Communication methods, apparatuses and devices, medium and program product

Abstract

The present application belongs to the field of wireless communications. Disclosed are communication methods, apparatuses and devices, a medium, and a program product. A method is executed by a first station. The method comprises: transmitting and / or not transmitting a first frame in a transmission opportunity (TXOP) of a non-primary channel access (NPCA) primary channel.

Description

Communication methods, devices, equipment, media and software products

[0001] This application claims priority to patent application filed on January 6, 2025, with application number PCT / CN2025 / 070885, entitled "Communication Method, Apparatus, Device, Medium and Program Product", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of wireless communication, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus, device, medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0003] There is currently no feasible solution regarding whether the transmission behavior of access points and / or non-access point sites that have enabled or activated Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) should be restricted on the NPCA primary channel. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication 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 communication method is provided, the method being performed by a first station, the method comprising:

[0006] The first station transmits and / or does not transmit the first frame in the transmission opportunity TXOP when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

[0007] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a communication method is provided, the method being performed by a second station, the method comprising:

[0008] The second station receives and / or does not receive the first frame during the TXOP (Transmission Opportunity for Accessing the NPA Main Channel from a Non-Main Channel).

[0009] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a communication device is provided, the device comprising:

[0010] The transmitting module is used to transmit and / or not transmit the first frame during the transmission opportunity TXOP when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

[0011] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a communication device is provided, the device comprising:

[0012] The receiving module is used to receive and / or not receive the first frame during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

[0013] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a communication device is provided, the communication device comprising: a processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; and a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the communication methods as described in the foregoing aspects.

[0014] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a communication device is provided, the communication device comprising: a receiver; the communication device is configured to implement the communication methods as described in the foregoing aspects.

[0015] According to one 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 communication methods as described in the foregoing aspects.

[0016] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a computer program product or computer program is provided, the computer program product or computer program including 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 communication methods as described in the above aspects.

[0017] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a chip is provided, the chip including a programmable logic circuit and / or at least a program, the chip being used to implement the communication methods as described in the foregoing aspects based on the programmable logic circuit and / or the at least a program.

[0018] The technical solutions provided in this application embodiment may include the following beneficial effects:

[0019] This invention restricts the transmission behavior of APs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Since different sites and their associated APs are located in different spatial positions, the inter-BSS PPDUs and / or the corresponding RSSIs of the inter-BSS PPDUs that can be received on the main channel may differ. This means that different sites and access points may not switch to the main channel at the same time. The method provided in this application can effectively avoid situations where some target sites cannot receive the first frame. Attached Figure Description

[0020] 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.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of switching to a non-primary channel for transmission provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of beacon frame transmission provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an active scan performed by a non-DMG STA via a probe request frame sent to a specific BSSID, provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an active scan performed by a non-DMG STA via a probe request frame sent to the wildcard BSSID, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a probe request sent to a single address provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of the measurement report field format for beacon reporting provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a DTIM provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of the frame switching sequence when using the GCR block return retransmission strategy provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a frame switching sequence of a GCR MU-BAR provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of an enhanced broadcast service (EBCS) provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the frame sequence of an EBCS DL process provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 13 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 14 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 15 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 16 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 17 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 18 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 19 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 20 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 21 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 22 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 23 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 24 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 25 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 26 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 27 shows a structural block diagram of a communication device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 28 shows a structural block diagram of a communication device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 29 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0050] 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.

[0051] The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this application 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 or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0052] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this application to describe various information, this information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, 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 can be interpreted as "in the case of," "when," or "in response to determination." In this specification, when expressing the meaning of Boolean values, "0" is expressed as "first meaning" and "1" as "second meaning." Without loss of generality, those skilled in the art will understand that the meanings they represent can be interchanged, i.e., "1" represents "first meaning" and "0" represents "second meaning."

[0053] It should be understood that the format, name, and value of the frames / elements / fields involved in the various embodiments of this application are merely examples and do not imply any limitation on the format, name, and value of the frames / elements / fields. In different embodiments or designs, it is possible that one or more of the aforementioned element / field names, their positions in the frame, their arrangement order with other elements / fields, the number of bytes occupied, or the number of bits occupied may change. Similarly, in different embodiments or designs, it is possible that one or more of the aforementioned frame names, included elements / fields, the number of bytes occupied, or the number of bits occupied may change.

[0054] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 100 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The wireless communication system 100 includes a plurality of stations (STAs). In this application, STAs include access point stations (AP STAs) and / or non-access point stations (non-AP STAs), where an AP STA can be simply referred to as an AP. Communication between STAs can be implemented as communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, communication between non-AP STAs, or communication between APs. Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 100 including AP 110, non-AP STA 120, AP 130, and non-AP STA 140. The number of APs and non-AP STAs can be more or less, and one AP can be associated with one or more non-AP STAs.

[0055] Both AP 110 and AP 130 are devices deployed in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) / Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems to provide wireless communication capabilities to non-AP STAs. An AP acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, its main function being to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. AP 110 can be a terminal device or network device (such as a router) with a WLAN / Wi-Fi chip. AP 130 can also be a terminal device or network device (such as a router) with a WLAN / Wi-Fi chip.

[0056] In some embodiments, AP 110 can be a device that supports various current and future Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of WLAN standards, including 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bp, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. AP 110 can also be used in network environments that support next-generation WLAN systems / next-generation Wi-Fi communications.

[0057] In some embodiments, AP 130 can be a device that supports various current and future IEEE 802.11 family of WLAN standards, including 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bp, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. AP 130 can also be used in network environments that support next-generation WLAN systems / next-generation Wi-Fi communication.

[0058] In some embodiments, the AP 110 may be the same as or different from the AP 130.

[0059] The non-AP STA120 and non-AP STA140 can be wireless communication devices that support WLAN / Wi-Fi technology, such as wireless communication devices with WLAN / Wi-Fi chips.

[0060] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA 120 can be a device that supports various current and future IEEE 802.11 family of WLAN standards, including 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bp, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. The non-AP STA 120 can also be used in network environments that support next-generation WLAN systems / next-generation Wi-Fi communication.

[0061] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA 140 can be a device that supports various current and future IEEE 802.11 family of WLAN standards, including 802.11be, 802.11bn, 802.11bp, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. The non-AP STA 140 can also be used in network environments that support next-generation WLAN systems / next-generation Wi-Fi communication.

[0062] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA 120 may be the same as or different from the non-AP STA 140.

[0063] In this embodiment, the next-generation WLAN system is an evolution of the 802.11be system and is backward compatible with the 802.11be system. Next-generation Wi-Fi communication refers to any new generation of Wi-Fi communication after Wi-Fi 7 based on the 802.11be specification, such as Ultra High Reliability (UHR) communication.

[0064] In some embodiments, AP 110, non-AP STA 120, AP 130 and non-AP STA 140 all support the IEEE 802.11 protocol, but are not limited to the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

[0065] It's understandable that the role of a STA in wireless communication is not absolute. For example, when phone A is connected to a router, phone A is a non-AP STA, but when phone A acts as a hotspot for phone B, phone A acts as an AP.

[0066] In this application embodiment, the STA can be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, such as one that supports the 802.11 series of protocols and can communicate with the AP or other STAs. For example, an STA is any user communication device that allows users to communicate with the AP and thus with the 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.

[0067] In this application embodiment, the STA can also be a device that provides voice / data / image connectivity to the user, such as a handheld device, vehicle device, home device, home appliance, gaming device, etc., with wireless connection function or 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 with wireless communication capabilities, other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, and Beyond 5G. Terminal devices in 5G (B5G) networks, terminal devices in 6G networks, and terminal devices in future evolved Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) can also be televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, door locks, fish tanks, robot vacuum cleaners, game consoles, cameras / camcorders, sensors, etc. with wireless connectivity. This application embodiment is not limited to these.

[0068] By way of example and not limitation, the STA in the embodiments of this application can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that apply 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 need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0069] Furthermore, the STA in this application embodiment 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 application embodiment, IoT technology can achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and terminal power saving through technologies such as narrowband (NB).

[0070] Furthermore, the STA in this application embodiment can also be an in-vehicle communication device in a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system or the vehicle itself. The communication methods in a 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.

[0071] In some embodiments, the frequency bands supported by the wireless communication system 100 include, but are not limited to: millimeter wave (mmWave) bands (such as 45GHz, 60GHz, etc., which belong to the 30-300GHz range) and low-frequency bands. Among them, low-frequency bands include Sub-7GHz bands (such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, etc., which belong to the 1-7.25GHz range).

[0072] In some embodiments, there are one or more links between AP 110 and non-AP STA 120.

[0073] In some embodiments, AP 110 and non-AP STA120 support multi-band communication. For example, they can communicate simultaneously on one or more frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, 45 GHz, and 60 GHz. Alternatively, they can communicate simultaneously on different channels within the same frequency band or on different channels in different frequency bands. Multi-band communication can improve communication throughput and / or reliability between devices. Such a device supporting multi-band communication can be considered to have multi-link operation (MLO) capability and is commonly referred to as a multi-band device or multi-link device (MLD), sometimes also called a multi-band entity or multi-link entity. In other words, an MLD is an entity or device that supports communication with other MLD entities using multiple wireless links.

[0074] In some embodiments, there are one or more links between AP 130 and non-AP STA140.

[0075] In some embodiments, multi-band communication is supported between AP 130 and non-AP STA140.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] In some embodiments, there are one or more links between AP 110 and AP 130. For example, in a multi-AP coordination scenario, the link between AP 110 and AP 130 can meet the requirements of multi-AP coordination to reduce mutual interference between BSS1 to which AP 110 belongs and BSS2 to which AP 130 belongs, improve spectrum utilization efficiency, throughput and transmission reliability, and the number of APs participating in multi-AP coordination can be two or more.

[0079] Below, we will introduce some channel-related concepts:

[0080] Primary Channel: This refers to the channel shared by all member stations in the Basic Service Set (BSS). For example, in a BSS corresponding to 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz, the primary channel is a primary 20MHz channel.

[0081] Nonprimary channel: refers to any 20MHz channel other than the primary 20MHz channel in a 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz basic service set (BSS).

[0082] Primary 20MHz Channel: This refers to the 20MHz channel used to transmit 20MHz Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) within a 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz basic service set (BSS).

[0083] Primary 40MHz Channel: This refers to the 40MHz channel used to transmit 40MHz physical layer (PHY) protocol data units (PPDUs) in an 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz basic service set (BSS).

[0084] Primary 80MHz Channel: In a 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz basic service set (BSS), the 80MHz channel that is used to transmit 80MHz physical layer (PHY) protocol data units (PPDUs).

[0085] Primary 160MHz Channel: In a 320MHz basic service set (BSS), the 160MHz channel that contains the primary 20MHz channel.

[0086] In some embodiments, the aforementioned main 20MHz channel, main 40MHz channel, main 80MHz channel, and main 160MHz channel are collectively referred to as the main channel.

[0087] A secondary channel is a channel associated with a primary channel used to create a channel wider than the primary channel. In a 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, 80+80MHz, or 320MHz basic service set (BSS), the secondary channel is a secondary 20MHz channel.

[0088] Secondary 20MHz Channel: In a 40MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the 40MHz channel corresponding to the 40MHz VHT BSS. In an 80MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the primary 40MHz channel corresponding to the 80MHz VHT BSS. In a 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel together forms the primary 40MHz channel corresponding to the 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS. In a 40MHz VHT basic service set (BSS), the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel that together form the 40MHz channel of the 40MHz VHT BSS. In an 80MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel that together form the primary 40MHz channel of the 80MHz VHT BSS.In a 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel that together form the primary 40MHz channel of the 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS.In a 320MHz VHT BSS, the 20MHz channel adjacent to the primary 20MHz channel that together form the primary 40MHz channel of the 320MHz VHT BSS).

[0089] Secondary 40MHz Channel: In an 80MHz VHT BSS, the 40MHz channel adjacent to the primary 40MHz channel together forms the 80MHz channel corresponding to the 80MHz VHT BSS. In a 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS, the 40MHz channel adjacent to the primary 40MHz channel together forms the primary 80MHz channel. In a 320MHz VHT BSS, the 40MHz channel adjacent to the primary 40MHz channel together forms the primary 80MHz channel. In a 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS, the 40MHz channel adjacent to the primary 40MHz channel together forms the primary 80MHz channel. In a 320MHz VHT BSS, the 40MHz channel adjacent to the primary 40MHz channel together forms the 80MHz channel.

[0090] Secondary 80MHz Channel: In a 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS, the 80MHz channel excluding the primary 20MHz channel, together with the primary 80MHz channel, forms the 160MHz or 80+80MHz channel corresponding to the 160MHz or 80+80MHz VHT BSS. In a 320MHz VHT BSS, the 80MHz channel adjacent to the primary 80MHz channel, together they form the primary 160MHz channel.

[0091] Secondary 160MHz Channel: In a 320MHz BSS, the 160MHz channel, excluding the primary 20MHz channel, together with the primary 160MHz channel, forms the 320MHz channel of the 320MHz BSS.

[0092] In some embodiments, the aforementioned secondary 20MHz channel, secondary 40MHz channel, secondary 80MHz channel, and secondary 160MHz channel are collectively referred to as secondary channels.

[0093] Subchannel: This can be understood as a narrow-bandwidth channel within a wide-bandwidth channel. For example, assuming a wide-bandwidth channel corresponds to an 80MHz channel, optionally, this 80MHz channel can be divided into four narrow-bandwidth channels corresponding to 20MHz each, then each narrow-bandwidth channel is a 20MHz subchannel; optionally, this 80MHz channel can also be divided into two narrow-bandwidth channels corresponding to 40MHz each, then each narrow-bandwidth channel is a 40MHz subchannel.

[0094] Operating Channel: This refers to the channel used to transmit beacon frames. The operating channel can be a collection of multiple sub-channels used by the STA during operation. Specific examples include 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz operating channels.

[0095] Operating Channel Width: This refers to the channel width in which the STA is currently able to receive signals. Specific examples include 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz.

[0096] Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) Primary Channel: Also known as Anchor Channel, Second Primary Channel, Temporary Primary Channel, Assistant Primary Channel, Auxiliary Primary Channel, or Target Subchannel. The NPCA Primary Channel is a subchannel within the BSS's currently operating channel. It is used as the primary channel when the AP performs NPCA with its associated non-AP STA. For example, assuming the current operating channel bandwidth of the AP is 160MHz, the sub-channels include: primary 80MHz (P80, including primary 20MHz (P20), secondary 20MHz (S20), secondary 40MHz (S40, including S20-1, S20-2)), and secondary 80MHz (S80, including S20-3, S20-4, S20-5, S20-6). When performing NPCA, S20-3 can be used as P20 (i.e., the NPCA primary channel), S20-4 can be used as S20, S20-5 and S20-6 can be used as S40, and P80 can be used as S80.

[0097] NPCA Function: When the primary channel is detected to be busy, the AP and non-AP STA can switch to a non-primary channel for transmission, as shown in Figure 2. The AP and non-AP STA do not require multi-channel concurrent packet detection or Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) capabilities. Furthermore, channel access is only permitted on one non-primary channel (indicated by the AP). The AP and non-AP STA indicate their respective channel handover delays. Before initiating a TXOP on a non-primary channel, the non-AP STA must comply with the Baseline Medium Synchronization Recovery Rules in existing standards. The duration of a TXOP on a non-primary channel is limited to no more than the duration of a TXOP on the primary channel for the Overlapping Basic Service Set (OBSS). Initiating a TXOP on a non-primary channel requires a short control frame.

[0098] In some embodiments, after switching to a non-primary channel, the AP can query the availability of the non-AP STA through Multi-user Request To Send (MU-RTS) and Clear to Send (CTS) frame interactions.

[0099] In some embodiments, the AP sends beacon frames.

[0100] For example, as shown in Figure 3. If the AP is a non-S1G AP, the timing of the entire BSS is defined by sending Beacon frames according to dot11BeaconPeriod. This defines a series of Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT) intervals of dot11BeaconPeriod TUs. Time 0 is defined as the TBTT on which the first beacon frame is expected to be sent, and the Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) Count field of the beacon's TIM element is set to 0. On each TBTT, the AP schedules a Beacon frame as the next frame for transmission according to the media access rules specified in the MAC sublayer functional description. If the AP is a non-S1G AP, it shall define the timing for the entire BSS by transmitting Beacon frames according to dot11BeaconPeriod. schedule a Beacon frame as the next frame for transmission according to the medium access rules specified in MAC sublayer functional description.

[0101] Note 1: To achieve this, the AP will suspend all pending transmissions until the beacon has been transmitted. In the case of a DTIM beacon, the AP will also suspend any pending individually addressed transmissions until any pending group addressed transmissions have been performed.

[0102] Note 3: Although the transmission of a beacon frame may be delayed due to CSMA deferrals, subsequent beacon frames are scheduled at the undelayed nominal beacon interval.

