Mode indication method and apparatus, device, medium, and program product

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of WiFi, and discloses a mode indication method and apparatus, a device, a medium, and a program product. The method is executed by a first station. The method comprises: sending a first frame to a second station, wherein the first frame is used for indicating that the first station switches from a first mode to a second mode or remains in the first mode during switching to a non-primary channel. In the method, the first frame is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode during switching to the non-primary channel, so that the switching behavior of the first station can be identified by both the first station and the second station, thereby ensuring normal communication after switching to the non-primary channel, and the first station can choose advantages corresponding to the first mode or the second mode, for example, preferentially saving power or preferentially reducing transmission delay, thereby improving transmission flexibility and allowing applications to more scenarios.

Description

Mode indication methods, apparatus, equipment, media and program products Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), and particularly to a mode indication method, apparatus, device, medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0002] The Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) mechanism allows stations to switch to the NPCA primary channel for data transmission when the primary channel is busy due to overlapping basic service sets (OBSS) or other reasons. In the Dynamic-Power-Save (DPS) mechanism, stations are mostly in mode one (also known as lower capability mode) and only switch to mode two (also known as higher capability mode) when requested.

[0003] However, the relevant mechanisms do not clearly define how sites in lower capability modes should specifically perform non-main channel access. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a mode indication method, apparatus, device, medium, and program product, the technical solution of which includes at least:

[0005] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a first site, the method comprising:

[0006] Send a first frame to the second station. The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a first site, the method comprising:

[0008] When switching to a non-primary channel, the system switches from the first mode to the second mode; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0009] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a first site, the method comprising:

[0010] In the first mode, non-master channel access is not permitted; and / or, in the second mode, non-master channel access is permitted; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0011] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a mode indication method is provided, the method being executed by a first station, a second station obtaining a transmission opportunity, or the first station obtaining a transmission opportunity, the method comprising:

[0012] Send a second frame to the second station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0013] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, wherein the method is executed by a first station, a second station caches data to be transmitted to the first station, and the first station obtains a transmission opportunity, the method comprising:

[0014] Receive a second frame sent by the second station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0015] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a first site, the method comprising:

[0016] Receive the initial control frame sent by the second station. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0017] The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field follows the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0018] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a second site, the method comprising:

[0019] Receive the first frame sent by the first station. The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0020] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a mode indication method is provided, the method being executed by a second station, the second station obtaining a transmission opportunity, or a first station obtaining a transmission opportunity, the method comprising:

[0021] Receive a second frame sent by the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0022] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being executed by a second station, the second station caching data to be transmitted to a first station, and the first station obtaining a transmission opportunity, the method comprising:

[0023] Send a second frame to the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0024] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a pattern indication method is provided, the method being performed by a second site, the method comprising:

[0025] An initial control frame is sent to the first station. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is placed after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0026] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first device is provided, the first device comprising:

[0027] The transmitting module is used to send a first frame to the second device. The first frame is used to instruct the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0028] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a second apparatus is provided, the second apparatus comprising:

[0029] The receiving module is used to receive a first frame sent by the first device. The first frame is used to instruct the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0030] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first device is provided, the first device comprising:

[0031] The processing module is used to switch from a first mode to a second mode when switching to a non-primary channel; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0032] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first device is provided, the first device comprising:

[0033] The processing module is configured to disallow non-master channel access in a first mode; and / or allow non-master channel access in a second mode; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than the data transmission rate of the second mode.

[0034] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first apparatus is provided, wherein a second apparatus obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first apparatus obtains a transmission opportunity, the first apparatus comprising:

[0035] The sending module is used to send a second frame to the second device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0036] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a second device is provided, wherein the second device obtains a transmission opportunity, or a first device obtains a transmission opportunity, the second device comprising:

[0037] The receiving module is used to receive a second frame sent by the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0038] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first apparatus is provided, wherein a second apparatus buffers data to be transmitted to the first apparatus, and the first apparatus obtains a transmission opportunity; the first apparatus includes:

[0039] The receiving module is used to receive a second frame sent by the second device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0040] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a second apparatus is provided, the second apparatus buffering data to be transmitted to a first apparatus, the first apparatus obtaining a transmission opportunity, the second apparatus comprising:

[0041] The sending module is used to send a second frame to the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0042] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first device is provided, the first device comprising:

[0043] The receiving module is used to receive an initial control frame sent by the second device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0044] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a second apparatus is provided, the second apparatus comprising:

[0045] The sending module is used to send an initial control frame to the first device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0046] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a first site is provided, the first site comprising:

[0047] A processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement mode indication methods and / or mode switching methods and / or non-master channel access restriction methods and / or mode switching triggering methods as described above.

[0048] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a second site is provided, the second site comprising:

[0049] Processor; transceiver connected to the processor; memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the mode indication method and / or mode switching triggering method as described above.

[0050] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores at least one program that is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-master channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method as described in the above aspects.

[0051] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a chip is provided, the chip including programmable logic circuits and / or program instructions, which, when the chip is running on a first site, are used to implement the mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-master channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method of the above aspects; and when the chip is running on a second site, are used to implement the mode indication method and / or mode switching triggering method of the above aspects.

[0052] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a computer program product or computer program is provided, which includes computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium, a processor retrieving the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executing the computer instructions to implement the mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-main channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method as described in the various aspects above.

[0053] The technical solutions provided in this application embodiment may include the following beneficial effects:

[0054] This method sends a first frame to a second station through a first station. The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel. This allows both the first and second stations to clearly understand the switching behavior of the first station, ensuring normal communication after switching to a non-primary channel. Furthermore, it allows the first station to choose the advantages of the first or second mode, such as prioritizing power saving or prioritizing reducing transmission latency, thus improving transmission flexibility and making it applicable to more scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0055] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0056] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the non-master channel access mechanism provided by the relevant technology;

[0058] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the dynamic sub-channel operation mechanism provided by the related technology;

[0059] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a protected extremely reliable operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 10 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 11 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 14 shows a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block confirmation frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 15 shows a flowchart of a mode switching method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 16 shows a flowchart of a method for restricting non-master channel access provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0072] Figure 17 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 18 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 19 shows a flowchart of a mode switching triggering method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0075] Figure 20 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0076] Figure 21 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0077] Figure 22 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0078] Figure 23 shows a flowchart of a mode switching triggering method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0079] Figure 24 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 25 shows a block diagram of a second apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0081] Figure 26 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0082] Figure 27 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0083] Figure 28 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0084] Figure 29 shows a block diagram of a second apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0085] Figure 30 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 31 shows a block diagram of a second apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 32 shows a block diagram of a first apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 33 shows a block diagram of a second apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0089] Figure 34 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a first site provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0090] Figure 35 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a second site provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0091] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail here, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0092] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in this disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0093] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."

[0094] It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "correspondence" may indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or that there is an association between the two, or that there is a relationship of instruction and being instructed, configuration and being configured, etc.

[0095] In this embodiment of the application, "predefined" can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other means that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device (e.g., including terminal devices and network devices). This application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, predefined can refer to what is defined in the protocol.

[0096] In this application embodiment, "protocol" may refer to standard protocols in the field of communication, such as IEEE 802.11ax protocol, IEEE 802.11be protocol, IEEE 802.11bn protocol, and related protocols applied in future communication systems. This application does not limit this.

[0097] First, a brief introduction to the terms used in the embodiments of this application:

[0098] Primary Channel: This is the channel shared by all member sites in the Basic Service Set (BSS). For example, in the 20MHz BSS, the primary channel is a main 20MHz channel; in the 40MHz BSS, it is a main 20MHz channel; and in the 80MHz BSS, it is a main 40MHz channel.

[0099] Secondary Channel: This is a channel associated with the primary channel, used to create a wider channel than the primary channel. For example, in the basic service set corresponding to 40MHz, the secondary channel is a minor 20MHz channel; in the basic service set corresponding to 80MHz, the secondary channel is a minor 40MHz channel or a 60MHz channel.

[0100] Nonprimary channel: Any one or more secondary channels other than the primary channel in the basic service set of 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz or 80+80MHz.

[0101] Primary 20MHz Channel: A 20MHz channel used to transmit 20MHz Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) within the basic service set of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 80+80MHz.

[0102] Secondary 20MHz Channel: In the 40MHz very high throughput basic service set, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the 40MHz channel corresponding to the 40MHz very high throughput basic service set. In the 80MHz very high throughput basic service set, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the primary 40MHz channel corresponding to the 80MHz very high throughput basic service set. In the 160MHz or 80+80MHz very high throughput basic service set, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the primary 40MHz channel corresponding to the 160MHz or 80+80MHz very high throughput basic service set.

[0103] Sub-channel: In this embodiment, a sub-channel can be understood as a narrow-bandwidth channel within a wide-bandwidth channel. For example, suppose a wide-bandwidth channel corresponds to an 80MHz channel. Optionally, the 80MHz channel can be divided into four 20MHz narrow-bandwidth channels, each of which is a sub-20MHz channel. Alternatively, the 80MHz channel can also be divided into two 40MHz narrow-bandwidth channels, each of which is a sub-40MHz channel.

[0104] Operating Channel: This is the channel used to transmit beacon frames, and can be a collection of multiple channels used during operation. Specific examples include 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz operating channels.

[0105] Operating Channel Width: This refers to the bandwidth of the channels through which a station (STA) can currently receive signals. Specific examples include 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz.

[0106] NPCA Main Channel: A sub-channel within the current operating channel of the basic service set. This sub-channel is used as the main channel when the access point and its associated STA access the service via a non-main channel. For example, assuming the access point's current operating channel bandwidth is 160MHz, the sub-channels include: a main 80MHz channel (P80) and a secondary 80MHz channel (S80). The main 80MHz channel includes: a main 20MHz channel (P20), a secondary 20MHz channel (S20), and a secondary 40MHz channel (S40, including S20-1 and S20-2). The secondary 80MHz channel includes S20-3, S20-4, S20-5, and S20-6.

[0107] Optionally, when performing non-master channel access, S20-3 can be used as P20, S20-4 as S20, S20-5 and S20-6 as S40, and P80 as S80.

[0108] The NPCA primary channel is also called the anchor channel, second primary channel, temporary primary channel, assistant primary channel, auxiliary primary channel, or target subchannel.

[0109] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 10 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The communication system 10 includes terminals with terminals, terminals with network devices, or access points (APs) with stations (STAs), and this application does not limit the specific examples. This application uses an example where the communication system 10 includes AP 110 and STA 120 for illustration.

[0110] In some scenarios, an AP can also be called an AP STA, meaning that in a sense, an AP is also a type of STA. In other scenarios, a STA can also be called a non-AP STA.

[0111] In some embodiments, a STA may include an AP STA and a non-AP STA. Communication in the communication system can be between an AP and a non-AP STA, between two non-AP STAs, or between a STA and a peer STA. A peer STA can refer to a device communicating with the STA from the other end; for example, a peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA. Exemplarily, there are two communication scenarios between a STA and an AP: uplink communication and downlink communication. Uplink communication involves the STA sending signals to the AP; downlink communication involves the AP sending signals to the STA. An AP acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, primarily connecting various wireless network clients together and then connecting the wireless network to the Ethernet. An AP device can be a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) with a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) chip.

[0112] In this application's embodiments, the STA can be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, such as a device supporting the 802.11 series of protocols, capable of communicating with an AP or other STAs. For example, an STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and subsequently with a WLAN. STAs can be, for example, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device, etc.

[0113] In this application embodiment, the STA can also be a device that provides voice / data / image connectivity to a user. For example, it can be a handheld device, in-vehicle device, home device, home appliance, gaming device, etc., that has wireless connectivity or is equipped with a wireless communication module. Examples include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, drones or aerial photography equipment, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future evolved Public Land Mobile networks. Terminal devices in a network (PLMN) can also be televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, door locks, fish tanks, robot vacuum cleaners, game consoles, cameras / camcorders, etc. with wireless connectivity, but this application embodiment is not limited to these.

[0114] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the STA can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Examples include smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as devices that focus on a specific type of application function and require cooperation with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the STA can also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is connecting objects to networks through communication technologies, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection. In this embodiment, IoT technology can achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and low terminal power consumption through technologies such as narrowband (NB).

[0116] Furthermore, in this embodiment, STA can also be an in-vehicle communication device in the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system or the vehicle itself. The communication methods in the V2X system are collectively referred to as V2X (where X represents anything). For example, V2X communication includes: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, etc.

[0117] It should be understood that the role of a STA in a communication system is not absolute. For example, in some scenarios, when a mobile phone connects to a router, it acts as a non-AP STA; when the phone serves as a hotspot for other mobile phones, it acts as an AP. APs and non-AP STAs can be devices used in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks, IoT nodes and sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0118] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA may support, but is not limited to, the 802.11be standard. The non-AP STA may also support various current and future 802.11 family of wireless LAN standards, such as 802.11bn, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0119] In some embodiments, the AP can be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP can also be a device that supports various current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards such as 802.11bn, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0120] In this embodiment, the STA can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer, virtual reality device, augmented reality device, communication device in industrial control, set-top box, communication device in autonomous driving, vehicle communication device, communication device in telemedicine, communication device in smart grid, communication device in transportation safety, communication device in smart city, or communication device in smart home, or wireless communication chip, etc., that supports WLAN / Wi-Fi technology. WLAN technology can support frequency bands including but not limited to: low frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) and high frequency bands (45GHz, 60GHz).

[0121] One or more links exist between a site and an access point. In some embodiments, the site and access point support multi-band communication, for example, simultaneously communicating on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz bands, or simultaneously communicating on different channels within the same (or different) bands, improving communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such devices are commonly referred to as multi-band devices, and may also be called multi-link devices (MLDs), sometimes also called multi-link entities or multi-band entities. A multi-link device can be an access point device or a site device. If the multi-link device is an access point device, it includes one or more access points (APs); if the multi-link device is a site device, it includes one or more non-AP STAs. A multi-link device including one or more APs can also be called an AP, and a multi-link device including one or more non-AP STAs can also be called a Non-AP. In this embodiment, a Non-AP can be called a STA.

[0122] In this embodiment of the application, an AP may include multiple APs, and a Non-AP may include multiple STAs. Multiple links may be formed between the multiple APs in the AP and the multiple STAs in the Non-AP. Data communication may be performed between corresponding APs in the AP and corresponding STAs in the Non-AP through the corresponding links.

[0123] An AP MLD can include one or more APs; that is, an AP MLD's associated STAs include one or more APs. A non-AP MLD can include one or more non-AP STAs; that is, a non-AP MLD's associated STAs include one or more non-AP STAs. One or more links can be formed between AP MLDs and non-AP MLDs, allowing communication between APs associated with an AP MLD and between non-AP STAs associated with a non-AP MLD. One or more peer-to-peer (P2P) links can also be formed between non-AP MLDs, allowing communication between non-AP STAs associated with two different non-AP MLDs. Similarly, one or more P2P links can be formed between AP MLDs, allowing communication between APs associated with two different AP MLDs.

[0124] A Basic Service Set (BSS) is the fundamental topology in WLAN / Wi-Fi communication. The communication devices constituting a BSS include one Access Point (AP) and several non-AP STAs (Standard Target Units). After joining the AP's radio domain, each non-AP STA establishes an association with the AP. Associated non-AP STAs and the AP can transmit data, and non-AP STAs within the same BSS can exchange data through the AP.

