1. At time t0, STA1 maintains the NAV according to PPDU1. The NAV is updated from 0 to a non-zero value, or the NAV is updated from invalid to a non-zero value. Alternatively, the updated NAV is valid at the time instance when STA1 (is expected to) receive PPDU1.

[0282] At time t1, STA1 receives PPDU 2, and maintains the NAV according to PPDU 2. STA1 parses the BSS color, TXOP length, bandwidth and other information from PPDU 2, and the PPDU 2 takes effect on the NAV. Optionally, the updated NAV takes effect at the time of completion of receiving PPDU 2. Although the OBSS busy time corresponding to OBSS PPDU 2 is greater than or equal to a preset threshold (the OBSS busy end time is t3), because the bandwidth of the OBSS PPDU 2 includes the target secondary channel, at time t1, STA1 resides in the primary channel and cannot switch to the target secondary channel.

[0283] At time t2, STA1 receives PPDU 3, the OBSS busy time corresponding to the PPDU 3 is greater than or equal to a preset threshold (the OBSS busy end time is t4), and the bandwidth of the PPDU 3 does not include the target secondary channel. According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, at time t2, STA1 cannot switch to the target secondary channel and still needs to reside in the primary channel. This is because: from the start time of receiving PPDU 1 (or the start time of sending PPDU 1) to t2, STA1 has received PPDU 2 whose bandwidth includes the target secondary channel (PPDU 2 can take effect on the NAV), so STA1 cannot switch to the target secondary channel at time t2. PPDU 1 is the most recent PPDU that causes the NAV to be updated from zero or invalid state to a non-zero value. Similarly, STA1 cannot switch to the target secondary channel before time t4.

[0284] At time t5, STA1 receives PPDU 4, the OBSS busy time corresponding to the PPDU 4 is greater than or equal to a preset threshold (not shown in FIG. 17), and the bandwidth of the PPDU 4 does not include the target secondary channel. According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, STA1 can switch to the target secondary channel at time t5. This is because: the most recent event that causes the NAV of STA1 to be updated from zero or invalid state to a non-zero value is the present event, and from the start time of the present event to time t5, STA1 has not received an effective PPDU (a PPDU that can take effect on the NAV) whose bandwidth includes the target secondary channel, so STA1 can switch to the target secondary channel at time t5.

[0285] As a possible implementation, the station maintains a flag bit, which is used to indicate whether the station has received (or monitored or detected) a valid OBSS PPDU including the destination secondary channel since the beginning of the reception of the last OBSS PPDU which caused the NAV (e.g. the base NAV) to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value. Alternatively, the flag bit is used to indicate whether the station has received a second OBSS PPDU since the beginning of the reception of the first OBSS PPDU, the first OBSS PPDU being received by the station, the second OBSS PPDU having a bandwidth including the destination secondary channel. The second OBSS PPDU can be valid for the NAV, i.e. the station can maintain the NAV based on the second OBSS PPDU. The first and second OBSS PPDUs are described above and will not be described in detail here.

[0286] When the flag bit is set, the station cannot switch to the destination secondary channel. When the flag bit is cleared, the station can switch to the destination secondary channel if the condition is met. Initially, the flag bit is cleared. That is, the flag bit indicates that the station has not received the second OBSS PPDU since the beginning of the reception of the first OBSS PPDU. Alternatively, when the identification result of the flag bit is "Yes", the station cannot switch to the destination secondary channel. When the identification result of the flag bit is "No", the station can switch to the destination secondary channel if the condition is met. The condition described here refers to the trigger condition for the station to switch to the destination secondary channel.

[0287] For example, the flag bit is 1 when the flag bit is set, and the flag bit is 0 when the flag bit is cleared. Alternatively, the flag bit is 1 when the identification result is "Yes", and the flag bit is 0 when the identification result is "No".

[0288] The flag bit is described below with reference to FIG. 17.