[0103] In some embodiments, to actively scan, the STA should transmit Probe Request frames containing a wildcard SSID, the desired SSID, or one or more SSID list elements. However, a DMG STA may also need to transmit DMG Beacon frames or perform beamforming training prior to transmitting the Probe Request frames.

[0104] Note 2—The MLME-SCAN.request primitives and resulting Probe Request frames may contain a Request element or one or more Extended Request element(s) that can be used to request radio measurement information from the scanned BSSs. Requested radio measurement information from the scanned BSSs is included in the Probe Response frames and in the MLME-SCAN.confirm primitive.

[0105] In some embodiments, the AP sends one or more probe request frames on each channel that needs to be scanned and processes the received probe response frames or beacon frames to obtain information about candidate access points to be associated. As shown in Figure 4, active scanning is performed by a non-DMG STA with a Probe Request frame addressed to a specific BSSID. As shown in Figure 5, active scanning is performed by a non-DMG STA with a Probe Request frame addressed to a wildcard BSSID.

[0106] Taking a 6GHz AP (i.e., an AP operating in the 6GHz band) sending beacon frames as an example:

[0107] A 6GHz AP transmits beacon frames, which may be contained in a non-HT PPDU, a non-HT duplicate PPDU, or a HE SU PPDU.

[0108] When a 6GHz access point (AP) transmits a beacon frame in a non-HT PPDU, it follows the rate selection rules for non-STBC beacon frames.

[0109] When a 6GHz AP transmits a beacon frame in a non-HT duplicate PPDU, it must follow the rate selection rules for non-STBC beacon frames and set the TXVECTOR parameter CH_BANDWIDTH of the PPDU to a value no greater than the operating channel width of the BSS.

[0110] If a 6GHz AP schedules a Beacon frame for transmission in a non-HT duplicate PPDU, it shall set the Duplicate Beacon subfield to 1 in the 6GHz Operation Information field of the HE Operation element it transmits; otherwise, the AP shall set the Duplicate Beacon subfield to 0.

[0111] When a 6GHz AP transmits a beacon frame in an HE SU PPDU, it must follow the rules defined in the Additional Rules for HE beacons and group-addressed frames.

[0112] Note: Within the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands, the AP will not transmit a beacon frame in an HE SU PPDU or a non-HT duplicate PPDU.

[0113] If the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is not empty, a non-STBC beacon frame that is not an ER beacon or HE beacon will be transmitted in a non-HT PPDU using one of the rates included in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter. An ER beacon is transmitted as defined in the Additional rules for ER beacons and group-addressed frames, and an HE beacon is transmitted as defined in the Additional rules for HE beacons and group-addressed frames.

[0114] If the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is empty, the frame will be transmitted in a non-HT PPDU using one of the mandatory PHY rates.

[0115] A 6GHz AP is called a 6GHz-only AP if it does not share the same colocated AP set as APs operating in the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band.

[0116] If a 6GHz-only access point (AP) is to be efficiently discovered by STAs scanning in the 6GHz band, its `dot11FILSFDFrameBeaconMaximumInterval` should be set to a non-zero value less than or equal to 20 Time Units (TUs).

[0117] Note 1: A 6GHz-only AP intends to be efficiently discovered by STAs using scanning in the 6GHz band if it schedules for transmission FILS Discovery, Beacon, or unsolicited Probe Response frames every 20 TUs or less.

[0118] A 6GHz AP may send an unsolicited broadcast Probe Response frame. The Probe Response frame may be included in a broadcast RU of a DL HE MU PPDU, as defined in the Additional rules for group-addressed frames in an HE MU PPDU. The Probe Response may be carried in a non-HT duplicate PPDU, in which case the PPDU shall have the TXVECTOR parameter CH_BANDWIDTH set to a value that is up to the operating channel width of the BSS.

[0119] A 6GHz-only access point (AP) should establish its base station (BSS) using a primary 20MHz channel that aligns with its preferred scanning channel (PSC).

[0120] Note 2—An AP might initiate a BSS with a primary channel that coincides with a PSC in order to assist STAs scanning the 6GHz band to discover the BSS. The AP might subsequently switch its operating channel to a non-PSC (e.g., using a CSA mechanism) if it does not expect additional (not yet associated) STAs need to discover the BSS.

[0121] If a 6GHz AP receives a Probe Request frame and responds with a Probe Response frame, the Address 1 field of the Probe Response frame must be set to the broadcast address.

[0122] The 20MHz channels in the 6GHz band, with channel center frequency (ch_a = channel starting frequency – 55 + 80 × n, in megahertz), are referred to as preferred scanning channels (PSCs). Channel starting frequency is defined in the channel allocation of the 6GHz band, and n = 1,…,15.

[0123] Note 1 - Due to regulatory restrictions, PSCs may not all be available in a specific location. A STA scanning the 6GHz band knows the location of these PSCs because their location is fixed.

[0124] A non-AP STA actively scanning a channel in the 6 GHz band shall operate as defined in the Active scanning procedure for a non-DMG STA, unless a given rule is superseded by the rules defined in the 6 GHz band scanning procedure.

[0125] When an AP transmitting a group-addressed frame in a HE SU PPDU sends a HE SU PPDU, it should use...<HE-MCS,NSS> A tuple, where HE-MCS is mandatory HE-MCS and NSS = 1. An AP that transmits group-addressed frames in an HE SU PPDU shall transmit the HE SU PPDU with an<HE-MCS,NSS> tuple where the HE-MCS is a mandatory HE-MCS and NSS=1.

[0126] Note: An access point (AP) will not send a beacon frame in a HE SU PPDU unless it is operating in the 6 GHz band.

[0127] HE beacon or other group-addressed frames transmitted in a HE SU PPDU should be sent as a Single-MPDU (S-MPDU), except for group-addressed data frames, which do not need to be sent as S-MPDUs but must follow the aggregation rules of group-addressed data frames in the Aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) method.

[0128] A HE AP may include group-addressed frames in an HE MU PPDU, subject to the rules defined in this subclause.

[0129] A HE AP should not include a beacon frame in its HE MU PPDU.

[0130] A HE AP that includes a group-addressed frame in an HE MU PPDU shall ensure that the frame is included in a broadcast Resource Unit (RU) within the HE MU PPDU. The HE AP shall also ensure that the broadcast RU meets the following conditions:

[0131] The allocation of RUs shall comply with the RU allocation rules in the HE MU PPDU and the RU restrictions for 20MHz operation.

[0132] —<HE-MCS,NSS> The tuple should have a forced HE-MCS and NSS = 1.<HE-MCS,NSS> tuple shall have amandatory HE-MCS and NSS=1.

[0133] —The broadcast RU shall be located within:

[0134] —Within the primary 20MHz channel, if the group addressed frame is a Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) Discovery or Probe Response frame, unless the primary 20MHz channel does not coincide with a Preferred Scanning Channel (PSC) and the AP is a 6GHz-only AP (i.e., only supports APs operating in the 6GHz band), the broadcast RU may be located in a PSC within the BSS operating channel width. The broadcast RU size cannot exceed 10⁶ subcarriers if the MU PPDU has a bandwidth greater than 20MHz.

[0135] —Within the primary 20MHz channel, if the group-addressed frame is addressed to at least one associated non-AP STA that has not yet declared itself to be awake, the broadcast RU size shall not exceed 10⁶ subcarriers if the MU PPDU has a bandwidth greater than 20MHz.

[0136] The broadcast RU size should not exceed the minimum common bandwidth supported by all STAs in their HE Capabilities element transmissions or in the most recently sent Operation Mode (OM) Control or OM Notification frames, provided that one or more associated non-AP STAs support reception within the bandwidth they are eligible for.

[0137] —In Subchannel Selective Transmission (SST) subchannels, if the group-addressed frame is addressed to one or more HE SST STAs, the primary 20MHz channel does not coincide with the subchannel assigned to the HE SST STAs, and the frame address does not belong to any STA other than the HE SST STAs in that subchannel (see 26.8.7.2 (SST operation)). The broadcast RU size shall not exceed 106 subcarriers if the SST subchannel is 20MHz.

[0138] The AP in the first BSS might send a beacon request (a Radio Measurement Request frame carrying a Measurement Request element with the Measurement Type field value equal to 5) to the associated first non-AP STA, requesting the first non-AP STA to send a beacon report (a Radio Measurement Report frame carrying a Measurement Report element with the Measurement Type field value equal to 5) carrying information about the neighboring BSS (the second BSS). To obtain information about the second BSS, the first non-AP STA might send an individually addressed or broadcast Probe Request frame on its primary channel. Upon receiving this, the AP in the second BSS might send an individually addressed Probe Response frame. The first non-AP STA generates a beacon report corresponding to the information from the second BSS based on the Probe Response frame received on its primary channel. The Channel Number field in the beacon report indicates the channel number of the received Beacon or Probe Response frame.

[0139] A STA can send an individually addressed or broadcast Probe Request frame to a peer STA that it has determined is within range in order to solicit information contained in a response frame. When the Probe Request frame is sent to the broadcast address, the Address 3 (BSSID) field must be set to the MAC address of the peer STA. Figure 6 illustrates an example of a probe request addressed to an individual address.

[0140] If `dot11rmbeaconactivemmeasurementactivated` is true and the measurement mode in the measurement request is active, the measuring STA shall perform the following procedure (or an equivalent procedure) on the requested channel, if permitted (e.g., the channel is not subject to DFS):

[0141] If the channel is not the operating channel, wait for dot11RMMeasurementNavSync, or until a PHYRXSTART.indication primitive has been received.

[0142] —Using the basic access protocol in Basic Access, send a Probe Request frame to the broadcast address. The BSSID field in the Probe Request frame should be set to the BSSID field in the measurement request. The SSID element in the Probe Request frame should be set to the SSID element in the measurement request.

[0143] —Set a measurement duration timer.

[0144] —At the end of the measurement duration, process all received Probe Response and Beacon frames with the requested SSID and BSSID to compile the measurement report. The STA shall use the Reporting Detail field specified in the measurement request, or the default value if not present, to determine the data to be included in the measurement report. If no Beacons or Probe Response frames were received during the measurement duration, and Measurement Pilot frames with the requested BSSID were received during the measurement duration, then process all these Measurement Pilot frames to compile the measurement report. Otherwise, compile an empty Beacon report.

[0145] The Channel Number field indicates the channel number of the received Beacon or Probe Response frame. The channel number is defined within an operating class.

[0146] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the Measurement Report field format for Beacon report.

[0147] In some embodiments, the rate selection rules for group-addressed data and management frames do not include the following:

[0148] —Non-Space-Time Block Coding Beacon frames (Non-STBC Beacon frames);

[0149] —Extended Range beacon (ER beacon) and High Efficiency beacon (HE beacon);

[0150] —STBC group addressed Data and Management frames;

[0151] —Data frames located in an FMS stream;

[0152] —Group addressed frames transmitted to the GCR concealment address;

[0153] —Group addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HEER SU PPDU;

[0154] —Group addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE SU PPDU;

[0155] —Group addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE MU PPDU;

[0156] —Enhanced Broadcast Services (EBCS) Info frames, EBCS UL frames, and EBCS Data frames.

[0157] If the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is not empty, a Data or Management frame (excluding the frames listed above) with a group address in the Address 1 field shall be transmitted in a non-HT PPDU using one of the rates included in the BSSBasicRateSet parameter or the rate chosen by the AP, if the Data frames are part of an FMS stream.

[0158] If the BSBsicRateSet parameter is empty, and the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive or the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive is not empty, then one of the MCS contained in the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive or the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive should be used to transmit the frame as an HT PPDU. If the BSSBasicRateSet parameter is empty and the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive or Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive is not empty, the frame shall be transmitted in an HT PPDU using one of the MCSs included in the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive or Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive.

[0159] If the BSBasicRateSet parameter is empty, and the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive is empty, or the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive is empty, and the basic VHT-MCS and NSS sets are not empty, then the values ​​contained in the basic VHT-MCS and NSS sets should be used.<VHT-MCS,NSS> One of the tuples transmits the frame in a VHT PPDU. PPDU using one of the<VHT-MCS.NSS> tuples included in the basic VHT-MCS and NSS set.

[0160] In STAs that do not support single-carrier 1Gigabit (non-S1G STA), if the BSBsicRateSet parameter, the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter in the MLME-START.request primitive, or the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT operation parameter in the SelectedBSS parameter in the MLME-JOIN.request primitive, and the basic VHT-MCS and NSS sets are empty (e.g., a scanned site not yet associated with a BSS), then frames should be transmitted in non-HT PPDU format at one of the mandatory physical layer rates. In a non-S1G STA,if the BSSBasicRateSet parameter,the Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the MLME-START.request primitive or Basic HT-MCS Set field of the HT Operation parameter of the SelectedBSS parameter of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive,and the basic VHT-MCS and NSS set are empty(eg,a scanning STA that is not yet associated with a BSS), the frame shall be transmitted in a non-HT PPDU using one of the mandatory PHY rates.

[0161] The AP should buffer individually addressed BUs addressed to STAs operating in Power Saving (PS) mode. These buffered BUs should only be transmitted at designated times.

[0162] If any non-General Link STA (non-GLK STA) in its BSS is in PS mode, the AP should buffer all non-Groupcast with Retries Service Period (non-GCR-SP) group-addressed BUs arriving via DS and send them to all non-GLK STAs immediately after the next Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) beacon. If the AP is an S1G AP, the AP may additionally transmit these BUs using an Association Identifier (AID). If any GLK STA is in PS mode in its BSS, the AP should not send any such STA as a Synthetic Receiver Address (SYNRA) destination and should buffer all group-addressed BUs arriving from additional bridging destinations of such STAs, transmitting them along with separately addressed MPDUs using a power-saving transmission method. If any non-GLK STA in its BSS is in PS mode, the AP shall buffer all non-GCR-SP group addressed BUs that arrive via the DS and deliver them to all non-GLK STAs immediately following the next DTIM beacon. If the AP is an S1G AP, the AP may additionally deliver these BUs using group AID. If any GLK STA in its BSS is in PS mode, the AP shall not include any such STAs as a SYNRA destination and shall buffer all group addressed BUs that arrive from the individually attached bridge and are destined to such STAs, delivering them with addressed MPDUs using power save delivery methods.

[0163] Note: For GLK type STAs and non-GLK type STAs, group-addressed buffered BUs containing one or more Medium Access Control Layer (MAC) Service Data Units (MSDUs) will not be repeated by the AP to other types of STAs. Network entities external to the AP, such as the bridged network, may repeat these MSDUs to both types of STAs by other means.

[0164] STAs that currently have buffered BUs (excluding those BUs for a STA associated with ACs that are UAPSD delivery-enabled when not all ACs are delivery-enabled by that STA) within the AP are identified in a TIM, which shall be included as an element within all Beacon frames generated by the AP. A STA shall determine that a BU is buffered for it by receiving and interpreting a TIM.

[0165] Two different Traffic Indication Map (TIM) types are distinguished: TIM and DTIM. After sending a DTIM beacon, the AP shall transmit buffered non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs to be delivered using MPDUs with an RA (other than a SYNRA) before transmitting any individually addressed frames. The AP may also additionally deliver these BUs using a group AID.

[0166] Figure 8 illustrates AP and STA activity assuming DTIM beacons are transmitted every 3 TIMs. The top line in Figure 8 represents the timeline, showing the beacon intervals and the DTIM intervals comprising three beacon intervals. The second line describes AP activity. The AP schedules beacon frames for transmission within each beacon interval, but if there is traffic during the Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT), beacon frame transmission may be delayed. This is indicated as "Busy Medium" in the second line. An important fact about beacon frames is that they contain TIMs, some of which are DTIM beacon frames. Figure 8illustrates the AP and STA activity under the assumption that a DTIM beacon is transmitted once every three TIMs. The top line in Figure Infrastructure power management operation represents the time axis, with the beacon interval shown together with a DTIM Interval of three beacon intervals. The second line depicts AP activity. line.For the purposes of this figure, the important fact about Beacon frames is that they contain TIMs,some of which are DTIM beacons.

[0167] Note that the second STA with ReceiveDTIMBeacons equal to false will not power on its receiver for all DTIM beacons. The third and fourth rows in Figure 8 depict the operational states of two STAs with different power management requirements. When both STAs need to listen for a TIM, they power on their receivers. This indicates a rise in receiver power before the TBTT. For example, the first STA powers on its receiver and receives the TIM in the first beacon frame; the TIM indicates the presence of the receiving STA's buffered BU. The receiving STA then generates a PS-Poll frame, triggering the AP to transmit the buffered BU. Non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs are transmitted by the AP after the DTIM beacon is sent.Note that the second STA with ReceiveDTIMBeacons equal to false does not power on its receiver for all DTIM beacons.The third and fourth lines in Figure 11-16(Infrastructure power management operation)depict the activity of two STAs operating with different power management requirements.Both STAs power-on their receivers when they need to listen for a TIM.This is indicated as a rampup of the receiver power prior to the TBTT.The first STA,for example,powers up its receiver and receives a TIM in the first Beacon frame;that TIM indicates the presence of a buffered BU for the receiving STA.The receiving STA then generates a PS-Poll frame,which elicits the transmission of the buffered BU from the AP.Non-GCR-SP group addressed BUs are sent by the AP subsequent to the transmission of a DTIM beacon.。

[0168] In some embodiments, the AP and / or Non-AP STA support the Target Wake Time (TWT) mechanism and the Opportunistic Power Save (OPS) mechanism.

