Communication method and apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

The present application belongs to the field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method is applied to a master access point of a communication system, and comprises: receiving a roaming enable operation command, which is used for enabling roaming functions of access points comprised in the communication system; on the basis of the roaming enable operation command, determining whether channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether optimal channels supported by slave access points in the communication system are consistent; if the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent or the optimal channels supported by the slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent, determining whether the master access point and the slave access points support inter-channel roaming; and if the master access point and the slave access points do not support inter-channel roaming, configuring the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. The present application can avoid service interruption.

Description

Communication methods, devices and storage media

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411565309.5, filed on November 4, 2024, entitled "Communication Method, Apparatus and Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus and storage medium. Background Technology

[0003] A wireless local area network (WLAN) may include multiple access points, and the coverage area of ​​the WLAN includes the coverage area of ​​these multiple access points. These multiple access points have roaming capabilities, enabling them to provide roaming services to stations (STAs) within the coverage area of ​​the WLAN.

[0004] Within the coverage area of ​​a wireless LAN, a STA can move. It might move from the coverage area of ​​the first access point to the coverage area of ​​a second access point. In this case, the second access point can provide roaming services to the STA based on its roaming capabilities, enabling communication with the STA. However, the roaming performance provided by access points in a wireless LAN is generally poor. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium to avoid service interruption. The technical solution is as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method applied to a primary access point of a communication system. The method includes: receiving a roaming activation command, the roaming activation command being used to enable roaming functionality for access points included in the communication system; determining, based on the roaming activation command, whether the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by the secondary access points in the communication system are consistent; if the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent, or if the optimal channels supported by the secondary access points in the communication system are inconsistent, determining whether the primary access point and the secondary access points support cross-channel roaming; and if the primary access point and the secondary access points do not support cross-channel roaming, configuring the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth.

[0007] In situations where the channel capabilities of access points in a communication system are inconsistent, or where the optimal channels supported by secondary access points in a communication system are inconsistent, and if the primary and secondary access points do not support roaming on abnormal channels, the access points in the communication system should be configured to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. Because the access points in the communication system use the same channel and / or bandwidth, stations do not need to switch channels when roaming between different access points, thus improving the roaming performance of the access points, and consequently, the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0008] In one possible implementation, configuring access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth includes: sending information about a first channel to slave access points of the communication system. This first channel information enables slave access points in the communication system to be configured to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. By using this first channel information to configure slave access points in the communication system to use the same channel, stations do not need to switch channels when roaming between different access points, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0009] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: configuring the channel and / or bandwidth of the primary access point to be the same as the channel and / or bandwidth of the secondary access point in the communication system, based on the information of the first channel. This ensures that the access points (primary and secondary access points) in the communication system are configured with the same channel through the first channel information, so that when a station roams between different access points, it does not need to switch channels, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0010] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: configuring the channel and / or bandwidth of the slave access point when both the primary and slave access points support abnormal channel roaming, wherein the channel of the slave access point is its optimal channel. This allows the slave access point to use its own optimal channel, thereby improving communication performance.

[0011] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: configuring the channel and / or bandwidth of the primary access point, whereby the primary access point and the secondary access point support abnormal channel roaming, and the channel of the primary access point is its optimal channel. This allows the primary access point to use its own optimal channel, thereby improving communication performance.

[0012] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving information from a fifth channel and transmitting the fifth channel information to some or all access points in the communication system, wherein the fifth channel information is used to configure the same channel and / or bandwidth for the some or all access points. This allows for configuration of the channels used by access points in the communication system based on requirements, improving configuration flexibility.

[0013] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving information from a fifth channel; determining that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information from the fifth channel, and then determining not to send the information from the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

[0014] Secondly, this application provides a communication device located in a communication system, the communication device comprising:

[0015] A receiving unit is configured to receive a roaming activation operation command, wherein the roaming activation operation command is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system;

[0016] The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the roaming activation operation command, whether the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by the access points in the communication system are consistent.

[0017] The processing unit is further configured to determine whether the device and the slave access point support cross-channel roaming when the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent or the optimal channels supported by the slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent.

[0018] The processing unit is further configured to configure the access point in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth if the device and the access point do not support abnormal channel roaming.

[0019] In cases where the channel capabilities of access points in a communication system are inconsistent, or the optimal channels supported by slave access points in a communication system are inconsistent, and if the device and slave access points do not support abnormal channel roaming, the processing unit configures the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. Because the access points in the communication system use the same channel and / or bandwidth, stations do not need to switch channels when roaming between different access points, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0020] Optionally, the transmitting unit is configured to transmit information about a first channel to the slave access points of the communication system. This first channel information is used to configure the slave access points of the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. By using the first channel information, the slave access points in the communication system are configured to use the same channel, so that when a station roams between different access points, it does not need to switch channels, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0021] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured, based on the information of the first channel, to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the device to be the same as the channel and / or bandwidth of the access point in the communication system.

[0022] By using the first channel information, the access points (the device and the slave access points) in the communication system are configured with the same channel, so that when the station roams between different access points, it does not need to switch channels, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, that is, improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0023] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the slave access point when the device and the slave access point support abnormal channel roaming, wherein the channel of the slave access point is the optimal channel of the slave access point. This allows the slave access point to use its own optimal channel, thereby improving communication performance.

[0024] Optionally, the processing unit is further configured to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the device, wherein the device's channel is its optimal channel, in cases where the device and the secondary access point support abnormal channel roaming. This allows the primary access point (communication device) to use its own optimal channel, thereby improving communication performance.

[0025] Optionally, the receiving unit is further configured to receive information from the fifth channel and transmit the fifth channel information to some or all access points in the communication system. The fifth channel information is used by the access points to configure the same channel and / or bandwidth. This allows for configuration of the channels used by access points in the communication system based on requirements, improving configuration flexibility.

[0026] Optionally, the receiving unit is further configured to receive information from the fifth channel; the processing unit is further configured to determine, if it is determined that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information from the fifth channel, not to send the information from the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

[0027] Thirdly, this application provides a master access point, which includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is used to execute program instructions in the memory to implement the methods provided in the first aspect and the optional methods of the first aspect. The communication interface is used to communicate with slave access points.

[0028] Fourthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program instruction that is read by a processor to cause an access point to perform the method provided in the first aspect or any alternative method of the first aspect.

[0029] Fifthly, this application provides a computer program product including program instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor at an access point reads the program instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the program instructions, causing the access point to perform the method provided in the first aspect or any alternative method of the first aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 4 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 5 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 6 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 7 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 8 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 9 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 10 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 11 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 12 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 13 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 14 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 15 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 16 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 17 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of a management channel in a data link layer provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of a communication device structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of a device structure provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0050] A wireless LAN comprises multiple access points, and its coverage area includes the coverage area of ​​each of these access points. The importance of seamless roaming in a wireless LAN lies in its ability to provide users with a continuous and uninterrupted wireless network connection, ensuring stable and reliable network connectivity in homes, offices, and public places. From a user experience perspective, seamless roaming avoids network interruptions. Imagine a user enjoying a smooth online video or participating in an important online meeting, only to suddenly lose their internet connection as they move from one room or area to another; this would significantly degrade the user experience. Seamless roaming technology intelligently senses user movement and changes in signal strength, automatically switching to the optimal access point to avoid such interruptions and allow users to enjoy a continuous and stable network connection. The following examples will illustrate the technology of seamless roaming in detail.

[0051] Referring to Figure 1, this application embodiment provides a communication system 100, which includes a main access point 101 and at least one slave access point 102. The main access point 101 can communicate with each slave access point 102. The coverage area of ​​the communication system 100 includes the coverage area of ​​the main access point 101 and the coverage area of ​​each slave access point 102. An access point can be referred to as an access device; that is, the main access point can be a main access device, and the slave access point can be a slave access device. Both the main access device and the slave access device can access the STA device via a wireless local area network.

[0052] In the communication system provided in this application, all access points (master access point and slave access point) have the same basic service set identifier (BSSID). A STA device can roam from one master access point to one slave access point, or from one slave access point to another. Optionally, the STA device may include a terminal, etc.

[0053] Alternatively, the communication system 100 may be a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0054] For each access point (master access point 101 or slave access point 102) of the communication system 100, the access point includes roaming capability, through which roaming functionality is provided.

[0055] Referring to Figure 1, STA 103 can be located within the coverage area of ​​communication system 100, and is an access point (primary access point 101 or secondary access point 102) within communication system 100. For ease of explanation, this access point will be referred to as the first access point. STA 103 can communicate with the first access point; for example, STA 103 can transmit services with the first access point. STA 103 can move within the coverage area of ​​communication system 100, thus STA 103 may move from the coverage area of ​​the first access point to the coverage area of ​​a second access point.

[0056] At this point, the signal quality between STA103 and the first access point may fall below the quality threshold, while the signal quality between STA103 and the second access point gradually strengthens and eventually reaches a point where the signal quality between STA103 and the second access point is no lower than the quality threshold. Since the second access point has roaming capabilities, it can provide roaming functionality, thereby establishing a connection with STA103 and communicating with it. In other words, the second access point can resume transmitting STA103's services.