[0289] At t0, since the last PPDU which caused the NAV to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value is PPDU1, the flag bit is 0 at t0. Alternatively, the station can switch to the destination secondary channel if the condition is met based on PPDU1. If the condition is not met, the station stays in the primary channel.

[0290] At t1, since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the destination secondary channel, the flag bit is 1 since the bandwidth of PPDU2 including the destination secondary channel is parsed by STA1. Similarly, the flag bit is 1 at t3. Similarly, the flag bit is still 1 at t4. After t4, since the NAV is invalid or cleared, the flag bit is 0. Similarly, the flag bit is 0 at t5.

[0291] It can be seen that the station cannot switch to the target secondary channel in the time period of the flag position 1.

[0292] In the embodiments of the present application, the new switching condition is added, so that the station can effectively avoid the situation that the station switches to the target secondary channel due to insufficient condition judgment, which affects the transmission of other stations, effectively reduces the mutual interference transmission between stations, and improves the communication efficiency.

[0293] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication method, in which the station can maintain a NPCA switch start time, which can be used to indicate the end time of the occupation of the target secondary channel. That is, the NPCA switch start time is the start time of the station switching from the primary channel to the target secondary channel. In the initial state, the NPCA switch start time is an invalid value. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific name of the NPCA switch start time.

[0294] In a possible implementation manner a, the flag bit is cleared (or the identification result of the flag bit is "no"), and the station receives the OBSS PPDU with the bandwidth not including the target secondary channel. The station can switch to the target secondary channel according to the condition of the OBSS PPDU.

[0295] Alternatively, the station starts from the start time of the last event that causes the NAV to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value. If the station does not receive the OBSS PPDU with the bandwidth including the target secondary channel and making the NAV valid, or the station does not receive any OBSS PPDU, the station can switch to the target secondary channel according to the condition of the OBSS PPDU in the case of receiving the OBSS PPDU with the bandwidth not including the target secondary channel. Optionally, the NAV can be the NAV corresponding to the first bandwidth. The condition shown here refers to the trigger condition of the station switching to the target secondary channel.

[0296] In a possible implementation manner b, after the flag bit is set (or the identification result of the flag bit is "yes"), the station receives the OBSS PPDU with the bandwidth not including the target secondary channel, and in the case that the NPCA start switching time has no valid value, the station updates the NPCA start switching time according to the value of the NAV. Or the value of the NAV is saved into the NPCA start switching time. The value of the NAV refers to the time before the station maintains the NAV according to the OBSS PPDU with the bandwidth not including the target secondary channel. After the NPCA start switching time is updated, the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time is equal to the end time indicated before the NAV is maintained. Optionally, the NPCA start switching time can indicate the end time. Optionally, the NPCA start switching time can indicate the time length. The specific setting manner of the NPCA start switching time is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0297] In other words, from the start receiving time (or sending time) of the first OBSS PPDU that causes the NAV to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value last time, if the station receives the second OBSS PPDU, in the case that the station receives the third OBSS PPDU and the NPCA start switching time has no valid value, the station updates the NPCA start switching time according to the time indicated by the NAV before the NAV is maintained according to the third OBSS PPDU. The bandwidth of the third OBSS PPDU does not include the target secondary channel and includes the primary channel. The bandwidth of the second OBSS PPDU includes the primary channel and the target secondary channel. The embodiments of the present application do not limit whether the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU includes the target secondary channel. Optionally, the NAV can be the NAV corresponding to the first bandwidth.

[0298] In the embodiments of the present application, the NPCA start switching time is maintained according to the time indicated before the NAV is updated, so that the station can maintain the NPCA start switching time and the time indicated by the NAV at the same time. Thus, the time difference is used to determine whether the target secondary channel can be switched to, the time when the station switches to the target secondary channel is determined, and the channel utilization is improved.