[0169] The AP should maintain a power management state for each currently associated STA, indicating the current power management mode the STA is operating in. APs implementing and indicating support for Automatic Power Save Delivery (APSD) should maintain an APSD and access policy state for each currently associated STA to indicate whether the STA is currently using APSD, and should maintain the STA's schedule (if any). The AP should temporarily buffer the STA's BU (Power Management Unit) based on the STA's power management mode. If the STA is using APSD and is in PS mode, the AP implementing APSD should temporarily buffer the STA's BU. Due to power management reasons, BUs directly passed to STAs operating in active mode cannot be buffered. As defined in the TWT (Time To Wake-Up) information frame exchange for flexible wake-up times and opportunistic power saving, if the STA may be unavailable, the HE AP should not transmit to the HE STA unless the STA requests it.An AP shall maintain for each currently associated STA a Power Management status that indicates in which power management mode the STA is currently operating.APs that implement and signal their support of APSD shall maintain for each currently associated STA an APSD and an access policy status that indicates whether the STA is presently using APSD and shall maintain the schedule(if any)for the STA.An AP shall,depending on the power management mode of the STA,temporarily buffer BUs destined to the STA.An AP implementing APSD shall,if a STA is using APSD and is in PS mode,temporarily buffer BUs destined to that STA.No BUs addressed directly to STAs operating in the active mode shall be buffered for power management reasons.An HE AP should not transmit to an HE STA if the STA might be unavailable,as defined in TWT Information frame exchange for flexible wake time and Opportunistic power save,unless the transmission is solicited by the STA.。

[0170] The operating rules are as follows:

[0171] • BUs destined for PS STAs should be temporarily buffered in the AP. The algorithm for managing this buffering is beyond the scope of this standard, with the exception that if the AP is QoS-enabled, it should preserve the order of arrival of individually addressed frames sent to a given STA on a given TID.

[0172] Non-bufferable MMPDUs and BUs destined for STAs in the active mode shall be directly transmitted to those STAs.

[0173] If any associated non-GLK STAs are in PS mode, the AP shall buffer all non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs that arrive via the DS. If any GLK STA in its BSS is in PS mode, the AP shall not include any such STAs as a SYNRA destination and shall buffer all group-addressed BUs destined to such STAs, delivering them with individually addressed MPDUs using power-saving delivery methods.

[0174] When dot11FMSActivated is false, the AP shall transmit all buffered non-GCR-SP non-SYNRA group addressed BUs immediately after each DTIM beacon or during the broadcast of TWT SPs within the beacon interval as defined in the TWT scheduling AP rules.

[0175] When `dot11FMSActivated` is true and the AP has established an FMS delivery interval for a multicast stream, the AP shall transmit all non-GCR-SP non-SYNRA group-addressed BUs belonging to a particular FMS stream immediately after the DTIM beacon (where the Current Count field of the FMS Counter field is set to 0 for that particular FMS stream) or during broadcast TWT SPs within that beacon interval as defined in the TWT scheduling AP rules.

[0176] The More Data subfield of each group-addressed frame should be set to indicate the presence of further buffered non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs that will be transmitted using MPDUs with RA instead of SYNRA. When dot11FMSActivated is true, if the AP cannot transmit all buffered non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs along with MPDUs with RA instead of SYNRA before the main TBTT following the DTIM beacon or before the TBTT, the AP should set the Traffic Indicator field in the TIM element to 1 for a single BSSID, or set the corresponding group address bits to 1 for multiple BSSIDs, as defined in the TIM element. Appropriate bits should be set in the FMS descriptor element to indicate which non-GCR-SP non-SYNRA group addresses still have buffered BUs until all buffered non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs are transmitted using MPDUs with RA instead of SYNRA.The More Data subfield of each group addressed frame shall be set to indicate the presence of further buffered non-GCR-SP group addressed BUs to be delivered using MPDUs with an RA other than a SYNRA.If the AP is unable,before the primary or secondary TBTT following the DTIM beacon,to transmit all of the buffered non-GCR-SP group addressed BUs to be delivered using MPDUs with an RA other than a SYNRA,then the AP shall set the Traffic Indicator field in the TIM element to 1for a single BSSID or set the corresponding group address bit to 1for multiple BSSIDs,as defined in TIM element,and when dot11FMSActivated is true,shall set the appropriate bits in the FMS Descriptor element as described in FMS Descriptor element to indicate for which non-GCR-SP non-SYNRA group addresses there are still buffered BUs,until all buffered non-GCR-SP group addressed BUs to be delivered using MPDUs with an RA other than a SYNRA have been transmitted.。

[0177] When the AP sends an STBC beacon frame, it should retransmit all non-GCR-SP group-addressed BUs. These BUs will be sent using MPDUs with RA (instead of SYNRA) and transmitted after the non-STBC beacon frame, except for those using basic STBC MCS transmissions. It's possible that a whole set of buffered non-GCR-SP non-SYNRA group-addressed BUs will be sent over a period of time, during which non-STBC and STBC transmissions are interleaved. However, an STBC Beacon frame should be transmitted before transitioning from non-STBC group-addressed transmissions to STBC group-addressed transmissions, and a non-STBC Beacon frame should be transmitted before transitioning from STBC group-addressed transmissions to non-STBC group-addressed transmissions.当接入点(AP)发送一个空时分组码(STBC)信标帧时,接入点应重新传输所有非组播组随机接入(GCR-SP)组寻址的业务数据单元(BU),这些业务数据单元将使用除同步随机接入(SYNRA)之外的接收地址(RA)的媒体访问协议数据单元(MPDU)进行传输,并且这些业务数据单元是在非STBC信标帧之后发送的,但它们使用基本的STBC多载波调制方案(MCS)进行传输。在一段时间内,可能会交错发送非STBC和STBC传输的完整缓冲非GCRSP非SYNRA组寻址的业务数据单元集,但从非STBC组寻址传输到STBC组寻址传输的转换应在STBC信标帧的传输之前进行,而从STBC组寻址传输到非STBC组寻址传输的转换应在非STBC信标帧的传输之前进行。

[0178] 对于公布广播TWT ID等于0的广播TWT,TWT调度AP需要进行如下调度。A TWT scheduling AP that has advertised a broadcast TWT with a Broadcast TWT ID equal to 0shall schedule the following:

[0179] —If the TWT parameter set indicates a non-trigger enabled unannounced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is equal to 0, then group-addressed downlink BUs are delivered during the broadcast TWT SPs located within the beacon interval that follows the DTIM beacon.

[0180] —If the TWT parameter set indicates trigger-enabled announced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is equal to 1, then a trigger frame that does not contain a Random Access RU (RA-RU) is transmitted during the broadcast TWT SP. The trigger frame shall contain at least one User Info field addressing a TWT scheduled STA whose TIM bit is 1 in the Beacon frame and that is not a member of any nonzero broadcast TWT during this beacon interval.

[0181] —If the TWT parameter set indicates a trigger enabled announced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is set to 2, then a trigger frame containing at least one RA-RU is transmitted during the broadcast TWT SP.

[0182] —If the TWT parameter set indicates a non-trigger enabled unannounced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is set to 3, then a TIM frame or a FILS Discovery frame is transmitted at the start of a broadcast TWT SP.

[0183] The objective of the opportunistic power-saving mechanism is to allow OPS non-AP STAs to become unavailable or in a doze state so that they can save power for a specified period.

[0184] Opportunistic power-saving mechanisms have two modes: aperiodic and periodic.

[0185] In aperiodic mode, an OPS AP can send an OPS frame or a FILS Discovery frame at any time to provide scheduling information for all OPS non-AP STAs within the OPS period following the transmission of the OPS frame or FILS Discovery frame. Therefore, OPS non-AP STAs in active mode may be unavailable during the OPS period, and OPS non-AP STAs in PS mode may be dormant during the OPS period.

[0186] In periodic mode, an OPS AP splits a beacon period into several periodic broadcast TWT SPs and provides scheduling information for all OPS non-AP STAs at the beginning of each SP. Based on this information, OPS non-AP STAs in active mode may become available only after the next TWT service period, while OPS non-AP STAs in PS mode may remain dormant until the next TWT service period.

[0187] To enable aperiodic opportunistic power saving, an OPS AP should schedule the transmission of either an OPS frame or a FILS Discovery frame, with the RA field set to the broadcast address containing both a TIM element and an OPS element. If the target transmission time closely aligns with the transmission time of a FILS Discovery frame, the AP should transmit the FILS Discovery frame instead of the OPS frame.

[0188] To enable periodic opportunistic power saving, an OPS AP should include a TWT element in its beacons to set a periodic broadcast TWT SP with the following information:

[0189] —Set the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field to 3.

[0190] — Set the Broadcast TWT ID subfield to 0.

[0191] Table 1 shows the meaning of the Broadcast TWT Recommendation field for a broadcast TWT element.

[0192] Table 1

[0193] In some embodiments, the AP and / or Non-AP STA support Flexible Multicast Service (FMS).

[0194] FMS stands for "Service that allows a non-access point (non-AP) station (STA) to request a multicast delivery interval longer than the Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) interval, thereby extending the time a STA can remain in a power-saving state."

[0195] The meaning of FMS (Flexible Multicast Service (FMS) stream): A series of frames transmitted by the access point (AP) that correspond to a single flexible multicast stream identifier (FMSID).

[0196] The meaning of an FMS stream set (flexible multicast service (FMS) stream set): A collection of FMS streams identified by the value of the FMS Token field, used during the FMS request procedure.

[0197] The meaning of FMS identifier (flexible multicast stream (FMS) identifier, FMSID): An identifier assigned by the access point (AP) to a particular group addressed stream subsequent to a successful FMS request procedure.

[0198] When dot11FMSActivated is true on the AP, the AP should include an FMS descriptor element in every beacon frame. The FMS descriptor represents the FMS group addressing buffer (BU) on the AP. If the FMS stream received by the AP does not have a buffered BU, the AP sets the Length field in the FMS descriptor element to 1. The AP should include the FMS descriptor element for the non-transport BSSID in the corresponding non-transport BSSID Profile sub-element carried in the Multiple BSSID element transmitted in the beacon frame. When dot11FMSActivated is true at the AP, the AP shall include the FMS Descriptor element in every Beacon frame. The FMS Descriptor indicates the FMS group addressed buffered BUs at the AP. If there are no buffered BUs for FMS streams accepted by the AP, the AP shall set the Length field in the FMS Descriptor element to 1. BSSID Profile subelement carried in the Multiple BSSID element sent in a Beacon frame.

[0199] When `dot11FMSActivated` is true on the AP, the AP should support one to eight different FMS stream delivery intervals for any number of FMS streams. Corresponding to these eight delivery intervals are eight FMS counters. Multiple FMSIDs may have the same delivery interval and therefore share the same FMS counter. An FMS counter corresponds to each unique delivery interval of one or more FMS streams.

[0200] Each FMS counter decrements once per DTIM beacon, and when the FMS counter reaches 0, buffered group addressed BUs assigned to that particular interval are scheduled for delivery immediately following the next DTIM beacon. After transmission of the buffered group addressed BUs, the AP resets the FMS counter to the delivery interval for the FMS streams associated with that FMS counter.

[0201] A non-AP STA that does not use FMS wakes up every DTIM interval and follows the group-addressed BU reception rules defined in the STA receive operation in PS mode.

[0202] A STA that supports FMS should support a delivery interval of 1 DTIM for any stream.

[0203] If the AP accepts the FMS subelement and the requested delivery interval, the Element Status in the corresponding FMS Status subelement should be set to "Accept," and the FMSID should be assigned a non-zero value. (In addition:)

[0204] —If the FMS stream identified in the FMS subelement matches a delivery interval already in use by the AP, the AP shall assign the FMS stream to use the FMS counter ID assigned for that delivery interval.

[0205] —When an FMS stream is accepted by the AP, the Current Count value for that FMS stream is decremented by 1 for each DTIM beacon in which the Current Count field appears.

[0206] The AP can reschedule the transmission of the FMS stream identified by an FMSID to align the transmission time of the FMS stream with the transmission time of other FMS streams that the STA is already receiving at the same delivery interval. The AP has two options:

[0207] —The AP shall notify the STAs using this FMS stream. The AP shall maintain the same non-zero Current Count value across two consecutive Beacon frames in which the Current Count field appears. The algorithm by which the AP chooses to align or offset the different FMS counters is unspecified.

[0208] —With the current count field value at 0, an unsolicited FMS Response frame is sent to the group address included in the original FMS Response frame, containing the updated Delivery Interval field. Since the AP transmits this FMS Response frame as a group-addressed frame, it will be scheduled for delivery at the appropriate DTIM interval when all non-AP STAs are awake to receive it.

[0209] —An AP may terminate the use of FMS and resume default (non-FMS) transmission rules for any FMS stream identified by FMSID for any reason. To terminate the FMS stream, the AP shall send an unsolicited FMS Response frame to the group address included in the original FMS Response frame with the Delivery Interval set to 0 and the Element Status in the FMS Status subelement set to one of “Terminate, due to AP policy change”, “Terminate, due to lack of AP resources”, or “Terminate, due to other FMS stream with higher priority”.

[0210] —If the FMS subelement contains a nonzero delivery interval and the non-AP STA specifies a maximum delivery interval as part of the FMS request, the AP shall not modify the delivery interval for the stream greater than the maximum delivery interval specified by the non-AP STA.

[0211] The order in which the AP transmits MSDUs belonging to the same FMSID should be the same as the order in which they were received at the MAC Data SAP. MSDUs belonging to different FMSIDs are transmitted by the AP at the appropriate DTIM beacon in the order they were received at the MAC Data SAP, based on the interval configured for the FMS stream.

[0212] If a non-AP STA receives an FMS Response element from its associated AP, and the value of Address 1 in the element matches its MAC address, or the value of Address 1 matches the group address of the group it belongs to, then the FMS-enabled non-AP STA should use the following procedures based on the Element Status value in the FMS Status subelement of the received FMS Response element.

[0213] —If the Element Status value in the FMS Status subelement is "Accept":

[0214] The AP has accepted the FMS subelement contained within the FMS Request element. If the FMS Request element specifies a non-zero delivery interval, the AP will deliver the requested streams at the interval specified by the non-AP STA in the FMS Request element.

[0215] Upon receiving the FMS Response element, the non-AP STA should be awake for the next DTIM beacon so that it can synchronize the FMS Current Count for the requested FMS stream. Once synchronized with the FMS Current Count, the non-AP STA does not need to transition to an awake state at every DTIM interval to receive group-addressed BUs.

[0216] —If the Element Status value in the FMS Status subelement is one of “Terminate, due to AP policy change”, “Terminate, due to lack of AP resources”, and “Terminate, due to other FMS stream with higher priority”:

[0217] —For any FMS stream identified by FMSID, the AP terminates the use of FMS transmission rules. If the AP terminates the use of FMS for a particular stream, the stream is transmitted at the DTIM interval.

[0218] Upon receiving the FMS response element, the non-AP STA shall transition to the awake state at every DTIM interval to receive group-addressed BUs.

[0219] In some embodiments, the AP and / or Non-AP STA support Directed Multicast Service (DMS) and Groupcast with Retries (GCR).

[0220] The group-addressed transmission service provides the delivery of group-addressed frames and consists of two services: DMS and GCR. DMG STAs do not use GCR.

[0221] In a Business System Base (BSS) infrastructure, Directed Multicast Service (DMS) is a service provided by an Access Point (AP) to associated STAs that support DMS, where the AP transmits group-addressed MSDUs as A-MSDUs within individually addressed MPDUs.

[0222] Group Addressed Frames (GCR) is a flexible service that improves the delivery of group-addressed frames while optimizing for a range of criteria. GCR service can be provided by the AP to associated STAs in an infrastructure BSS or by a mesh STA to its peer mesh STAs in a mesh BSS. GCR uses the setup, modification, and termination procedures defined by the Distributed Mesh System (DMS) procedures. The differences between GCR procedures and DMS procedures are as follows:

[0223] a) The GCR protocol applies to a single group address. If a TCLAS Processing element is present, it sets the Processing field value to 0, whereas a DMS flow is not restricted to a single group address.