[0125] In the embodiments of this application, both STA and AP support the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, but are not limited to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0126] The following section describes the relevant technologies involved in the embodiments of this application:

[0127] • Dynamic-Power-Save (DPS) mechanism:

[0128] For access points or sites using the DPS mechanism, they are mostly in the first mode (also known as the lower capability mode). In this mode, the access point or site can only receive PPDUs with specified configurations, such as non-high throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs. This saves power for the access point or site.

[0129] Access points or sites perform a switch when requested to switch to the second mode (also known as the higher capability mode), for example, upon receiving an initial control frame. For example, the initial control frame may include at least one of the following: a Request-To-Send (RTS) frame carried by a non-high-throughput PPDU or a non-HT replicated PPDU, a Multi-User RTS (MU-RTS) trigger frame, or a Block AckReq (BAR) frame.

[0130] • Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) mechanism:

[0131] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the non-master channel access mechanism provided by the relevant technology.

[0132] In some scenarios, BSS deployments are relatively dense, and the coverage areas or basic service areas (BSAs) of some BSSs may overlap, forming overlapping basic service sets (OBSSs).

[0133] In related technologies, when the primary channel of the current BSS is used by the OBSS, the station can switch to a non-primary channel (NPCA primary channel) for communication. As shown in Figure 2, the AP and STA (non-AP STA) can switch to the non-primary channel to transmit data when they detect that the primary channel is being used by the OBSS. The dashed lines in Figure 2 are only for the convenience of understanding the timing relationship of related frames and to indicate that related frames are received by the AP or STA, rather than sent by the AP or STA. For example, the acknowledgment (ACK) frame in Figure 2 is sent by the STA to the AP, so it is represented by a dashed line in the AP part and a solid line in the STA part.

[0134] In Figure 2, R represents an RTS frame, and C represents a Clear To Send (CTS) frame. The AP sends an RTS frame to the STA. After receiving the CTS frame from the STA, the AP sends a data frame to the STA. After receiving the data frame, the STA sends an ACK frame to the AP. Upon receiving the ACK frame, the AP can switch back from the non-primary channel to the primary channel.

[0135] In some embodiments, after switching to a non-primary channel, the AP can query whether the non-AP STA is available through frame interaction between Multi-User RTS (MU-RTS) frames and CTS frames.

[0136] • Dynamic Subband Operation (DSO) mechanism:

[0137] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the dynamic sub-channel operation mechanism provided by the related technology.

[0138] As shown in Figure 3, in some embodiments, the AP transmits a subband switch control frame on a 320MHz bandwidth. The subband switch control frame carries sufficient padding to provide handover time for STAs supporting the DSO mechanism (DSO STA) to switch from the primary 160MHz (P160) to the secondary 160MHz (S160).

[0139] For a DSO STA, after receiving a sub-channel switching control frame on the primary 160MHz, it switches to the secondary 160MHz to send a first response frame, which is used to respond to the sub-channel switching control frame.

[0140] For STAs that do not support the DSO mechanism (non-DSO STAs), after receiving the sub-channel handover control frame on the primary 160MHz, they still send a second response frame on the primary 160MHz. The second response frame is used to respond to the sub-channel handover control frame.

[0141] In some embodiments, the AP sends a second control frame after the subchannel handover control frame has passed through a short interframe space (SIFS). The subchannel handover control frame is used to instruct the DSO STA to switch from the primary 160MHz to the secondary 160MHz, and does not trigger the DSO STA to send a first response frame.

[0142] For a DSO STA, after receiving the second control frame on the secondary 160MHz, it sends a first response frame, which is used to respond to the second control frame.

[0143] For non-DSO STAs, there is no indication in the sub-channel handover control frame. After receiving the second control frame on the primary 160MHz, the non-DSO STA sends a second response frame, which is used to respond to the second control frame.

[0144] In some embodiments, after the DSO STA sends the first response frame through SIFS, the AP, DSO STA, and non-DSO STA perform Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmission over a 320MHz bandwidth.

[0145] In some embodiments, after the OFDMA transmission ends and a time interval of SIFS+delta has elapsed, the DSO STA switches back from the secondary 160MHz to the primary 160MHz.

[0146] In summary, the AP can use sub-channel switching control frames and / or second control frames to interact with the DSO STA via a first response frame (used to respond to the sub-channel switching control frame or the second control frame), thereby scheduling the DSO STA from the primary channel to the secondary channel for transmission.

[0147] The NPCA mechanism allows stations to switch to the NPCA primary channel for data transmission when the primary channel is busy due to OBSS or other reasons. In the DPS mechanism, stations are mostly in mode one (also known as lower capability mode) and only switch to mode two (also known as higher capability mode) when requested. However, the mechanism does not explicitly define how stations in lower capability mode specifically perform non-primary channel access.

[0148] To address the aforementioned problems, embodiments of this application provide a pattern indication method. Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is executed by a first site and includes:

[0149] Step 410: Send the first frame to the second station.

[0150] The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0151] In some embodiments, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0152] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0153] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0154] The first mode can also be called the lower capability mode. For example, the data transmission capability of the first mode is low, including data transmission rate and data transmission bandwidth. Another example is that the first mode has a smaller operating bandwidth, such as 20MHz; or, the first mode only supports one spatial stream (SS); or, the first mode only supports sending and receiving non-high-throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0155] The second mode can also be called a higher capability mode. For example, the second mode has a higher data transmission capability. Another example is that the second mode has a larger operating bandwidth, such as 80MHz; or, the second mode supports multiple spatial streams; or, the second mode supports sending and receiving non-HT PPDUs or non-HT duplicate PPDUs, and supports sending and receiving at least one of the following: HT PPDU, Very High Throughput PPDU (VHT PPDU), High Efficiency PPDU (HE PPDU), Extremely High Throughput PPDU (EHT PPDU), and Ultra High Reliability PPDU (UHR PPDU).

[0156] By defining the first and second modes under different conditions, the relative relationship between the first and second modes can be determined from different dimensions.

[0157] When the first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel, data transmission can be performed in the second mode with a higher data transmission rate, reducing data transmission latency; when the first frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel, data transmission can be performed in the first mode with lower power consumption, saving the power of the first station.

[0158] 1.1 First Frame:

[0159] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; and a data frame.

[0160] Optionally, the first frame includes a first field, which is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0161] By way of example and not limitation, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame.

[0162] 1.1.1 Operating Mode Notification Frame:

[0163] For example, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame.

[0164] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The numbers below each field indicate the number of bytes or bits it may occupy. In this embodiment, subfields may be simply referred to as fields.

[0165] The operation mode notification frame includes at least one of the following fields: Frame Control field, Duration field, Address 1 field, Address 2 field, Address 3 field, Sequence Control field, High Throughput Control (HT Control) field, Action field field, and Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field.

[0166] The frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the address 1 field occupies 6 bytes, the address 2 field occupies 6 bytes, the address 3 field occupies 6 bytes, the sequence control field occupies 2 bytes, the high throughput control field occupies 0 or 4 bytes, the action field occupies a variable number of bytes, and the FCS field occupies 1 byte.

[0167] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a first field (dynamic power saving control field), which is used to indicate whether the first site switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a second field (primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), a third field (primary channel higher capability mode parameter field), a fourth field (non-primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), and a fifth field (non-primary channel higher capability mode parameter field).

[0169] The second field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on the main channel; the third field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel; the fourth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on a non-main channel; and the fifth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on a non-main channel.

[0170] The action domain field includes at least one of the following subfields: Category, Very High Throughput (VHT) Action, Operating Mode, Dynamic Power Saving Control (DPS Control), Primary LC Parameters, Primary HC Parameters, Non-Primary LC Parameters, and Non-Primary HC Parameters.

[0171] The action category field occupies 1 byte, the very high throughput action subclass field occupies 1 byte, the operation mode field occupies 1 byte, the dynamic power saving control field occupies 1 byte, the main channel lower capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, the main channel higher capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, the non-main channel lower capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, and the non-main channel higher capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes.

[0172] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a sixth field (Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function Field), which is used to indicate whether the first site enables or turns on the non-main channel access function, or whether the first site disables or turns off the non-main channel access function.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a seventh field (enable dynamic power saving function field), which is used to indicate whether the first site enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first site disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

[0174] The dynamic power saving control field includes at least one of the following subfields: Enable NPCA function field, Enable DPS function field, DPS mode in NPCA field, and Reserved field.

[0175] The field that enables non-main channel access occupies 1 bit, the field that enables dynamic power saving occupies 1 bit, the field that enables dynamic power saving mode during non-main channel access occupies 1 bit, and the reserved field occupies 5 bits.

[0176] In some embodiments, the Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function field is used to indicate whether the first site enables or disables the non-main channel access function.

[0177] For example, a value of 1 in the Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function field indicates that the non-main channel access function is enabled or turned on, while a value of 0 indicates that the non-main channel access function is disabled or turned off. Alternatively, a value of 0 in the Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function field indicates that the non-main channel access function is enabled or turned on, while a value of 1 indicates that the non-main channel access function is disabled or turned off.

[0178] In some embodiments, the Enable Dynamic Power Saving feature field is used to indicate whether the first site enables or disables the dynamic power saving feature.

[0179] For example, a value of 1 for the Enable Dynamic Power Saving function field indicates that the Dynamic Power Saving function is enabled, and a value of 0 indicates that the Dynamic Power Saving function is disabled. Alternatively, a value of 0 for the Enable Dynamic Power Saving function field indicates that the Dynamic Power Saving function is enabled, and a value of 1 indicates that the Dynamic Power Saving function is disabled.

[0180] In some embodiments, after the first site enables or activates the dynamic power saving function, it defaults to a lower power mode.

[0181] In some embodiments, the dynamic power saving mode field for non-primary channel access is used to indicate whether the first station switches from a first mode (lower capability mode) to a second mode (higher capability mode) or remains in the first mode (lower capability mode) when switching to a non-primary channel. In this case, the dynamic power saving mode field for non-primary channel access is a more specific implementation of the first field.

[0182] For example, a value of 1 in the Dynamic Power Saving Mode field for non-primary channel access indicates that the first station remains in a lower capability mode when switching to a non-primary channel, while a value of 0 indicates that the first station switches from a lower capability mode to a higher capability mode when switching to a non-primary channel. Alternatively, a value of 1 in the Dynamic Power Saving Mode field for non-primary channel access indicates that the first station switches from a lower capability mode to a higher capability mode when switching to a non-primary channel, while a value of 0 indicates that the first station remains in a lower capability mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0183] In some embodiments, the dynamic power saving mode field during non-master channel access occupies 2 bits and is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode and switches immediately, or switches from the first mode to the second mode and switches with a delay, or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-master channel.

[0184] For example, a value of 0 (binary representation 00) for the dynamic power saving mode field when accessing a non-primary channel indicates that the first station remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel, a value of 1 (binary representation 01) indicates that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel and the corresponding switch is immediate, and a value of 2 (binary representation 10) indicates that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel and the corresponding switch is delayed.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first frame is carried in the first PPDU, and at least one bit in the first frame is used to instruct the first station to perform an immediate handover or a delayed handover; wherein, an immediate handover corresponds to the case where the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode before the end time of the first PPDU; and a delayed handover corresponds to the case where the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode within a first time period after the end time of the first PPDU.

[0186] Optionally, the first frame is sent if the first station enables or activates the non-main channel access function.

[0187] The first frame is used to instruct the first station to enable or turn on the dynamic power saving function. It can also be used to instruct the first station to disable or turn off the non-main channel access function, or to continue to enable the non-main channel access function. It can also instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-main channel.

[0188] Optionally, the first frame is sent if the first station disables or closes the non-main channel access function.

[0189] The first frame is used to instruct the first station to enable or enable the dynamic power saving function. It can also be used to instruct the first station to enable or enable the non-main channel access function, or to continue to disable the non-main channel access function. It can also instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-main channel.

[0190] Optionally, the first frame is sent if the first station has enabled or activated dynamic power saving.

[0191] The first frame is used to instruct the first station to enable or disable the non-primary channel access function. It can also instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0192] For example, a value of 1 for the Enable Dynamic Power Saving Function field indicates that the dynamic power saving function is enabled or turned on; a value of 1 for the Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function field indicates that the first station enables or turns on the non-main channel access function; a value of 0 indicates that the first station disables the non-main channel access function; a value of 1 for the Dynamic Power Saving Mode field during non-main channel access indicates that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-main channel; a value of 0 indicates that the first station remains in the first mode when switching to a non-main channel.

[0193] In some embodiments, at least one of the second, third, fourth, and fifth fields includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield (supported channel bandwidth field), which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; a second subfield (maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received field), which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received in the current mode; a third subfield (maximum modulation and coding order field), which indicates the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; and a fourth subfield (highest version of supported physical layer protocol data unit field), which indicates the highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

[0194] The primary channel lower capability mode parameter field includes at least one of the following subfields: supported channel bandwidth, maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received (Number of Spatial Stream, NSS), maximum supported modulation and coding scheme (MCS), highest supported physical layer protocol data unit version (PPDU Version), and reserved.

[0195] Among them, the supported channel bandwidth field occupies 3 bits, the maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received occupies 2 bits, the maximum supported modulation and coding order digital segment occupies 5 bits, the highest version of the supported physical layer protocol data unit occupies 3 bits, and the reserved field occupies 3 bits.

[0196] The four fields—the primary channel lower capability mode parameter field, the primary channel higher capability mode parameter field, the non-primary channel lower capability mode parameter field, and the non-primary channel higher capability mode parameter field—include at least one identical subfield, and the lengths of the subfields can differ.

[0197] For example, all four fields include the aforementioned five subfields, namely: supported channel bandwidth, maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received, maximum supported modulation and coding order (MCDE) digital segment, highest supported physical layer protocol data unit (PLAN) version, and reserved fields. This application does not limit the number of subfields included in the above four fields; each field may include only some of its subfields, such as only the supported channel bandwidth and maximum supported MCDDE digital segment. The example given is based solely on the assumption that all four fields include the aforementioned five subfields.

[0198] The supported channel bandwidth field indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the corresponding mode.

[0199] For example, 0 (binary representation 000) represents 20MHz, 1 (binary representation 001) represents 40MHz, 2 (binary representation 010) represents 80MHz, 3 (binary representation 011) represents 160MHz, 4 (binary representation 100) represents 320MHz, and 5 to 7 (binary representation 101 to 111) are reserved values.

[0200] The Maximum Number of Spatial Streams That Can Be Sent or Received is a field that indicates the maximum number of spatial streams that can be sent or received in the corresponding mode.

[0201] For example, 0 (binary representation 00) represents 1 space stream, 1 (binary representation 01) represents 2 space streams, 2 (binary representation 10) represents 3 space streams, and 3 (binary representation 11) represents 4 space streams.

[0202] The maximum supported modulation and coding order number field indicates the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the corresponding mode.

[0203] For example, 0 (binary representation 00000) represents MCS 0, 1 (binary representation 00001) represents MCS1, 2 (binary representation 00010) represents MCS2, and so on, with 31 (binary representation 11111) representing MCS 31.

[0204] The highest supported physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) field indicates the highest version of the PPDU supported in the corresponding mode.