[0299] In a possible implementation manner c, after the flag bit is set (or the identification result of the flag bit is "yes"), the station receives the OBSS PPDU (or the OBSS control frame interaction) with the bandwidth including the target secondary channel and causing the NAV to be valid, and in the case that the NPCA start switching time has a valid value and the end time of the OBSS busy time corresponding to the OBSS PPDU is later than the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time, the NPCA start switching time is updated. Optionally, the station can update the NPCA start switching time according to the OBSS busy time corresponding to the OBSS PPDU.

[0300] In other words, from the start time of the last first OBSS PPDU that causes the NAV to be updated from a zero value or invalid to a non-zero value, if the station receives a second OBSS PPDU, the station updates the NPCA switch time according to the OBSS busy time corresponding to the fourth OBSS PPDU in the case that the station receives the fourth OBSS PPDU and the NPCA switch time has a valid value. Optionally, the NAV can be the NAV corresponding to the first bandwidth.

[0301] In the embodiments of the present application, the station can switch to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch time only in the case that the NPCA switch time has a valid value. In the case that the station receives the fourth OBSS PPDU whose bandwidth includes the target secondary channel, the station can switch to the target secondary channel only after the end of the OBSS busy time corresponding to the fourth OBSS PPDU. Therefore, the NPCA switch time can be updated according to the OBSS busy time, thereby improving the accuracy of the NPCA switch time record.

[0302] In a possible implementation manner d, in the case that the NPCA switch time has a valid value and the difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA switch time is greater than the difference threshold, the station switches to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch time. Optionally, the station clears the NPCA switch time or resets the NPCA switch time to the state of no valid value after switching to the target secondary channel.

[0303] The various implementation manners shown above can be separate embodiments or can be combined with each other to form one embodiment, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The following takes FIG. 18 as an example to illustrate the above various implementation manners. The description of the implementation manner a is referred to the above and will not be described in detail here.

[0304] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 18, the communication method includes the following steps.

[0305] 1801. The station receives a first OBSS PPDU at a first time, and maintains a NAV according to the first OBSS PPDU, wherein the NAV is updated from a zero value to a non-zero value or the NAV is updated from invalid to a non-zero value.

[0306] For example, the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU includes the primary channel and the target secondary channel. For another example, the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU does not include the target secondary channel.

[0307] 1802、the station receives a third OBSS PPDU at a second time, the bandwidth of the third OBSS PPDU not including the target secondary channel, the second time later than the first time.

[0308] 1803、in a case that the station receives the second OBSS PPDU between the first time and the second time, and in a case that the NPCA switch start time has no valid value, the NPCA switch start time is updated according to a NAV before the second time. The NAV before the second time refers to a NAV that the station has not maintained according to the third OBSS PPDU, i.e., a NAV before a time indicated by the NAV according to the third OBSS PPDU. Optionally, the NAV includes but is not limited to a basic NAV.

[0309] After step 1803, as a possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0310] In a case that the condition is met, the station switches to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch start time, the condition including: an end time indicated by the NAV later than an end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time; and a difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time greater than a threshold. As described with reference to the implementation manner d.

[0311] Optionally, the station switches back to the primary channel before the end time indicated by the NAV.

[0312] After step 1803, as another possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0313] receiving a fourth OBSS PPDU at a third time, the bandwidth of the fourth OBSS PPDU including the primary channel and the target secondary channel, the third time later than the second time, and the third time earlier than the NPCA switch start time; and in a case that a busy end time of a BSS corresponding to the fourth OBSS PPDU later than the NPCA switch start time, updating the NPCA switch start time according to the busy end time. As described with reference to the implementation manner c.

[0314] In a possible implementation manner, after the third time, the method further includes:

[0315] In a case that the condition is met, the station switches to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch start time, the condition including: an end time indicated by the NAV later than an end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time; and a difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time greater than a threshold. As described with reference to the implementation manner d.

[0316] Optionally, the station switches back to the primary channel before the end time indicated by the NAV.

[0317] For example, the NPCA start switching time and the NAV value change are explained in the scenario shown in FIG. 17.