[0224] (b) DMS only provides group-to-individually addressed conversion, while GCR includes several retransmission policies and delivery methods.

[0225] DMS allows group-addressed MSDUs to be transmitted as A-MSDUs within individually addressed MPDUs, making it particularly suitable for scenarios with a small number of group members. It offers a high level of reliability, but its scalability is lower as efficiency decreases and latency increases proportionally with the number of group members.

[0226] GCR uses the DMS Request and DMS Response elements, with the addition of GCR Request and Response subelements, respectively, to manage the announcement, setup, modification, and cancellation of GCR services between an AP and non-AP STAs or between peer mesh STAs. The DMS procedures and their state machine should apply to GCR, with the extensions and constraints specific to GCR described below in the GCR setup procedures to GCR-SP.

[0227] In addition to the No-Ack / No-Retry or non-GCR (defined in Group-addressed MPDU transfer procedure) and DMS (defined in DMS procedures) retransmission mechanisms, GCR defines two other retransmission policies for group-addressed frames:

[0228] —GCR unsolicited retry;

[0229] —GCR block ack.

[0230] When using the GCR unsolicited retry retransmission policy for a group address, the STA providing the GCR service retransmits an MSDU one or more times (subject to applicable retry or lifetime limits) to increase the probability of correct reception at STAs listening to this group address. The decision to retransmit these MSDUs is implementation-dependent. GCR unsolicited retry is particularly suitable for situations with a large number of group members because it offers moderate latency, efficiency, and reliability, but high scalability.

[0231] The GCR block acknowledgment retransmission strategy extends the block acknowledgment mechanism to group-addressed frames. The STA providing GCR service initiates a block acknowledgment protocol with each STA receiving the GCR frame, supporting GCR block acknowledgments for specific group addresses. Once this block acknowledgment protocol is in place, the STA providing GCR service periodically sends BlockAckReq frames to the STA receiving the frame to determine the reception status of MSDUs associated with that group address, as described in GCR and GLKGCR block acknowledgments. This allows the STA providing GCR service to discover unreceived MSDUs and schedule their retransmission. GCR block returns are particularly suitable for medium-sized group members due to their moderate latency, high efficiency, moderate scalability, and reliability.The GCR block ack retransmission policy extends the block acknowledgment mechanism to group addressed frames.The STA providing the GCR service initiates block ack agreements with each STA receiving GCR frames that supports GCR block ack for a particular group address.Once this block ack agreement is in place,the STA providing GCR service regularly sends BlockAckReq frames to the STAs receiving the frames to ascertain the reception status of MSDUs related to this group address,as described in GCR and GLKGCR block ack.This allows the STAproviding GCR service to discover MSDUs that have not been received and to schedule their retransmission.GCR block ack is particularly suited to use with moderate numbers of group members as it has moderate delay,high efficiency,and moderate scalability and reliability.。

[0232] An AP or mesh STA accepts a GCR request by sending a DMS Response frame with a DMS Response element containing a DMS Status field and a Response Type field set to "Accept" (as described in DMS procedures), with the following modifications:

[0233] The DMS Status field should include a GCR Response subelement indicating the retransmission policy, delivery method, and GCR concealment address for the group-addressed stream. The Retransmission Policy field cannot be set to "No Preference." The Delivery Method field should not be set to "No Preference." The GCR Concealment Address field of the GCR Response subelement should be set to dot11GCRConcealmentAddress. In a mesh BSS, the Delivery Method field should not be set to "GCR-SP."

[0234] If the GCR group addressed stream follows the GCR-SP delivery method, the AP should also include a Schedule element in the DMS Status field, indicating the wakeup schedule for the group addressed stream.

[0235] —If a TSPEC element is included, the TSID subfield should be set to 0.

[0236] In an infrastructure BSS, if a non-AP STA accepts the response to its GCR request, it must set `dot11GCRConcealmentAddress` to the value contained in the GCR Concealment Address field of the GCR Response subelement.

[0237] An AP or mesh STA may update its retransmission policy, delivery method, and schedule for any reason, such as changes in group size, changes in the capabilities of group members, receipt of GCR Request subelements for the group, or the need for multicast diagnostics. The AP or mesh STA periodically publishes its current settings upon any change using either of the following methods:

[0238] —Send an unsolicited DMS response frame with its current set address being the GCR hidden address. This DMS response frame should be scheduled for transmission during an appropriate DTIM interval or SP, in which all STAs within the group are awake to receive the frame. It contains a TCLAS element with the frame classifier type equal to 0 (Ethernet parameter). Other TCLAS elements may be present, but if present, a TCLAS processing element with the processing field equal to 0 should also be included. Within the DMS response element of the DMS response frame, each DMS descriptor should contain a TSPEC element and a GCR sub-element to identify each GCR flow. The DMSID identifying the GCR flow should be included in the DMS descriptor. Each Status field in the DMS Status field included in the frame is set to "GCR Advertise".Transmitting an unsolicited DMS Response frame with the current settings addressed to the GCR concealment address.This DMS Response frame shall be scheduled for delivery at the appropriate DTIM interval or SP in which all STAs within the group are awake to receive the frame.One TCLAS element shall be included with the frame classifier type equal to0(Ethernet parameters).Other TCLAS elements may be present,but if present,a TCLAS Processing element with the Processing field equal to 0shall also be included.One TSPEC element and one GCR subelement shall be included per DMS Descriptor in the DMS Response element of the DMS Response frame to identify each GCR stream.The DMSID that identifies the GCR stream shall be included in the DMS Descriptor.Each Status field in the DMS Status fields included in the frame shall be set to“GCR Advertise”.。

[0239] —Send unsolicited DMS Response frames with the current settings individually addressed to each GCR group member. Each GCR stream is identified by the DMSID in a DMS Status field in the DMS Response element of the DMS Response frame. These DMS Status fields shall not include a TCLAS element, TSPEC element, or GCR subelement. Each Status field in the DMS Status fields included in the frame shall be set to “GCR Advertise”.

[0240] A STA receiving GCR frames shall recover from missing group-addressed DMS Response frames containing GCR Response subelements that advertise a changed retransmission policy or delivery method according to Table STA recovery procedures for a changed retransmission policy or Table Non-AP STA recovery procedures for a changed delivery method, respectively.

[0241] Concealment prevents group-addressed frames transmitted via the GCR unsolicited retry or GCR block ack retransmission policies from being passed up through the MAC SAPs of GCR-incapable STAs.

[0242] GCR group addressed MSDUs shall be sent in an A-MSDU when retransmitted via the GCR unsolicited retry or GCR block ack retransmission policies, or transmitted via the GCR-SP delivery method.

[0243] The MPDU containing this A-MSDU should have the Address 1 field set to dot11GCRConcealmentAddress and the Retry subfield of the Frame Control field set to 1. The DA field in the A-MSDU subframe should contain the concealed GCR group address (i.e., the same value as the DA field for non-GCR group addressed delivery).

[0244] The Individual / Group Address bit (bit 0) of dot11GCRConcealmentAddress shall be set to 1.

[0245] The purpose of dot11GCRConcealmentAddress is to define the group address used by the GCR procedures (as defined in the Concealment of GCR transmissions) to conceal group-addressed frames from STAs that do not support GCR.

[0246] After establishing an immediate block ack agreement following the procedure in Setup and modification of the block ack parameters, and having gained access to the medium and established protection, the originator may transmit an A-MPDU if necessary. The RA field of frames that are not delivered using the GCR block ack retransmission policy shall be the recipient's individual address. The RA field in GCR frames delivered using the GCR block ack retransmission policy shall be set to the GCR concealment address.

[0247] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of a frame exchange sequence with a GCR block ack retransmission policy.

[0248] The Access Point (AP) uses the Group Return Principle (GCR) to send multiple Aggregated Media Access Control Service Data Units (A-MSDUs). The AP first sends a BlockAckReq frame to GCR group member 1, waits to receive the BlockAck frame, and then sends a BlockAckReq frame to group member 2. After receiving the BlockAck frame from GCR group member 2, the AP determines if any A-MSDUs need to be retransmitted and sends additional A-MSDUs using the GCR block return strategy (some of which may be retransmissions of previous A-MSDUs). Fig.9 shows an example of a frame exchange sequence when the GCR block ack retransmission policy is used. The AP sends several A-MSDUs using the GCR block ack retransmission policy. A-MSDUs need to be retransmitted and sends additional A-MSDUs (some of which might be retransmissions of previous A-MSDUs) using the GCR block ack retransmission policy.

[0249] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a frame exchange sequence with GCR MU-BAR. Figure 10 also shows another example of a frame exchange sequence using the GCR block retransmission strategy. The HE AP sends multiple A-MSDUs using the GCR block retransmission strategy. The HE AP then sends a GCR MU-BAR trigger frame to GCR group members 1 and 2, waits for a BlockAck frame, and then sends a GCR MU-BAR trigger frame to group members 3 and 4, waiting for a BlockAck frame. The HE AP then sends a BlockAckReq frame to group member 5 (a non-HE STA) and waits for a BlockAck frame. Upon receiving the BlockAck frame, the HE AP determines if there are any A-MSDUs that need to be retransmitted and sends additional A-MSDUs using the GCR block retransmission strategy (some of which may be retransmissions of previous A-MSDUs).Fig.10(Example of a frame exchange sequence with GCR MU-BAR) shows another example of a frame exchange sequence when the GCR block ack retransmission policy is used. The HE AP sends several A-MSDUs using the GCR block ack retransmission policy. The HE AP then sends a GCR MU-BAR Trigger frame to group members 1 and 2 of the GCR group, waits for the BlockAck frames, then sends a GCR MU-BAR Trigger frame to group members 3 and 4, and waits for the BlockAck frames. The HE AP then sends a BlockAckReq frame to group member 5, which is a non-HE STA, and waits for the BlockAck frame. After receiving the BlockAck frames, the HE AP determines whether any A-MSDUs need to be retransmitted and sends additional A-MSDUs (some of which might be retransmissions of previous A-MSDUs) using the GCR block ack retransmission policy.

[0250] In some embodiments, the AP and / or Non-AP STA support Enhanced Broadcast Services (EBCS), as shown in Fig. 11.

[0251] EBCS provides enhanced transmission and reception of broadcast content, both when associated with and without an infrastructure BSS. EBCS offers a service in which an EBCS proxy associated with an EBCS relaying STA can relay the contents of a higher-layer protocol (HLP) payload received from an EBCS non-AP STA to a destination typically within an external network. The relaying EBCS proxy can embed additional information.

[0252] The EBCS DL service provides a mechanism for an EBCS AP to broadcast one or more EBCS traffic streams. This service allows the receiver of an EBCS traffic stream to authenticate the transmitter, regardless of whether the receiver and transmitter are associated with the EBCS AP.

[0253] The EBCS relaying service facilitates EBCS UL operation (as described in 34.4 (EBCS UL procedure)) by providing a mechanism for an EBCS non-AP STA to transmit an EBCS UL frame containing an HLP payload intended to be relayed by one or more EBCS relaying STAs to a destination specified in the frame.

[0254] Figure 11 illustrates an example of a relay service based on a relationship with a specified destination.

[0255] The EBCS procedures include the EBCS DL procedure and the EBCS UL procedure. Using the EBCS DL procedure, EBCS data frames are broadcast by an EBCS AP to one or more EBCS receivers. Using the EBCS UL procedure, EBCS data frames are broadcast by an EBCS non-AP STA to one or more EBCS relaying STAs for subsequent delivery to a specified destination.

[0256] EBCS data frames shall use an EBCS content MAC address in the Address 1 field of the MAC header.

[0257] EBCS UL frames shall use an EBCS content MAC address in the Address 3 field of the MAC header. EBCS Info frames shall use an EBCS info MAC address in the Address 3 field of the MAC header. Both the EBCS content MAC address and the EBCS info MAC address are multicast addresses; the first three bytes are set to 01-0F-AC, and the remaining bytes are generated based on the stream type and the content ID.

[0258] The EBCS info MAC address used for EBCS info frames is set to 01-0F-AC-xx-yy-00, where the xx-yy bytes are set to the EBCS AP group ID, or 00-00 when the EBCS AP does not belong to any EBCS AP group.

[0259] The EBCS content MAC address for EBCS uplink (UL) or EBCS data frames shall be set to 01-0F-AC-xx-yy-zz.

[0260] The EBCS DL procedure allows an EBCS AP to distribute multicast content to both associated and unassociated EBCS receivers, ensuring data origin authenticity.

[0261] The frame sequence of the EBCS DL procedure is shown in Fig. 12 (EBCS DL frame sequence).

[0262] EBCS APs that are not S1G APs should advertise their EBCS functionality in the EBCS Support field of the Extended Functionality element in both beacon frames and probe response frames. EBCS APs with EBCS DL enabled should periodically transmit EBCS information frames. The interval between two consecutive EBCS information frames is specified by dot11EBCSInfoInterval. EBCS APs should announce the time of the next EBCS information frame transmission in the EBCS Information Frame TX countdown field of the EBCS parameter element, and should not signal the upcoming EBCS information frame via the TIM element or the EBCS TIM element. If an EBCS AP belongs to an EBCS certificate group, it should advertise the certificate group in the beacon frame using the Compressed Certificate Group ID field of the EBCS parameter element. If an EBCS AP belongs to an EBCS AP group, it will advertise the EBCS AP group via the EBCS Group ID field of the EBCS parameter element in the beacon frame. EBCS information frames should be transmitted between sets of group-addressed frames, immediately following the beacon frame identified by the TX countdown field of the EBCS information frame (set to 1 in the EBCS parameter element). An EBCS AP, which is not an S1G AP, shall advertise its EBCS capabilities in the EBCS Support field in the Extended Capabilities element in Beacon frames and Probe Response frames. An EBCS AP that has EBCS DL enabled shall transmit EBCS Info frames periodically. The interval between two consecutive EBCS Info frames is specified by dot11EBCSInfoInterval.An EBCS AP shall advertise the timing of the next EBCS Info frame transmission in the EBCS Info Frame TX Countdown field in the EBCS Parameters element and shall not signal an upcoming EBCS Info frame via the TIM element or the EBCS TIM element.An EBCS AP shall advertise the certificate group in Beacon frames using the Compressed Certificate Group ID field in the EBCS parameters element if the EBCS AP belongs to an EBCS certificate group.An EBCS AP shall advertise the EBCS AP group by the EBCS Group ID field in the EBCS Parameters element in Beacon frames if the EBCS AP belongs to an EBCS AP group.The EBCS Info frame shall be transmitted among the set of group addressed frames transmitted immediately after the Beacon frame identified by the EBCS Info Frame TX Countdown field set equal to 1 in the EBCS Parameters element.Details of EBCS Info frame generation are described in EBCS Info frame generation and usage.

[0263] EBCS traffic streams are carried by EBCS data frames. The EBCS AP sets the RA of the EBCS data frame to the EBCS content MAC address, the TA to its BSSID, and the SA to the group address assigned to the EBCS traffic stream by the EBCS DL content server. If the EBCS data frame contains an IPv4 multicast packet or an IPv6 multicast packet, the SA is mapped according to IETF RFC 1112 or IETF RFC 2464, respectively.

[0264] In the case of PKFA or HCFA, the EBCS receiver should use the content of the received EBCS Info frames to verify the source of the EBCS traffic stream, as described in EBCS Public Key Frame Authentication (PKFA) or EBCS Hash Chain Frame Authentication (HCFA).

[0265] An AP not listed in any of the multiple BSSID sets should send one EBCS information frame per dot11EBCSInfoInterval beacon period. In this frame, address 1 is set to the broadcast address, address 2 to the sending AP's MAC address, and address 3 to the EBCS information MAC address. Within the multiple BSSID sets, only the AP corresponding to the sending BSSID can enable EBCS DL. If enabled, it sends one EBCS information frame per dot11EBCSInfoInterval beacon period, with address 1 set to the broadcast address, address 2 to the sending BSSID, and address 3 to the EBCS information MAC address. An EBCS AP that is not in a multiple BSSID set shall transmit an EBCS Info frame every dot11EBCSInfoInterval beacon periods with the Address 1 field set to the broadcast address, the Address 2 field set to the transmitting AP's MAC address, and the Address 3 field set to the EBCS info MAC address. In a multiple BSSID set, only the AP corresponding to the transmitted BSSID may have EBCS DL enabled and, if enabled, shall transmit an EBCS Info frame,with the Address 1field set to the broadcast address,the Address 2 field set to the transmitted BSSID,and the Address 3 field set to the EBCS info MAC address every dot11EBCSInfoInterval beacon periods.

[0266] To request one or more EBCS traffic streams provided by an EBCS AP and associated with an EBCS non-AP STA, the STA should send an EBCS Content Request frame to the EBCS AP. To request one or more EBCS traffic streams that an EBCS AP has indicated require association, an unassociated EBCS non-AP STA should associate with the EBCS AP and subsequently send an EBCS Content Request frame. Requests for one or more EBCS traffic streams that do not require association may also be included in the same EBCS Content Request frame.