[0205] For example, 0 (binary representation 000) represents non-high throughput (non-HT), 1 (binary representation 001) represents high throughput (HT), 2 (binary representation 010) represents very high throughput (VHT), 3 (binary representation 011) represents high efficiency (HE), 4 (binary representation 100) represents extremely high throughput (EHT), 5 (binary representation 101) represents extremely high reliability (UHR), and 6 (binary representation 110) and 7 (binary representation 111) are reserved values.

[0206] The frame format of the above-mentioned operation mode notification frame is an exemplary possibility. In different embodiments or different designs, it is possible that at least one of the following designs may change: the position of the above-mentioned fields in the frame, the order of arrangement with other fields, the number of bytes occupied, the number of bits occupied, the element name, and the field name. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0207] 1.1.2 Protected High-Reliability Action Frames:

[0208] For example, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame. For instance, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame.

[0209] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a protected extremely reliable operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The numbers below each field indicate the number of bytes or bits it may occupy. In this embodiment, subfields may be simply referred to as fields.

[0210] The protected ultra-reliable operating mode notification frame includes at least one of the following fields: Frame Control field, Duration field, Address 1 field, Address 2 field, Address 3 field, Sequence Control field, High Throughput Control field, Action field field, and Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field.

[0211] The action domain field includes at least one of the following subfields: Action Category, UHR Action, Dynamic Power Saving Control, Primary LC Parameters, Primary HC Parameters, Non-Primary LC Parameters, and Non-Primary HC Parameters.

[0212] Among them, the action category field occupies 1 byte, the extremely reliable action subclass field occupies 1 byte, the dynamic power saving control field occupies 1 byte, the main channel lower capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, the main channel higher capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, the non-main channel lower capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes, and the non-main channel higher capability mode parameter field occupies 2 bytes.

[0213] The dynamic power saving control field includes at least one of the following subfields: Enable NPCA function field, Enable DPS function field, DPS mode in NPCA field, and Reserved field.

[0214] For specific implementation details, please refer to the operation mode notification frame; they will not be repeated here.

[0215] The frame format of the aforementioned protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame is an exemplary possibility. In different embodiments or designs, it is not excluded that at least one of the following designs may change: the position of the above fields in the frame, the order of arrangement with other fields, the number of bytes occupied, the number of bits occupied, the element name, and the field name. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0216] In some embodiments, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, which carries an extremely reliable operation element (UHR Operation element). At least one bit in the UHR Operation element is used to indicate whether the first station should switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which carries an Aggregation Control (A-Control) field. The A-Control field includes an Operation Mode Control (OM Control) field and / or an Extremely Reliable Operation Mode Control (UHR OM Control) field. At least one bit in the Operation Mode Control field and / or the UHR OM Control field is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0218] 1.2 Balancing power saving and latency:

[0219] 1.2.1 Prioritize reducing latency:

[0220] In some embodiments, the power of the first station is higher than a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0221] The first battery threshold is a preset value, for example, 60%. Taking a mobile phone as the first station, when the mobile phone's battery is higher than or equal to 60%, it means that the mobile phone has sufficient battery power. At this time, in order to ensure the reduction of data transmission latency, when switching to a non-primary channel, the mobile phone can switch from the first mode to the second mode, that is, switch to the higher capability mode.

[0222] In some embodiments, the method further includes: performing channel contention on a non-master channel; or, not performing channel contention, and performing data transmission according to the scheduling of the second station.

[0223] The first station may compete for a transmission opportunity on a non-primary channel, or it may choose not to compete for a transmission opportunity and wait for the second station to acquire the opportunity before scheduling the first station to transmit the data.

[0224] Optionally, the second station obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes: if an initial control frame is not received during the transmission opportunity, the initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0225] Because the second station did not send an initial control frame, the first station did not receive an initial control frame during the transmission opportunity.

[0226] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0227] While the first station is in the first mode, it transmits the first frame on the primary channel to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel. The second station does not transmit an initial control frame.

[0228] The first station sends its first frame on the primary channel to indicate the handover mode. Then, upon detecting that the primary channel is occupied by OBSS transmission, the first station initiates the handover, starting at time T1. After a handover period of duration ΔT, the handover is completed at time T2. At this point, the first station is in the second mode. The second station sends an NPCA Initial Control Frame (NPCA ICF) on a non-primary channel. After SIFS, the first station sends an NPCA Initial Control Response (ICR) frame on the non-primary channel. After SIFS, the second station sends a data frame on the non-primary channel. After SIFS, the first station sends a Block Acknowledgment (BA) frame on the non-primary channel.

[0229] Optionally, the method further includes: receiving an initial control frame sent by a second station, the initial control frame being used to trigger a first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode, and the padding carried in the initial control frame being used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first station and the second station.

[0230] 1.2.2 Prioritize energy saving:

[0231] In some embodiments, when the power of the first station is below a first power threshold, the first frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0232] The first battery threshold is a preset value, for example, 60%. Taking a mobile phone as the first station, when the mobile phone's battery is below 60%, it means that the mobile phone's battery is not sufficient. At this time, in order to save the mobile phone's battery, the mobile phone can remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0233] In some embodiments, the method further includes: performing channel contention on a non-master channel; or, not performing channel contention, and performing data transmission according to the scheduling of the second station.

[0234] The first station may compete for a transmission opportunity on a non-primary channel, or it may choose not to compete for a transmission opportunity and wait for the second station to acquire the opportunity before scheduling the first station to transmit the data.

[0235] Optionally, the method further includes: receiving an initial control frame sent by a second station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode, and the padding carried in the initial control frame being used to provide the first station with a switching time.

[0236] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0237] While the first station is in the first mode, it sends the first frame on the main channel to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-main channel.

[0238] When the second station detects that the primary channel is occupied by OBSS transmission, it switches to a non-primary channel and sends an initial control frame to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide the first station with switching time.

[0239] For example, the first station starts switching at time T1, corresponding to the start time of padding. After a switching period of duration ΔT, the switching is completed at time T2, corresponding to the end time of padding (the end time of the initial control frame). After passing through SIFS at time T2, the first station sends an initial control response frame to the second station. After receiving the initial control response frame and passing through SIFS, the second station sends a data frame on a non-primary channel. After passing through SIFS, the first station sends a BA frame on a non-primary channel.

[0240] 1.3 Initial Control Frame:

[0241] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The numbers below each field indicate the number of bytes or bits it may occupy. In this embodiment, subfields may be simply referred to as fields.

[0242] The initial control frame includes at least one of the following fields: Frame Control, Duration, Receiver Address (RA), Transmitter Address (TA), Common Info, User Info List, Padding, Frame Check Set (FCS), and Extra Padding.

[0243] The frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the receiver address field occupies 6 bytes, the sender address field occupies 6 bytes, the public information field occupies 8 bytes, the user information list field occupies a variable number of bytes, the padding field occupies a variable number of bytes, the frame check (FCS) field occupies 4 bytes, and the extra padding field occupies a variable number of bytes.

[0244] The user information list fields include at least one of the following subfields: Special User Info field, User Info 1 to User Info M field, Intermediate FCS 1 field, Intermediate FCS 2 field, User Info N field to User Info X field, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, N is greater than M, and X is greater than or equal to N.

[0245] Among them, the number of bytes occupied by the proprietary user information field is variable, the number of bytes occupied by each user information field from user information 1 to user information M is variable, the number of bytes occupied by the intermediate frame verification 1 field is variable, the number of bytes occupied by the intermediate frame verification 2 field is variable, and the number of bytes occupied by each user information field from user information N to user information X field is variable.

[0246] Optionally, the number of bytes occupied by the intermediate frame verification 2 field is 0, that is, there is no intermediate frame verification 2 field and only the intermediate frame verification 1 field; or, the number of bytes occupied by the intermediate frame verification 1 field is 0, that is, there is no intermediate frame verification 1 field and only the intermediate frame verification 2 field, that is, there is only one intermediate frame verification field.

[0247] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0248] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0249] At least one bit in the public information field and / or the proprietary user information field (proprietary information field) is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field.

[0250] The intermediate frame check field contains a 32-bit Cyclic Redundancy Code (CRC) value, which is used to verify the correctness of all content from the frame header (including the frame header) to the user information M field (including the user information M field).

[0251] In some embodiments, the initial control frame also includes a frame check field, with additional padding fields following the frame check field.

[0252] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried within a user information field.

[0253] Optionally, m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

[0254] The Association IDentifier (AID) field in the user information field has at least 2 and at most 8 bits of a predefined value, which is used to indicate that the user information field carries intermediate frame verification.

[0255] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0256] Optionally, n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

[0257] The intermediate frame check field can be divided into two parts, each carried in one of the two user information fields. At least two and at most twelve bits of the AID12 field in the user information field are predefined values ​​used to indicate that the user information field carries the intermediate frame check field.

[0258] In some embodiments, the User Information 1 to User Information M fields preceding the Intermediate Frame Verification fields (Intermediate Frame Verification 1 field and Intermediate Frame Verification 2 field) are used to indicate information from one or more first sites. The User Information N to User Information X fields following the Intermediate Frame Verification fields are used to indicate information from one or more third sites.

[0259] The second station sends an initial control frame, which triggers one or more first stations to switch from the first mode to the second mode. Since the first station needs to verify the correctness of the initial control frame content before executing the operation indicated by the initial control frame, to allow the first station to perform the switch as early as possible (e.g., upon receiving the padding field), it is necessary to allow the first station to complete the frame verification as early as possible. Therefore, an intermediate frame verification field is added before the padding field. After receiving the intermediate frame verification field and completing the verification, the first station can begin the switch.

[0260] However, this might cause one or more third stations (e.g., legacy stations that do not support dynamic power saving) triggered by the initial control frame to consume more processing time and energy when processing the initial control frame. In order to provide the first station with handover time and not affect the processing of the third stations, an extra padding field is placed after the FCS field of the initial control frame for transmission, that is, an extra padding field is placed after the frame check field to provide the first station with handover time.

[0261] In some embodiments, after receiving the intermediate frame verification field and completing the correctness verification of all content from the frame header to the user information M field, the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode according to the indication in the user information field corresponding to the first station.

[0262] The first station will not receive subsequent user information fields, padding fields, and frame verification fields starting from the user information N field, or the first station will discard the received subsequent user information fields, padding fields, and frame verification fields starting from the user information N field.

[0263] In some embodiments, after receiving the frame verification field and completing the correctness verification of all content from the frame header to the padding field, the third station performs the corresponding operation according to the indication of the user information field corresponding to the third station. The third station discards any received additional padding fields.

[0264] In some embodiments, the initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode by at least one of the following: a timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the amount of time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time; and the time offset level between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

[0265] For example, a timestamp or a portion of the least significant bits of a timestamp can be used to directly indicate the end time of the second mode, using 64 bits, 48 ​​bits, 32 bits, 24 bits, or 16 bits; or,

[0266] Use 32 bits, 24 bits, or 16 bits to indicate the offset in microseconds between the end time and the current time of the second mode. For example, 0000000010000000 is used to indicate that the offset in microseconds between the end time and the current time of the second mode is 128 microseconds; or,

[0267] Use 8 bits or 4 bits to indicate the time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time. For example, use 256 microseconds as a unit of time, where 0 represents 256 microseconds, 1 represents 512 microseconds, 2 represents 768 microseconds, 3 represents 1024 microseconds, and so on.

[0268] The above frame format design provides switching time for the first station that supports dynamic power saving, without affecting the processing of the initial control frame by the third station that does not support dynamic power saving, thus meeting the needs of multiple stations.

[0269] 1.4 Second Frame:

[0270] In some embodiments, the second site obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes:

[0271] During the transmission opportunity, the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode; the first station sends a second frame to the second station, which indicates whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0272] Figure 10 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The first station switches from a first mode to a second mode; for specific implementation details, refer to the embodiment in Figure 7. The first station is in the second mode and performs data transmission on a non-primary channel. The first station sends a second frame, such as a BA frame, to the second station on the non-primary channel.

[0273] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0274] During the transmission opportunity, the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode; the first station sends a second frame to the second station, which indicates whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0275] Figure 11 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The first station switches from a first mode to a second mode; for specific implementation details, refer to the embodiment in Figure 7. In the second mode, the first station sends an NPCA ICF to the second station on a non-primary channel. After passing through SIFS, the second station sends an NPCA ICR frame. After passing through SIFS, the first station sends a second frame, such as a management frame, to the second station on a non-primary channel. After passing through SIFS, the second station sends an acknowledgment frame to the first station.

[0276] Optionally, the second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in subsequent transmission opportunities.

[0277] In some embodiments, the second site caches data to be transmitted to the first site, and the first site obtains a transmission opportunity. The method further includes:

[0278] The first station switches from the first mode to the second mode during the transmission opportunity; it receives a second frame sent by the second station, which indicates whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0279] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The first station switches from a first mode to a second mode; specific implementation details are shown in the embodiment of Figure 7. The first station, in the second mode, sends an NPCA ICF to the second station on a non-primary channel. After passing through SIFS, the second station sends an NPCA ICR frame. After passing through SIFS, the first station sends a data frame to the second station on a non-primary channel. Since the second station has buffered data to be transmitted to the first station, upon receiving the data frame and passing through SIFS, it sends a second frame (e.g., a BA frame) to the first station. The second frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0280] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variants, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a groupcast with retries BA (GCR BA), and a general link GCR BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0281] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0282] 1.4.1 QoS Null Frame:

[0283] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service Null (QoS Null) frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The numbers below each field indicate the number of bytes or bits it may occupy. In this embodiment, subfields may be simply referred to as fields.

[0284] A QoS Null frame includes at least one of the following fields: Frame Control, Duration, Address 1, Address 2, Address 3, Sequence Control, Address 4, QoS Control, High Throughput Control, and FCS.

[0285] The frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the address 1 field occupies 6 bytes, the address 2 field occupies 6 bytes, the address 3 field occupies 6 bytes, the sequence control field occupies 0 or 2 bytes, the address 4 field occupies 0 or 6 bytes, the quality of service control field occupies 0 or 2 bytes, the high throughput control field occupies 0 or 4 bytes, and the FCS field occupies 4 bytes.

[0286] The High Throughput Control field includes at least one of the following subfields: Very High Throughput (VHT) field, High Efficiency (HE) field, and Aggregate Control (A-Control) field.

[0287] The high throughput field occupies 1 bit, the high efficiency field occupies 1 bit, and the aggregation control field occupies 30 bits.

[0288] The aggregate control field includes at least one of the following subfields: control list field and padding field.

[0289] The number of bits used in the control list field is variable, while the padding field uses 0 or more bits.

[0290] The control list fields include at least one of the following subfields: Control Identifier (Control ID) field and Control Information field.

[0291] The control identifier field occupies 4 bits, and the control information field occupies 8 bits.

[0292] The control information field includes at least one of the following subfields: Access Category Constraint (AC Constraint) field, Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) or more PPDU (RDG / more PPDU) field, Parameterized Spatial Reuse Transmission PPDU (PSRT PPDU) field, Stay HC mode field, and HC Duration field.

[0293] The Access Category Restriction field occupies 1 bit, the RDG or more PPDU field occupies 1 bit, the PSRT PPDU field occupies 1 bit, the Stay in Higher Capability Mode field occupies 1 bit, and the Higher Capability Mode Duration field occupies 4 bits.