[0057] Because the roaming functions in the first access point and the second access point are different, after STA103 roams from the coverage area of ​​the first access point to the coverage area of ​​the second access point, the second access point needs a longer time to resume the transmission of STA103's services, which reduces roaming performance.

[0058] To improve roaming performance, the primary access point 101 can obtain a first configuration parameter, configure roaming based on this parameter, and send the first configuration parameter to the secondary access point 102 in the communication system 100. The secondary access point 102 receives the first configuration parameter and configures roaming based on it. This ensures that the roaming functionality of each access point in the communication system 100 remains consistent. Thus, when STA 103 roams from the first access point to the second access point, the second access point can quickly establish a connection with STA 103 and communicate with it. In other words, the second access point can quickly resume the transmission of STA 103's services without interruption. By shortening the time to resume the transmission of STA 103's services, STA 103's services are not interrupted, thereby improving roaming performance.

[0059] In this process, STA103 establishes a connection and communicates with the second access point, indicating that STA103 has switched from the first access point to the second access point. However, since the roaming function of the first access point is the same as that of the second access point, the second access point can make STA103 unaware of the switch from the first access point to the second access point.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first configuration parameters include one or more of the following: identification information of the virtual access point (VAP), service set identifier (SSID) of the VAP, BSSID of the VAP, authentication mode, encryption mode, encryption password, roaming threshold, wireless mode, channel identification information, channel bandwidth, multicast key update period, beacon frame transmission period, transmission service indication message interval period, neighbor list, basic service set color (BSSColor), roaming switch identifier, PVB partial virtual bitmap (PVB) reporting time interval, timing synchronization function (TSF) update period, information to be synchronized to the site from access point 102, or identification information from access point 102.

[0061] Optionally, STA103 may include a terminal, etc., and the channel identification information may include the channel number or the channel frequency, etc.

[0062] In some embodiments, the master access point 101 includes a first Wi-Fi management and control interface (WMCI) interface, and the slave access point 102 includes a second WMCI interface. The master access point 101 and the slave access point 102 communicate through the WMCI interface, that is, messages between the master access point 101 and the slave access point 102 are transmitted through the WMCI interface.

[0063] The primary access point 101 sends the first configuration parameters to at least one secondary access point 102 via the first WMCI interface.

[0064] Optionally, the first configuration parameter can be encapsulated into a WMCI message and then sent by the master access point 101 to the slave access point 102 through the first WMCI interface.

[0065] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 can be a passive optical network (PON) structure system, and the main access point 101 can communicate with at least one slave access point 102 via optical fiber.

[0066] Optionally, referring to Figure 2, the communication system 100 also includes a splitter 104, with the main access point 101 communicating with the splitter 104, and the splitter 104 also communicating with the slave access point 102. In this way, the main access point 101 can communicate with the slave access point 102 through the splitter 104.

[0067] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 includes a Fiber To The Room (FTTR) system, the main access point 101 is the main FTTR unit (MFU) included in the FTTR system, and the secondary access point 102 is the sub FTTR unit (SFU) included in the FTTR system.

[0068] The SFU is connected to the MFU via optical fiber, and the MFU is connected to the optical line terminal (OLT) via optical fiber.

[0069] SFU and MFU can communicate via the WMCI interface, and the communication messages can be in the WMCI message format.

[0070] In a communication system, the MFU and SFU have the same Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) and / or the same Service Set Identifier (SSID).

[0071] When a STA moves within an FTTR network, the channel quality with its currently associated SFU deteriorates, necessitating roaming to an SFU with better channel quality to ensure service continuity. However, during roaming, the terminal needs to re-establish a connection on the new SFU, leading to service interruptions. To ensure timely and continuous roaming, a cooperative roaming control method (WMCI) is employed. Roaming between SFUs involves service shutdown and startup delays.

[0072] Referring to Figure 3, this application embodiment provides a communication method 300, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 300, when a new access point comes online in the communication system 100, the primary access point determines whether the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions. If the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions, a first configuration parameter is sent to the secondary access point. The first configuration parameter is used for roaming configuration by the secondary access point. The method 300 includes the following steps:

[0073] Step 301: Send first capability information from the access point to the primary access point. The first capability information is used to describe the first roaming capability from the access point.

[0074] The access point includes the first roaming capability. When the access point is launched online, the first capability information of the first roaming capability is obtained from the access point and sent to the main access point.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first capability information includes one or more of the following:

[0076] The first roaming capability version number, the wireless modes supported from the access point, the encryption modes supported from the access point, or the channel range from the access point, which includes the channels that the access point can use.

[0077] In step 301, the access point determines that it has the first roaming capability when it goes online, obtains the first capability information of the first roaming capability, and sends the first capability information to the main access point.

[0078] The access point includes a second WMCI interface, through which it sends WMCI messages to the main access point. The WMCI messages include first capability information.

[0079] Step 302: The primary access point receives the first capability information and determines whether the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions based on the first capability information.

[0080] Optionally, determine whether the roaming function of the communication system is enabled; if the roaming function of the communication system is enabled, determine whether the roaming enable conditions are met from the access point.

[0081] Optionally, if the roaming function of the primary access point is enabled, it can be concluded that the roaming function of the communication system is enabled.

[0082] The primary access point includes secondary roaming capabilities.

[0083] In step 302, if the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability are determined to be compatible based on their version numbers, then the access point is determined to meet the roaming activation conditions. If the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability are determined to be incompatible based on their version numbers, then the access point is determined not to meet the roaming activation conditions.

[0084] Regarding step 302 of method 300, the primary access point stores version numbers of each roaming capability compatible with the second roaming capability. Upon receiving the first capability information, if the version numbers of each roaming capability compatible with the second roaming capability include the version number of the first roaming capability, then the primary access point determines that the first and second roaming capabilities are compatible, meaning the access point meets the roaming activation conditions. If the version numbers of each roaming capability compatible with the second roaming capability do not include the version number of the first roaming capability, then the primary access point determines that the first and second roaming capabilities are incompatible, meaning the access point does not meet the roaming activation conditions.

[0085] Step 303: If the roaming enable conditions are met by the secondary access point, the primary access point sends the first configuration parameters to the secondary access point.

[0086] The primary access point includes secondary roaming capabilities.

[0087] In step 303, if the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions, the primary access point obtains second capability information, which describes the second roaming capability. Based on the second capability information and the first capability information, the first configuration parameters are obtained.

[0088] After the primary access point goes online, it also performs roaming configuration based on this first configuration parameter.

[0089] For other slave access points that come online in the communication system, the master access point also sends the first configuration parameter to the other slave access points according to the process of steps 301-303 above.

[0090] Step 304: Receive the first configuration parameters from the access point and configure roaming based on the first configuration parameters.

[0091] Since the master node performs roaming configuration based on the first configuration parameter, and the master access point sends the first configuration parameter to each newly connected slave access point in the communication system, and each slave access point performs its own roaming configuration based on the first configuration parameter, the roaming function on each access point (master access point and slave access point) in the communication system remains consistent.

[0092] For step 303 of method 300, as shown in Table 1 below, the first configuration parameters include one or more of the following: VAP ID, VAP SSID, VAP BSSID, authentication mode, encryption mode, encryption password, roaming threshold, wireless mode, channel identification information, channel bandwidth, multicast key update period, beacon frame transmission period, delivery traffic indication message interval (DTIM) period, neighbor list, BSSColor, roaming switch identifier, PVB reporting time interval, TSF update period, information of sites to be synchronized to the access point or identification information of the access point, etc.

[0093] Table 1

[0094] Since the secondary access point is a newly launched access point, the first configuration parameter can include STA information that needs to be synchronized to the secondary access point. If the secondary access point's second roaming capability supports Wi-Fi 6, and the secondary access point's first roaming capability also supports Wi-Fi 6, then the primary access point's first configuration parameter includes the Wi-Fi 6 wireless mode. When the primary configuration parameter includes Wi-Fi 6, the primary configuration parameter includes Bss Color.

[0095] In some embodiments, the process of roaming configuration after receiving the first configuration parameters from the access point in step 304 above can be as follows:

[0096] The identification information, SSID, and / or BSSID of the VPA used to perform the first roaming capability can be configured as the VAP's ID, SSID, and / or BSSID in the first configuration parameters, respectively. And / or,

[0097] The access point (first roaming capability) will be configured with the following parameters as the first configuration parameters: authentication mode, encryption mode, roaming threshold, wireless mode, multicast key update period, beacon frame period, transmission service indication message interval period, neighbor list, BSSColor, roaming switch identifier, PVB reporting interval, and / or TSF update period. These parameters will be configured to be available as the first configuration parameters.

[0098] The channel available from the access point (first roaming capability) will be configured to the channel identified by the channel identification information in the first configuration parameter, and / or the bandwidth of the channel available from the access point (first roaming capability) will be configured to the channel bandwidth in the first configuration parameter.

[0099] Regarding steps 303 and 304 of method 300, if the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions, the primary access point enables the roaming function of the secondary access point and performs roaming configuration. If the secondary access point does not meet the roaming activation conditions, the primary access point does not enable the roaming function of the secondary access point.