[0267] An unassociated EBCS STA may send an EBCS Content Request ANQP element to an EBCS AP to register for one or more EBCS traffic streams, even if the AP has indicated that association is not required for those streams.

[0268] The EBCS termination notification procedure allows a STA (Standard Operating System) that is broadcasting EBCS traffic streams to indicate that one or more of the EBCS traffic streams it is broadcasting are to be terminated. In EBCS DL, a broadcaster of one or more EBCS traffic streams is an EBCS AP (Electronic Access Point).

[0269] If one or more EBCSs in transit will terminate within an interval equal to or less than `dot11ebcsterminationnotifetime`, and if the STA does not have a schedule for regularly transmitting EBCS traffic flows that are about to be terminated, then the EBCS STA should begin transmitting an EBCS termination notification frame. If the EBCS STA begins sending an EBCS termination notification frame, then the EBCS termination notification frame is sent, and the period of the EBCS termination notification frame is greater than `dot11EBCSTerminationNoticeMinimumInterval` and less than `dot11ebcsterminationnotifemaximuminterval`. An EBCS STA shall start to transmit EBCS Termination Notice frames if one or more EBCS that it is transmitting will terminate within an interval that is equal to or shorter than dot11EBCSTerminationNoticeTime,if the STA is not periodically transmitting a schedule for the EBCS traffic stream that is to be terminated. dot11EBCSTerminationNoticeMinimumInterval and smaller than dot11EBCSTerminationNoticeMaximumInterval.

[0270] The EBCS UL procedure allows a non-AP STA to transmit an EBCS UL frame containing an HLP payload intended to be relayed by one or more EBCS relaying STAs to a destination specified in the frame.

[0271] An EBCS non-AP STA may transmit an EBCS UL frame without receiving a Beacon frame, S1G Beacon frame, PV1 Probe Response frame, or a Probe Response frame with the EBCS Relaying Supported field of the Extended Capabilities element set to 1. The address fields are defined in Format of (PV0)Management frames, where the Address 1 field of the frame shall be set to a group address.

[0272] Note: The group address value of the Address 1 field can be set to either a broadcast address or a multicast address to differentiate different types of EBCS UL traffic belonging to the same UL traffic stream. For example, an EBCS non-AP STA could transmit different EBCS UL frames, each carrying different EBCS UL traffic, and set the Address 1 field to a different group address value. The Address 3 field is set to the EBCS content MAC address, which is unique to the UL traffic stream.

[0273] In some embodiments, a non-AP STA requests the AP to send additional, faster-transmitting, and therefore shorter-duration TIM frames, thus avoiding the need to listen to slow, time-consuming beacon frames and saving power.

[0274] The AP must transmit one or two broadcast TIM frames within each TIM Broadcast Interval. If two are transmitted, they must be transmitted first at a high rate and then at a low rate. The low rate refers to the rate at which the beacon frame is sent.

[0275] TIM frames have a shorter duration than beacon frames and are potentially transmitted at a higher data rate. TIM broadcasting allows a non-AP STA to receive a TIM element without receiving a beacon frame, which may reduce the required wake-up time in power-saving mode. The shorter the receive time, the lower the power consumption of a non-AP STA in power-saving mode. The shorter receive time can reduce the power consumption of stations in standby mode.

[0276] Non-AP STAs can activate TIM broadcast service by including a TIM broadcast request element in a TIM broadcast request frame, association request frame, or reassociation request frame sent to the AP. This request specifies the request interval (TIM broadcast interval) between TIM frame transmissions. When dot11TIMBroadcastActivated is true, the AP, upon receiving a correctly formatted TIM broadcast request element in a TIM broadcast request frame, association request frame, or reassociation request frame, should include a TIM broadcast response element in the corresponding TIM broadcast response frame, association response frame, or reassociation response frame. Non-AP STAs can only transmit TIM broadcast requests if the associated AP indicates support for TIM broadcast by setting the TIM Broadcast field of its transmitted extended functionality element to 1.A non-AP STAmay activate the TIM broadcast service by including a TIM Broadcast Request element in a TIM Broadcast Request frame,Association Request frame or Reassociation Request frame that is transmitted to the AP,which specifies the requested interval between TIM frame transmissions(the TIM broadcast interval).On receipt of a properly formatted TIM Broadcast Request element in a TIM Broadcast Request frame,Association Request frame or Reassociation Request frame,the AP shall include a TIM Broadcast Response element in the corresponding TIM Broadcast Response frame,Association Response frame or Reassociation Response frame,when dot11TIMBroadcastActivated is true.A non-AP STA shall transmit a TIM Broadcast Request only if the associated AP has indicated support for TIM Broadcast by setting the TIM Broadcast field of the Extended Capabilities elements that it transmits to 1.。

[0277] If the AP accepts at least one TIM broadcast request with a non-zero TIM broadcast interval field, and at least one non-AP STA in PS mode is still associated with the AP and received a status field value of 0 (accepted) in its most recent TIM broadcast response in response to the TIM broadcast request with a non-zero TIM broadcast interval field, then the AP should send 1 or 2 TIM frames in each TIM broadcast interval. Otherwise, the AP must not transmit TIM frames. When TIM broadcast intervals overlap, the transmitted TIM frames serve both intervals and do not need to be repeated. The AP shall not transmit TIM frames otherwise. TIM broadcast intervals overlap, a transmitted TIM frame serves both intervals and does not need to be duplicated.

[0278] If the AP transmits two TIM frames per TIM Broadcast Interval, it should transmit the high-data-rate TIM frame first, followed by the low-data-rate TIM frame.

[0279] The Address 1 field of the TIM frame should be set to the broadcast address.

[0280] In some embodiments, Subchannel Selective Transmission (SST) operations are used only for target wake-up time protocols for individual sites and not for multicast transmission. The AP needs to ensure that the service period of the target wake-up time does not overlap with the target beacon transmission time for DTIM transmission.

[0281] A HE SST non-AP STA and a HE SST AP can establish an SST operation by negotiating a trigger-enabled TWT as defined in an Individual TWT agreement, with the following exceptions:

[0282] A TWT request may have a TWT Channel field with up to one bit set to 1 to indicate that the requested secondary channel contains the RU allocations addressed to the HE SST non-AP STA, which is a 20MHz operating STA.

[0283] A TWT request may have a TWT Channel field with all four least significant bits (LSBs) or all four most significant bits (MSBs) set to 1 to indicate whether the primary or secondary 80MHz channel is requested to contain the RU allocations addressed to the HE SST non-AP STA, which is an 80MHz operating STA.

[0284] The TWT response should include a TWT Channel field with up to one bit set to 1 to indicate the secondary channel that will contain the RU allocations to the HE SST non-AP STA, which is a 20MHz operating STA.

[0285] The TWT response should include a TWT Channel field with all four least significant bits (LSBs) or all four most significant bits (MSBs) set to 1 to indicate whether the primary or secondary 80MHz channel will contain the RU allocations sent to the HE SST non-AP STA, which is an 80MHz operating STA.

[0286] During trigger-enabled TWT SPs, the HE SST AP follows the rules in the Individual TWT agreements to exchange frames with the HE SST non-AP STA, except that the AP must ensure the following:

[0287] The individually addressed RUs allocated in DL MU PPDUs and in Trigger frames addressed to the HE SST non-AP STA are within the subchannel indicated in the TWT Channel field of the TWT response and follow the RU restriction rules defined in RU restrictions for 20MHz operation if the HE SST non-AP STA is a 20MHz operating STA and for 80MHz operating non-AP HE STAs if the HE SST non-AP STA is an 80MHz operating STA.

[0288] —If the TXVECTOR parameter CH_BANDWIDTH of the DL MU PPDU is not set to HE-CBW-PUNC160-PRI20, HE-CBW-PUNC80+80-PRI20, HE-CBW-PUNC160-SEC40 or HE-CBW-PUNC80+80-SEC40, and the address of the DL MU PPDU is at least one HE SST non-AP STA, and that STA is an 80MHz operating STA, working on the secondary channel. The TXVECTOR parameter CH_BANDWIDTH of a DL MU PPDU is not set to HE-CBW-PUNC160-PRI20,HE-CBW-PUNC80+80-PRI20,HE-CBW-PUNC160-SEC40,or HE-CBW-PUNC80+80-SEC40 if the DL MU PPDU is addressed to at least one HE SST non-AP STA that is an 80MHz operating STA operating in a secondary channel.

[0289] The trigger-enabled TWT SPs do not overlap with TBTTs at which DTIM beacons are sent.

[0290] —TWT SPs with the same HE SST non-AP STA and overlapping time signatures use the same subchannel.

[0291] Figure 13 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0292] Step 220: Transmit and / or do not transmit the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0293] The first station does not transmit the first frame during the transmission opportunity (TXOP) on the Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) primary channel. In other words, the first station does not send the first frame during the TXOP acquired on the NPCA primary channel.

[0294] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0295] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0296] In some embodiments, in environments with relatively dense Wi-Fi network deployments, multiple spatially adjacent BSSs may share all or part of their 20MHz sub-channels in their operating channels, and their Basic Service Areas (BSAs) may overlap entirely or partially; they are considered OBSSs. In this case, if, for a period of time, one of the 20MHz sub-channels occupied by BSS2's transmission is BSS2's primary channel (i.e., the main 20MHz channel), then BSS1 cannot transmit because the primary channel medium is busy. To improve spectrum efficiency, the AP and non-AP STA of BSS1 can switch to the NPCA primary channel for transmission when the primary channel medium is detected to be busy.

[0297] In some embodiments, a site or access point that has enabled or facilitated NPCA operation or function may switch to the NPCA primary channel to perform NPCA operation when the primary channel receives an inter-BSS PPDU and the duration of the PPDU exceeds a threshold (NPCA Minimum Duration Threshold), or when the primary channel receives an inter-BSS PPDU carrying a control frame and an inter-BSS PPDU carrying a control response frame and the duration of the TXOP of the OBSS they indicate exceeds a threshold (NPCA Minimum Duration Threshold).

[0298] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first frame includes group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames. Group-addressed data frames may also be referred to as multicast data frames, and group-addressed management frames may also be referred to as multicast management frames.

[0300] In some embodiments, the first frame includes data frames sent to the broadcast address and / or management frames sent to the broadcast address. The data frames sent to the broadcast address may also be referred to as broadcast data frames, and the management frames sent to the broadcast address may also be referred to as broadcast management frames.

[0301] In some embodiments, the first frame includes: a group-addressed data frame, and / or a broadcast data frame, and / or a group-addressed management frame, and / or a broadcast management frame.

[0302] For example, the first station transmits group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, the first station transmits broadcast data frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Another example: the first station transmits group-addressed data frames and / or broadcast data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Yet another example: the first station transmits group-addressed management frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Yet another example: the first station transmits any three of the following in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames. Finally, the first station transmits group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0303] For example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit broadcast data frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or broadcast data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed management frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit any three of the following in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0304] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the transmission behavior of APs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Since different sites and their associated APs are located in different spatial positions, the inter-BSS PPDUs and / or the corresponding RSSIs of the inter-BSS PPDUs that can be received on the main channel may differ. This means that different sites and access points may not switch to the main channel at the same time. The method provided in this application effectively avoids the situation where some target sites cannot receive the first frame.

[0305] Figure 14 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0306] Step 320: No group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type I management frames are transmitted in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0307] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0308] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0309] The first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed data frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast data frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0310] The first station does not transmit group-addressed Type I management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed Type I management frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast Type I management frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0311] In some embodiments, the first type of management frame is a management frame that excludes at least one of the following frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication map frame (TIM frame), quick initial link establishment discovery frame (FILS discovery frame), and deauthentication frame.

[0312] In some embodiments, the first station sends at least one of the following management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

[0313] In some embodiments, in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the first station may not transmit group-addressed data frames unless the first station confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed data frames in the TXOP.

[0314] In some embodiments, if all target stations corresponding to the first station confirm that the group address can receive the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP, the first station transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0315] In some embodiments, in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the first station may not transmit group-addressed Type 1 management frames unless the first station confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive group-addressed Type 1 management frames in the TXOP.

[0316] In some embodiments, if all target stations corresponding to the first station confirming the group address can receive the first type of management frame addressed by the group in the TXOP, the first station transmits the first type of management frame addressed by the group in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0317] In some embodiments, during the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the first station may not transmit group-addressed management frames, except for the following management frames: beacon frames, probe response frames, flow indication graph frames, deauthentication frames, and fast initial link establishment discovery frames. That is, the first station may transmit group-addressed management frames, including at least one of beacon frames, probe response frames, flow indication graph frames, deauthentication frames, and fast initial link establishment discovery frames, during the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, but the first station may not transmit other management frames during the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0318] In some embodiments, in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the first station may not transmit group-addressed management frames unless the first station confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed management frames in the TXOP, except for the following management frames: beacon frames, probe response frames, traffic indication graph frames, deauthentication frames, and fast initial link establishment discovery frames.

[0319] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the transmission behavior of APs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Since different sites and their associated APs are located in different spatial positions, the inter-BSS PPDUs and / or the corresponding RSSIs that can be received on the main channel may differ. This means that different sites and access points may not switch to the main channel at the same time. The method provided in this application effectively avoids situations where some target sites cannot receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frames. Furthermore, it also supports APs sending one or more management frames, including beacon frames, probe response frames, traffic indication graph frames, fast initial link establishment discovery frames, and deauthentication frames, in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, to ensure the flexibility, stability, and reliability of transmission within the BSS.

[0320] Figure 15 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0321] Step 420: No group-addressed Type II frames are transmitted in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0322] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0323] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0324] The first station does not transmit group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast Type II frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0325] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and / or management frames, and the group-addressed second type of frames includes group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames.

[0326] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and management frames that exclude at least one of the following: Non-Space-Time Block Coding Beacon frames (Non-STBC Beacon frames), Extended Range beacon (ER beacon), High Efficiency beacon (HE beacon), STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in an FMS stream, group-addressed frames transmitted to the GCR concealment address, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE ER SU PPDU, and group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE SU PPDU. PPDU, Group addressed data and management frames transmitted in an Efficient Multi-User Physical Protocol Data Unit (HMU PPDU), EBCS Info frames, EBCS UL frames, and EBCS Data frames.

[0327] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the transmission behavior of APs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, which can effectively prevent some target sites from being unable to receive group-addressed Type II frames.

[0328] Figure 16 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0329] Step 520: No group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type I management frames and / or group-addressed Type II frames are transmitted in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0330] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0331] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0332] The first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed data frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast data frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0333] The first station does not transmit group-addressed Type I management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed Type I management frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast Type I management frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0334] The first station does not transmit group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel, or as the first station not sending multicast Type II frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first type of management frame is a management frame that excludes at least one of the following frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication map frame (TIM frame), quick initial link establishment discovery frame (FILS discovery frame), and deauthentication frame.

[0336] In some embodiments, the first station sends at least one of the following management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

[0337] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and / or management frames, and the group-addressed second type of frames includes group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames.

[0338] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and management frames excluding at least one of the following: Non-Space-Time Block Coding Beacon frames (Non-STBC Beacon frames), Extended Range beacon (ER beacon), High Efficiency beacon (HE beacon), STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in an FMS stream, group-addressed frames transmitted to the GCR concealment address, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE SU PPDU, and group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE MU. PPDU, EBCS Info frames, EBCS UL frames, EBCS Data frames.

[0339] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCAAP must not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frames.

[0340] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCAAP must not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type II frames.

[0341] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit group-addressed Type 1 management frames and / or group-addressed Type 2 frames.

[0342] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit group-addressed data frames, group-addressed Type I management frames, and group-addressed Type II frames.

[0343] In some embodiments, within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frames unless the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed frame in that TXOP. That is, if the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed frame corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may transmit the group-addressed data frame and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frame corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Here, the target station refers to the member station corresponding to the group address of the group-addressed data frame and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frame.

[0344] In some embodiments, within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type II frames unless the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address are capable of receiving the group-addressed frame in that TXOP. That is, if the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address are capable of receiving the group-addressed frame corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may transmit the group-addressed data frame and / or group-addressed Type II frames corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Here, the target station refers to the member station corresponding to the group address of the group-addressed data frame and / or group-addressed Type II frame.

[0345] In some embodiments, within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may not transmit group-addressed Type 1 management frames and / or group-addressed Type 2 frames unless the NPCA AP confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address are capable of receiving the group-addressed frames in that TXOP. That is, if the NPCA AP confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address are capable of receiving the group-addressed frames corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may transmit group-addressed Type 1 management frames and / or group-addressed Type 2 frames corresponding to that group address in a TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Here, "target site" refers to the member site corresponding to the group address of the group-addressed Type 1 management frame and / or group-addressed Type 2 frame.