[0318] At t0, STA1 receives PPDU1 from OBSS2, and the bandwidth of PPDU1 does not include the target secondary channel, and the OBSS busy time corresponding to PPDU1 is less than the preset threshold. PPDU1 updates the NAV of STA1 from zero to a non-zero value, and the updated NAV takes effect at the completion time of PPDU1, and the NPCA start switching time is the initial state, which is invalid.

[0319] Before the NAV of STA1 is invalid, at t1, STA1 receives PPDU2 from OBSS1, and the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the target secondary channel, and the OBSS busy end time corresponding to PPDU2 is t3. The station updates the NAV according to PPDU2, so that the end time indicated by the NAV is t3, the NAV update takes effect at the completion time of PPDU2, and the NPCA start switching time is still the initial state, which is invalid.

[0320] Before the NAV of STA1 is invalid, at t2, STA1 receives PPDU3 from OBSS2, and the bandwidth of PPDU3 does not include the target secondary channel, the OBSS busy end time corresponding to PPDU3 is t4, and the OBSS busy time indicated by PPDU3 is greater than the preset threshold. Since STA1 has received PPDU2 whose bandwidth includes the target secondary channel and whose NAV takes effect from the beginning of PPDU1 to t2, and the NPCA start switching time of STA1 is invalid before t2, the end time indicated by the NAV is t3, so the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time of STA1 at t2 is updated to t3, the NAV is updated and the end time indicated by the NAV is t4, and the NAV update takes effect at the completion time of PPDU3.

[0321] Optionally, STA1 can determine whether to switch to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA start switching time. If the end time indicated by the NAV is later than the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time, and the difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time is greater than a threshold, STA1 can switch to the target secondary channel. If the above conditions are not met, STA1 stays in the primary channel.

[0322] Optionally, the STA1 can determine whether to switch to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch start time at t3 to t4. Optionally, the station clears the NPCA switch start time or resets the NPCA switch start time to a state without a valid value after switching to the target secondary channel.

[0323] Other descriptions about FIG. 17 are referred to the foregoing, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0324] As shown above, the NAV corresponds to a time length and a bandwidth. As a possible implementation, the NPCA switch start time is maintained in the same way as the NAV corresponding to the second bandwidth. In other words, the end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time is the end time corresponding to the second NAV indication.

[0325] In a possible implementation, the station switches to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA switch start time in the case where the following conditions are met: the end time indicated by the NAV is later than the end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time; and the difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA switch start time is greater than a threshold. Refer to the description of the implementation d.

[0326] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication method, which comprises:

[0327] receiving an OBSS PPDU; and switching to a target secondary channel according to the OBSS PPDU in the case where the following condition is met: a NAV maintained by the station is updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value according to the OBSS PPDU.

[0328] That is, the station can only be triggered to switch by the OBSS PPDU causing the NAV (such as the basic NAV) to be updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value, and switches to the target secondary channel in the case where the following condition is met. The condition can be referred to the description of the triggering condition above, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0329] Similarly, the NAV (such as the basic NAV) of the station is updated from zero or invalid to a non-zero value and takes effect, and the station cannot switch to the target secondary channel before the NAV is cleared or invalid. That is, when the NAV is updated from zero to a non-zero value according to the OBSS PPDU, and the station does not switch to the target secondary channel according to the OBSS PPDU, the station stays in the primary channel before the NAV is cleared.

[0330] As still taking FIG. 17 as an example, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is described.

[0331] At t0, the OBSS busy time corresponding to the PPDU1 does not exceed the preset threshold, and the station cannot switch to the target secondary channel.

[0332] At t1, since the bandwidth of PPDU2 includes the destination secondary channel, the switching to the destination secondary channel cannot be performed.

[0333] At t2, since PPDU3 is not an OBSS PPDU causing the NAV to be updated from zero to a non-zero value, the switching to the destination secondary channel cannot be performed. Similarly, the switching to the destination secondary channel cannot be performed before t4.