[0100] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 4, the primary access point sends a roaming activation message to the secondary access point. The secondary access point receives the roaming activation message, activates the roaming function based on the message, and sends a roaming activation confirmation message to the primary access point. This confirmation message confirms that the secondary access point has completed roaming activation. The primary access point receives the roaming activation confirmation message and sends a roaming configuration message to the secondary access point, including the first configuration parameter. The secondary access point performs roaming configuration based on the first configuration parameter included in the roaming configuration message and sends a roaming configuration confirmation message to the primary access point. This confirmation message confirms that the secondary access point's roaming configuration is complete. The primary access point receives the roaming configuration confirmation message.

[0101] Optionally, the roaming activation message, roaming activation confirmation message, roaming configuration message, and roaming configuration confirmation message can be WMCI messages.

[0102] Optionally, referring to Table 2 below, the structure of the roaming activation message, roaming activation confirmation message, roaming configuration message, or roaming configuration confirmation message can be as shown in Table 2. Bits may be used in the roaming activation message, roaming activation confirmation message, roaming configuration message, or roaming configuration confirmation message to distinguish the type of each message.

[0103] Table 2

[0104] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 5, the primary access point sends a roaming activation message to the secondary access point, the roaming activation message including the first configuration parameter. The secondary access point receives the roaming activation message, activates the roaming function based on the roaming activation message, performs roaming configuration based on the first configuration parameter included in the roaming activation message, and sends a roaming activation confirmation message to the primary access point. The roaming activation confirmation message confirms that the secondary access point has completed roaming activation and roaming configuration. The primary access point receives the roaming activation confirmation message.

[0105] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 6, the primary access point sends a roaming configuration message to the secondary access point, the roaming configuration message including the first configuration parameter. The secondary access point performs roaming configuration based on the first configuration parameter included in the roaming configuration message and sends a roaming configuration confirmation message to the primary access point, which confirms that the roaming configuration of the secondary access point is complete. Upon receiving the roaming configuration confirmation message, the primary access point, upon determining that the roaming configuration is complete based on the roaming configuration confirmation message, sends a roaming activation message to the secondary access point. Upon receiving the roaming activation message, the secondary access point activates the roaming function based on the roaming activation message and sends a roaming activation confirmation message to the primary access point. The primary access point receives the roaming activation confirmation message, which confirms that the secondary access point has completed roaming activation.

[0106] Optionally, the roaming activation message, roaming activation confirmation message, roaming configuration message, and roaming configuration confirmation message can be WMCI messages.

[0107] Optionally, the roaming configuration confirmation message may also include indication information indicating whether the configuration of the first roaming capability has been completed.

[0108] The primary access point can send a network configuration message to the secondary access point. This message includes second configuration parameters for the secondary access point, which are the network parameters used by the secondary access point after roaming is disabled. The secondary access point receives the network configuration message, configures its network based on the second configuration parameters, and sends a network configuration confirmation message to the primary access point to confirm the completion of network configuration. The primary access point then sends a roaming disable message to the secondary access point to disable its roaming function. The secondary access point receives this roaming disable message, disables its own roaming function based on the message, and sends a roaming disable confirmation message to the primary access point to confirm the complete disabling of its roaming function. The primary access point receives this roaming disable confirmation message.

[0109] Optionally, the network configuration message, network configuration confirmation message, roaming shutdown message, and roaming shutdown confirmation message can be WMCI messages.

[0110] In this embodiment, when a secondary access point comes online, the primary access point receives first capability information about the secondary access point's first roaming capability. Based on this first capability information, if the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions, the primary access point sends first configuration parameters to the secondary access point. The secondary access point then performs roaming configuration based on these first configuration parameters. This allows the primary access point to send the first configuration parameters to each newly online secondary access point. These first configuration parameters enable the roaming functionality of each secondary access point in the communication system to remain consistent, thereby improving the roaming performance of each access point in the communication system.

[0111] Referring to Figure 7, this application embodiment provides a communication method 700, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 700, the primary access point receives a roaming activation operation command, which is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system; based on the roaming activation operation command, it is determined whether the access points in the communication system meet the roaming activation conditions; if the access points in the communication system meet the roaming activation conditions, a first configuration parameter is sent to the secondary access points in the communication system, which is used for roaming configuration by the secondary access points. The method 700 includes the following steps:

[0112] Step 701: The primary access point receives a roaming activation command, which is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system.

[0113] Optionally, the communication system also includes a management device, on which users can enable roaming functionality for each access point of the communication system. Users can trigger the management device, which then sends a roaming activation command to the main access point, which receives the command.

[0114] Optionally, users can configure roaming activation commands on a webpage, send roaming activation commands to the primary access point through the webpage, and the primary access point receives the roaming activation commands.

[0115] Step 702: The primary access point obtains the first capability information of each secondary access point in the communication system based on the roaming activation operation command. The first capability information is used to describe the first roaming capability of the secondary access point.

[0116] In step 702, the master access point sends an acquisition request message to each slave access point in the communication system based on the roaming activation operation command. For each slave access point, the slave access point receives the acquisition request message, acquires its own first capability information for first roaming capability based on the acquisition request message, and sends an acquisition response message to the master access point, the acquisition response message including the first capability information.

[0117] For example, suppose a communication system includes a first slave access point and a second slave access point. The first slave access point includes a first roaming capability, and the second slave access point includes the first roaming capability. The first slave access point receives the retrieval request message, retrieves first capability information of its own first roaming capability (the first capability information describes the first roaming capability), and sends a retrieval response message to the master access point, the retrieval response message including the first capability information.

[0118] The second access point receives the retrieval request message, obtains the first capability information of its own first roaming capability (which describes the first roaming capability), and sends a retrieval response message to the primary access point, which includes the first capability information. In this way, the primary access point obtains the first capability information of the first roaming capabilities of each access point.

[0119] Optionally, the request message and response message can be WMCI messages.

[0120] Step 703: When the primary access point determines that each access point meets the roaming activation conditions based on the first capability information, it sends the first configuration parameters to each secondary access point.

[0121] If the roaming capability of each access point meets the roaming enable condition, it means that the roaming capability of each slave access point is compatible with the second roaming capability of the master access point. Therefore, the first configuration parameter can be sent to each slave access point to enable the roaming function of each slave access point.

[0122] Step 704: Receive the first configuration parameters from the access point and configure roaming based on the first configuration parameters.

[0123] It receives the first configuration parameters from the access point, enables its own roaming function, and performs roaming configuration.

[0124] The primary access point also enables roaming based on this first configuration parameter and performs roaming configuration, thus ensuring that the roaming function of each access point (primary access point and secondary access point) in the communication system remains consistent, thereby improving roaming performance.

[0125] For step 702 of method 700, the first capability information of the first access point includes one or more of the following:

[0126] The first roaming capability version number of the first access point, the first wireless mode supported by the first access point, the first encryption mode supported by the first access point, or the first channel range of the first access point, wherein the first channel range includes the channels that the first access point can use.

[0127] The second capability information from the access point includes one or more of the following:

[0128] The second access point's first roaming capability version number, the second wireless mode supported by the second access point, the second encryption mode supported by the second access point, or the second channel range of the second access point, the second channel range including the channels that the second access point can use.

[0129] Regarding step 703 of method 700, in step 703, if it is determined that the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability of each access point are compatible with each other based on the version number of the first roaming capability and the version number of the second roaming capability of each access point, it is determined that each access point meets the roaming activation condition, and the second roaming capability is the roaming capability of the main access point.

[0130] For example, a communication system includes a first slave access point and a second slave access point. The primary access point stores version numbers of all roaming capabilities compatible with the second roaming capability. Upon receiving the first capability information from the first slave access point, if the version numbers of all roaming capabilities compatible with the second roaming capability include the version number of the first slave access point's first roaming capability, then the primary access point determines that the first and second roaming capabilities of the first slave access point are compatible, meaning the first slave access point meets the roaming activation condition. If the version numbers of all roaming capabilities compatible with the second roaming capability do not include the version number of the first slave access point's first roaming capability, then the primary access point determines that the first and second roaming capabilities of the first slave access point are incompatible, meaning the first slave access point does not meet the roaming activation condition.

[0131] After receiving the first capability information from the second slave access point, the primary access point determines that the first and second roaming capabilities of the second slave access point are compatible if the version numbers of all roaming capabilities compatible with the second roaming capability include the version number of the first roaming capability of the second slave access point, meaning the second slave access point meets the roaming activation condition. If the version numbers of all roaming capabilities compatible with the second roaming capability do not include the version number of the first roaming capability of the second slave access point, then the first and second roaming capabilities of the second slave access point are incompatible, meaning the second slave access point does not meet the roaming activation condition. This process determines whether all slave access points in the communication system meet the roaming activation condition.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first configuration parameter includes one or more of the following: VAP identification information, VAP SSID, VAP BSSID, authentication mode, encryption mode, encryption password, roaming threshold, wireless mode, channel identification information, channel bandwidth, multicast key update period, Beacon frame transmission period, DTIM period, Neighbor List, BSSColor, roaming switch identifier, PVB reporting time interval, TSF update period, or the identification information of the access point.

[0133] Optionally, the interface information includes the interface identifier, etc. Compared with the first configuration parameters obtained in step 303 of method 300, the first configuration parameters obtained in step 703 may not include the information to be synchronized to the STA from the access point.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first configuration parameters can be obtained based on the second capability information and the first capability information of each access point.