[0346] In some embodiments, within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may not transmit group-addressed data frames, group-addressed Type I management frames, and group-addressed Type II frames, unless the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed frame in that TXOP. That is, if the NPCA AP confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can receive the group-addressed frame corresponding to that group address in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may transmit the group-addressed data frames, group-addressed Type I management frames, and group-addressed Type II frames corresponding to that group address in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Here, the target station refers to the member station corresponding to the group address of the group-addressed data frame, group-addressed Type I management frame, and group-addressed Type II frame.

[0347] For example, if a group address A corresponds to all stations including station 1, station 2, and station 3, and the NPCA AP determines that stations 1, 2, and 3 have all switched to the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP can send data frames with the Receiver Address (RA) field set to group address A. Otherwise, for example, if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 has not switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine whether any of stations 1, 2, and 3 have switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 cannot receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine that all of stations 1, 2, and 3 can receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP must not send data frames with the RA field set to group address A. Furthermore, the NPCA AP must not send data frames with the RA field set to group address A on the NPCA main channel.

[0348] For example, if a group address A corresponds to all stations including station 1, station 2, and station 3, and the NPCA AP determines that stations 1, 2, and 3 have all switched to the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP can send a Type I management frame with the RA field set to group address A. Otherwise, for example, if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 has not switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine whether any of stations 1, 2, and 3 have switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 cannot receive group addressing frames on the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine that all of stations 1, 2, and 3 can receive group addressing frames on the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP must not send a Type I management frame with the RA field set to group address A. Furthermore, the NPCA AP must not send a Type I management frame with the RA field set to group address A on the NPCA main channel.

[0349] For example, if a group address A corresponds to all stations including station 1, station 2, and station 3, and the NPCA AP determines that stations 1, 2, and 3 have all switched to the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP can send a Type II frame with the RA field set to group address A. Otherwise, for example, if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 has not switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine whether any of stations 1, 2, and 3 have switched to the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP determines that any of stations 1, 2, and 3 cannot receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, or if the NPCA AP cannot determine that all of stations 1, 2, and 3 can receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP must not send a Type II frame with the RA field set to group address A. Furthermore, the NPCA AP must not send a Type II frame with the RA field set to group address A on the NPCA main channel.

[0350] For example, if all sites corresponding to a group address A include site 1, site 2, and site 3, and the NPCA AP determines that site 1, site 2, and site 3 have all switched to the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP can send data frames with the RA field set to group address A and / or first-class management frames and / or second-class management frames with group address A. Otherwise, for example, if the NPCA AP determines that any of the three sites (site 1, site 2, and site 3) has not switched to the NPCA main channel, or the NPCA AP cannot determine whether any of the three sites has switched to the NPCA main channel, or the NPCA AP determines that any of the three sites cannot receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, or the NPCA AP cannot determine that all three sites can receive group-addressed frames on the NPCA main channel, then the NPCA AP must not send data frames with the RA field set to group-addressed A and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames with group-addressed A. Furthermore, the NPCA AP must not send data frames with the RA field set to group-addressed A and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames with group-addressed A on the NPCA main channel.

[0351] In some embodiments, the NPCA AP determines whether a non-AP STA can receive group-addressed frames in the TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., the NPCA primary channel) by interacting with the non-AP STA via Initial Control Frames (ICFs) and Initial Control Responses (ICRs). For example, all stations corresponding to a group address A include station 1, station 2, and station 3. The NPCA AP sends an ICF to station 1, station 2, and station 3 on the NPCA primary channel. If the NPCA AP receives ICRs from all three stations, it can determine that all three stations can receive group-addressed frames in the TXOP on the non-primary channel (i.e., the TXOP on the NPCA primary channel). Otherwise, if the NPCA AP does not receive an ICR from any of the three stations, it can determine that the corresponding station cannot receive group-addressed frames in the TXOP on the non-primary channel, such as data frames of group-addressed A and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames of group-addressed A.

[0352] In some embodiments, the NPCA AP determines whether a non-AP STA can receive a group addressing frame in a TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., a TXOP on the NPCA primary channel) by receiving an ICF sent by a non-AP STA. For example, if all stations corresponding to a group address A include station 1, station 2, and station 3, and station 1 sends an ICF on the NPCA primary channel, but the NPCA AP does not respond because it detects the channel is busy during the SIFS interval, the NPCA AP can determine that station 1 will be able to receive a group addressing frame in a TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., a TXOP on the NPCA primary channel). After a period of time, the NPCA AP sends an ICF to station 2 and station 3 on the NPCA main channel. If the NPCA AP receives the ICF sent by station 2 and station 3, then the NPCA AP can determine that all three stations can receive group-addressed frames in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Otherwise, if the NPCA AP does not receive the ICF sent by station 2 and / or station 3, then the NPCA AP can determine that the corresponding station 2 and / or station 3 cannot receive group-addressed frames in the TXOP on a non-main channel, such as data frames of group-addressed A and / or first-type management frames of group-addressed A and / or second-type frames of group-addressed A.

[0353] In some embodiments, before sending group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames and / or group-addressed second-class frames, the NPCA AP in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel sends a control frame to poll all target stations corresponding to the group-addressed frame. The control frame is used to determine whether all target stations can receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames and / or group-addressed second-class frames.

[0354] In some embodiments, if a first condition is met, the first station transmits a first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; and / or, if the first condition is not met, the first station does not transmit a first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0355] In some embodiments, the first condition includes one or more of the following:

[0356] The first site confirms that all sites corresponding to the group address can or are able to receive group-addressed data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0357] All stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address can or are able to receive group-addressed management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0358] All stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address can or are able to receive group-addressed Type I management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0359] All stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address can or are able to receive group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel;

[0360] All sites corresponding to the first site confirmation group address are switched to the NPCA main channel.

[0361] This refers to all sites corresponding to the group address, which are also all target sites corresponding to the group address, and all member sites corresponding to the group address.

[0362] In some embodiments, when a non-AP STA is in power-saving mode (PS mode), the AP buffers group-addressable bufferable units (BUs) arriving via the distribution system (DS). These BUs include one or more of the following: MSDUs, aggregated MSDUs (A-MSDUs), and bufferable MAC Management Protocol Data Units (MMPDUs). The BUs are then sent to all corresponding non-AP STAs immediately following the next DTIM beacon frame. The non-AP STAs can determine the transmission time of the next DTIM beacon frame based on currently and / or future received beacon frames, and thus determine the transmission time of the group-addressable bufferable unit. Therefore, the NPCA AP should not switch to a non-primary channel (i.e., the NPCA primary channel) at the pre-planned and / or pre-negotiated transmission time of the group-addressable bufferable unit. The above times are the times when DTIM beacon frames begin to be sent and / or the times immediately following the completion of DTIM beacon frame transmission.

[0363] MMPDU refers to the frame body of a management frame. An MMPDU is transmitted in one or more management frames. An MMPDU may include a Mesh Control field, a Management Message Integrity Code (MIC) element (MME), or a MIC element, but does not include a MAC header, a Frame Check Sequence (FCS), or any other security encapsulation overhead.

[0364] In some embodiments, if the AP advertises a broadcast TWT with a Broadcast TWT ID equal to 0, and the TWT parameter set corresponding to this TWT indicates a non-trigger enabled unannounced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is equal to 0, the AP must schedule the delivery of group-addressed DL BUs during at least one service period (SP) of this TWT located within the beacon interval that follows the DTIM beacon. Therefore, to ensure that all stations receive group-addressed downlink bufferable units as much as possible, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP must prioritize transmitting group-addressed downlink bufferable units from among the transmission opportunities acquired on the primary channel. Alternatively, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP and / or NPCA STA may postpone channel access until acquiring the first transmission opportunity within that service cycle on the primary channel. Alternatively, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP may not transmit group-addressed downlink bufferable units from among the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA primary channel.

[0365] In summary, the method provided in this application embodiment restricts the transmission behavior of AP in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, which can effectively prevent some target sites from being unable to receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-type management frames and / or group-addressed second-type frames.

[0366] Figure 17 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0367] Step 620: No broadcast data frames and / or broadcast first-class management frames and / or broadcast second-class frames are transmitted in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0368] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0369] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0370] The first station does not transmit broadcast data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending broadcast address data frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0371] The first station does not transmit the first type of management frame broadcast in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending the first type of management frame with the broadcast address in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0372] The first station does not transmit the second type of broadcast frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. This can also be understood as the first station not sending the second type of broadcast frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0373] In some embodiments, the first type of management frame is a management frame that excludes at least one of the following frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication map frame (TIM frame), quick initial link establishment discovery frame (FILS discovery frame), and deauthentication frame.

[0374] In some embodiments, the first station sends at least one of the following management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

[0375] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and / or management frames, and the broadcast second type of frames includes broadcast data frames and / or broadcast management frames.

[0376] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and management frames that exclude at least one of the following: Non-Space-Time Block Coding Beacon frames (Non-STBC Beacon frames), Extended Range beacon (ER beacon), High Efficiency beacon (HE beacon), STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in an FMS stream, (Group-addressed frames transmitted to the GCR concealment address), group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE MU PPDU, and EBCS information frames (EBCS). Info frames), EBCS uplink frames (EBCS UL frames), EBCS Data frames.

[0377] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit data frames with broadcast addresses and / or Class 1 management frames with broadcast addresses. That is, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit broadcast data frames and / or broadcast Class 1 management frames.

[0378] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit data frames with broadcast addresses and / or Type II frames with broadcast addresses. That is, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit broadcast data frames and / or Type II frames with broadcast addresses.

[0379] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit Type 1 management frames and / or Type 2 frames with broadcast addresses. That is, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit broadcast Type 1 management frames and / or broadcast Type 2 frames.

[0380] In some embodiments, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit broadcast address data frames, broadcast address type 1 management frames, and broadcast address type 2 frames. That is, during a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP must not transmit broadcast data frames, broadcast type 1 management frames, and broadcast type 2 frames.

[0381] In some embodiments, within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may not transmit data frames and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames of the broadcast address, unless the NPCA AP confirms that all target sites are capable of receiving frames of that broadcast address within that TXOP. That is, if the NPCA AP confirms that all target sites are capable of receiving broadcast frames within a TXOP on the NPCA main channel, the NPCA AP may transmit broadcast data frames and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames of the broadcast address within the TXOP on the NPCA main channel. Here, target sites refer to all sites associated with the AP corresponding to the broadcast data frames and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames of the broadcast address; in other words, target sites refer to all sites associated with the AP corresponding to the broadcast address.

[0382] In some embodiments, the NPCA AP determines whether a non-AP STA can receive broadcast frames in a TXOP on a non-primary channel through ICF and ICR interactions with the non-AP STA. For example, all stations corresponding to the broadcast address include station 1, station 2, and station 3. The NPCA AP sends an ICF to station 1, station 2, and station 3 on the NPCA primary channel. If the NPCA AP receives ICRs from all three stations, it can determine that all three stations can receive broadcast frames in a TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., a TXOP on the NPCA primary channel). Otherwise, if the NPCA AP does not receive an ICR from any of the three stations, it can determine that the corresponding station cannot receive broadcast frames in a TXOP on a non-primary channel, such as data frames sent to the broadcast address and / or first-type management frames and / or second-type frames sent to the broadcast address.

[0383] In some embodiments, the NPCA AP determines whether a non-AP STA can receive broadcast frames in a TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., a TXOP on the NPCA primary channel) by receiving an ICF sent by a non-AP STA. For example, if all stations corresponding to the broadcast address include station 1, station 2, and station 3, and station 1 sends an ICF on the NPCA primary channel, but the NPCA AP does not respond because it detects the channel is busy during the SIFS interval, the NPCA AP can determine that station 1 will be able to receive broadcast frames in a TXOP on a non-primary channel (i.e., a TXOP on the NPCA primary channel). After a period of time, NPCAAP sends ICF to stations 2 and 3 on the NPCA main channel. If NPCAAP receives ICFs from stations 2 and 3, then NPCAAP can determine that all three stations can receive broadcast frames in the TXOP. Otherwise, if NPCAAP does not receive ICFs from stations 2 and / or 3, then NPCAAP can determine that the corresponding stations 2 and / or 3 cannot receive broadcast frames in the TXOP on a non-main channel, such as data frames sent to the broadcast address and / or first-class management frames sent to the broadcast address and / or second-class frames sent to the broadcast address.

[0384] In some embodiments, the NPCA AP, in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, before sending the broadcast data frame and / or the broadcast first type management frame and / or the broadcast second type frame, sends a control frame to poll all target stations corresponding to the broadcast frame. The control frame is used to determine whether all target stations can receive the broadcast frame, such as the data frame sent to the broadcast address and / or the first type management frame sent to the broadcast address and / or the second type frame sent to the broadcast address.

[0385] In some embodiments, when a non-AP STA is in power-saving mode, the AP buffers the Bufferable Units (BUs) arriving via the distribution system for such non-AP STAs. These BUs include at least one of the following: MSDU, A-MSDU, and bufferable MMPDU, and are sent to all corresponding non-AP STAs immediately following the next DTIM beacon frame. The non-AP STA can determine the transmission time of the next DTIM beacon frame based on the currently received and / or future beacon frames, and thus determine the transmission time of the Bufferable Units. Therefore, the NPCA AP should not switch to a non-primary channel at the pre-planned and / or pre-negotiated transmission time of the Bufferable Units. The aforementioned times refer to the time when transmission of DTIM beacon frames begins and / or the time immediately following the completion of DTIM beacon frame transmission.

[0386] MMPDU refers to the frame body of a management frame. An MMPDU is transmitted in one or more management frames. An MMPDU may include a Mesh Control field, a Management Message Integrity Code (MIC) element (MME), or a MIC element, but does not include a MAC header, a Frame Check Sequence (FCS), or any other security encapsulation overhead.

[0387] In some embodiments, if the AP advertises a broadcast TWT with a Broadcast TWT ID equal to 0, and the TWT parameter set corresponding to this TWT indicates a non-trigger enabled unannounced TWT SP and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is equal to 0, the AP must schedule the delivery of broadcast DL BUs during at least one service period (SP) of this TWT located within the beacon interval that follows the DTIM beacon. Therefore, to ensure that all stations receive the broadcast downlink bufferable unit as much as possible, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP must prioritize transmitting the broadcast downlink bufferable unit in the transmission opportunities acquired on the primary channel. Alternatively, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP and / or NPCA STA may postpone channel access until acquiring the first transmission opportunity within that service cycle on the primary channel. Alternatively, during one or more service cycles of the TWT following the DTIM beacon, the NPCA AP may not transmit the broadcast downlink bufferable unit in the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA primary channel.

[0388] In summary, the method provided in this application embodiment restricts the transmission behavior of AP in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, which can effectively prevent some target sites from being unable to receive data frames of broadcast address and / or first-type management frames of broadcast address and / or second-type frames of broadcast address.

[0389] Figure 18 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0390] Step 720: Delay or do not transmit the beacon frame.

[0391] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0392] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0393] In some embodiments, the first station uses non-HT PPDU to transmit beacon frames.

[0394] In some embodiments, the beacon frames transmitted by the first station using non-HT PPDU carry a timestamp field and / or a beacon interval field for time synchronization of all stations within the BSS.

[0395] In some embodiments, provided that the medium access rules are followed, the first station must schedule a beacon frame as the next frame for transmission at each Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT). In cases of medium congestion, the transmission of a beacon frame may be delayed due to CSMA deferral (see the section on beacon frames above).

[0396] In some embodiments, to ensure that all stations within the BSS can receive beacon frames and maintain synchronization, if the first station switches to the NPCA primary channel at the TBTT time, the first station should postpone the transmission of beacon frames until it acquires a TXOP on the primary channel (referring to the BSS primary channel, not the NPCA primary channel). Alternatively, if the first station switches to the NPCA primary channel at the TBTT time, the first station must not transmit beacon frames from the TXOP acquired on the NPCA primary channel.

[0397] In some embodiments, at TBTT time, the first site and the second site (the non-AP STA associated with the first site) must not switch to the NPCA primary channel.

[0398] In some embodiments, to give neighboring access points and / or sites participating in Multi-AP Coordination more opportunities to obtain access point information, the first site may transmit additional beacon frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel. That is, within a certain offset time (such as a preset offset) of the target beacon transmission time, the first site transmits a beacon frame once on the main channel (referring to the BSS main channel) and also transmits a beacon frame once in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0399] In summary, the method provided in this application supports the AP in delaying the transmission of beacon frames based on the TBTT time or not transmitting beacon frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, thus restricting the AP's beacon frame transmission behavior and ensuring that all stations within the BSS can receive beacon frames to maintain synchronization. It also supports the AP not switching to the NPCA main channel at the TBTT time, restricting the AP's channel switching behavior and ensuring that all stations within the BSS can receive beacon frames to maintain synchronization.