[0334] At t5, when PPDU4 is an OBSS PPDU causing the NAV to be updated from zero to a non-zero value, the switching to the destination secondary channel can be performed when the condition is met.

[0335] For example, the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described with reference to FIG. 19.

[0336] At t0, since the OBSS busy time does not exceed the preset threshold, the switching to the destination secondary channel cannot be performed.

[0337] At t2, since the current OBSS PPDU is not a PPDU causing the NAV to be updated from zero to a non-zero value, the switching to the destination secondary channel cannot be performed before t4.

[0338] The embodiments of the present application are simple to implement.

[0339] The station provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described below.

[0340] The station provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described below.

[0341] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a station provided in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the station includes a processing module 1301 and a transceiver module 1302. The transceiver module 1302 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 1301 is configured to implement corresponding processing functions. The transceiver module 1302 can also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or a communication module, etc.

[0342] In some embodiments of the present application, the station can be a WLAN device itself or a chip or a functional module configured in the WLAN device, etc. The transceiver module 1302 is configured to perform the transceiver-related operations of the station in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 1301 is configured to perform the processing-related operations of the station in the above method embodiments.

[0343] The transceiver module 1302 is configured to receive or input the first wireless frame.

[0344] The processing module 1301 is configured to maintain N sets of NAVs according to the first wireless frame.

[0345] The processing module 1301 is further configured to switch to the destination secondary channel.

[0346] The transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive or input the second wireless frame.

[0347] The processing module 1301 is further configured to maintain M sets of NAVs according to the second wireless frame.

[0348] The specific manner of maintaining the NAV can refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0349] For example, the transceiver module 1302 described above can be an antenna module. For another example, the transceiver module 1302 described above can be an input / output module. Optionally, in each of the above embodiments, the station can further include a storage module, which can be configured to store instructions and / or data, and the processing module 1301 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module to enable the station to implement the above method embodiments.

[0350] In each of the above embodiments, the specific description of each term or name or step can refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0351] The specific description of the transceiver module and the processing module shown in each of the above embodiments is only an example. For the specific functions or steps performed by the transceiver module and the processing module, etc., please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0352] It can be understood that the division of the modules in the above apparatus is only a logical functional division. One function can correspond to one functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional module. In actual implementation, all or part of the modules can be integrated into one physical entity, or distributed in different physical entities. In addition, the functional modules can be implemented in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0353] In one example, the functional units in any of the above apparatuses can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, for example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms.

[0354] The above introduces the station of the embodiments of the present application, and the following introduces possible product forms of the station. Any product form with the functions of the station described in FIG. 13 falls within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. The following introduction is only for example, and does not limit the product form of the station of the embodiments of the present application.

[0355] In a possible implementation, in the station shown in FIG. 13, the processing module 1301 can be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 1302 can be a transceiver, or the transceiver module 1302 can also be a sending module and a receiving module, the sending module can be a transmitter, and the receiving module can be a receiver, and the sending module and the receiving module are integrated in one device, for example, a transceiver. In the embodiments of the present application, the processor and the transceiver can be coupled and the like, and the connection manner of the processor and the transceiver is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In the process of executing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be the process of outputting the above information by the processor. When the above information is output, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver, so as to be transmitted by the transceiver. The above information can also need to be processed after being output by the processor, and then reaches the transceiver. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be the process of receiving inputted above information by the processor. When the processor receives the inputted information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it to the processor. Further, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information can need to be processed, and then input to the processor.

[0356] FIG. 14 is another structural schematic diagram of the station provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 14, the station 140 includes one or more processors 1420 and a transceiver 1410.

[0357] The processor 1420 can be configured to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 1301 shown in FIG. 13, and the transceiver 1410 can be configured to perform the functions or steps implemented by the transceiving module 1302 shown in FIG. 13. For specific descriptions of the processor 1420 and the transceiver 1410, reference can be made to the method embodiments shown in FIG. 13 or described above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0358] In the various implementations of the station shown in FIG. 14, the transceiver can include a receiver configured to perform the functions (or operations) of receiving and a transmitter configured to perform the functions (or operations) of transmitting. The transceiver is configured to communicate with other devices / apparatuses through a transmission medium.