[0135] For example, if the second roaming capability of the primary access point supports Wi-Fi 6, and the first roaming capability of each secondary access point also supports Wi-Fi 6, then the first configuration parameter obtained by the primary access point includes the Wi-Fi 6 wireless mode. When the obtained first configuration parameter includes the Wi-Fi 6 wireless mode, the obtained first configuration parameter includes Bss Color.

[0136] Regarding steps 703 and 704 of method 700, the primary access point can use the methods shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6 to enable and configure the roaming function of the secondary access points, which will not be described in detail here. For example, the primary access point can use the methods shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6 to send first configuration parameters to the first and second secondary access points, enabling the first and second secondary access points to enable and configure the roaming function.

[0137] Users can disable the roaming function of each access point in the communication system. That is, users can send a roaming disable command to the main access point through the management device or web page. This roaming disable command is used to disable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system.

[0138] In this way, the primary access point can disable its own roaming function and configure the network, as well as disable the roaming function of each secondary access point and send the second configuration parameters to each secondary access point.

[0139] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 8, the primary access point can send a network configuration message to a secondary access point (such as the first or second secondary access point described above). This network configuration message includes second configuration parameters for the secondary access point, which include network parameters used by the secondary access point after roaming is disabled. The secondary access point receives the network configuration message, performs network configuration based on the second configuration parameters included in the message, and sends a network configuration confirmation message to the primary access point. This confirmation message confirms that the network configuration of the secondary access point is complete. The primary access point sends a roaming disable message to the secondary access point, disabling the roaming function of the secondary access point. The secondary access point receives the roaming disable message, disables its own roaming function based on the message, and sends a roaming disable confirmation message to the primary access point. This confirmation message confirms that the roaming function of the secondary access point has been disabled. The primary access point receives the roaming disable confirmation message.

[0140] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 9, the primary access point sends a roaming disable message to a secondary access point (such as the first or second secondary access point described above). Upon receiving the roaming disable message, the secondary access point disables its own roaming function based on the message and sends a roaming disable confirmation message to the primary access point. This confirmation message acknowledges that the secondary access point's roaming function has been successfully disabled. The secondary access point can configure its network based on its latest network configuration parameters and send a network configuration feedback message to the primary access point. The primary access point receives this feedback message and sends a network configuration confirmation message to the secondary access point.

[0141] The primary access point can also disable its own roaming function and configure the network based on its latest network configuration parameters.

[0142] In this embodiment, when the primary access point receives a roaming activation command, it acquires first capability information of the secondary access point's first roaming capability. Based on this first capability information, if the secondary access point meets the roaming activation conditions, the primary access point sends first configuration parameters to the secondary access point. The secondary access point then activates the roaming function based on these first configuration parameters and performs roaming configuration. This allows the primary access point to send the first configuration parameters to each secondary access point in the communication system. These first configuration parameters enable consistent roaming functionality across all secondary access points in the communication system, thereby improving the roaming performance of each access point in the communication system.

[0143] Referring to Figure 10, this application embodiment provides a communication method 1000, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 1000, the primary access point determines a target wireless mode supported by both the primary access point and the secondary access point in the communication system; and sends the target wireless mode to the secondary access point, which is used by the secondary access point for roaming configuration. Optionally, the target wireless mode can be a wireless mode included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the primary access point in method 300 shown in Figure 3, or it can be a wireless mode included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the primary access point in method 700 shown in Figure 7. The method 1000 includes the following steps:

[0144] Step 1001: The primary access point acquires the first wireless mode of the first secondary access point, which is an access point in the communication system.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first slave access point may be a newly launched access point in the communication system. The first slave access point can send first capability information to the master access point in the manner described in step 301 of method 300 above. The first capability information includes the first wireless mode of the first slave access point, so that the master access point can obtain the first wireless mode.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first slave access point may be an access point that has been put online in the communication system. When the master access point receives the roaming activation operation command, it obtains the first capability information of the first slave access point through step 702 of the above method 700. The first capability information includes the first wireless mode of the first slave access point.

[0147] Step 1002: The primary access point obtains the target wireless mode based on the first wireless mode. Both the first secondary access point and the primary access point support the target wireless mode.

[0148] Step 1003: The primary access point sends the target wireless mode to the first secondary access point.

[0149] Step 1004: First, receive the target wireless mode from the access point and configure roaming based on the target wireless mode.

[0150] Regarding step 1002 of method 1000, in step 1002, the first access point is a newly connected access point in the communication system. If the capability of the first wireless mode is not lower than that of the second wireless mode, the target wireless mode is the second wireless mode, which is the wireless mode used by the communication system. Optionally, the wireless mode used by the communication system is the wireless mode used for the roaming capability of the primary access point, i.e., the wireless mode used by the primary access point. Or,

[0151] If the capability of the first wireless mode is lower than that of the second wireless mode, the target wireless mode is the first wireless mode, or the target wireless mode is a wireless mode with a capability lower than that of the first wireless mode.

[0152] For example, referring to Figure 11, the primary access point compares the capabilities of the first wireless mode of the first secondary access point with the capabilities of the second wireless mode of the communication system.

[0153] If the capability of the first wireless mode is not lower than that of the second wireless mode, it means that the capability of the first wireless mode supported by the first slave access point is higher than or equal to the capability of the second wireless mode of the communication system. Because wireless modes have backward compatibility, since the capability of the first wireless mode at the first slave access point is higher than or equal to that of the second wireless mode, and the first slave access point also supports the second wireless mode, the master access point can select the second wireless mode as the target wireless mode. Then, the master access point configures the wireless mode of the first slave access point to the second wireless mode, thus eliminating the need to adjust the wireless modes of each access point in the communication system.

[0154] If the capability of the first wireless mode is lower than that of the second wireless mode, the primary access point can choose the first wireless mode as the target wireless mode, or choose a wireless mode with lower capability as the target wireless mode. This ensures that the first slave access point and all access points in the communication system support the target wireless mode. Then, the primary access point configures the wireless mode of the first slave access point to the second wireless mode.

[0155] Optionally, the primary access point uses the target wireless mode as the wireless mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target wireless mode to the first secondary access point in the manner shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, or Figure 6.

[0156] Referring to Figure 11, if the target wireless mode is the first wireless mode, or if the target wireless mode has capabilities lower than the first wireless mode, it is also necessary to adjust the wireless mode of each access point in the communication system to the target wireless mode. In implementation, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the target wireless mode, that is, configures the wireless mode used for the primary access point's second roaming capability to the target wireless mode; and the primary access point sends the target wireless mode to the second secondary access point. The second secondary access point includes all secondary access points in the communication system other than the first secondary access point. The second secondary access point performs roaming configuration based on the target wireless mode, that is, configures the wireless mode used for the second secondary access point's first roaming capability to the target wireless mode.

[0157] Regarding step 1002 of method 1000, in step 1002, the first slave access point is an access point that is already online in the communication system. The main access point also acquires the third wireless mode of the second slave access point. The second slave access point includes slave access points in the communication system other than the first slave access point. Based on the first wireless mode, the third wireless mode, and the second wireless mode of the main access point, the target wireless mode is acquired. The first slave access point, the second slave access point, and the main access point all support the target wireless mode.

[0158] In some embodiments, where the capabilities of the first wireless mode, the third wireless mode, and the second wireless mode are all identical, the target wireless mode is the first wireless mode. Alternatively,

[0159] When the capabilities of the first wireless mode, the third wireless mode, and the second wireless mode are different, the target wireless mode is a wireless mode whose capability is lower than or equal to the target capability. The target capability is the minimum capability among the capabilities of the first wireless mode, the second wireless mode, and the third wireless mode.

[0160] For example, referring to Figure 12, the capabilities of the wireless modes of each access point in the communication system are compared. Each access point in the communication system includes the aforementioned primary access point, first secondary access point, and second secondary access point. If the capabilities of the wireless modes of each access point in the communication system are the same, that is, the capabilities of the first wireless mode, the third wireless mode, and the second wireless mode are all the same, then the first wireless mode is selected as the target wireless mode, and the wireless modes of each access point in the communication system are configured as the target wireless mode.

[0161] That is, the primary access point can configure its secondary roaming capability based on the target wireless mode. Furthermore, the primary access point uses the target wireless mode as the wireless mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target wireless mode to the first and second secondary access points as shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6.

[0162] If the capabilities of the wireless modes of the access points in the communication system are different, that is, the capabilities of the first wireless mode, the third wireless mode, and the second wireless mode are different, then the wireless mode with the most access points in the communication system can be selected as the target wireless mode, and the wireless modes of the access points in the communication system can be configured as the target wireless mode.

[0163] Optionally, when the wireless modes of the access points in the communication system are different, the primary access point can directly select its own wireless mode as the target wireless mode, or select the wireless mode with the greatest capability as the target wireless mode. The primary access point uses the target wireless mode as the wireless mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target wireless mode to the first and second secondary access points in the manner shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6.

[0164] Optionally, when the access points in the communication system have different wireless modes, the primary access point can group the access points in the communication system into multiple access point groups. Each access point in an access point group has access points with the same wireless mode capabilities, and then roaming capabilities on each access point in that access point group are configured based on that wireless mode.