[0294] Taking the Command and Status (CAS) type control information field with a control identifier field value of 6 as an example, there are 5 reserved bits. At least one of these bits can be used as a "Stay in Higher Capability Mode" field to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode (higher capability mode) after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0295] For example, a value of 1 in the "Keep in Higher Capability Mode" field indicates that the system remains in the second mode, while a value of 0 indicates that the system switches to the first mode; or a value of 0 in the "Keep in Higher Capability Mode" field indicates that the system remains in the second mode, while a value of 1 indicates that the system switches to the first mode.

[0296] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0297] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0298] For example, the remaining bits from the 5 reserved bits are used as the higher capability mode duration field to indicate the duration for which the first site continues to maintain the higher capability mode. For instance, the higher capability mode duration field occupies 4 bits, in units of 256 microseconds. A value of 0 (binary representation 0000) represents 256 microseconds, a value of 1 (binary representation 0001) represents 512 microseconds, a value of 2 (binary representation 0010) represents 768 microseconds, a value of 3 (binary representation 0011) represents 1024 microseconds, and so on.

[0299] The frame format of the above-mentioned quality of service empty frame is an exemplary possible case. In different embodiments or different designs, it is not excluded that at least one of the following designs may change: the position of the above field in the frame, the order of arrangement with other fields, the number of bytes occupied, the number of bits occupied, the element name, and the field name. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0300] 1.4.2 Multi-STA BA Frame:

[0301] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The numbers below each field indicate the number of bytes or bits it may occupy. In this embodiment, subfields may be simply referred to as fields.

[0302] A multisite block acknowledgment frame includes at least one of the following fields: Frame Control field, Duration field, Receiver Address (RA) field, Sender Address (TA) field, Block Acknowledgment Control (BA Control) field, Block Acknowledgment Information (BA Information) field, and Frame Check (FCS) field.

[0303] The frame control field occupies 2 bytes, the duration field occupies 2 bytes, the receiver address field occupies 6 bytes, the sender address field occupies 6 bytes, the block acknowledgment control field occupies 2 bytes, the block acknowledgment information field occupies a variable number of bytes, and the frame check (FCS) field occupies 4 bytes.

[0304] The block acknowledgment control field includes at least one of the following subfields: Reserved, Block Acknowledgment Type (BA Type), No Memory Kept, Memory Configuration Tag, Management Ack, and Traffic ID Information (TID_INFO). The Traffic ID (TID) can also be referred to as the service identifier.

[0305] The first reserved field occupies 1 bit, the block acknowledgment type field occupies 4 bits, the second reserved field occupies 4 bits, the no-reservation storage field occupies 1 bit, the storage configuration flag field occupies 1 bit, the management frame acknowledgment field occupies 1 bit, and the stream identifier information field occupies 4 bits.

[0306] Since the Flow Identifier Information field is also a reserved field, there are a total of 9 reserved bits in the Block Acknowledgment Control field. At least one of the 9 reserved bits is used as the Dynamic Power Saving (DPS) field to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode (higher capability mode) after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0307] For example, the first reserved field can be used as a dynamic power saving field, with a value of 1 indicating that the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, and a value of 0 indicating that the first site switches to the first mode after the transmission opportunity ends; or a value of 0 indicating that the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, and a value of 1 indicating that the first site switches to the first mode after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0308] The block confirmation information field includes at least one of the following subfields: Information 1 (Per AID TID Info 1) corresponding to AID and TID to Information N (Per AID TID Info N) corresponding to AID and TID.

[0309] The number of bytes occupied by each information field corresponding to AID and TID is variable.

[0310] When the value of the AID11 field is not 2045, taking information 1 corresponding to AID and TID as an example, it includes at least one of the following subfields: Associated Identifier and Stream Identifier Information (AID TID Info) field, Block Ack Starting Sequence Control field, and Block Ack Bitmap field.

[0311] Among them, the association identifier and stream identifier information fields occupy 2 bytes, the block acknowledgment start sequence control field occupies 0 or 2 bytes, and the block acknowledgment bit map field occupies 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 bytes.

[0312] The association identifier and flow identifier information fields include at least one of the following subfields: association identifier (AID11) field, acknowledgment type (Ack Type) field, and flow identifier (TID) field.

[0313] The association identifier field occupies 11 bits, the confirmation type field occupies 1 bit, and the stream identifier field occupies 4 bits.

[0314] The AID11 field carries the 11 least significant bits of the AID of the site corresponding to the AID and TID (Per AID TID Info) field. If the multisite block acknowledgment frame is sent to the AP, the AID11 field is set to 0.

[0315] If the AID11 field is set to a value other than 2045, the information fields corresponding to the AID and TID include the association identifier and flow identifier information fields, the block acknowledgment start sequence control field, and the block acknowledgment bitmap field. If the target of the frame is all stations, the AID11 field can be set to a reserved value (any value in the range of 2008-2044, such as 2044); if the target of the frame is a single station, the AID11 field is the identifier of the target station.

[0316] When the acknowledgment type field in the association identifier and flow identifier information fields is set to 0, and the flow identifier field is set to a reserved value (any value in the range of 8-15, such as 15), it can be used to indicate control response information. In this case, the block acknowledgment start sequence control field becomes a reserved field, and the block acknowledgment bit map field becomes a control response information field. At this time, at least one bit of the reserved field and / or the control response information field can be used as a dynamic power saving field to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode (higher capability mode) after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0317] For example, a reserved field can be used as a dynamic power-saving field, with a value of 1 indicating that the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, and a value of 0 indicating that the first station switches to the first mode after the transmission opportunity ends; or a value of 0 indicating that the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, and a value of 1 indicating that the first station switches to the first mode after the transmission opportunity ends.

[0318] When the AID11 field value is 2045, taking information 1 corresponding to AID and TID as an example, it includes at least one of the following subfields: associated identifier and flow identifier information (AID TID Info) field, reserved field, and receiver address (RA) field.

[0319] The association identifier and stream identifier information fields occupy 2 bytes, the reserved fields occupy 4 bytes, and the receiver address field occupies 6 bytes.

[0320] AID11 field value of 2045 is used to identify any unassociated site. If AID11 field is set to 2045, then the Acknowledgment type field and flow identifier field are set to 0 and 15 respectively. In this case, the information fields corresponding to AID and TID include association identifier and flow identifier information fields, reserved fields, and RA fields, where the RA field indicates the MAC address of the unassociated site corresponding to the association identifier and flow identifier information fields.

[0321] The frame format of the above-mentioned multi-site block confirmation frame is an exemplary possible case. In different embodiments or different designs, it is possible that at least one of the following designs may change: the position of the above-mentioned fields in the frame, the order of arrangement with other fields, the number of bytes occupied, the number of bits occupied, the element name, and the field name. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0322] The first station sends a second frame to the second station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function. The first station can better meet its actual transmission needs by indicating its own handling after the transmission opportunity ends, and the second station does not need to send an initial control frame.

[0323] The second station buffers the data to be transmitted to the first station. The first station receives the second frame sent by the second station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function. Since the second station has data to be transmitted, this method can keep the first station in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, instead of switching to the first mode, thus avoiding the problem of reduced data transmission efficiency caused by exiting the second mode.

[0324] 1.5 Switching from the primary channel to a non-primary channel:

[0325] In some embodiments, the primary channel of the current basic service set (BSS) is used by an overlapping BSS (OBSS), and the method further includes: a first station switching from the primary channel to a non-primary channel.

[0326] In some embodiments, the first station is in a first mode, the first station caches data to be transmitted to the second station and the data amount is not less than a first threshold; and / or, the first station caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the second station.

[0327] With the primary channel of the current BSS being used by the OBSS, the first station, which is in a lower capacity mode, has a large amount of data waiting to be transmitted to the second station and / or has time-sensitive data waiting to be transmitted to the second station. Therefore, the first station needs to switch to a non-primary channel to perform data transmission.

[0328] In some embodiments, the first station is in a first mode, and the second station caches data to be transmitted to the first station and the data amount is not less than a second threshold; and / or, the second station caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the first station.

[0329] With the BSS's primary channel currently being used by the OBSS, the first station is in a low-capacity mode, and the second station has a large amount of data waiting to be transmitted to the first station and / or time-sensitive data waiting to be transmitted to the first station. Therefore, the first station needs to switch to a non-primary channel to receive the data sent by the second station.

[0330] 1.6 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or a non-main channel:

[0331] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode.

[0332] The values ​​of all operating parameters of the lower capability mode when the first station operates on the primary channel are the same as the corresponding values ​​of the operating parameters of the lower capability mode when the first station operates on a non-primary channel; or, the value of at least one operating parameter of the lower capability mode when the first station operates on the primary channel is different from the corresponding value of the operating parameter of the lower capability mode when the first station operates on a non-primary channel. For example, the number of supported spatial streams is different, or the supported data transmission rates are different. These operating parameters can be carried in the first frame or in the UHR Capability element.

[0333] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the first station in the second mode when operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station in the second mode when operating on a non-main channel.

[0334] The values ​​of all operating parameters of the higher capability mode when the first station operates on the primary channel are the same as the corresponding values ​​of the operating parameters of the higher capability mode when the first station operates on a non-primary channel; or, the value of at least one operating parameter of the higher capability mode when the first station operates on the primary channel is different from the corresponding value of the operating parameter of the higher capability mode when the first station operates on a non-primary channel. For example, the number of supported spatial streams is different, or the supported data transmission rates are different. These operating parameters can be carried in the first frame or in the UHR Capability element.

[0335] In some embodiments, the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first station are the same as the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station; or, the value of at least one first working parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first station is different from the value of the first working parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station.

[0336] The higher capability mode of the first station is the same as the maximum capability mode of the first station, meaning that the values ​​of all working parameters in the higher capability mode of the first station are the same as the values ​​of all working parameters in the maximum capability mode of the first station. Alternatively, the higher capability mode of the first station is different from the maximum capability mode of the first station, meaning that the value of at least one working parameter (first working parameter) in the higher capability mode of the first station is different from the value of the corresponding working parameter (first working parameter) in the maximum capability mode of the first station.

[0337] 1.7 First switching delay and first padding delay:

[0338] In some embodiments, the time required for the first site to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first site to complete the switching is the first filling delay.

[0339] Padding refers to the extra bits added to a frame, typically used to ensure that the frame length meets the requirements of the communication protocol.

[0340] The padding duration can be understood as the time spent transmitting the padding. For example, if the padding occupies 10 bits, then the padding duration refers to the time spent transmitting those 10 bits. This time corresponds to different values ​​at different bitrates. Optionally, the first station first determines the padding duration, and then determines the number of bits required for padding based on the current bitrate.

[0341] Optionally, the padding mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to Medium Access Control (MAC) padding, or padding implemented at the MAC layer.

[0342] The first site needs a certain delay to switch from the first mode to the second mode. This delay is called the first switching delay, or the dynamic power saving switching delay (DPS Transition Delay).

[0343] The value of the first switching delay is determined based on the specific implementation. For example, it can be any value between 8 microseconds and 1024 microseconds, or any value between 8 microseconds and 256 microseconds, or any value between 8 microseconds, 16 microseconds, 32 microseconds, 64 microseconds, 128 microseconds, 256 microseconds, or 512 microseconds, or any value among 4 microseconds, 8 microseconds, 12 microseconds, ..., 256 microseconds.

[0344] Correspondingly, the first station can request and / or inform the second station in advance to carry padding in the initial control frame to provide sufficient time for the first station to complete the handover. The delay required for the first station to complete the handover is called the first padding delay, which can also be called the dynamic power saving padding delay (DPS Padding Delay).

[0345] In some embodiments, the first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first padding delay.

[0346] When the first handover delay is the same as the first padding delay, it means that the delay required for the first station to complete the handover is the time required for the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. When the first handover delay is different from the first padding delay, the first handover delay is usually less than the first padding delay, meaning that the first station needs a longer first padding delay than the first handover delay to ensure the handover is completed. However, if the first frame includes some other bits after padding, the first padding delay can also be less than the first handover delay, and this application does not limit this.

[0347] In some embodiments, the first filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the first handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

[0348] In some embodiments, the first filling delay (or first handover delay) corresponding to different first sites may be the same, which makes it easier to uniformly arrange the delay required for different first sites to complete the handover; in other embodiments, the first filling delay (or first handover delay) corresponding to different first sites may be different, so that the corresponding first filling delay (or first handover delay) can be set according to the situation of each first site, which can more accurately set the first filling delay (or first handover delay) that conforms to the situation of each first site.

[0349] In some embodiments, the method further includes sending a first handover delay and / or a first padding delay to a second station.

[0350] For example, the first station uses a management frame to inform the second station in advance of the first handover delay and / or the first padding delay; or, during the association process, the first station informs the second station of the first handover delay and / or the first padding delay.

[0351] 1.8 Dynamic Power Saving (DPS) and Dynamic Sub-Channel Operation (DSO):

[0352] In some scenarios, the second station has a larger operating channel bandwidth, such as 160MHz, while some first stations have smaller operating channel bandwidths, such as 20MHz or 80MHz. When a second station has a transmission opportunity, it can transmit within the larger bandwidth. However, first stations can only transmit within their own operating channel bandwidth by default. By performing dynamic sub-channel operations to schedule some first stations to transmit on sub-channels, the larger bandwidth can be fully utilized.

[0353] In some embodiments, the time required for the first station to switch from the main channel to the dynamic sub-channel is the second handover delay; the time required for the first station to complete the handover is the second padding delay.

[0354] The second handover delay can also be called the dynamic sub-channel handover delay (DSO Transition Delay). The value of this handover delay is determined based on the specific implementation. For example, it can be any value between 8 microseconds and 1024 microseconds, or any value between 8 microseconds and 256 microseconds, or even 8 microseconds, 16 microseconds, 32 microseconds, 64 microseconds, 128 microseconds, 256 microseconds, or 512 microseconds.

[0355] Correspondingly, the first station can request and / or inform the second station in advance to carry padding in the sub-channel handover control frame to provide sufficient time for the first station to complete the handover. The padding duration required for the first station to complete the handover is called the second padding delay, which can also be called the dynamic power saving padding delay (DSO Padding Delay).

[0356] In some embodiments, the second padding delay may be the same as or different from the second switching delay.

[0357] When the second handover delay is the same as the second padding delay, it means that the delay required for the first station to complete the handover is the same as the time required for the first station to switch from the main channel to the dynamic sub-channel. When the second handover delay is different from the second padding delay, the second handover delay is usually less than the second padding delay, meaning that the first station needs a longer second padding delay than the second handover delay to ensure the handover is completed. However, if the first frame includes some other bits after padding, the second padding delay can also be less than the second handover delay, and this application does not limit this.

[0358] In some embodiments, the second filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the second handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

[0359] In some embodiments, the second fill delay (or second handover delay) corresponding to different first sites may be the same, which makes it easier to uniformly arrange the delay required for different first sites to complete the handover; in other embodiments, the second fill delay (or second handover delay) corresponding to different first sites may be different, so that the corresponding second fill delay (or second handover delay) can be set according to the situation of each first site, which can more accurately set the second fill delay (or second handover delay) that conforms to the situation of each first site.

[0360] In some embodiments, the method further includes sending a second handover delay and / or a second padding delay to a second station.

[0361] For example, the first station uses a management frame to inform the second station in advance of the second handover delay and / or the second padding delay; or, during the association process, the first station informs the second station of the second handover delay and / or the second padding delay.