[0359] Optionally, the station 140 can further include one or more memories 1430 configured to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1430 is coupled to the processor 1420. The coupling between the station, the unit or the module in the embodiments of the present application is indirect coupling or communication connection between the stations, the units or the modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information interaction between the stations, the units or the modules. The processor 1420 can operate in cooperation with the memory 1430. The processor 1420 can execute the program instructions stored in the memory 1430. Optionally, at least one of the one or more memories described above can be included in the processor.

[0360] The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1410, the processor 1420 and the memory 1430 in the embodiments of the present application is not limited. In FIG. 14, the memory 1430, the processor 1420 and the transceiver 1410 are connected through a bus 1440, which is represented by a thick line in FIG. 14. The connection mode between other components is only schematically illustrated and is not limited. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For convenience of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 14, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0361] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc., which can implement or execute the disclosed methods, steps and logic block diagrams in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as execution completed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor, etc.

[0362] The memory in the embodiments of the present application can include, but is not limited to, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the like. The memory is any storage medium that can be used to carry or store program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and can be read and / or written by a computer (such as the station shown in the present application and the like). The memory in the embodiments of the present application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of realizing a storage function, used for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0363] The processor 1420 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the entire station, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The memory 1430 is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The transceiver 1410 can include a control circuit and an antenna, and the control circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. The input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, and the like, are mainly used for receiving user input data and outputting data to users.

[0364] When the station is powered on, the processor 1420 can read the software program in the memory 1430, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1420 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit converts the baseband signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmits the radio frequency signal through the antenna in the form of electromagnetic waves. When data is transmitted to the station, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1420. The processor 1420 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0365] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged independently of the processor performing baseband processing, for example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged remotely from the station.

[0366] The station shown in the embodiments of the present application can also have more components than those shown in FIG. 14, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the station. The method performed by the processor and the transceiver shown above is only an example, and the steps actually performed by the processor and the transceiver can refer to the method described above. The dashed part in FIG. 14 represents an option.

[0367] In another possible implementation, in the station shown in FIG. 13, the processing module 1301 can be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiving module 1302 can be an input / output interface, also referred to as a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiving module 1302 can also be a sending module and a receiving module, the sending module can be an output interface, and the receiving module can be an input interface. The sending module and the receiving module are integrated into one module, for example, an input / output interface.

[0368] FIG. 15 is another structure of a station provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 15, the station shown in FIG. 15 includes a logic circuit 1501 and an interface 1502. That is, the processing module 1301 can be implemented by the logic circuit 1501, and the transceiving module 1302 can be implemented by the interface 1502. The logic circuit 1501 can be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, or a system on chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface 1502 can be a communication interface, an input / output interface, a pin, etc. For example, FIG. 15 is shown by taking the station as a chip, which includes the logic circuit 1501 and the interface 1502.

[0369] In the embodiments of the present application, the logic circuit and the interface can also be coupled to each other. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific connection mode of the logic circuit and the interface. For example, the logic circuit 1501 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 1301 shown in FIG. 13, and the interface 1502 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the transceiving module 1302 shown in FIG. 13. For specific description of the logic circuit 1501 and the interface 1502, refer to the method embodiments shown in FIG. 13 or the above description, which will not be described in detail here.

[0370] The station shown in the embodiments of the present application can implement the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in the form of hardware, or implement the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in the form of software, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0371] The present application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processes performed by the station in the method provided by the present application.

[0372] The application further provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein computer code is stored in the computer readable storage medium, and when the computer code is run on a computer, the computer code causes the computer to perform operations and / or processes performed by each station in the method provided by the application.

[0373] The application further provides a computer program product, which comprises computer code or a computer program, and when the computer code or the computer program is run on a computer, operations and / or processes performed by each station in the method provided by the application are performed.