[0165] In some embodiments, the primary access point may also receive a configuration command, which includes a fourth wireless mode. If the capability of the fourth wireless mode is lower than that of the target wireless mode, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the fourth wireless mode. Furthermore, the primary access point sends the fourth wireless mode to secondary access points (a first secondary access point and a second secondary access point) in the communication system, and the secondary access points (either the first or the second secondary access point) reconfigure roaming based on the fourth wireless mode.

[0166] In some embodiments, the primary access point may receive a fourth wireless mode and transmit the fourth wireless mode to some or all access points in the communication system. These access points receive the fourth wireless mode and perform roaming configuration based on the fourth wireless mode.

[0167] In some embodiments, the primary access point receives a fourth wireless mode; if it is determined that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the fourth wireless mode, it determines not to send the fourth wireless mode to any access point in the communication system.

[0168] In this embodiment, the primary access point can obtain a first wireless mode from a first secondary access point, which is an access point in the communication system. Based on the first wireless mode, a target wireless mode is obtained, and both the first secondary access point and the primary access point support the target wireless mode. The target wireless mode is sent to the first secondary access point, and the first secondary access point configures its roaming capabilities based on the target wireless mode. In this way, the primary access point can send the target wireless mode supported by the primary access point to each secondary access point in the communication system, ensuring that the roaming capabilities of each access point in the communication system are configured with the same wireless mode, thereby improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0169] Referring to Figure 13, this application embodiment provides a communication method 1300, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 1300, the primary access point determines a target encryption mode supported by both the primary access point and the secondary access point in the communication system; and sends the target encryption mode to the secondary access point, which is used for roaming configuration by the secondary access point. Optionally, the target encryption mode can be an encryption mode included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the primary access point in method 300 shown in Figure 3, or it can be an encryption mode included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the primary access point in method 700 shown in Figure 7. The method 1300 includes the following steps:

[0170] Step 1301: The master access point obtains the first encryption mode of the first slave access point, where the first slave access point is an access point in the communication system.

[0171] In some embodiments, the first slave access point may be a newly launched access point in the communication system. The first slave access point can send first capability information to the master access point in the manner described in step 301 of method 300 above. The first capability information includes the first encryption mode of the first slave access point, so that the master access point can obtain the first encryption mode.

[0172] In some embodiments, the first slave access point may be an access point that has been put online in the communication system. When the master access point receives the roaming activation operation command, it obtains the first capability information of the first slave access point through step 702 of the above method 700. The first capability information includes the first encryption mode of the first slave access point.

[0173] Step 1302: The primary access point obtains the target encryption mode based on the first encryption mode. Both the first secondary access point and the primary access point support the target encryption mode.

[0174] Step 1303: The primary access point sends the target encryption mode to the first secondary access point.

[0175] Step 1304: First, receive the target encryption mode from the access point and configure roaming based on the target encryption mode.

[0176] Regarding step 1302 of method 1300, in step 1302, the first access point is a newly connected access point in the communication system. If the capability of the first encryption mode is not lower than that of the second encryption mode, the target encryption mode is the second encryption mode, which is the encryption mode used by the communication system. Optionally, the encryption mode used by the communication system is the encryption mode used by the roaming capability of the primary access point, i.e., the encryption mode used by the primary access point. Or,

[0177] If the capability of the first encryption mode is lower than that of the second encryption mode, the target encryption mode is the first encryption mode, or the target encryption mode is an encryption mode with a capability lower than that of the first encryption mode.

[0178] For example, referring to Figure 14, the primary access point compares the capability of the first encryption mode of the first secondary access point with the capability of the second encryption mode of the communication system.

[0179] If the capability of the first encryption mode is not lower than that of the second encryption mode, it means that the capability of the first encryption mode supported by the first slave access point is higher than or equal to the capability of the second encryption mode of the communication system. Because encryption modes have backward compatibility, since the capability of the first encryption mode on the first slave access point is higher than or equal to that of the second encryption mode, and the first slave access point also supports the second encryption mode, the master access point can select the second encryption mode as the target encryption mode. Then, the master access point configures the encryption mode of the first slave access point to the second encryption mode, thus eliminating the need to adjust the encryption modes of all access points in the communication system.

[0180] If the capability of the first encryption mode is lower than that of the second encryption mode, the master access point can choose the first encryption mode as the target encryption mode, or choose an encryption mode with lower capability as the target encryption mode. This ensures that the first slave access point and all access points in the communication system support the target encryption mode. Then, the master access point configures the encryption mode of the first slave access point to the second encryption mode.

[0181] Optionally, the primary access point uses the target encryption mode as the encryption mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target encryption mode to the first secondary access point in the manner shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, or Figure 6.

[0182] Referring to Figure 14, if the target encryption mode is the first encryption mode, or if the target encryption mode has capabilities lower than the first encryption mode, it is also necessary to adjust the encryption mode of each access point in the communication system to the target encryption mode. In implementation, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the target encryption mode, that is, configures the encryption mode used for the primary access point's second roaming capability to the target encryption mode; and the primary access point sends the target encryption mode to the second secondary access point. The second secondary access point includes all secondary access points in the communication system other than the first secondary access point. The second secondary access point performs roaming configuration based on the target encryption mode, that is, configures the encryption mode used for the second secondary access point's first roaming capability to the target encryption mode.

[0183] Regarding step 1302 of method 1300, in step 1302, the first slave access point is an access point that is already online in the communication system. The master access point also obtains the third encryption mode of the second slave access point. The second slave access point includes slave access points in the communication system other than the first slave access point. Based on the first encryption mode, the third encryption mode, and the second encryption mode of the master access point, a target encryption mode is obtained. The first slave access point, the second slave access point, and the master access point all support the target encryption mode.

[0184] In some embodiments, where the capabilities of the first encryption mode, the third encryption mode, and the second encryption mode are all identical, the target encryption mode is the first encryption mode. Alternatively,

[0185] When the capabilities of the first encryption mode, the third encryption mode, and the second encryption mode are different, the target encryption mode is an encryption mode whose capability is lower than or equal to the target capability. The target capability is the minimum capability among the capabilities of the first encryption mode, the second encryption mode, and the third encryption mode.

[0186] For example, referring to Figure 15, the encryption capabilities of each access point in the communication system are compared. Each access point in the communication system includes the aforementioned master access point, first slave access point, and second slave access point. If the encryption capabilities of each access point in the communication system are the same—that is, the capabilities of the first encryption mode, the third encryption mode, and the second encryption mode are all the same—then the first encryption mode is selected as the target encryption mode, and the encryption modes of each access point in the communication system are configured as the target encryption mode.

[0187] That is, the primary access point can configure its secondary roaming capability based on the target encryption mode. Furthermore, the primary access point uses the target encryption mode as the encryption mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target encryption mode to the first and second secondary access points as shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6.

[0188] If the encryption modes of the access points in the communication system have different capabilities, that is, the capabilities of the first encryption mode, the third encryption mode, and the second encryption mode are different, then the encryption mode with the most access points in the communication system can be selected as the target encryption mode, and the encryption modes of the access points in the communication system can be configured as the target encryption mode.

[0189] Optionally, when the encryption modes of the access points in the communication system are different, the master access point can directly select its own encryption mode as the target encryption mode, or select the encryption mode with the greatest capability as the target encryption mode. The master access point uses the target encryption mode as the encryption mode in the first configuration parameter, and then sends the target encryption mode to the first and second slave access points in the manner shown in Figures 4, 5, or 6.

[0190] Optionally, when the encryption modes of the access points in the communication system are different, the main access point can group the access points in the communication system into multiple access point groups. Each access point in an access point group has the same encryption mode capability, and then the roaming capability on each access point in that access point group is configured based on that encryption mode.

[0191] In some embodiments, the primary access point may also receive a configuration command, which includes a fourth encryption mode. If the capability of the fourth encryption mode is lower than that of the target encryption mode, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the fourth encryption mode. Furthermore, the primary access point sends the fourth encryption mode to the secondary access points (first and second secondary access points) in the communication system, and the secondary access points (either the first or second secondary access point) reconfigure roaming based on the fourth encryption mode.

[0192] In some embodiments, the primary access point may receive a fourth encryption mode and send the fourth encryption mode to some or all access points in the communication system. These access points receive the fourth encryption mode and perform roaming configuration based on the fourth encryption mode.

[0193] In some embodiments, the primary access point receives a fourth encryption mode; if it is determined that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the fourth encryption mode, then it determines not to send the fourth encryption mode to any access point in the communication system.

[0194] In this embodiment, the primary access point can obtain a first encryption mode from a first secondary access point, which is an access point in the communication system. Based on the first encryption mode, a target encryption mode is obtained, which is supported by both the primary and secondary access points. The target encryption mode is then sent to the primary secondary access point, which configures its roaming capabilities based on this mode. This allows the primary access point to send the target encryption mode supported by the primary access point to each secondary access point in the communication system, ensuring that the roaming capabilities of each access point in the communication system are configured with the same encryption mode, thereby improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0195] Referring to Figure 16, this application embodiment provides a communication method 1600, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 1600, the roaming function of the communication system is enabled. When a first slave access point comes online, it is determined whether the channel capability of the newly online first slave access point is consistent with that of the communication system. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is consistent with that of the communication system, it is determined whether the master access point and the first slave access point support cross-channel roaming. If the master access point and the first slave access point support cross-channel roaming, information about a first channel is sent to the first slave access point. The first channel is a channel that the first access point can use, and the information about the first channel is used for roaming configuration by the first slave access point. Optionally, the information about the first channel may be the channel identification information and / or channel bandwidth included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the master access point in method 300 shown in Figure 3. The method 1600 includes the following steps:

[0196] Step 1601: The master access point determines whether the channel capability of the newly connected first slave access point in the communication system is consistent with that of the communication system. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is inconsistent with that of the communication system, then proceed to step 1602. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is consistent with that of the communication system, then proceed to step 1605.