[0400] Figure 19 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0401] Step 820: Do not transmit individually addressed and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0402] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0403] In some embodiments, the first site includes an NPCA AP, i.e., an AP that enables / has NPCA operation / function.

[0404] In some embodiments, if the first station sends a probe response frame on the NPCA primary channel, the channel on which the probe response frame is located will definitely be inconsistent with the NPCA AP primary channel, leading to errors in the beacon report (see the relevant content on beacon reports above). UHR stations can modify the Channel Number field in the beacon report to indicate the channel number of the primary channel carried in the received beacon or probe response frame, but this is no longer possible or very difficult for legacy stations to modify. Therefore, for better compatibility with legacy stations, the first station must not transmit individually addressed and / or broadcast probe response frames during transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA primary channel.

[0405] Regarding beacon reports: An AP in the first BSS may send a beacon request to its associated non-AP STA, requesting the non-AP STA to send a beacon report carrying information about its neighboring BSS (the second BSS). A beacon request refers to a radio measurement request frame carrying a measurement request element with the measurement type field value equal to 5, and a beacon report refers to a radio measurement report frame carrying a measurement report element with the measurement type field value equal to 5. To obtain information from the second BSS, a non-AP STA may send an individually addressed or broadcast probe request frame on its primary channel. Upon receiving this, the AP in the second BSS may send an individually addressed probe response frame. The non-AP STA generates a beacon report corresponding to the information of the second BSS based on the probe response frame received on its primary channel. The channel number field in the beacon report indicates the channel number of the received beacon or probe response frame.

[0406] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the transmission behavior of beacon frames by APs in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, which transmit individually addressed and / or broadcast probe response frames, thereby better compatibility with traditional sites.

[0407] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 820 are combined to implement a communication method that supports the first station delaying the transmission of beacon frames based on the TBTT time or not transmitting beacon frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel and not transmitting separately addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, it supports the first station not switching to the NPCA main channel at the TBTT time and not transmitting separately addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0408] Figure 20 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0409] Step 920: Transmit a Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frame for group addressing and / or a probe response frame for group addressing in the TXOP of the NPCA primary channel.

[0410] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0411] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0412] In some embodiments, if the first station supports operation in the 6 GHz band, and the primary channel is not in the preferred scanning channel (PSC) specified in the communication protocol, and the NPCA primary channel is in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol, then the first station transmits a group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frame and / or a group-addressed probe response frame in the TXOP of the NPCA primary channel.

[0413] In some embodiments, the first station operates only in the 6 GHz band (i.e., the first station is a 6 GHz-only AP), and the main channel is not in the preferred scanning channel specified by the communication protocol, while the NPCA main channel is in the preferred scanning channel specified by the communication protocol. In this case, the first station transmits a group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frame and / or a group-addressed probe response frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0414] In other cases, the first station must not transmit group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA primary channel.

[0415] For example, if the primary channel of the first station is in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol and / or the primary NPCA channel of the first station is not in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol, the first station will not transmit the Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frame and / or the probe response frame of group addressing in the TXOP of the primary NPCA channel.

[0416] For example, if the first site does not support operation in the 6GHz band, and the main channel is in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol and / or the first site's NPCA main channel is not in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol, the first site will not transmit the group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frame and / or the group-addressed probe response frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0417] For example, if the first site is not a 6GHz-only AP, and the primary channel is in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol and / or the first site's NPCA primary channel is not in the preferred scanning channel specified in the communication protocol, the first site will not transmit group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA primary channel.

[0418] This is because, in the 6GHz band, non-AP STAs typically discover APs through active or passive scanning on their preferred scanning channels pre-defined by the protocol. If a 6GHz-only AP's primary channel is not in its preferred scanning channel, it can transmit FILS Discovery frames and / or Probe Response frames on its preferred scanning channel within the operating channel bandwidth of its BSS to make itself discoverable (see the previous section on 6GHz APs). Therefore, for a 6GHz-only AP whose primary channel is not in its preferred scanning channel, if it is an NPCA AP and its NPCA primary channel is in its preferred scanning channel, it can transmit group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed Probe Response frames during transmission opportunities acquired on its NPCA primary channel. Otherwise, an NPCA AP must not transmit group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed Probe Response frames during transmission opportunities acquired on its NPCA primary channel.

[0419] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the AP from transmitting group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed Probe Response frames in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, thereby better compatibility with traditional sites.

[0420] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 920 are combined to implement a communication method that supports a first station delaying the transmission of beacon frames based on the TBTT time or not transmitting beacon frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, and transmitting group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, it supports the AP not switching to the NPCA main channel at the TBTT time, and transmitting group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, it supports the first station delaying the transmission of beacon frames based on the TBTT time or not transmitting beacon frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, and not transmitting group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, the AP can be supported to not switch to the NPCA primary channel at the TBTT time, and not transmit group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA primary channel.

[0421] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 920 are combined to implement a communication method that supports the first station in not transmitting individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and transmitting group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, it supports the first station in not transmitting individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and not transmitting group-addressed Fast Initial Link Establishment Discovery (FILS Discovery) frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0422] In some embodiments, steps 720, 820, and 920 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0423] Figure 21 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0424] Step 1020: Transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, or do not transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0425] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0426] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0427] In some embodiments, the AP advertises a broadcast TWT with a Broadcast TWT ID equal to 0. If the TWT parameter set corresponding to this TWT indicates a non-trigger enabled unannounced TWT service period and the Broadcast TWT Recommendation subfield is set to 3, in order to allow Opportunistic Power Save (OPS) sites to know the scheduling information as early as possible and thus save power based on the scheduling information, the AP must schedule the transmission of a TIM frame or a FILS Discovery frame with the RA field set to the broadcast address that includes a TIM element at the start of a broadcast TWT SP at the beginning of a service period of this TWT (see the TWT and OPS related content above).

[0428] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames scheduled by the first site within a service cycle of the TWT, at the beginning of a service cycle of the TWT, the NPCA AP and / or NPCA STA must not switch to the NPCA primary channel, i.e., postpone channel access until the first transmission opportunity within the service cycle is obtained on the primary channel.

[0429] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames scheduled by the first site within a service cycle of the TWT, the NPCA AP and / or NPCA STA may switch to the NPCA main channel within a service cycle of the TWT, and the NPCA AP shall not transmit the TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0430] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames scheduled by the first site within a service cycle of the TWT, the NPCA AP shall not transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel within the service cycle of the TWT, unless the NPCA AP determines that all target sites that have activated the TIM broadcast service can receive them in the TXOP.

[0431] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the TIM frames scheduled by the first site within one service cycle of the TWT, the NPCA AP may transmit additional TIM frames during the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel within one service cycle of the TWT. That is, the NPCA AP transmits one or two TIM frames on the main channel and also transmits one TIM frame during the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0432] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the FILS Discovery frames scheduled by the first site within one service cycle of the TWT, the NPCAAP may transmit additional FILS Discovery frames during the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel within one service cycle of the TWT. That is, the NPCA AP transmits one or two FILS Discovery frames on the main channel and also transmits one FILS Discovery frame during the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0433] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that all OPS sites can receive the TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames scheduled by the first site within one service cycle of the TWT, a power-saving priority strategy is adopted, that is, to provide as many power-saving opportunities as possible to the OPS sites. Within one service cycle of the TWT, the NPCA AP can transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the transmission opportunities obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0434] In summary, the method provided in this application has been designed to improve the power saving by controlling the transmission of TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames by the AP in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0435] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0436] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0437] In some embodiments, steps 920 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0438] In some embodiments, steps 720, 820 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0439] In some embodiments, steps 720, 920 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0440] In some embodiments, steps 720, 820, 890 and 1020 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0441] Figure 22 shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0442] Step 1120: Do not transmit one or more data frames corresponding to FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0443] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0444] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0445] In some embodiments, the non-AP STA negotiates a Flexible Multicast Service (FMS) with its associated AP. The AP will send the corresponding multicast service stream (FMS stream) to the non-AP STA after the corresponding DTIM beacon, according to the negotiated delivery interval (see the FMS-related content described above). To ensure that all non-AP STAs corresponding to one or more FMS streams can receive them, the first station must not transmit data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams during the transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0446] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel, unless the first station determines that all target stations corresponding to the FMS stream can receive them in the TXOP.

[0447] In some embodiments, if the first station determines that all target stations corresponding to one or more FMS streams can receive the data in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0448] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit group-addressed FMS response frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0449] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit group-addressed FMS response frames in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel unless the first station determines that all target stations corresponding to the group-addressed FMS response frame can receive it in the TXOP.

[0450] In some embodiments, if the first station determines that all target stations corresponding to the group-addressed FMS response frame can receive it in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed FMS response frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0451] In summary, the method provided in this application embodiment is designed to enable all non-AP STAs corresponding to the FMS stream to receive the data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel as much as possible.

[0452] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 1120 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0453] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 1120 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0454] In some embodiments, steps 920 and 1120 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0455] In some embodiments, steps 1020 and 1120 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0456] In some embodiments, any two or more of steps 720, 820, 890, and 1020, combined with step 1120, constitute a communication method.

[0457] Figure 23 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0458] Step 1220: No group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames are transmitted in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0459] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0460] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0461] In some embodiments, the AP can provide Groupcast with Retries (GCR) service. After the AP and its associated sites successfully negotiate a GCR block ack agreement for one or more particular group addresses, the AP uses the GCR concealment address set during the negotiation process as the receiver address (RA) of the group address frame when transmitting and retransmitting the corresponding group address frame. The AP also uses BlockAckReq frames and / or GCR MU-BAR frames to request each member site in the group corresponding to that group address to respond with a BlockAck (see the previous sections on DMS and GCR). To reduce retransmissions, the first site must not transmit the particular group address frame during transmission opportunities acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0462] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit the specific group-addressed frame in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel unless the first station determines that all member stations corresponding to the specific group-addressed frame can receive it in the TXOP.

[0463] In some embodiments, if the first station determines that all member stations corresponding to the particular group addressing frame can receive it in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the particular group addressing frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0464] In some embodiments, after an AP establishes a retry-enabled multicast service with one or more group addresses corresponding to its associated sites, the AP may update its retransmission policy, transmission method, scheduling plan, etc. To implement this update, the AP may send an unsolicited Directed Multicast Service (DMS) response frame with the retry-enabled multicast hidden address as the receiver address (RA) (see the previous sections on DMS and GCR). To ensure that all member sites in the group corresponding to the group address receive the DMS response frame, the first site must not transmit the DMS response frame in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0465] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit the DMS response frame in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel unless the first station determines that all member stations in the group corresponding to the group address can receive it in that TXOP.

[0466] In some embodiments, if the first station determines that all member stations in the group corresponding to the group address can receive the data in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the DMS response frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0467] In summary, the method provided in this application's embodiments designs the behavior of the AP transmitting group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel, thereby helping to reduce retransmissions and / or update retransmission strategies, transmission methods, and scheduling plans in a timely manner.

[0468] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 1220 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0469] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 1220 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0470] In some embodiments, steps 920 and 1220 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0471] In some embodiments, steps 1020 and 1220 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0472] In some embodiments, steps 1120 and 1220 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0473] In some embodiments, any two or more of steps 720, 820, 890, 1020, and 1120, combined with step 1220, constitute a communication method.

[0474] Figure 24 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0475] Step 1320: Transmit a group-addressed deauthentication frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0476] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0477] In some embodiments, the first site includes NPCAAP, which is an AP that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0478] In some embodiments, such as when an AP is about to terminate the authentication service, the AP may send group-addressed deauthentication frames. In order to enable sites within the BSS to deauthenticate and associate in a timely manner, the first site may transmit group-addressed deauthentication frames in the TXOP obtained on the NPCA main channel.

[0479] In some embodiments, the first station retransmits the group-addressed deauthentication frame after switching back to the primary channel (referring to the BSS primary channel).

[0480] In summary, the method provided in this application is designed to handle the behavior of the AP transmitting deauthentication frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, thereby facilitating timely deauthentication and association.

[0481] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0482] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0483] In some embodiments, steps 920 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0484] In some embodiments, steps 1020 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0485] In some embodiments, steps 1120 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0486] In some embodiments, steps 1220 and 1320 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0487] In some embodiments, any two or more of steps 720, 820, 890, 1020, 1120, and 1220, combined with step 1320, constitute a communication method.

[0488] Figure 25 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a first station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0489] Step 1420: Do not transmit EBCS data frames and / or EBCS information frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0490] In some embodiments, the first site includes one or more APs, or the first site includes one or more AP MLDs. The first site may be implemented as AP 110 and / or AP 130 as shown in FIG1.

[0491] In some embodiments, the first site includes an NPCA AP, i.e., an AP that enables / has NPCA operation / function.

[0492] In some embodiments, the AP supports enhanced broadcast services (EBCS) DL service, and both sites associated with and not associated with the AP can request or register one or more enhanced broadcast service traffic streams (EBCS traffic streams). To ensure that all sites requesting enhanced broadcast service traffic streams receive the corresponding enhanced broadcast service data frames (EBCS data frames), the first site must not transmit the EBCS data frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0493] In some embodiments, the first station may not transmit the EBCS data frame in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel unless the first station determines that all stations that have requested the EBCS traffic streams can receive it in that TXOP.

[0494] In some embodiments, if the first station determines that all stations that have requested the EBCS traffic streams can receive them in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the EBCS data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0495] In some embodiments, corresponding to EBCS traffic streams that have been requested by non-associated sites, the first site must not transmit the EBCS data frames in the TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel because non-associated sites do not perform NPCA operations.

[0496] In some embodiments, the AP periodically broadcasts Enhanced Broadcast Service Info frames (EBCS Info frames). Non-AP STAs receive these frames and use the information in the frames to verify the authenticity of the EBCS traffic stream source. To ensure that all associated and non-associated stations receive this information, if the first station switches to the NPCA main channel at the time it is scheduled to transmit this information, the first station should postpone the transmission of the EBCS Info frames until it acquires a TXOP on the main channel. Alternatively, the first station may not transmit the EBCS Info frames in a TXOP acquired on the NPCA main channel.

[0497] In summary, the method provided in this application embodiment is designed to ensure that all stations that have requested the enhanced broadcast service traffic can receive the corresponding enhanced broadcast service data frames and / or information frames.

[0498] In some embodiments, steps 720 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0499] In some embodiments, steps 820 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0500] In some embodiments, steps 920 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0501] In some embodiments, steps 1020 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0502] In some embodiments, steps 1120 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0503] In some embodiments, steps 1220 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0504] In some embodiments, steps 1320 and 1420 are combined to implement a communication method.

[0505] In some embodiments, any two or more of steps 720, 820, 890, 1020, 1120, 1220, and 1320, combined with step 1420, constitute a communication method.

[0506] Figure 26 illustrates a flowchart of a communication method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The method is performed by a second station and includes at least some of the following steps:

[0507] Step 1520: Receive and / or do not receive the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0508] In some embodiments, the second site includes one or more non-AP STAs, or the first site includes one or more non-AP MLDs. The second site may be implemented as non-AP STA 120 and / or non-AP STA 140 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0509] In some embodiments, the second site includes an NPCA STA, which is a STA that enables / has enabled NPCA operation / function.

[0510] In some embodiments, in environments with relatively dense Wi-Fi network deployments, multiple spatially adjacent BSSs may share all or part of their 20MHz sub-channels in their operating channels, and the BSSs may overlap in whole or in part, forming an OBSS. In this case, if, for a period of time, one of the 20MHz sub-channels occupied by BSS2's transmission is BSS2's primary channel (i.e., the primary 20MHz channel), then BSS1 cannot transmit because the primary channel medium is busy. To improve spectral efficiency, the AP and non-AP STA of BSS1 can switch to the NPCA primary channel for transmission when the primary channel medium is detected to be busy.

[0511] In some embodiments, a site or access point that has enabled or facilitated NPCA operation or function may switch to the NPCA primary channel to perform NPCA operation when the primary channel receives an inter-BSS PPDU and the duration of the PPDU exceeds a threshold (NPCA Minimum Duration Threshold), or when the primary channel receives an inter-BSS PPDU carrying a control frame and an inter-BSS PPDU carrying a control response frame and the duration of the TXOP of the OBSS they indicate exceeds a threshold (NPCA Minimum Duration Threshold).

[0512] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

[0513] In some embodiments, the first frame includes group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames. Group-addressed data frames may also be referred to as multicast data frames, and group-addressed management frames may also be referred to as multicast management frames.

[0514] In some embodiments, the first frame includes data frames sent to the broadcast address and / or management frames sent to the broadcast address. The data frames sent to the broadcast address may also be referred to as broadcast data frames, and the management frames sent to the broadcast address may also be referred to as broadcast management frames.