[0374] In several embodiments provided by the application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, station and method can be implemented in other manners. For example, the station embodiments described above are merely schematic; for example, the division of the modules is only a logical function division; an actual implementation can be another division manner, for example, multiple modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections between different modules can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, functional modules or other means, and can be electrical, mechanical or in other forms.

[0375] The modules illustrated as separated components can or can not be physically separated, and the components illustrated as modules can or can not be physical modules, i.e., can be located in one place, or can be distributed on multiple network modules. According to actual needs, some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the technical effects of the scheme provided by the embodiments of the application.

[0376] In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the application can be integrated in one processing module, or each module can exist physically independently, or two or more modules can be integrated in one module. The integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module.

[0377] The integrated module, if implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present application essentially or say the part that contributes to the prior art, or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, includes a plurality of instructions to make a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) execute all or part of the steps of the method described in various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM), a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a station, and the method comprises: receiving a first wireless frame, wherein a receiving address indicated by the first wireless frame indicates that a receiving end is not the station; maintaining N sets of network allocation vectors (NAVs) according to the first wireless frame, wherein the N sets of NA Vs respectively correspond to different bandwidths, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The maintaining of the N sets of NA Vs according to the first wireless frame comprises: maintaining the N sets of NA Vs according to bandwidth and time length information of the first wireless frame, wherein the time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein a first NAV in the N sets of NA Vs corresponds to a first bandwidth, and the first bandwidth comprises a primary channel and does not comprise a destination secondary channel; a second NAV in the N sets of NA Vs corresponds to a second bandwidth, and the second bandwidth comprises the destination secondary channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The maintaining of the N sets of NA Vs according to the first wireless frame comprises: maintaining the first NAV according to the first wireless frame; maintaining the second NAV according to the first wireless frame.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The second bandwidth further comprises the primary channel, and the maintaining of the N sets of NA Vs according to the first wireless frame comprises: in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame comprises the primary channel and does not comprise the destination secondary channel, maintaining the first NAV according to the first wireless frame; or in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame comprises the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, maintaining the first NAV and the second NAV according to the first wireless frame.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The maintaining of the first NAV according to the first wireless frame comprises: if time length information indicates that a time length is greater than a time length corresponding to the first NAV, updating the time length corresponding to the first NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information, wherein the time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the first NAV, not updating the time length corresponding to the first NAV.

7. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The maintaining of the second NAV according to the first wireless frame comprises: if time length information indicates that a time length is greater than a time length corresponding to the second NAV, updating the time length corresponding to the second NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information, wherein the time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame; if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the second NAV, not updating the time length corresponding to the second NAV.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The maintaining of the N sets of NA Vs according to the first wireless frame comprises: in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the bandwidths corresponding to the N sets of NA Vs are all different, adding a NAV according to the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and time length information, wherein the time length information is determined according to the first wireless frame; in a case where the bandwidth of the first wireless frame and the bandwidth corresponding to a third NAV in the N sets of NA Vs are the same, maintaining the third NAV according to the time length information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The maintaining of the third NAV according to the time length information comprises: if the time length indicated by the time length information is greater than a time length corresponding to the third NAV, updating the time length corresponding to the third NAV according to the time length indicated by the time length information; or if the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the third NAV, not updating the time length corresponding to the third NAV. If the time length indicated by the time length information is less than or equal to the time length corresponding to the third NAV, the time length corresponding to the third NAV is not updated.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The method further comprises: Switching to a destination secondary channel; Receiving a second wireless frame, a receiving address of the second wireless frame indicating that a receiving end is not the station; According to the second wireless frame, maintaining M groups of NAVs, the M groups of NAVs respectively corresponding to different bandwidths, M being an integer greater than or equal to 2.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, A fourth NAV in the M groups of NAVs corresponds to a fourth bandwidth, the fourth bandwidth including the destination secondary channel and not including a primary channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The maintaining the M groups of NAVs according to the second wireless frame comprises: According to the second wireless frame, maintaining the fourth NAV; According to the second wireless frame, maintaining a second NAV, the second NAV corresponding to a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth including the primary channel and the destination secondary channel.