[0197] In some embodiments, the primary access point determines whether the channel capability of a newly connected first slave access point in the communication system is consistent with the channel capabilities of other access points in the communication system. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is inconsistent with the channel capabilities of other access points, it is concluded that the channel capability of the first slave access point is inconsistent with the communication system, and step 1602 is executed. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is consistent with the channel capabilities of other access points, it is concluded that the channel capability of the first slave access point is consistent with the communication system, and step 1603 is executed.

[0198] In some embodiments, the first slave access point may be a newly launched access point in the communication system. The first slave access point can send first capability information to the master access point in the manner described in step 301 of method 300 above. The first capability information includes the channel range of the first slave access point. The channel range includes the channels that the first slave access point can use. The channel capability of the first slave access point is the channel range, so that the master access point can obtain the channel capability of the first slave access point.

[0199] Other access points in the communication system include access points that are already online in the communication system. The channel capabilities of other access points include the channels currently used by other access points. The channels currently used by other access points are the same as those currently used by the main access point.

[0200] In step 1601, the primary access point determines whether the channel range of the first secondary access point includes the channel currently used by the primary access point. If the channel range of the first secondary access point includes the channel currently used by the primary access point, then it is determined that the channel capability of the newly connected first secondary access point in the communication system is consistent with the channel capability of other access points in the communication system, i.e., the channel capability of the first secondary access point is consistent with the communication system. If the channel range of the first secondary access point does not include the channel currently used by the primary access point, then it is determined that the channel capability of the newly connected first secondary access point in the communication system is inconsistent with the channel capability of other access points in the communication system, i.e., the channel capability of the first secondary access point is inconsistent with the communication system.

[0201] Step 1602: The primary access point determines whether the primary access point and the first secondary access point support inter-channel roaming. If the primary access point and the first secondary access point support inter-channel roaming, proceed to step 1603. If the primary access point and the first secondary access point do not support inter-channel roaming, proceed to step 1604.

[0202] Abnormal channel roaming refers to a situation where two access points use different channels, and when a STA switches from one access point to another, it also needs to switch the channel it uses.

[0203] The first capability information of the first slave access point includes the version number of the first roaming capability of the first slave access point. Based on the version number of the first roaming capability and the version number of the second roaming capability of the primary access point, the primary access point can determine whether the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability support inter-channel roaming. If the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability support inter-channel roaming, then it is determined that the primary access point and the first slave access point support inter-channel roaming; if the first roaming capability and the second roaming capability do not support inter-channel roaming, then it is determined that the primary access point and the first slave access point do not support inter-channel roaming.

[0204] Step 1603: The primary access point sends the information of the first channel to the first secondary access point. The first channel is a channel that the first access point can use. The information of the first channel is used by the first secondary access point for roaming configuration. End.

[0205] If the primary access point and the first secondary access point support abnormal channel roaming, then the channel and / or bandwidth configured on the first secondary access point can be different from the channels and / or bandwidth used by other access points.

[0206] Optionally, the first channel is different from the second channel currently used by the primary access point. The bandwidth of the first channel may be the same as or different from the bandwidth of the second channel. The first channel is one of the channels in the channel range of the first secondary access point.

[0207] Step 1604: The primary access point sends information about the third channel to the first secondary access point and other access points. The information about the third channel is used to configure the first secondary access point and other access points to have the same channel and / or bandwidth. End.

[0208] Optionally, the primary access point sends information about the third channel to the first secondary access point and other access points. This information is used by the first secondary access point for roaming configuration and by the other access points for roaming configuration.

[0209] If the primary access point and the first secondary access point do not support abnormal channel roaming, then the first secondary access point and other access points need to use the same channel and bandwidth.

[0210] In step 1604, the master access point can intersect the channel range of the first slave access point, the channel range of the master access point, and the channel range of other slave access points, and select one channel from the intersection as the third channel.

[0211] Then, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the information from the third channel. The primary access point sends the third channel information to the first secondary access point, and other secondary access points in the communication system also send third channel information. The first secondary access point receives the third channel information and performs roaming configuration based on it; other secondary access points receive the third channel information and perform roaming configuration based on it. This ensures that each access point in the communication system uses the third channel and its bandwidth, meaning each access point uses the same channel and bandwidth, thereby improving roaming performance.

[0212] Step 1605: The primary access point sends information about the fourth channel to the first secondary access point. The fourth channel is a channel that can be used by both the first secondary access point and other access points. The information about the fourth channel is used by the first secondary access point for roaming configuration. End.

[0213] Optionally, the fourth channel is the channel currently used by the primary access point. In this way, the primary access point only needs to send the information of the fourth channel to the first secondary access point to enable the first secondary access point to perform roaming configuration, without needing to send the information of the fourth channel to other access points to enable the other access points to perform roaming configuration.

[0214] The information of the fourth channel includes the identification information and / or bandwidth of the fourth channel. This ensures that all access points in the entire communication system use the fourth channel and its bandwidth. In other words, all access points use the same channel and bandwidth. Thus, when a STA roams to any access point in the communication system, since all access points use the first channel and its bandwidth, there is no need to renegotiate the channel and bandwidth with the STA. This allows for rapid communication with the STA and improves roaming performance.

[0215] In some embodiments, the primary access point may also receive information from the fifth channel and transmit the fifth channel information to some or all access points in the communication system. These access points, upon receiving the fifth channel information, configure the same channel and / or bandwidth based on the fifth channel information. That is, the channel and bandwidth used by these access points are respectively the fifth channel and the bandwidth of the fifth channel.

[0216] In some embodiments, if the primary access point receives information from the fifth channel and determines that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information from the fifth channel, it determines not to send the information from the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

[0217] Optionally, users can send configuration commands to the main access point via management devices or web pages. These configuration commands include information about the fifth channel.

[0218] In this embodiment, the primary access point determines whether the channel capability of a newly connected first slave access point in the communication system is consistent with the channel capabilities of other access points in the system. If the channel capability of the first slave access point is inconsistent with the channel capabilities of other access points, it determines whether the primary access point and the first slave access point support cross-channel roaming. If the primary access point and the first slave access point support cross-channel roaming, information about a first channel is sent to the first slave access point. The first channel is a channel that the first slave access point can use, and this information is used for roaming configuration by the first slave access point. If the primary access point and the first slave access point support cross-channel roaming, the primary access point obtains the first channel that the first slave access point can use and sends the first channel information to the first slave access point, enabling the first slave access point to perform roaming configuration based on the first channel information. This improves the roaming performance of the first slave access point, thereby improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0219] Referring to Figure 17, this application embodiment provides a communication method 1700, which can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. In the communication method 1700, the roaming function of the communication system is enabled. When a roaming enable operation command is received, the main access point configures the channel of the access point in the communication system based on the roaming enable operation command. Optionally, the configured channel information can be the channel identification information and / or channel bandwidth included in the first configuration parameters obtained by the main access point in method 700 shown in Figure 7. The method 1700 includes the following process:

[0220] Step 1701: The primary access point receives a roaming activation command, which is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system.

[0221] Optionally, the communication system also includes a management device, on which users can enable roaming functionality for each access point of the communication system. Users can trigger the management device, which then sends a roaming activation command to the main access point, which receives the command.

[0222] Optionally, users can configure roaming activation commands on a webpage, send roaming activation commands to the primary access point through the webpage, and the primary access point receives the roaming activation commands.

[0223] Step 1702: The primary access point determines whether the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by the secondary access points in the communication system are consistent, based on the roaming activation operation command.

[0224] The primary access point acquires the first capability information of the secondary access point in the communication system. This first capability information describes the primary roaming capability of the secondary access point and includes the channel range of the secondary access point, which includes one or more channels that the secondary access point can use. Detailed implementation of the primary access point acquiring the primary capability information of the secondary access point can be found in step 702 of method 700 shown in Figure 7, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0225] The primary access point obtains its second capability information, which describes the primary access point's second roaming capabilities. The second capability information includes the primary access point's channel range, which includes one or more channels that the primary access point can use.

[0226] Optionally, the channel capability of the access point can be the channel range of the access point, and the channel capability of the master access point can be the channel range of the master access point.

[0227] In step 1702, the primary access point can compare the channel ranges of any two access points in the communication system to determine whether the channel capabilities of the two access points are consistent.

[0228] The optimal channel of an access point is the optimal channel within the channel range of the access point. In step 1702, the main access point can compare the optimal channels of any two access points in the communication system to determine whether the optimal channels of the two access points are consistent.

[0229] Step 1703: When the channel capabilities of access points in the communication system are inconsistent, or the optimal channels supported by slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent, the primary access point determines whether the primary access point and slave access points support cross-channel roaming.

[0230] If the primary and secondary access points do not support cross-channel roaming, the channels and / or bandwidths used by the access points in the communication system need to be configured to the same channels and / or bandwidths.