[0362] In some embodiments, the first station is in a low-capacity mode, and the second station schedules the first station to perform data transmission. The method further includes: receiving a sub-channel switching control frame sent by the second station, the sub-channel switching control frame being used to instruct the first station to switch to a dynamic sub-channel and switch from a low-capacity mode to a high-capacity mode; wherein the padding duration carried in the sub-channel switching control frame is not less than a first value, the first value being the larger of a first padding delay and a second padding delay of the first station.

[0363] In some embodiments, the first station is in a low-capacity mode, and the second station schedules the first station to perform data transmission. The method further includes: receiving a sub-channel switching control frame sent by the second station, the sub-channel switching control frame being used to instruct the first station to switch to a dynamic sub-channel and maintain the low-capacity mode; wherein the duration of the padding carried in the sub-channel switching control frame is not less than the second padding delay.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first station is in a low-capacity mode, and the second station schedules the first station to perform data transmission. The method further includes: receiving a sub-channel switching control frame sent by the second station, wherein the sub-channel switching control frame is used to instruct the first station to continue to remain on the main channel and switch from the low-capacity mode to the high-capacity mode; wherein the duration of the padding carried in the sub-channel switching control frame is not less than the first padding delay.

[0365] In the above embodiments, the relevant content from "1.1 First Frame" to "1.8 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0366] In some embodiments, the first site is a STA, and the second site is an AP associated with the STA, and / or an AP not associated with the STA; or, the first site is an AP, and the second site is a non-AP STA associated with the AP, and / or a non-AP STA not associated with the AP; or, the first site is a non-AP STA, and the second site is a non-AP STA that has established a point-to-point link with the first site; or, the first site is an AP, and the second site is an AP that has established a multi-access point cooperation protocol with the AP.

[0367] In some embodiments, the first site is an access point device and the second site is a non-access point site device; or, the first site is an access point attached to an access point multi-link device and the second site is a non-access point site attached to a non-access point multi-link device; or, the first site is a non-access point site device and the second site is an access point device; or, the first site is a non-access point site attached to a non-access point multi-link device and the second site is an access point attached to an access point multi-link device.

[0368] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment, by sending a first frame from the first station to the second station, instructs the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel. This allows both the first and second stations to clearly understand the switching behavior of the first station, ensuring normal communication after switching to a non-primary channel. Furthermore, it allows the first station to choose the advantages corresponding to the first or second mode, such as prioritizing power saving or prioritizing reducing transmission latency, thus improving transmission flexibility and making it applicable to more scenarios.

[0369] The method provided in this embodiment also expands the applicability of the pattern indication method by listing different types of first frames and flexibly selecting the appropriate first frame based on different scenario requirements.

[0370] Figure 15 shows a flowchart of a mode switching method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, the method being executed by a first site, the method including:

[0371] Step 1510: In the case of switching to a non-primary channel, switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0372] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0373] The method pre-determines that when the first station switches to a non-primary channel, it will switch from a lower capability mode (first mode) to a higher capability mode (second mode) by default. This method is simple to implement, does not require sending other control frames such as the initial control frame, and reduces signaling overhead and transmission latency.

[0374] In some embodiments, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0375] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0376] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0377] The first mode can also be called the lower capability mode. For example, the data transmission capability of the first mode is low, including data transmission rate and data transmission bandwidth. For example, the operating bandwidth of the first mode is small, such as 20MHz; or, the first mode only supports one spatial stream (SS); or, the first mode only supports sending and receiving non-high throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0378] The second mode can also be called a higher capability mode. For example, the second mode has a higher data transmission capability. Another example is that the second mode has a larger operating bandwidth, such as 80MHz; or, the second mode supports multiple spatial streams; or, the second mode supports sending and receiving non-high-throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs, and supports sending and receiving at least one of the following: HT PPDUs, very high-throughput PPDUs (VHT PPDUs), high-efficiency PPDUs (HE PPDUs), extremely high-throughput PPDUs (EHT PPDUs), and extremely high-reliability PPDUs (UHR PPDUs).

[0379] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment switches from a first mode to a second mode in the event of switching to a non-primary channel. The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode. The solution is simple to implement, does not require sending other control frames such as initial control frames, and reduces signaling overhead and transmission latency.

[0380] Figure 16 illustrates a flowchart of a method for restricting non-master channel access provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, the method being executed by a first station, and the method comprising:

[0381] Step 1610: In the first mode, non-master channel access is not allowed; and / or, in the second mode, non-master channel access is allowed.

[0382] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0383] It is pre-defined that the first station cannot simultaneously enable the non-main channel access function and the dynamic power saving function. In other words, non-main channel access can only be performed in the higher capability mode (second mode) and cannot be performed in the lower capability mode (first mode), which reduces the complexity of the method implementation.

[0384] In some embodiments, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0385] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0386] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0387] The first mode can also be called the lower capability mode. For example, the data transmission capability of the first mode is low, including data transmission rate and data transmission bandwidth. For example, the operating bandwidth of the first mode is small, such as 20MHz; or, the first mode only supports one spatial stream (SS); or, the first mode only supports sending and receiving non-high throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0388] The second mode can also be called a higher capability mode. For example, the second mode has a higher data transmission capability. Another example is that the second mode has a larger operating bandwidth, such as 80MHz; or, the second mode supports multiple spatial streams; or, the second mode supports sending and receiving non-high-throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs, and supports sending and receiving at least one of the following: HT PPDUs, very high-throughput PPDUs (VHT PPDUs), high-efficiency PPDUs (HE PPDUs), extremely high-throughput PPDUs (EHT PPDUs), and extremely high-reliability PPDUs (UHR PPDUs).

[0389] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment reduces the complexity of method implementation by pre-defining that non-main channel access is not allowed in the first mode and / or is allowed in the second mode; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0390] Figure 17 shows a flowchart of a mode indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station, a second station obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes:

[0391] Step 1710: Send the second frame to the second station.

[0392] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0393] In some embodiments, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0394] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0395] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0396] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0397] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate frame interaction diagrams provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0398] Optionally, the second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in subsequent transmission opportunities.

[0399] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variants, such as Multi-STA BA, Compressed BA, Extended Compressed BA, Retransmittable Multicast BA (GCR BA), and Retransmittable Regular Link Multicast (GLK-GCR BA).

[0400] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0401] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0402] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0403] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0404] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0405] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0406] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment, in which the first station sends a second frame to the second station to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode or disable the dynamic power saving function after the transmission opportunity ends, allows the first station to indicate its own processing status after the transmission opportunity ends, which better meets the actual transmission needs of the first station and eliminates the need for the second station to send an initial control frame.

[0407] Figure 18 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is executed by a first station, a second station caches data to be transmitted to the first station, and the first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes:

[0408] Step 1810: Receive the second frame sent by the second station.

[0409] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0410] In some embodiments, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0411] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0412] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0413] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0414] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0415] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variants, such as Multi-STA BA, Compressed BA, Extended Compressed BA, Retransmittable Multicast BA (GCR BA), and Retransmittable Regular Link Multicast (GLK-GCR BA).

[0416] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0417] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0418] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0419] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0420] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0421] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0422] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment involves a second station buffering data to be transmitted to the first station, and the first station receiving a second frame sent by the second station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power-saving function. Since the second station has data to be transmitted, this method can keep the first station in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, without switching to the first mode, thus avoiding the problem of reduced data transmission efficiency caused by exiting the second mode.

[0423] Figure 19 shows a flowchart of a mode switching triggering method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, the method being executed by a first site, the method including:

[0424] Step 1910: Receive the initial control frame sent by the second station.

[0425] The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0426] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for the first site.

[0427] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for sites other than the first and second sites.

[0428] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0429] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0430] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0431] At least one bit in the public information field and / or the proprietary user information field (proprietary information field) is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field.

[0432] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0433] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0434] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0435] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment receives an initial control frame sent by a second station. This initial control frame triggers the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field, with the extra padding field following the frame check field and used to carry padding. This provides switching time for the first station that supports dynamic power saving without affecting the processing of the initial control frame by the third station that does not support dynamic power saving, thus satisfying the needs of multiple stations.

[0436] Figure 20 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, the method being performed by a second site, the method comprising:

[0437] Step 2010: Receive the first frame sent by the first station.

[0438] The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0439] In some embodiments, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0440] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0441] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0442] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0443] 2.1 First Frame:

[0444] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; and a data frame.

[0445] Optionally, the first frame includes a first field, which is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0446] By way of example and not limitation, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame.

[0447] 2.1.1 Operating Mode Notification Frame:

[0448] For example, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame.

[0449] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 and will not be repeated here.

[0450] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a first field (dynamic power saving control field), which is used to indicate whether the first site switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0451] In some embodiments, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a second field (primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), a third field (primary channel higher capability mode parameter field), a fourth field (non-primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), and a fifth field (non-primary channel higher capability mode parameter field).

[0452] The second field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on the main channel; the third field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel; the fourth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on a non-main channel; and the fifth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on a non-main channel.

[0453] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a sixth field (Enable Non-Main Channel Access Function Field), which is used to indicate whether the first site enables or turns on the non-main channel access function, or whether the first site disables or turns off the non-main channel access function.

[0454] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a seventh field (enable dynamic power saving function field), which is used to indicate whether the first site enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first site disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

[0455] In some embodiments, at least one of the second, third, fourth, and fifth fields includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield (supported channel bandwidth field), which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; a second subfield (maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received field), which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received in the current mode; a third subfield (maximum modulation and coding order field), which indicates the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; and a fourth subfield (highest version of supported physical layer protocol data unit field), which indicates the highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

[0456] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.1.1 Operation Mode Notification Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0457] 2.1.2 Protected High-Reliability Action Frames:

[0458] For example, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame. For instance, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame.

[0459] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. For detailed implementation information, please refer to the "1.1.2 Protected Ultra-Reliable Operation Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0460] 2.2 Balancing power saving and latency:

[0461] 2.2.1 Prioritize reducing latency:

[0462] In some embodiments, the power of the first station is higher than a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0463] In some embodiments, the method further includes: scheduling a first site to perform data transmission.

[0464] The first station does not engage in channel contention. Instead, it waits for the second station to acquire a transmission opportunity, after which the second station schedules the first station to perform data transmission.

[0465] Optionally, the second station obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes: not sending an initial control frame during the transmission opportunity period, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0466] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0467] Optionally, the method further includes: sending an initial control frame to a first station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode, and the padding carried in the initial control frame being used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first station and the second station.

[0468] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.1 Prioritize Reducing Latency" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0469] 2.2.2 Prioritize energy saving:

[0470] In some embodiments, when the power of the first station is below a first power threshold, the first frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0471] In some embodiments, the method further includes: scheduling a first station to perform data transmission.

[0472] The first station does not engage in channel contention. Instead, it waits for the second station to acquire a transmission opportunity, after which the second station schedules the first station to perform data transmission.

[0473] Optionally, the method further includes: sending an initial control frame to a first station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode, and the padding carried in the initial control frame being used to provide the first station with a switching time.

[0474] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0475] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.2 Prioritize Power Saving" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0476] 2.3 Initial Control Frame:

[0477] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0478] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0479] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0480] In some embodiments, the initial control frame also includes a frame check field, with additional padding fields following the frame check field.

[0481] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried within a user information field.

[0482] Optionally, m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

[0483] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0484] Optionally, n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

[0485] In some embodiments, the initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode by at least one of the following: a timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the amount of time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time; and the time offset level between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

[0486] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0487] 2.4 Second Frame:

[0488] In some embodiments, the second site obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes:

[0489] Receive a second frame sent by the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0490] Figure 10 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 10, and will not be repeated here.

[0491] In some embodiments, the first station obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes: receiving a second frame sent by the first station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station remains in a second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0492] Figure 11 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 and will not be repeated here.

[0493] Optionally, the second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in subsequent transmission opportunities.

[0494] In some embodiments, the second site caches data to be transmitted to the first site, and the first site obtains a transmission opportunity. The method further includes:

[0495] Send a second frame to the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0496] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0497] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame.

[0498] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0499] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0500] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0501] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0502] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0503] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0504] 2.5 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or a non-main channel:

[0505] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode.

[0506] In some embodiments, the operating parameters of the first station in the second mode when operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station in the second mode when operating on a non-main channel.

[0507] In some embodiments, the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first station are the same as the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station; or, the value of at least one first working parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first station is different from the value of the first working parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station.

[0508] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.6 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or non-main channel" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0509] 2.6 First switching delay and first padding delay:

[0510] In some embodiments, the time required for the first site to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first site to complete the switching is the first filling delay.

[0511] In some embodiments, the first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first padding delay.

[0512] In some embodiments, the first filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the first handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

[0513] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a first handover delay and / or a first padding delay sent by a first station.

[0514] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.7 First Switching Delay and First Filling Delay" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0515] 2.7 Dynamic Power Saving (DPS) and Dynamic Sub-Channel Operation (DSO):

[0516] In some embodiments, the time required for the first station to switch from the main channel to the dynamic sub-channel is the second handover delay; the time required for the first station to complete the handover is the second padding delay.

[0517] In some embodiments, the second padding delay may be the same as or different from the second switching delay.

[0518] In some embodiments, the second filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the second handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

[0519] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a second handover delay and / or a second padding delay sent by a first station.

[0520] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.8 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0521] In the above embodiments, the relevant content from "2.1 First Frame" to "2.7 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0522] In some embodiments, the first site is a STA, and the second site is an AP associated with the STA, and / or an AP not associated with the STA; or, the first site is an AP, and the second site is a non-AP STA associated with the AP, and / or a non-AP STA not associated with the AP; or, the first site is a non-AP STA, and the second site is a non-AP STA that has established a point-to-point link with the first site; or, the first site is an AP, and the second site is an AP that has established a multi-access point cooperation protocol with the AP.

[0523] In some embodiments, the first site is an access point device and the second site is a non-access point site device; or, the first site is an access point attached to an access point multi-link device and the second site is a non-access point site attached to a non-access point multi-link device; or, the first site is a non-access point site device and the second site is an access point device; or, the first site is a non-access point site attached to a non-access point multi-link device and the second site is an access point attached to an access point multi-link device.

[0524] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment, by receiving a first frame sent by a first station, which instructs the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode or remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel, can simultaneously allow both the first station and the second station to clearly understand the switching behavior of the first station, ensuring normal communication after switching to a non-primary channel. Furthermore, it allows the first station to select the advantages corresponding to the first mode or the second mode, such as prioritizing power saving or prioritizing reducing transmission latency, thereby improving the flexibility of transmission and making it applicable to more scenarios.

[0525] The method provided in this embodiment also expands the applicability of the pattern indication method by listing different types of first frames and flexibly selecting the appropriate first frame based on different scenario requirements.

[0526] Figure 21 shows a flowchart of a mode indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a second station, where the second station obtains a transmission opportunity, or a first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes:

[0527] Step 2110: Receive the second frame sent by the first station.

[0528] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0529] In some embodiments, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0530] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0531] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0532] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0533] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate frame interaction diagrams provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0534] Optionally, the second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in subsequent transmission opportunities.

[0535] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variants, such as Multi-STA BA, Compressed BA, Extended Compressed BA, Retransmittable Multicast BA (GCR BA), and Retransmittable Regular Link Multicast (GLK-GCR BA).