13. The method according to any one of claims 3-12, characterized in that, The destination secondary channel is a non-primary channel of the station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, The NAV corresponds to a time length and a bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein, The NAV comprises at least one of a basic NAV or an intra- basic service set (BSS) NAV.

16. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises means for performing the method of any one of claims 1-15.

17. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises a processor and a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to transmit and receive information, and the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15.

18. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises a logic circuit and an interface, the logic circuit and the interface being coupled; The interface is configured to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer program product is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15 when implemented.

20. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-15 when implemented.

21. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a station, and the method comprises: At a first time, receiving a first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), and according to the first OBSS PPDU, maintaining a network allocation vector (NAV), the NAV being updated from a zero value to a non-zero value; Starting from the first time, if the station receives a second OBSS PPDU, before the NAV is cleared or before the NAV is invalid, the station resides in a primary channel, a bandwidth of the second OBSS PPDU including the primary channel and a destination secondary channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The first OBSS PPDU and the second OBSS PPDU are the same OBSS PPDU; or A bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU includes the primary channel and the destination secondary channel, and the first OBSS PPDU is different from the second OBSS PPDU; or The bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU does not include the destination secondary channel.

23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein, The station resides in the primary channel according to the first OBSS PPDU.

24. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a station, and the method comprises: receiving a first overlapping basic service set (OBSS) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) at a first time, maintaining a network allocation vector (NAV) according to the first OBSS PPDU, the NAV being updated from a zero value to a non-zero value; receiving a third OBSS PPDU at a second time, the bandwidth of the third OBSS PPDU not including the target secondary channel, the second time being later than the first time; in a case that a second OBSS PPDU is received between the first time and the second time, and in a case that the NPCA start switching time has no valid value, updating the NPCA start switching time according to the NAV before the second time, the bandwidth of the second OBSS PPDU including the primary channel and the target secondary channel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein, the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU including the primary channel and the target secondary channel; or the bandwidth of the first OBSS PPDU not including the target secondary channel.

26. The method of claim 24 or 25, wherein, The method further comprises: switching to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA start switching time in a case that a condition is met, the condition comprising: an end time indicated by the NAV being later than an end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time; a difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time being greater than a threshold value.

27. The method of claim 24 or 25, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a fourth OBSS PPDU at a third time, the bandwidth of the fourth OBSS PPDU including the primary channel and the target secondary channel, the third time being later than the second time and earlier than the NPCA start switching time; updating the NPCA start switching time according to a busy traffic end time of a basic service set (BSS) corresponding to the fourth OBSS PPDU in a case that the busy traffic end time is later than an end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, The method further comprises: switching to the target secondary channel according to the NPCA start switching time in a case that a condition is met, the condition comprising: an end time indicated by the NAV being later than an end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time; a difference between the end time indicated by the NAV and the end time indicated by the NPCA start switching time being greater than a threshold value.

29. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a station, and the method comprises: receiving an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU); switching to a target secondary channel according to the OBSS PPDU in a case that a condition is met, the condition comprising: a network allocation vector (NAV) maintained by the station being updated from a zero value to a non-zero value according to the OBSS PPDU.

30. A communications device, characterized by A module for performing the method of any one of claims 21-29.

31. A communications device, characterized by A communication apparatus comprising a processor and a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to transmit and receive information, and the processor being configured to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any one of claims 21-29.

32. A communications device, characterized by A communication apparatus comprising a logic circuit and an interface, the logic circuit and the interface being coupled. The interface is configured to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is configured to cause the communication device to implement the method of any one of claims 21-29.

33. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium is configured to store a computer program, which, when implemented, causes the method of any one of claims 21-29 to be performed.

34. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product, when implemented, causes the method of any one of claims 21-29 to be performed.

Images