[0231] If the primary and secondary access points support cross-channel roaming, the channels and / or bandwidths used by the access points in the communication system can be configured to different channels and / or bandwidths.

[0232] Step 1704: If the primary access point and the secondary access point do not support abnormal channel roaming, configure the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth, and then end.

[0233] If the primary and secondary access points do not support abnormal channel roaming, then the primary access point and each secondary access point need to use the same channel and bandwidth.

[0234] That is, the master access point sends information about the first channel to the slave access points of the communication system. This information is used by the slave access points to configure the same channel and / or bandwidth. In other words, each slave access point in the communication system performs roaming configuration based on the information about the first channel, and the channel and bandwidth used by each slave access point are respectively the first channel and its bandwidth. Optionally, the information about the first channel includes the identification information and / or bandwidth of the first channel.

[0235] The primary access point also configures its channel and / or bandwidth to be the same as those of the secondary access points in the communication system, based on the information from the first channel. In other words, the primary access point performs roaming configuration based on the information from the first channel, ensuring that the channel and bandwidth used by the primary access point are the same as those of the first channel and the bandwidth of the first channel, respectively.

[0236] In step 1704, the master access point can find the intersection of the channel range of each slave access point and the channel range of the master access point, and select a channel from the intersection as the first channel.

[0237] The primary access point then configures roaming based on the information from the first channel. The primary access point also sends the first channel information to each secondary access point. This ensures that each access point in the communication system uses the third channel and its bandwidth, meaning each access point uses the same channel and bandwidth, thus improving roaming performance.

[0238] Step 1705: If the primary and secondary access points support abnormal channel roaming, configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the secondary access point, making the channel of the secondary access point the optimal channel of the secondary access point, and configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the primary access point, making the channel of the primary access point the optimal channel of the primary access point, then end.

[0239] In step 1705, for each slave access point, the master access point determines the optimal channel for that slave access point from its channel range and sends the optimal channel information to the slave access point. This optimal channel information includes the identification information and / or bandwidth of the optimal channel. The slave access point then performs roaming configuration based on this optimal channel information, enabling it to use its own optimal channel and / or the bandwidth of the optimal channel.

[0240] The primary access point determines its optimal channel from the channel range of the primary and secondary access points, and performs roaming configuration based on the information of the optimal channel, so that the primary access point can use its own optimal channel and / or the bandwidth of the optimal channel.

[0241] Step 1706: If the access points in the communication system have the same channel capabilities and / or the slave access points in the communication system support the same optimal channels, the master access point configures the access points in the communication system to use the same channels and / or bandwidths.

[0242] When all access points in a communication system have the same channel capability, the primary access point sends information about the second channel to the secondary access points. The second channel is a channel that all access points in the communication system can use. The secondary access points receive the information about the second channel and perform roaming configuration based on the second channel, ensuring that the channel and bandwidth used by the secondary access points are the bandwidths of the second channel and the second channel, respectively.

[0243] Additionally, the primary access point is configured to roam based on the second channel, so that the channel and bandwidth used by the primary access point are the bandwidths of the second channel and the second channel, respectively.

[0244] In some embodiments, the primary access point may intersect the channel range of each secondary access point with the channel range of the primary access point, and select one channel from the intersection as the second channel.

[0245] In some embodiments, if the optimal channel supported by the access point in the communication system is consistent, the second channel may be the optimal channel.

[0246] In some embodiments, the primary access point may also receive information from the fifth channel and transmit the fifth channel information to some or all access points in the communication system. These access points, upon receiving the fifth channel information, configure the same channel and / or bandwidth based on the fifth channel information. That is, the channel and bandwidth used by these access points are respectively the fifth channel and the bandwidth of the fifth channel.

[0247] In some embodiments, if the primary access point receives information from the fifth channel and determines that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information from the fifth channel, it determines not to send the information from the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

[0248] Optionally, users can send configuration commands to the main access point via management devices or web pages. These configuration commands include information about the fifth channel.

[0249] In this embodiment, the primary access point determines whether the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by the secondary access points in the communication system are consistent, based on the roaming activation operation command. If the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent, or if the optimal channels supported by the secondary access points in the communication system are inconsistent, it determines whether the primary and secondary access points support cross-channel roaming. If the primary and secondary access points do not support cross-channel roaming, the access points in the communication system are configured to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. Because the access points in the communication system use the same channel and / or bandwidth, the STA does not need to switch channels when roaming between different access points, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0250] In some embodiments, the communication system described above can be an FTTR system, also known as an FTTR network. The primary access point is the MFU in the FTTR network, and the secondary access points (first secondary access point and / or second secondary access point) are the SFUs in the FTTR network. Referring to Figure 18, the WMCI management channel is a low-latency channel between the MFU and SFU in the FTTR network that implements functions such as WLAN control. It is used to carry WMCI messages and is carried through an independent optical module front-end module port identifier (FEM Port-ID). The central management communication control (WMCC) is the WMCI bearer channel. The management channels in the data link layer shown in Figure 18 include a dynamic link library (DLL) management channel, an embedded operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) management channel, a physical layer operations, administration and maintenance (PLOAM) management channel, an operations and maintenance control center (OMCC), and the WMCC.

[0251] In some embodiments, any of the above-described WMCI messages are encapsulated in an FEM frame for managing and controlling the WLAN functions of the SFU. The FTTR transceiver can identify the destination of the WMCI message through the FEM port ID in the FEM frame. See Table 3 below for the WMCI message structure.

[0252] Table 3

[0253] The 7th to Nth bytes of the WMCI message content may include the first configuration parameter and / or the second configuration parameter, etc. The Message type ID and / or parameter pattern are used to indicate what type of WMCI message it is, such as indicating whether the WMCI message is a roaming enable message, a roaming enable confirmation message, a roaming configuration message, a roaming configuration confirmation message, a network configuration message, a network configuration confirmation message, a roaming disable message, a network configuration feedback message, a network configuration confirmation message, or a roaming disable confirmation message, etc.

[0254] Regarding the Message Type ID, it is an 8-bit field that indicates the type of message and defines the semantics of the message content. When the MFU receives an upstream message with a Message Type ID that is not supported, the MFU should ignore the message, including the Sequence Number field. When the SFU receives a message with a reserved or unsupported Message Type ID, it should ignore the message.

[0255] The message content structure is shown in Tables 4 and 5, with Table 4 representing the collaborative roaming parameter configuration messages. Each collaborative roaming operation instruction corresponds to different configuration parameters, indicated by a mask. The roaming enable and disable messages contain sequence numbers 2-3, and the roaming parameter configuration messages contain sequence numbers 2-13. Roaming parameter configuration does not necessarily require configuring all messages; for example, message number 13 only needs to be configured when a new SFU is launched.

[0256] Table 4

[0257] Table 5 shows the roaming network parameter configuration confirmation message and the collaborative roaming operation confirmation message. The message format is the same. The roaming start confirmation message, roaming stop confirmation message, roaming parameter configuration confirmation message, virtual user creation completion status report message, and virtual user deletion completion status report message all contain 2 to 3 parameters.

[0258] Table 5

[0259] For the sequence number (SeqNo), SeqNo is an 8-bit field containing a sequence number counter to ensure the robustness of the WMCI message channel. In the downlink direction, the SeqNo field is populated with the corresponding MFU sequence number counter value. The MFU maintains a separate sequence number counter for each SFU unicast and broadcast WMCI message stream. Each sequence number counter rolls from 255 to 1. A value of 0 is not used in the downlink direction.

[0260] In the uplink direction, when the uplink WMCI message is a response to a downlink message, the value of the SeqNo field is equal to the value of the SeqNo field in the downlink message. If the WMCI message is initiated by the SFU, then SeqNo = 0.

[0261] Regarding message length and processing requirement, the message length and priority field is a 2-byte field that represents the number of bytes in the message content and the message processing requirements.

[0262] X (the most significant bit of the third byte): This indicates the priority of processing this message. When X = 1, the message has a high priority; when X = 0, the message has a low priority.

[0263] LL LLLL LLLL: This field indicates the length of the message content. The value range is 0 to 1023.

[0264] O: Indicates the operation type of the current message.

[0265] In the downlink direction, when O=1, the message indicates that the operation type is a parameter request type, requesting the SFU to send the output indicated by the Message type ID field; when O=0, the message indicates that the message is a parameter configuration type message, and the parameter type configured in the message is indicated by the Message type ID field.

[0266] In the uplink direction, when O=1, the message is identified as an operation type of scheduling request, requesting the MFU to send the scheduling configuration indicated by the Message type ID field; when O=0, the message is identified as a parameter reporting message, with the parameter type of the message configuration indicated by the Message type ID field.

[0267] Regarding the message content, the format of the message content field is related to the specific message. The message content includes two parts: a message mask and parameter content. The message mask consists of a 16-bit mask, as shown in Table 6.

[0268] Table 6

[0269] Each message type can carry up to 16 parameters.

[0270] The message content should be filled in according to the order indicated by the parameter mask. For downlink Get or Request messages, the parameter mask represents the parameters that the MFU wants to retrieve.

[0271] Regarding the Message Verification (CRC) field, the CRC field is used to check whether the message has been corrupted during transmission. The value of this field is generated by the CRC algorithm.