[0536] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0537] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0538] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0539] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0540] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0541] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0542] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment allows the second station to receive a second frame sent by the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode or disable the dynamic power saving function after the transmission opportunity ends. This allows the first station to indicate its own processing status after the transmission opportunity ends, which better meets the actual transmission needs of the first station and eliminates the need for the second station to send an initial control frame.

[0543] Figure 22 shows a flowchart of a pattern indication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is executed by a second station, which caches data to be transmitted to a first station. The first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes:

[0544] Step 2210: Send the second frame to the first station.

[0545] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0546] In some embodiments, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0547] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0548] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0549] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0550] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0551] In some embodiments, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variants, such as Multi-STA BA, Compressed BA, Extended Compressed BA, Retransmittable Multicast BA (GCR BA), and Retransmittable Regular Link Multicast (GLK-GCR BA).

[0552] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0553] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0554] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0555] In some embodiments, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0556] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first site remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

[0557] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0558] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment involves the second station buffering data to be transmitted to the first station, and the second station sending a second frame to the first station. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function. Since the second station has data to be transmitted, this method can keep the first station in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, without switching to the first mode, thus avoiding the problem of reduced data transmission efficiency caused by exiting the second mode.

[0559] Figure 23 shows a flowchart of a mode switching triggering method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, which is executed by a second site and includes:

[0560] Step 2310: Send the initial control frame to the first station.

[0561] The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is placed after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0562] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for the first site.

[0563] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for sites other than the first and second sites.

[0564] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0565] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0566] In some embodiments, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0567] At least one bit in the public information field and / or the proprietary user information field (proprietary information field) is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field.

[0568] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0569] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0570] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0571] In summary, the method provided in this embodiment sends an initial control frame to the first station. This initial control frame triggers the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an additional padding field, with the additional padding field following the frame check field and used to carry padding. This provides switching time for the first station that supports dynamic power saving without affecting the processing of the initial control frame by the third station that does not support dynamic power saving, thus satisfying the needs of multiple stations.

[0572] In the above embodiments, the embodiments corresponding to FIG15 and FIG16 can be implemented individually, and the embodiments corresponding to FIG4, FIG17, FIG18, FIG19, FIG20, FIG21, FIG22 and FIG23 can be implemented individually or in combination. For example, the embodiments corresponding to FIG4 and FIG20 can be implemented in combination, the embodiments corresponding to FIG17 and FIG21 can be implemented in combination, the embodiments corresponding to FIG18 and FIG22 can be implemented in combination, and the embodiments corresponding to FIG19 and FIG23 can be implemented in combination. This application does not limit this.

[0573] Figure 24 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0574] The sending module 2410 is used to send the first frame to the second device.

[0575] The first frame is used to instruct the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0576] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0577] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0578] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0579] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0580] 3.1 First Frame:

[0581] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; or a data frame.

[0582] Optionally, the first frame includes a first field, which indicates whether the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0583] By way of example and not limitation, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame.

[0584] 3.1.1 Operating Mode Notification Frame:

[0585] For example, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame.

[0586] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 and will not be repeated here.

[0587] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a first field (dynamic power saving control field), which is used to indicate whether the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0588] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a second field (primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), a third field (primary channel higher capability mode parameter field), a fourth field (non-primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), and a fifth field (non-primary channel higher capability mode parameter field).

[0589] The second field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on the main channel; the third field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel; the fourth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the first mode while operating on a non-main channel; and the fifth field indicates the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on a non-main channel.

[0590] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a sixth field (enable non-main channel access function field), which is used to indicate whether the first device enables or turns on the non-main channel access function, or whether the first device disables or turns off the non-main channel access function.

[0591] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a seventh field (enable dynamic power saving function field), which is used to indicate whether the first device enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first device disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

[0592] In one possible design of this embodiment, at least one of the second, third, fourth, and fifth fields includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield (supported channel bandwidth field), which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; a second subfield (maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received field), which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received in the current mode; a third subfield (maximum modulation and coding order field), which indicates the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; and a fourth subfield (highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported field), which indicates the highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

[0593] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.1.1 Operation Mode Notification Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0594] 3.1.2 Protected High-Reliability Action Frames:

[0595] For example, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame. For instance, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame.

[0596] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. For detailed implementation information, please refer to the "1.1.2 Protected Ultra-Reliable Operation Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0597] 3.2 Balancing power saving and latency:

[0598] 3.2.1 Prioritize reducing latency:

[0599] In one possible design of this embodiment, the battery level of the first device is higher than a first battery threshold, and the first frame is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0600] In one possible design of this embodiment, the processing module 2420 is configured to perform channel contention on a non-master channel; or, not perform channel contention, and perform data transmission according to the scheduling of the second device.

[0601] Optionally, when the second device obtains a transmission opportunity, the processing module 2420 is used to detect if an initial control frame is not received during the transmission opportunity. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0602] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0603] Optionally, the receiving module 2430 is used to receive an initial control frame sent by the second device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first device and the second device.

[0604] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0605] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.1 Prioritize Reducing Latency" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0606] 3.2.2 Prioritize energy saving:

[0607] In one possible design of this embodiment, the battery level of the first device is lower than a first battery threshold, and the first frame is used to indicate that the first device remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0608] In one possible design of this embodiment, the processing module 2420 is configured to perform channel contention on a non-master channel; or, not perform channel contention, and perform data transmission according to the scheduling of the second device.

[0609] Optionally, the receiving module 2430 is used to receive an initial control frame sent by the second device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide switching time for the first device.

[0610] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0611] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.2 Prioritize Power Saving" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0612] 3.3 Initial Control Frame:

[0613] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0614] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0615] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0616] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame also includes a frame check field, with additional padding fields following the frame check field.

[0617] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0618] Optionally, m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

[0619] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in the two user information fields.

[0620] Optionally, n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

[0621] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode through at least one of the following information: the timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the offset time between the end time of the second mode and the current time; and the offset time level between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

[0622] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0623] 3.4 Second Frame:

[0624] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second device obtains a transmission opportunity, the processing module 2420 is used to switch from the first mode to the second mode during the transmission opportunity; the sending module 2410 is used to send a second frame to the second device, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0625] Figure 10 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 10, and will not be repeated here.

[0626] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first device obtains a transmission opportunity, the processing module 2420 is used to switch from a first mode to a second mode during the transmission opportunity; the sending module 2410 is used to send a second frame to the second device, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0627] Figure 11 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 and will not be repeated here.

[0628] Optionally, the second frame includes a buffer status report, which is used to trigger the second device to schedule the first device in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

[0629] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second device buffers data to be transmitted to the first device. The first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The processing module 2420 is used to switch from the first mode to the second mode during the transmission opportunity. The receiving module 2430 is used to receive a second frame sent by the second device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0630] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0631] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variations, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a retransmittable multicast BA (GCR BA), and a retransmittable regular link multicast BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0632] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0633] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0634] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0635] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0636] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0637] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0638] 3.5 Switching from the primary channel to a non-primary channel:

[0639] In one possible design of this embodiment, the primary channel of the current Basic Service Set (BSS) is used by an Overlapping BSS (OBSS), and the processing module 2420 is used to switch from the primary channel to a non-primary channel.

[0640] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first device is in a first mode, the first device caches data to be transmitted to the second device and the amount of data is not less than a first threshold; and / or, the first device caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the second device.

[0641] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first device is in a first mode, and the second device caches data to be transmitted to the first device and the amount of data is not less than a second threshold; and / or, the second device caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the first device.

[0642] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.5 Switching from the main channel to the non-main channel" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0643] 3.6 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or a non-main channel:

[0644] In one possible design of this embodiment, the operating parameters of the first device when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first device when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode.

[0645] In one possible design of this embodiment, the operating parameters of the first device in the second mode when operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first device in the second mode when operating on a non-main channel.

[0646] In one possible design of this embodiment, the values ​​of all operating parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first device are the same as the values ​​of all operating parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first device; or, the value of at least one first operating parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first device is different from the value of the first operating parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first device.

[0647] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.6 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or non-main channel" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0648] 3.7 First switching delay and first padding delay:

[0649] In one possible design of this embodiment, the time required for the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first device to complete the switching and fill the corresponding data is the first filling delay.

[0650] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first padding delay.

[0651] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first filling delays corresponding to different first devices may be the same or different; and / or, the first switching delays corresponding to different first devices may be the same or different.

[0652] In one possible design of this embodiment, the sending module 2410 is used to send a first switching delay and / or a first padding delay to the second device.

[0653] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.7 First Switching Delay and First Filling Delay" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0654] 3.8 Dynamic Power Saving (DPS) and Dynamic Sub-Channel Operation (DSO):

[0655] In one possible design of this embodiment, the time required for the first device to switch from the main channel to the dynamic sub-channel is the second switching delay; the time required for the first device to complete the switching is the second filling delay.

[0656] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second padding delay may be the same as or different from the second switching delay.

[0657] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second filling delays corresponding to different first devices are the same or different; and / or, the second switching delays corresponding to different first devices are the same or different.

[0658] In one possible design of this embodiment, the sending module 2410 is used to send a second switching delay and / or a second padding delay to the second device.

[0659] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.8 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0660] In the above embodiments, the relevant content from "3.1 First Frame" to "3.8 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0661] This embodiment uses one transmitting module 2410, one processing module 2420 and one receiving module 2430 as an example for illustration. The number of transmitting module 2410, processing module 2420 and receiving module 2430 is not limited.

[0662] For a description of the function of the sending module 2410, please refer to step 410 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. For a description of the function of the processing module 2420, please refer to step 410 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. For a description of the function of the receiving module 2430, please refer to step 410 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0663] Figure 25 shows a block diagram of a second device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a second site, or as part of a second site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0664] The transceiver module 2510 is used to receive the first frame sent by the first device.

[0665] The first frame is used to instruct the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0666] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0667] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0668] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0669] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0670] 4.1 First Frame:

[0671] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; or a data frame.

[0672] Optionally, the first frame includes a first field, which indicates whether the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0673] By way of example and not limitation, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame.

[0674] 4.1.1 Operating Mode Notification Frame:

[0675] For example, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame.

[0676] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 and will not be repeated here.

[0677] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a first field (dynamic power saving control field), which is used to indicate whether the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0678] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes at least one of the following: a second field (primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), a third field (primary channel higher capability mode parameter field), a fourth field (non-primary channel lower capability mode parameter field), and a fifth field (non-primary channel higher capability mode parameter field).

[0679] The second field indicates the operating parameters of the first device when it is in the first mode while operating on the main channel; the third field indicates the operating parameters of the first device when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel; the fourth field indicates the operating parameters of the first device when it is in the first mode while operating on a non-main channel; and the fifth field indicates the operating parameters of the first device when it is in the second mode while operating on a non-main channel.

[0680] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a sixth field (enable non-main channel access function field), which is used to indicate whether the first device enables or turns on the non-main channel access function, or whether the first device disables or turns off the non-main channel access function.

[0681] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first frame includes a seventh field (enable dynamic power saving function field), which is used to indicate whether the first device enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first device disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

[0682] In one possible design of this embodiment, at least one of the second, third, fourth, and fifth fields includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield (supported channel bandwidth field), which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; a second subfield (maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received field), which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received in the current mode; a third subfield (maximum modulation and coding order field), which indicates the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; and a fourth subfield (highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported field), which indicates the highest version of physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

[0683] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.1.1 Operation Mode Notification Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0684] 4.1.2 Protected High-Reliability Action Frames:

[0685] For example, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame. For instance, the first frame is a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame.

[0686] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a protected ultra-reliable operation mode notification frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. For detailed implementation information, please refer to the "1.1.2 Protected Ultra-Reliable Operation Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0687] 4.2 Balancing power saving and latency:

[0688] 4.2.1 Prioritize reducing latency:

[0689] In one possible design of this embodiment, the battery level of the first device is higher than a first battery threshold, and the first frame is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0690] In one possible design of this embodiment, the processing module 2520 is used to schedule the first device to perform data transmission.

[0691] The first device does not engage in channel contention. Instead, it waits for the second device to acquire a transmission opportunity before scheduling the first device to perform data transmission.

[0692] Optionally, when the second device obtains a transmission opportunity, the sending module 2530 is used to send an initial control frame during the transmission opportunity period. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

[0693] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0694] Optionally, the sending module 2530 is used to send an initial control frame to the first device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first device and the second device.

[0695] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0696] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.1 Prioritize Reducing Latency" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0697] 4.2.2 Prioritize energy saving:

[0698] In one possible design of this embodiment, the battery level of the first device is lower than a first battery threshold, and the first frame is used to indicate that the first device remains in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

[0699] In one possible design of this embodiment, the processing module 2520 is used to schedule the first device to perform data transmission.

[0700] The first device does not engage in channel contention. Instead, it waits for the second device to acquire a transmission opportunity before scheduling the first device to perform data transmission.

[0701] Optionally, the sending module 2530 is used to send an initial control frame to the first device. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide the first device with switching time.

[0702] Figure 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of mode switching provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and will not be repeated here.

[0703] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.2.2 Prioritize Power Saving" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0704] 4.3 Initial Control Frame:

[0705] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0706] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0707] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which indicates whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0708] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame also includes a frame check field, with additional padding fields following the frame check field.

[0709] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0710] Optionally, m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

[0711] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in the two user information fields.

[0712] Optionally, n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries an intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

[0713] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode through at least one of the following information: the timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the offset time between the end time of the second mode and the current time; and the offset time level between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

[0714] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0715] 4.4 Second Frame:

[0716] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second device obtains a transmission opportunity, and the receiving module 2510 is used to receive a second frame sent by the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0717] Figure 10 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 10, and will not be repeated here.

[0718] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first device obtains a transmission opportunity, and the receiving module 2510 is used to receive a second frame sent by the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0719] Figure 11 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 and will not be repeated here.

[0720] Optionally, the second frame includes a buffer status report, which is used to trigger the second device to schedule the first device in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

[0721] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second device buffers data to be transmitted to the first device. The first device obtains a transmission opportunity, and the sending module 2530 is used to send a second frame to the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

[0722] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0723] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block confirmation frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame.

[0724] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0725] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0726] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0727] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0728] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0729] 4.5 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or a non-main channel:

[0730] In one possible design of this embodiment, the operating parameters of the first device when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first device when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode.

[0731] In one possible design of this embodiment, the operating parameters of the first device in the second mode when operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first device in the second mode when operating on a non-main channel.

[0732] In one possible design of this embodiment, the values ​​of all operating parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first device are the same as the values ​​of all operating parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first device; or, the value of at least one first operating parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first device is different from the value of the first operating parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first device.

[0733] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.6 Operating parameters when operating on the main channel or non-main channel" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0734] 4.6 First switching delay and first padding delay:

[0735] In one possible design of this embodiment, the time required for the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first device to complete the switching and fill the corresponding data is the first filling delay.

[0736] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first padding delay.

[0737] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first filling delays corresponding to different first devices may be the same or different; and / or, the first switching delays corresponding to different first devices may be the same or different.

[0738] In one possible design of this embodiment, the receiving module 2510 is used to receive the first switching delay and / or the first padding delay sent by the first device.

[0739] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.7 First Switching Delay and First Filling Delay" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0740] 4.7 Dynamic Power Saving (DPS) and Dynamic Sub-Channel Operation (DSO):

[0741] In one possible design of this embodiment, the time required for the first device to switch from the main channel to the dynamic sub-channel is the second switching delay; the time required for the first device to complete the switching is the second filling delay.