[0515] In some embodiments, the first frame includes: a group-addressed data frame, and / or a broadcast data frame, and / or a group-addressed management frame, and / or a broadcast management frame.

[0516] For example, the first station transmits group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, the first station transmits broadcast data frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Another example: the first station transmits group-addressed data frames and / or broadcast data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Yet another example: the first station transmits group-addressed management frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Yet another example: the first station transmits any three of the following in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames. Finally, the first station transmits group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0517] For example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit broadcast data frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or broadcast data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed management frames and / or broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. For another example, the first station does not transmit any three of the following in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel: group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames. For another example, the first station does not transmit group-addressed data frames, group-addressed management frames, broadcast data frames, and broadcast management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0518] Furthermore, referring to the embodiments shown in Figures 15 to 25, the first frame can also be implemented as one or more of the following: a group-addressed data frame, a group-addressed first-class management frame, a group-addressed second-class frame, a broadcast data frame, a broadcast first-class management frame, and a broadcast second-class frame.

[0519] In some embodiments, the first type of management frame is a management frame that excludes at least one of the following frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication map frame (TIM frame), quick initial link establishment discovery frame (FILS discovery frame), and deauthentication frame.

[0520] In some embodiments, the second type of frames includes data frames and management frames that exclude at least one of the following: Non-Space-Time Block Coding Beacon frames (Non-STBC Beacon frames), Extended Range beacon (ER beacon), High Efficiency beacon (HE beacon), STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in an FMS stream, group-addressed frames transmitted to the GCR concealment address, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE SU PPDU, and group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in an HE MU. PPDU, EBCS Info frames, EBCS UL frames, EBCS Data frames.

[0521] In some embodiments, the second station does not receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 320 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0522] In some embodiments, the second station does not receive group-addressed Type II frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 420 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0523] In some embodiments, the second station does not receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed Type 1 management frames and / or group-addressed Type 2 frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 520 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0524] In some embodiments, the second station does not receive broadcast data frames and / or broadcast first-type management frames and / or broadcast second-type frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 620 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0525] In some embodiments, the first station delays or does not transmit beacon frames, and the second station delays or does not receive beacon frames. See step 720 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0526] In some embodiments, the first station does not transmit individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station does not receive individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 820 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0527] In some embodiments, the first station transmits group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station receives group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 920 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0528] In some embodiments, the first station transmits TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station receives TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Alternatively, the first station does not transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station does not receive TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 1020 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0529] In some embodiments, the first station does not transmit data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station does not receive data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 1120 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0530] In some embodiments, the first station does not transmit group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station does not receive group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 1220 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0531] In some embodiments, the first station transmits a group-addressed deauthentication frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station receives a group-addressed deauthentication frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 1320 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0532] In some embodiments, the first station does not transmit EBCS data frames and / or EBCS information frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and the second station does not receive EBCS data frames and / or EBCS information frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. See step 1420 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0533] In summary, the method provided in this application restricts the transmission behavior of APs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, and thus also restricts the reception behavior of non-AP STAs in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. Since different sites and their associated APs are located in different spatial positions, the inter-BSS PPDUs and / or the corresponding RSSIs of the inter-BSS PPDUs that can be received on the main channel may be different. This means that different sites and access points may not switch to the main channel at the same time. The method provided in this application effectively avoids the situation where some target sites cannot receive the first frame.

[0534] Figure 27 shows a structural block diagram of a communication device 2700 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The communication device 2700 can be implemented as the first station described above, or as part of the first station described above. The communication device 2700 is a wireless communication device / wireless device that supports WLAN / Wi-Fi protocols (such as the 802.11 protocol). The communication device 2700 includes a transmitting module 2710.

[0535] The transmitting module 2710 is used to transmit and / or not transmit the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0536] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

[0537] In some embodiments, the first frame includes one or more of the following: a group-addressed data frame, a group-addressed management frame, a broadcast data frame, and a broadcast management frame.

[0538] In some embodiments, the first frame includes one or more of the following: a group-addressed data frame, a group-addressed first-class management frame, a group-addressed second-class frame, a broadcast data frame, a broadcast first-class management frame, and a broadcast second-class frame.

[0539] In some embodiments, the first type of management frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

[0540] In some embodiments, the second type of frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: non-space-time block code beacon frames, extended range beacon frames, efficient HE beacon frames, STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in flexible multicast service streams, group-addressed frames transmitted to GCR hidden addresses, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted to group call record hidden addresses in HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in high-efficiency single-user physical protocol data units, EBCS information frames, EBCS uplink frames, and EBCS data frames.

[0541] In some embodiments, the sending module 2710 is further configured to perform one or more of the following steps:

[0542] If the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel.

[0543] If the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0544] In some embodiments, the sending module 2710 is further configured to perform one or more of the following steps:

[0545] If the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel.

[0546] If the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP of the NPA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP of the NPA main channel.

[0547] If the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel.

[0548] When the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the second type of group addressing frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel;

[0549] When the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the first type of management frame of the group addressing in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel;

[0550] When the device confirms that all target stations corresponding to the group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0551] In some embodiments, if a first condition is met, the transmitting module 2710 transmits the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; and / or, if the first condition is not met, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0552] In some embodiments, the first condition includes one or more of the following:

[0553] The device confirms that all stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0554] The device confirms that all stations corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPA main channel.

[0555] The device confirms that all stations corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel;

[0556] The device confirms that all stations corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the second type of group-addressed frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel;

[0557] The device confirms that all stations corresponding to the group address switch to the NPCA main channel.

[0558] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a receiving module 2730 for receiving frames sent by a second station.

[0559] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a processing module 2750 for determining whether to transmit or not transmit the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0560] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0561] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit group-addressed second-type frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0562] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames and / or group-addressed second-class frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0563] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit broadcast data frames and / or broadcast first-class management frames and / or broadcast second-class frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0564] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 may delay or not transmit beacon frames.

[0565] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0566] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 transmits group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0567] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 transmits TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, or does not transmit TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0568] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0569] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0570] In some embodiments, the sending module 2710 transmits a group-addressed deauthentication frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0571] In some embodiments, the transmitting module 2710 does not transmit EBCS data frames and / or EBCS information frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0572] The content described in the preceding method embodiments is applicable to the communication device 2700 shown in FIG27. For details not described in detail in this embodiment, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0573] Figure 28 shows a structural block diagram of a communication device 2800 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. The communication device 2800 can be implemented as the second station described above, or as part of the second station described above. The communication device 2800 can be a wireless communication device / wireless device supporting WLAN / Wi-Fi protocols (such as the 802.11 protocol). The communication device 2800 includes a receiving module 2810.

[0574] The receiving module 2810 is used to receive and / or not receive the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0575] In some embodiments, the first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

[0576] In some embodiments, the first frame includes one or more of the following: a group-addressed data frame, a group-addressed management frame, a broadcast data frame, and a broadcast management frame.

[0577] In some embodiments, the first frame includes one or more of the following: a group-addressed data frame, a group-addressed first-class management frame, a group-addressed second-class frame, a broadcast data frame, a broadcast first-class management frame, and a broadcast second-class frame.

[0578] In some embodiments, the first type of management frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

[0579] In some embodiments, the second type of frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: non-space-time block code beacon frames, extended range beacon frames, efficient HE beacon frames, STBC group-addressed data and management frames, data frames located in flexible multicast service streams, group-addressed frames transmitted to GCR hidden addresses, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted to group call record hidden addresses in HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frames transmitted in high-efficiency single-user physical protocol data units, EBCS information frames, EBCS uplink frames, and EBCS data frames.

[0580] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 is further configured to perform one or more of the following steps:

[0581] If all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0582] If all target stations corresponding to the first site confirmed group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0583] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 is further configured to perform one or more of the following steps:

[0584] If all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0585] If all target stations corresponding to the group address of the first station confirmation group can or are able to or support receiving the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0586] If all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0587] When all target stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the second type of group addressing frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel;

[0588] When all target stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the first type of management frame of the group addressing in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel;

[0589] When all target stations corresponding to the first site confirmation group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the receiving module 2810 is used to receive the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP on the NPCA main channel.

[0590] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a sending module 2830 for sending frames to a first station.

[0591] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a processing module 2850 for determining whether to send a frame to the first station.

[0592] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0593] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive group-addressed second-type frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0594] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive group-addressed data frames and / or group-addressed first-class management frames and / or group-addressed second-class frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0595] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive broadcast data frames and / or broadcast first-class management frames and / or broadcast second-class frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0596] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 may delay receiving or not receive beacon frames.

[0597] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive individually addressed probe response frames and / or broadcast probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0598] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive group-addressed FILS Discovery frames and / or group-addressed probe response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0599] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 receives TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, or the receiving module 2810 does not receive TIM frames and / or FILS Discovery frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0600] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive data frames corresponding to one or more FMS streams in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0601] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive group addressing frames and / or DMS response frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0602] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 receives a group-addressed deauthentication frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0603] In some embodiments, the receiving module 2810 does not receive EBCS data frames and / or EBCS information frames in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

[0604] The content described in the preceding method embodiments is applicable to the communication device 2800 shown in Figure 28. For details not described in detail in this embodiment, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0605] It should be noted that the apparatus provided in the above embodiments is only illustrated by the division of the above functional modules. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the communication device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. In addition, the apparatus and method embodiments provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept.

[0606] Figure 29 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 2900 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application, including at least one of the following: receiver 2901, transmitter 2902, processor 2903, memory 2904, and bus (not shown in the figure).

[0607] Receiver 2901 is used to implement the receiving function, and transmitter 2902 is used to implement the transmitting function. Optionally, receiver 2901 and transmitter 2902 can be implemented as a communication component, which can be a communication chip, and can be called a transceiver. Optionally, receiver 2901 and transmitter 2902 can be implemented as a wireless communication component and / or a wired communication component. Optionally, the wireless communication component includes a wireless communication chip and / or a radio frequency antenna. Optionally, the wired communication component includes a wired communication chip and / or a wired interface.

[0608] The processor 2903 includes one or more processing cores, and the processor 2903 executes various functional applications and information processing by running software programs and modules.

[0609] The memory 2904 can be used to store a computer program executed by the processor 2903, which executes the computer program to implement the various steps in the above method embodiments.

[0610] In some embodiments, the communication device 2900 is used to perform some or all of the steps performed by the first station. The receiver 2901 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the receiving module 2730, the transmitter 2902 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the sending module 2710, and the processor 2903 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the processing module 2750.

[0611] In some embodiments, the communication device 2900 is used to perform some or all of the steps performed by the second station described above. The receiver 2901 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the receiving module 2810 described above, the transmitter 2902 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the sending module 2830 described above, and the processor 2903 can be used to implement the functions and steps of the processing module 2850 described above.

[0612] In some embodiments, the memory 2904 may be connected to the processor 2903, the receiver 2901, and the transmitter 2902.

[0613] Furthermore, the memory 2904 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 (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, and programmable read-only memory (PROM).

[0614] In some embodiments, the receiver 2901 independently receives signals / data, or the processor 2903 controls the receiver 2901 to receive signals / data, or the processor 2903 requests the receiver 2901 to receive signals / data, or the processor 2903 cooperates with the receiver 2901 to receive signals / data.

[0615] In some embodiments, the transmitter 2902 independently transmits signals / data, or the processor 2903 controls the transmitter 2902 to transmit signals / data, or the processor 2903 requests the transmitter 2902 to transmit signals / data, or the processor 2903 cooperates with the transmitter 2902 to transmit signals / data.

[0616] For details not described in this embodiment, please refer to the embodiments above, which will not be repeated here.

[0617] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, a chip is also provided, the chip including programmable logic circuits and / or program instructions, which, when the chip is run on a communication device, is used to implement the communication methods provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0618] In some embodiments, the chip includes one or more of the following: a transmitting module 2710, a receiving module 2730, and a processing module 2750. Optionally, each module can be implemented as a circuit structure. Related details can be found above and will not be repeated here.

[0619] In some embodiments, the chip includes one or more of the following: a receiving module 2810, a transmitting module 2830, and a processing module 2850. Optionally, each module can be implemented as a circuit structure. Related details can be found above and will not be repeated here.

[0620] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, a computer-readable storage medium is also provided, which stores at least one program that is loaded and executed by a processor to implement the communication methods provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0621] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, a computer program product is also provided, which 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 communication methods provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0622] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, a computer program is also provided, the computer program including computer instructions, the computer instructions being 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 communication methods provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0623] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk.

[0624] The above are merely optional 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 should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is performed by a first site, and the method includes: The first station transmits and / or does not transmit the first frame in the transmission opportunity TXOP when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first frame includes one or more of the following: group-addressed data frame, group-addressed management frame, broadcast data frame, and broadcast management frame.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first frame includes one or more of the following: group-addressed data frame, group-addressed first-class management frame, group-addressed second-class frame, broadcast data frame, broadcast first-class management frame, and broadcast second-class frame.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The first type of management frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The second type of frame does not include at least one of the following frames: non-space-time block code beacon frame, extended range beacon frame, high-efficiency HE beacon frame, STBC group-addressed data and management frame, data frame in flexible multicast service stream, group-addressed frame transmitted to GCR hidden address, group-addressed data and management frame transmitted to group call record hidden address in HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frame transmitted in high-efficiency single-user physical protocol data unit, EBCS information frame, EBCS uplink frame, and EBCS data frame.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes one or more of the following: If all target stations corresponding to the confirmed group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. If all target stations corresponding to the confirmed group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. When all target stations corresponding to the first station's confirmed group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; When all target stations corresponding to the first station's confirmed group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group addressing management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes one or more of the following: If all target stations corresponding to the confirmed group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. If all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station can or are able to or support receiving the first type of group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the first type of group-addressed management frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. If all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed second type of frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel. When all target stations corresponding to the first station's confirmed group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the group-addressed data frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; When all target stations corresponding to the first station's confirmed group address have switched to the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the first type of management frame for group addressing in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; When all target stations corresponding to the group address confirmed by the first station have switched to the NPCA main channel, the first station transmits the second type of group-addressed frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first condition is met, the first station transmits the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel; And / or, if the first condition is not met, the first station does not transmit the first frame in the TXOP of the NPCA main channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The first condition includes one or more of the following: The first site confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the group-addressed data frames in the TXOP. The first site confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address can or are able to or support receiving the group-addressed management frame in the TXOP; The first site confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the first type of management frame of the group address in the TXOP. The first site confirms that all target sites corresponding to the group address can, are able to, or support receiving the second type of group-addressed frames in the TXOP. All target sites corresponding to the address of the first site confirmation group are switched to the NPCA main channel.

11. A communication method, comprising: The method is performed by a second site, and the method includes: The second station receives and / or does not receive the first frame during the TXOP (Transmission Opportunity for Accessing the NPA Main Channel from a Non-Main Channel).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first frame includes a data frame and / or a management frame.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first frame includes one or more of the following: group-addressed data frame, group-addressed management frame, broadcast data frame, and broadcast management frame.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The first frame includes one or more of the following: group-addressed data frame, group-addressed first-class management frame, group-addressed second-class frame, broadcast data frame, broadcast first-class management frame, and broadcast second-class frame.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The first type of management frames does not include at least one of the following management frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, traffic indication graph frame, fast initial link establishment discovery frame, and deauthentication frame.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The second type of frame does not include at least one of the following frames: non-space-time block code beacon frame, extended range beacon frame, high-efficiency HE beacon frame, STBC group-addressed data and management frame, data frame in flexible multicast service stream, group-addressed frame transmitted to GCR hidden address, group-addressed data and management frame transmitted to group call record hidden address in HE ER SU PPDU, group-addressed data and management frame transmitted in high-efficiency single-user physical protocol data unit, EBCS information frame, EBCS uplink frame, and EBCS data frame.

17. A communications device, characterized by The device includes: The transmitting module is used to transmit and / or not transmit the first frame during the transmission opportunity TXOP when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

18. A communications device, characterized by The device includes: The receiving module is used to receive and / or not receive the first frame during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) when accessing the NPCA main channel from a non-main channel.

19. A communication device, characterized by The communication device includes: a processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; and a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the transceiver is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

20. A communications device, characterized by The communication device includes: a processor; a transceiver connected to the processor; and a memory for storing executable instructions of the processor; wherein the transceiver is configured to load and execute the executable instructions to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 11 to 16.

21. 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 communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 11 to 16.

22. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product 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 communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 11 to 16.

23. A chip, characterized by The chip includes a programmable logic circuit and / or at least a program, and the chip is used to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the communication method as described in any one of claims 11 to 16, based on the programmable logic circuit and / or the at least one program.

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