[0272] Regarding the message exchange mechanism of FTTR networks, both MFU and SFU can proactively send WMCI messages or respond to messages sent by the other party.

[0273] Downlink messages are parameter request messages and configuration messages; uplink messages are parameter reporting messages, scheduling requests, and status alarm messages.

[0274] To maintain and ensure the normal operation of the WMCI channel, the MFU and SFU should periodically exchange messages. If the MFU or SFU does not receive a message from the other party within a certain period of time, the MFU or SFU can actively send a request message to ask for feedback. If feedback is received within a specific period of time, the WMCI channel can be considered to be working normally; otherwise, the WMCI channel can be judged to be faulty, and the SFU can reactivate the WMCI channel or exit the WMCI scheduling mode.

[0275] The format of the parameter request message is shown in Table 7 below.

[0276] Table 7

[0277] Parameter request messages are only for the parameter set requested by the Message type ID field in table XX for both upstream and downstream. The parameter template field identifies the parameters in the request parameter set. Fields 7-N are invalid and can be determined by the MFU. After receiving the message, the SUF should return the corresponding parameters as instructed. If the parameters are invalid, the SFU should have all 0 values.

[0278] The format of the configuration message is shown in Table 8 below.

[0279] Table 8

[0280] The Message type ID field identifies the parameter set configured for this message, the parameter template field identifies the parameters in the parameter set, and the 7-N fields are filled in sequentially according to the valid parameter order.

[0281] The format of the parameter reporting message is shown in Table 9 below.

[0282] Table 9

[0283] The format of status alarm messages is shown in Table 10 below.

[0284] Table 10

[0285] Referring to Figure 19, this application embodiment provides a communication device 1900, which is located in a communication system. The communication device 1900 includes:

[0286] The receiving unit 1901 is used to receive a roaming activation operation command, which is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system.

[0287] Processing unit 1902 is used to determine whether the channel capabilities of access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by access points in the communication system are consistent, based on the roaming activation operation command.

[0288] The processing unit 1902 is also used to determine whether the communication device 1900 and the slave access point support cross-channel roaming when the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent or the optimal channels supported by the slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent.

[0289] The processing unit 1902 is also configured to configure the access point in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth if the communication device 1900 and the access point do not support abnormal channel roaming.

[0290] Optionally, the transmitting unit 1901 is used to transmit information about a first channel to a slave access point of the communication system. The information about the first channel is used to configure the slave access point of the communication system with the same channel and / or bandwidth.

[0291] Optionally, the processing unit 1902 is further configured, based on information from the first channel, to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the communication device 1900 to be the same as the channel and / or bandwidth of the access point in the communication system.

[0292] Optionally, the processing unit 1902 is further configured to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the access point when the communication device 1900 and the access point support abnormal channel roaming, wherein the channel of the access point is the optimal channel of the access point.

[0293] Optionally, the processing unit 1902 is further configured to configure the channel and / or bandwidth of the communication device 1900 in the case where the communication device 1900 and the access point support abnormal channel roaming, wherein the channel of the communication device 1900 is the optimal channel of the communication device 1900.

[0294] Optionally, the receiving unit 1901 is also configured to receive information from the fifth channel and transmit the information from the fifth channel to some or all access points in the communication system. The information from the fifth channel is used to configure the same channel and / or bandwidth for some or all access points.

[0295] Optionally, the receiving unit 1901 is further configured to receive information from the fifth channel; the processing unit 1902 is further configured to determine that if at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information from the fifth channel, then determine not to send the information from the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

[0296] In this embodiment, if the channel capabilities of access points in the communication system are inconsistent, or if the optimal channels supported by slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent, and if the device and slave access points do not support abnormal channel roaming, the processing unit configures the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth. Because the access points in the communication system use the same channel and / or bandwidth, stations do not need to switch channels when roaming between different access points, thereby improving the roaming performance of the access points, and thus improving the roaming performance of the communication system.

[0297] Referring to Figure 20, this application embodiment provides a schematic diagram of a device 2000. The device 2000 can be any of the access points provided in the above embodiments. For example, the device 2000 can be the main access point in the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or the device 2000 can be the main access point in the method 400 shown in Figure 3, or the device 2000 can be the main access point in the method 800 shown in Figure 8. The device 2000 includes at least one processor 2001, internal connections 2002, a memory 2003, and at least one communication interface 2004.

[0298] Device 2000 is a hardware-structured device.

[0299] In some embodiments, device 2000 can be used to implement the functional modules in apparatus 1100 of FIG11. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the receiving unit 1101 and the transmitting unit 1102 in apparatus 1100 shown in FIG11 can be implemented through the at least one communication interface 2004. Device 2000 can also be used to implement the function of the main access point in any of the above embodiments.

[0300] The processor 2001 described above is, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor (NP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural-network processing unit (NPU), a data processing unit (DPU), a microprocessor, or one or more integrated circuits for implementing the solutions of this application. For example, processor 2001 includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A PLD may be, for example, a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computational functions, such as including one or more microprocessor combinations, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, etc.

[0301] The aforementioned internal connection 2002 may include a pathway for transmitting information between the aforementioned components. The internal connection 2002 may be a single board or a bus, etc. The bus may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 20, but this does not indicate that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0302] At least one of the aforementioned communication interfaces 2004 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, wireless access networks, or wireless local area networks (WLANs). Communication interface 2004 may include wired communication interfaces and wireless communication interfaces. Specifically, communication interface 2004 may be an Ethernet interface, a Fast Ethernet (FE) interface, a Gigabit Ethernet (GE) interface, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) interface, a WLAN interface, a cellular network communication interface, or a combination thereof. The Ethernet interface may be an optical interface, an electrical interface, or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, communication interface 2004 can be used by device 2000 to communicate with other devices.

[0303] The aforementioned memory 2003 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via a bus. The memory 2003 may also be integrated with the processor 2001.

[0304] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, processor 2001 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG20. Each of these CPUs may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor. Here, processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0305] In a specific implementation, as one example, device 2000 may include multiple processors, such as processor 2001 and processor 2007 in FIG. 20. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. Here, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0306] This application embodiment also provides a main access point, which includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is used to execute program instructions in the memory to implement all or part of the process in the method shown in Figures 3-17 above, and the communication interface is used to communicate with the slave access points.

[0307] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program instruction that is read by a processor to cause an access point to execute all or part of the process in the method shown in Figures 3-17 above.

[0308] This application also provides a computer program product including program instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The processor of an access point reads the program instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the program instructions, causing the access point to perform a portion of the process shown in FIG3, FIG8, or FIG9.

[0309] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the method steps and units described in the embodiments disclosed in this application can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the steps and components of each embodiment have been generally described in terms of functionality in the foregoing description. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0310] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system architecture, apparatus, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or modules, or may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms of connection.

[0311] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of the embodiments of this application, depending on actual needs.

[0312] Furthermore, the modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or in software.

[0313] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0314] In this application, the terms "first" and "second," etc., are used to distinguish identical or similar items that have substantially the same function and purpose. It should be understood that there is no logical or temporal dependency between "first" and "second," nor does it limit the quantity or execution order. It should also be understood that although the following description uses the terms "first" and "second," etc., to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by the terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the various examples, a first access point can be referred to as a second access point, and similarly, a second access point can be referred to as a first access point. Both a first access point and a second access point can be access points, and in some cases, they can be separate and distinct access points.

[0315] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and such modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to the main access point of a communication system, and the method includes: Receive a roaming activation command, which is used to enable the roaming function of the access points included in the communication system; Based on the roaming activation operation command, determine whether the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are consistent, or whether the optimal channels supported by the access points in the communication system are consistent. In the event that the channel capabilities of the access points in the communication system are inconsistent, or that the optimal channels supported by the slave access points in the communication system are inconsistent, determine whether the primary access point and the slave access point support cross-channel roaming. If the primary access point and the secondary access point do not support abnormal channel roaming, configure the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The configuration of the access points in the communication system to use the same channel and / or bandwidth includes: Information about a first channel is sent to the slave access point of the communication system. This information is used to configure the slave access point of the communication system with the same channel and / or bandwidth.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the information from the first channel, the channel and / or bandwidth of the master access point are configured to be the same as the channel and / or bandwidth of the slave access point in the communication system.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: When both the primary access point and the secondary access point support abnormal channel roaming, the channel and / or bandwidth of the secondary access point are configured, and the channel of the secondary access point is the optimal channel of the secondary access point.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The method further includes: When both the primary access point and the secondary access point support abnormal channel roaming, the channel and / or bandwidth of the primary access point are configured, and the channel of the primary access point is the optimal channel of the primary access point.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The system receives information from the fifth channel and sends the information from the fifth channel to some or all access points in the communication system. The information from the fifth channel is used to configure the same channel and / or bandwidth for some or all access points.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information from the fifth channel; If it is determined that at least one access point in the communication system does not support the information of the fifth channel, then it is determined not to send the information of the fifth channel to any access point in the communication system.

8. A main access point, characterized in that, The main access point includes a processor and a memory; The processor is configured to execute program instructions in the memory to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instructions stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program or instructions are executed by the processor, they implement the method described in any one of claims 1-7.

10. A computer program product having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the method described in any one of claims 1-7.

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