[0742] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second padding delay may be the same as or different from the second switching delay.

[0743] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second filling delays corresponding to different first devices are the same or different; and / or, the second switching delays corresponding to different first devices are the same or different.

[0744] In one possible design of this embodiment, the receiving module 2510 is used to receive the second switching delay and / or the second padding delay sent by the first device.

[0745] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.8 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0746] In the above embodiments, the relevant content from “4.1 First Frame” to “4.7 Dynamic Power Saving and Dynamic Sub-channel Operation” can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0747] This embodiment uses a receiving module 2510, a processing module 2520 and a sending module 2530 as an example for illustration. The number of receiving modules 2510, processing modules 2520 and sending modules 2530 is not limited.

[0748] For a description of the function of the receiving module 2510, please refer to step 2010 in the embodiment shown in Figure 20. For a description of the function of the processing module 2520, please refer to step 2010 in the embodiment shown in Figure 20. For a description of the function of the sending module 2530, please refer to step 2010 in the embodiment shown in Figure 20.

[0749] Figure 26 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, by software or hardware or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0750] The processing module 2610 is used to switch from a first mode to a second mode when switching to a non-primary channel; wherein the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than the data transmission rate of the second mode.

[0751] The method predetermines that when the first device switches to a non-primary channel, it will switch from a lower capability mode (first mode) to a higher capability mode (second mode) by default. This method is simple to implement, does not require sending other control frames such as initial control frames, and reduces signaling overhead and transmission latency.

[0752] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0753] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0754] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0755] The first mode can also be called the lower capability mode. For example, the data transmission capability of the first mode is low, including data transmission rate and data transmission bandwidth. For example, the operating bandwidth of the first mode is small, such as 20MHz; or, the first mode only supports one spatial stream (SS); or, the first mode only supports sending and receiving non-high throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0756] The second mode can also be called a higher capability mode. For example, the second mode has a higher data transmission capability. Another example is that the second mode has a larger operating bandwidth, such as 80MHz; or, the second mode supports multiple spatial streams; or, the second mode supports sending and receiving non-high-throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs, and supports sending and receiving at least one of the following: HT PPDUs, very high-throughput PPDUs (VHT PPDUs), high-efficiency PPDUs (HE PPDUs), extremely high-throughput PPDUs (EHT PPDUs), and extremely high-reliability PPDUs (UHR PPDUs).

[0757] This embodiment uses one processing module 2610 as an example, and the number of processing modules 2610 is not limited.

[0758] For a description of the functions of the processing module 2610, please refer to step 1510 in the embodiment shown in Figure 15.

[0759] Figure 27 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0760] The processing module 2710 is configured to disallow non-master channel access in the first mode and / or allow non-master channel access in the second mode.

[0761] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0762] The first device is pre-defined not to enable the non-main channel access function and the dynamic power saving function at the same time. That is to say, non-main channel access can only be performed in the higher capability mode (second mode) and cannot be performed in the lower capability mode (first mode), which reduces the complexity of the method implementation.

[0763] In one possible design of this embodiment, the first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

[0764] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0765] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0766] The first mode can also be called the lower capability mode. For example, the data transmission capability of the first mode is low, including data transmission rate and data transmission bandwidth. For example, the operating bandwidth of the first mode is small, such as 20MHz; or, the first mode only supports one spatial stream (SS); or, the first mode only supports sending and receiving non-high throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0767] The second mode can also be called a higher capability mode. For example, the second mode has a higher data transmission capability. Another example is that the second mode has a larger operating bandwidth, such as 80MHz; or, the second mode supports multiple spatial streams; or, the second mode supports sending and receiving non-high-throughput PPDUs (non-HT PPDUs) or non-HT duplicate PPDUs, and supports sending and receiving at least one of the following: HT PPDUs, very high-throughput PPDUs (VHT PPDUs), high-efficiency PPDUs (HE PPDUs), extremely high-throughput PPDUs (EHT PPDUs), and extremely high-reliability PPDUs (UHR PPDUs).

[0768] This embodiment uses one processing module 2710 as an example, and the number of processing modules 2710 is not limited.

[0769] For a description of the functions of the processing module 2710, please refer to step 1610 in the embodiment shown in Figure 16.

[0770] Figure 28 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. A second device obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The device includes:

[0771] The transmitting module 2810 is used to transmit the second frame to the second device.

[0772] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0773] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0774] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0775] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0776] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0777] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate frame interaction diagrams provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0778] Optionally, the second frame includes a buffer status report, which is used to trigger the second device to schedule the first device in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

[0779] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variations, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a retransmittable multicast BA (GCR BA), and a retransmittable regular link multicast BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0780] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0781] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0782] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0783] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0784] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0785] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0786] This embodiment uses one transmitting module 2810 as an example, and the number of transmitting modules 2810 is not limited.

[0787] For a description of the functions of the sending module 2810, please refer to step 1710 in the embodiment shown in Figure 17.

[0788] Figure 29 shows a block diagram of a second device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a second site, or as part of a second site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The second device obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The device includes:

[0789] The receiving module 2910 is used to receive the second frame sent by the first device.

[0790] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0791] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0792] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0793] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0794] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0795] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate frame interaction diagrams provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11, and will not be repeated here.

[0796] Optionally, the second frame includes a buffer status report, which is used to trigger the second device to schedule the first device in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

[0797] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variations, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a retransmittable multicast BA (GCR BA), and a retransmittable regular link multicast BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0798] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0799] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0800] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0801] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0802] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0803] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0804] This embodiment uses one receiving module 2910 as an example, and the number of receiving modules 2910 is not limited.

[0805] For a description of the function of the receiving module 2910, please refer to step 2110 in the embodiment shown in Figure 21.

[0806] Figure 30 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, through software or hardware, or a combination of both. A second device buffers data to be transmitted to the first device, and the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The device includes:

[0807] The receiving module 3010 is used to receive the second frame sent by the second device.

[0808] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0809] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0810] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0811] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0812] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0813] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0814] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variations, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a retransmittable multicast BA (GCR BA), and a retransmittable regular link multicast BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0815] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0816] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0817] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0818] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0819] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0820] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0821] This embodiment uses one receiving module 3010 as an example, and the number of receiving modules 3010 is not limited.

[0822] For a description of the functions of the receiving module 3010, please refer to step 1810 in the embodiment shown in Figure 18.

[0823] Figure 31 shows a block diagram of a second device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a second station, or as part of a second station, through software or hardware, or a combination of both. The second device caches data to be transmitted to a first station, and the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The device includes:

[0824] The sending module 3110 is used to send the second frame to the first device.

[0825] The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0826] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second mode is one mode of the dynamic power saving function, which also includes the first mode.

[0827] Optionally, the first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0828] The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the first mode is lower than that supported by the second mode; and the power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

[0829] For specific implementation details, please refer to the first and second modes in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0830] Figure 12 illustrates a frame interaction diagram provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, and will not be repeated here.

[0831] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame includes at least one of the following: a management frame; a quality of service empty frame; a block acknowledgment frame; a data frame; and an initial control response frame. The block acknowledgment frame includes different variations, such as a multi-site BA (Multi-STA BA), a compressed BA (Compressed BA), an extended compressed BA (Extended Compressed BA), a retransmittable multicast BA (GCR BA), and a retransmittable regular link multicast BA (GLK-GCR BA).

[0832] By way of example and not limitation, the second frame is a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

[0833] Figure 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Specific implementation details are given in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and will not be repeated here.

[0834] Figure 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of a multi-site block acknowledgment frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and will not be repeated here.

[0835] In one possible design of this embodiment, the second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0836] Optionally, one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled; one or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first device remains in the second mode.

[0837] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.4 Second Frame" section in the embodiment of Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0838] This embodiment uses one sending module 3110 as an example, and the number of sending modules 3110 is not limited.

[0839] For a description of the functions of the sending module 3110, please refer to step 2210 in the embodiment shown in Figure 22.

[0840] Figure 32 shows a block diagram of a first device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The device can be implemented as a first site, or as part of a first site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0841] The receiving module 3210 is used to receive the initial control frame sent by the second device.

[0842] The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0843] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for the first device.

[0844] Optionally, the padding is used to provide switching time for other sites besides the first and second devices.

[0845] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0846] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0847] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0848] At least one bit in the public information field and / or the proprietary user information field (proprietary information field) is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field.

[0849] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0850] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0851] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0852] This embodiment uses one receiving module 3210 as an example, and the number of receiving modules 3210 is not limited.

[0853] For a description of the function of the receiving module 3210, please refer to step 1910 in the embodiment shown in Figure 19.

[0854] Figure 33 shows a block diagram of a second device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. This device can be implemented as a second site, or as part of a second site, by software or hardware, or a combination of both. The device includes:

[0855] The sending module 3310 is used to send an initial control frame to the first device.

[0856] The initial control frame is used to trigger the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field. The extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

[0857] Optionally, padding is used to provide switching time for the first device.

[0858] Optionally, the padding is used to provide switching time for other sites besides the first and second devices.

[0859] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame format of an initial control frame provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed implementation information is given in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0860] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a common information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0861] In one possible design of this embodiment, the initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame verification field and an additional padding field; wherein, the intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first device switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the additional padding field is used to carry padding.

[0862] At least one bit in the public information field and / or the proprietary user information field (proprietary information field) is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field.

[0863] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in a user information field.

[0864] Optionally, the initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

[0865] For specific implementation details, please refer to the "1.3 Initial Control Frame" section in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0866] This embodiment uses one sending module 3310 as an example, and the number of sending modules 3310 is not limited.

[0867] For a description of the function of the sending module 3310, please refer to step 2310 in the embodiment shown in Figure 23.

[0868] Figure 34 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a first station provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The first station 3400 can be used to execute the method steps performed by the second station in the above embodiments. The first station 3400 may include a processor 3401, a transceiver 3402, and a memory 3403. The processor 3401 can be used to control transmission and / or reception, such as to execute the function of at least one of the processing modules 2420, 2610, and 2710 described above. The transceiver 3402 can be used to implement transmission and / or reception functions, such as to implement the function of at least one of the transmission module 2410, reception module 2430, transmission module 2810, reception module 3010, and reception module 3210 described above.

[0869] The processor 3401 includes one or more processing cores, and the processor 3401 executes various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules.

[0870] The transceiver 3402 may include a receiver and a transmitter, for example, the receiver and transmitter may be implemented as the same wireless communication component, which may include a wireless communication chip and a radio frequency antenna.

[0871] The memory 3403 can be connected to the processor 3401 and the transceiver 3402.

[0872] The memory 3403 can be used to store a computer program executed by the processor, and the processor 3401 is used to execute the computer program to implement the various steps in the above method embodiments.

[0873] Furthermore, the memory 3403 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, including but not limited to: magnetic disks or optical disks, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, static on-demand memory, read-only memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, and programmable read-only memory.

[0874] For details not described in this embodiment, please refer to the method-side embodiment above, which will not be repeated here.

[0875] Figure 35 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a second station provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The second station 3500 can be used to execute the method steps performed by the second station in the above embodiments. The second station 3500 may include a processor 3501, a transceiver 3502, and a memory 3503. The processor 3501 can be used to control transmission and / or reception, such as to execute the functions of the processing module 2520 described above. The transceiver 3502 can be used to implement transmission and / or reception functions, such as to implement the functions of at least one of the receiving module 2510, transmitting module 2530, receiving module 2910, transmitting module 3110, and transmitting module 3310 described above.

[0876] The processor 3501 includes one or more processing cores, and the processor 3501 executes various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules.

[0877] Transceiver 3502 may include a receiver and a transmitter. For example, transceiver 3502 may include a wired communication component, which may include a wired communication chip and a wired interface (such as a fiber optic interface). Optionally, transceiver 3502 may also include a wireless communication component, which may include a wireless communication chip and a radio frequency antenna.

[0878] The memory 3503 can be connected to the processor 3501 and the transceiver 3502.

[0879] The memory 3503 can be used to store a computer program executed by the processor, and the processor 3501 is used to execute the computer program to implement the various steps in the above method embodiments.

[0880] Furthermore, the memory 3503 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, including but not limited to: magnetic disks or optical disks, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, static on-demand memory, read-only memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, and programmable read-only memory.

[0881] For details not described in this embodiment, please refer to the method-side embodiment above, which will not be repeated here.

[0882] This application embodiment also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which is executed by a processor to implement the aforementioned mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-main channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method on the first site side, or to implement the aforementioned mode indication method and / or mode switching triggering method on the second site side. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may include: ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random-Access Memory), SSD (Solid State Drives), or optical disk, etc. The random access memory may include ReRAM (Resistance Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0883] This application embodiment also provides a chip, which includes programmable logic circuits and / or program instructions. When the chip is running, it is used to implement the above-mentioned mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-main channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method on the first site side, or the mode indication method and / or mode switching triggering method on the second site side.

[0884] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor reads and executes the computer program from the computer-readable storage medium to implement the above-mentioned mode indication method and / or mode switching method and / or non-main channel access restriction method and / or mode switching triggering method on the first site side, or the mode indication method and / or mode switching triggering method on the second site side.

[0885] It should be understood that the term "instruction" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of a relationship. For example, A instructing B can mean that A directly instructs B, such as B being able to obtain information through A; it can also mean that A indirectly instructs B, such as A instructing C, so B can obtain information through C; or it can mean that there is a relationship between A and B.

[0886] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "correspondence" may indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between two things, or that there is an association between two things, or that there is a relationship of instruction and being instructed, configuration and being configured, etc.

[0887] In some embodiments of this application, "predefined" can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other means that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device (e.g., including a first site and a second site). This application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, predefined can refer to what is defined in the protocol.

[0888] In some embodiments of this application, "protocol" may refer to standard protocols in the field of communications, such as LTE protocol, NR protocol and related protocols applied to future communication systems, and this application does not limit it.

[0889] In this article, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0890] In this article, "greater than or equal to" can mean greater than or equal to, and "less than or equal to" can mean less than or equal to.

[0891] Furthermore, the step numbers described herein are merely illustrative of one possible execution order between steps. In some other embodiments, the steps may not be executed in the order of their numbers, such as two steps with different numbers being executed simultaneously, or two steps with different numbers being executed in the reverse order of the illustration. This application does not limit this.

[0892] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the functions described in the embodiments of this application in one or more of the above examples can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, wherein communication media include any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0893] The above are merely exemplary embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application shall be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first site, and the method includes: Send a first frame to the second station, the first frame being used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first frame includes a first field, which is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of a second field, a third field, a fourth field, and a fifth field; wherein the second field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode; the third field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the second mode; the fourth field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode; and the fifth field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the second mode.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, At least one of the second field, the third field, the fourth field, and the fifth field includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield, which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; and a second subfield, which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams allowed to be transmitted and received in the current mode. The third subfield is used to indicate the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; The fourth subfield is used to indicate the highest version of the physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first frame includes a sixth field, which is used to indicate whether the first station enables or enables the non-main channel access function, or whether the first station disables or disables the non-main channel access function.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first frame includes a seventh field, which is used to indicate whether the first station enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first station disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

8. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame; and / or, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame.

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first station's power level is higher than a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Channel contention is performed on the non-master channel; or, channel contention is not performed, and data transmission is performed according to the scheduling of the second station.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second site obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes: If no initial control frame is received during the transmission opportunity, the initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first station receives an initial control frame sent by the second station. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first station and the second station.

13. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first station's power level is below a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the first mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Channel contention is performed on the non-master channel; or, channel contention is not performed, and data transmission is performed according to the scheduling of the second station.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first station receives an initial control frame sent by the second station. The initial control frame is used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode. The padding carried in the initial control frame is used to provide the first station with a switching time.

16. The method according to claim 11, 12, or 15, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a common information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field. The intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the extra padding field is used to carry the padding.

17. The method according to claim 11, 12, or 15, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field; The intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the extra padding field is used to carry the padding.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The initial control frame also includes a frame check field, and the additional padding field follows the frame check field.

19. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried within a user information field.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries the intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

21. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries the intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

23. The method according to any one of claims 11, 12, 15 to 22, characterized in that, The initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode by at least one of the following: a timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the amount of time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time; The time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that, The method further includes: during the transmission opportunity, the second station obtains a transmission opportunity and switches from the first mode to the second mode; A second frame is sent to the second station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that, The method further includes: during the transmission opportunity, the first station obtains a transmission opportunity and switches from the first mode to the second mode; A second frame is sent to the second station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that, The second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

28. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that, The second site caches data to be transmitted to the first site, and the first site obtains a transmission opportunity. The method further includes: During the transmission opportunity, switch from the first mode to the second mode; The first station receives a second frame sent by the second station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

29. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

30. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

33. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that, The method further includes: the first station switching from the primary channel to a non-primary channel when the primary channel is used by overlapping BSSs.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the first site is in the first mode, characterized in that, The first site caches data to be transmitted to the second site and the data volume is not less than a first threshold; and / or, the first site caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the second site.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the first site is in the first mode, characterized in that, The second site caches data to be transmitted to the first site and the data volume is not less than a second threshold; and / or, the second site caches latency-sensitive data to be transmitted to the first site.

36. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that, The operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the non-main channel in the first mode.

37. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that, The operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the non-main channel.

38. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that, The values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first station are the same as the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station; or, the value of at least one first working parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first station is different from the value of the first working parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station.

39. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 38, characterized in that, The time required for the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first station to complete the switching is the first filling delay.

40. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the first handover delay and / or the first padding delay to the second station.

41. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that, The first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first filling delay.

42. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that, The first filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the first handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

43. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 42, characterized in that, The first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than the data transmission rate of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is less than the operating bandwidth of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is less than the number of spatial streams supported by the second mode. The highest protocol version of the Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) supported by the first mode is lower than the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the second mode. The power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

44. A mode switching method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first site, and the method includes: When switching to a non-primary channel, switch from mode one to mode two; The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

45. A method for restricting access to non-master channels, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first site, and the method includes: In the first mode, non-master channel access is not allowed; and / or, In the second mode, the non-master channel access is permitted; The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

46. ​​A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a first station, whereby a second station obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first station obtains the transmission opportunity. The method includes: A second frame is sent to the second station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

47. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that, The second mode is one of the modes of the dynamic power saving function.

48. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that, The second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

49. The method according to any one of claims 46 to 48, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

50. The method according to any one of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

51. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

52. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

53. A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a first station, a second station caches data to be transmitted to the first station, and the first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes: The first station receives a second frame sent by the second station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that, The second mode is one of the modes of the dynamic power saving function.

55. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

56. The method according to any one of claims 53 to 55, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

57. The method according to claim 56, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

58. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

59. A method for triggering mode switching, characterized in that, The method is performed by a first site, and the method includes: The first station receives an initial control frame sent by a second station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from a first mode to a second mode; wherein, the initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field, the extra padding field being located after the frame check field, the extra padding field being used to carry padding.

60. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that, The filling is used to provide switching time for the first site.

61. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that, The padding is used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first and second stations.

62. A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a second site, and the method includes: The first frame sent by the first station is received. The first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode or to remain in the first mode when switching to a non-primary channel.

63. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that, The first mode and the second mode are two modes in the dynamic power saving function.

64. The method according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that, The first frame includes a first field, which is used to indicate whether the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode or remains in the first mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

65. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 64, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of a second field, a third field, a fourth field, and a fifth field; wherein the second field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode; the third field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the second mode; the fourth field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the first mode; and the fifth field is used to indicate the operating parameters of the first station when operating on a non-main channel in the second mode.

66. The method according to claim 65, characterized in that, At least one of the second field, the third field, the fourth field, and the fifth field includes at least one of the following subfields: a first subfield, which indicates the maximum channel bandwidth supported in the current mode; and a second subfield, which indicates the maximum number of spatial streams allowed to be transmitted and received in the current mode. The third subfield is used to indicate the maximum modulation and coding order supported in the current mode; The fourth subfield is used to indicate the highest version of the physical layer protocol data unit supported in the current mode.

67. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 66, characterized in that, The first frame includes a sixth field, which is used to indicate whether the first station enables or enables the non-main channel access function, or whether the first station disables or disables the non-main channel access function.

68. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 66, characterized in that, The first frame includes a seventh field, which is used to indicate whether the first station enables or turns on the dynamic power saving function, or whether the first station disables or turns off the dynamic power saving function.

69. The method according to claim 64, characterized in that, The first frame is a protected ultra-reliable action frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the protected ultra-reliable action frame; and / or, the first frame is an operation mode notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the operation mode notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a bandwidth notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the bandwidth notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a dynamic power saving notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the dynamic power saving notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a non-primary channel access notification frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the non-primary channel access notification frame; and / or, the first frame is a quality of service empty frame, and the first field is one or more bits in the quality of service empty frame.

70. The method according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that, The first station's power level is higher than a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

71. The method according to claim 70, characterized in that, The method further includes: scheduling the first site to perform data transmission.

72. The method according to claim 71, characterized in that, The second site obtains a transmission opportunity, and the method further includes: No initial control frame was sent during the transmission opportunity, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

73. The method according to claim 71, characterized in that, The method further includes: sending an initial control frame to the first station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, and the padding carried by the initial control frame being used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first station and the second station.

74. The method according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that, The first station's power level is below a first power threshold, and the first frame is used to instruct the first station to remain in the first mode when switching to the non-primary channel.

75. The method according to claim 74, characterized in that, The method further includes: scheduling the first site to perform data transmission.

76. The method according to claim 75, characterized in that, The method further includes: An initial control frame is sent to the first station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode, and the padding carried in the initial control frame being used to provide the first station with a switching time.

77. The method according to claim 72, 73, or 76, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a common information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field. The intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the extra padding field is used to carry the padding.

78. The method according to claim 72, 73, or 76, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a proprietary information field, which is used to indicate whether the initial control frame includes an intermediate frame check field and an additional padding field; The intermediate frame verification field is used to indicate that the first station switches from the first mode to the second mode after the frame verification is completed, and the extra padding field is used to carry the padding.

79. The method according to claim 77 or 78, characterized in that, The initial control frame also includes a frame check field, and the additional padding field follows the frame check field.

80. The method according to claim 77 or 78, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried within a user information field.

81. The method according to claim 80, characterized in that, The m bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries the intermediate frame verification field, and the value of m is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8.

82. The method according to claim 77 or 78, characterized in that, The initial control frame includes a user information field, and the intermediate frame verification field is carried in both user information fields.

83. The method according to claim 82, characterized in that, The n bits in the user information field are used to indicate that the user information field carries the intermediate frame verification field, and the value of n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 12.

84. The method according to any one of claims 72, 73, 76 to 83, characterized in that, The initial control frame indicates the duration of the second mode by at least one of the following: a timestamp of the end time of the second mode or a portion of the least significant bits of the timestamp; the amount of time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time; The time offset between the end time of the second mode and the current time.

85. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 84, characterized in that, The first frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame.

86. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 85, characterized in that, The method further includes receiving a second frame sent by the first station after the transmission opportunity has ended, wherein the second frame is used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

87. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 85, characterized in that, The method further includes receiving a second frame sent by the first station after the transmission opportunity has ended, wherein the second frame is used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

88. The method according to claim 86 or 87, characterized in that, The second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

89. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 85, characterized in that, The second site caches data to be transmitted to the first site, and the first site obtains a transmission opportunity. The method further includes: A second frame is sent to the first station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

90. The method according to any one of claims 86 to 89, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

91. The method according to any one of claims 86 to 90, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

92. The method according to claim 91, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

93. The method according to claim 92, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

94. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 93, characterized in that, The operating parameters of the first station when operating on the main channel in the first mode are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when operating on the non-main channel in the first mode.

95. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 93, characterized in that, The operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the main channel are the same as or different from the operating parameters of the first station when it is in the second mode while operating on the non-main channel.

96. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 93, characterized in that, The values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the second mode of the first station are the same as the values ​​of all working parameters corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station; or, the value of at least one first working parameter corresponding to the second mode of the first station is different from the value of the first working parameter corresponding to the maximum capacity mode of the first station.

97. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 96, characterized in that, The time required for the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode is the first switching delay; the time required for the first station to complete the switching is the first filling delay.

98. The method according to claim 97, characterized in that, The method further includes: receiving the first handover delay and / or the first padding delay sent by the first station.

99. The method according to claim 97, characterized in that, The first switching delay may be the same as or different from the first filling delay.

100. The method according to claim 97, characterized in that, The first filling delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different; and / or, the first handover delays corresponding to different first stations may be the same or different.

101. The method according to any one of claims 62 to 100, characterized in that, The first mode and the second mode satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than the data transmission rate of the second mode; the operating bandwidth of the first mode is less than the operating bandwidth of the second mode; the number of spatial streams supported by the first mode is less than the number of spatial streams supported by the second mode. The highest protocol version of the Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) supported by the first mode is lower than the highest protocol version of the PPDU supported by the second mode. The power consumption of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

102. A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is performed by a second station, whereby the second station obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first station obtains the transmission opportunity. The method includes: The system receives a second frame sent by the first station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

103. The method according to claim 102, characterized in that, The second mode is one of the modes of the dynamic power saving function.

104. The method according to claim 102, characterized in that, The second frame includes a cache status report, which is used to trigger the second station to schedule the first station in a subsequent transmission opportunity.

105. The method according to any one of claims 102 to 104, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

106. The method according to any one of claims 102 to 105, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

107. The method according to claim 106, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

108. The method according to claim 107, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

109. A pattern indication method, characterized in that, The method is executed by a second station, which caches data to be transmitted to the first station, and the first station obtains a transmission opportunity. The method includes: A second frame is sent to the first station, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first station should remain in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether to disable the dynamic power saving function.

110. The method according to claim 109, characterized in that, The second mode is one of the modes of the dynamic power saving function.

111. The method according to claim 109, characterized in that, The second frame is also used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

112. The method according to any one of claims 109 to 111, characterized in that, The second frame includes at least one of the following: Management frame; Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame; Block acknowledgment frame; Data frame; Initial control response frame.

113. The method according to claim 112, characterized in that, The second frame is the Quality of Service (QoS) empty frame, which includes an aggregation control field. One or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate whether the first station remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

114. The method according to claim 113, characterized in that, One or more bits other than one or more bits in the aggregation control field are used to indicate the duration for which the first site remains in the second mode.

115. A method for triggering mode switching, characterized in that, The method is performed by a second site, and the method includes: Send an initial control frame to the first station, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first station to switch from the first mode to the second mode; The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field, wherein the extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

116. The method according to claim 115, characterized in that, The filling is used to provide switching time for the first site.

117. The method according to claim 115, characterized in that, The padding is used to provide switching time for other stations besides the first and second stations.

118. A first device, characterized in that, The first device includes: The transmitting module is used to send a first frame to the second device, the first frame being used to instruct the first device to switch from the first mode to the second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

119. A second device, characterized in that, The second device includes: The receiving module is configured to receive a first frame sent by the first device, the first frame being used to instruct the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode, or to remain in the first mode, when switching to a non-primary channel.

120. A first device, characterized in that, The first device includes: The processing module is used to switch from the first mode to the second mode when switching to a non-primary channel; The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

121. A first device, characterized in that, The first device includes: The processing module is configured to disallow non-master channel access in a first mode; and / or allow the non-master channel access in a second mode. The data transmission rate of the first mode is lower than that of the second mode.

122. A first device, characterized in that, The second device obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first device obtains the transmission opportunity, wherein the first device includes: The sending module is used to send a second frame to the second device, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

123. A second device, characterized in that, The second device obtains a transmission opportunity, or the first device obtains the transmission opportunity, wherein the second device includes: The receiving module is used to receive a second frame sent by the first device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

124. A first device, characterized in that, The second device buffers data to be transmitted to the first device, and the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The first device includes: The receiving module is used to receive a second frame sent by the second device. The second frame is used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

125. A second device, characterized in that, The second device buffers data to be transmitted to the first device, and the first device obtains a transmission opportunity. The second device includes: The sending module is used to send a second frame to the first device, the second frame being used to indicate whether the first device remains in the second mode after the transmission opportunity ends, or whether the dynamic power saving function is disabled.

126. A first device, characterized in that, The first device includes: A receiving module is configured to receive an initial control frame sent by a second device, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode; The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field, wherein the extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

127. A second device, characterized in that, The second device includes: A sending module is configured to send an initial control frame to a first device, the initial control frame being used to trigger the first device to switch from a first mode to a second mode; The initial control frame includes a frame check field and an extra padding field, wherein the extra padding field is located after the frame check field and is used to carry padding.

128. A first station, characterized in that, The first site includes: A processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43; and / or the mode switching method as claimed in claim 44; and / or the non-master channel access restriction method as claimed in claim 45; and / or the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 46 to 52; and / or the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 58; and / or the mode switching triggering method as claimed in any one of claims 59 to 61.

129. A second station, characterized in that, The second site includes: A processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 62 to 101; and / or the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 102 to 108; and / or the mode indication method as claimed in any one of claims 109 to 114; and / or the mode switching triggering method as claimed in any one of claims 115 to 117.

130. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores at least one program, which is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 43; and / or the mode switching method as described in claim 44; and / or the method for restricting non-master channel access as described in claim 45; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 46 to 52; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 53 to 58; and / or the mode switching triggering method as described in any one of claims 59 to 61; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 62 to 101; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 102 to 108; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 109 to 114; and / or the mode switching triggering method as described in any one of claims 115 to 117.

131. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes programmable logic circuitry and / or program instructions. When the chip operates at a first site, it is used to implement the mode indication method according to any one of claims 1 to 43; and / or the mode switching method according to claim 44; and / or the non-master channel access restriction method according to claim 45; and / or the mode indication method according to any one of claims 46 to 52; and / or the mode indication method according to any one of claims 53 to 58; and / or the mode switching triggering method according to any one of claims 59 to 61. When the chip operates at a second site, it is used to implement the mode indication method according to any one of claims 62 to 101; and / or the mode indication method according to any one of claims 102 to 108; and / or the mode indication method according to any one of claims 109 to 114; and / or the mode switching triggering method according to any one of claims 115 to 117.

132. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor retrieves the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer instructions to implement the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 43; and / or the mode switching method as described in claim 44; and / or the non-master channel access restriction method as described in claim 45; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 46 to 52; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 53 to 58; and / or the mode switching triggering method as described in any one of claims 59 to 61; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 62 to 101; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 102 to 108; and / or the mode indication method as described in any one of claims 109 to 114; and / or the mode switching triggering method as described in any one of claims 115 to 117.

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